Canada is born: July 1, 1867
Can you imagine living to 150?
Up here in Northern North America, Canadians are celebrating a special birthday. Canada turns 150 years old on July 1, 2017. For me, it’s my 10th anniversary living here. Time flies. No disrespect to my biological home— the more homes the merrier, the more friendship opportunities. It has been quite a journey.
I’ll wrap this extended article with thoughts on why I think Canada came to be my adoptive home.
Let’s take a look at Canada’s birth chart from an evolutionary perspective including astrological energy over the next couple years. There will be some technical bits in this article, which can be skimmed past and still follow the interpretation.
Canada’s Birth Date: July 1, 1867. Ottawa. Midnight.
Independent and Pioneering. Compassionate and Protective.
Astrological Setup: Canada is ruled by Mars with Aries Rising. The Ascendant is square the tight Cancer Sun/Uranus conjunction in the 4th house. Pluto is in the 1st. Neptune in the 12th conjoins the Ascendant. The Karmic Axis (Moon’s Nodes) straddles the 12-South/6-North. Venus in Gemini squares the Lunar Nodes. Chart is toward the end of the article.
Canada has an independent spirit and an innate understanding of suffering and loss. The history of aboriginal experience and of immigration is found in the 12th house with Jupiter conjoined the South Node and Chiron, all in Pisces.
Space in the Land of Living Skies
One could say the resonance of loss is both a blessing and a curse. Neptune’s placement, so close to the Ascendant, clearly emanates compassion, which draws people from other countries to Canada mesmerizing them with Space (Neptune) and Freedom (Aries). The chart resonates with spiritual and soul healing for newcomers.
Canada officially prioritizes freedom of movement.
Section 6 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects mobility rights. This is symbolized by Uranus/Sun in the 4th house and in Cancer. With Uranus/Sun/Moon strong in my own chart, freedom to move to a new home when the urge hits or the soul calls is very important.
Just as Saturn entered Sagittarius at the end of 2015, Prime Minister Trudeau personally welcomed Syrian refugees at the Toronto airport in that sweet politeness Canadians emanate through the chart’s Venus sextile Neptune. “It’s our pleasure,” he says welcoming new permanent residents.
With Saturn transiting the 9th house of immigration, having opposed Venus and squaring the Moon’s Nodes last year, and this year opposing the bilingual 3rd house Moon in Gemini, the topic of immigrants and refugees, along with national values is prominent.
Sweetgrass attracts good spirits and is used at the beginning of prayer and ceremony.
At the same time, Canada, is a country with a cruel history of removing aboriginal children from families to be brought up under traumatic, often unhealthy, conditions in residential schools. The unresolved issue of murdered and missing Indigenous women continues and is heart-breaking.
The country’s Destiny, the North Node, is to heal and resolve the losses and grief of the Canadian collective with major attention to aboriginal people (Chiron in the 12th). The symbolism also suggests including those from foreign countries (Jupiter) like refugees who enter the country bearing emotional and physical wounds. Immigrants who arrive experience major life changes, and often have mixed emotions, including guilt and homesickness, not to mention the integration stressors, of another culture.
We can also argue for a destiny to heal karmic relations with other countries, perhaps those with different philosophies or religious influences, as Jupiter rules the 9th house.
Reparation, reconciliation and remedies do not happen all at once. It is a process that happens over time, an evolutionary path, a collective soul journey. It must be unique to Canada’s aspirations and Soul Purpose (Sun/Uranus). Though the Karmic Axis assumes a longer term process, there are transformational spurts of growth. The past can meet the future surprisingly quickly.
Astrologer Glenn Perry wrote a book called From Royalty to Revolution about the Sun/Uranus relationship. The Sun essentially is the purpose, intention and creative expression of the birth chart. Uranus is “the capacity for spiritual and intellectual insight…so that a broader and more humane understanding is leveraged from the shackles of conventional thought.” (pg 61.)
Canada’s strongly independent and pioneering chart allows for individuation, which in the end may inspire other countries or influence change. Though closely connected and influenced by the United States, for evolution’s sake, it must be free to navigate its own course.
Destiny’s energy is earthy, grounded and practical.
Nesting Firepit – Uranus/Sun in 4th. Aries Rising.
Pluto in the 1st in Taurus. Freedom to transform and establish a value system based on a multi-cultural, officially bi-lingual, country, and promote peaceful, true sharing of resources (Taurus) among all its relations.
North Node in Virgo in the 6th. Health Care. The system of socialized health care in Canada means that, at the very least, there is a walk-in clinic to go to when one is sick. I am so appreciative of this system.
However, there are communities where there are not enough family doctors. People, here, DO look for jobs which offer more than the minimum health care benefits. People who can afford it, BUY health insurance, to supplement the basic needs. Not everyone can fill up the insurance cup, but we do have some basics.
The North Node of the Moon also suggests staying on top of practical matters including clean water and food management (Virgo). When the survival issues become less pressing, the mind has time to consider the possibility of letting go of blame, feeling victimized and embracing forgiveness.
While the North Node emphasizes taking care of current practical matters, the South Node’s wounds, sacrifices and losses require the necessary time to heal. In the larger picture, Canada’s Virgo responsibility is to be present and supportive of healing over time, making progress step by step.
Sharing
The 6th house is also one of self-mastery relative to the natural talents found in the 5th. With Mercury, the ruler of the North Node, in Leo in the 5th, there is an emphasis on youth and children.
Canada has a generous parental leave policy. From the policy description, “The Code provides for up to 17 weeks of maternity leave. In addition, an employee who assumes actual care of a newborn or newly adopted child is entitled to parental leave of up to 37 weeks.”
Mercury is also the mechanics of language. Jupiter is language. Virgo correlates to libraries— organizing books. Remembering and recording the aboriginal languages (Jupiter in the 12th) is a healing opportunity in itself. Through the process, Canada’s children are taught history, which prepares them for future destiny decisions.
Canada’s Yod.
A Yod, also known as the Finger of God, generally involves adjustments and perception changes with three planets involved in two inconjuncts and one sextile. Saturn Retrograde in Scorpio is the Apex of the Yod in the 7th house of relationship and ‘open’ enemies.
Saturn makes an inconjunct to Neptune on the Ascendant and to Venus in Gemini in the 2nd. Venus and Neptune are in sextile.
Saturn’s focus is on building deep committed relationships. The retrograde emphasizes the need to reconcile Scorpionic, psychological, emotional trauma that came from partnerships. This includes the growing capacity to transform, regenerate and like the phoenix bird rising from the ashes, become bigger, better, stronger and more responsible. Over time, the country becomes an expert at good relations. Scorpio, at its best, maintains security through true sharing of resources.
The lessons with the YOD is in the relationship to both Neptune and Venus. Canada has a reputation of being polite, compassionate and kind. If you live here as an immigrant, you will soon find out that Canadian politeness does not always show the whole picture. While the kindness is real, it feels real, it is not always engaged or completely honest— not due to maliciousness. I almost don’t know how to describe it. Isn’t that illusively Neptunian?
Angel over Penticton
I wonder if it has to do with a collective distancing from the history of loss found in the 12th house, not to mention the Uranus/Sun conjunction which, in individual charts, can be someone who is hard to get to know. The Sun also squares Neptune, which often represents an illusive identity. Who am I?
If this were an individual’s chart, we might observe someone who avoids or escapes reality in order to not feel the pain. Better to be nice, than conjure up someone’s anger.
Saturn Retrograde affirms coming to terms with the losses of Neptune in the 12th. Humility is the result of public experiences, the result of inconsistent or fluctuating values, Venus in Gemini. Through appreciating the art of communication including bilingualism and acknowledging hidden realms, secrets and history, Saturn progressively builds and strengthens its relationships skills. This empowers the necessary Uranus/Sun individuation process and harmonizes its relations with other countries (trine Jupiter).
Thoughts on Transits and Progressions.
2017. Saturn travels the 9th and opposes the 3rd house Moon in Gemini. Consider security concerns for the homeland or additional focus on immigration. Needs of the communities which welcome newcomers. Look to 14 years ago. What was beginning internationally with Canada and now ripens to maturity?
2018-2019. Neptune squares Venus and conjoins the South Node. The Karmic Axis’ energy is illusive even weakened. Could there be challenges in financial systems? Dealing with growing personal debts. Legalization of marijuana should happen by July 2018. Ideally collective soul healing, compassionate relations, but also avoidance of issues rooted in the past… watch for lies or deception.
This Canada Day, July 1, the progressed Moon is almost at 28 Sagittarius, just passed the Galactic Center of the Universe (it travels about 1 degree a month), opposing its natal Moon on August 1. More significantly, transiting Saturn conjoins the progressed Moon in Capricorn suggesting these possibilities as we crunch the symbols together:
- Periods of loneliness & isolation or rejection.
- Focus on national security, or political ideals and national philosophies along with the relationship with other countries.
- Matters related to nourishment or women (Moon).
- Gender identity can also continue to be prominent possibly with related legislation.
Saturn correlates to restrictions, blockages, taking or being asked to take responsibility for previous actions.
This conjunction dance started back in 2009 on the North Node. Moving forward it occurs three times in 2018. Twice in the 9th house and the last time at the Midheaven. Bigger picture— the conjunction occurs 13 times from January 2018 to May 2021, mostly in the 10th house — 31 times in total from 2009-2021. The emphasis changes from politics and philosophy to global status, management, laws, rules, structures and boundaries. Conjunctions promise a new direction over time. It’s crucial to act with integrity and build up good karma.
In the 2017 Solar Return, the Sun is in hiding in the 12th house, notably, a house connected to oil (and drugs) while Venus in Taurus squares the Karmic Axis (Moon’s Nodes) which straddles the 2/8 —- tension between relationship and status in the world to money/security matters. Doing the right thing. Making the good relationships. Canada was born with Venus square the Nodes, so this is a return to dealing with conflict between relations and essential needs. The birth dynamic involves making good decisions and rectifying choice related to karma and the nation’s values and resources. The Solar Return emphasizes security consciousness and the balancing act of its own needs with the needs of other countries.
Shawn’s individuation through immigration.
Shawn at Lake Louise, 2007-ish.
Sometimes I feel like I should explain myself to my friends in the U.S. Why would I leave my biological homeland? Here is what I’ve come to, after 10 challenging, individuating, soul-strengthening years, in a most beautiful landscape of many variations.
The Universe persuaded me to move to Canada, which resonates to my birth chart, through the 100%-Sure Fire-Guaranteed way I would respond.
I was persuaded through the promise of a great love and relationship.
Elizabeth Lesser, author of Broken Open: How Difficult Times Can Help Us Grow, would describe the relationship that drew me to Saskatchewan, as one with The Shaman Lover. The Shaman Lover is someone who has access to the deeper, hidden realms of experience. A Plutonian, Chiron type. The connection, not meant to last, can change life, as it was known, forever. That is what happened to me. I came here enthusiastically and passionately in love. I suffered excruciating long-term emotional, obsessive Scorpio Moon break up pain, before breaking through to the other side.
One decision, initiated for Love, changed life forever in almost all areas– career, security, health, daily routines, food, spending habits even the dear spiritual path I was attached to.
This is called a deconditioning process. This is how people truly find themselves and live their purpose. Not always so dramatically and not always because of Love. This happened in a country whose Sun/Uranus/4th house purpose is about creative break-throughs relative to emotional foundations.
When the lightbulb went off, that choosing Love was right and good, and not a mistake, I could let go, celebrate, and appreciate the Present. Gratitude to those kind people, my multi-cultural community, who helped and cheered me on. Gratitude to the Shaman Lover. Gratitude to Canada. No worries (a common Canadian phrase) I’m certain there’s more deconditioning ahead.
The journey to True Freedom and True Love continues. Happy Birthday Canada! And Peace, to you, Shawn
Resources from this Article
June 28, 2017. CBC Radio Interview: “Can you celebrate Canada 150 and still respect Indigenous rights?” on the Current with Anna Maria Tremanti.
Canada’s Parental Leave Policy.
Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedom. Mobility Rights.
CBCNews: Missing & Murdered: The Unsolved Cases of Indigenous Women and Girls
Prime Minister Trudeau welcomes Syrian Immigrants
Images
Canada and Saskatchewan’s Flags
Many of the pictures come from the first 7 years in Canada when I lived in Saskatchewan. I was fortunate to be able to travel all over western Canada in the my first year. This country is definitely worth road-tripping through. Hopefully in the next 10 years I’ll see some of the East. The other images come from Pixabay.com
I loved reading this article, Shawn! Happy Canada Day!
Hi Mel, Thank you so much for reading this. Happy Canada Day to you, too. Peace.