The chart for this unfortunate event which occurred at approximately 12:35 p.m.  While it is not on the scale of the Exxon Valdez, which incidentally occurred on 24 March 1989 and thus about the same time of year, just after the Aries Ingress, it nonetheless was a serious spill given the unfortunate impact on wildlife in the area. 

The troublesome T-square between Jupiter, Uranus and Pluto isn't surprising, especially in angular houses which carry the most strength.  Looking at the houses as they apply to the event, Jupiter in the 1st certainly fits in that it was a noteworthy and serious spill with Pluto opposing from the 7th house of partnerships which hints at the involvement of two ships as opposed to an independent incident.  Pluto in Capricorn also hints at the resulting fouling of the Houston Ship Channel with a harmful foreign substance.  Uranus in Aries in the 10th house of public image defined an unexpected event that is in the public view, i.e. in the news. 

In addition, the conjunction between Mercury and Neptune, natural ruler of oil, both trining Jupiter, suggests communication problems and confusion which undoubtedly had a role in the collision of two ships in broad daylight.  Placement in the 9th is appropriate given that ships usually travel for long distances including foreign countries.  Venus, ruler of the 12th which includes hidden enemies, is in the 8th which includes death and destruction as well as events that carry a transformational element or intensity.  Venus is sextile the Moon, which rules the chart, in the 6th house of work which relates to those who will have to deal with the cleanup efforts as well as small animals, which will be affected greatly, and health.  The Moon as natural ruler of emotions is fitting as well, particularly for animal lovers who once again are watching the unfortunate consequences of wildlife coexisting with a high tech world.

I have looked at the charts of other oil spills, specifically the Exxon Valdez (noted in Sedna article) and BP Deepwater Horizon incidents.  What I was primarily interested in for this one was the location of the asteroid, Sedna, who has been clearly involved in the others.  I was not disappointed to find her in the 11th house of groups (think environmental advocacy groups here) and opposing Saturn retrograde within a half degree of exactitude.  Saturn of course rules structure, which was breached to cause the problem.  Mars retrograde is quincunx Sedna with Mars ruler of the 11th as well as traditional ruler of the 6th (workers & small animals).  Mars retrograde is often a time to back up, go back or redo and not usually a time to make progress and this event certainly caused activity in the Houston Ship Channel to grind to a screeching halt. 

Eris, a minor planet beyond Pluto who is associated with discord, is on the cusp of the 11th house, i.e. environmental groups who scrambled to the aid of hundreds of oiled birds, and quincunx Saturn, indicating a change of direction.  Saturn rules the 7th house of partnerships, 8th of death, and is the traditional ruler of the 9th which includes not only foreign travel but legal matters and belief systems.  Eris is also opposing Mars with the orb a bit wide but nonetheless viable.  Chiron, the "wounded healer," is in the 9th as well.

I'm not going to belabor this one since the main point I wanted to make was that once again the asteroid, Sedna, Inuit goddess of the sea and champion of sea creatures and their environment, is once again involved with an oil spill which fits her myth and Sedna's resulting astrological archetype. 

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