Judgement

In the chart drawn for the event, the Ascendant in j and the 5 in c signify the body of the ship. The ruler of the Ascendant, L, signifies those that sail in her. Since L is well placed and essentially dignified, and receives the V of the 5, the crew are shown to be protected from danger - all managed to escape without serious injury.

The signs where the malefics are placed indicate the parts of the ship that suffer damage. L is in k, signifying the captain of the ship; F is in d, showing the bottom of the ship; and the Q is in c, indicating the stern. The blame for the disaster lay with the captain who, in choosing to sail dangerously close to the Shetlands during appalling weather (rather than maintaining the original, longer course), put the ship in danger. The Braer was literally thrown onto the rocks and crashed with its bow projecting into the air. Damage was sustained on the floor of the ship, towards the rear.

Malefic planets on the angles raise alarms for any ship’s safety. On the Descendant, they are threatening because of their X to the Ascendant. Retrograde F is angular in the 7th, in its sign of fall (d – a sign of the ocean), applying by its retrograde motion to the mutual X of =, -, the 0, the Ascendant and B. The moment clearly presents a signature of disaster.

B, ruler of the 6th house of small animals, also rules the 8th house of death and the 4th house of the grave. It is afflicted: peregrine and Under the 0’s beams in the 12th house, showing the threat to the island’s wildlife. The Q, situated on the 6th house cusp, again highlights sickness and a danger to animals.

K, ruler of the 2nd house (the cargo), is a natural significator for wealth and oil (CA, p.354). It is situated in the 8th house, receiving the retrograde U of F. The 5’s next aspect is a V to K, but this naturally ‘easy’ aspect connects the symbolism of the 4th house of drowning to the 8th house of loss, reflecting the ease with which the oil dispersed into the sea. During the terrible storms, the air was also severely polluted by the oil, as shown by the 5 in the air sign c, and K in g.

The k is R the fixed star Algol, a combination which Lilly noted as a loss of wealth (CA, p.564). Algol is considered one of the most violent stars, widely associated with death, danger and tragedy. The k is also upon the 4th house cusp, with the 5 in the 4th house and all the main significators Under the Earth. Lilly said of this:

Principal significators under the Earth; ill: worst of all if in the fourth, for that is an assured testimony of sinking the ship. (CA, pp.165-166)

Lilly also wrote:

If the unfortunate Signes (viz, those which are afflicted by the presence of L, F or the Q) be those which signify the bottom or that part of the Ship which is under Water, it’s an argument of the breaking and drowning thereof or receiving some dangerous Leak. (CA, p.159)

Fortunately, in view of the potentially devastating effects of this oil leak, far less damage was caused to the environment than initially feared. The heavy storms that continued unabated for several days, and originally frustrated attempts to lessen the damage, eventually turned into a blessing by naturally breaking up the oil. After about a week, scientists were astounded at how little of the oil remained and spoke of the island’s wildlife being “extremely lucky” to have escaped far more serious consequences. This may be seen as a more beneficial manifestation of that friendly application between the 5 and K; for, as William Lilly said in discussing charts of this nature:

it’s a general maxime in such like cases, if the 5 apply to the Fortunes, or by good aspect to any Planet or Planets in angles, then there is reason we hope well, &c. (CA, p.164)