The Astrological Chart of Lithuania

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In early December 2013 I was approached by a journalist, working in a Lithuanian magazine. She asked me to write a short article for her magazine, containing some astrological predictions for her country for 2014. I have never wrote an article for a Lithuanian magazine before, but I like challenges, so I accepted it. First of all I had to do some research. I had to find out what the astrological chart of Lithuania is. In my early 20s I have spent 5 years studying as an international student in Kiev. Today this is the capital of Ukraine. But back then Ukraine and Lithuania were two of the 15 republics, forming one huge country, called the USSR (Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics). In our university there were students from all over this vast country. And among them, of course, there were some Lithuanians. So, to a certain extent I am familiar with the general look and the national mentality of these people.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t find on the Internet an astrological chart, which in my opinion, satisfactorily describes the character traits of this small nation. Some claim that Lithuania is born under the sign of Cancer, but I personally could not find any truth in this statement. I have done some extensive research in mundane astrology before, so I took upon myself the task of rectifying the chart of this fascinating northern nation.

By the way, the term ‘mundane astrology’ describes this branch of astrology, which deals not with the charts of individuals, but with the charts of entire nations or countries. Similarly to people, nations are born in some particular point of time in a certain geographical place. When this happens an astrological chart can be drawn for them, just as we do with ordinary people. The difference is that the chart of a country or a nation summarises and describes the national mentality of all the people living in it. In other words if we sum up the characters of all the people living in a particular country, then their most prominent, collective characteristics should show up in that country’s astrology chart. They appear in it as specific planetary placings in signs and houses and also as specific aspects between the planets. These charts are very useful to study the typical characteristics of a nation. Also, once we are in possession of such mundane chart, certain predictions can be done about the future of that nation.

Originally, I had to delve deeper into the Lithuanian history, hoping to find out the exact first instant of time, when the Lithuanian nation was born. The initial unification of the local tribes was done by Duke Mindaugas (1236-1263). Some believe that the initial moment when the Lithuanian state was born happened around this time. These events, however, cannot be taken as a first spark towards the real independence of Lithuanians. After the king was killed, the somewhat unified local tribes did not continue to exist as a totally separate and united sovereign entity. The newly formed fragile union was governed for few decades by various rulers (including Mindaugas’ son). The process of forming a separate and independent country was not fast or easy. Quite the opposite: it was actually a very slow and difficult development, during which the local tribes still had a lot of local autonomy. The establishment of the new state was going slowly and was still a kind of a process of slow unification of existing tribes. Also killing the current ruler and taking his place was very common. Thus, we cannot take a particular point in time around this medieval period which we can use for our astrological purposes.

In the 14th and the 15th centuries the country formed “a union” with Poland. However, Poland was the dominant side in everything, so it can be said that during this period Lithuania was essentially a part of Poland. In 1793/1795 the Lithuanian territory was occupied by Russia.

Part 1. Lithuania’s Natal Chart

Independence was first proclaimed in Lithuania on the 11th of December 1917 in Vilnius. The time is uncertain. The time zone used at the proclamation is also uncertain. The country was under German occupation at the time. Nicholas Campion in his “Book of World Horoscopes” builds a chart for that date using a time of 12.00 noon. I believe that I have found the exact ‘time of birth’ of the Lithuanian nation. After making some complex calculations I found that the actual proclamation of independence occurred exactly at 09 h 44 ‘ 33″ AM. I will show later on in this article exactly how I have done this.

A further proclamation of independence took place on 16 February 1918, but this date could not be taken into account, as Lithuania by this time was already “born”. All facts point to the fact that we should take 11th of December 1917 as the original proclamation date.

The faith of the newly proclaimed country was not nice and easy. In 1922 the Polish army seized large portions of the Vilnius region, including Vilnius itself. So, essentially the country lost its capital. For 19 years Kaunas became the temporary capital of Lithuania. The Klaipeda region was acquired from the Germans in 1923 and then returned back in 1939. In the same year the Soviet Union troops advanced to eastern Poland and Vilnius was returned back to Lithuania.

However, very soon after that, in June 1940 according to the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact, the country fell under the occupancy of the USSR. Soon after, the Nazis attacked the Soviet Union and Lithuania found itself occupied by the Germans. After World War II, Lithuania was included in the USSR as one of its 15 soviet republics. When working with these historical events we should distance ourselves from any strong emotions or any resilient political views. From an astrological point of view we are not interested if these periods were good or bad for the Lithuanian people. The important point to remember is that the country in this interval of time lost its independence. In fact the real Lithuanian independence was always short lived. Most of the time the country was passing from one hand to another in big political and military fights which were occurring at the time.

The loss of independence for a nation is a serious event. Especially if it happens several times in the nation’s history, we must definitely find out what causes it astrologically. Usually a loss of independence happens when there are some negative aspects between the Moon (symbolising the people, the folk, the crowd) and Saturn (representing any limitations, difficulties, bad karma for this nation, foreign yoke). And indeed, the rectified chart of Lithuania shows a square (a negative aspect) between these two important planets.

Saturn is a personal planet in the Lithuanian chart (as it is ruling the Ascendant), so it is a very important planet. The Moon is always personal and it is always very important in any chart. The square has an orb of only 2°39′, which is very narrow. Therefore this aspect is quite strong and it has a great significance in the chart. The aspect is applying which means that from a karmic point of view it is relatively new. It is a strong aspect, with the narrow orb which indicates that karmically this nation must wait a long time, before it is resolved.

A chart like this will inevitably put any proclamation of independence for this nation on a very shaky ground. In the best case scenario the independence can be proclaimed on a piece of paper, but may not exist in reality. This is especially true for modern day reality. We witness how many small countries nowadays lose their real independence one after another. It is enough to point out to what happens in Greece, Cyprus, Portugal and Spain and many other countries which exist at the periphery of the European Union. If a country is not financially independent and has a huge foreign debt, then it is not really an independent country. Such countries may still formally exist on the political map of the world. However, their independence is a formality, not a reality.

If certain international, financial obligations exist, then this country is not really free to decide its own polices. The countries which provide the credit to them dictate to a large extent what internal and external laws the indebted countries will follow. So who the ruling party is and who the president is becomes an irrelevant formality, without any real, deep meaning. In any case the smaller country is necessitated to follow certain policies, as per its international obligations.

The same rules apply for people. If one man has a huge debt to the bank can we say that he is really free? Yes, he has the freedom to choose between one employer or another (to a certain extent), but until he repays all his debts, he is in fact financially enslaved. On another hand a rich man have much more freedom in life and great personal independence. If he employs other people, then he decides their fate. The relationships between rich countries and poor countries are not much different than the relationships between rich men and poor men.

Coming back to the chart of Lithuania, we said that in the best case scenario a country with a negative aspect between the Moon and Saturn may not have real independence. It may formally exist on a piece of paper, but not in reality. In the worst case scenario, such a country can be easily absorbed into another stronger neighbouring country. And as we can see from the history of this nation, this is exactly what has happened several times in the past. We must remember this very important point later on, when in part 2 we interpret the secondary progressions for Lithuania’s chart.

The Moon is in the 11th house and it is in quite wide conjunction with the MC (the orb is 7°47′), which indicates popularity and certain fame for this nation. But the Moon is predominately negatively aspected, which does not bode well for its fate as an independent country. For example, the Moon is negatively aspected to Venus in the 1st house, which indicates a somewhat inflated ego of this small nation. By the way, many small nations exhibit similar inferiority complex symptoms.

The Moon negatively aspected to Saturn in the 8th house explains why 190,000 Jews were murdered during the war. Also, it is indicative of the prolonged internal war after World War II in the period from 1944 to 1954. The Moon square Uranus in the 1st house indicates stubborn decisions which this nation makes in the name of its independence. However, such decisions often lead to chaotic and unpredictable outcomes for the country.

The Moon negatively aspected to Neptune in the 7th house is showing difficult karmic relationships with the neighbours. Saturn and Neptune in conjunction in Leo in the 7th house show that Lithuania has a very difficult karmic relationship with all its close neighbours. Lithuanians are respected and secretly admired, but nevertheless due to the negative aspects, the relationship with their neighbours is not an easy one at all.

Now let’s look at the positive aspects to the Moon. It makes a sextile to Mercury, which describes Lithuanians as clever people, with considerable intellectual potential and flair for high technologies. However, since Mercury is hidden in the 12th house, the communications and negotiations with this nation are far from easy. This placement of Mercury is indicative for many secret treaties and negotiations. The ordinary people (the Moon in the 11th house) may be totally unaware of them.

Also this placement is not favourable for really free and openly democratic media. With Mercury in the 12th a lot of issues are not spoken about or they are simply covered up. My article, for example, did not get published in the Lithuanian magazine, as it was originally planned. Maybe some statements in it were not entirely to the editor’s liking. Nevertheless, I uploaded it here on my own website, where it can be read by those Lithuanian people who can speak English. Mercury in the 12th house indicates that they always keep some information to themselves and never say everything they know (Mercury is in opposition to Pluto).

The Moon in the 9th house of distant travel shows great tides of emigration, which will occur from times to times. Actually this is exactly what has happened many times in the past and it is continuing nowadays too. The Moon in a positive aspect to Mars (sextile) in the 8th indicates military help to other neighbouring countries when such help it is needed. This aspect endows the nation with great physical health. Lithuanian men have the reputation to be quite big and strong. Such qualities are much needed for this nation in order to survive at those northern latitudes. The trine which the Moon makes to the Ascendant shows the great emotional attachment, which Lithuanians have for their land. And finally, the Moon trine Pluto promises a great spiritual development for this nation, which like the bird Phoenix always rises from the ashes, despite all difficult circumstances.

In the rectified chart Venus and Uranus fall into the first house. This is an extremely appropriate placing. The Ascendant describes the general look of the nation and Lithuanians have the reputation as very good looking people. At the same time both Venus and Uranus are in Aquarius which indicates that at first glance these people appear somewhat distant and albeit friendly they never come up too close and personal to foreigners. They are very sociable and friendly, but never too close. Uranus projects ice cold good looks which are typical for the northern beauty of this nation.

Part 2. Secondary progressions for Lithuania’s chart

Now let’s have a look at the secondary progressions. As they are dynamic and change year after year they allow us to have a glimpse at any future events for this nation. But first let’s have a look how they have conspired in the past. If they ‘fit’ into all well documented historic events for Lithuania, then we will know that the rectified chart works. Looking at the secondary progressions (using the method ‘day-for-a-year’) we discover that exact opposition existed between the progressed Ascendant to the natal Saturn exactly at the time of annexation of Lithuania by the USSR.

This is extremely important, because the Ascendant delineates the state borders. The keywords for Saturn are restrictions, limitations, cessation and termination. The aspect between these two important astrological points is negative. Therefore any negative progressions between these two points may indicate loss of sovereignty and obliterating the state borders (as it actually happened).

The progressed opposition Ascendant – Saturn occurred at the following dates 01.08.1940 – 19.01.1941 – 06.07.1941. Here the three dates signify the following. The first date indicates when the progressed aspect has started, the second date points to its culmination and the third date shows when the progressed aspect went out of orb and ceased. Obviously the progressed aspect will be at its strongest around the culmination date. Usually the most compelling events happen around this time.

At the same time another progressed aspect was also developing. The progressed Saturn opposed the progressed Ascendant. Saturn rules the Ascendant of the country (Capricorn), so it is a very important planet in the chart of Lithuania. This happened on the following dates: 05.02.1940 – 23.07.1940 – 05.01.1941. The annexation happened in June 1940 and the incorporation was announced on 21 July 1940. Notice that this is exactly at the culmination of the progression with an accuracy of just two days! Such accuracy is unbelievable and cannot be simply ignored as a mere coincidence!

After the progressed aspect between the Ascendant and Saturn Lithuania became part of the Soviet Union for half a century. On the onset of the dissolution of the USSR, a second chance was given for the Baltic republics to gain their independence again. For Lithuania this happened about 10.45 pm (8.45 pm GMT) on 11 March 1990 in Vilnius. This chart is given below.

Now we must remember that between two important ‘state’ charts there always should be a quite definite link. If the charts are correct there MUST be a confirmation in the second chart pointing to the first one and vice versa. Looking at the chart of the second independence from 1990 one could not help but to notice that three planets are located in the sign of Capricorn. So this confirms the theory that this sign is very important for Lithuania. Therefore we can conclude that most likely the ascendant of Lithuania is in Capricorn in the original chart from 1917. Astrologically this is confirmed by its small size. Big countries have fire or air signs on the ascendant, smaller countries usually have earth signs.

Also the Ascendant is related to the national image which these people project at a first glance. Lithuanians are known as ‘down-to-earth’, practical, even somewhat too critical and at times too pessimistic people. The chart of Lithuania has some similarities with the chart of Bulgaria. Bulgaria is born under very strong Capricorn on the Ascendant. Geographically this is also a small country. Bulgarians too are known to be somewhat pessimistic and underestimating their own abilities. However, they are extremely practical and survive anything which destiny throws at them. Sometimes they have a reputation of ‘being happy’ for their neighbours’ misfortune. Lithuanians possess some similar traits. The international astrology observer Boris Bulatov has written an article “Lithuania’s Zodiac Sign”, in which he also supports the thesis that Lithuania has Capricorn rising.

(http://www.astroportal.lt/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=122). The article is written in Russian, but if you copy and paste this link into Google translator you should obtain a reasonably good translation.

In the Bulgarian chart there is a similar hard aspect between Saturn and the Moon, as it is in the Lithuanian chart. In the chart of Bulgaria it is an opposition, which is resolved sidewise, while in the chart of Lithuania it is a square, which cannot be resolved. Due to this hard aspect Bulgaria has lost its independence twice. The first Bulgarian state was established in its present geographical territory in 680. In the 11th century it became part of Byzantium for nearly two hundred years (Byzantium is the name of the eastern part of the Roman Empire). Bulgaria gained its independence back in 1185 and formed a second Bulgarian state. Two centuries later it was invaded by the Ottoman Empire. It was liberated again only after the Russian – Turkish war. The third Bulgarian state was established in 1878, which exists until present days.

So the hard aspect ‘opposition between the Moon and Saturn’ in the chart of Bulgaria caused two losses of independence and the Bulgarian people had to form three different Bulgarian states throughout their history. In the chart of Lithuania there is a square Saturn – Moon and the entire history of Lithuania is a fight for its own independence. Its territory has often been divided between stronger neighbouring countries.

A major difference between the charts of the two countries is the placement of Jupiter. This planet rules the value system of the nation. In Lithuania’s chart Jupiter is in Gemini, while in Bulgaria’s chart Jupiter is in Capricorn. Jupiter in Capricorn is very rigid, it is not interested at all about its neighbours, but at the same time makes the nation very resilient to any influence from the outside. This is typical Bulgarian trait. While they are very friendly to other nations, at the same time they rarely change their mind and opinions because somebody tells them to do so. Although this trait may look negative, it actually helped Bulgarians to survive the foreign yolk and to preserve their national identity for so many centuries.

In the chart of Lithuania Jupiter is in Gemini, so the value system of the Lithuanian people is subject to an easy influence from outside. In a way Jupiter in Gemini is not good for Lithuania as it indicates that this country can easily be absorbed in larger neighbouring countries which impose different value systems (such as Russia or Poland) or unions (such as EU for example). With Jupiter in Gemini it would be not so difficult to melt down the population of this small country into a larger pot of nations.

To determine the exact degree of the Ascendant we have three choices. If we assume that one of the three planets in Capricorn in the chart from 1990 has been transiting the Ascendant of the natal chart of Lithuania from 1917, then the Ascendant could be either 23° 03′ 18″ (Saturn position) or 14° 13′ 36″ (Neptune position) or 09° 07′ 26″ (Uranus position).

The latest version is the most likely one, as Uranus in this case is in a close conjunction with the Ascendant. This bodes very well with the Lithuanian people’s national character. Also Uranus is very strong in the original chart from 1917 as it is in the first house in Aquarius. So it must be this planet, which has been exactly crossing the Ascendant at the time of the proclamation of its second independence. Saturn is unlikely to have been doing this, as it does this cyclically too often (every 24 years or so). Usually we find Neptune on the Ascendant when there is a transition from capitalism towards a communist state, while here the opposite is true – Lithuania made a transition from a communist state to a European type (capitalist) state. For a transition towards a western type of democracy, Uranus is much more appropriate.

It is interesting to do some further research about what happened around March 1958 – March 1970 (the peak is reached at February 1964), as during this time the progressed Jupiter in the rectified chart was stationary. There must have been some crisis of ideals, value system and beliefs of the Lithuanian people around those years.

From 29 September 2029 the progressed positions of both Saturn and Neptune freeze and it will not move for about 15 years. This will be a very hard time for the Lithuanian state. It shows a major state crisis (stationary Saturn) and a crash of ideals, a disillusion time (stationary Neptune). Then Saturn will resume its movement and it will start going forward on 15 July 2044, while Neptune will do the same on 31 July 2056.

It is interesting to note that at the same time the progressed position of Neptune will cross the Ascendant on 20 November 2055. This almost inevitably always suggests a transition to some kind of a communist state of society. Now we should not be scared of the word ‘communist’ as the societies of the future will be organized on very different principles from what it is today. The epoch of Aquarius almost demands from us some kind of collective, ‘citizen-ruling-type-of-government’. So the official date of transition of Lithuania into this state of a new, more social, fair and equitable type of society will happen around that date.

Then Saturn crosses the Ascendant on 6 March 2062, which may mark the date when Lithuania will be totally integrated into some new future type of Commonwealth of Nations. It is almost certain that by then Lithuania will not exist as an independent country on the map of the world. But there is no reason to worry too much about it. Similar fate awaits many other small countries. People will rule their societies in a very different way by then. Technologies and fast ways of transportation and communication will make the existence of many states totally unnecessary. The chart of Russia also shows that in the future this country will form a Union, containing many present day countries, where the internal organisation will be analogous to a ‘communist’ type of society. It will be not the same as the USSR. The form will be different, but people will live in more equality and greater brotherhood, than it is today. So it is logical to assume that the future of Lithuania will be aligned within the new borders of this future Great State, which may be called the ‘Commonwealth of Independent Countries’ or something similar. Most likely this will happen in the middle of the stationary progressed Saturn period, i.e. around 2037. Judging from past experience all important events in the Lithuanian history seem to happen exactly in the middle of the progressed periods of key planets.

Part 3. Astrological prognosis for 2014 for Lithuania

I have rectified the natal chart of the country Lithuania to be as follows: 11th of December 1917 at 9 h 44 min 33 sec. AM (-01H35’36”) in Vilna, Lithuania, 54N41, 25E19. The Ascendant of the country is 09°07′ in Capricorn. The method of prognosis is secondary progressions on this chart.

This year Lithuania is on the brink of a very important event – the progressed Mercury of the country’s chart is about to enter a new sign – Aries. Why is this so important? Because the progressed Mercury is moving relatively slowly and it marks several relatively long periods of the country’s development, moving from sign to sign. Now we have to bear in mind that the planet Mercury in an astrological chart of a country rules the following:

The way people exchange information
The official ideology of the country
The roads, bridges, subway, trains, post offices etc.
The education system of the country, especially primary and secondary schools
Stock exchanges, markets, trade
So here are the periods of the progressed planet Mercury in the chart of Lithuania:

23.04.1912 – 30.12.1978. Progressed Mercury in Capricorn. Everything happens with difficulties. The nation learns the hard way. The official ideology is extremely rigid. The trade operations are very slow. The nation is relatively isolated from the world. Information is not easily passed in and out. The education system is inflexible. New infrastructure is built very slowly, but what is built (such as bridges, roads, railways etc.) lasts for a very long time.

30.12.1978 – 06.12.1997. Progressed Mercury in Aquarius. A period when the nation exchanges much more information with the outer world. The trade exchange is moving fast. The nation opens up to new progressive ideas and concepts. People open up their mind to new ideologies. New infrastructure is built rapidly and often quite unexpectedly. New roads and bridges are built – both literally and metaphorically.

06.12.1997 – 29.11.2013. Progressed Mercury in Pisces. A period of confusion and lack of definitive ideology. There isn’t a clear path forward. Politicians may say one thing to the people and then clandestinely they may proceed to do precisely the opposite. The government signs secret agreements, which may bring loss to the nation. Promises are made, which may not be fulfilled. What you see is not what you get. Deception in the media is common. The education system is chaotic. Trade operations are subject to a great risk, which at times end up in great (often not quite legal) profit and at other times may end up in a great loss. The sea infrastructure gets priority over the one at the land.

29.11.2013 – 26.02.2030. Progressed Mercury in Aries. The nation will be inspired by a new ideology. Probably the new ideology will require politicians to be more honest, to have higher morals, to be straightforward, more open with people etc. These are all typical Arian qualities. In addition to this there will be great changes in the politics of the country and many new faces will come up on the stage, replacing the old ‘elite’. The new political figures will advocate a new start for the country, they will have great new ambitions, they will fight for a greater transparency in politics and they will have a great zest to make a lot of positive new changes. Unfortunately, sometimes they may rush with their decisions, so they are advised to think over their decisions very well before they act. New roads and infrastructure will be built, as well as new data communication highways (such as super-fast Internet). A lot of agreements which were kept in secret during the period, when Mercury was in Pisces will lash out in the media once Mercury enters Aries. This will cause a chain of great scandals, disclosures and denunciations to appear in the newspapers, television and the radio. The truth about almost everything will be revealed, which will inevitably prompt the nation to begin a fresh start!

First written on 21.11.2013

Final corrections done on 12.01.2014

Perth, Australia