Jackson's Astrological Identity - Capricorn or Aquarian?

Cities, like people, have a natal, or birth chart, which can be used to analyze their character and destiny.  The branch of astrology that considers charts of cities or nations is called mundane astrology and it is one of the oldest way of using astrology to understand the world. 

Often it is difficult to determine the date to use for city's the birth chart, however, since sometimes the historical records are lost or contradictory.  The city of Jackson, for instance, has "Founded 1822" on the official city seal, probably referring to the date in April of that year, when the plan for the city's layout was officially adopted.  This does not quality as an astrological birth date, since the rule in astrology is to cast the birth chart for the date the city became incorporated and/or became self-governing.  Given this requirement, 1822 is not astrological birth year, even though the city seal, and maybe the city government, may proclaim it.

As is often quoted in Mississippi history books, the state legislature approved the site for building the capitol city on November 28, 1821 and named this city 'Jackson'.  They approved a charter for the city on January 21, 1823 which provisioned for a governing body of trustees with a president elected among them, to provide leadership, but there is no evidence that this body ever convened.  According to Brinson's The Story of Jackson, until 1834 arrangements regarding building the town of Jackson were led by the state General Assembly itself.  Throughout the 1820's there was still debate about whether or not to move forward with making Jackson the capitol.  After the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit of the early 1830s, appropriation of Choctaw lands in Mississippi north of Jackson for settlers was a done deal, and the decision to put a state capitol in the center of the state at last made sense and took hold. On December 25, 1833, the General Assembly re-incorporated Jackson and defined a new self-governing structure for it, a body of five selectmen with a president holding mayoral authority.

Now the question becomes, do we use the date the legislation providing for self-government was passed or the date the first mayor took office? Suppose, like in the first charter, the second charter never took hold.  To be sure, perhaps the date the officers were sworn in should have precedence, although in common astrological practice, the date of when commissioning legislation passed is often and generally used.  In February 1834, the first mayor took office, according to Brinson.  Further research would be needed to nail down a more exact date, and if the purpose of this essay were to forecast future events based on Jackson's birth chart, we would need to search the archives for more exactitude.  For now though, let's consider all of these possible charts and see if any commonalities stand out which would point to basic essentials of the character of Jackson.

In a nutshell, here is the picture that emerges at first glance:  the chart of the date the state selected the site to build the state capitol and named this city Jackson, is a conception chart, not a birth chart, but even so, we should see connections with it to the self-sufficient entity it institutes.  The chart for December 25, 1833, shows many commonalities to it which will be described below.  The chart for the city's first charter in 1821 which really 'didn't take' but could perhaps be deemed the official one by strict adherence to the formal rules for mundane charts, has a whole different nature, which interestingly has much in common with a chart for early February 1834, when the first major took office and the city had its own government securely in place. 

So, out of the four dates for which a case could be made for the astrological birth of Jackson, two look alike in one way and two look alike in a different way.  The two different trends in these charts fall into are strikingly different, as different as the signs of Capricorn and Aquarius.  Capricorn is the king of conservative restraint and hierarchical success; Aquarius is the maverick and rebel and innovator.   Jackson is either a Capricorn city, with a big splash of Sagittarius and other fire signs, or it is an Aquarian city toned down by earthy Taurus.  We will explore this in more detail.  One thing all four charts have in common though, is a scarcity or lack of planets in water signs.  Sparse water energy is almost surely a defining quality of the city's character.  What this means for the city will be further explored as we look at each chart. 

Jackson's Capricorn identity
Neptune was in Capricorn throughout the whole period from 1821 to 1834, representing the idealization of government and the state.  Uranus was conjunct Neptune in the 1821 chart, showing the radical nature of changes being undertaken as part of the idealization, innovating government in the wilderness of the remote reaches of new world. This is the signature of frontier idealism, and much of our nation's expansion, not just Jackson, was born from it. More personal though is the conjunction of Moon and Venus in Capricorn in Jackson's 1821 chart.  These two planets are the 'feminine' ones, the softer, gentler influences but in Capricorn they are given a harder edge, this sign being more about working hard in conservative and socially sanctioned efforts toward success.  The ambition, self-discipline, and ruggedness which instigated the building of a state capitol from scratch shows here. 

In addition to the strong Capricorn flavor to the site selection legislation chart, we have a Sagittarius Sun.  The Sun gives the entity its individuality and center; this is a philosophical yet sporty influence, based on a love of freedom and mental and physical expansion, The Sun is the only planet in Sag here and it isn't well integrated into the rest of the chart.  Interestingly, the chart for the 2nd (but first executed) charter for the city has the opposite astrological circumstance.  In the 1833 chart, the Sun is in Capricorn alone and somewhat isolated from the other planets but there is a bundle of planets in Sagittarius.  This gives a strong impression that these two signs play a big role in Jackson's astrological identity. 

It is obvious to Mississippians that Jackson expresses Capricorn energy, since this is the sign of government and Jackson is the seat of the state government, but what about Sag? Mercury, Venus and Mars are all in Sag in the 1833 chart.  This is an emphasis on higher education and so is the case in Jackson where Jackson State, Millsaps and Belhaven Colleges all reside.  As well as higher education,  Sagittarius rules foreign lands and cultures and ethnicity and of course Venus rules the arts.  The Sagittarius Venus shows up prominently in artistic venues in Jackson, with "international" being a part of many of them like the International Ballet, the Treasures of St. Petersburg and of Versailles, exhibits which recently were hosted by the city. Jackson could continue to develop its positive identity by following its innate Venus in Sag connection to a multicultural emphasis in artistic expression and actively exploring the arts in an international context.  

The role of race and ethnicity as a big topic in Jackson can be described by Mercury in Sagittarius. Here talk and writing and discourse are linked to cultural diversity, ethnicity, philosophical and religious understandings and beliefs. Although Mercury in Sag in healthy adjustment is broad-minded and tolerant, ethnic perspectives can also become strident, obsessive, or overly stressed. This is especially true when Mars is also in Sagittarius, as it is here.  One fine and healing way to express these energies at their best is ethnic dance.  Venus conjunct Mars engages the artistic side of expressing physical energy and it makes sense that Jackson would host the International Ballet. Also in entertainment (a Venusian experience), the rodeo and the state fair held annually near downtown Jackson are both instances where this Sagg configuration shines, since large animals, cowboys, and conferences are all themes associated with this sign.

In addition, the December 25, 1833 chart has some interesting degree similarities to the November 28, 1821 site selection chart:

>>>Jupiter's return to Aries.  Jupiter's cycle is about 12 years, so 1833 is the year of the Jupiter return for the 1821 chart. 

>>>Jupiter conjunct Saturn in Aries square the Capricorn planets (11/28/1821)- Pluto in Aries opposite Saturn and square Capricorn planets (12/25/1833)

These Jupiter-Saturn hard aspects, involving the high-energy, action-oriented and at times aggressive sign Aries, indicates a forceful and bold approach to growth and development that pushes hard to make its way.  Jackson's reputation among some in the state as a violent city, its military invasion in the Civil War, the Jackson State student shooting during the Civil Rights era, Medgar Evers murder and high ranking in the crime statistics can be linked to the emphasis on a stressed Jupiter in Mars-ruled Aries and Saturn's involvement with it.   A square of these stressed placements to the natal Sun in the 1833 chart, shows how the identity of the city has to struggle to rise above these discordant elements.  The 1980's past slogan for the city, the "Bold New City" took a positive approach to the Jupiter in Aries tendency to push ahead.

Another common feature of both the 1821 site selection chart and the 1833 re-charter one is the shortage of water signs.  Both charts are sparse in air signs as well, although in 1833 the Moon was in Gemini and Saturn in Libra so there is some representation of air.  In general, for a person, water represents the emotions, imagination and mystical sense.  On the positive side, one compensation for this lack advances healing as a profession.  Healing the emotions, finding and releasing emotional blockages, including those manifesting in physical illness find themselves being utilized and developed in this environment.  More problematically, there could be either compensation going on for the missing water/emotions by means of hyper sensitivity, touchiness, helplessness, superstitiousness, or on the other hand, a total cut off of the feelings in the form of a soulless bureaucracy, social isolation, depression.

For a city without water signs in the birth chart, a special effort must be made to create connectedness to others in caring. Cleaning and refreshing energy needs to be actively sought. There is an emotional need to be filled.  Worship through church services or, again, the arts, is a good way to express the watery emotions in a fire form, since fire is where much of the lacking water energy goes in the 1833 chart.  Any performance-centered release of emotional energy benefits from the instinct for 'the moment' given by Fire sign energy and offers good emotional therapy although also lots of drama.  The recently advocated idea of putting a river walk through the center city would be good therapy for this lack. 

So, is Jackson a Capricorn city?  From the charts considered, we can conclude this sign is very much a part of the city's character.  But Sagittarius plays a role as well.  Next month, after some further research into the historical record,  we will consider the two other possible charts, the first charter on January 21, 1823 which describes a more Aquarius nature and the chart for when the first mayor took office in early February, 1834.  Following this discussion, we will look at specific dates in the city's history to see how well each of these charts describe the events which will provide further clues as to which one is fits the circumstances best. 

To be continued...

Here is a good website from an astrologer who specializes in city birth charts and readings:
Gary Brand astrology

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