“L’an mil neuf cens nonante neuf sept mois, du ciel viendra un grand Roi d’effraieur
Resusciter le grand Roi d’Angolmois. Avant que Mars regner par bon heur.”
Nostradamus. “Prophecies”. Century 10. Quatrain 72
(Translation: In the seventh month of 1999 [Old Style or Julian Calendar, presumably – L.S.]
from the sky will come a great King of terror. It brings back to life/revives [the memory of?] the great King of the Angolmois. Before that Mars reigns with good fortune/goodwill/happiness.)
Did Nostradamus accurately predict the death of John F. Kennedy Jnr.?
I strongly believe that the answer to this question is in the affirmative, and I will attempt to point out the reasons for this opinion.
First of all, I am convinced that his death, together with that of his wife and sister-in-law, was very definitely linked to the Leo Solar Eclipse which occurred on 11th August, 1999, 26 days after the plane crash on 16th July. (As is probably well known amongst astrologers, the effects of eclipses can be evident both before and after they form in the sky, depending on various factors). As soon as I first heard of the tragedy, my intuition told me that this was so. (After all, astrology is an art, as well as a science). At the time, my reason for making this deduction was my familiarity with the work of the great 17th century English astrologer William Lilly concerning the effects of Eclipses, and I will elaborate further on this in due course.
Suffice it to say at this stage, that the plane crash took place just off the North East coast of America, (as did the subsequent crash of Cairo bound Egypt Air Flight 990), very close to the beginning of the eclipse path, which would then sweep across the Atlantic, making first landfall at the south western tip of the British Isles. (As an aside, I find it intriguing that, at a spot close to the other end of the eclipse path in the Bay of Bengal, there subsequently occurred a high-speed head-on rail smash, in which approximately 400 lives were lost and many were injured, and later still occurred in the same area what has been called ‘the cyclone of the century’, again with much loss of life– the Leo-Aquarius polarity?)
However, to return to the prophecy of Nostradamus – information just to hand in David Ovason’s “The Book of the Eclipse”, published in 1999, but prior to July, strongly suggests to me the veracity of this conclusion, despite the fact that, at the time of publication the author himself said that he did not feel that Nostradamus was referring to the August 11th Leo Eclipse in his famous quatrain – apparently the only one to give a precise date, out of his many hundreds of verses. (However, well-known American esoteric astrologer Alan Oken writes that “Over 400 years ago, the great French seer and prophet Nostradamus predicted that two major eclipses would occur in the sign Leo [the sign of kings – L.S.] in July of 1999…There is…little doubt that these are the eclipses to which he was referring.”)
The relevant passage in Ovason’s book which I believe provides the key that many have been searching for, (p. 206), is the following: “The word ‘Angoulmois’ (sic.) has only a most obscure meaning. In 16th century French it was sometimes (though rarely) used as the name for a herb, which was the equivalent of petan, or a kind of tobacco leaf…..If this were the case, then the reference could be to the Americas (from whence tobacco was already coming into European markets….) Could this mean that the prophecy for 1999 is somehow linked with America? If so, we must ask, ‘Who is the King of America?’”8
Ovason gives no answer to his own question, because at the time he was naturally not in possession of all the facts. I am convinced, however, that in the light of the event which occurred on 16th July – right slap in the middle of the designated time period – he would now have discovered the answer for himself.
We, of course, at this point in time, are in possession of the facts. What the rest of us did not have previously was the relevant question. Like Parsifal, the innocent fool in the Grail Legends, we failed to ask the right question. Put simply, we did not enquire, “Who is the King of America?” Now that we have heard the question asked, instantly it all seems to become clear. As Ovason himself writes: “The fact is that I cannot remember ever encountering a single prophecy of Nostradamus….which was unravelled before its fulfilment made the quatrain crystal clear.” (My emphasis – LS)
If there is still any shred of doubt whatsoever remaining about the obvious answer as to who might be the King of America, may I refer readers to the ubiquitous headlines and written accounts in newspapers and magazines, not to mention reports in the electronic media, in the wake of the Kennedy tragedy. A sample includes the following:
“America’s Tragic Royalty”, “Death of the Beloved Son”, “The Prince of Camelot”, “Camelot’s Golden Couple”, “News of Another Disaster In The Family Still Has The Power To Shock A Nation”, “A Life Marked By Privilege Ends In Tragedy”, etc.
An incredible amount of airwave time and newsprint was devoted to a re-examination of the Kennedy dynasty, a reappraisal of the administration of President John F. Kennedy Snr., and the circumstances surrounding his assassination and that of his brother. To quote further headlines: “Icons and Myths – The Kennedy Legend”, “A Tribute To America’s First Family”, “Curse of the Kennedys – A Generation Marked By Tragedy”, and “Memories – Photo Scrapbook of the Kennedy’s”. It was recalled that the plane crash occurred only four days prior to the 30th anniversary of Man’s first walk on the Moon, a feat which had been actively encouraged by President Kennedy. The submerged plane and bodies were not located until the day after this anniversary.
Indeed, it might now be relevant to quote here the words of Patricia Cota-Robles, one American writer on this subject, albeit from a more spiritual viewpoint: “On July 20th, 1999, as the search continued, America celebrated the 30th anniversary of Man’s first walk on the Moon. Since that mission was initiated by President Kennedy, additional attention was directed to the Kennedy family and all that they have meant to America. For a moment the world paused to acknowledge the Kennedys and to give a special tribute to our ventures into outer space. As we turned our attention to the stars, we connected with the Oneness of the Universe…The Kennedy family represents many things to many people, but the symbology of the Legend of Camelot of the New World is profound…..In spite of all of the demonstrations of their human frailties, the Kennedy family has been the closest thing to a royal family that America has ever had.”3
David M. Shribman, a “Sydney Morning Herald” journalist based in Boston, had the following to say – “Even now, no words prompt so much anguish, so much grief, so much disbelief as these: ‘John F. Kennedy is dead’…Because the fearful phrase….has a special meaning and triggers, for many, a cascade of emotion and memory. This is a different time, of course. But the Kennedy family still holds a special place…the family that, for one brief shining moment, symbolised idealism and inspiration….The son, like the father, gained fame, in part, because of his unimaginable good looks….
On days like these, when the sadness and the memories mix, (the) burden may simply be beyond measure – more than he (Teddy Kennedy – LS), his family, or a nation can comprehend.”13
I now pose another question – ‘Is this what Nostradamus meant when he pronounced the words “it brings back to life/revives the great King of the Angolmois”?’ Was this a description of the process experienced by many millions of people all over the globe – the bringing to the surface of our consciousness all the long-buried memories of what we knew and had heard about the late President Kennedy and his wife?
It is perhaps worth noting here that the Eclipse was conjunct the Fixed Star Merak (19o Leo in 2000). Elizabeth K. Rosenberg lists some of the qualities associated with this star as: “Love of power, command, domination, pragmatism, dictatorial, leadership ability. Social, attract people, need to be the centre of attention, need excitement. Good for…public affairs…” 11. Joseph E. Rigor states: “…The native has a love of power, the ability to get on in life, a creative ability, determination…is of a pragmatic nature…..” 9
I would now like to turn to an examination of the last sentence in the quatrain: “Avant que Mars regner par bon heur” (Before which Mars reigns with goodwill/good fortune/happiness). Now, as astrologers, we know that, in addition to wars and battles, physical exercise, competition and sports, etc. Mars is also the significator of sons and of young men. J.F.K. Jnr., at 38, was probably not what would strictly be spoken of as a young man, but more in the prime of life, especially in the time of Nostradamus. However, he had not yet taken on the responsibility of fatherhood, (Saturn in the Fifth House?), and had not been married all that long, – in fact, 1000 days, the exact length of his father’s term in office – and in many ways, perhaps because of his physical fitness and his enjoyment of sports and childish games, we might be forgiven for thinking of him as being younger than he actually was.
To quote Patricia Cota-Robles once again, “He worked very hard to play down his celebrity by trying to live as other people did. He regularly took the bus and the subway. (Moon in Aquarius, like Princess Diana, and his was in the Sixth House of daily routine – L.S.) He also rode his bike in Central Park and line-skated through the streets of New York”. (Mars ruling happily? – L.S.) .Another wrote: “John had a zest for life and constantly strove to live a ‘normal’ existence, in the face of much media interference. Everyone who knew him described him as a kind, loving, caring, thoughtful, generous, loyal and fun friend, who was full of adventure. (Mars in Cancer in the Eleventh House – again, in earlier times the Eleventh House was known as the house of The Good Daimon, so no doubt Mars was happy there – L.S.). He was poised and elegant and his manners were impeccable”. (Virgo Rising, Venus Jupiter Saturn conjunction in Capricorn?).
“He lived a life of decency and purpose and was deeply loved and admired. One friend called him ‘ the most spiritual man I have ever known’, and another said, ‘He has amazing grace, and when he enters a room he reminds you of the Sun (Leo), and the Son’” 3. (Mercury conjunct Neptune in Scorpio in the Third House, Moon conjunct Chiron within one degree in Aquarius in the Sixth House opposite Uranus in the Twelfth House, five planets and points across the Sixth-Twelfth House axis, the Nodal axis within one degree of the Ascendant-Descendant?). In addition to these dynamics, from the point of view of the science of Numerology, John Junior was a Seven Dayborn as well as a Seven Lifepath – the Number pertaining to spirituality.).
A life of service was certainly indicated in his natal chart, but, in the words of journalists Tom Johnson and David Fantle, “The Nation will never know if its favourite son would have gone on to walk in the steps of his father”.6
In the context of our examination of the final sentence in the relevant quatrain then, J.F.K. Jnr. was the son – the Beloved Son. Despite the tragedy of his father’s death when he was only three years old, and that of his mother from cancer in 1994, only 5 years before his own death, he had experienced much good fortune in his life. He had a natal Sun in Sagittarius, so Jupiter was his Sun ruler – the planet of happiness, goodwill, and good fortune. Perhaps, in many ways, his life was charmed – he had been showered with material riches, had squired a bevy of beautiful girlfriends – some of them celebrities in their own right, had been blessed with loving parents, happy marriage, good looks, impeccable manners, grace and charm, etc. etc. As previously mentioned, he enjoyed many sporting activities – he was another ‘Action Man’, like England’s Prince of Wales – and had taken up flying comparatively recently. Yes, to all intents and purposes, Mars had ruled happily. He was the ‘Beloved Son’ who captured the hearts of the world on the day of his father’s funeral – his third birthday.
To quote Tom Johnson and David Fantle again, “Ever since that galvanising event, John Jnr., his older sister Caroline, and their mother, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, have become icons in the consciousness of the nation. Other occupants of the White House would come and go over the years; many would leave a memorable mark, but the three survivors of the assassinated 35th president of the United States, would, for many U.S. citizens, always be accorded the status of America’s First Family”.6
Vice President Al Gore said of J.F.K. Jnr.: “He has carried his legend with enormous grace and a commitment to live up to his father’s legacy and his mother’s love… One cannot help but reflect that the Kennedy family has given more to our country than any family should have to do”.
And now to quote some of the words from his Uncle Edward Kennedy’s funerary tribute: “John was a shining light in our lives, and in the lives of our nation and the world that first came to know him when he was a little boy…..John had many gifts and gave us a great joy, most especially when he brought his wonderful bride Carolyn into our lives. They had their own special brand of magic that touched everyone who knew and loved them. We are thankful for her life and for their lives together”.
I have translated the first couple of words of the last sentence of the Quatrain as ‘Before which Mars’ Perhaps it could have been ‘Before that, Mars…’, or even just ‘Before Mars’ I am aware that this part of the Quatrain is sometimes translated as ‘Before and after Mars…’, and in fact this is the way Erika Cheetham has translated the Old French. But I myself see no word meaning ‘after’ – i.e. the word ‘apres’ does not appear. However, in case some readers would prefer to see the relevant part of the Quatrain translated in this way, then I also have a theory about what might be implied by the words being translated as ‘before’ or ‘before and after’. I would make a suggestion that the way in which Mars might be said to rule happily after the death of J.F.K. Jnr., would be in the context of his being ‘forever young’, in the minds of humanity. He, like his father, cannot grow old. ‘They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn….” (Laurence Binyon: “Poems For The Fallen”). While the late President Kennedy himself was perhaps more of a solar hero, his only son will probably always remain, in the collective mind of humanity, a symbol of glorious youth, whether it was actually the reality or not – a symbol of Mars triumphant.’
It is time now to turn back to the first sentence of the quatrain. I myself feel that, more than anything else, what is alluded to here is an eclipse, and specifically the Eclipse of 11th August in 18o21’ of Leo, the sign ruling royalty and kings. The word ‘terror’ probably refers to the fear that was generally felt during the 16th century in relation to eclipses – they were more often than not events to be feared.
William Lilly, in keeping with his contemporaries and earlier astrologers, such as Ptolemy, speaks of eclipses which occur in the Fire element, and especially Leo, and the Second Decanate or Face of that sign (ruled by Jupiter), as “…(threatening) great tribulation, and many damages unto Kings, Peers, and Prime of the Nobility…” 7
William Shakespeare, (or whoever was the true author of the Shakespearean plays), put it succinctly when he wrote that,
“When beggars die there are no comets seen.
The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.”
“Julius Caesar”.
(It is perhaps worth remembering that a Solar Eclipse occurred the day after the death of Princess Diana in 1997, and also at that time Comet Hale-Bopp was still present in our skies, although becoming less and less visible to the naked eye).
Some may feel that Nostradamus was also referring to a comet, and in this context it is well known that in 1999 we have received a visit from Comet Lee, which reached perihelion during the week prior to the Kennedy plane crash. Significant comets were seen in the skies in both the year of Julius Caesar’s death (44 B.C.), and the year of Napoleon’s birth. In addition, tradition has it that a comet was seen in the sky at the time of the birth of the great warrior king Kamehameha, who united the Hawaiian Islands. It is thought that this was probably the 1758 visit of Comet Halley.
Perhaps the words of the sentence also, in some way, refer to the plane crash. Maurice Wemyss, the English astrologer who made an exhaustive study of zodiacal degree influences back in the 1920s, calls the degrees of 12 to 20 Leo-Aquarius ‘The Aviation Degrees’, (I don’t suppose, in fact, that there was too much aviation in evidence at that time), and 18 degrees of Leo, the degree of the Solar Eclipse of 11th August, ‘The Royal Degree – Exaltation’.14
In addition to the foregoing, I felt that it might be enlightening to take a quick glance at the Sabian Symbol for 19o Leo. We find “A Houseboat Party”. A brief perusal of the three best-known books about the Sabian Symbols – those by Marc Edmund-Jones, Dane Rudhyar, and Lynda and Richard hill, throw a little light on the concept:
“Time for lightening up and spending time with like-minded creative individuals…” (Lynda and Richard Hill).5
“The enjoyment of temporary freedom from rigidly structured social behaviour…The houseboat brings an intimacy and a ‘bohemian’ character to the relationships between the participants…What is suggested is that in such a gathering, men and women seek to at least get the feeling of the free flow of energies, as an escape from the routine activities of their business…lives” (Marc Edmund-Jones).4
“…a symbol of creative relaxation as a prelude to effective effort, and of man’s normal capacity for achievement through an everyday rehearsal of co-operative relationships with his fellows. There is here a sealing off of some pleasant pocket of life for an intensified culture of the skills and inspiration which can implement a contribution to the world at large…The keyword is congeniality…”(Dane Rudhyar). 12
It would no doubt be completely superfluous to add even a single word to the foregoing brilliant and precise descriptions of the Kennedy family Hyannisport compound. However, I cannot resist endorsing these concise encapsulations of the scenario, and to say that they ring true, both in a wider historical sense of the compound’s role as the place where the late President could relax and let off steam in the privacy and protection of his own immediate and extended and extensive family, and, in addition, in the present-time context of the family wedding scheduled for the day following the plane crash, the latter occurring so very close to the family home on Martha’s Vineyard, bequeathed to John Jnr. and his sister Caroline by their mother.
We were treated by the electronic media to film shots of various family members assembled in the Hyannisport compound for the family wedding celebration, instead pacing around with anguished and grief-stricken faces, while awaiting confirmation of the deaths. As one newspaper report told us, “this was to have been a day of celebration in ‘Camelot’…for this clan (which was) looked on by many as the nation’s surrogate royals…Instead, it became a day of grief”.(10)
As is so often the case, I find the Sabian Symbol extremely apt and that it sums up the situation perfectly.
In conclusion, then, I feel that I would have to endorse the opinion of David Ovason, that the unravelling of a particular prophecy of Nostradamus, and the subsequent clarification of the relevant quatrain, depends on the fulfilment of the prophecy.
Lisa Stephens
October 1999, Sydney
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