Happy Birthday Independent Malta!

 This is just a short blog post to mark an important day in our island's history. On the 21st of September, in 1964, Malta ceased to be a colony of the British Empire. Today marks the 58 years of independence, which technically meant that we had our own government and that Queen Elizabeth II was our Head of State. 

Using this chart as the birth chart of modern Malta (of course, we could look at the Republic chart, or the Accession to the EU chart, but this is the one used by astrologers), this gives Malta a Virgo Sun, which I think is in keeping with the tradition of the island's dedication to the Blessed Virgin Mary. If you know a little about our island's history, a few dates are connected with those holy days ascribed to Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. 

Take Victory Day, celebrated on the 8th September (yes, the day Queen Elizabeth died; this is interesting, because in one way she was a mother figure to the island too). Not only is that date significant because it marks the victory over the Turks in 1565, but it also marks the end of the siege on Valletta against the French in 1800 and also the end of the Siege of Malta by the Italians in 1943 during World War II. These three dates all coincide with the feast of the commemoration of the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary. 

Operation Pedestal itself is also marked with a coincidence with the feast of St Mary, which falls on the 15th August. In August of 1942, Malta was 10 days away from surrendering to the Nazis. A convoy of ships carrying supplies to Malta left Britain on the 3rd August 1942, sailing through the Straits of Gibraltar into the Mediterranean on the night of the 9/10th of August. Only five of the fourteen ships  reached the Grand Harbour, the most important being the SS Ohio, a fuel tanker. The Maltese people's faith and dedication to the Madonna is what they believe protected them from surrender. 

Another aspect of the Malta chart which ties it in to the Mother (let's not forget that this is the island of the Goddess temples) is its rising sign. Cancer is the sign associated with the mother, its ruling luminary being the Moon, which in this chart, was close to being Full Moon and the highest point in the sky. The Moon (which represents the people in a mundane chart) in Pisces tells us that the nature of Malta's people is spiritual, very intuitive but also subject to conflict (Moon opp Pluto) and erratic change (Moon opp Uranus). 

What follows is a bit of fun astro trivia....When one compares the national chart of Malta with that of Queen Elizabeth II there is an amazing connection between the Moon and Venus in both charts. Have a look: Malta's Moon and Venus contact Queen Elizabeth's Moon and Venus. No wonder there was an affinity between the late monarch and our island home. Also, her natal Uranus contacts the Midheaven (her public status) which suggests that she could feel 'free' and, for want of another term, 'herself'. Her natal Pluto (transformation) sits on Malta's Ascendant, suggesting that living here offered her a chance to become/experience something different, something that transformed her in some way. 

Anyway - happy birthday Independent Malta! 

I hope you enjoyed reading this. 

Blessings, 

Cindy