Corona Radiata: The Astrology of COVID-19
An astrological interpretation of the COVID-19 pandemic.
We are one month into the Year of the Metal Rat and the World Health Organization has officially proclaimed COVID-19 a pandemic. The Chinese zodiac is a cycle of 60 years, in which each of the twelve animals are given five elemental expressions. The Rat is the first animal of the Chinese zodiac and therefore this new Chinese year marks the beginning of a new cycle. Beginnings represent the initiation of new growth-patterns, but also the purification and release of old patterns. Metal is the element that governs the two organs affected by COVID-19: Lungs and Large Intestine. A viral epidemic in a Metal Year affecting the Metal-ruled organs is the sign of a “reset” in our personal and collective immunity. We must also remember that Metal is the element of Heaven, the “father”, the Source of manifestation, as well as the invisible spirit of the world. There is no element that better expresses the nature of our spiritual health more than Metal.
The first case of novel coronavirus was reported in Wuhan, China on December 31, 2019—five days after the south-node solar eclipse in Capricorn. A couple of weeks later, we experienced the north-node lunar eclipse of January 11. On January 30, coronavirus was declared a “public health emergency of international concern”. On February 11, one month after the lunar eclipse, the World Health Organization named the novel coronavirus “COVID-19”. The timing of these events illustrates the ancient understanding of eclipses. Indian and Tibetan astrology consider viral and bacterial infections (especially epidemics) to be caused by the eclipse-causing lunar nodes, Rahu and Ketu. In Vedic mythology, the lunar nodes are said to be a demon named Svarbhānu, who was cut in half by Lord Vishnu after he was caught stealing the nectar of immortality from the gods. This brings us full circle to the Tibetan concept of provocations as a cause of epidemics. The lunar nodes are the astrological expression, or Heavenly level of our psychological balance, just as Clifford explained the psychological import of Tibetan “demonology”. They represent the “demons” we must face in ourselves, the unconscious level of our psyche. Eclipses are seen as negative omens precisely because they indicate the purification of the psyche, and the six months following an eclipse is seen as an especially challenging period of time. Thus, the lunar nodes indicate the fundamental polarity that needs to be resolved for psychological well-being. Does this not also echo the Tibetan conception of mind as the root of all disease?
During the development of COVID-19, Jupiter had recently entered its sign of debilitation, where it joined Sun, Moon, and the historical Saturn-Ketu-Pluto conjunction in Capricorn (see Further Reading for my essay on this). Capricorn corresponds to the Large Intestine, while its ruler (Saturn) corresponds to the Metal element. Saturn is the planetary energy that protects the life-force, bestowing longevity and immunity. It is our defensive energy. This protective life-force is further detailed in Tibetan Medicine in the concept of bla, defined as the“protective life-force” and more shamanistically as “soul”. It correlates to the Chinese concept of shen (spirit). The Large Intestine is the eliminator of wastes. Thus, the eclipse and difficult conjunctions in Capricorn illustrate conditions of immune compromise combined with virulent toxicity that is at the root of the current pandemic.
We should remember that while Rahu and Ketu are often “demonized”, they are the very means for growth and evolution. The current pandemic is a powerful signal from the natural world, calling us to re-examine our moral, ecological, and psychic relationship to ourselves, to each other, and to the Earth-world as a whole. Therefore, this moment has within it a tremendous opportunity for humanity and the world, if we will eliminate the wastes of the old order and breathe in a future of unity, balance, and harmony.