Deaths at Yosemite this Summer Related to Eclipses?

Yosemite is having a rough Summer. There have been a larger than average number of deaths since the park opened last May.

There have been a total of 17 deaths at Yosemite this Summer (actually now 18, heard of another one on the news this week-end). 5 deaths were due to natural causes, 12 were due to accidents like falls and drownings.

Last year's death toll was on the high end of what is normal so it looks like the Park is feeling the pain of the big Cardinal Sign t-square of outer planets. I read somewhere (sorry, forget to get a source url) that National Parks on the whole are experiencing a drop in deaths. Maybe people just aren't traveling very much because of the high cost of gasoline.

California has a higher than average water/rainfall level this year and the wetness is thought to be a major factor in why hikers are slipping and falling on the rocks. I read somewhere that Governor Brown went to visit the park and once he saw the antics that some of the victims were trying to do he just said "No wonder." Guess this is not the year to take that super awesome snap of your best dude's g-f- standing at the top of the waterfall. Because when she falls, he's going to grab her and fall and then you're going in too. And then the water is going to eat you. Get a long lens for your camera and take up an in interest in birdwatching for christ's sake.

There's no mention of whether Suicide counts as a natural or unnatural death. I suppose that decision depends on one's religiosity. With Neptune strong this Summer in its own sign we have to not overlook this. I tend to think that Neptune is related to suicidal ideation, not always completed acts but I think that most astrologers assign it full on rulership of such subject matter.

The accidents are thought to be very high this year because storms brought a lot more rain. The deaths are most related to hikers slipping on wet rocks or drownings. With Neptune, ruler of drownings, just having passed into its own sign of Pisces this makes sense from an astrological perspective. But, as I said, deaths in most National Parks have been lower than normal.

Neptune's energy is very strong right now and for about the next 13 years as he has just entered his own sign of Pisces. Neptune rules drowning, gobs of water, and photography. He also sort of rules klutzes, well, along with Jupiter (in traditional astrology Jupiter rules both Sagittarius and Pisces so they do sort of share this energy). In modern astrology, Jupiter rules lucky klutzes. They generally land on their feet. When you hear a surfer screaming "Awesome Dude" you know he's getting in touch with his inner Jupiter. On the other hand, Neptune rules self undoing types of klutzes. These guys have to meditate a lot in order to get their spirits on track.

I decided to try to look at the dates of some of the accidental deaths to see if anything stood out. We had a pretty harsh looking Summer Solstice on June 21 and a set of 3 Eclipses from June 1 to July 1, one of them being a total Lunar Eclipse on June 15.

When the Total Lunar Eclipse (dates for all 3 Eclipses down below) chart is set for Yosemite the Nodal Axis lies right over the top and bottom angles of the chart. That's the IC and the MC or Midheaven. Mercury, ruler of hikers, is conjunct the Sun and the South Node which it rules. So, visually the chart looks like there might be some sort of fall involved.

Mercury is also out of bounds for both the Total Lunar Eclipse and the Summer Solstice charts.

With Moon in Sagittarius in conjunction with the Sagittarius North Node and the IC, maybe I was a bit ahead of myself saying that Sagittarius/Jupiter types get all the luck. Maybe not so much at a place called Half Dome which is ruled by the Moon. (Subject of famous Ansel Adams photographs).

Definitely it looks as if the Saturn-Uranus-Pluto t-square has something to do with these tragedies. This is a long transit which has been phasing in and out of transit for almost the last two years. A t-square is a difficult aspect. Because these 3 planets have been on sensitive points of the astrological wheel, at the beginnings of the Cardinal Signs their difficult aspect to each other intensifies their negative sides. Saturn rules Old Age, Caution, Slowness, Falls, Bones. Uranus rules Crises that occur suddenly and unexpectedly, accidents of course, and going out and doing things with your buddies. Pluto rules crises in general, and death in general, and Nature's deep urges, you know: Sex, Death, and, uh, can't explain this one, Taxes.

So one can see how if combined in a big difficult aspect together they can be very destructive. Yosemite had a high number of deaths last year as well. I believe it was 15 which is considered the high end of normal for them. Ugh, some vacation. Give me the tea cup ride at Disneyland any old day.

The deaths seem to have happened in twos and threes. Sometimes they involve friends (Uranus) and sometimes they involve Strangers (Uranus).

The park opened at the middle of May and on May 16 two hikers died.

This happens to have been right before a Scorpio Full Moon which squared Neptune. The Moon was moving fast so perhaps this means that people's reactions are a bit too slow. Perhaps this messes up physical coordination.

Mars which indicates recklessness has been traveling fast. I don't know enough about its speeds to know if this is significant in creating accidents, but it is now slowing down. Funny how prominent Venus is in these charts in conjunction with the Sun for much of the Summer. Meanwhile reckless Mars sort of doesn't stand out in the charts, at least to me.

There is a killer of an Eclipse coming up on Dec. 10 but I haven't looked at it in connection with any specific places. It could indicate either an earthquake or a rebellion in Southern California, at least as seen from a National perspective.

I am concentrating here on the accidents and haven't been able to locate all who died. I can't find information on the people who died from natural causes so they aren't included.

May 16, 2011

Texas professor slipped and fell into Merced River, drowned 11:30 am
Kent Butler, Austin, TX, Age 60

afternoon Berkeley man, James Dunbar, 35, found afternoon

died head injury

In the middle of June two more hikers died.

On Saturday June 13 3:40 pm Manoi Kumar, Age 40, of San Rafael, CA fell off of Half Dome in the middle of a hailstorm.

On Sunday, 23 year old Christopher Hale of Gainesville, FLA was reported missing. His body was found Monday, June 16.

The Moon was once again in Scorpio and was once again not only approaching a Full Moon but a Total Lunar Eclipse.

I think that this Eclipse might be a main Astrological Reason for the bad Summer at Yosemite. Eclipses happen in sets of 2. Usually one Solar Eclipse and then a Lunar Eclipse, or the other way around, can't remember. Sometimes they come in 3's, though, as in this case.

The Moon, as I said was again in Scorpio, was again traveling fast.

Saturn was stationing direct which could indicate safety concerns or slow reactions?.

Solar Partial Eclipse
June 1, 2011 5:02 pm New York, NY, 2:02 pm Yosemite, CA

(Neptune SR on June 3).

Total Lunar Eclipse
June 15, 2011 4:13 pm New York, NY; 1:13 pm Yosemite, CA

Solar Partial Eclipse
July 1, 2011 4:53 am New York, NY; 1:53 am Yosemite, CA

The Lunar Eclipse here shows the whole story.

The Sun 25 Gemini is conjunct the South Node 24 Gemini and Mercury, ruler of Gemini. And this opposes the Moon 25 Sagittarius-NN 24 Sagittarius. This indicates things involving travel. Most of the victims have been from California so they seem to be under the influence of Gemini/Mercury which indicates local travel, now known as "Staycation."

When set for Yosemite locale the Nodal Axis with Sun-Mercury-SN-MC opposing Moon-NN, opposition falls across the IC/MC Axis.

These are the highest and lowest places on the Wheel called "angles." The Nodal Axis is often thought to indicate that an event will occur if it is involved with a major Light (which an Eclipse is) or an angle in the chart. This could mean that this location is probably going to be the center of more activity than other locations and this might indicate why Yosemite is such a disaster zone. Kind of strange because California overall is not suffering from all the extreme weather conditions that the rest of the country is. These activities could be related to end of life (IC) and, literally falls. The Midheaven is ruled by the Sign of Capricorn the Goat who is always climbing.

The Sun in this chart is conjunct Mercury, which rules walking and hiking. These are placed at the top of the chart.

The Saturn-Uranus-Pluto t-square is also placed with emphasis on this chart. It's in the angular houses with Pluto 6 Capricorn placed down at the bottom in the 4th House.

Pluto in H4 is sort of like having the rug pulled out from under you. It can show crises within the environment. Both planet (Pluto) and house (4) are rulers of certain aspects of death along with Neptune. Ask any Insurance Agent and they will tell you that most significant destruction is caused by water damage. I think they will say that, can't really say who told me that, maybe my Virgo older brother and in that case it's probably accurate information.

As I said, Neptune is very strong in its own sign but has been in conjunction with Chiron for the whole Summer, and last year pretty much as well (am not certain about that). Chiron is called the "Wounded Teacher/Healer." Along with his great teaching capabilities, he represents situations which we can't fix. Death is certainly included that category.

Mercury is important to look at here. He rules the South Node and was in conjunction with it during the Eclipse and Solstice. He stands out in those charts as most elevated planet. He is also out of bounds. Mercury rules Hikers and Walkers and local travel. Mercury is most elevated planet in the Eclipse chart in H10 and is out of bounds which shows a prominence of all things Mercurial, although I wouldn't have guessed this.

The Moon at 25 Sagittarius is one degree away from the Galactic Center as is the South Node at 24 Sagittarius. Moon conjunct South Node is a difficult placement as these energies compete for the shadow side of things.

Since this Eclipse chart basically covers most of California this chart might also indicate why there have been a much higher number of murders in the Bay Area as well.

Mercury represents anything having to do with kids and neighbors, siblings, aunts, uncles.

The Summer Solstice was then crammed in here and had a very drastic lineup of planets as the Sun was filling in the empty leg of the Saturn-Uranus-Pluto t-square. This "Grand Square was placed in the Fixed Houses so I don't really know if this could be considered a genuine influence. In this chart, however, Neptune is conjunct the Descendant along with Chiron and the Moon in Pisces. And Neptune rules the 8th House of death.

On June 29, two friends and employees who worked in an emergency room at a Hospital in L.A. died together. Dr. Gregory Meyer was pulled into raging water when his friend, Richard Fox fell in. Both perished. (Neptune rules Hospitals)

June 29, 2011 8 am Wednesday Wapama Falls bridge near Hetch Hetchy Reservoir

Two friends who worked together in Hospital ER in Whittier Ca. drowned.

Richard Fox, 53 of Hacienda Heights, slipped while crossing a bridge that was submerged in water. Dr. Gregory Meyer, Age 53 medical Dr. fell in trying to save him.

This is a couple of days before the July 1 Solar Eclipse (Partial) which was the beginning of a whole new Saros Cycle (check this).

The Sun 8 Cancer was filling in the empty leg of the big outer planet t-square and was opposing Pluto 7 Capricorn. This makes a Grand Cardinal Square which can be a very difficult aspect. Mercury 26 Cancer is unaspected.

At Age 53 both victims would have been close to their 2d Secondary Progressed Lunar Returns. Don't know exactly what significance that would have except to connect with the dire placement of the Sun in the Moon's sign at the time of their deaths.

On July 19, 2011 3 friends slipped on the rocks while trying to take photos. They had scrambled out past the barriers where they should have been. The Moon here is again traveling fast.

Mars was opposing Pluto which often indicates a time when more care must be taken not to be impulsive.

House 9 is loaded here: Uranus 4 Aries, Lilith 7 Aries, Jupiter 26 Aries, Venus 2 Taurus, Mercury 2 Taurus, Mars 5 Taurus c. 5 Taurus MC) Sun squares Neptune.

July 19, 2011 1:30 pm

Hormiz David of Modesto, Age 22 (Jupiter Return?)
Ninos Yacoub of Turlock, Age 27 (2d Progressed Lunar Return)
Ramina Badal of Modesto, Age 21 (1st Uranus square?)

Haley LaFlamme, Age 26 slipped on wet granite on Half Dome and fell 600 feet.

July 31st, 2011 around noon

Mars 21 Gemini c. SN 22 Gemini squaring Moon 21 Pisces
Sun is conjunct Venus and Venus rules this chart which indicates a female.
The Saturn-Uranus-Pluto t-square is just past the angles of the chart at this point in H12 (Saturn), H3 (Pluto), H6 (Uranus).

Ryan Leeder, Age 23, of Los Gatos, CA fell from Half Dome

Monday, Aug. 22 at 6:30 pm, Monday.

Sun still conjunct Venus the way it's been for much of the Summer.

Here Sun-Venus is opposing Neptune over Angular Houses 1 and 7.
Moon 13 Gemini conjunct South Node 20 Gemini Rx (H5 to H11).

It does seem that the Moon and Neptune are as to blame for these problems as anything else. They both represent Water and Death (along with Pluto, of course). In many of these accident charts Neptune is in strong challenging aspect to either the Sun or Moon. And right now he is in conjunction with Chiron which is often an indicator of a situation which can't be cured.

It is interesting that in Northern California there are a record number of murders this year as well, at least in San Jose and Oakland. Perhaps the Eclipse charts are showing some vulnerability for those locations.

I send my condolences to the friends and families who lost someone to these tragedies.

Previous falls off half dome occurred during the Saturn-Neptune opposition in Leo-Aquarius
Hirofumi nohara June 2007
2 women:
April 2007
Nov. 2006