Comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas: An Astrological Experiment

Copyright © John Michael Greer 2024. All rights reserved.

This delineation shows the astrological indications for politics, economics, and society based on the appearance of Comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas in the autumn of 2024. Mundane predictions based on the appearance of comets in the heavens go back very far in the history of astrology, but the techniques used in earlier times are very poorly understood at present. This set of predictions should therefore be considered tentative and experimental.  

Comets are transient presences in astrology, just as they are in astronomy.  They affect political, economic, and demographic affairs for a longer or shorter period, and then they and their influences alike swing back out into deep space. Those predictions tend to be much more precisely focused than those of ingresses, eclipses, or great conjunctions, and this delineation is therefore rather shorter than my other posts here. 

Executive Summary: Comets are traditional harbingers of trouble, and according to the old lore Comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas predicts crop failures, disease, economic troubles, and political turmoil. In the United States it portends dramatic changes in legislatures and institutions; in Britain its effects will land most forcefully on the judicial system, the churches, and the executive. In both countries, and elsewhere in the world, many people currently in positions of power and influence will be driven out and will not regain what they have lost. These events are likely to unfold over the next two years. 

Period of Effect: The sources do not agree on the length of time that a comet’s influence will continue, but one common measure holds that the number of years a comet will affect the world is the same as the number of zodiacal signs the comet is seen to pass through by witnesses on Earth. Comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas first appeared to the naked eye in Virgo, and current predictions hold that it will last be seen without telescopes in Libra.  If this rule holds true its effects will be apparent for two years, fading out at some point in the autumn of 2026. 

General Indications: Comets are invariably malefic indications in mundane astrology. John Merrifield’s Catastasis Mundi (1684) speaks for the entire tradition when it summarizes the effects of comets as follows:  “theſe ſigns in the Heavens, or appearance of Comets, are the aſſured forerunners of ſterility of the Earth; Famine, Peſtilence, War, Alterations of Empires, Kingdoms, Statutes, Laws and Cuſtoms; Winds, Earth-quakes, Inundations, extream Heat and Drought, with grievous Diſeaſes, and ſuch like horrid evils; also the Birth of ſome great Emperor, King, Governor, or Learned Man.”  

The intensity of the effects of any comet are shown by its apparent size at maximum visibility and the length of time it stays visible to the naked eye in Earth’s skies. Comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas was clearly visible but of modest size and duration, and so its effects will tend to be on the lower end of the midrange. I have taken this into account in the national predictions given below. 

Which “horrid evils” are signaled by the arrival of any given comet are determined in large part by the sign in which the comet appears. Comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas was first visible to the naked eye in Virgo, low in the eastern sky just before dawn.  A comet in Virgo predicts warfare, economic troubles, epidemics of feverish illnesses, and a decline in the birth rate. It also warns that the officials of some government will be driven out of their offices en masse; they may be imprisoned or forced to flee their country, and will not regain their positions, their influence, or their wealth. Since the comet was in the eastern sky, these will tend to happen relatively soon. 

The comet’s second appearance was in Libra, low in the western sky after sunset. A comet in Libra signals crop failures, famines, poverty, drought, and suffering through excessive cold; it warns of secret plots and treacheries, pandemic diseases, and the deaths of eminent persons. Since the comet was in the western sky, these will tend to happen later on in the period of the comet’s effects. 

Aspects:  It was once standard in mundane practice to consider the effects of any transient astrological event in the context of the quarterly ingress chart. I have done this using the Libra ingress chart of 22 September 2024. Placing the comet against this during its periods of visibility allows certain aspects to be identified and interpreted. This sequence of aspects will tend to play out, in something like the order given, in the events of the two years during which this comet will have effect. 

As the comet first appeared around the middle of September, it was in opposition to Saturn, at that time placed at 14° Pisces. This aspect warns of delays, hindrances, reversals, limitations, lack of opportunities, and other unfavorable circumstances.  It is unfavorable for nearly any imaginable activity other than hiding under the nearest bed. 

Next came a square with Jupiter, at 20° Gemini at the ingress.  This is a bad omen for all economic affairs, predicting bad judgment and misplaced confidence; speculative bubbles are common under its influence.  As this aspect passed off, the comet began to apply to a conjunction with Mercury, then at 22° Virgo. This predicts confusion, misunderstanding, misjudgment, indecision, and uncertainty. 

The comet then passed behind the sun and was no longer visible from Earth for several days. It emerged from hiding in its evening position conjunct the place of Venus in the ingress chart. A comet conjunct Venus is a very unfavorable omen for women’s affairs. It also warns of public disturbances, disappointments, and quarrels. Thereafter, as the comet picks up speed, it begins making many aspects in a hurry, but it is also fading rapidly from naked-eye visibility

The two aspects following the Venus conjunction that are certain to take place during its visible period are unexpectedly favorable, trines with Mars and Saturn, forming the grand trine aspect pattern. The Mars trine indicates that, as they fade out, the effects of the comet will favor sudden decisive action, especially but not only in the military sphere. The Saturn trine suggests that the long-term impact of the comet will lead to increased prudence, practicality, and conservatism in the nations most affected by its influence. 

Country Charts:  In my usual way, I have worked through the comet’s trajectory as traced against the US and British autumn ingress charts. Subscribers to my SubscribeStar or Patreon accounts can compare the descriptions that follow with the ingress chart delineations posted there. 

United States of America:  In the US chart the morning appearances of the comet, when mapped onto the Libra ingress chart, were in the 11th house of the national legislature and the 12th house of national institutions.  According to Jerome Cardan, a comet in the 11th house predicts a great slaughter and destruction of the aristocracy, and a comet in the 12th house predicts crop failures and pestilence. It is uncertain whether these specific assessments will turn out to be correct under modern conditions, but it is unlikely that things will go well for America’s elite classes, agricultural sector, or public health under this influence. 

While this chart has to be considered alongside the current ingress charts and the eclipses currently in effect, the morning appearances are not favorable signs for incumbents in national and state legislatures in the near term. Combined with the placement of these sightings in Virgo, it is likely that the impending election will lead to a great many officials, elected and otherwise, losing their positions. This comet also suggests that in the near future, there will also be major changes in the institutions that shape American public life. 

The evening appearances of the comet were in the 12th house of institutions and the 1st house of the nation’s population and identity. Cardan unfortunately does not give an interpretation for comets in the 1st house, but an increased death rate is one likely meaning.  The changes set in motion shortly after the comet’s sighting in the institutional sector can be expected to continue through the entire period affected by the comet. Economic troubles, high costs of living or food shortages, and difficulties with public health can be expected, and so can plots and conspiracies directed against the interests of the American people. 

Great Britain:  In Britain the morning appearances of  the comet, when mapped onto the Libra ingress chart, were in the 9th house of the judiciary and religion. According to Cardan, a comet in the 9th predicts scandal and trouble for religious institutions, and this can be applied to the judicial system as well. The 9th house also rules events at great distance, long voyages, and air travel; expect these to be sources of trouble for Britain during the period during which Comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas has effect. 

The evening appearances of the comet start in the last part of the 9th house, but cross the midheaven and pass through the 10th house to the early degrees of the 11th before the comet fades from sight. The 9th house implications already suggested will continue to play out during the latter part of the comet’s period of effect, but the more important impact will be on the political system, which faces serious crisis over the next two years.  There is a significant risk of war or other political violence, as the comet will be passing through the 10th while squaring the ingress position of Mars in the 7th.  It is also far from certain that Prime Minister Keir Starmer will remain in power, and there is some risk to his life or that of King Charles due to the comet’s conjunctions with the Sun and the midheaven. 

The comet will fade from sight while in the 11th house. This suggests that some of the same legislative upset predicted for the United States is also in store for Britain. Labour is unlikely to do well in by-elections and may face serious internal conflict during this period.