HISTORY

Mount St. Helens, located in southwestern Washington about 50 miles northeast of Portland, Oregon, is one of many volcanic peaks that dominate the Cascade Range of the Pacific Northwest; the range extends from Mount Garibaldi in British Columbia, Canada, to Lassen Peak in northern California. Geologists call Mount St. Helens a composite volcano (or stratovolcano), a term for steep sided, often symmetrical cones constructed of alternating layers of lava flows, ash, and other volcanic debris. Composite volcanoes tend to erupt explosively and pose considerable danger to nearby life and property. In contrast, the gently sloping shield volcanoes, such as those in Hawaii, typically erupt nonexplosively, producing fluid lavas that can flow great distances from the active vents. Although Hawaiian-type eruptions may destroy property, they rarely cause death or injury. Before 1980, snow-capped, gracefully symmetrical Mount St. Helens was known as the "Fujiyama of America." Mount St. Helens, other active Cascade volcanoes, and those of Alaska form the North American segment of the circum-Pacific "Ring of Fire," a notorious zone that produces frequent, often destructive, earthquake and volcanic activity. See http://pubs.usgs.gov/publications/msh/intro.html

ASTROMETEOROLOGY ANALYSIS of the May 18, 1980 QUAKE/BLAST

Astrologers quickly construct a chart for the actual event that will show the observable planetary configurations.

Click here for EVENT CHART

Examining the chart will provide the basis for the event, but can the astrologer forecast a future disaster?

Since hurricane forecasts are now possible, and then monitoring the activity for the Mt. St. Helens location by an astrometeorologist could provide forecasts for future eruptions.

Astrologers can now specialize in the field of astrometeorology by utilizing the information found in the Long Range Weather Forecasting Materials and private lessons available at: http://weathersage.com/shoppe/index.htm

The following information was presented at the 2005 NORWAC Conference in Seattle, Washington and it is offered as a sample. A series of charts were investigated, laying the groundwork to identify the observable planetary configurations for the earthquake and eruption.

An extreme weather event or natural disaster can be identified ahead of the actual date if an astrometeorologist is observing a particular location and charts of the possible future event. The structure of the process is outlined in this article.

In time, more long range weather forecasters will be trained for this work.

Initially, a chart of the season, the Sun into a cardinal sign, is examined to determine if there is potential for disaster. The first chart is for the location in Washington.

CHART INFORMATION

SUN INTO ARIES or SPRING INGRESS, March 20, 1980, 11:09:42 am GMT
in Seattle, WA 47N36:23, 122W19:51

Click here to view Aries Ingress chart

The actual process of examination is important. Looking at the fourth house, the planets Venus and Moon are located very close to the cusp, 15 degrees of Taurus. The pair is in very good zodiacal state and assumes a great amount of strength. The weather for the season could be typical for the region, mild and wet, however, the strong earth indications give clues to what is about to happen. Note that the Moon was still in square aspect to Mars but Mars, retrograding, was approaching another square to Uranus, stirring the pot of potential disruption, riot, or extreme.

Observing the first house influences, no planets are found therefore the sign on the cusp is examined - Capricorn, a cold and dry indication, but the ruler, Saturn, is in square aspect to Neptune. Any square to Neptune can result in a peculiar weather event from mists to flooding and we cannot forget - pollution. Saturn, in its travel through this season, retrogrades back over the aspected Neptune and the peculiar weather resulted in the ash that fell over thousands of miles of acreage.

NEW MOON May 14, 1980, 12:00:11 pm GMT Seattle, WA

Click here to view New Moon Chart

The next step in the process is to observe the lunation closest to the approach of the actual date of the blast. Using the same process that is taught in the Long Range Weather Forecasting materials, the fourth house is examined.

The sign Cancer graces the fourth house cusp with no planets within. The ruler, the Moon, is found with the Sun at almost 24 degrees of Taurus. Next, the aspects are examined and the important aspect is the opposition to Uranus that takes place between angular houses one and seven.

These planets in opposition are found midway into their houses suggesting that some action could take place mid period. Other earthquake indicators, Pluto and Mars should play into the analysis (see Visiting Sages page with Ann Parker). There is a major aspect from Pluto to the fourth house cusp.

How does Mars fit into this extraordinary quake/blast chart? The first house of information has the Moon Sun and Mercury in Taurus, all aspecting Uranus, a planet known to produce record setting events. The ruler of the first house Taurus is Venus. Venus aspects Mars, pulling in the third component of 'quake' indicators.

STATE OF WASHINGTON CHART

November 11, 1889, Olympia, 2:27pm PST 122W53, 47N03
Source Los Angeles Times says 5:27pm in Washington
Chart is from the Marc Penfield Collection

Click here to view the State of Washington chart

Many times the older charts are a better source of information as seen in the natal chart of the founding of Newport, RI also seen in the classic storm of the 1938 hurricane. More work will need to be done for the chart presented here.

It is interesting to note that the natal Saturn and Neptune (the ash and mud fallout) are in a tight square aspect in the natal chart. Neptune rules the ascendant for further backup.

The transits are solid and once again involve Saturn and Neptune. At the time of the event, Saturn was stationary and posited on the seventh house cusp and Neptune was approaching the tenth house cusp and in square to the first house cusp. This is downright convincing that the chart has merit.