5 Degrees of Freedom: An Astrological Account of the Capture and Release of Laura Ling and Enua Lee

The story of the two journalists is a complex story of hopes and disappointments, ups and downs. It can be summarized in 5 parts: the incident, the decision, the trial, the plan and the release.

PART 1: THE INCIDENT – Captured Journalists

The story began in March with Mercury, the ruling planet of reporters opposing Saturn, the ruler of borders and confinement. The opposition occurred at 17 degrees, with Mercury in Pisces, the sign of idealism, ruled by Neptune, known for blurring lines and flowing over boundaries. Driven by their ideals, two American journalists crossed the border into North Korea. With Saturn analytical Virgo, the fault finder of the Zodiac, his action did not go unnoticed. They were captured and detained. A third planet figures predominantly in this story, Uranus, the planet of freedom. At the time of his capture, Mercury was 5 degrees from the junction of Uranus, suggesting that freedom was in his future. However, freedom was 5 degrees away, roughly 5 months from happening, with a new twist on the road every 5 weeks.

PART 2: THE DECISION – You will be prosecuted

In mid-April, Mercury in Taurus formed a trine with Saturn (a slow planet that has moved very little since March). The trills represent a harmonious flow of energy and at the same time, Mercury formed a sextile, the aspect of opportunity, to the point where it was in the middle of March. A few days later, five weeks after the journalists were captured, it was announced that they would be tried. It seemed that their captivity, an expression of Saturn, was progressing smoothly, but a test was also the first opportunity they had to change their situation. Mercury was also entering the retrograde zone, a period of time before a retrograde when it is covering the same area that it will return to. Events during this time tend to be reviewed during retrograde.

PART 3 – THE TRIAL – Accused and convicted

Although there was much talk of a trial, the two were not formally charged until the end of May, just before the end of Mercury’s retrograde cycle, and 5 weeks after the trial was announced. The trial began in early June. With Mercury square to several planets in Aquarius, the sign of the humanitarian, it did not seem promising to be shown mercy. On June 7, the Full Moon fell to 17 degrees in Gemini and Sagittarius. Both signs are related to journalism, Gemini being the sign of reporters and Sagittarius the sign of freedom of information. This Full Moon squared exactly with the Mercury / Saturn opposition in mid-March. That day the journalists were officially convicted.

With Jupiter, the planet of optimism, going retrograde in a week, the situation looked bleak and hope began to fade. Requests from the United States for his release were not working. However, Mercury was also doing a sextile, the opportunity aspect, at this point. The planet that provided a ray of hope was Uranus, the breaker of the cosmic wall, the planet of freedom and change, as well as the co-ruler of Aquarius. Despite the bleak outlook, there was a sudden turn of events “in the stars.” There was no change in the situation for about a month.

PART 4: THE PLAN – Bill Clinton, the diplomat

On June 30, after another 5 weeks, Uranus went retrograde, suggesting secrecy, something was happening behind the scenes. There was no news at this time, although on June 29 the Washington Post reported that the UN secretary general said he was making personal efforts to free the two. He told the publication that he had worked behind the scenes in similar situations before. A few days later, on the eve of Independence Day, Mercury entered Cancer.

The ruling planet of the reporters who passed through the sign of home, had to set in motion the events that ultimately led to their return. Although Mercury would remain in cancer for only two weeks, it would host pivotal events. The solar eclipse on July 7 was the first of a rare series of three. Through these three powerful eclipses, we have seen history go from a lost hope to one of success and freedom. This was in the signs of Capricorn, ruled by Saturn, and in Cancer, the home sign, as well as the sign currently occupied by Mercury. At the time of the eclipse, both the Sun and the Moon were sextile to Saturn.

That day, Laura Ling made a phone call to her sister, Lisa. Lisa Ling said that her sister had admitted her guilt, saying that they had defiantly violated North Korean law; in fact, he said, this point was made with great emphasis. This also caused a major shift in American politics. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced that the United States would accept the guilt of the journalists and seek a pardon rather than release on humanitarian grounds. In mid-July, both the Sun and Mercury formed a trine with Uranus. Hillary Clinton officially asked for Ling and Lee’s forgiveness. It was later reported that Ling and Lee told their families, during talks in mid-July, that North Korea would be open to negotiations with Bill Clinton.

The second eclipse in this series was the solar eclipse on July 21. This was the beginning of the Crescent Moon phase, the time of beginnings, occurring in Cancer, the home sign. The powerful energy of this eclipse (see my Solar Eclipse post) was all about change, breaking constraints, combining endings and beginnings. It brought the official start of the plan that finally worked. On July 24 and 25, National Security Advisor Jim Jones spoke with Bill Clinton about traveling to North Korea.

On the morning of July 26, the Moon crossed Bill Clinton’s Ascendant, at 5 degrees Libra, the sign of the diplomat. There was little official news during this time, in keeping with the degree of uncertainty that the solar eclipse brings. Since I was in the middle of a series of three eclipses, we looked for the resolution of the final eclipse.

PART 5: THE LAUNCH – Home at last!

On August 3 the Moon was in Capricorn, having returned to the point it was at during the first eclipse of this series when Bill Clinton arrived in North Korea for negotiations. The next day, August 4, marked exactly 5 weeks after Uranus turned retrograde. This was exactly 20 weeks after the journalists were first arrested; about 5 months, broken down into 5 major chapters. With the energy of the eclipse already on the rise, just one day before it happens, the Moon formed a sextile with Uranus. The same day he would enter Aquarius. This is the ruled sign or Uranus, and the sign that hosts this final eclipse, the next day.

This next eclipse was one of changes, crossroads, and events coming to a head (see my Lunar Eclipse post). He also formed quincunxes (known as fated aspects, which bring adjustment or change) to the original Mercury Saturn opposition under which they were first stopped. On August 4, Laura Ling and Enua Lee were pardoned. August 5, with Venus, the planet of harmony at 5 degrees Cancer, the sign of home, and only a few hours before the final eclipse, Lisa Ling and Enua Lee arrived at home.