Recently, the comet C/2014 Lovejoy Q2 changed its magnitude and became visible to the naked eye. This surprising news has not only raised astronomers’ interest, astrologers also ask what does this mean. In my recent article entitled “Comet in Astrology” which was published in Astrological Journal 2014 Nov.Dec issue, I did summarise some ancient views of comets. If you are interested,the link to this article is on the astro.com website:
http://www.astro.com/astrology/aa_article141030_e.htm.
Comets are from the distant, cold and dark extremities of the solar system, approaching the Sun under the effect of its gravity. As they get close to the Sun, they enter our observable range. Temperature increases and ice start to evaporate and release the gases as a comet gets nearer to the Sun. Then, under the effect of radiation and solar winds, an illuminated tail start to appear, the comet’s trademark. Many comets will be burnt and split into pieces or even disappear when they pass close to the Sun, and great comets may split into several smaller ones, some of which will disappear after they pass the perihelion.
Comet Lovejoy passing the globular cluster M79 in Lepus on the night of December 28–29, 2014. Image by Chris Schur – See more at:http://www.schursastrophotography.com/newcomets/lovejoyQ2122814.html
C/2014 Lovejoy Q2 is visible from end of December 2014 until end of January 2015.
It passes through the constellations Lepus and Eridanus. It will become very bright when it enters the constellation Taurus on 4th Jan 2015 and move into Aries after mid January, finally coming to its perihelion on 30th January.
image from http://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-news/observing-news/spot-comet-lovejoy-tonight-122920141/
Token of Doom and a year of Surprise
Ancient astrologers usually associated comets with disaster and upheaval. When a comet appeared in the sky, the ancient astrologer took it as a yearly signature, this suggested that there would be one year of unsettlement and surprise in our world. I always feel that comets are associated with surprises, upheavals, release, important inventions and unpredictable events. Even with our knowledge and techniques we cannot predict the arrival of a new comet until it comes closer to the Earth. C/2014 Lovejoy Q2 was only discovered on 17 August 2014, 4 months before we can see it with the naked eye.
Ancient Astrologers did take the siting of a comet seriously, viewing it as a bad omen, a token of doom. Comets are associated with taboos in people’s heart. Whenever people see comets, they immediately believe that something unlucky, disastrous and extreme is going to happen. However, what do astrologers consider when they give predictions regarding comets?
SIGN and ELEMENT
First, consider the sign and its element which the comet passed by. For example, fire signs are usually associated with fire hazards, wars and slaughters, water signs with rainstorms and tsunamis, earth sign with droughts and food shortage, and wind signs with hurricanes.
As the data suggest C/2014 Lovejoy Q2 becomes visible near the constellation Taurus and Aries , this suggest that we should consider Earth and Fire elements: Food, Economics, Financial, War and Slaughter.
Fixed stars or the image of the Sign
Second, consider fixed stars or the image of the sign. For example: Taurus could be linked to issues related to cattle; Pisces could be about issues with oceans and fishery; and Sagittarius could be about wars. The comet’s effect could also be related to what is symbolised by the sign or fixed stars where the comet is currently located.
Traditional astrologers even believe that every country has its own representing sign. So when a comet is in a certain sign, countries represented by that sign could suffer disasters. For example, when a comet was in Taurus in 1678, William Lilly pointed out that it would affect Poland and Russia.
Some astrologers have already pointed out that Ancient astrologers like William Lilly and Guido Bonatti associated Taurus with Poland, Cyprus and Russia and this fits Russia’s current economic situation.
However if we project comet Lovejoy’s path on the Tropical Zodiac, we will have more information and this will emphasise that the Taurus theme has been seriously affected.
| Date | C/2014 Lovejoy Q2 Tropical Zodiac position |
| 28 Dec 2014 | 20 Gemini |
| 29 Dec 2014 | 18 Gemini |
| 30 Dec 2014 | 16 Ge |
| 31 Dec 2014 | 14 Ge |
| 1 Jan 2015 | 12 Ge |
| 2 Jan 2015 | 10 Ge |
| 3 Jan | 8 Ge |
| 4 Jan | 7 Ge |
| 5 Jan | 5 Ge |
| 6 Jan | 4 Ge |
| 7 Jan | 2 Ge |
| 8 Jan | 1 Ge |
| 9 Jan | 0 Ge |
| 10 Jan | 29 Taurus |
| 11 Jan | 28 Taurus |
| 12 Jan | 27 Taurus |
| 13 Jan | 26 Taurus |
| 14 Jan | 25 Ta |
| 15 Jan | 24 Ta |
| 16 Jan | 23 Ta |
| 17 Jan | 22 Ta 30’ |
| 18 Jan | 22 Ta |
| 19 Jan | 21 Ta |
| 20 Jan | 20 Ta 30’ |
| 21 Jan | 20 Ta |
| 22 Jan | 19 Ta 30’ |
| 23 Jan | 19 Ta |
| 24 Jan | 18 Ta 30’ |
| 25 Jan | 18 Ta |
| 26 Jan | 17 Ta 40’ |
| 27 Jan | 17 Ta 20’ |
| 28 Jan | 17 Ta |
| 29 Jan | 16 Ta 40’ |
| 30 Jan | 16 Ta 25’ |
| 31 Jan | 16 Ta |
An example that suggests we should not only look at the constellations but also look at tropical area was when the 2013 Cyprus economic crisis happened, Comet Panstarr (C/2011 L4) could be seen in early degree Taurus in mid April.
Now I will consider the other constellations on the visible path of C/2014 Lovejoy Q2.
1. Eridanus: the river, water, flood. We maybe should careful about floods tsunami and water pollution.
2. Lepus: rabbits, hares, and all types of small mammal. Could suggest they bring some communicable disease or cause some problem?
3. Triangulum: also represent as Saturn’s sickle cut and agriculture , this constellation also related to Peresphone/Demeter. Suggests surprising measurements, disaster through mis-measurement, familial discord and missing children.
Although it will not contact any fixed stars on its path, it will be very close to the Pleiades, usually meaning eyesight and tears, and if we check the myth of the Eridanus constellation, that also indicates sadness as Phaethon fell into this river after being struck by Zeus. Both this and the link with Persephone, represented by Triangulum, both link to lost children.
Planets
Third, we can consider which planets form a conjunction with the comet. For example, when a comet passes by Mercury, it may bring forth issues related to transportation and bridges.
This year C/2014 Lovejoy Q2 will contact with the Moon suggesting issues with Food, Agriculture, Sea, Fishing, mother/children relations and our emotions.
Fourth, we can consider which houses the comet visits. This is a rather special case, in which astrologers need to cast a chart when they witness the comet. For example, the famous astrologer Tycho Brahe cast a chart by this method and predicted a disaster which would kill thousands of people. However I will not use this technique until I see it in the sky.
Fifth, we consider the colour of the comet. When astrologers observe comets, they pay attention to their colours and thus determine their properties. If it has the same grey tone like Saturn, astrologers would believe that this comet would bring forth incidents which have similar themes or properties of Saturn. Sometimes, comets would change colour from time to time, like from white to grey. In 1680, William Knight documented that the comet he observed that year had a grey tone like Saturn initially, thus leading to issues related to lack of resources and politics. Several months later, it turned bright and it implied themes and issues related to Jupiter. Although no suffocating stress or pressure was related, there was a rise of problems related to religion and law, and this was not the last time this comet changed its colour. It finally turned red, and Knight believed it was an obvious implication about thefts and robberies. Tycho Brahe also applied this when observing comets.
At this moment C/2014 Lovejoy Q2 appears a green colour. William Lilly only relates Pale Green to the Moon and some astrologers suggest green could be the colour of Jupiter and Venus. Could it suggest or emphasise a Feminine, food, or financial theme? I wish it would also bring the beneficial influences of Jupiter and Venus.
The shape of comets differs from one another. Sometimes they look like a fireball with a short coma, and sometimes when they have a long coma they are described as “a long sword” implying war and assassination. Sometimes, the tip of the coma is described as a “dagger”.
The interesting image of comet Lovejoy has a dim green light , just like a tinny little green light bulb with a long slim bend stock . I do feel familiar but I can not find where I saw this image while I was working on this Article . Next morning I just realised where I saw this image before it was from the Hermit card of Thoth tarot , in this card Hermes ’s caduceus was represent like this ( in a Comet or Sperm tail form ), in Thoth tarot Hermit is Thoth-Hermes on his way to help Demeter to free Persephone. Maybe A light , a hope, a seed, a new life , and the story of Demeter / Persephone is repeat here again.
After I publish this article online my best friend Astrologer Mandi Lockley pointed out that ” Lovejoy” was also a popular UK TV character in the 80s/90s? “Lovejoy is a trickster, a swindling art and antiques dealer who seems to get caught up in devious deals and `get rich quick’ schemes. But you can’t help liking Lovejoy, who has a talent for finding hidden treasures. When he’s not out for himself, he uses his skills as a con man to help the less fortunate and less sneaky.” Thanks Mandi for this contribution and I to think inspiring. This is how Myth works and maybe ” Lovejoy ” can bring this ” new myth” meaning of finding hidden treasure and trickster hero into our world in 2015.
To conclude: C/2014 Lovejoy Q2’s appear to suggest 2015 may not be full of “Love and Joy”. As the astrological indications for this comet are about Food, missing children, Finance, Economics, Flood and perhaps some small animal problems. Also, as well as using the comet, we should not forget the rest of the sky. This year we have Uranus square Pluto and Saturn square Neptune around March to April and we have Jupiter square Saturn in the Summer. Financial astrologers usually see Jupiter-Saturn and Saturn-Neptune as important economic shift indicators and maybe C/2014 Lovejoy Q2’s path to Taurus is another indicator of this outer planet theme.
Although astrologers don’t really apply comets on a personal level, I will suggest if you have personal planets on these signs and degree where comet is going to pass. Also, if you were born in a year that had a visible comet in the sky. You had better use this unpredictable energy to shine, to be creative, to surprise yourself and to surprise people around you.
Famous singer Lady gaga was born in 1986. Early that year, comet Halley was visible in the sky. In the End of 2007 she was introduced to producer Redone and together they wrote Lady Gaga’s debut single “Just dance”. In 2007, Comet McNaught could be seene by the naked eye and it passed Lady Gaga’s So/Mo 24 Cardial and Ac/ Ic Midpoint 0 Fixed.
As another example, I was born at early 1973 and in that year comet Kohoutek became visible in the sky (although not as bright as expected).
I have had some interesting experiences related to comets. Comet Panstarrs started to be seen by people on 12th February 2013, and that was just before my birthday. The comet was in the beginning of Aquarius where my natal Venus locates. In March, when the comet passed through Pisces where my natal Mercury is located, I started to be attracted by comets, and sought opportunities to observe them and study related astrological documentation and publications. Comets always bring new ideas to us. If you inspired to read further about comets then the link to my “Comet in Astrology” is:
http://www.astro.com/astrology/aa_article141030_e.htm.
