Usually, I compare such city charts with the birth charts of my clients (or myself).  These comparisons often lead to the client finding a compatible match and relocating to a city with which they are happy.  Remember that, in this article, I am addressing a very devastating event so there isn't much of a positive nature, unlike the comparisons I make of city charts with those of clients.  Sometimes, clients who have not had such a consultation skeptically ask if the city charts I use are really valid.  My answer is that I painstakingly researched the dates upon which they are based and that years of application have borne out their efficacy.  Such a destructive hurricane as Charley provides an opportunity to test the dates for affected cities.

The first step is to identify the significator(s) of hurricanes.  According to recent tradition, transiting Uranus (the actual planet in the sky) is the primary significator, probably because of the unpredictable changes in speed, intensity, and course of hurricanes and this one was a prime example.  However, long before the discovery of Uranus, transiting Saturn was the chief significator of destructive storms.  Transiting Pluto is also universally considered a potentially destructive influence.  Also, the chart of the time that the eye of the hurricane made landfall has Pluto on the Ascendant in a square with Jupiter (potential maximum destruction) and Uranus was opposed by Mercury and Mars (Mercury symbolizes winds and Mars energy).  This begs the question, what are the planets in the chart of a city or location (such as a county) that would be most strongly impacted by these planets when a hurricane strikes?

In the chart of a city, the Moon represents homes, real estate, the comfort and security of the population, and families.  Obviously, a storm of this magnitude affects millions of people, their families, and their homes and businesses (real estate).  Another important point in a city chart is the Ascendant because it symbolizes the people, public health, prosperity, and property owners.  Unfortunately, the time of day that most cities were "born" or came into being was not a matter of record but, in the case of two of the city birth charts examined (Sanibel and Naples), I was able to determine the time of day.  When the time is unknown, so is the Ascendant or rising sign and the position of the Moon is only an approximation.  However, there is another very significant planet in the charts of cities (the position of which is not affected by time of birth) that represents matters strongly impacted by a hurricane of this magnitude - Mercury, because it governs communications, transportation, electricity, and commerce.  It is no coincidence that the Moon, Mercury and the Ascendant (for Sanibel & Naples) were strongly and adversely aspected by Uranus, Saturn and Pluto and more so than any other planets in these charts!

In Sanibel's chart, transiting Uranus was square the Ascendant, square Neptune, and conjunct Jupiter, all of which are stressful and surprising influences.  Transiting Saturn was conjunct the city's Saturn (the proverbial Saturn return) approaching the city's Moon and squared the city's Mercury (devastation to homes, property and commerce).  In the chart of Punta Gorda, with a population of more than 14,000, transiting Uranus was conjunct the Ascendant and square the city's Sun and Pluto, a devastating combination of influences.  Transiting Mars was also square the city's Pluto (potentially very destructive and dangerous) and transiting Mercury was square the city's Sun (more stress but minor).  Transiting Saturn was conjunct the city's Moon and square the city's Venus (bad luck).  Initial estimates are that 100% of the homes in this city, many valued over $500,000, were damaged.