Uranus and the 1836 Flash Freeze

Uranus and the 1836 Flash Freeze
December 21, 1836, Illinois, Indiana area
By Carolyn Egan

URANUS AND WEATHER

It is hard to believe the planet Uranus, located so far from Earth could possibly play a part in weather on earth, but after many years of tracking the planets impact on weather, I am convinced the keywords we use for the resulting weather are valid. This is not to say the planet emits a visual, observable force, but to understand the position of the planet in relationship to other planets plus the position in the lunar phase chart.

The key words we give to Uranus represents the dry north to northwest wind flow and high-pressure masses of cold(est) air that descend from the north in any season. In the winter season, the meteorologists often tag this kind of weather an "Alberta Clipper". When Uranus is aligned with Mercury, a closer to earth planet also representing cold, dry and windy conditions, there is a resulting weather event of extraordinary consequences. In charts that depict storms resulting in blizzard conditions, we would find additional factors representing the moisture content. After reading the history of the weather event in Illinois, I hope you will have an appreciation of how the planet Uranus is represented in Astrometeorology.

HISTORY

Taken from the historical files of Illinois. "About two o'clock in the afternoon it began to grow dark from a heavy, black cloud which was seen in the northwest. Almost instantly the strong wind, traveling at the rate of 70 mph, accompanied by a deep bellowing sound, with its icy blast, swept over the land, and everything was frozen hard. The water in the little ponds in the roads froze in waves, sharp edged and pointed, as the gale had blown it. The chickens, pigs and other small animals were frozen in their tracks. Wagon wheels ceased to roll, froze to the ground. Men, going from their barns or fields a short distance from their homes, in slush and water, returned a few minutes later walking on the ice. Those caught out on horseback were frozen to their saddles, and had to be lifted off and carried to the fire to be thawed apart. Two young men were frozen to death near Rushville. One of them was found with his back against a tree, with his horse's bridle over his arm and his horse frozen in front of him. The other was partly in a kneeling position, with a tinderbox in one hand and a flint in the other, with both eyes wide open as if intent on trying to strike a light. Many other casualties were reported. As to the exact temperature, however, no instrument has left any record; but the ice was frozen in the stream, as variously reported, from six inches to a foot in thickness in a few hours."

The spectacular cold front that moved through the area dropped temperatures by about 40 degrees almost instantly. The power of Uranus and Mercury are easily seen in the charts.
Text from: Essentials of Meteorology by C. Donald Ahrens, chapter 8, page 187

ANALYSIS and CHART INFORMATION

Ingress chart - Sun into Capricorn, Dec. 21, 1836, 6:02:07pm GMT, Rushville, Indiana
[ VIEW INGRESS CHART ]
The air mass moved into the region on the same day the Sun moved into zero degrees of Capricorn.

The ingress chart should point out the expected weather event and an overview of the season. We see that cold, dry and windy Mercury in cold Capricorn is found at the top of the chart, angularly placed in conjunction to the 10th house cusp. The horizon, the first house cusp, is occupied by the planet Pluto, adding the influence of 'intensity' to the weather event.

The aspect between Mercury and Uranus in the ingress chart is sextile. The declination of Mercury at this time is in out-of-bounds position at 25 degrees south and in contra parallel aspect to each other. The Moon is in very high north out-of-bound position at 25 degrees. The Moon is brought into this analysis as the meridian or 4th house cusp ruler. There are no planets in the 4th house (50% of the weather analysis) therefore, the zodiac sign ruler is considered. The Moon is in the sign Gemini; Mercury is the ruler of Gemini.

Lunation chart (lunar phase) - First quarter moon, Dec. 15, 1836, 3:51:21 am GMT, Rushville, Indiana
[ VIEW LUNATION CHART ]
The lunar phase chart covers the weekly description of weather through December 22, 1836.

Students of Astrometeorology won't be surprised to find Uranus conjunct the horizon angle (7th cusp), square the meridian angle (10th cusp) and opposition to Mars, ruler of the 4th. The first house cusp in Virgo gives us the ruler, cold Mercury, for an additional piece of this icy story.

Uranus - cold, dry, n, n/w wind
Mercury - cold, dry, windy
Mars (coruler of 4th cusp) - hot, dry (the warm air being pushed out of the way)
Pluto (coruler of 4th cusp) - intense and in 45 degree or semi-square aspect to the 10th cusp

Solar Maps provide an alternate view of the lunar phase chart. Find the symbol for Uranus and follow the track it makes through the Illinois/Indiana region.
[ VIEW SOLARMAP ]

Determining the Wind Velocity
Mercury Ingress Chart - December 19, 1836, 4:01:24 pm GMT, Rushville, IN
[ VIEW MERCURY INGRESS CHART ]
The lunar phase chart has Mercury at 22 degrees of Sagittarius, however, by the 21st of December, the planet Mercury had changed zodiac signs to Capricorn. Viewing this chart gives us the information for wind velocity until Mercury enters the next zodiac sign or when Mercury appears retrograde.

Analysis for the Mercury ingress chart proceeds to the 4th house cusp where there are no planets in residence. Looking to the zodiac sign on the cusp we find Gemini; the planet ruler is Mercury. This is the first clue to the action of the wind or the first statement that would be 'this will be a windy period'. Next, look at the first house and you will find Uranus in residence and the planet is also in square aspect to the 4th house cusp indicating the radical and abnormal action of the wind. This chart pulls Mercury to link to Uranus by sextile. Adding more wind to this period, please look to Jupiter triggering the 7th house cusp/angle, pumping up the wind to problematic gusts.

State of Indiana Chart by Marc Penfield December 11, 1816, 12:10pm cst, Corydon, IN [ VIEW INDIANA CHART ]
In addition to the ingress and lunar phase charts, it is a good idea to find another chart to secure additional backup correlation. Geographical foundation charts are necessary to weather forecasting.

The lunar phase chart relationship to the chart of the State of Indiana provides additional information:
Transiting Pluto contacts the natal Mercury Uranus conjunction by trine. Again we see the Mercury and Uranus are prominent in that chart as well as the previous charts. Pluto also contacts the natal Moon with an adjustment aspect. There are more aspects between the two charts, can you find them?