Rhode Island’s Horoscope

Rhode Island – A Lively Experiment

Just like people, cities, states, countries and corporations have horoscopes.   A horoscope captures a moment in time that is significant in the creation of any entity.  The State of Rhode Island was founded in 1636 by Roger Williams, whose radical beliefs got him banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Primarily he held the belief that all should be able to worship freely according to their own conscious; this put him in the hot seat.

It wasn’t until 1663, with the granting of the Royal Charter by King Charles II on July 8^th that Rhode Island gained official, legal status. The Royal Charter granted religious freedom to Christian and non-Christian alike. This “lively experiment”, was remarkable for the times guaranteeing the separation of church and state.  While there are many significant moments in Rhode Island’s legal history, a number of historical events coincide with planetary transits to this chart. 

This chart has Jupiter and Saturn together in Sagittarius.  Jupiter signifies religion, law and banks.  Saturn signifies how societies are constructed.  It represents the law in how laws restrain and control.  Sagittarius represents those things connected with law and religion.  Mars in Gemini sits directly opposite these two guaranteed to stir up these principles as time unfolds.  That religious freedom, such a radical and outrageous idea for the times, would be written into the Charter comes as no surprise to an astrologer looking at a chart that has Mercury in Leo opposing Uranus in Aquarius.  Mercury rules that which is written, while Uranus rules the rebel and forward-thinking among us.  In Aquarius, Uranus’ home sign, gives this aspect added pump. 

With this planetary signature, it is a given that Rhode Island would declare its independence on May 4, 1776 a bit ahead of the rest of the country.  At this time, revolutionary Uranus activates the Jupiter/Saturn/Mars configuration in the Royal Charter horoscope.  Mars is war and the warrior.  When Uranus comes along and joins him the order of the day is, “Let’s kick down these walls” for good or ill. The cry for independence moves from a theme song to action under the influence of these two. 

While this Charter was ahead of its time in some aspects in others it was just as hide bound as previous governmental bodies in that voting was only granted to white, male, landowners.  Enter Thomas Dorr, who led a movement to broaden democracy by granting the disenfranchised the right to vote. His efforts, known as the Dorr War failed but proved fruitful in the end as Rhode Island adopted a new constitution in 1843, while not perfect, did expand suffrage to include those that were not of the landed class.

Thomas Dorr was born on November 5, 1805.  In one of life’s curious serendipities, his horoscope has Mars and Jupiter together in Sagittarius sitting on the Jupiter/Saturn/Mars configuration in the Royal Charter horoscope.  Mars to Mars, he was born to make war on the government of Rhode Island. Law and justice being the province of Jupiter this war was about changing the law and broadening democracy by granting voting rights to the disenfranchised. Thomas Dorr’s life and actions ultimately altered the fabric of life in Rhode Island.

Another example of the validity of the Royal Charter horoscope is the shocking closure of Rhode Island credit unions that were insured by Rhode Island Share and Deposit Indemnity Corporation, RISDIC.  On January 1, 1991, hours after his inauguration, Governor Bruce Sundlun ordered the closing of those credit unions insured by this entity.  RISDIC has been on shaky ground for a while but with the collapse of Heritage Loan and Investment, it too collapsed.  At that time in the sky, Jupiter, (banks) triggered the Mercury/Uranus opposition in the Royal Charter horoscope.  Mercury rules trade and transactions of all kinds.  Uranus, the rebel, is also the master of sudden and shocking events.  At the closure of these credit unions 1/3 of Rhode Islanders lost access to their funds. 

Adding fuel to the fire of these events was the planet Neptune.  Neptune has an orbit of 160/165 years and, on this date, the Royal Charter horoscope was receiving a Neptune return, Neptune was at the exact degree and minute that it occupied at the signing of the charter.  Now Neptune can be spiritual and take you away to the higher realms it can also bring you down to the dregs.  In its negative aspect it rules treachery, underworld crime and financial scandal.  Certainly fits the bill in this instance.  Heritage Loan and Investment collapse was due to embezzlement of funds by its chief executive and in the fall of that year many of those “in the know” managed to withdraw their funds from the affected institutions.

The Jupiter/Saturn configuration present in the Royal Charter horoscope speaks to the founding principles of religious freedom.  This combination will be triggered once again in June/July 2024 when Jupiter traveling through Gemini will oppose that position while joining forces with the Royal Charter’s Mars.  Jupiter can bring prosperity, peace and also too much of a good thing.  Jupiter represents the clergy, churches, judges, law, banking and insurance.  Mars rules trades and engineering.  The downside to Mars can be violence and fevers.  With Saturn in the picture expect authority, restraint and constraint resisting the exuberance of Jupiter and Mars.  Should be a fun time as we celebrate our Independence in 2024.