Tokyo earthquake July 24

While I didn't use the word "earthquake" in my July Update and
World Forecast, here's what I wrote about Japan using the May 5,
1947 00.00 chart:


"With transit Rahu closing in on natal 4th lord Mars in the 3rd
house in July, Japan may experience some instability at home.
This energy is most focused around July 23rd when Mars conjoins
4th house Mercury and aspects the 7th house cusp. This event
looks destructive to me, especially since the chart is running
a Mars subperiod. It may also be related to the volatility in the
region, given the difficulties in the China chart. "


So I was very close with the date and the fact that I saw a
destructive event, although I left it open as to whether it would
be man-made or natural destruction. It was posted on the
mundane-astrology list on yahoogroups on July 10th.

It's not to say that the 1947 chart is THE correct Japan chart, but
like last October's quake, the event is clearly seen using this
chart.

Many astrologers don't use the national chart for earthquakes,
assuming that a man-made creation like a constitution cannot
possibly correlate with natural disasters such as earthquakes.
In my experience, this view is incorrect. It is usually very easy
to see major disruptions in a national chart. The trick is to find
the right one!

My approach is to use the national chart for a country and then try to
assess its correctness (and usefulness) by making predictions against
it. That way, we can get a better handle on what really works, rather
than sifting through the post facto morass of possible factors and
pulling out those astrological artifacts that confirm our own biases.

I think making predictions and then following up on them is what
astrology is all about. To be an astrologer and not to make
predictions is a bit like learning a foreign language and not being
able to speak it with a native. Conjugating verb tenses (je suis, tu
es, il est, nous sommes...) one has learned from a book only takes
you so far on the streets of Paris and will not help you find dinner.