Every event in time has an astrological significance, and for this reason all occasions can be viewed through time to gain an insight into how celestial events coincide with terrestrial occurrences. Additionally, as historians will aver, clear understanding of the past will ultimately help us to gain a greater understanding of our triumphs and losses, as well as predict future trends.

Because of its sense of finality, death is one subject which still leaves people intrigued because this is one life experience which few have survived and its mystique therefore forces us to acknowledge our mortality. The way we dies bears particular significance when studying this phenomenon because in western society a decision to take one’s own life is considered morally wrong and taboo. For this reason, we often tend to find it fascinating as we probe the interplay of emotions that would persuade a person to defy convention.

On 4th June 1997 at approximately 7.00pm in Basingstoke, England, one young man decided to take his own life, brought about by extreme depression because his girlfriend had ended their three year relationship. He had been admitted to a local hospital, under suicide watch, after he had walked into the path of an oncoming car. Although the staff at the hospital were instructed to check on him every five minutes, problems with other patients delayed them and the young man succeeded in hanging himself by tying his bathrobe to a curtain rail.

Scorpio, the sign of transformation, is on the cusp of the Ascendant and the 12th house, thereby placing a great deal of emphasis on the overall theme of the chart. Pluto, which represents death, is posited in the first house and rules the 12th: a prime indicator that a person would be predisposed to committing an act which would cause harm to himself. The Part of Fortune is also posited in the 12th house, thus indicating that the overwhelming desire to act in a manner of extreme finality prevailed, especially within the context of an institution. The ancient ruler of the 10th house, Mars, was posited in the 1st house, thus indicating that the event revolved around the break-up of an important relationship.

An earth grand trine composed of Mars, Neptune and Mercury indicates that a great deal of energy prevailed during the event. While students of astrology often assume that a grand trine is bound to inevitably bring good fortune, this was unfortunately one occasion where the intensity was of such a magnitude that is was too easy for the reverse to occur. Neptune, which is at one end of the trine, is in the anaretic 29th degree, thus indicating that the young man was not able to clearly discern his own self worth as he was the failure of his romance to be a reflection on himself.

Another rare and significant aspect appearing in this chart is a yod which is composed of Pluto, Neptune, and Venus which forms the apex. Venus is in the critical degree of 0 degrees in the 8th house, indicating that the death of his romance had a huge impact on his life, and he was not able to put the circumstances surrounding it into clear perspective. Pluto, forming a quincunx, reveals that he was in a great deal of emotional pain that he was unable to reconcile himself with. As a result of this he had a strong desire to escape from his predicament, even if it mean ending his own life.

Pluto, which formed one leg of the yod, also opposed the Moon, indicating that the young man was experiencing some rather extreme feelings which may have abated if he had been given the chance to talk them through with a compassionate person. The Pluto/Moon opposition was also comprised of Neptune which formed as sextile to Pluto, a trine to the Moon, and is part of the earth grand trine which stands so prominently in the chart. In an ideal world, medication should have been used in a responsible manner to help him pass through such a difficult time, but because Neptune was critically placed, any medication given may very well have exacerbated to his already self destructive feelings.