STARFIRE

October 2007

October 2007 - Nebraska's Disaster.
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Nebraska's Greatest Natural Disaster

Unless you’re a serial killer buff, Charles Starkweather’s name and history may be new to you. His 1958 killing spree in Nebraska shocked the nation. Today a serial killer on a spree would get full media attention, as Charlie did, but without the stunned confusion that followed in Charlie’s wake. We weren’t used to serial killers in 1958.

I was there, but I don’t remember hearing the term “serial killer”.

Charlie’s first kill was isolated. Just a service station guy who annoyed him. It took Charlie three tries to get up the nerve to kill him.

And then he was started. His next kill was his girlfriend’s family–the whole family. But no one except Charlie and his girlfriend, Caril Fugate, know about those deaths for a few days. By the time the bodies were found, Charlie and Caril were running and he was killing.

Lincoln, Nebraska, was terror-stricken. I checked in at the freshman dorm a day or so after Caril Fugate’s family’s bodies were found. Boys were calling the dorm saying, “This is Charlie, and I’m on the way over.” It did seem like a bad joke or a nightmare that would be over quickly.

Then they found other bodies. For full details, I recommend http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Starkweather

I remember going downtown in Lincoln to shop at a local stationery store. National Guardsmen were on the street corners–armed and showing off their heavy artillery. I remember a businessman walking down the street with handguns in his hand. The murders at the Ward house triggered wide fear that he might follow his garbage collection route and kill other prominent families. Charlie wasn’t focused. Today we’d call him an unorganized killer. In those days, not knowing what to call him, the media called him “Nebraska’s greatest natural disaster.”

Charlie’s chart is interesting because it shows us something important about Jupiter–and something almost as important about Pluto.

Let’s start with Pluto. Pluto in the first house doesn’t make anyone a killer. My personal files show clients with Pluto in the first house who work as past life therapists, child psychologists, and professional psychics. I have a killer or two in my files...but none except Charlie with Pluto in the first house. Pluto in the first house does make it easier to deal with deep and lasting changes, death and rebirth. One person would use that ability to be able to help people deal with deep pain and trauma. For Charlie, Pluto in the first house no doubt made it less traumatic for him to become a killer; he could identify with that role for himself.

Jupiter in the 8th House

Charlie’s Jupiter is in the 8th house, the house associated with death in natal charts. Again, Jupiter in the 8th isn’t a signature for a killer. My file of charts includes a lawyer who specialized in probate work, a specialist in corporate benefit plans (including insurance), mystery writers and at least one accomplished magician.

So what do they have in common with Charlie? Comfort.

Jupiter in the 8th is one of the signatures for someone who will receive inheritances. Some receive family money. Others may receive training in ancient traditions. Or they may work with the financial or sexual assets of other people. Surgeons and those who benefit from surgery may also have connections between Jupiter and the 8th (natal or by transit).

Astrologers often refer to Jupiter as the greater benefic. Ancient astrologers sometimes saw the mother of the family as Jupiter because she was the first teacher. And through her body, the family traditions, karma and heritage were passed on to the next generation.

So two things came together for Charlie. He was able to see himself as a killer–and he found out he liked killing.

After his death sentence, he spent his remaining days trying to make a case for a death sentence for his young girlfriend...one more death occupied his days. (My source is the prison chaplain, who was also the minister of my local church.)

Charlie’s chart casts an interesting light on Jupiter. Astrologers do call it the greater benevolence...but we also warn that Jupiter means more of anything it touches. Killing wasn’t good for Charlie–and he died for his belief that it was–but apparently killing made Charlie feel good.

There’s one other factor: Charlie has Saturn, the planet ruling career, in Aries, which makes mistakes. So he was very successful (Saturn in 10th) in the wrong career (Saturn in Aries, in its fall.)

What About Your Own Jupiter?

Check out Jupiter in your own chart and notice that there’s real pleasure and even wisdom available for you in the matters of that house. Charlie could have chosen other 8th house aspects and had a longer and happier life...but he focused on jailbait sex and murder.

With Jupiter in the 7th, I like marriage and having clients and hearing from readers. In my spare time, I’m offering a free workshop on journaling for writers at www.groups.yahoo.com/group/writingjournal

For simple life planning, it’s hard to beat Jupiter. Find a good use for Jupiter and plan to let it expand in your life. Quick references: You can get a free copy of your natal chart at www.iowapoet.com (Just click on Astrology on the left side of the page) and study your options in basic astrology texts such as Gail Fairfield’s Choice Centered Astrology. Or you can buy a copy of The Rulership Book by Rex Bills, which is like a thesaurus arranged by planet and sign; jot down the words that appeal to you from the lists for Jupiter and the relevant house in your chart and get creative.

The best thing about Jupiter is that Jupiter interests become lifelong interests. I know an active writer in her 80s whose field of interest is defined by her Jupiter.

Mercury Retrograde

Mercury will be retrograde again from October 11 to November 1st. That puts Halloween in the no-shopping zone, so get your costumes and candy early if you can.

Mercury retrograde’s always a good time to finish things, and Mars rising in Cancer suggests a good time for weeding out clutter at home. There’s a minor warning about home accidents, but not on a scale to raise much concern. Just secure your ladders before you climb them.

We’ll have Mars retrograde from mid-November into January, so plan to buy any mechanical gifts before Mercury goes retrograde or between November 2nd and November 14th. I’ll have a full story on Mars retrograde in next month’s column.

Mary O’Gara, Ph.D.