Graphic by Ey@el

Original en français

Tyger, tyger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
 
In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand dare seize the fire?

~ William Blake

I remember a very vivid dream I had a couple of decades ago, in which I was walking alone in the Vincennes Woods nearby the place where I was born and spent the first seven years of my life. A dangerous tiger had escaped from the zoo— a man-eating tiger! Naturally, I came across the terrifying wild beast. Realising it would be useless to run and that I was no match for this wild cat looking for an easy snack, I had accepted my lot and laid still on the ground, closed my eyes, and prayed for a quick painless death. But it never happened. Instead, I could feel the tiger lying against me, purring peacefully like a big cuddly puss—my protector! My totem animal?

Why am I mentioning all this? Because today marks the start of the much-dreaded Year of the Tiger—a (meteorologically and socially) challenging turbulent year ahead. If you felt the situation was not evolving quickly enough, rest assured that it's going to get lively—very lively, with a high potential risk of social unrest:

The Tiger means tension, conflict, and rebellion. Looking at the downside of the Tiger Chinese zodiac sign in terms of the structure and functioning of society, its influence could certainly lead to a renewed outbreak of wars over the control of natural resources (oil, drinking water, rare metals) and to chronic instability within countries with both young populations and fragile institutional structures. But fortunately, in 2022 the Yang Water element combined with the energy of the Tiger may effectively improve listening skills as well as the adaptability to anticipate and find peaceful solutions to issues before they get out of hand. Besides, the energy of the Water Tiger this year greatly stimulates analytical and observation skills, thus facilitating the conduct of diplomatic affairs and a peaceful dialogue between nations. (Source)

Awkwardly, the two world wars broke out during a Tiger year. However, it may also be of some comfort for you to know that the resolution of the Cuban missile crisis during the cold war took place in 1962—a Water Tiger year regarded as less hurried and more peaceful.

Admittedly, I don't know much about Chinese astrology, but I can tell you that Pluto shifting into Capricorn, next week, after a 20-year transit in Sagittarius (beliefs, religions, dogmas, philosophy, international finance) does constitute a significant event in sidereal astrology.¹

As mentioned last month, Capricorn has to do with institutions, the establishment and generally speaking, power. In traditional tarot, it is associated with the Devil which symbolises the chains of materialism and the illusory veils of physicality the incarnated soul must free itself from in order to pursue its evolution. As from (dwarf) planet Pluto—named after the Roman god of the Underworld, it is a bit like the alchemist or the phoenix reborn from its ashes. In analogy with the Judgement card, it represents karma not in a moral sense but rather as a fundamental principle or law of life which eliminates and transforms all that is unsustainable for evolution.

At the collective level, Pluto will dramatically change the structures of our societies, highlighting all the intrigues, conspiracies, malpractices, frauds, and other deceit by the elites who have taken over the planet and its resources. In a nutshell, it should “drain the swamp”, if I may use this phrase much controverted in our demonocracies. It so happens again that the American War of Independence and the French Revolution both occurred during the first years of Pluto's last transit in Capricorn, i.e. about two centuries and a half ago.

Another less infrequent but no less significant astrological event due to its near-simultaneous occurrence, is the sign change of the (mathematical) lunar nodal axis of karma. Thus the North Node—aka Ascending Node or Head of the Dragon—representing dharma (where humanity needs to head to), will soon enter the sign of Aries in analogy with the Emperor card. To put it clearly, it is time for mankind in 2022 to take back its sovereignty and for the sheople to call a halt to emasculation.

Funny how the French talk about grabbing the bull by the horns (in this case, the ram) while the Anglo-Saxons much prefer grabbing the tiger by the tail. To each his own way, but my best bet is on the tiger!

Just like in the Wizard of Oz or the Naked Emperor, humanity could finally awaken from the deepest sleep and realise that the almighty of this world are just toothless tigers.² Or asses in tigerskin³ as they say in Japan.

Que sera sera, but it'll be fine!⁴

Ey@el