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Chapter 1
THE POINT OF ORIGIN
October 1996
Autumn was a dazzling palette of changing colors in Northern California. Fall
was Evie Taylor’s most favorite time of year. The distinction between the warm days and
the crisp clean air after sundown always made it a magical time of year for her. Evie
thoroughly cherished the fall holiday celebrations. The smell of apples, cinnamon, and
pumpkin pies enchanted her senses. Evie used the name E. J. Taylor or her birth name
Evelyn Jayne Taylor in strictly professional circles. However, anyone who knew her on
an intimate level called her Evie. Her personal and professional life was both rewarding
and enriching although she did have her own profound cross to bear.
During the 1980’s, Evie attended Nebraska Wesleyan University. She double
majored in Religious Studies and Interpersonal Communications. Her area of special
interest was the historical, sociological, and cultural study of philosophy, religion,
literature, and art within the context of the Ancient, Classical, Medieval, and Renaissance
periods. E. J. graduated Cum Laude. She was accepted into the prestigious Ph.D.
program in Theology at Yale Divinity School in New Haven, Connecticut after she
received her Bachelor’s degree from NWU.
Inside the classroom at Yale, E. J. mainly focused on Philosophy of Religion. In
this particular area, she examined the philosophical worldviews that are alternatives to
traditional Christian perspectives, such as magic, alchemy, astrology, and witchcraft. She
also learned how the visual, literary, and musical forms that have shaped the religious life
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and its cultural expression, both within and outside the Christian church. The program
she was in at Yale also placed an emphasis on the study of society and the study of the
personality. The overall Ph.D. program in Theology was right up E. J’s alley because of
the wide range of courses it offered and because it highlighted the way the human
personality is shaped. Evie wanted to be a professor of history and the humanities. She
loved the idea that in a classroom she would teach students to appreciate and enjoy
history, philosophy, religion, and the arts.
While she was in the process of putting the final touches on her dissertation at
Yale, titled Dante: An Aficionado of Astrology or a Dazzling Astrologer?, she received a
part-time offer to teach classes on Mondays and Wednesdays at Sonoma State University
in Rohnert Park, California. Shortly after the job offer, Evie packed up her belongings
and her cat Milo and they moved to the West Coast. She bought a small 1960’s three
bedroom bungalow in the outskirts of town with some of the money she inherited from
the death of her mother. E. J. currently taught three classes, The Legend of Doctor Faust,
Dante’s Divine Comedy, and Magic, Alchemy, and Astrology in the Medieval and
Renaissance at the University. The Legend of Doctor Faust class was a two part graduate
level course that Evie taught every fall and spring semester.
****
October 28, 1996
E. J. Taylor opened the door to the classroom full of students. Some of her
students were chattering while others were organizing notes, reading, and preparing for
the Monday morning lecture. E. J. put her brief case on the lecture table next to the
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podium and took out her outline for the Faust class. “Good morning! I hope you all had a
good weekend.” Her students were attentive and most responded to her greeting with a
variety of facial expressions that indicated it was undeniably a Monday morning.
E. J. stood behind the podium with her lecture notes. “Are you all ready to discuss
Faustian legends?” she asked. Heads nodded. “Alright… Let’s begin,” she responded.
“In all Faustian legends the desire to acquire knowledge is paramount. This desire
is overwhelming and we see that Faust’s desire for knowledge is coupled with his own
desire for power, status, and control. Although the notorious elements are compelling, the
overarching element of all Faustian stories is humanism. A positive way to define
humanism is to have a deep and applied faith in the potential of human beings. The
ability to reach full human potential comes by acquiring knowledge and this is integral to
humanism. However, searching for knowledge becomes extremely perverted in the Faust
legends. What is it about Faust’s search that is perverted?” she asked. E. J. looked up at
her students. Several of her more enlightened students had their hands raised. They’d
obviously read the assignment or at least pretended too. Evie nodded and pointed her
finger at Matthew.
“In the Faust legends the Faustian individual always misuses knowledge in order
to receive earthly delights, sensual pleasures, and self-glorification,” said Matthew.
“Exactly… Faustian figures always challenge God… they reject traditional ethics
and Christian morality due to insolent pride. In fact, some predecessors to the historical
Faust want to be god-like. What else is perverted or notorious about the Faustian
character… especially the Faust in Christopher Marlow’s Faust?” she asked. Meghan
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raised her hand. E. J. looked at her and motioned for her to answer.
“Stories about Faustian figures are always notorious. Many of the obvious
elements of the Faust character were built out of myth or superstition. They are notorious
because they involve good verses evil, occult knowledge, magical abilities, conjuring
spirits, raising the dead, demonology, and pacts with devils,”1 Meghan said.
“That’s right Meghan… these are exactly the factors that have contributed to all
the legends that surround Faustian characters. Legends about these Faustian characters
circulated within the Christian community during the period known as the age of faith.
During this time, the Catholic Church was a gigantic force in society and had a
transfixing power over the lives of people,” E. J. paused and reached for her bottle of
water and took a sip. “You need to remember that during this time, education was
reserved for the clergy and for the aristocracy because the church did not want the lower
class or secular society to be educated because knowledge is power. Few people
challenged the role of the church except for the archetypal Faustian character because the
moral lesson the Catholic Church spread was that knowledge can be damning.”
E. J. reached for her lecture notes and began reading out loud to the class.
“According to Palmer and More, the Faust tradition became the vehicle of certain
fundamental religious and philosophical problems which have ever fascinated and
tormented mankind: the relationship between man and the powers of good and evil;
man’s revolt against human limitations; the thirst for knowledge beyond mere
information; the puzzling disparity between the sublimity and the misery of human life,”2
she said then stopped. “So, as you can see the role of the Faustian character is usually an
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adversarial one which literally means anti-mind or in opposition to. In the majority of
stories about a Faust-like character, we see one who is not only against Catholic dogma
and the Catholic faith, but he is also against God,” E. J. said strongly then she surveyed
the expressions on her students’ faces. Jason, one of Evie’s best and brightest students,
was well on his way to a career in the academic world.
“Jason, tell us something about Theophilus,” E. J. said.
“Ok, Theophilus was well-known in the 8th century and he was a true-to-form
Faustian figure because not only does he consort with and make a pact with the devil, he
also renounces Christianity, and he wrote an obligation in his own blood where he denied
both Christ and the Virgin Mary. Then he delivers his obligation over to the Devil,”3
Jason answered.
“After Theophilus does this what does the Devil do?” asked E. J. She pointed at
John for him to answer.
“The devil causes Theophilus to not only have perverse thoughts, but he also
instills jealousy, envy, and a desire for honor into his heart,”4 John answered.
“Good… does anyone have anything else to say about Theophilus?” asked E. J.
while looking at the students. She noticed that Rebecca raised her hand. “Rebecca, do
you have more to add?”
“Well later on, Theophilus repented… he humbled his heart by fasting and
praying.5
“Yes… Theophilus prayed for three days… the records we have say he beat his
face violently against the floor then he reflected on the pure light of the Virgin Mary.
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Why do you think he prayed to the Virgin instead of God?” E. J. asked.
Meghan jumped in and answered. “Since Catholicism was the ideology, he hoped
she’d save and protect him.6 And apparently, the Virgin did appear to him and she told
him he had sufficiently done his penitence by praying so he was redeemed and
forgiven,”7 she said.
“Very good guys… it appears that you are keeping up with your reading
assignments,” E. J. paused and looked at the clock. Time had passed quickly. She turned
and stepped behind the podium. “Okay… now I want to just to wrap things up for today
and remind you that the historical Faust emerged during the Reformation of the Catholic
Church due to the unrestrained enthusiasm of the German Humanists, to the Humanists
attitude towards educational, religious, and philosophical questions.8 This was an age of
expanding knowledge and like his predecessors, the historical Faust becomes an enduring
legend partly because he embodies the totality of all prior legends of Faustian figures.
Some described Faust as a notorious rogue, a sorcerer, a magician, and an evil doer who
was in league with evil spirits. Faust has an unbridled passion for knowledge and power.
He turns away from Christian morality. He renounced Christ and sold his soul to his Lord
Lucifer. Faust confirms that his soul is Lucifer’s by signing a contract out of his own
blood with Mephistopheles. Faust becomes the epitome of evil and one who seeks
knowledge for his own selfish desires. He goes way beyond studying the customary
liberal arts that was available in the academic world and he defies all social norms of
acceptable behavior. He believes this will help him gain personal supremacy in the
cosmological scheme of the universe. Another reason the historical Faust becomes an
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enduring legend is because Christian believers were drawn to the Faust character because
there was a moral lesson in the stories. In some ways, the Catholic Church promoted the
Faust stories because they wanted believers to know the results of turning away from
Christianity. In general, people can learn from and relate to the Faust-like character
because he is a protagonist who suffers due to his own hubris and blind ignorance; the
historical Faust personifies the essence of a perverted humanist,” she said then paused.
“Okay guys… see you Wednesday and don’t forget there’s a short quiz and your first five
page paper on the Legend of Faust is due!” she said.
****
Both inside and outside the classroom, Evie dabbled in astrology and studied the
occult sciences. Every Tuesday evening, Evie facilitated a Women’s Empowerment
workshop in her home. The women in her group were mostly academics and together
they discussed all different facets of metaphysical sciences. The classes were fun and
entertaining, as well as educational. The women discussed a variety of subjects including
basic astrology, alchemy, magic, numerology, tarot symbolism, and meditation
techniques. Since E. J. was only a part-time professor and not making a bundle of money,
she also taught astrology classes on the side for a nominal fee. She had a small number of
students who were learning how to calculate and read astrological charts. She also had a
handful of private astrological clients who paid for her astrological expertise and advice.
Besides teaching at the university and hosting the women’s meetings, E. J. took
classes at the Doane School of Astrology in Davis, California. She graduated and
received a Certificate of Proficiency in the Art of Astrology from the American
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Federation of Astrologers. This allowed her to be on their faculty and write academic
astrological articles for their publication.
When she wasn’t teaching courses at the university, she occasionally lectured at
various International Astrological Conventions. The Jyotish Arnob society and
International Institute of Astrological Research presented her with an award for
outstanding contributions to the field of astrology at one of the conventions.
Evie Taylor had met a lot of interesting, educated, spiritual, and enlightened
astrologers at astrology conventions but she also met her share of kooks and quacks. One
of the conventions Evie attended was in Las Vegas. She almost didn’t attend because
number one, the convention was scheduled when Mercury was in retrograde and there
was bound to be a lot of mixed messages. The main reason Evie considered not going
was because she didn’t think astrology should be associated with gambling games. She
was aware of astrologers who lived in Las Vegas who’d be at the convention and some of
the Vegas astrologers were well known for scamming and making money off of clients
by providing hot tips, lucky days, and winning numbers so folks could win at the lottery,
Roulette, Black Jack, and the Slot Machines. The thought of senior citizens giving large
portions of their social security or nest eggs to these astrologers with the hope they’d hit
the big one sickened Evie because she believed astrology was a divine science and
loosing money is anything but divine.
However, since Las Vegas was within driving distance and because she was on
the faculty and scheduled to lecture, Evie decided to go to the Vegas Astro-get-together.
While she was there, she decided to attend a lecture on Astrology and Health. Evie was
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sitting in her seat ready to hear the lecture when an overly rotund woman entered the
lecture room by riding on a motorized cart. The cart had a small basket attached to the
front and sitting in the basket there was a brown course-haired Miniature Schnauzer.
There was a sign written in silver metallic sparkling glue attached to front of the basket.
The sign read, “Toto, We’re not in Kansas anymore!” The astrologer from Kansas wore a
full-skirted shimmering blue lace gown with puffed sleeves and covered with metallic
silver stars. She had pure white hair, a motherly appeal, a fabulous sense of humor, and
she gave a brilliant lecture. She thoroughly amused Evie because she reminded her of a
cross between Mrs. Claus and Glenda, the Good Witch, in Frank Baum’s Wonderful
Wizard of Oz. However, Evie didn’t think it was professional for an astrologer to appear
like a Fairy Godmother.
It was at an astrology convention in Florida where Evie encountered her first
vampire astrologer. Contemporary vampire astrologers reminded Evie of a combination
of Bram Stoker’s Dracula9 and Elizabeth Bathory, the so-called Vampire Countess of
Hungary. In 1610, authorities convicted Bathory of sorcery because they believed she
targeted unsuspecting victims and used their blood to bathe in and in her potions.10 Even
though modern vampire astrologers do not suck blood and are not serial killers, their
humongous egos are warped – somehow twisted – and they feed on the life-blood of their
clients because they drain their client’s energy and take their money. Vampire astrologers
control clients by using fear and manipulation tactics. Clients become dependent on their
vampire because they’re afraid of life and they’re insecure. They don’t make so much as
a dental appointment without paying for an astrological consultation because they get
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caught up and become emotionally entrapped by the vampire’s vicious web of deceit.
Bonnie Blaceret was a quintessential modern day vampire astrologer. Evie was
aware of Ms. Blaceret before she met her because she had a notorious reputation as a
dark astrologer. She read Tarot cards, palms, and practiced astrology but she typically
gave dark readings and instilled a great deal of fear in her clients. Unlike Bonnie
Blaceret, Evie believed in empowering her clients and students. If they called her for
every little detail, appointment, or problem, then she failed them as an astrologer. When a
friend introduced Ms. Blaceret to Evie, Evie’s eyes lingered on the spidery little woman
for just an instant too long. She was wearing a worn mid-calf length black lace dress and
an oversized large-brimmed velour black hat with a sheer black veil. She decorated the
dome of her gypsy-styled bonnet with yellow and black striped fuzzy material. It
reminded Evie of a bumble bee. For the most part the veiled bonnet covered her mousey
brittle hair and disguised a face etched with aged lines, wrinkles, and bitterness.
However, even though she had done everything possible to hide her physical appearance,
she still looked like a haggard old crone. Bonnie Blaceret extended her long bony hand
palm side down as if she expected a kiss. Her fingernails were long, slightly discolored,
and chipped and she had a gaudy emerald ring on the middle finger of her left hand. Evie
cringed at the thought of kissing the shriveled scrawny hand but she did shake it
cautiously. She thought, “This woman is indeed a vampire and she looks like The Wicked
Witch!” Ms. Blaceret was completely silent. She narrowed her eyes and stared at Evie
through the darkened veil then turned Evie’s hand over and started to examine her palm.
Evie immediately pulled her hand away. Ms. Blaceret raised an eyebrow suspiciously and
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gave Evie a perverse smile then she turned and walked away. A chill went straight to
Evie’s inner core and her hair stood up on the back of her neck.
Besides meeting a crackpot or two at conventions, Evie occasionally received
strange emails and phone calls from people who asked questions about astrology. One of
the most disturbing calls she received was from a man who was interested in all aspects
of murder. Not only did he want to know what planetary aspects indicated murder and
what aspects the murderer had at the time of a murder, he wanted to know if astrology
charts indicated a potential for violence, cruelty, suicide, or murder.
****
October 31, 1996
It was cold and foggy on All Hallows Eve. After Evie passed out candy to a
handful of children who lived in the neighborhood, she decided to snuggle up in her bed
with a cup of English Decaf Tea and grade some of the papers from the students in her
Faust class. Then her phone rang. She looked at the clock on her nightstand. It was nearly
midnight. She thought it was a bit late for phone calls even if it was Halloween. “Hello,”
she ventured politely with a curious tone.
There was a brief pause. “Is this Professor E. J. Taylor… the astrologer?” the man
asked in a deep slow sinister voice.
“Yes…,” she responded with slight hesitation. The voice was completely foreign
to her but she was used to receiving calls from strangers.
“I’m aware that you’re doing astrological research regarding missing children.
I’m interested in finding the killing planet… a planet that promises violence and cruelty
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in charts,” he said ominously.
Evie leaned forward and sat straight up. She felt uneasy about the dark tone in the
man’s voice and his question stunned her. Her hand clenched the phone close to her ear
and she could feel her heart begin to beat slightly faster. “The killing planet?” she
inquired suspiciously.
“Let me explain…,” the man paused briefly to clear his throat. “I am working
with a client who is afflicted by Pluto and an Evil Star. It seems this combination
indicates a potential for cruelty, violence, murder, or suicide,” he said portentously.
Cold chills ran all the way down to the base of Evie’s spine. Her mouth had
suddenly become dry. She wanted to end the conversation as soon as possible so she
quickly composed herself. She took a quick sip of her tea and moistened her lips. “There
are plenty of astrology books that discuss crimes, murders, and murder victims. I suggest
you look for those books because I personally haven’t found a specific killing planet or a
particular planetary aspect in any of my research that explicitly suggests the chart
indicators for cruelty, violence, or murder. And frankly, I’ve never considered any star to
be evil,” she said firmly then paused momentarily. “I do know… that murderers are
usually connected to their victims and we can observe this by studying both astrological
charts,” she said cautiously.
“Murder is most foul, as in the best11…,” the man paused then continued, “that is
murder is the best to investigate… and like Pluto and Scorpio, I am fascinated by death
and decay. I will take your suggestion under advisement. Thank you and goodnight…
Ms. Taylor,” he said in a menacing tone then he hung up without giving Evie time to
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respond let alone ask his name.
Evie sat still listening to the dial tone. She put the phone down then leaned back
on her fluffy pillows and forced herself to take a deep breath. She pulled her knees and
her warm down comforter close to her chest. She shook her head and thought, “This kook
just quoted Hamlet… he’s an astrologer who wants to know about a killing planet…an
Evil Star… murder.”
****
Halloween Night, October 31, 1996
All came clear to Jack Blackburn after the conversation with Professor E. J.
Taylor. “Murder is most foul… Meenaa’s chart indicates a potential for murder because
of the Evil Star – I should make her murder appear like a suicide,” he thought with
satisfaction. He leaned back in the overstuffed chair and tranquility permeated him. His
mind began to tour through a space and time when he was with his divine mother, whom
he adoringly thought of as a queen. She told young Jack and his sister Elzora that they
were descendants of one of the most famous reigning families of Romania. According to
the family gossip, their ancestral tree could be traced back as far as February 8, 1431 to
the county of Basarabi, Transylvania, Romania. By some means, according to his queen
mother, their bloodline was connected to Count Vlad Tepes Dragoon and Vlad Dracul,
known as the dragon’s son, the apparent illegitimate son of Mircea cel Batrin. They were
great historical characters of the time.
Jack’s mother told him that Count Vlad Tepes Dragoon was his blood relative.
She said the Count was given a gold medallion with a dragon on it. The Count’s title was
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the Knight of the Order of the Dragon. Because of this Jack believed that he was from
this famous and yet, ruthless reigning families. The Dragoon’s were known for being
great warriors. They fought bloody battles against the Ottoman Empire and impaled their
enemies to death.12 In 1462, after an uprising in the empire, and for political reasons, a
fraction of the family members migrated to Germany and the Dragoon bloodline that he
was from continued to flourish.
Lillian Blackburn, the queen mother, raised Jack to be very proud, yet extremely
secretive of his lineage. He had no way of knowing if what his mother told him about his
bloodline was completely true or not. It was insignificant to him, whether or not he truly
was from the Count Vlad Tepes Dragoon and the Vlad Dracul lineage of Dragons. He
knew one way or another there was dragon blood running through his veins because the
queen mother’s maiden name was in fact Dragoon. Lillian Dragoon Blackburn was the
young boy’s Queen Dragoness.
The fairy-tales and fantasies about dragons were treasured memories for Jack. As
a child, he would get ecstatic when it came time to hear his mother’s bedtime stories. She
told him that the name Dragoon would keep predators away because they were from a
race that had existed since the beginning of time and that his family had evolved from
full-blooded dragons. They were one-half human and one-half dragon. She said he would
be able to achieve the ability to shape-shift freely, project himself into the astral world,
receive psychic vibrations, communicate with the dead, perform black magic, and
become an outstanding Gatekeeper with enough occult training.
Lillian Dragoon Blackburn instructed both the young neophyte and his younger
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sister, Elzora from her small isolated home in Illinois. She taught them secret doctrines,
how to access their natural abilities, and how to properly dispense the destructive forces
of air, fire, water, and earth. She loved to say, “Dragons are very dangerous and vicious if
outsiders ignore our territorial boundaries. We are creatures who love to dominate,
manipulate, and lure our unsuspecting into our lairs. We have the capacity to pillage and
destroy anything in our territory. Male dragons enjoy forcing virgins into sacrificial
positions.” Both Jack and Elzora enjoyed a challenging fight and they often started a fight
without provocation. Both children knew how to be sneaky and underhanded because
they were skilled black magic users. Within their souls, there was a capacity for terrible
evil.
During specific times of the year, the mother held séances with both Jack and
Elzora. During the séance, she communicated with demons that appeared as guiding
spirits. After a séance, Jack always felt born again with super-natural power, strength,
and resolve. His mother taught him that there were gateways to others dimensions called
cycles. These cycles occur every forty days and are gates of inspiration.
The most important cycle was the Spring Equinox because this is when the Sun’s
entry into the sign of Aries ruled by Mars – the Warrior awakens the primal dragon. The
culmination, at this very special and potent time of year is used for planting seeds. It’s
also a time to meet the Keeper of the Gates. It took years for Lillian Dragoon Blackburn
to properly instruct her children. Finally, the planets were in proper alignment. It was
time for Jack to be fully consecrated. A cosmic invocation took place and Jackson
Eldwyn Blackburn was initiated. He was now a Gatekeeper in every sense of the word.
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Recalling his childhood easily seduced Jack Blackburn. However, it was time to
shake off the salacious memories and get to work. All the same, his memory did cause
him to receive a profound insight because he realized the reason why he was in this
current plutonian cycle. He thought, “It was because of Meenaa my Afghan beauty! I
tried to be patient, to be her Goodness Gatekeeper, her Saint Peter, not just a Gatekeeper
who materializes a Faustian future out of consciousness. I gave her the choice of an
alluring Faustian Bargain!”
Jack stood up and for a few moments, he paced back and forth in his office.
Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks. It was like an enlightening bolt of lightening shot
through him. He thought, “The resolution for the confusion is to react! Meenaa sees me,
her Goodness Gatekeeper, as taking, rather than giving. She sees me as if I were not
transcendent, but instead a user. These are soul issues that are not ephemeral and not
temporal. I tried to not react to her reaction. Instead, I tried to provide a relationship in
which she could grow and trust. However, she is a woman who manipulates and enjoys
her power. She pretends to be blind to the needs that drive men. She attempts to control
men and yet she is in denial because denial is a conscious facet of her personality.”
Jack sat straight up in the chair then stood up and walked towards the window in
his office. He glared out the window and began to contemplate the power of the dark
stars. He thought, “I can now see the growth for the role I am to play in Meenaa’s life.
My role for her will be the foil and focus of my future task. I will not allow her reaction
to pass without an explanation from her or without retaliation from me! She ran from the
intimacy I offered even though she projected a desire for intimacy with me. She can not
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internalize me. She is the one who is controlling rather than giving. This is why so many
men are attracted to her and that is why they seek to destroy her!”
Jack’s body stiffened. There was a furious rage inside him. His right fist was
clenched so tight his knuckles turned white. He had a tight feeling in his chest. “Meenaa
needs growth through the Gatekeeper,” he growled. He took several deep breaths and
thought, “This therapy I will give her will require patience. She is nowhere near as far
along as I had originally thought she would be. I must go back to the astrological
basics.”
Jack went to his file cabinet and removed the manila folder with Meenaa’s name
written across the top. He sat down at his desk and opened the folder. For a few minutes
he stared and contemplated Meenaa’s astrology chart. Then he asked himself, “What is
the karmic basis? What is the antidote?” After a few minutes, he said out loud, “Eureka!
It is the evil star! Pain, much pain is required for Meenaa before she comes to terms.
Meenaa needs enlightenment from her Goodness Gatekeeper! Just as her natal Pluto
equals her, my Pluto, the Grim Reaper, dominates! I must finish her astrology chart first!
I must protect myself emotionally! She reviewed her psychic tapes and she saw me as the
problem! She had the audacity to think that I would forever be there for her. That I would
never leave. She is a femme fatale and yet she has sexual problems! The lying bitch!”
For several hours, Jack Blackburn made a number of astrological calculations. He
compared Meenaa’s birth chart to the position of planets for several dates far in the
future. He was anxious while he scribbled the various different symbols on the yellow
legal pad next to her chart. Finally, he leaned back in the office chair satisfied and he
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thought, “There will be a Festival of Sacrifice for Meenaa! Her fortunes will be
shipwrecked the end of March! Meenaa knowingly made a Faustian Bargain, a pact with
the Devil! She made a choice to accept emotional intimacy with her Goodness
Gatekeeper and then she reacted by giving me the shaft! The police will not be able to
understand the intricate plan that I will devise to destroy my rightful victims because I
will use my astrological expertise and my Tarot cards to receive divine enlightenment.
Today’s message received from the Tarot cards and the proper alignment of the planets
will be the key.”
Jack Blackburn stood up and stretched. Then he went to the corner of the room
and opened a vault-like safe. He admired the contents. In a devoted manner, he removed
the Tarot cards from their black silk cloth then he got down onto the floor in a snake-like
position on his belly. He shuffled and spread all seventy-eight cards upright in a fan-like
position on the floor. He deliberately set aside the Blasted Tower, the Typhon – or the
Devil card, and the High Priestess. A combination of these three cards indicated a call for
sudden and unexpected events. He thought, “These cards will bring calamity, overthrow,
accidents, evil, willfulness, mystery, controversy, and fatality. These cards will give me
the necessary negative energy that I will need to give birth to my ideas. Typhon – is not
just any Devil, but a one-of-a-kind quintessential Devil! The Blasted Tower! Bombs! The
tarot card says I should set a number of bombs in and around Falls City.”
He rolled over onto his back and starred at the fluorescent light in his office. “This
is a call for the Tommyknockers!13 Oh… I’m such a perversely wicked wicked man!” he
said aloud while laughing. He admired the plot of the Tommyknockers because in it there
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was an emanation of a deadly and unearthly evil buried in the woods. When the evil was
unleashed upon the small New England community, the innocent town became a literal
death trap for the people.
After a few minutes, he stood up and returned to his desk to sit down. He looked
over his calculations and he thought, “I must time everything properly. The stars will
provide the proper timing. I will get away with committing a mass murder. This
astrological plan will be so explosive that even the people in San Francisco will be
shaken by the terrible tremble. The citizens living in Falls City deserve my animosity!
They also mistreated the Goodness Gatekeeper.” Jack Blackburn’s mind burned with fury
and inside he had an unspeakable primal rage. He had had enough. He knew the rage was
primitive and would be his downfall if he didn’t get control over his feelings. He closed
his eyes and put his head back against the headrest on the chair. He took several slow
long deep breaths then placed both hands one on top of the other over his heart. He
thought, “I received the hidden message from beyond the physical world. The message
enlightened me. They have all conspired against me. They didn’t believe their
Gatekeeper’s warning. I know what is happening beyond and behind the scenes. After all,
I am the Citizen Investigator.”
Jack Blackburn stood up and walked to the window. His body was stiff and rigid.
His mind was like a black hole. He thought, “I spent seven years investigating the local
Afghan Mafia organization. The Afghans deserve my contempt. They are involved in real
estate, mortgage fraud, and drug smuggling. The cannabis and poppy seed fields that
grow wild in Afghanistan are the largest source of income for their mafia leaders who
20
live in the luxurious mansions in hills around Falls City. It’s the Afghans who are
responsible for supporting the cultivation, laboratory processing, and the trafficking
worldwide of heroin, cannabis, and hashish. Meenaa’s Afghan relatives move their drugs
into the Bay Area by using sea vessels, black helicopters, and small white airplanes. They
all depend on the drug smuggling to financially support their family owned businesses,
their opulent lifestyles. The Afghan Mafia ring was difficult for me to penetrate because
of their cohesiveness. Like many ethnic groups, they maintain their cohesiveness because
they are religious and tribal.”
Jack continued to stare out at the dark. He clenched his fists tight. An angry flood
of anger came over him. He thought, “The Falls City police are also corrupt! They are
involved with the Afghan Mafia. They allow the black helicopters to drop heroin and
other drugs into my neighborhood during the new and full moons. The city officials’ and
their building inspectors allowed the incompetent building contractor to use faulty
construction methods on my home. The city’s building inspector was convicted of
bribery. He bungled my investigation!”
He turned to his desk and slammed his left fist on the yellow legal pad. “No
official city agency would investigate my claim about the corruption in their fine city.
Nevertheless, I exposed them. I uncovered the evidence of corruption. They tried to
squash my plan to broadcast this story, my documentary program titled Falls City Park
USA. My film shows that the city officials and law enforcement are corrupt. The city
sanctions bribery. The city approves faulty construction projects. The city permits real
estate fraud. The police allow the Afghan Mafia to traffic drugs into the Bay Area. The
21
city officials’ turned a blind eye! The city will pay for the shoddy construction of my
home.”
Jack Blackburn sat down. His head shook back and forth. He recalled the bits and
pieces of what happened with Meenaa. There was a heavy restrictive knot instead of a
warm heart in his chest. “I should never have let my guard down. I let Meenaa sidetrack
me. I should have followed through with my detailed astrological plan to destroy the real
estate company and its Afghan realtor who sold me a home with a faulty foundation.”
He flipped open another manila folder and admired the astrological symbols. At
one time, he had had tremendous hope for the folder’s contents. He felt a tremendous
disappointment. He thought, “My plan, the Safe Solution: A Cinco de Mayo Surprise was
a superb plan. It would have coincided with the Feast of Walpurga and the zodiacal
Wicca Sabbat of Old Beltane, a festival of fertility and delight when the Sun is near
fifteen degrees of Taurus. I would have destroyed the real estate company on May 4,
1996 at 7:34 a.m. with a purifying fire if it had not been for Meenaa!”
Jack leaned back in his chair. His eyes were hard and his face was unforgiving.
He felt a cold hollowness inside. He wondered how he’d become so mentally and
emotionally sidetracked by the divorced Muslim woman named Meenaa. Then he had a
recollection that he’d met Meenaa through a mutual real estate friend during the course of
his investigations. He learned she migrated from Afghanistan, lived in the Bay Area, and
worked in the real estate business.
“Meenaa was extraordinarily delightful to look at!” he said out loud with an ugly
laugh. He thought Meenaa would be able to provide provocative insight into real estate
22
fraud and the Afghan Mafia. In the beginning, all he wanted to do was use his ingenuity
and cunning personality to use Meenaa to his own advantage. “Meenaa, you became my
intoxicating cup of wine14 until you turned on me. Now… you are my wine-dark sea15,
my mystery, my pain!” he cried out in anger.
The thought of her revealing herself to him obscured his vision to a grotesque
degree. He sank down in the chair reminiscing. “Oh how her voluptuous breasts… her
inviting thighs… her sweet female fragrances…,” he thought. Then he sat straight up.
“Meenaa seduced and tormented me physically, spiritually, financially!” he yelled.
He leaned back in his chair and he thought about how desperately he had wanted
to reach deeply inside of her pleasure portal while she ceaselessly caressed his golden
wand. He wanted her to taste his ecstasy. He thought, “I tried to make her submit to a
sublime spiritual experience and have a cosmic orgasmic connection with me. If only she
would have allowed me to thrust her with a rush of my psychic force. It would have
culminated into a climatic release of heightened consciousness.”
Jack leaned forward towards the desk and glared at Meenaa’s astrology chart.
“Meenaa, for a while you played along. You accepted your Goodness Gatekeeper… your
devil’s Faustian Bargain! You were a whore for my money! After all that I did for you…
you bitch… you had the audacity to announce that you’re reconciling with your husband
– the Afghan!” he said in a thunderous boom while tapping his pen on her chart.
He leaned back and thought about how Meenaa rejected his delicious perversion.
He felt hatred and contempt inside. His hands began to shake. He looked down and hard
at Meenaa’s horoscope. “Now, I see that all that Meenaa has to offer is a vulgar black
23
void of callousness. She is responsible for my plummet into this mood of darkness,” he
thought.
Jackson Blackburn was plagued with a terrifying rage. He was on the verge of
losing it. He slowed down his breathing. “I’ll get my revenge against Meenaa and her
Afghan in-laws – because they’re her cash-cow kings. They’ll all be bludgeoned into
oblivion by the evil star – Baten Kaitos – at twenty-one degrees of Aries. I’m not
Meenaa’s Saint Peter anymore – her Goodness Gatekeeper,” he said with grave hostility.
For awhile Jack just sat there and stared coldly at Meenaa’s astrology chart then
he added a few additional notations along side the border. He felt a warm flush on his
face. His heart pounded violently and he could feel hot blood gushing through his veins.
He stood up and walked towards the window. He starred out at the pitch black sky. It was
as if time stopped momentarily. Jack Blackburn had worked himself into a tense mental
agitation.
He shook out his strained fists, rolled his neck counterclockwise, and considered
his next move. He had a stubborn devilish look in his eye. His brain was a ruminating
sinister vault. He tapped his right foot on the floor for a few moments and plotted his
enlightened idea. Then, he began to snicker. “A diabolical surprise is about to be
delivered by the Gatekeeper, Pluto, the Grim Reaper. The city will pay for its corrupt and
sinful behavior. Falls City will be a diminutive Roman Empire and fall! Meenaa will see
the killing planet and the evil fixed star Baten Kaitos on March 28, 1998. What a
spectacular occasion for Meenaa to be bludgeoned into oblivion by her Goodness
Gatekeeper’s own evil stars! This will truly be a festival to remember! My final act is
24
going to be terrorism in the name of justice,” he said scornfully.
Jack walked towards the stereo and loaded Wagner’s Eine Faust Overture in the
CD player. The music was perfect for his dark Faustian mood. He turned the volume up
louder than usual and then he sunk down with his eyes closed in the overstuffed chair in
the corner of the room. He thought, “Meenaa… the sorceress – she’s the damned witch
Sycorax… the dark eyed hag will groan because of my immitigable rage. What torment I
did find in thee. Now the wolf will howl and the bear will be ever angry because of the
unwholesome poisonous witch. She will be finished by the devil himself.”16 Jack
Blackburn was overwhelmed with evil anticipation. The darkness inside had surfaced and
it was anxious to get out but he knew he must exercise patience and self-discipline or
otherwise he could get caught. He thought, “The only power that is lasting is a power that
is disciplined.”
25
Chapter 2
FESTIVAL OF SACRIFICE
All Saints Day, November 1, 1996
Jack Blackburn lived in a comfortable and pampered environment. He lived in a
five hundred thousand dollar home in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife,
Penelope. The home was where he studied astrology charts and began to clandestinely
calculate his plan of attack on Meenaa, her relatives, and the Falls City police force.
Jack intentionally married Penelope years earlier because he knew she would be a
willing and submissive companion. The marriage served his materialistic purposes, but it
lacked mental, emotional, or sexual fulfillment. He had an unbridled demand for sex,
high standards for physical attractiveness, and a constant need for sexual gratification. He
was self-indulgent and insisted on a bizarre morning ritual. Nearly every morning started
with her first watching him masturbate then he required her to give him an enema.
Usually, the magical masturbation routine included a communal bath. Even though
Blackburn’s wife complied, she only partially fulfilled his desires. Because she was in
complete adoration of him, she compromised her own attitudes towards sex. She could
not see that this was a lurid picture of a sexual monster.
Jack had had an abundance of encounters with a variety of women during the
marriage because they indulged his sexual impulses. Sex released a great deal of his
physical and psychical energy, but for the women, the encounters always left them
feeling as if their vital energy had been drained dry. Women often had to fight off his
advances because he had an unquenchable thirst for sex. Blackburn’s wife pretended to
26
be completely unaware of his extra curricular activities. Blackburn had an abnormal
power over his wife. She was dedicated and mesmerized. She constantly sought his
approval due to his penetrating character, hypnotic attributes, and diabolically clever
personality. In the twenty-plus years of the marriage, he had managed to gain perfect
control over her. He never had to worry about earning an income because she had a
successful career and received a sizable salary.
Several areas in the home such as the second story office, the basement workshop,
and one side of the garage were completely off limits to anyone but him. No one dared to
enter his sacred spaces. There was a number of surveillance cameras mounted on the
roofline around the outer perimeter of the home to keep outsiders at bay. On the door
outside of his office, which was more akin a secret mausoleum, there were three locks.
Each lock on the door needed a different key, which he used when he wanted to enter and
begin invoking the dark forces within. He had especially chosen the keys of three, as they
were symbolic to him as an adept of occult sciences. To him, the key of three symbolized
the planet Venus and the Empress Daleth, the hidden door to the sanctuary, giving birth
to ideas, gifts of profound knowledge, and justice.
The large overstuffed leather chair in the left corner of the room sat next to a table
that had low level reading lamp sitting on it. Blackburn used this corner of the room for
dreaming, rumination, psychic visitations, reading, and listening to classical music.
Besides Wagner, Chopin’s Scherzo in B Minor was one of many of his favorite pieces.
He also enjoyed Gounod’s, Schumann’s, and Weber’s compositions on Doctor Faust
because they evoked love, humor, rage, darkness, and evil in his soul.
27
There was also a worn generic gray office desk and chair in the middle of the
room. There was a computer on the right side of the desk. Blackburn used the computer
for his investigative purposes and it contained hellish files and extensive documentation
about local citizens. In the other corner of the office, there was a massive safe that looked
like a sarcophagus. The tomb-like safe contained all of his great works, cipher
manuscripts, banishing rituals, Tarot cards, astrological charts, his elixirs of life, and his
gateways of inspiration. There were additional secret documents, for his eyes only, that
he had written and saved regarding corruption within the city. He placed his plans for
retaliation against political leaders, city officials, police, and several residents of the
community in the safe for top security. All of the documentation was necessary for the
citizen investigator to keep.
****
All Soul’s Day, November 2, 1996
E. J. Taylor arrived at the university early so she could type out some notes for the
morning Faust class. She unlocked the door to her office, turned the light on, and sat
down at the university’s computer. She wrote, “The Old Man refers to the Christian belief
in the Passion of Christ when he says, ‘Break heart, drop blood, and mingle it with
tears…”17 The Old Man tells Faustus that mercy comes from the Savior who suffered.
Jesus was crucified for those who put their faith in him. Christ’s blood saves the sinner
and washes away their sins.18 Faustus is emotionally distraught. He cries out that he is
damned. Faustus believes in God’s mercy but he doesn’t feel he’s worthy of mercy. The
Old Man says Faustus has a guardian angel watching over him. The angel has a ‘vial full
28
of precious grace’ that will save Faustus if he asks for mercy.19 Faustus knows the
Christian doctrine of grace. He thinks about his sins and prays but concludes he’s
accursed. Faust’s despair is greater than the sorrow he feels for his sinful nature. He’s lost
power over his life! Loosing power meant a spiritual death for Faust.”
Evie Taylor leaned back in the chair with her eyes closed. She wondered if
despair, misery, and pain were necessary for spiritual progress. She thought to herself,
“Do we need to detach ourselves from the things of this world if we want to be united
with the Divine? We must have faith. Through faith, we understand the mystery of death.
Unlike Faustus, if a believer applies faith they can avoid the tragic potential of despair.”20
Evie opened her eyes and looked at her computer screen. She wanted to add some
notes to her lecture on apocalyptic beliefs because these types of beliefs can contribute to
a system of propaganda and evangelization.21 She wrote, “Visionary or predictive
literature primarily focuses on God’s plan to save and deliver the devout from evil.
Average Christians during Faust’s time were concerned with the approach of the
Antichrist.22 Can we identify evil? Will someone appear who is the summation of all
evil? Apocalypticism – or end of the world genre – has a pattern of crisis, judgment, and
salvation. Are worse events looming on the horizon? Is there truly a struggle between
good and evil? Will God’s judgment vindicate the just? Will good triumph over evil after
the trials and the tribulations? Is this when God will deliver his final judgment?” It was
nearly time for class by the time Evie was finished with her lecture notes. She grabbed
her brief case, turned off the light, and walked quickly across campus. She was tired but
her mind was alert. However, the mysterious late night phone she received on Halloween
29
night still had her a bit shaken.
****
Sunday April 27, 1997
Six months had passed since Jack Blackburn’s call to Professor Evie Taylor on
Halloween night regarding the planetary aspects of murder, the killing planet, and the
Evil Star Baiten Kaitos. Sunday April 27, 1997 was the starting point for inconceivable
wickedness. Blackburn didn’t require his usual magical masturbation routine because he
was anxious for his compliant wife to leave for church and a day full of errands so he
could get up to his office to begin visualizing and planning his final assault on residents
of Fall City. A feeling of lust came over him at the thought of beginning his new project
of revenge. All of his life, he enjoyed using his mind for manipulative control over
people’s lives. For him, the timing of any event and properly choosing the starting point
for any project was extremely important.
As soon as Penelope vacated the premises, he went upstairs and unlocked the door
to his dark room. He entered then promptly slammed the door, locked it from the inside,
and quickly turned on the fluorescent ceiling light. He admired the room then slinked
down into his worn leather chair. He mused momentarily then he stood up, went to his
desk, and began a foray of astrological calculations for the coming shit storm.
Blackburn spent several hours making astrological calculations and writing
detailed notes. He came to the conclusion that the lord of revenge should descend on his
unsuspecting victims shortly after the Spring Equinox on March 21, 1998. He knew that
the ancient Druids considered this time of spring to be quite magical because this is when
30
the length of daylight and night are exactly twelve hours apart all over the world. He
thought it would be a spectacular beginning time because he would become a Solar Hero
by clearing out the city’s toxic residue. “There will be a crack in the underworld that will
open up with force and unleash a tremendous power of evil. My unsuspecting victims
will be plunged into the dark depths of the underworld after dawn on the Spring
Equinox!” he thought self-righteously.
Jack Blackburn believed that the entire month of March was a scapegoat season
because it was ruled by the warrior planet Mars. He knew from his studies of occult lore
that ancient Pagans considered March to be the time of year when armies should prepare
for bloody battles. This was also the time of year when St. Patrick chased the snakes out
of Ireland and when people are forced to face the shadow part of their subconscious
minds. He thought, “My targets have to address the lord of karma!”
He studied the astrological chart. Then, he began to chuckle. He wrote, “A Venus
Party will make everything come to perfection. The Law and the police as community
servants will be thwarted especially with no planets above the horizon to help, the trail is
cold! Pluto rules bombs, crooks, and criminals. I am the ruler of Pluto and will rise to the
ascendant. The instigator is the ascendant. I am the Querent and the ruler of the sign
Scorpio! It will be me verses them! One major worry will be as transiting Mercury is
stationary direct and conjunct the transiting Sun of the spectacular event, while the North
Node of the Moon conjuncts the pre-event. Pluto will square Jupiter and the South Node
of the Moon.” Jack Blackburn came up with a diabolical idea on that Sunday. Just after
the sun sank below the horizon, his wife arrived home. She was unaware that her husband
31
had conceived such a macabre plan.
The next day he went to the dungeon-like basement workstation and began taking
an inventory of his supplies. While he sorted through the boxes of supplies in the
dungeon, he recalled that in 1996 he had developed a plan to bomb the local police
department because he believed the police were his rightful victims. He had casually
visited and videotaped the new police facility on open house day. However, he decided
not to bomb the building because while he was driving home, he had a deadly revelation
that police would catch him because the new facility was more like a bunker from the
Third Reich rather then a police station. This time, Jack Blackburn had reached a critical
mass. He was determined to find a more appropriate target if he could find the proper
astrological timing. He thought to himself, “One man’s criminal activity is another man’s
righteous activity!”
Over the next several months, he innocently bought ordinary supplies that would
eventually become deadly bombs. He perversely planned the scheme and relentlessly
visualized the scenario for his course of action. He gathered and sorted through all of the
parts then he began designing devices, connecting various wires, and making prototypes.
His bombs were crude and unsophisticated at first. However, by the middle of summer in
1997, he developed a new technique. He constructed a bomb from a homemade circuit
board and common electrical components. His final bomb had a unique timing circuit
system but there was an elegant simplicity about the bomb.
Jack Blackburn had splendid dexterity. He made the bomb in such a way that the
sparkplug’s central electrode rod was elongated. He fitted it with small machine screws
32
that would pass an electrical signal. The device also consisted of a Casio digital watch.
The watch was attached to a small relay circuit and could be detonated by using a
modified car sparkplug. The Casio watch was the anniversary model. The timer inside the
watch enabled the bomb to be set so it would go off several months into the future.
Jack lacked expertise in soldering techniques and because of this, he unknowingly
soldered on the wrong side of the circuit boards. This made his bombs appear homemade
especially to an experienced bomb maker. Nevertheless, he felt that he had graduated and
he thought the new design had a very sexy approach. It thrilled him that his devices were
on the edge of sophistication. He knew the devices would work because he had already
tested several similar mock-up models.
****
July 1997
Blackburn became aware through a realtor friend that some of Meenaa’s relatives
planned to purchase a luxurious 1.5 million dollar home in Falls City the first part of July.
The home was in the final stages of construction so her relatives wouldn’t be able to
occupy the home until later in the fall. Meenaa’s relatives were listed as Blackburn’s
appropriate targets in his Rightful Victims file. There were also other people on
Blackburn’s Rightful Victims list. In fact, Blackburn had kept detailed notes in the file
regarding attacking his neighbor because the neighbor’s noisy bird and boat parked on
the driveway irritated him. Blackburn’s file discussed options for attacking the bird,
bombing the neighbor’s home, and casting suspicion on him by planting drugs or
poisoning his associates.
33
The Rightful Victims file also included a detailed philosophy on what to do to
people who offend or cross him. On the first page he wrote, “All those I perceive as
offenders shall experience circumstances I impose that allow options to leave the
battlefield. Those who choose to stay and fight are the hopeless criminal cases, my truly
Rightful Victims. The pages to follow describe the science necessary to dominate other
men, the tools of my trade. In using these tools, I must recognize that surprise and
deception are my most potent tools. It is true that it’s best to keep your enemies closer
than your friends – the better to watch them. The greatest truths are the tools that offer
the greatest leverage over my enemies especially when my tools are coupled with
surprise and deception in a ruthless, relentless pursuit of the Rightful Victim.” For the
most part, Blackburn’s victims became his enemies because of relatively minor and
isolated conflicts.
****
Monday August 11, 1997
Jack Blackburn was restless during the early morning hours. He couldn’t sleep
because he was thinking about his Rightful Victims so he got up and went to his secret
quarters. He sat down in his large leather chair and began to go into a trance-like state.
After a few minutes, he received a full psychic and enlightened vision of rafters. He
opened his eyes and he thought, “Conceal the bombs in the rafters or sub-floors and
crawlspaces of their homes! I must presume eyes or video tape are recording me. I’ll
select disposable shoes and clothes, and add weight by stuffing double or triple layering
with sweats on top. I must use a disposable headband over a wig, a disposable belt, and a
34
beard layering. I should wear goggles over glasses to hide my eye color. I probably better
use latex gloves underneath simple black-dyed cotton gloves. Are the windows on the
house duel pane or plate glass? I better check if there are cameras anywhere. I must
practice walking quietly and make sure to check if there is someone sleeping in a
bedroom nearby and be sure to watch for late night, lights in any homes nearby. Speed is
of the essence! At the scene, I’ll leave candy wrappers, used napkins, and Negro hair,
which are all from the Cupertino area. I better familiarize myself with the area by getting
maps and knowing all the routes vs. dead-ends. Beware of police park patrol! Where is
the closest police station? Where is the closest fire station? Identify all neighbors’
routines and their businesses. Beware of cabstands. Beware of near traffic funnels. Use
the near traffic times. Where is the nearest county sheriff and CHP station? When does
their shift end? Does anyone live nearby? Is there an ADT sign? I should stay in the trunk
once, all night, and watch to see if a guard checks in, if police actively patrol the park,
and if there are any passers by. I’ll need a handgun for confrontation! Where do I go if
chased on foot? Where do I place a get-away car? I’ll switch the license plate from a
rental car or steal a plate from an identical year and model from another rental location.
I’ll use the same costume for both plates and checkmates. Because Meenaa’s family are
Muslim, I must calculate and check for the Moon’s Sliver! I could consider a rainy or
cloudy night. I must generate no static electricity! Time is everything – 60 seconds max! I
calculate that Labor Day weekend approximately at 3:15 AM is action!”
Jack Blackburn had fully conjured a hellishly wicked plan. He stood up and
stretched then sat down at his desk and took out a yellow legal pad and pen. On the top of
35
the page he wrote, “Vision of Rafters. The partial solar eclipse on September 1, 1997,
will be the set-up! I will set the timing such that in twilight – 7:00 pm Pacific Standard
Time during the Muslim Festival of Sacrifice on Sunday, March 29, 1998.”
****
September 1, 1997
In the middle of the night on the Partial Solar Eclipse of September 1, 1997, Jack
Blackburn relentlessly inched his way like a horned viper into to the dark crawlspace of
the new home Meenaa’s relatives planned to buy. He snaked the wire through the floor
joists and he hid the two huge explosive devices underneath the sub-flooring between the
flooring and the insulation. A strong netting material held the bombs in place and kept
them hidden from construction inspectors. He put the first bomb directly under the
dinning room and the second one under the family room. The charges on the bombs were
set on a seven-month timer. He worked confidently and relentlessly in silence. His hands
were steady. He had absolutely no remorse or guilt. He was self-absorbed in his own
thoughts. “No rest for the wicked!” he thought satirically. He completed his task and
escaped without being detected. Everything went according to Blackburn’s well thought
out plan and he was very pleased with himself.
All he needed to do was to wait patiently for the Crescent Moon on the evening of
March 29, 1998. He thought, “The sighting of the sliver of the moon will be the signal. A
simple yet infinitesimal current will ignite an explosive reaction. This will be the true
Festival of Sacrifice! Glory be! An illumination will take place. My explosive creation
will be just beneath the feet of my deserving targets – my rightful victims.”
36
****
February 1998
Time passed slowly for the diabolical Blackburn. After seven months, springtime
arrived. It was nearly a perfect climate for surveillance techniques the evening of
February 25th because pacific storm systems layered northern California with thick
blankets of fog. Blackburn pulled up to the curb across the street from the house where he
had previously placed the two provocative fire-starting devices. He wanted to get one last
glimpse of his Rightful Victims before the blast. He watched the activity at the house for
about an hour when suddenly it dawned on him that it wasn’t Meenaa’s relatives who
occupied the house. It was an unfamiliar family. They weren’t his Muslim targets. In fact,
they were an unknown and undeserving Asian family. He thought, “This shit storm has
turned into a hell-of-a-mess but there’s nothing I can do at this late hour except add a
force of energy to the shit storm.”
Blackburn leaned his head back against the headrest in his car. He pounded the
steering wheel and he yelled angrily, “Shit, shit, shit!” He closed his eyes, leaned
forward, and put his head on the steering wheel. After a few moments, he raised his head
then opened his eyes. He thought, “I guess I’m forced to add several other well-deserving
targets to this bombing campaign. The cops and the Asians are just a simple little icing on
the cake. I need throw them off course. I must stash all the astrological plans and related
documents, bomb-making supplies, and books. I must get rid of the evidence in case I get
caught. Damn Mercury retrograde!”
On the Solar Eclipse Feb 26, 1998 at around 9:30 in the morning, Jack Blackburn
37
drove a U-Haul truck to a street near Stevens Creek under the freeway. He parked the
truck and watched the street for just a few minutes then he noticed a grubby hungry angel
– a man pushing a shopping cart full of cans. “There’s a hungry thirsty man. If I give him
enough he’ll buy himself a pint of Old number 7 JD and never remember good ole Jack
Blackburn,” he thought. He jumped out the truck and walked up close. “What would you
do for me if I offered you a shave, some new clothes, and eighty bucks?” he asked.
“Eighty bucks… ah, well that’s a lot a darn money. What do ya want me to do?”
the man asked.
“Look it’s nothing illegal. I just need to rent a storage locker. My old lady
announced she’s leaving me and I wanna hide some personal stuff from her until the
divorce is final. I need someone to rent the locker for me under their own name so she
won’t be able to find my shit,” Blackburn explained.
The ragged and dirty man eagerly replied, “I’ll do it for eighty bucks.”
A shake of hands sealed the deal. Then, both men climbed into the U-Haul and
Blackburn drove towards Junction Avenue towards the Central U-Storage facility. Along
the way, they stopped at a gas station so the homeless man could shave and change
clothes. The homeless man filled out the paperwork and paid for six months for the
locker then he went outside to where Blackburn was waiting. Blackburn’s eyes nearly
drilled a hole right through the man while he counted out the eighty dollars in twenties.
Blackburn said, “Someday you may read about me in the paper.” The homeless man took
the money and quickly walked away without ever saying a word. Blackburn hastily
unloaded and stashed the boxes full of incriminating evidence into Locker D110 then he
38
set the lock code.
****
March 29, 1998
There was a spectacular view of twinkling stars sitting against a dark blue
background over Falls City, California during the early morning hours of March 29,
1998. The Police Chief and his wife were sleeping peacefully. Saturday had been a full
day for the couple because they spent the majority of it with their grandchildren. Around
10:30 p.m., they had snuggled in to bed. Mid-night came and went. No one was aware
that Jack Blackburn – the city’s merciless bomber was cautiously making his way
through the neighborhood streets of Falls City. Jack Blackburn creped onto the front
porch of the home of the Falls City Chief of Police and placed the first of a series of
homemade firebombs. Then, he quickly disappeared into the darkness. He was prepared
to deliver his second set of booby trap bombs.
Blackburn drove cautiously to his next destination – an unoccupied new home just
a few blocks away from the home where he’d set the first set of bombs on September 1,
1997. The second location was Blackburn’s Venus Party. His plan was to kill a number
of law enforcement personnel. After he finished setting the motion sensors on these
bombs, he drove up to the top of Mission Hills to the city’s water tower and he placed the
last of the devices.
The bomb at the home of the Chief of Police detonated at approximately 4:00 a.m.
A deafening boom resonated throughout the house. Flames and gray smoke was pouring
from the front doorway while the front of the home was in flames. Before the dust settled,
39
a horrific scream emerged from inside the Chief’s home. Neighbors heard the blast and
rushed to the scene to help. Fortunately, even though there was damage to the outside of
the Chief’s home, no one was injured.
Jack Blackburn didn’t hear the sounds of sirens from the emergency vehicles that
were rushing to the scene. By the time the first blast occurred, he was driving southbound
on the route to Southern California for the weekend. While he drove he visualized his
black magic and he created a strategic alibi.
The early morning bombing understandably shook the local residents.
Nevertheless, the day was full of hope and it was a sensuously warm day. Many of the
residents read the news about the mysterious bombing at the Chief’s home in the local
newspapers while drinking cappuccino along sidewalk cafes. Some folks gossiped about
it in between mowing their lawns, planting flowers in their gardens, and playing frisbee
in the lush parks available to Falls City residents. Most people, including the police, felt
the early morning bombing was a one-time event and they were completely unaware that
more was to come.
Local Muslims were on the verge of beginning a holiday celebration called the
hajji. Their beliefs encouraged believers to begin fasting at the new moon, which was on
the Friday evening before. After sundown, at the sighting of the crescent moon, they
could end their fast. Because the hajji was such a special holiday for Muslims, they
usually prepared an elaborate meal and invited family members and intimate friends to
eat. By 6:25 P.M. the sun was just sinking below the horizon. The stars were shinning
and there was a perfect view of the moon’s silver. The zul hajji, also known as the
40
Festival of Sacrifice, was about to commence.
At 8:06 p.m., the next series of bombs exploded with intensity and rage at the
affluent mansion in the hills of Falls City. The entire home burst into flames, with
temperatures exceeding 9,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The blast sent debris far into the sky
some of which eventually landed on nearby neighbors’ lawns. The home was a cosmic
firestorm engulfed in flames. The sound of the massive blast could be heard for blocks.
Neighbors rushed outside and many thought the home would burn to the ground before
help would arrive. The Falls City police and firefighters were dispatched immediately.
The fire at the home was still raging when Jack Blackburn stopped at a pay phone
along side of the road. He hooked up his expensive voice-decoding device and dialed a
private number at the Falls City Police Department. “Go to hills in Falls City near the
new homes. The two-story on the corner of Corte Del Sol by 8:45 p.m. or the police will
go boom! Bye, later,” Blackburn said clearly. However, in the frenzy of chilling activity
that had just occurred up the street, the police didn’t go to the second location because
they thought the call was a prank.
The massive ball of fire at the house looked like it had the power to outshine the
sun. It was completely incinerating the residence. The firemen were totally stunned at
what they saw. Panic and fear quickly set into their minds. They speculated whether or
not there were survivors inside. From experience, they knew that survival depended on
location at zero hour. They all hit the ground running to extinguish the monstrous flames.
After the fire was out, they started digging through the rubble. Police and firemen were
all amazed when the sixteen year old Guan-yin Jiang emerged from the smoke. She was
41
scratched and bruised, but otherwise in tact. Guan-yin informed them that her mother,
Chuang-mu, and her little brother, Lu-pan, had left to go pick up a pizza at Roma’s
Pizzeria.
Later that evening, the police carefully reconsidered what they originally thought
was a prank call. On the following day, they went to the location armed with the Bomb
Squad. Once again, the police found bombs under the sub-flooring of the home.
However, unlike the first set of bombs, these bombs were connected to motion sensor
devices. The police were able to successfully dismantle the bombs. The police found the
sixth bomb at the city water tower on March 30, 1998.
The bombings occurred on March 29, 1998 and involved six bombs at four
separate locations. The two bombs that exploded the 1.5 million-dollar residence were
two of the largest domestic pipe bombs in U.S. history. These horrendous explosions
rocked the innocent community and shattered people’s feelings of safety. The blasts came
without warning and with brutality. No one had noticed any unusual activity in the
upscale neighborhood. People had no clue that something this terrible was going to
happen. The bombs were every bit as powerful and as sudden as a California earthquake.
To the people of Falls City, it was as if all hell had broken loose. It was as if the Devil
himself had arrived except this devil was in the form of raining hot ashes, shattered glass,
and burning wood. The hopes and dreams of having a safe and peaceful environment had
vanished. Falls City lost her innocence at the precise moment of detonation.
Terrorism arrived with a vengeance and the terrorist lived right around the corner.
However, before anyone could catch a breath, Jack Blackburn, the man responsible for
42
the devastation in Falls City, was driving away from the horrific event. In his twisted
mind, he had powerful visions of two Tarot cards – the Typhon and the Blasted Tower. In
his mind, he could clearly see the house trembling and collapsing. He thought to himself,
“Falls City has fallen just like the Roman Empire!” Jack Blackburn was absolutely
convinced that he had acted in the name of justice. He thought, “The citizen investigator
has become a crusading warrior – I’m the avenging Gatekeeper.”
43
Chapter 3
MEETING THE GATEKEEPER
April 1998
The bombings were a priority for Falls City and Law Enforcement. There had
never been a crime of this magnitude in the city’s forty-two year history. Through the
course of the investigation, a police hot line was setup, hundreds of leads poured into the
station, and police questioned dozens of citizens as potential suspects. The investigation,
the most expensive and comprehensive in the history of Falls City, included local law
enforcement personnel, twenty-four full-time FBI agents, ten agents from the Federal
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, forensic experts, and several expert bomb
investigators. Many of the experts had previous experience investigating high profile
cases such as the Unabomber, the Oklahoma City bombing, and the Atlanta Olympics
bombing.
Fortunately, the investigators got a lucky break because on April 10, 1998 a local
resident called the local police station and asked to speak to the detective in charge of the
bombings. When the dispatcher asked why the caller wanted to speak to the detective, the
caller said he knew who should be the cop’s prime suspect. The dispatcher immediately
transferred the call to the desk of Detective Jason Ares who listened to what the caller
had to say with a keen ear.
“This is Detective Ares. Who am I speaking to?” asked the detective.
“Look, who I am isn’t important. I know who you guys should be looking at for
the bombings! It’s Jack Blackburn but he calls himself the Gatekeeper! He’s a freak!”
44
“Did you say Gatekeeper?” the detective asked.
“Yes, Gatekeeper.”
“Well, hum… how do you know Jack Blackburn… this Gatekeeper guy?”
“Well, we’ve been acquaintances for several years because we were both doing
research at the library on real estate fraud.”
“Ok. What does Blackburn have to do with the bombings?” the detective asked.
“Look, I know this sounds weird but a while back we were both at the library and
ran into each other. Blackburn wanted to go for a cup-a-jo. So we did. Somehow or
another the conversation got around to him asking me where he could get pipe and circuit
boards.”
“Well just because Blackburn asked you for circuit boards doesn’t mean he’s a
bomber,” the detective replied.
“No! You aren’t getting it. This was all before the bombings. At one point, I even
loaned him a drill press and gave him maps of the entire water district that had the
location of the water towers which were bombed!”
“Look, I can’t do much with this information unless you tell me who you are.
Whatever you tell me, will be confidential. We want this guy. He’s dangerous and could
do this sort a thing again. If you know something, that could help us bring him in, you
need to tell me.”
For a brief moment, there was a dead pause in the conversation. Then, with
hesitation, the caller began to speak. He said, “I served on the city water board council.
And while I was on the board, Blackburn manipulated me into giving him the maps of the
45
water district.”
“How did he manipulate you to do that?” the detective asked.
“That’s not important! What is important for you to know is Blackburn thinks
he’s some kind of citizen watchdog. He thinks the city officials are all corrupt and it’s his
job to expose them. His attitude is if it takes violence to get his message across, then
violence it will be. You know the eye for an eye mentality?”
The former council member was reluctant to tell Detective Ares his name because
in the past he committed arson and served time for the crime. Nevertheless, he was afraid
if he did not cooperate with the police, Blackburn would try to frame him for bombing
the city water tower. After all, he did have an intimate understanding of the water
facilities and he took the city maps of the water supply system without authorization and
gave them to Blackburn. Finally, he agreed to go down to police headquarters and give a
full statement to the detective.
From the interview, Detective Ares also found out that for seven years Jack
Blackburn had become obsessed about flaws in the construction of his house and he spent
his time and money investigating the contractors as well as the city's building inspection
process. Detective Ares knew that Blackburn had some sort of animosity towards police
officials because the first target to be bombed was the Chief of Police. For whatever
reason, this man was enraged and was on a crusading rampage so the police began
watching the fifty-three year old.
Police were curious to see what this Blackburn – a Gatekeeper – looked like.
When the police first put him under their surveillance, they were surprised to find that
46
Jack Blackburn was a professorial looking man. He was balding and he had full lips and a
pug nose. He was over six feet tall and slightly over weight with broad shoulders but he
did have eyes that were dark and menacing.
The police investigators also quietly started questioning several of the neighbors
of Blackburn. Neighbors told the police that he tried to convince many of them to join
him in starting a class-action lawsuit related to the construction of the entire housing
development. However, neighbors saw the suspect as a conspiracy theorist with a
paranoid mind. Jack Blackburn also told them he was an expert in forensic evidence and
on the FBI’s witness protection plan. All of the neighbors were hesitant to get involved
with Blackburn because he was constantly threatening a lawsuit for one thing or another.
Many of the neighbors described him as an intense self-involved crackpot. The
neighbors next door told the police investigator that often times, Blackburn would stay up
until dawn to guard and watch his home because he told them that there was a plot to
assassinate him and that his phone lines were bugged. Some neighbors told the police that
Blackburn was sexually aggressive with women.
The initial investigation was exhausting. Even so, the police investigators
immediately discovered that Jack Blackburn worked for the Chicago Police Department
between 1975 and 1979. Detective Ares called the Chicago Police Department to see if
he could get some background information.
“Chicago Police Department. May I help you?” said the dispatcher.
“Good morning, this is Detective Jason Ares from the Falls City Police
Department in Falls City, California. I need to speck to someone in your personnel
47
department.”
“Thank you. Let me transfer your call.”
“Personnel. This is Officer Peterson. How can I help you?” said the voice on the
end of the line.
“Good morning. This is Detective Ares from Falls City, California. I need
information on a suspect we are bringing in for questioning for a series of bombings here
in California. We found out our suspect was an employee of yours back in 1975.”
“Oh really… an employee of ours. In 1975? That’s a long time ago! What’s the
name?” asked Peterson.
“Jack Eldwyn Blackburn is what I’ve got,” replied Ares.
“Ok. Hang on a minute and I’ll see what we’ve got.”
Ares waited patiently for the information he needed.
“All right. What I have on record in Blackburn’s personnel file is that he was a
highly intelligent chemist. He worked for us between 1975 and 1979 as a forensic microanalyst.”
“Sounds like he has an extensive background in law enforcement!” replied Ares.
“Well yes… but we terminated him because he continually brought charges
against his supervisors which were all dismissed because there was never any evidence to
support any of the charges.”
“So the guy was a trouble maker in the department?” asked Ares.
“That’s an understatement! They guy was unmerciful!” Peterson remarked. “He
was out to get anyone and everyone. The guy was a real pain in the neck. Let me see…
48
oh it looks like he was ordered to spend some time with our psych division. The psych
evaluation shows he has some serious issues.”
“Oh really? That’s interesting.”
“Yea, well… when the department finally let him go, he continued to make all
kinds of threats to the department. According to his file, this kind of stuff went on for a
few years but nothing ever came of it.”
“Can you fax me a copy of the file?”
“Sure. No problem.”
“Is there anything else?” asked Ares.
“Well that’s all I have here but if you want the names of some of his supervisors, I
can do a little digging and get back to you.”
“Thanks. I would really appreciate that and for what you’ve given me so far!”
“Sounds good. I’ll do some digging and get back to you. And by the way, good
luck. Blackburn is one guy I would not want to have on the opposite side of the table!”
said Officer Peterson.
With this foundational information in hand, Detective Ares believed that they
should immediately focus their suspicions on Blackburn as their prime suspect. For the
next month, they continued to investigate him and they began wire-tapping his phone
lines.
****
May 4, 1998
Even though it was shortly less then a month since the city council member had
49
initially called Detective Areas with the information about Jack Blackburn, on the early
morning of Monday, May 4, 1998, twenty Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms agents in
fifteen unmarked cars along with bomb-sniffing dogs arrived at the Blackburn home.
When they arrived, ATF agents saw a moving van. Movers informed the agents that the
Blackburn and his wife were moving to San Diego later that day.
One of the ATF agents assigned to investigate the Falls City bombings was a
twenty-two year veteran and a firearms explosives enforcement officer named Aaron
Loch. Over the course of his career, Loch had investigated more than eight hundred
bombings such as the Atlanta Olympics bombing, the crash of TWA Flight 800, as well
as many high-profile abortion clinic bombings.
Aaron Loch had speculated about the motivation of the person responsible for
such a crime. He knew that historically most bombers are male; they usually have a
grudge to settle, they are seeking retribution, and most want publicity. Frankly, Loch was
frightened about potential of this bomber because to be of this caliber he knew the
bomber had set high standards, was meticulous, experienced, secretive, and mostly likely
paranoid. Loch consulted some of his colleagues and like him, they believed that the
bomber was most likely over thirty years old or even middle-aged, self-educated,
Caucasian, had an interest in law enforcement or forensics, and eventually, he will want
credit for his work.
ATF Agent Aaron Loch knocked on the front door. Jack Blackburn opened the
door and Loch immediately served him the search warrant to search the property.
Immediately, two police officers escorted the suspect to the squad car and began driving
50
him to the local police station for questioning. Agent Loch and the other ATF agents
stayed behind and began searching Blackburn’s property.
Meanwhile, while the ATF agents searched Jack Blackburn’s house, Detective
Jason Ares and FBI Agent Eric Landon met for the first time. Detective Jason Ares was
in charge of the investigation on a local level and his liaison on the Federal side was
Special Agent Eric Landon. They were both experienced in all aspects of law
enforcement and had a history of working successfully on high profile crimes.
Detective Ares looked up and saw Special Agent Landon walking towards his
desk. He stood up from behind his desk and extended his hand to Agent Landon.
While the two men shook hands, Ares said, “Good to have you on the case
working on the case. This one is a real zinger!”
“Aren’t they all!” replied Landon.
“Yep, but this guy… Jack Blackburn calls himself the Gatekeeper!” said Ares.
Landon looked somewhat shocked and responded, “Oh boy! The Gatekeeper!
What do we have on the guy?”
“Well, I called his past employer and you’re going to love this! In the past, he
worked for the Chicago Police Department.”
“You’ve got to be kidding!” said Landon.
Ares shook his head back and forth as he said, “Nope, I’m not kidding. He
apparently was a crime-lab micro-analyst technician and he has expertise in forensics.”
Landon didn’t expect to hear that the suspect had such an extensive background in
law enforcement.
51
Ares continued, “The Chicago P. D. told me that while this guy was working for
the Department, he regularly testified in court on blood, soil, and fingerprint analysis.”
“Well, then if he has this kind of background, he obviously knows how cases are
solved.” replied Landon.
“Yes, well my worry is that with his background, he also knows how perpetrators
can escape prosecution and conviction!” said Ares.
“You know all these damn bombers are egotistical and arrogant. I never worked
on a bombing case where the bomber didn’t have an inflated sense of their own
intelligence and their ability.”
Ares replied, “I know it. And just like this guy, they are educated in the science or
engineering fields. When our guys went out to interview some of the neighbors they
found out that his marriage appears to be real dysfunctional.”
“Well, that’s really typical of bombers. It’s pretty standard that if they do have a
romantic relationship, it will be dysfunctional, abusive, and often times – sadistic. They
always seem to use mind games to control and dominate their spouse!” said Landon.
“So what’s going on in the field?” asked Landon.
“Aaron Loch is head of the ATF and he’s our explosives and firearms specialist.
He called me just before you got here. Loch said it looks like this guy turned his upstairs
office into some sort of secret room. There’s all kinds of weird shit and tons of weapons
in there.”
“What kind of weird shit?” asked Landon.
“Loch said there were big charts tacked on the walls with symbols that look like
52
planetary symbols. He has some real strange books on conjuring and casting spells. He
also had Tarot cards laid out on his desk.”
“Tarot cards? Charts? Spells?” questioned Landon.
“Yea. I’m not sure what to make of that,” said Ares. He continued. “Loch said
they also found a stack of articles about the bombings. It looks like he had collected
every article from every local news paper.”
“That’s a good sign for us because most perpetrators will enjoy keeping abreast of
the media reports after the bombing. They will even be bold enough to openly discuss
and be critical about the police investigation,” replied Landon.
“So did they find any weapons?” asked Landon.
“Oh boy! They sure did! Loch said that Blackburn managed to acquire a sizable
and hideous collection of weapons!”
“Really! A hideous collection! What did they get?”
“Loch said all of the guns were hidden in Blackburn’s office. So far, they’ve
found a nine-millimeter automatic with three magazines, a thirty-two-caliber revolver, a
357 magnum, one Smith and Wesson twenty-two pistol,” said Detective Ares.
“Jesus! A Smith and Wesson. That’s a preferred weapon of choice for any hit
man,” said Landon.
“Well get this. Loch said there was also a Baryshnikov AK 47 banana clip with a
short stock, a twelve-gage police riot shot gun with pump action, one M79 rocket
launcher, one bulletproof vest, and several homemade silencer attachments!”
“Oh my god!” said Landon.
53
Ares continued, “Loch said Blackburn’s office is a completely utilitarian setting
and in a secluded part of the upstairs that overlooks the backyard. The way it looks,
Blackburn must have wanted lots of privacy and protection because he put large sheets of
plywood to cover the two windows in the room. Loch said Blackburn had attached the
plywood to the windows with three hinges and a deadbolt lock. He neatly hung one-inch
thick coiled and knotted rope on huge hooks. This is very efficient because the
Gatekeeper could release the rope and be able to escape out of either window by quickly
propelling down the backside of the house. All he had to do was unlock the deadbolt and
then, swing the hinged plywood sheets open.”
“What is this guy? Some sort of Rambo!” said Landon.
Both Landon and Ares chuckled even though they knew this was not a laughing
matter. “I don’t know. This should be real interesting because the Loch said that along
each of the walls were stainless steel bookshelves, which housed his collection of books,
magazines, newspaper clippings, videotapes, camera, voice disguising machine, and
some combat knives.” said Ares.
“Holy Jesus!”
“That’s not all. The ATF agents found several containers full of a potent mix of
ammonium nitrate, aluminum powder, potassium sulfate, and potassium chloride. He also
has boxes stacked up in the corner of his office that are full of wire, automobile
sparkplugs, 10-inch pipes, Casio watches, copper pipe, copper tape, double-sided tape,
circuit boards, along with various electronic parts!” said Ares.
Ares continued, “Blackburn also must have studied and read books about the
54
chemistry of bomb making as well as how to assemble bombs because on a bookshelf the
ATF agents also found Guide to Bomb Search Techniques, Manual of Explosives,
Military Pyrotechnics and Chemical Warfare Agents, and Chemistry of Powder and
Explosives.”
“Crap! Even though much of the evidence sounds circumstantial, it’s obvious that
building bombs is a real fascinating hobby for Blackburn!” said Landon.
“That’s for sure! ATF agents are looking through the suspect’s computer, papers,
and other books right now. So far, they’ve found out that he kept detailed computer files
with private information about people all over Mission San Jose who he has a beef with!”
“When are they bringing him in for us to question?” asked Landon.
“They’re on the way now,” replied Ares.
“Well it sounds like this might get fun!” said Landon.
“For sure! Let’s do it and get him!” said Ares.
At this point, both the detective and the FBI agent intuitively felt that Jack
Blackburn had a connection to the bombings, knew who did the bombings, or was in fact
-- the bomber.
Detective Jason Ares worked very hard as a young eighteen year old for every
penny of tuition that he needed to get into the University of Southern California.
Fortunately, he was a natural genius at reading people and this always helped him
succeed. Ares graduated with honors and received a degree in Criminal Justice. He
quickly accepted into the California Police Academy program. The Falls City Police
Department was eager to hire such a fine young officer such as Ares and he did not
55
disappoint his commanding officers; he patiently worked with diligence up through the
ranks within the police department. Jason Ares had an intrinsic ethical approach to his
life. His motto was to work conscientiously but steadily, to use prudence, be selfdisciplined, independent, and honest. For him, integrity was the key to his own salvation.
Jason was a conservative private man who seldom socialized in or out of work;
his strong religious beliefs were his source of strength and wisdom. He used running as a
way to burn off stress. The benefit of daily running gave him a lean and sexy athletic
build that complemented his naturally graying chocolate hair, deep brown compassionate
eyes, dark olive complexion, and rugged good looks. He did not acknowledge his own
sex appeal by the way he acted or by the way he dressed. His style of behavior and of
clothing was always understated and reserved. He usually he wore a pressed clean shirt
and tie, one of his three sport coats, dress slacks, and comfortable brown leather shoes.
Jason was a team player. He was uneasy about getting involved in in-house gossip, or
becoming emotionally entangled and getting involved personally with his fellow police
officers. He rarely discussed anything but police work with his co-workers. Although, coworkers saw him as a man of gallantry, they felt he was somewhat aloof and
subsequently nicknamed him the Lone Wolf.
Eric Landon received a full academic scholarship from the University of Kansas.
Like Jason Ares, he too graduated with honors and earned a degree in Criminal Justice.
He started the Master’s program at the University and took courses that primarily focused
on criminology, psychology, and terrorism but after three semesters, he decided to enter
the FBI Training program. Special Agent Landon got off to a brilliant start at the FBI
56
Academy because he had the intellect but he also had a natural charisma, good looks, and
polish. Landon was always perfectly groomed and rather flamboyant; he was tall, lean,
tan, had a sculpted jaw-line, sparkling ice blue eyes, and a trendy jet-black hairstyle. He
looked gorgeous in his navy silk suit, crisp white shirt, burgundy tie, and polished shoes.
Eric enjoyed playing hardball on the field and in life, but prided himself on playing
within the rules.
When the fifty-three year old, unshaven, and unwashed Gatekeeper arrived at the
police station at 8:30 a.m., he did not look like any sort of Rambo at all. In fact, he was
dressed in black baggy jogging pants with a matching sweatshirt. He had white tennis
shoes on and he was sporting a black baseball cap with the words, “Bombs R US” sewn
in red thread across the front of the cap. Both Agent Landon and Detective Ares were
ready and prepared.
Jack Blackburn glared at both Ares and Landon, and screamed, “What the fuck is
this shit? Why the fuck am I here?”
The FBI agent said calmly, “Hey, settle down. We just heard you really know
your shit and we want you to tell us what you know.” They promptly took the suspect
into an interrogation room and offered him a chair to sit on. Then they each walked
around to the other side of the table and took their seats. Each one had a note pad to write
on. There was a tape recorder set up to go.
“We want to know what you know about the bombings on March 29th, that’s all,”
the lead detective said as he turned on the recorder.
Blackburn sat down and said smugly, “You stupid fuckers! Think it through…
57
think it through! What did the goddamn TV say? I know all about it. It was on TV and in
the newspapers that some asshole called in a warning for a bombing on Corte Del… Wait
the first bombing occurred at Corte Del Sol and then there was a crank call to you stupid
bastards, telling you there’s another bomb – there were two properties, the crank caller
tells you another bomb is at Vista Del Sol. But, you fucking idiots didn’t get it. Now, add
it up. Just think it through. Why the fuck would this guy call? What… to get in trouble?
What the fuck was he doing? My guess is that he wanted to bait somebody.”
Blackburn leaned back in his chair. He had an arrogant look on his face. “The
bomber calls and says, I blew up one house. You know… I’m for real. It’s not a false
bomb threat. Come over to house number two, you stupid fuck. I think the bomber may
have been thinking about the house on Corte Del Sol not the house on Vista Del Sol, a
goddamn rag-head factory, if that’s possible. I don’t believe that the Falls City Police
Department said anything about just one bomb being found. I don’t believe it because
I’m smart,” he said then paused. “When I worked for the Chicago Police Department, for
the first three months, I worked cases with the guys, they were training me to do their
cases. I think the guy, the bomber made a mistake with the a.m. and p.m. with this Casio
watch.”
Without expression, Ares’ mind lit up because there had been no mention to the
public or to the media about a Casio watch. Agent Landon casually glanced at Ares while
keeping his exterior cool and composed.
“I thought I read somewhere in the newspapers about a Casio watch being
used…,” Blackburn said.
58
Shrugging as if it weren’t a big deal, Ares said, “I don’t know… hadn’t really
heard anything about that.”
Acting slightly interested, Landon asked, “What kind of watch did you say?”
“Casio! Don’t you bastards drink coffee in the morning and read the dailies?
Anyway, I do and I realized this guy, the bomber didn’t do his alpha testing.”
At this point, the detective got up, poured himself and the suspect a cup of coffee,
then sat back down at the interview table and replied with a questioning tone, “Okay…”
“Okay?” Jack Blackburn leaned forward into the interview table and looked
intensely at the two men and continued, “The interesting part – oh, we didn’t get to that –
the house up there on the hill…” The detective reached for the tape recorder to make sure
there was enough tape left. At that point, Blackburn reached across the table and grabbed
the recorder, and said, “I want to get into this. Keep the tape on.”
“Okay, the tape’s on. I was just checking it,” said the detective while acting like
he thought the guy’s story was all bullshit. In reality, the fact that he had mentioned the
Casio watch was a huge home run.
They both listened with poker faces on as if unaffected as Blackburn continued.
He said, “The police said the guy, the bomber, who ever it was, called – no, the police
didn’t say it, the newspaper said, he called an unlisted number.” Once again, there had
been no reports at that point about the phone number being a private or unlisted number,
even though that was in fact the case.
The two officers listened and they let the Gatekeeper continue but they acted as if
what he was telling them was insignificant.
59
He said, “What I’m saying is how the hell do you call an unlisted phone number
to the cop shop? This is misleading. That’s bullshit!”
He then leaned way back in his chair with satisfaction and continued, “It’s
misleading for a number of reasons. The cops say… now this is a good point, so listen.”
Then, Jack Blackburn leaned forward, his eyes were full of loathing, and with
brilliance he said, “The phone number – the cops said they were able to find it through
the phone company, blah, blah, blah… where the hell did the fucking phone number
come from! That’s horseshit. Now let’s get real, guys. You know what an MMC is? It’s
called MMC, every phone. My house to your house. If I call you it’s on mine. You call
me, it’s on mine. And it stays there until they clear it. Every single phone number in and
out. Phones – once I do – two wires my house, became four. And they have off side band
carriers that carry all the damn signals from the phone lines. So you know where a phone
call is made. But because you’re smart… I reverse engineer because I have instructed
police officers. Don’t tell them that you can’t trace the goddamn call. Have the poor fuck
over there and call again and nah, nah, nah, nah you nail his fucking ass; right? Come
on…”
The FBI agent stood up and removed his jacket. He hung it neatly on the back of
his chair and then, sat back down. He was getting ready and eager for the hard truth.
Detective Ares was sensing his partner’s feelings, as well as some hostility that was
beginning to build in the room. He wanted to diffuse the energy somewhat and so he said
to Blackburn, “Okay, be logical.”
Things temporarily calmed down in the room.
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Then Blackburn continued, “Okay, you bet. So anyway, the guy calls in. The
police say it’s an unlisted phone number so nobody else can dick around and only the bad
guy would call. Think it through; right? And then they trap him, and you got him. Here’s
the guy, obviously, you’ve got – we don’t know who called. We don’t know. It could be
the guy or somebody with a conscious. The guy – presumably – the official police story
is the guy calls and tries to set a police officer up for hurt. There’s a bomb there and it is a
booby trap or something. They try to do this – are you ready? This high-pressure water
thingy – to disarm the bomb and the thing blows up. Come on, give me a fucking break!
Booby trap, guys… if there’s one bomb, there’s more. If the guy is going to fuck with
and hurt police officers, he ain’t going to put just one bomb there. There’s got to be more.
So the police department in its great wisdom says, Only one bomb. Maybe this stupid
fuck will go back to see – that the other bombs… and what ever; right? Is it smart? I
would never advise police officers to do that if they ask me. But no one ask me. That
really pissed me off. So I only know what I can reverse-engineer, but that’s what is
logical.”
The detective needed and wanted more information from this freak. However, he
could see that a look of tedium was coming over Blackburn’s face. He cautiously asked,
“Well, why do you think the guy didn’t call back then?”
“I haven’t the faintest idea. It really bugged me because April 19th was coming.
Do you stupid fuckers have a big chart? Remember what that was? Waco. What’s his ass,
McVey went over there to Oklahoma City and blew up 168 people – killed them or
whatever. Maybe this guy was a preamble. Maybe this guy was planning a Venus Party.”
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The detective knew he had to keep Blackburn talking, so he poked his head out of
the interrogation room and asked a police officer to dart out for a few sandwiches and
cold drinks for the trio. The two investigators worked well together and could practically
read each other’s minds. While they were waiting for the sandwiches to arrive, they each
pretended to go out of the interrogation room to make phone calls. In reality, they needed
to formulate the next series of questions. They needed to stall for time. They had to keep
Blackburn thinking that they needed his expertise and information.
Once the sandwiches and drinks arrived, the two cops went back into the
interrogation room and took their seats. There were a few polite comments exchanged
between the three men about the quality of the sandwiches. Then, they began to ask
Blackburn more questions.
“Did you know the devices were going to go off?” questioned the agent.
“No.” Blackburn snapped.
“Did you have any idea that the shit was going to hit the fan in Falls City?”
Sarcastically, Blackburn replied, “You asked a different question. The shit hitting
the fan in Falls City is different.”
Rephrasing the question, the Agent Landon asked, “Did you have an inkling that
maybe something big was going to happen in Falls City?”
In a vociferous tone, Blackburn yelled, “Absolutely! Absolutely! Where’s the big
fucking chart I asked for?”
The detective was somewhat puzzled and then turned his head and began
scanning the room for a chart. He said, “I don’t even know of we have a big chart.”
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In a matter of fact manner, Blackburn replied, “Yes, I did. Ask me why…” He
then stuffed more of the sandwich into his mouth and chewed slowly.
“I’m just waiting for you to tell me as soon as you get that fucking food out of
your mouth. You’re a typical Chicago cop. You just keep stuffing shit in your mouth and
talking at the same time. I love it!” the agent said as if he were amused.
“Did you ever eat with the guy doughnuts?” asked Blackburn.
Wanting to stay to the point and not lose the guy, the agent quickly replied,
“Yeah. So, what did you mean when you mentioned the guy was planning a party – a
Venus Party?”
“I’m an astrologer.”
With interest, yet feeling internally skeptical, the agent said, “Oh, you’re an
astrologer. Talk to me.”
Eager to show off his brilliance, Blackburn replied, “Okay. A Venus Party will
make everything come to perfection. The Law and the police as community servants are
thwarted, especially with no planets above the horizon to help, the trail is cold. Pluto
rules bombs, crooks, and criminals.”
Jack Blackburn put his sandwich down and slowly wiped his mouth with a napkin
and then he said, “Twenty years ago, I did psychic Astrology for the public. I can’t work
with the public now. I am the exclusive property of my associates, so I only do esoteric or
hidden astrology for myself. I absolutely prefer to work alone in my research, particularly
since I cannot tolerate being touched while in trance. I delineate all the charts, place them
in an array, and then do my work. My associates pay me very, very well to work
63
exclusively for them and their gambling interests. But, I need help in casting spells. I am
code-named the Gatekeeper.” Then Jack Blackburn sat back in his chair and took another
huge bite of his sandwich.
Both the detective and the FBI agent refrained from showing any shock
whatsoever. Then, the agent, acting as if he were only slightly interested, asked,
“Oh…well, then as a Gatekeeper, talk to me. What did you think? You thought
something was going to happen in Falls City?”
With partially chewed food still in his mouth, the Gatekeeper said, “Look, I’m a
Virgo.” He looked at both cops intensely. “What do you think that means?” the
Gatekeeper asked and then he quickly stuffed more of the sandwich into his mouth.
The agent didn’t understand what the Gatekeeper meant. “You’re a what?”
“A Virgo, V-I-R-G-O.”
“Oh, Virgo,” the agent replied with slight understanding.
“What does it mean?” the Gatekeeper asked brazenly.
Somewhat confused, the agent replied, “Well, it’s a horoscope. I don’t know what
it means.”
“Absolutely. But I didn’t know what was up. Only that I was scared because I had
done so much shit last fall against the people with the cocaine. I was scared that they
were going to come back. I get worried about also being watched because my house is so
much in the open. I talked to my neighbors. I got my neighbors involved in watching my
house when I went down South. I very specifically asked my buddy to watch my house
and specifically the 21st degree of Aries,” the Gatekeeper said confidently.
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Somewhat annoyed, the agent asked, “I was just going to ask you, what did you
think was going to happen in Falls City since you had this secret power?”
In a smart-ass tone, the Gatekeeper said, “No, no secret power.”
“Well, you’re an astrologer and code-named the Gatekeeper,” replied the agent.
“Yes, I am. I have been doing it now since I was...”
The agent was getting impatient so he interrupted and asked, “Did you perceive
these targets getting hit?”
The Gatekeeper began to explain. “No. What I foresaw is 21st degree of Aries. It’s
an infamous – if I were to say to you – okay, we’re going to play a game – you’ve heard
of jokes where somebody will say, 1922. Ha ha ha. But, nobody knows what that means
except the guys who are laughing because they have the inside joke. But, if I said to you,
26 degrees of Taurus and you were an astrologer, you would say Oh, yes! God Almighty!
That’s Algol Kaput, the evil star! There’s a lot of them out there. But, Algol Kaput is one
of the major, major ones that has to do with decapitation. Jane Mansfield was born under
it. And, she got in a car wreck and had her head decapitated. Nicole Simpson also had her
head decapitated. She was gilled ear to ear.”
The detective was determined so he jumped in and asked, “What did you think
was going to happen in Falls City?”
“21 Degrees of Aries,” the Gatekeeper replied brusquely.
“Can you translate that for me?” the detective asked.
“A bombing or a fire bombing or a shooting or something violent,” the
Gatekeeper said harshly.
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“So you foresaw that?” the agent asked skeptically.
“No, I didn’t foresee that. The stars incline. They do not compel. It’s in the
constellation Cetus, the whale. Cetus is also known as the monster. We, as Americans or
whatever, call it Cetus, but the ancients used to call it the monster because of the presence
of Baten Kaitos. Now, due to the precession of the equinox, the evil star is at the 21st
Degree of Aries,” the Gatekeeper replied seriously then he continued. “Baten Kaitos is
something I got familiar with a couple of years ago because of real estate friend, Meenaa
Sadaf. I worked on her chart frequently and was in astrology for her. My wife doesn’t
like it when I do it because she’s a Christian. But I’m very good at all blockbuster shit
and am able to recognize it. The 21st Degree of Aries has this evil star which is called the
star of shipwrecked. Back when the stars were named and their histories were given, 16th
and 17th century astrologers, didn’t say the star of auto wrecks. They called it the star of
the shipwrecked. But when you have a ship wreck, you either drowned, your life ended,
or you got on a new start.”
“So the bottom line is what you are telling me is you foresaw some bombings or
shootings coming up?” Landon asked with a slight tone of irritability in his voice.
“Okay. I could see...”
Agent Landon was getting impatient with the Gatekeeper. “I’m not interested in
all the other stuff. I’m really not.”
“I looked at my chart. My chart astrologically says, “Saturn opposes.” And the
answer to that is in our position you can’t do a fucking thing about it. There was all this
energy at 21 Degrees of Aries. I have Aries where a Full Moon is, I have all this Martian
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stuff…,” the Gatekeeper said.
“Was there a Full Moon on the night of the bombings?” Detective Ares asked.
The Gatekeeper was tired of these neophytes and their stupid-ass questions. He
leaned back in his chair and had a look of disinterest on his face. He closed his eyes and
thought of Shakespeare’s Troilus and Cressida. “Are they expecting me to give them
honey? Their unworthiness fairly shows in their masks. They obviously do not observe
the heavens, the seasons, or the course, form and proportion of the planets and the
glorious Sol. My powerful eye corrects all aspects of planetary evil like the
commandment of a king. Oh Sol, what plagues and portents in evil mixture we have to
create disorder! What mutiny! What raging of the sea, shaking of the earth, and
commotion there is in the winds! Fright, changes, and horrors. Divert them! They must
not rend and deracinate the unity of my calm state!”23 Finally, he opened his eyes and
said, “I don’t have the faintest whether it was a new moon or full moon. A couple of days
before the bombings, I think it was a new moon.”
Agent Landon wanted more information. He wasn’t satisfied. He knew he had to
try and extract more from the Gatekeeper. “When did you come back from your Southern
California trip?” he asked.
The Gatekeeper was disgusted at their ignorance. “Please God. I didn’t come back
from Southern California. I cam back from Phoenix. I went to visit my sister Elzora. And
that was on a Sunday, I believe.”
Landon asked, “Did you—did you go down, drive down?”
“I drove down… I went to Phoenix and came back. I would have been there that
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weekend,” the Gatekeeper replied casually.
Detective Ares knew from a conversation with one of Jack Blackburn’s
acquaintances that he had told his friend that he was going only to southern California but
he never mentioned visiting his sister in Phoenix. He and Agent Landon looked intently
at each other.
“But what I mean is… when you left here, you went to Southern California. Did
you come back and then go to down to Phoenix?” the agent asked.
“I wouldn’t come back,” the Gatekeeper stated arrogantly.
“Oh, okay. I didn’t know what your plan of travel was,” the agent said.
“Okay…,” the Gatekeeper snapped coldly.
“Okay...,” the agent snapped back.
“My plan of travel was to get down there and to go and do whatever and then
come back. Now, I’m an astrologer. An opposition dictates. How do you do it? It’s called
compensation.”
Starting to really loose his composure, the agent replied, “No. No. I’m not
interested in that. I’m not interested in the stars or planets!”
Jack Blackburn leaned way in over the table and slammed his fist on the table.
“You are interested because you say you want to hear my motivation. I didn’t want to be
in town at that time for one simple reason! Whenever you have an astrological
phenomenon, there are ways to ameliorate its effect on you,” he said forcefully. “If you
got a square, you change things. You change a lower square different from the way you
change an upper square. And an opposition is the worst possible time because it’s the
68
other side of the chart and you can’t do a goddamn thing about it! You sit there and you
become a big fucking target for everything that might come your way!” the Gatekeeper
yelled.
The detective and the agent tried to be patient, but this was definitely not the
normal kind of suspect. The Gatekeeper continued. “I talked to my sister Elzora. I talked
to my wife. I talked to everybody. I said I’m not sticking around because... astrologically
it shows this… the 21st Degree of Aries opposes with Saturn, Mercury, and Mars.
Mercury is under besiegement and it says there are going to be things that are said.
Things are going to be done. It’s in the 21st Degree where all this bomb shit is… and I
just fucking ratted out all of the narcotics people.”
Ares and Landon perked up when they heard the Gatekeeper mention of the word
bomb.
“And they may not like it, my leaving this house, my living in this area in one
piece because you know how many families – over three hundred families saw my house.
Think about it. Did they get in there? There were times, I had to leave the house with the
wife, take her out somewhere and come back. Were they in there? Do you know how
relieved I was when an inspector on the Thursday before went into my house and when
he came back out and he said, ‘Everything’s fine.’ Okay… I was happy. If he hadn’t
come out, I would have called...”
Detective Ares jumped into the conversation. “I’m sorry but when was the
inspector there?”
“The Thursday before the bombing. It was Thursday morning at approximately
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11:00 o’clock. I watched the helicopter coming. There were several of these guys. Each
had something that they wanted to look over. The major guy, I had his card, but
whatever. But that wasn’t ... the inspector who went under my house. I then turned
around and there’s our termite inspector standing there. He also went under the house, so
I felt quite confident that maybe some shit had been planted under there, but not likely.
You’d have to have a lot of balls to plant something under my house,” the Gatekeeper
said.
The detective knew that the two powerful bombs had been placed under the
victim’s house. “What did you say, maybe I missed it because I was out of the room
when you said you had all that foresight on the astrology before?”
“Yes,” the Gatekeeper answered shortly.
The detective wanted to keep Blackburn on a roll. He quickly asked, “The second
it went off?”
“Yes.”
Detective Ares could sense he should try the good-guy routine. “And you’re
already concerned about yourself?” he asked with believable concern.
“My safety?” the Gatekeeper asked.
“Or something…”
“I was concerned about my wife’s safety and about people fucking with me
before I was able to leave,” he said defiantly.
Agent Landon needed clarification. “But, your wife stayed here; right?” he asked.
“Yeah, that’s why I was kind of concerned because you expressed how much you
70
love your wife,” the detective said.
“Oh, yes,” the Gatekeeper said.
The detective knew he needed to be diplomatic. He grasped for the right thing to
ask. “But then you kind of… I don’t want to say left without taking your wife,” he said
carefully.
Once again, the Gatekeeper slammed his fist onto the table. “No, no, no... that
doesn’t seem logical! Let me explain it to you as astrology shows! When you got
something on the other side of the chart, the way you diffuse it form impacting you is you
go there. It’s the conjunction. It’s here… the planets meet there, right in your fucking
face. An opposition is on the other side of the chart, you can’t get to it. So you ask
yourself the question, ‘Where should I go?’ And for me that was Southern California. It
just fit in. It showed my loosing money. That’s fine. I’m willing to put a thousand here
and a thousand there. If you don’t fulfill the aspect, the energy doesn’t dissipate. That’s
giving a $1000 to the politician. I had to lose. I gave my sister Elzora a check for $2000. I
don’t look at it as a loss. It’s called a down payment. I’m dissipating the energy. Both of
you are obviously not astrologers. I am. I went down there. What did I do? I tried to poke
around down in Tustin because there’s a helicopter base. I asked myself where would you
go if you wanted to go and confront that? SALLY was the system.24 MORRIS is Marshal
military or whatever. There’s nothing here. There’s nothing sitting over in Moffett Field
but the helicopters were still sitting down in Tustin. And you can imagine that eventually
when things go wrong on the chart, you’ll end up there anyway. So I went down there
anyway.”
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Detective Ares could tell that the Gatekeeper was getting somewhat rattled
because his story was beginning to unravel some. “I thought you were poking around
down there Saturday night, the 28th?” he asked.
“Yes. But, the point is you go and you dissipate the energy. You have to
discharge the energy. And you discharge the energy by doing all the little various things,”
the Gatekeeper replied quickly.
“How come… because it makes more sense to me you’d think you’d go on the
29th maybe when all the shit was suppose to be happening,”
“No,” the Gatekeeper snapped.
Detective Ares leaned back in his chair. He combed through his hair with his left
hand. “So, I can almost see… but if it was me, I would lay low on the 29th or something.
You know what I mean?” he asked.
The Gatekeeper rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Absolutely not… if you lay
low then it comes to you and gets to you. In order to lay, you lay high,” he said. “This is
T time,” he paused and put his left hand on top of his right one. Then he said, “This is 0
degrees. And out here, say plus 4 degrees in terms of time not just minutes but time. And
this is minus four. The energy builds here. Here, it’s dissipating. It’s already done. This
particular date is the 21st Degree of Aries. And we have the weight now. There is a new
moon, a new moon like Friday, Saturday – Friday, Saturday and then you have Mercury
going forward and getting into the 21st Degree which would probably be Sunday or
Monday... something like that. Okay? It is in here that the danger is greatest. The energy
must be dissipated because over here it is already dissipating on the way down. And there
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might be another and then a planet comes by and goes bing and then goes like a bloop.
Like this and then you catch it here. It’s here, and that’s what the significance of that
particular weekend. So the way you do is you say, Okay. I’m going to take certain losses.
A thousand to the politician. Two thousand for the sister. Go down there, look you are
going to spend some money. Big deal. If you spend a small amount of money, you satisfy
and discharge the energy. I really... I took my body armor with me when I went down
there. You might as well realize that I was packing one. I took that with me down there
specifically to wear that particular evening. Got it? Make sense?”
The FBI agent had never confronted a suspect like this. He was chomping at the
bit to get the straight scoop without all of the astrology crap. “When did you first learn
about the bombings?” he asked.
“Monday, in the parking lot after talking to a buddy – he helped me remember all
of this. I went out because I wanted to go to the bank, he disrupted my travel there, and I
was afraid I wouldn’t be there by 3:00 o’clock. But that’s it. That’s the first time. I didn’t
believe it. So look, are you guys finished? I need to get the hell out of here. My wife is at
home packing and she needs me to be there to supervise the movers. So unless there’s
anything else, I am out of here,” Blackburn said.
The detective knew they had to let Jack Blackburn go because they didn’t have
enough evidence to do more. At least, not yet. However, they needed to keep the lines of
communication open with him. “No, that will do it for now, but I may need to call you
again after you move to San Diego. Write your address and phone number down here,”
the detective said while sliding a pad and pen across the table in Blackburn’s direction.
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Jack Blackburn quickly jotted down the information, stood up, then flung the
interrogation room door open. He walked a few feet out of the interrogation room like a
cocked rooster. Then, he turned around and glared at Detective Ares and Agent Landon.
“My advice to both of you before you fuck your heads off on this, is to go and get
yourself an astrologer and ask the simple question, ‘What do you know about the evil star
Baten Kaitos?’ I love it! I am animated. I am alive!” he said loudly.
All of Jack Blackburn’s astrological jargon frustrated both Ares and Landon but
they both intuitively knew he was their new prime suspect – the Gatekeeper was the
bomber. However, they didn’t know why he was the bomber.
The Gatekeeper returned home after the interview. Later in the day, he and his
wife, Penelope drove to Southern California to an upscale suburb of San Diego called
Rancho Penaquitos. Their new home was located at 119666 Darkwood Road.
****
June 1998
The U.S. Attorney’s office convened a federal grand jury and called witnesses in
an attempt to move the case forward shortly after the Gatekeeper moved to Southern
California. The federal grand jury was complete by mid-summer but failed to get an
indictment so the U.S. Attorney turned the case back over to the office of the District
Attorney. The U.S. Attorney’s office told local law enforcement that they doubted if the
case could ever be proved.
Even so, the Gatekeeper’s behavior became increasingly self-destructive. He
regularly baited authorities and this caused law enforcement to keep him under
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surveillance. For the rest of the summer there were no significant breakthroughs in terms
of evidence or arrests. Even though the Gatekeeper continued to live under the constant
suspicion of being the city’s bomber, he had been able to keep the police at bay.
For the next few months, even though the Gatekeeper lived under a dark shadow
of suspicion he maintained an aura of intellectual superiority. He began to play dangerous
cat and mouse games with the FBI and the police. Nevertheless, he internally worried
about the potential of law enforcement somehow finding his secret storage locker he’d
left behind in San Jose just prior to the bombings because it contained a mountain of
incriminating evidence. He recalled all of the thousands of pages of astrological
documents that were in the storage locker waiting to be uncovered.
Jack Blackburn knew that his own words would convict him if the police found
the astrology documents because they would show a detailed plan and recipe to commit
mass murder. Yet, he had some security in his mind that even if the police were to find
the documents, they would not be able to understand them, nor would they seek the
guidance of an astrologer to help decipher them. For the most part, law enforcement
officers rarely reach out to the astrological community to help solve crimes because they
are either far too narrow minded or they are skeptical of the type of people who are
specialists in the occult sciences. However, unlocking the Gatekeeper’s astrological
documents was the key.
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Chapter 4
UNDER THE DEVIL’S SWAY
October 1998
The Gatekeeper remained the prime suspect for months despite the fact that the
police had no hard evidence against him. There were no eyewitnesses, no piece of
physical evidence linking the suspect to the bombings, no confession, and to some
degree, he had an alibi the weekend of the bombings. Between May 4, 1998 and the end
of summer there was an impasse between him and the police. All law enforcement
personnel working on the case felt that their lives were in danger and were aware how
deeply bitter and vindictive he had become over the course of his life towards them. He
fell under increasing scrutiny. Local investigators, the FBI, as well as the ATF focused on
him as the only suspect for the bombings.
There was an exhaustive investigative effort on a local level and on October 5,
1998, new circumstantial evidence was developed, and this tended to prove that the
Gatekeeper was the bomber. Even though all of the investigators and law enforcement
questioned whether the evidence would hold up in court, police officials felt that they did
have enough circumstantial evidence to make an arrest.
Finally, an arrest warrant was issued in Falls City. Immediately the team of police
drove to the upscale Rancho Penasquitos neighborhood where the suspect lived with his
wife on 119666 Darkwood Road. The Gatekeeper was arrested without incident nearly
six months after the bombings, which targeted city law enforcement and a Mission Hills
neighborhood. He was charged with eleven felony counts, including attempted murder,
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explosion of destructive devices, and arson. While the police were at the home to arrest
him, investigators seized a loaded semiautomatic handgun, a computer, several stacks of
documents, a rifle, and a bulletproof vest.
During the process of the arrest, Penelope, the Gatekeeper’s wife ranted and raved
at the officers in charge. “My husband is innocent of this crime. I have no idea why you
suspect my husband. You have overstepped your boundaries and have harassed us for a
year and a half now. I have total confidence that he has not done this. Our move to San
Diego, after the bombings, was just a coincidence. We moved because I got a job here.
He is a citizen investigator! He has never been arrested for anything. For whatever
reason, my husband seems to thrive on being the focus of your investigation. I am tired of
the FBI searching our home. I am sick of your idiotic police interrogations. We have
given blood and hair samples to your investigators and they have never found cause to
arrest us. This has been a year of hell! This is like a bad dream!” she screeched in a highpitched voice.
The Gatekeeper only made one statement during the arrest. “If I am transferred to
Alameda County, there is a there is a significant possibility I will be murdered there.”
Then, the police took the Gatekeeper into custody and he was booked into the San Diego
County jail. Later, the police moved him to the Alameda County Jail and he was held
there, without bail. At the time of the arrest, the police still had no real substantial motive
for the bombings. However, they continued to work in conjunction with the Federal
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms as well as with the FBI on the investigation to
find a motive.
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****
All Saint’s Day, November 1, 1998
Two years had passed since Jack Blackburn made his first late night call to Evie
Taylor on Halloween night. On Sunday November 1, 1998, the Falls City police had a
very lucky break. They picked up a drunken homeless drifter and while he was in lockup, he identified the suspect from a picture in a local newspaper. The drifter informed the
police that before the bombings the suspect had paid him eighty dollars to rent a storage
locker using his identity. Police now knew that instead of using a false identity before the
bombings to rent a hidden storage locker, the Gatekeeper had used a drunk.
Monday morning Detective Jason Ares went to the storage facility and found
records of the rental agreement. By midmorning, he had obtained a search warrant for the
particular locker. The evidence the investigators found in the storage locker was more
damaging then the detective could have ever hoped for because in the locker they
recovered bomb making materials and chemicals, books for making bombs, and dozens
of boxes filled with typed and hand written notes. There were hundreds of pages with
hand drawn graphics of astrology charts along with enigmatic symbols and strange
terminology.
Before the discovery of storage locker, police barely had enough evidence to
arrest the Gatekeeper, much less charge him with the bombings. The discovery of the
astrological diaries and revelations also led them to new questions.
What did all of the astrology have to do with the case?
The astrology documents had occult terminology, symbolism, and a feeling of
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darkness about them so Detective Ares decided to take them seriously. He recalled the
interrogation they had with the Gatekeeper on May 4, 1998 and he vividly remembered
how self-satisfied the Gatekeeper was when he said, “My advice to both of you before
you fuck your heads off on this, is to go and get yourself an Astrologer and ask the
simple question, ‘What do you know about the evil star Baten Kaitos?”
Even though Detective Ares could not make head or tails out of the astrological
symbols, he could see that there were dates on some of the documents that matched the
times of the bombings. For that reason, he took a leap of faith and decided to investigate
the astrological angle. Jason Ares didn’t get much sleep over the next few days because
of his mounting stress and the urgent need to figure out what the Gatekeeper’s notes
meant. He found an organization that listed the names and educational backgrounds of
professional astrologers in the United States on the Internet. He quickly located an
astrologer named Evelyn Jayne Taylor who lived near Falls City. Detective Ares was
impressed because E. J. Taylor was not only a professional astrologer she was also a
university professor.
****
November 10, 1998
Around 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 10, 1998, Detective Ares convinced
Patrick O’ Shay, the Assistant District Attorney who had agreed to take the case, that it
was imperative that they consult with the professional astrologer.
Evie Taylor studied all astrological charts for eclipses, especially if one occurred
around the same time as earthquakes. There had been a powerful solar annular eclipse on
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August 21, 1998. The eclipse chart showed a grand square in the fixed signs Leo,
Scorpio, Aquarius, and Taurus. The peak influence of the eclipse was through Indonesia
and Malaysia but it was near the Philippines, Cambodia, China, and directly over
Australia. There were several earthquakes within weeks of the eclipse. One fairly large
quake occurred in the Kashgar area of China on August 2 and two moderate quakes
occurred in California. One quake occurred twenty miles east of San Bernardino near Mt.
San Gorgonio on August 16 and the other one occurred near Wrightwood on the San
Andreas fault on August 20.
Evie had found that Pluto often indicates danger, disaster, or underworld-kind of
activities, and Pluto had passed over both countries during the eclipse period. Mars, the
planet of fire, sexuality, and extreme energy was in a square aspect with Saturn. The
planet Saturn represents the planet of resistance, structure, depression, and hardship at the
peak of the eclipse over this area. When Mars and Saturn work together, the feeling is
often one of bashing one’s head against a wall. There is an extreme clash of force against
resistance.
On a personal level, this powerful eclipse was affecting Evie’s own astrological
birth chart in addition to her progressed astrology chart. Despite the fact, she had been
applying mental alchemy techniques regularly and working at keeping positive and
upbeat. One of the ways she felt she could avoid certain unpleasant planetary conditions,
was to put herself right in the light of the eclipse.
At 5:07 p.m. Pacific Standard Time, E. J. Taylor received her first phone call on
her secondary phone line that was normally reserved for astrological friends, students,
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and clients from District Attorney, Patrick O’ Shay.
Evie was sitting at her desk grading a stack of book reports on Christopher
Marlow’s Faust that her students had turned in the day before. Then her phone rang. She
answered, “Astrological Consulting.”
In a no nonsense tone, an unfamiliar male voice asked, “Can I speak to Evelyn J.
Taylor please?”
“This is E. J. Taylor.”
The man’s tone softened some. He said, “Hello, my name is Pat O’ Shay. I’m the
Assistant District Attorney for Alameda County.”
With surprise and uncertainty, Evie responded, “Yes?”
“Are you an Astrologer?” he asked.
Immediately, Evie had feelings of trepidation because in many circles, especially
law enforcement, astrology is not looked at favorably. Before answering, she took a deep
breath and exhaled slowly to ground herself. “Well, yes among other things… I teach at
Sonoma State University. What can I do for you Mr. O’ Shay?” she asked.
Patrick O’ Shay was all business. “We're working on an attempted murder case
here. I'm wondering if you could tell me, what Mercury retrograde means?” he asked.
She was puzzled about why a district attorney would call her. She had to get
composed and quickly. She asked, “Mercury Retrograde?”
In a matter of fact way, he answered, “Yes.”
His no nonsense style took Evie off guard. In a matter of fact way she replied,
“Well, it would typically mean communication problems, lost mail, things go backwards,
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evidence may get lost, crimes go unsolved...those kinds of things.”
With somewhat of a tone of relief and astonishment in his voice, he responded,
“Really?”
E. J. was solid. She had observed the effects of Mercury when it appeared to be in
retrograde in her own and other people’s charts. She reconfirmed her position and said,
“Yes, that’s typical when Mercury is retrograde. There seems to be a lot more confusion
during that period.”
“Could you tell me if an eclipse is a significant time for astrologers?” he asked.
Without skipping a heartbeat, E. J. said, “Oh yes, an eclipse is very strong and
often negative energy depending on the planetary positions. It’s widely known that the
effects can last as long as an entire year. In fact around the eclipse in August there were
three earthquakes… two were here in California and the other was in China.”
“That’s very interesting. Could Detective Ares and I come meet with you
tomorrow to discuss this and other questions we have?” he asked.
“Oh, I’m sorry, but I teach classes most of the day at the University on Mondays
and Wednesdays.”
At this point, Evie wondered whether she should tell him too much about herself
or about her personal and professional paths, but she was honest, up-front, and as direct
as she could possibly be without revealing too much. She thought, “I should keep it all
business.”
“How about the detective and I come to your home this Thursday morning?
Would that be a more convenient time for us to come?” he asked.
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Evie could also sense the determination in his voice, so she agreed to meet.
“Thursday is good, but I wonder if you could tell what this has to do with Astrology? Can
you explain a little more, so I can prepare something?”
“We found some hand written documents that have a lot of... what we think are
astrology symbols and terminology. We would like to know what the documents mean.
Would the suspect’s horoscope and a couple of pages of his writing be good? I can fax
the pages to you. Do you have a fax?”
“Yes, that would be helpful. And could you tell me what day and time the crime
occurred?” she asked.
“On March 29, 1998 between 7:00 and 9:00 o'clock,” He said.
“And what kind of crime was it?”
“An attempted murder by bombing,” He said.
Evie was beginning to get very nervous at this point. She just couldn’t imagine
the two words bombing and astrology being in the same sentence. Nevertheless, she was
captivated.
Perplexed she asked. “So I understand you correctly, do you want me to give you
an astrology reading on the suspect’s chart?”
“Yes, and look over some documents we have and explain them, if you can,” he
quickly responded.
With some reservation, she said, “Okay, then I will prepare something for you.
But I will need the suspect’s birth information.”
With satisfaction, he said, “That sounds good. The suspect was born about 4:00
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a.m. in Chicago on September 12, 1946.”
E. J. gave him her fax number. Then she asked, “Do you need my address and
directions to get to my home?”
“No, we’ll find you. Is 10:00 o’clock in the morning okay with you?” he said.
“Sure, that sounds fine,” she responded. She was thinking to herself, “How will
they find my home if I don’t give them my address or directions?” Then it registered in
her mind, “Of course they can find me! They are the police!”
“Okay, I appreciate your time. Detective Ares and I will be at your home at 10:00
o’clock on Thursday,” he said courteously.
“All right, see you then.” She said, trying to sound confident and cheerful.
E. J. Taylor hadn’t had any consulting experience with police or law enforcement
agencies. The closest she had come, was her research on missing children. Over the
years, she had collected well over one thousand birth charts of missing children. She
thought that researching and writing about missing children would be a perfect way to
use her astrological knowledge, experience, and passion. At one point, she worked
extensively with the father of missing college student, Kristin Smart. Later, she wrote an
article about Kristin’s disappearance. The article was published in the American
Federation of Astrologers Today's Astrologer magazine. With Pluto in her third house,
she was a natural at in-depth research, but it had gotten somewhat depressing knowing
that her research on missing children would, most likely, not bring any of the case studies
home. Evie felt that she needed to take some time away from her analysis of missing
children’s charts to do another type of project that would incorporate similar research and
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analytical work. She knew that this was rare for the police to seek outside help and make
contact with someone in the field of Astrology.
Patrick O’ Shay hadn’t told her anything more than there was a bombing and the
charge was attempted murder. Evie wondered, “What did the man bomb – an office
building, his workplace, a government building? Who did he try to kill? Did he try to kill
his employer? Was it a terrorist act? Did he belong to a group? Did he act alone?”
There were so many unanswered questions. She wondered if she would hear the
complete story during the meeting. After all, cops are good at keeping their cards close to
their vests. It was inconceivable for her to think that an astrologer would use astrology to
commit a crime. She sat completely still watching the fax machine spit out the hand
written documents that Mr. O’ Shay had mentioned during the phone conversation.
Written across the top of the second document coming out of the fax machine had the
words, “Justice Be Done!” There were also numerous astrological symbols, glyphs,
calculations, and hand written comments on the page. The style of dark bold handwriting
combined with the words and symbolism caused Evie to believe the person who wrote
the document was deeply angry. This stunned Evie.
The third page had the date April 27, 1998 written on the top of the page. It was
obvious to E. J. that the title of this document was “Retro-Mercury Birthday”. On the top
right hand corner of the page, inside a small hand drawn box, the words Starting Point
were written. The last few pages that came through the fax were typed pages. They
appeared to be some type of report that compared the suspect’s own personality traits to
the infamous O. J. Simpson. This document was titled, “O. J. Simpson Twelfth House
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Insights”.
The fax machine stopped. E. J. assembled and stapled the pages together. Then
she sat down at her computer and plugged the suspect’s birth information into her
astrology program. She studied his chart for a few minutes. Next, she set up the chart for
the position of the planets on the night of the bombing. She looked over the extra faxed
pages and began jotting down some preliminary notes. There were astrology symbols on
the pages along with some dates and remarks written in English. It was apparent to E. J.
that the author knows at least some astrology. However, at this point, she did not know
how much.
She printed out the suspect’s birth chart so she could do some prep work for the
Thursday morning meeting in between her other responsibilities. She wished she had
more time, but free time was not a luxury. However, E. J. Taylor was good at handling
emergencies. She had always been capable at raising her energy level to peak
performance and going into over-drive mode when it was necessary. Thursday would
arrive quickly because not only did she have to look over the Gatekeeper diaries before
the meeting she also had to get a lecture prepared and finish grading the papers for the
Wednesday morning Faust class.
****
Wednesday November 11, 1998
It was nearly 8:45 a.m. when E. J. Taylor parked her car in the university parking
lot. She didn’t have time to stop off at her office before heading to the morning Faust
class. She over slept and she was running on a caffeine overdrive because the night
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before she was up late analyzing the Gatekeeper documents and grading papers for the
class. Most of the students were already in their seats by the time she arrived to class.
“Morning everyone. We’ve got a lot of ground to cover today,” she said in an
unusual all business-like tone while putting her lecture notes on the podium. Many of the
students were familiar to her because they took part one of the Faust Legends class that
she taught two years earlier. Evie took a deep breath and looked up. She was distracted
and somehow needed to pull herself together so she could focus. “We’re going to start by
discussing the religious language that Christopher Marlowe used to depict God’s nature
because one can infer a lot about what people believe about God’s nature by
understanding their use of theological language and symbols.25 Meghan, I would like you
to start by telling us how God is revealed in Christopher Marlowe’s play,” Evie said.
Meghan opened Christopher Marlowe’s Faustus and looked up. “In both Marlowe
and Goethe’s plays, God is omnipresent, but God is implicit rather than explicit. In
Marlowe’s Faustus God is an indirect actor and doesn’t reveal himself at all. However,
God does make a uniquely significant appearance in the ‘Prologue to Heaven’ in
Goethe’s Faust,” Meghan said.
“That’s right. And as far as Christian doctrine goes… how is God expressed?”
Evie asked.
“The two dramatists don’t always clearly cohere with Christian orthodoxy.
However, they do refer to a number of Christian doctrines. Doctor Faust never denies
Christian doctrine itself. In Marlowe’s Faustus, sin, judgment, and damnation are
prominent whereas Goethe highlights creation, love, and salvation in his Faust,” Meghan
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said.
Evie nodded her head. “That’s exactly right… It does make one wonder why one
Faust is sentenced to eternal damnation and the other one is saved. To understand why
there’s a difference in how one Faust is treated verses the other we need to first
understand that the nature of God evolves from Marlowe’s Faustus and Goethe’s Faust
because God’s nature is evolutionary in Christian theology. God starts out as a patriarchal
orthodox Christian God in Faustus and transforms into a compassionate and loving God
who operates through the Eternal-Feminine by the end of Goethe’s Faust.26 Before
moving forward, it is important to know that both plays are strongly biased against
dogmatic theology. Marlowe’s play tends towards Protestantism and even though it ends
in a Catholic allegory there is as anti-clerical tone.27 Marlowe defiantly discarded
orthodox beliefs whereas Goethe teachings maintained a reverence of orthodoxy even
though Goethe is not regarded as a foe of Christianity.28 Another crucial point is that in
the beginning of Faustus there are a number of Christian signs and symbols that help to
establish Medieval and Renaissance Christianity. Faustus was living in a medieval
society but he was truly a renaissance man. We can also be sure of the period Faustus was
living because in the beginning of the play we learn that he excelled in heavenly matters
of theology29 and he also lived as well as died during a time when Aristotle’s works were
emphasized. In the thirteenth century, scholastic theologians emphasized Aristotelian
logic and reason combined with faith in scriptural tradition whereby they attempted to
prove the existence of God and explain God’s nature. Aristotelian logic was adopted by
Gothic theologians,” Evie paused then continued, “Matthew what does this mean?” she
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asked.
Matthew looked up thoughtfully. “God is ultimately the cause of all because God
is at the top of the Christian hierarchy,”30 he said.
“Good Matthew… Now, due to the complexity of the subject, over the next few
weeks we will take a systematic approach. First, we will focus on sin, evil, judgment, and
damnation, which were prominent ideas in medieval Catholicism and in Marlowe’s
Faustus. Then we will begin to explore creation, love, and salvation in Goethe’s Faust.
Our goal this semester is to find God’s evolving nature and how each dramatist, both
directly and indirectly, expresses a different Christian ideology,” Evie paused and
surveyed her students faces. “First of all, when does Marlowe start his play and why is it
significant?” she asked. Evie noticed that Meghan raised her hand again. “Meghan…,”
she said.
Meghan adjusted herself in her seat. “Marlowe’s Faustus starts on Easter morning
and this is significant because traditionally Christians are reminded that on Easter Jesus
Christ was tempted by the Devil. Jesus descended into the Devil’s domain following his
crucifixion on Good Friday. Christians believe that the resurrection of Jesus is the only
way humans can be saved from their own sinful natures. This relates to the doctrine of
original sin was developed by St. Augustine in the forth century. In a nutshell, all humans
are stained at birth. Augustine believed that we are born with original sin because it is
part of human nature. This is an important idea because according to medieval standards
Faustus is a sinner because God created him that way,” Meghan said.
“Very good… now, Saint Augustine’s idea regarding original sin is not just
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simply about being disobedient to God… It’s more than mere disobedience. Saint
Augustine believed that there’s a fundamental flaw in human nature and this flaw clouds
our moral vision and perverts the will… another words we humans are directed towards
what is evil.31 God creates humans with original sin. God extends his grace to those
whom he destines to be saved and this is connected to the theory of predestination. Now,
if the concept of original sin is combined with predestination then we must we also come
to the conclusion that it’s God who’s responsible for creating Faustus’s predilection to sin
and are only a select few destined to be saved by God?” Evie paused then continued,
“Marlowe’s Faustus says, ‘If we say we have no sin, / We deceive ourselves, and there’s
no truth in us. Why then belike we must sin, / And so consequently die. Ay, we must die
an everlasting death.’32 Sarah, what do you think about the concept of sin?” she asked.
“Well, for me… sin is a difficult concept to understand because if God has
foreknowledge and predestines humans to be stained with sin at birth and yet he also
punishes us for sinning, then one may wonder how God could possibly be rational
because this sounds irrational, judgmental, and harsh,” Sarah said.
“Okay, what is one sin that was particularly damning in Faust’s time?” Evie
asked.
“Practicing witchcraft,” Joan said. Then she continued, “Practicing witchcraft or
dabbling in the occult is an important part of the history of social-religious protest against
the Church.”33
“That’s right… witchcraft was alive and well during Faustus’ time and the
medieval Church thought witchcraft was an appalling and a ghastly sin. This may be why
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Faustus becomes the poster-boy of controversy and also why he is condemned to hell at
the end of the play. When we read the opening scene of Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus, it
becomes obvious that Faust is disenchanted with logic, medicine, and law because he
perceives that knowledge is limited and restrictive. Faustus says, “Now, Faustus, must
thou needs be damned, / And canst thou not be saved. What boots it then to think of God
or heaven? Away with such vain fancies and despair! Despair in God and trust in
Beelzebub.34 Jason, what do you think Faust meant?” Evie asked.
Jason looked up. “First of all Faust says to ‘despair in God and trust Beelzebub…
trust the Devil. Faustus knows that reaching for knowledge beyond what the church
tolerated was going to bring the wrath of God upon him but he decided to jump in with
both feet and go all the way… he chose to go away from God and the Church and make a
deal with the Devil. Faustus probably already knew he was a dead man walking but he
made a deal with the Devil anyway,” Jason said.
“Yes, Jason… by Faustus’s time the punitive branch of the Catholic Church that
dealt with all forms of heresy – the Office of Church Inquisition – had been fully
operational for quite some time.35 Well before the thirteenth century, the Church had
become defensive and had started punishing heretics. The fear of witchcraft swept across
Europe and anyone suspected of practicing witchcraft was put to death. The Church itself
started a mass of killings of suspected heretics. Quite frankly, there was a hell of a lot of
burning going!36 The Church had the opinion that if a person like Faustus dabbles in the
occult it was because they were corrupted by their own original sin but also because the
will could not resist sin, they could be tempted by evil. The medieval mindset was that
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the demonic – or the Devil – was hidden in everyday activity. Demons were
everywhere… they were ready to follow a person home where they would summon you
to sin.37 However, God’s gaze was on humanity and God would come to judge the
transgressions of the world. The idea of a judgmental God combined with notions of a
Devil remained in Christianity throughout the sixteenth century even though the religious
rebellion ushered in by Luther and Calvin brought some new Protestant doctrines.
Unfortunately, many of the main ideas regarding sin, evil, and judgment for committing
sins did not get revolutionized. Martin Luther believed that God was not outside the
world, although he had allowed it to fall Under the Devil’s Sway or der Teufels reich –
the Devil’s Kingdom.38 Marlowe’s Faust is often associated with Protestant doctrines on
free will and predestination because Faustus has free will and therefore has free choice to
abandon good. When he makes the pact with Mephistopheles, it is his own independent
movement away from God and towards evil. Why do you think predestination and free
will are central themes in Act 2.3 of Marlowe’s Faust?” Evie asked.
Joan raised her hand and Evie nodded at her to go ahead. “Isn’t that where
Faustus asks Christ to save his soul?” she asked.
“Yes, Joan, it’s here where the Good Angel cries out, “Faustus, repent yet, God
will pity thee.”39 Faustus replies, “Be I a devil, yet God may pity me, Ay, God will pity
me if I repent.” The Evil Angel tries to dissuade Faustus from repenting and says to the
others that he will never repent for his sins. Faustus explains that he can’t repent because
his heart has become hardened,” Evie said.
“It seems like the reference to Faustus heart being hardened is like the Pharaoh’s
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heart being hardened in the Old Testament… but I don’t think a hardened heart is an
excuse or should give a person a reprieve from being punished for their sinful nature… I
mean don’t think God should forgive someone if they keep on acting in an evil way,”
Joan said.
“Well… in medieval Christianity, people like Faustus are lost souls… they are so
guilty of their own shame and they feel they have no choice but to hold onto the shame…
this is what causes them to reject the forgiveness that is offered by God. In the Calvinist
doctrine, it’s God who hardens the hearts of those whom he rejects…,” Evie explained.
“I believe we must accept God’s will.40 Even though God created humans with
free will, some people are predestined to be evil and there is no mercy for an evil
nature,”41 Joan replied.
Matthew jumped in. “But, if Faust had no real choice or decision to make, it was
because of fate that he was unable to repent and this fate was forced him… now he has to
face the wrath of God’s vengeance. It seems like Faustus is caught between a rock and a
hard place… he’s destroyed by the arbitrary power of a Calvinist God,”42 he said.
Joan looked at Matthew then back at Professor Taylor. “Well…God only offers
grace to those he chooses. When God doesn’t offer grace it’s because of a person’s own
ungodliness and any punishment received from God is deserved punishment. Faust
knows he’s a sinner and ungodly. He knows in advance that God’s going to judge and
condemn him to Hell but he comes to the conclusion that repenting is not an option
anyway,” she said.
Sarah raised her hand and Evie nodded at her. “I can’t help but think that God’s
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nature is a harsh, judgmental, and condemning one because not only did he create Faustus
to be sinful, he also predetermined that in the end he will condemn Faustus to spend an
eternity in hell. If we take this idea a step further, one might come to the conclusion that
it is God who is responsible for creating evil and all of the sin in the world,” she said.
Joan jumped in and began to speak. “So I take it that you think God should be
held accountable for every sinful act a person commits including whether or not a person
practices witchcraft, dabbles into the occult, or makes a pact with the Devil…,” she said.
Evie enjoyed the lively discussion. However, when she looked at the clock she
realized it was almost time to wrap up the lecture. She moved away from behind the
podium. “Well… later on Faustus wonders if it is too late for him to repent.43 We read the
part where the Good Angel and the Evil Angel banter back and forth over the possibility
of Faustus repenting. The Good Angel says it is never too late for him to repent, but the
Evil Angel threatens to tear him into pieces. At this moment Faustus cries out, ‘Ah,
Christ, my Savior, Seek to save distressed Faustus’ soul!’44 Suddenly Lucifer himself
appears and says, ‘Christ cannot save thy soul, for he is just.’45 Finally, Faustus promises
Lucifer that he will never think of heaven, never name God, or pray to him and he will
burn all of the scriptures, kill God’s ministers, and have his own spirit bring down the
church.46 Faustus’ agreement gratifies Lucifer. Okay, guys… I appreciate all of your
enlightened input. Keep reading! Next Monday we’ll discuss Act 5.1 and the path of
righteousness. In this Act, we’ll meet the Old Man who appears as a spiritual guide to
Faustus. He’ll try to encourage Faustus to repent. The Old Man wants to take Faustus
down the sweet path to celestial rest!47 Have a great weekend,” Evie said. Then she
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packed up her lecture notes and left the classroom.
E. J. Taylor had two more classes to teach plus office hours before she was
finished for the day. All she really wanted to do was be at home looking at the
Gatekeeper’s astrological chart and reading his diaries but she wanted to jot down some
notes for Monday’s Faust lecture before she went home. If she did, she would be able to
focus entirely on the Gatekeeper after she got home.
After Evie finished teaching Magic, Alchemy, and Astrology in the Medieval and
Renaissance and Dante’s Divine Comedy, she walked quickly to her office so she could
prepare some notes for Monday’s Faust Legends class. Evie sat down at her desk and
turned the computer on. She leaned back in the chair and stared at the blank screen. She
thought about the Old Man’s role in Faust. The Old Man appears as Faustus’s spiritual
guide. He wants to guide Faustus along the sweet path to celestial rest… this is the path
of righteousness. The sweet path to celestial rest is what Faustus must follow to attain
eternal life in heaven!48 Evie closed her eyes. Her heart was heavy with concern. She
thought, “Where is my spiritual guide? Will one appear? If so, will they show me the way
and enlighten my mind? I need strength and enlightenment to unlock the Gatekeeper’s
Code.”
Evie simply couldn’t focus on preparing the lecture notes. It had been a long day
and she was mentally exhausted. All she wanted was to find her own sweet path to
celestial rest but she knew she had a long night of work ahead of her on unlocking the
keys to the Gatekeeper diaries. She opened her eyes, turned off the computer, packed her
brief case, and left the office. While she was walking across campus to her car, it dawned
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on her that like Faust, the Gatekeeper must have made some sort of his own twisted deal
with the Devil. Other then a “Meow… purr” from Milo her cat, Evie arrived home to a
dark solitary house.
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Chapter 5
MEET A STARGAZER
Thursday November 12, 1998
The night before the District Attorney and the detective arrived at Evie’s house,
she worked late preparing for the meeting. Evie woke up at 3:30 a.m. without the sound
of an alarm. She put her fuzzy black slippers and Sonoma State sweatshirt on over her
nightgown and shuffled to the kitchen. She brewed a pot of her favorite dark French
Roast coffee and she put Hildegard Von Bingen’s 11,000 Virgins: Chants for the Feast of
Saint Ursula on the stereo. The heavenly voices were beautiful, pure, clear, and
spiritually moving. She finished plotting the graphics and charts for the meeting then she
prepared a hot lavender oil bubble bath for her morning meditation.
After the bath and prayer work, she put on make-up and dressed semiprofessionally. That morning she wore dark blue denim jeans, a long sleeved red Oxford
shirt, and black stiletto boots. She left the top three buttons unbuttoned on the blouse so it
revealed some of her cleavage. She always wore silver jewelry because it fit with the
lunar aspects in her birth chart. Vibration was the key with astrology. Stones and metals
all have a vibratory aspect for an alchemist. Evie used jewelry of the right type along
with certain colors to resonate a proper vibration. The only hint of a new-age-style was
her crystal amethyst necklace that nuzzled the crease between her shapely double D sized
breasts.
She waited for Patrick O’ Shay and Jason Ares in her formal living room. The
women from her group called this room the Venus Room because the décor was a
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matching sumptuous tan sofa and chair with an ottoman, a number of Greek Goddess
prints, and dozens of angel statues. The angel statues were gifts that she had received
over the years from family and friends. Evie tried to relax and prepare herself spiritually
as well as mentally for the extraordinary encounter.
At precisely 10:00 a.m., the doorbell rang. At this time, the position of the sun
was at 19 degrees of Scorpio. The Scorpio sun was in a planetary aspect called a square
to the Mercury in the previous powerful eclipse. Evie was born when the sun was at 18
degrees of Aquarius. The current position of the sun in Scorpio was at a ninety-degree
angle to her birth sun. Despite the planetary aspects, she was ready. She opened the door
and extended her hand to the two strikingly handsome men. She was pleased at what she
saw. “Good morning Gentlemen,” she said properly.
Patrick O’ Shay was a six foot four tall lanky red headed Irishman. His hair was
thick and slightly wavy but he wore it in a neatly cut style. His complexion was smooth
and freckled. He had sparkling cool blue eyes, a chiseled jaw line, magnificent full lips,
straight white teeth, and dimples when he smiled. He had a youthful appearance and an
energetic aura for a man approaching age fifty. Evie liked Patrick’s physical appearance
but she was far more prone to being sexually attracted to men who looked like the dark
skinned athletic built detective. The detective’s dark eyes had depth. Evie was drawn in
by them.
The two men were relieved that the astrologer they saw in front of them was not
wearing a conical hat and a robe with silver stars. In fact, they were definitely pleased at
Evie’s appearance. After all, she was very attractive, graceful, and voluptuous. She stood
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nearly five foot seven. She was a dark haired beauty with soft olive color skin and she
had uniquely colored greenish blue hazel eyes that changed depending on her mood and
her stress level.
Patrick O’ Shay smiled at her and extended his smooth hand. “Hello, are you Ms.
Taylor?” he asked.
Evie looked directly at Patrick O’ Shay’s eyes and then she said, “Yes, but please
call me E. J.”
“I’m Patrick O’ Shay, you can call me Pat. This is Detective Ares.”
Evie turned and looked at Jason Ares. Immediately, she felt an inward sizzle and
chemistry. The detective extended his strong rugged hand to her. His hand was warm.
Almost hot. Evie’s delicate hand felt comforted by his warmth.
While still holding her hand, the detective said, “You can call me Jason.”
Evie didn’t want to let go of the detective’s hand but she gently pulled away and
composed herself. She said, “Gentlemen, I hate to do it to you, but I think it would be a
good idea if you showed me some identification or something before I let you in.”
Patrick said “Oh, sure. No problem.” Jason nodded in compliance. They each
fumbled a bit in their own boyish way while they got their wallets out of their back
pockets. Jason showed Evie his police badge and an identification card. Patrick O’ Shay
got the one and only business card he had out of his wallet, and then he showed her his
drivers’ license. He was internally embarrassed because he didn’t have an extra business
card to give her.
Evie quickly glanced at their credentials. With some apology in her voice, she
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said, “Thanks gentlemen. One can never be too cautious these days.”
Pat responded, “Don’t worry about it. You’re right.”
Evie was naturally a good hostess and adept at making people feel comfortable in
her home. She turned and stepped aside the front door. She gracefully made a wave-like
gesture with her hand and then she said, “Come in. Can I get you a cup of coffee or hot
tea?” E. J. directed the men to the large formal dining table in her living room.
“No thanks, we’re fine. Maybe later,” Jason responded as he glanced around the
front room and took a complete inventory of its contents.
The detective removed his jacket and placed it over the back of a dinning room
chair. Evie could see that he was wearing a handgun. The gun was strapped to his torso
with a leather holster. This was unsettling to have a gun in her home. Nevertheless, she
tried desperately to ignore her feelings and behave in a nonchalant, yet professional way.
“Please have a seat,” she said. The two men both took their seats. Jason took one
end of the table and Patrick O’ Shay took the opposite end. Evie’s only choice was to sit
between the two men. The attorney was on her right side and the detective was on the
left.
When she sat down, she sat in a kind of sideways position facing Patrick O’ Shay.
She crossed her right leg over her left one. Her right leg rocked back and forth. She had a
habit of always being in motion. It was a nervous habit. Motion helped Evie release
energy. She asked, “Well, okay then. So, how can I help you?”
Pat jumped right in and he asked, “First, are you a Professional Astrologer?”
“Yes I am. I am also a professor at Sonoma State.”
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Patrick O’ Shay was surprised to hear that E. J. was a professor even though she
had mentioned it on the phone during their first conversation. He said, “Oh, really!
You’re a professor. What do you teach?”
“I teach a few classes for the Religious Studies and Humanities Department.
Mostly, I stick to the Medieval and Renaissance eras.”
Pat was baffled that an astrologer would also be a professor. “But, you’re also an
astrologer?” he asked.
Evie wasn’t surprised by his befuddlement. Over the years, she had become
accustomed to people being surprised at the rich history of astrology with academia. She
laughed slightly and then said, “Well, I like to say I keep pretty good company. After all,
a lot of brilliant people were either astrologers or consulted astrologers during the
Medieval and Renaissance periods.”
Both men had serious looks on their face but they did manage to grin at Evie’s
comment.
Then, Patrick asked, “Do you get a diploma or go to school or something for the
astrology?”
“I thought that may be something you’d need to know, so I have made copies of
my Astrology Certificate of Proficiency and Faculty Membership both from the
American Federation of Astrologers for you.” On the table, Evie had a manila folder with
her certificates and some articles she had written. She opened it and handed the first
certificate to the prosecutor. “I also included a Certificate of Merit that I received from
the International Institute of Astrological Research and Indian Culture from Calcutta,
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India.”
While examining the certificate, Patrick O’ Shay said, “Oh, that’s super! Could
you tell us a little more about your professional experience as a professor as well as in the
field of astrology?”
“Do you mean articles that I’ve written or lectures I’ve given on astrology or as a
professor?” she asked.
“Well, I don’t need you to give me a resume or anything… at least not at this
point. But just tell me some of what you’ve done,” Pat replied.
“Let’s see... To start with, I have a Bachelors degree from Nebraska Wesleyan
and a Ph.D. from Yale. I wrote my dissertation about the astrology in Dante’s Divine
Comedy. As I said before, I’m teaching a few classes in the Humanities and Religious
Studies Department at Sonoma State.
“What do you teach?” the detective asked.
“I teach The Legend of Doctor Faust, Dante’s Divine Comedy, and Magic,
Alchemy, and Astrology in the Medieval and Renaissance Magic, Alchemy, and
Witchcraft on Monday and Wednesdays.” The two men were surprised when they heard
the titles of the classes. Neither one realized that these types of courses were taught at the
university level.
E. J. continued to explain her experience both in and out of the classroom. She
said, “A number of my articles have been published in academic journals. As far as
astrology goes, I have been a part of the faculty for the AFA and have written articles and
lectured at several of their conventions. I also teach private astrology lessons to students
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and facilitate a women’s group here every Tuesday evening.”
Jason jumped in and asked, “What’s the AFA?”
“The AFA is the American Federation of Astrologers. The goal of the
organization is to educate people about astrology and to research in the field. As a faculty
member, I have an obligation abide by the American Federation Code of Ethics.”
“What’s their Code of Ethics?” he quickly fired back.
Evie paused for a brief moment. She first looked upwards and then her emerald
eyes locked into Jason’s penetrating brown ones. Then she proceeded to answer Jason’s
question. “I agree to assist in any way that I can the elimination of the charlatan who
may be masquerading under any form of title that can be construed to mean a connection
with astrology designed to mislead the public.”
The detective and the attorney looked at each other from across the table amazed.
Then Patrick O’ Shay turned and fixed his eyes on at Evie. He asked, “Could you tell us
about your personal philosophy... I mean is astrology, to you, a type of religion?”
Evie was silent and thoughtful for a brief moment so she could collect her
thoughts. Then, she said, “That’s a difficult question to answer. My personal code is that
I believe in a Divine Creator. I try to live a spiritual life here and now, upon this earth,
and to do that I believe that I must devote some time and energy to the assistance of
others without the thought of compensation. I think it is important to try and make an
effort to alleviate misery and suffering without receiving compensation or worldly
wealth.”
Taken aback, Patrick O’ Shay said, “That’s quite a code to live by.”
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Evie wanted to lighten the heavy mood. “Yes, it’s a constant struggle being a
college professor! Unfortunately, I do not always live a life of moral or emotional purity.
I pray daily that the teaching profession will someday pay us teachers like we are
professionals,” she responded. Both men chuckled. They could relate to long hours and
little compensation.
The detective fidgeted slightly in his chair. He was eager to get to the case at
hand. “Well, the reason we need you to help us, is we have these documents that seem to
be astrological and we aren’t sure what to make of them,” he said.
“Let’s have a look,” She said.
Evie quickly scanned over the huge stack documents. Then Jason began to tell her
their theory about the crime and there perpetrator. Evie turned her attention to Jason and
listened in disbelief.
“Six bombs were planted at five locations in the city's affluent Mission San Jose
neighborhood. Five out of the six went off or were detonated at the end of March 1998.
We arrested the suspect, who was a former Falls City resident, at his San Diego home
Oct. 5, 1998 after six months of police investigation,” Jason said.
“We felt we had enough circumstantial evidence to charge him with planting
bombs, which were at the homes of the Chief of Police and a City Councilman, the city’s
former police chief. This guy also has had a longtime grudge against a local family and
claims that they were involved in real estate fraud and drug trafficking. We believe he
also bombed the home that this family had previously signed a contract to buy, but then
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they backed out of the deal later, after the bombs were already under the house,” Pat
explained.
At that point, Jason jumped in, “We believe the bombs were placed under the
house… most likely during the construction phase.”
“I believe he intended to kill this wealthy family at a Corte del Sol custom home,
where two of the bombs exploded. Another bomb was detonated on Vista del Sol the next
day. This bomb was on a motion sensor device. I think the next bomb was a booby trap
meant to kill police officers who responded to an anonymous bomb threat call that came
into the station at about 8:15 p.m. However, because the first bomb had just exploded at
about 8:05 P.M., the police thought the call was a prank or someone calling with the
wrong address. The first bomb was just up the street from the address the caller used in
his call to the police station,” Pat added.
“After the family, who the suspect had a grudge against, backed out of the real
estate deal, another family purchased the new home and subsequently moved in around
the first of November. The bomb under the family’s home was the most powerful of all
of the bombs and it blasted through their million-dollar home,” Pat said.
Evie was worried and frightened by the story. “So was anyone killed or injured?”
she asked.
Jason leaned forward and looked directly at Evie. He said, “No, but a young girl
who lived in the home where the first bomb exploded, was upstairs sleeping. She got
some minor cuts and bruises. The mother and her young son left the house to go pick up a
pizza they had ordered. When they got to the pizza parlor, the mom realized the wrong
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pizza was made and her son wanted a different pizza, so they waited for the pizza guys to
make a second pizza. The house exploded while they were on their way home from the
pizza shop. Now, if they’d taken the first pizza instead of waiting for a second one, they
would’ve been in the home at the time of the bombing and most likely they would’ve
died. The explosion ripped a twenty-foot hole in both the family room and the formal
dinning living room area.”
Evie was dumbfounded. Shocked. “Talk about saving grace,” she commented
while shaking her head side to side. She took a deep breath and exhaled. “So tell me
about the suspect. What’s his background and personality like?” she asked.
“The suspect is talkative and seems intelligent. He was a former crime-lab microanalyst technician and has expertise in forensics. We found documents where he planned
to destroy his supervisor in the Chicago Police Department more than 20 years ago. He
didn’t want competition for defense jobs in the Chicago area. In the documents we found,
he also he planned to destroy every person in Chicago’s police lab, where he worked in
the 1970s. The suspect wrote that he planned to quit the Chicago department just before
his supervisor had a major case and then, destroy him in court,” Pat added.
“He’s also a conspiracy theorist and has some wild speculations about the local
police department and has repeatedly claimed that certain city officials and the local
police are corrupt. The suspect rented a storage locker using another man’s identity. He
met him in Castro Valley in spring 1998 while the man was collecting cans and looking
for a few dollars. The homeless man told us that the suspect offered him $80 to use his
name and driver’s license to rent the storage unit. When we searched the storage unit and
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we confiscated explosive acid, books about making bombs, and hundreds of pages of
documents that show the depth of his obsessions with those he believes have wronged
him. From some of the documents, it’s apparent that he had a sexual obsession with the
sister-in-law of this wealthy family. The documents and tape recordings show he stalked
her, loaned her money, and had many fantasies about the two of them being lovers. We
also found loads of newspaper clippings about the Oklahoma City bombing and
handwritten notes on how to stage a crime scene by planting hairs. These documents have
astrology symbols and notes along with what appears to be astrological charts about
when would be the best time to set off explosives according to the planetary alignments,”
Jason explained.
“The suspect tried to get a county supervisor to look into his theory about real
estate fraud. He believed his $500,000 Mission San Jose home had construction defects.
Just five days before the bombing, he lost a court fight where he blamed police, the city,
and the builder for the home’s problems. By the way, we have additional documentation
that we brought along with us, to show you. These documents seem to be astrology plans
that show he also planned to blow up the real estate company he had a gripe with about
his home,” Jason said.
E. J. took the large stack of documents Jason was referring to and examined them
briefly. She could see there were astrology symbols mixed with English and they were
similar to the documents they previously faxed to her. “Are you saying that he planned to
also blow up the real estate company that sold him his home? she asked.
“Yes, we found these documents and others, along with a safe, and the explosive
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materials to do the job in the storage locker,” he answered.
E. J. shuffled through the stack and continued to listen to the detective continue
with the story. She was in astounded to some degree because she could see from the stack
of documents that there were many calculations along with interpretations of the
astrology. She was beginning to get alarmed. However, she kept a brave exterior. “Do
you want me to review these documents, the real estate plans too? Did you bring me an
extra copy?” she asked.
“No we didn’t bring you a copy, but I can mail you one,” Jason replied.
“Well, I have a copy machine in my office. Do you want to copy the pages?” she
asked.
“Sure,” he said.
All three got up from the dinning room table and walked down the hall to her
small makeshift office. E. J. turned on the copier and started in copying the stack of
pages. She could tell they were both looking around the office and giving it the eyeball.
At one point, she noticed that the detective disappeared from the room. She could sense
that he slipped down the hallway to give the rest of the house a quick once over.
Meanwhile, Pat kept her busy with small talk. At one point, he commented that he knew
that Evie was from the Mid-west.
It was obvious that they had previously done a background check on her or they
must be very observant. E. J. kept busy copying the pages and continued to be polite and
up-front with the questions. Mostly they were engaging in small talk. After a few
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minutes, she realized that Jason was back in the room. Then he said that he needed to use
the bathroom. At that time, she directed him to go down the hall to the main restroom. He
disappeared again for a brief time.
She was aware that she was opening the door and giving him time to snoop
around unencumbered by her eyes. She had absolutely nothing to hide. After Jason
returned to the office, Pat took his turn to use the restroom and Jason watched Evie copy
the last of the papers. In her heart, she knew that Pat would also take his turn for a peek
around her house. After nearly twenty minutes, she was finished making copies. Then,
they all returned to the dinning room and sat down. The two men continued to fill her in
on their theory of the crime.
“The suspect enjoyed playing a cat-and-mouse game with us. Until we arrested
him, he has been outspoken and enjoyed goading us. He bragged that we would never
catch the bomber,” Jason said.
Pat continued, “We believe that the documents show the depth of his obsession
not only with the woman and her in-laws, but also with law enforcement. We believe he
meant to kill a number of people including police officers with a booby-trap bomb with
one of six bombs he planted. Aaron Loch, our ATF expert, said there was picric acid on
one of the bombs. This is an explosive chemical that’s used to amplify explosions. In
addition, there was a motion-sensitive booby-trap-switch on the bomb. This would have
caused it to explode if the bomb was hit with a shot from a disrupter. We believe that the
suspect planned attacks on his targets. He did extensive research on explosives and
detonators. Based on what our ATF guy said, if someone had been in the family or living
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room area of the house, they quite conceivably would have died. He told us that pipe
bombs half the size of these bombs have caused considerable damage and death.” Pat
paused and leaned back in his seat then looked at Jason.
Jason looked at Pat then at Evie. “One document shows he not only did the
research, but also did testing. We found a four-page document detailing how to buy
thirteen different chemicals used in explosives without being traced back to the buyer.
Nine of those chemicals were found in the locker. There was a document describing
copper pipe and how it reacts with certain chemicals. A copper pipe was used in the
bomb that exploded at the Vista Del Sol home that was under construction. We found
another document about the use of spark plugs and there were remains of spark plugs at
the crime scenes. On one page of the documents there was a drawing of a bomb that used
a cap, copper tape, and double-sided tape that was similar to the bomb planted at Vista
del Sol,” Jason added.
“A copper pipe was used?” E. J. asked.
“Yes. It is unusual to use copper since it’s a soft metal. Why is that important in
astrology?” Jason asked.
“Well copper is the metal associated with the planet Venus. In these charts, Venus
is in the forth house of endings or the end of life. Also, Venus rules the 7th house on this
second chart because the zodiac sign of Taurus is on the cusp,” she answered while
pointing at the chart. They both looked confused. Stunned.
Jason shook his head from side to side then jumped in. “We also found a hand
written document titled How-to-kill Book List. Under the heading he listed a number of
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books such as How to Kill, Vols. 1-3, How to Kill Vols. 4 and 5, Complete Guide to Lockpicking, Get Even: The Complete Book of Dirty Tricks, Police Guide to Bomb Search
Techniques, Manual of Explosives, Military Pyrotechnics and Chemical Warfare Agents,
Chemistry of Powder and Explosives,” he said.
Pat had a grave look on his face. “Police also found a catalog with certain books
circled about firearms, military, police tactics, and other controversial subjects. In my
opinion, this is not just academic research. All of the documents show he’s concerned
with killing. I think they show his mindset. He’s a dangerous criminal. He has an evil
heart and he intended to kill. I don’t think you’ll see a more dangerous individual. He
goes way beyond the normal criminal mind. You’ll never see anything like this. Ever! It
was really lucky that no one was seriously injured. He had plenty of time to anonymously
inform law enforcement that the bombs were under the house, since the wrong people,
not the wealthy family – his intended victims, bought the home after all. He never called
in to inform the police. His acts are much more evil. He had seven months to change his
mind and make sure no one would be in the home the night of the bombings, yet he does
nothing to try and save their lives.”
Evie felt a cold chill run down her spine. This was one of the most horrific things
she’d ever heard or experienced.
“So, what do you think? Are these Astrology notes? Can you tell if they are
related to the bombings? Do you think that these documents show he used astrology to
plan the bombings?” Jason anxiously questioned.
Evie looked at the documents. Her hand was slightly shaking. She took a deep
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breath. “I can say that these are definitely astrology symbols and calculations. These are
very detailed astrology notes. However, I can’t say, without doing an in-depth analysis
whether or not they relate to the bombings, are an analysis of the bombings, or if they are
his plan to bomb using astrology. But the charts match the same day and it appears to be
Electional Astrology.”
Pat had a worried look on his face. He leaned forward and looked directly at
Evie’s green eyes as if he was pleading for an answer from her. “Do you know what they
mean?” he asked.
Evie looked straight into Pat’s eyes. “Something like this…” she paused briefly,
took a deep breath, and then slowly exhaled and leaned back against the chair. “I would
have to sit down and really analyze them. I can’t tell you without checking all of the
details. I just can’t say off the top of my head. I really need to run some more
calculations… spend some time reviewing the notes and check in some of my text books
to give you a definitive answer.”
Even though Pat had hoped for an immediate answer, he internally knew it was
better if E.J. was thorough. He leaned back and slowly replied, “I understand… there’s a
lot here. Do you think it we left you a copy of these documents, you would have time or
be able to help us?”
Evie straightened herself up in her seat and looked at Pat. “Of course, I would be
happy to help you figure this all out. At least, as much as I can,” she answered.
Pat looked somewhat satisfied. “Oh, we’d really appreciate it. Now, we will pay
you for you’re consulting time,” he said.
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Evie shook her head side to side. “Oh, no. I won’t charge you for this.”
The two men both looked at each other with looks of complete shock. Evie
decided before the meeting that if they were to offer her money, she should refuse. She
felt that it would be better for her to be cautious and not accept money because she lived
in a town where there was a city ordinance against the practice of astrology. All across
the country there are towns that don’t allow astrologers to practice their art and they are
lumped in with crystal ball readers and magicians. She also thought that there might be a
credibility factor if she was paid for her opinion.
Pat’s eyes brightened. “Really? Are you sure? Because, if you are not paid, you
will be a much more credible witness,” he said.
She thought to herself, “Witness... what does he mean witness?” Nevertheless, she
let it go at that. “Yes, I am very sure. I’d be happy to help you in any way that I can. You
know, since I wasn’t completely sure what type of astrology consultation or information
you were looking for, I thought I would give you some of what I’ve come up with.”
“Did you get the pages that I faxed to you?” asked Pat.
She nodded. “Yes, I sure did.”
Pat opened his brief case and took out a stapled document. He said, “We wanted
to know what the Suspect means when he wrote the ‘O. J. Simpson-based Twelfth House
Insights’ document.
Jason jumped in, “Yeah, It looks like the suspect compared some of his own
personality traits and his astrological chart to O. J. Simpson.”
“Can you explain it to us?” Pat asked.
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Patrick O’ Shay handed the document over to Evie. “Sure, let’s read what he
says.” Evie quickly scanned the pages. “Ok. I’ll try to explain some of the astrology for
you.” The document was partly in English and partly in astrological symbols. Evie began
reading aloud what the suspect wrote.
Both the detective and the attorney listened intently while Evie began to explain
the document. “O. J. has the sun, Mercury and Venus in Cancer. This makes a possessive,
subjective, near-sighted person. Cancers are traditionalists, sensitive, and vulnerable.
They have intense feelings that need bolstering by acquiring money and status. They seek
other people’s approval. His rising sign is at twenty-four degrees of Leo with Saturn and
Pluto near the rising sign. Like Simpson, the suspect also has Leo rising with Pluto and
Saturn near the ascendant,” she said confidently.
“What does a Leo rising mean?” asked Jason.
“Typically, a Leo ascendant brings personality, charm, and charisma.”
Both men continued to listen closely to what she said. She could tell that they
were interested but they were having a difficult time comprehending. “Ok,” she said.
“The suspect says that O. J has five planets in emotional water signs, verses his four
intellectual air planets. A close square between Uranus and moon or sun is a temper. I
compared the suspect’s chart to Simpson’s chart and they both have square aspects
between natal Uranus and natal moon. Additionally, the suspect has a close square aspect
between natal Uranus and natal sun. The square aspect is a like a set of inner tensions.
Squares are dynamic energy. The two planets together can cause inner problems on the
conscious level and the subconscious level. The moon is our emotional nature and Uranus
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represents an erratic, unconventional, rebellious energy if not properly channeled into
constructive outlets. Uranus is referred to as a rebel without a cause. The combination of
Uranus square the moon can cause a person to be unpredictable, as well as have a bad
temper. The suspect states that he has a lot of concentrated energy from the natal sun to
natal Uranus. These planetary aspects could cause a person to have an unpredictable
nature.”
“E. J., what do you mean by that?” Jason asked.
For a moment, Evie looked directly at Jason’s dark brown eyes without blinking.
“People who have this combination tend to be impulsive and they are determined to
individuals. They want to do things their own way. They will dig in their heels if anyone
tries to stop them. On the other hand, they have the ability to be unique and original
leaders,” she said.
Pat interrupted. He was getting impatient. At this point, he couldn’t see how this
was going to help him get a conviction. He pointed at the next paragraph on the
document. “I find this next statement revealing. Here, the suspect says, ‘The twelfth
house Saturn-Pluto conjunction has the old devils upheaval with demons beneath the
surface, someone with the need to control. Saturn-Pluto square Venus suggests obsession
coupled with violence. Ruthlessness – or the milder – purposely driven, perseverance,
and determination. The ability to focus and direct energy towards a Venus goal – which is
the result. When I am backed into a corner by fate or by my own self-undoing, I exhibit a
calculated coldness, destructiveness, rigidity. I have a ruthless desire for control at all
costs and this includes vengeance and violence,’” he said then put the document on the
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table.
E. J. nodded her head. “Yes, it is very interesting because both the suspect and
Simpson have a Saturn-Pluto conjunction in the twelfth house. Pluto symbolizes force,
violence, obsessions, death, destruction, fanaticism, the underworld, black magic. Saturn
symbolizes crystallization, obstruction, selfishness, materialism, pessimism, severity, and
cynicism.” She paused and looked at Jason first then Pat. “The interpretation of a person
with an aspect of Saturn and Pluto like this is quite capable of self-mastery and selfdiscipline. Life is serious for them. The planetary combination can also bring great
power, endurance, and stamina, which allows one to work extremely hard in order to
accomplish personal desires. There may be the temptation to use wrong means to
accomplish their goals. However, on occasion, the person may suffer from despondency
and depression.”
They both continued to listen as E. J. continued to explain the similarities of the
charts. She said, “Some of the things the 12th house rules are imprisonment, witches,
secret enemies, assassins, self-undoing, grief, funerals, exile, seclusion, detention,
subversion, and murder. You guys need to know that when the suspect refers to the
Venus square Saturn-Pluto combination, he is referring to his own chart because Simpson
doesn’t have this planetary aspect.”
“Well, what does he mean then?” asked Pat.
“The Venus square Pluto-Saturn planetary aspect can bring compelling emotional
and sexual attractions that one has little choice or control over. The person may crave
intensity and have lustful desires. Astrologers have noted that a person with this
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combination can be emotionally or sexually greedy, insatiable, obsessive, or compulsive.
They tend to be very jealous of other people and they can be very possessive. For the
most part, they will try to control and manipulate their sexual partners. Power struggles
are likely in intimate relationships. The love life is passionate, but often explosive and
agonizing,” she said.
Jason looked at Evie steadily. He asked, “What does he mean when he says the
twelfth house shows where man is unavoidably confronted by his successes and failures?
Planets herein tell the nature and consistency of the ghosts one has to deal with.”
Evie leaned forward in the chair. “The planets Mars, Uranus, and Pluto are all
connected to violence.” Then she pointed to the middle paragraph on the document. Both
men followed along. “The suspect says here, violence especially surgically correct
violence, as per an exact Uranus trine Mars. Uranus and Pluto are planets of change,
destruction, violent upsets, and transformations.”
“The words surgically correct are startling!” Pat said with intensity.
“I thought so myself. It seems that this paragraph is in reference to his natal chart.
He has an almost exact trine between his natal Uranus and natal Mars. Once again, this
planetary aspect does not occur in Simpson’s chart. The trine aspect between Mars and
Uranus is a chart often brings a dynamic, decisive, quick, impulsive, inventive, and
probably… a mechanically adept individual. This could also be indicative of being
surgically correct, as the suspect states. Mars is a planet known for its destructive force,
war, brutality, combativeness, conflict, rage, fire, lustfulness, and impulsiveness,” Evie
responded.
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Pat turned to the next page and pointed. He read the next sentence aloud.
“Jupiter’s transit to natal Pluto indicates a period of duels of willpower – murder! So
what do you think he means in this sentence?” he asked.
“I personally found this sentence revealing because during the fall of 1997,
around the September 1, 1997 eclipse and prior to the bombings, transiting Jupiter was in
an opposition to the suspect’s natal Pluto and ascendant. This may have been when he
decided to murder,” said Evie.
At this point, Evie could see a glaze of confusion come over both of the two
men’s faces. Even so, they continued to listen intently. She knew she was going over
their heads with the astrological interpretations, but she needed them to realize that this is
a complicated subject matter. One just doesn’t learn astrology over night. “I wanted to
tell you guys that it might be a coincidence, but I recently read the book, Zodiac by
Robert Greysmith. According to Greysmith, the Zodiac Killer used the Part of Fortune
symbol at the end of each of his notes that he sent to the news media and to law
enforcement agencies.”
“I remember that case but I was just a kid,” said Pat.
“Well, I found it disturbing that on the suspect’s horoscope page he wrote “The
Killing Planet” at the exact degree and sign of his own natal Part of Fortune. I find it
more than a coincidence that the Zodiac Killer signed his letters with the Part of Fortune
symbol. Like your suspect, the Zodiac Killer also used the new and full moons, eclipses,
and Saturn in Aries as the best time to kill.”
Both men looked astounded. “You don’t think the suspect is the Zodiac Killer, do
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you?” Pat asked.
“No, I think that he may have read the book,” she answered.
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Chapter 6
A FORCE OF SPIRITUAL EVIL
Noon November 12, 1998
The morning passed quickly with District Attorney O’ Shay and Detective Ares.
Around noon, they were open to Evie’s invitation for a bowel of homemade Pasta e’
Fagoli Soup that she had made earlier in the day. The three sat at Evie’s kitchen table and
shared small talk. After lunch, she poured them a cup of freshly brewed French Roast
coffee. Then she steered them back into her living room so they could resume the
astrological discussion.
They started by focusing on the suspect’s horoscope document. This particular
document was a typed document that had a well ordered list of the planetary positions at
the time of the suspect’s birth. On the document, there were two different times of birth
listed. One time was 4:00 a.m. and the other time was 3:41:45 a.m. with the word
rectified next to that time. When Evie did the calculations for the presentation, she used
the 4:00 a.m. time because the attorney had only mentioned a 4:00 a.m. birth time.
At the time, she internally questioned the time of birth because even four minutes
can make a vast difference in casting a chart. All of the traditional astrological points
were listed alongside some of the Arabic Parts. The Arabic Parts the suspect listed are
considered the darkest in astrology. There were also many non-traditional points listed as
well as two Tarot cards. It appeared as if the suspect had chosen one Tarot card for each
year.
Pat pointed at the horoscope page. “By the way, did we tell you earlier that the
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suspect used several different names and one of them was the Gatekeeper?” he asked.
Evie’s mouth dropped open. She was stunned. “The Gatekeeper… this is really
dark!”
Pat shook his head in agreement and then he asked, “We were wondering since
this is a bombing crime, what is the Blasted Tower?” On the document, the suspect had
written, ‘The Blasted Tower: Sudden calamity, pride of intellect, ostentation, cataclysms,
earthquakes, storms, overthrow, and accidents.’”
“It’s a Tarot card. I usually just call it the Tower, but many occultists, such as
Aleister Crowley… the man known as the Great Beast… refer to it as The Blasted
Tower.”
It was obvious to Evie by the look on Jason’s face that he was worried. He had a
pained look on his face and he fidgeted in his seat. “But what does it mean?” he asked in
a distressed tone.
At the point, Evie stood up and went to her bookcase. She retrieved several
different decks of Tarot cards. She began sorting through the decks. She pulled out each
different artistic rendition of the Tower cards she had so she could show them. She
explained that there are seventy-eight Tarot cards in each deck. “Normally a person
would shuffle the deck and then randomly draw out the cards according to the type of
card spread the person happened to be using. In this case, it appears that the suspect
specifically selected only two Tarot cards. Typically, a person would have more than one
card per year. It is disturbing that the Gatekeeper only chose one card per year,” she said.
Both Pat and Jason’s eyes were wide open and they raised their eyebrows.
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Evie looked straight at the men. She thought she better explain the symbolism of
each of the two cards. “The Tower depicts the eye of a god as he shoots out lightning
bolts. One of them sets a tower on fire. Two people and a crown tumble down into the
deep. This means forced change, breakdown, ruin, fight, catastrophe, destruction,
breaking up of constricting convictions, arrogance, intolerance, disappointment, chance
for a new start, liberation, enthusiasm. Any sudden outbreak of unfiltered aggression will
blow the neat pattern of civilized behavior sky high. Assemblies of civilized men will fall
when the skin of the earth is ripped open. You can see that the empty skulls are left in the
dust. Nature is watching in amazement from a distance. It symbolizes that man can
experience a pattern-breakdown in his private world. When this happens the survival
instincts are brought out. There may be a sudden change of a person’s personality, some
personal experience of sudden change on the outside. It can also mean that there are
hidden undermining forces at work. Something is desperately kept under a lid.”
“Do you think this Tarot card… the Tower… indicates that he may have been
thinking about a bomb?” Pat asked in an anxious voice.
“Yes, I do. This is more than a coincidence. It is very interesting that the
Gatekeeper calls the card, the Blasted Tower, just as Mr. Crowley called it. ‘Do as thou
wilt shall be the whole of the law’ is one of the famous statements that Crowley used,”
she said in a serious business-like tone then paused to sip her coffee.
Pat looked down at the document. “He also wrote, ‘Typhon or Satan: The Devil,
Evil, willfulness, mystery, controversy, fatality, passion, malice, riot and lawlessness.’
What does that mean?” he asked.
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Evie laid aside several different Devil cards from her decks on the table. Then,
she stood up and went to her bookshelf and she grabbed several textbooks. She walked
back to the table and opened the books to the pages where there were various different
interpretations of the Typhon and the Devil cards.
While the two men looked at the cards, she continued to explain their meaning.
“Usually, I call it the Devil card. Again, some occultists, including Crowley sometimes
refer to the Devil card as the Typhon. The Typhon is a deadly giant monster. Evie held up
one of the cards. In this particular card the thighs are made of serpents, the arms reach up
to the heavens, it’s wings blot out the sun, venom drips from his evil eyes, burning
boulders come out of it’s mouth, and its head touches the stars. Apparently, Typhon was
so frightful even the gods of Olympus refused to fight. Instead of fighting the giant
serpent on Mount Olympus, they fled to Egypt when he attacked their mountain home.
Under the monster, the earth spews up more fire and boulders. Occult lore suggests that
terrible battles are raged with Typhon’s power and hardly a living creature is left on
Earth. He is the god of the hurricane,” she said.
Both men had fearful looks in their eyes.
Then, Evie turned to a passage from The Secret Teachings of All Ages by Manly
P. Hall and then she passed the book to Pat.
Pat read the passage out loud. “Typhon is the vanquished dragon of ignorance and
perversion. To the Egyptian initiates Typhon is the devourer of souls. He is signified by
the lower world, which swallows up the spiritual nature of the individual who, being
imperfect, is forced to descend from the higher spheres and be reborn into the physical
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universe. To be swallowed by Typhon therefore signifies the process of rebirth, from
which man can only release himself by vanquishing his mortal Adversary.”49
After Pat finished reading the passage, Evie opened a book by Robert Graves
called The Greek Myths. The two men sat silent while Evie paraphrased the description of
Typhon. She said, “Typhon is the largest monster ever born. He has a mass of coiled
snakes instead of legs or hands. His arms are so outstretched they have the ability to
reach a hundred leagues in either direction. The Typhon has vast wings that can darken
the sun. Fire flashes from his eyes. Flaming rocks can be hurtled from his mouth.50” Evie
set Grave’s book aside and she reached for another. The men were silent while she
opened her copy of The Secret Teachings of All Ages by Manly P. Hall. Evie began to
read a quote about Typhon to them. “Typhon frightened the gods on Olympus so they all
fled to Egypt. Only when Zeus was taunted for his cowardice, did he return to do battle
with the mighty Typhon.”
“Wow!” remarked Jason.
Pat took a deep breath and exhaled. Then he asked, “You have several different
Tarot decks here and I’m wondering where did the Tarot come from and are these the
only decks there are?”
Evie shook her head from side to side. “No, there are many different artistic
renditions of the Tarot Cards. There are numerous theories about the history of where and
how the Tarot was developed. Many scholars and experts contend that its roots reach as
far back as ancient Egypt during a time when their arts and sciences were flourishing.
Different styles of cards were passed down through the ages and eventually, they were
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brought into Europe by the Gypsies. Some say that the Tarot’s origins are from an ancient
Hebrew lore known as the Kabala. The cards point out that there is a correspondence
between the Hebrew alphabet and the Major Arcana. Others believe that they were
brought to the West from India. It is possible that they were remnants of the lost city of
Atlantis. Apparently, Italian aristocrats used Tarot cards although they called it tarocchi.
There is some evidence that suggests that Italian artists in the medieval period invented
the cards. The cards that have been preserved were originally very expensive to produce
because they were individually hand painted and gold leafed. For the most part, they were
only available to the noble and wealthy.”
“How are the Tarot cards and astrology related to each other?” Jason asked.
“Well, the concepts and symbols on the Tarot cards are esoteric in nature and they
do relate to astrology, as well as to numerology. The Typhon or Devil card is symbolic of
the sign Capricorn and the planet Saturn. This represents our capacity to create order,
form, and discipline in our life. The Tower card is symbolic of the planet Mars. Now
astrologically, Mars symbolizes war, combativeness, energy, and the ability to initiate
and assert ourselves. Mars rules two signs, Aries and is co-ruler of Scorpio. I think it’s
important for you to understand, that the Devil or Typhon card means many things
including obsession, passion, materialism, and bondage.”
Evie then showed them another style of the card. She slide the card to the center
of the table so both Jason and Pat could see it clearly. “Look at this card. The character in
the card is an awful looking beast with horns. He is half man and half animal of sorts.
You can see him sitting perched on a block and chained to a man and woman below him.
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The devil is the inner force within each of us. The Tarot card of Typhon personifies our
fears, addictions and other harmful impulses. The Devil is a master of deception and
illusion. The people at his feet have the power to set themselves free from the bondage if
they wish to, but they find themselves powerless because they are… in some way, tied to
him. This demon oppresses his prisoners with the power of evil.” She paused then said, “I
have a software program for the tarot. Let me show you what a Tarot spread is and what
the program has to say about the card.”
Evie stood up and went to her computer. Both Pat and Jason stood up and
followed her. Evie sat down and clicked on the Tarot program icon. The two men looked
at the computer screen while Evie gave them a quick demonstration about how to do a
spread. She explained that under normal circumstances a spread would consist of more
than one card. “Remember the Gatekeeper’s horoscope page?” she asked. Both nodded.
“The Gatekeeper only listed one card per year on his horoscope page. To me, this is a
revealing clue,” she said while attorney and detective read about the Devil card on the
computer screen. “Some of the card’s meanings are black magic, occult powers,
dependence, slavery, passion, egoism, perversion, wrong proportions, overcoming of own
fears, and perception of the inner demon.” Evie took a sip of her coffee. “God and devil
are mere symbols of duality. The moment one decides to return from the shores of the
time – from formlessness to corporal existence, one chooses duality, good and bad, light
and dark, god and devil. There is only an illusion of separateness. Instead of separation,
there is a firm merciless grip and this grip ignites the subconscious desire for the other
side. Often times, people who are of a darker nature seek union or gratification through
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sex or through the use of drugs. However, this too is an illusion. This also represents the
imaginary of slavery and the fact that bonds to evil can be broken if the will is there. A
person finds himself or herself confronted with unstoppable and uncontrollable events
that are inescapable. Long repressed desires and instincts suddenly surface. One exhibits
brutal behavior and lack of sensitivity. All this is part of the big material-world theater
and of the choice to experience separateness, which is just a choice to experience, with no
value and judgment attached to it.”51
At that point, both men looked worried. Jason said, “You’ve heard of the saying, a
picture paints a thousand words.”
Evie looked directly at Jason. She was pleased he seemed to understand the
occult philosophy. “Exactly, the symbolism within each card can tell a story about what’s
going on within the querent’s subconscious mind,” she replied.
“Evie, what’s a querent?” Pat asked.
Evie turned and looked at Pat. “A querent is the person who is asking the
question,” she answered.
Pat was completely engaged. “I’ve heard of many of these planets here on this
horoscope page, but what does Lilith mean?” he asked.
“The point of Lilith that the Gatekeeper refers to on his horoscope page has dark
and evil connotations in some circles of astrology.” Evie leaned back in her chair. For a
moment, she looked up and was silent then she looked back at Pat. “Historically, Lilith is
the demonic goddess. She was the first woman created by god at the same time that god
created Adam. Unlike Eve, who was created from Adam’s rib as a sign of submission,
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Lilith refused to submit to Adam’s will. She left the Garden of Eden and was
subsequently cursed by god.” Evie paused again then continued. “According to popular
opinion, Lilith was originally a goddess or at the very least an aspect of a great goddess.
She was demonized for being an independent female. The story of Lilith appeared in the
medieval period in a controversial work titled, Alphabet of Ben Sirah. The notion of
Lilith has been found in different manuscripts even before medieval times and they
describe her as demonic. The true origins are obscure. However, her Sumerian and
Babylonian predecessors were also considered to be demonic in nature. Descriptions of
her say she had the ability to seduce men in their sleep and force them into sex. She
needed the semen to give birth to more demons.”
Jason seemed to get what Evie what saying. “You know, I was brought up in a
traditional religious home. Is Lilith the one who is called the Night Demon or Night Rider
that’s in Isaiah 37?”
Evie nodded her head at Jason. “You could be right. I know that in the Hebrew
scriptures there is a reference to Lilith but I think it’s in Isaiah 34:14. This verse describes
the devastation of Edom. Scripture maintains that Lilith shall be at rest in the desert,
among the wild animals, screech owls, and satyrs. I’ve heard her called the Queen of the
Demons. She is pictured having long hair and wings. She is a primal dark animal with an
unfettered sexual dominance and power over men. She is passionate and wild, yet has a
heroic nature. Some people say she has a wicked spirit because she persecutes and
plagues men with illness, disease, and sexual suffering.”
Pat shook his head in disgust. “This sounds like sexual obsession.” Pat said.
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Evie looked at Pat firmly. “In many ways, you’re correct. Some depictions of
Lilith suggest she’s surrounded by a round enclosure. She’s literally trapped. Then a
number of male cats come in and rape her over and over again. After the second attack,
she’s covered in blood and she’s left caged in… her heart’s destroyed. Anyone who
approaches her is met by a terrible, hateful, warning snarl. She’s dangerous, ferocious,
destructive, and defensive. As far as astrology goes, Lilith is many things including a
goddess, even a role model. Originally, she was thought of as a purely a demonic
creature. However, in my opinion, the meaning of Lilith should also include feelings of
internal rage. The rage implies rejection and the fury speaks of the inability to let go
gracefully and lightly.”
“Do all astrologers use Lilith?” Pat asked.
“Well, I don’t normally use Lilith because I find the point somewhat dark.” Evie
said then continued. “Mythological allegories state that Lilith spoke the unspeakable
name of god and because of that, she was cursed with having to kill, each day, hundreds
of her own children, which were all begotten by Satan. She became the demon
responsible for child death. She is the vamp, the seductress drawing men into perdition.
She is the presence of absence. The astrological point of Lilith is not a planet, but an
empty space. She is the abstraction, which is also non-existent. She is to be found where
cheating, foul play, or criminal procedures are.”
Jason perked up. “Criminal procedures?” he asked.
“Yes. In mythical literature, there are three Liliths,” Evie quickly replied. “They
reflect the new, full, and dark lunar phase of the triple goddess. There is an asteroid
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named Lilith, the Dark Moon Lilith, and the Black Moon Lilith, which is defined as an
empty focal point in the moon’s orbit around the earth. In mythic astrology, the positions
of these bodies in a birth chart point to the psychological process that unfolds in a
person’s life. Lilith brings images of humiliation, diminishment, love affairs, love
triangles, sexual complexity, rejection, sexual suspiciousness, and rivalry for affection.
She is the seductress and the child killer which abounds throughout mythology.”
“As we told you earlier, part of the basis for this case is because of sexual
obsession and sexual rejection,” Pat said.
Evie remembered that Pat had mentioned something about an affair or sexual
relationship. She nodded in the affirmative. “Yes. You did mention that. Well, to me,
Lilith represents vindictive behaviors based on repressed anger over an insult, personal
criticism, rejection, or over not being the selected one. There are power issues involved
along with a lack of integrity or loyalty to one’s partner. This causes a growing inner
anger and resentment. The Talmud tells us that Lilith is the Queen of Evil and the Mother
of Demons. She preceded Eve and she was a destructive and degrading force.52
Jason smiled slightly and chuckled some. “Well, Lilith is no Eve. I’ve always
thought of Eve as the mother of all human beings even though she wasn’t always moral
either,” he said.
Evie wasn’t sure what Pat meant by his comment about Eve so she didn’t
respond. She continued, “There was a famed astrologer in the late 19th century named
Sepharial. He was the one who named the dark moon Lilith. He recognized her in charts
as being similar to Samson’s Deliah. If you recall that story, Deliah was also a temptress
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and man’s betrayer but only because of Samson’s willing weakness,” Evie said.
“We have audio tapes of the suspect’s that describe these kinds of things. I’m
listening to them now. The tapes are also full of his psychotic feelings,” Jason said.
“Really?” Evie remarked in a shocked tone. “Well, all I know is that Lilith is
known for her insane jealousy of Adam’s new companion, Eve. This insanity is what
caused her to return in revenge and ensnare their children. In Hebrew, Lilith means night.
In Isaiah 34:14 she’s referred to as the night hag and the screech owl. In the Septuagint,
the ancient Greek translation of the Jewish scriptures, she is known as the vampire and
the night monster. She has special and evil powers over childbirth, especially at night.
She destroys infants and their mothers within seven days after childbirth. Lilith is always
sinister and malevolent in her intent. She’s also known for bringing chaos to affairs. She
symbolizes temptation, seduction, betrayal, and dishonor. If the point is strong in a
person’s chart, there’s a susceptibility to strange influences, delusions, fatal fascinations,
infatuation, and compulsions. Under extreme affliction, she is demoralizing, debasing,
abnormal, illicit, and ungodly.”
Pat shook his head. His eyebrows were pinched together and his mouth was
closed. Then he said in a slow low tone, “This is pretty dark.”
“Well, it’s just symbolism. Let me say… that all the planets have a positive and a
negative side. I try to help people develop the positive side to their personality and to
become more creative and effective as individuals. I’m not fond of the point Lilith
because I haven’t been able to reach a positive side to the symbolism. I just don’t find
using it helpful,” Evie said then stopped.
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“What do you think about the suspect’s astrological abilities?” Pat asked.
For a few seconds Evie sat silent contemplating Pat’s question. She leaned
forward and folded her hands together on the table then began to speak. “At this point,
it’s my feeling that the Gatekeeper has expressed the astrological symbolism in accurate
language. It is very revealing, astrologically, that he would compare himself to O. J.
Simpson, as well as make remarks about the propensity for obsession, violence,
ruthlessness, control, vengeance, and murder. He knows himself well... astrologically. It’s
also apparent to me, because of his references to the Tarot on the horoscope page, that he
was definitely a student, and possible a master of the occult,” she answered. “I also
prepared a short astrology reading for you guys. I wasn’t sure what you needed, so I
thought you may need to know about the suspect’s personality and the planetary energy
operating during this period. Unfortunately, the charts I used were for a 4:00 a.m. birth,
so I want to redo the calculations with this new time later. For now, I will give you a brief
overview with what I have so far.”
Pat said, “That sounds interesting. You know I’m a Pisces!”
Then Jason smiled and chuckled. “I’m a Capricorn!” he said.
Evie was amused. She smiled and laughed out loud while shaking her head. “Oh
my gosh... I’m right in the middle of you guys! I’m Aquarius!”
The men laughed with her. The laughter broke up the serious tone and vibration
of the room. Evie rose slowly from her chair and started her presentation. The first thing
she wanted to discuss was the meaning of Pluto conjunct a Leo ascendant. “Pluto on a
Leo ascendant is typical of someone with a huge ego. There is a propensity for
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obsessions, research, investigation ability, and at times, addictive behavior. The Leo
energy wants the entire show, and wants to be on display. The sun in Virgo conjunct
mercury usually means the person who is better at talking about his own ideas, rather
then listening to others. Virgo is typical of someone who is a perfectionist.” Evie pointed
to the suspect’s horoscope chart. “Venus is square Saturn. This indicates there may have
been a lack of love from the mother, difficult relations with superiors, boss, and or
authority figures. There could be a feeling of restriction in the person’s career choices.
Pluto Square Venus may indicate and abusive father or lack of support. This is intense
energy. Uranus is square the natal sun and Mercury. This brings a rebel against groups
and organizations, an unpredictable, eccentric, radical philosophy. Uranus is trine Mars
in the 11th house of friends so this aspect may bring support from unusual friend’s who
may be also working in a rebellious or war-like way within the group. Natal moon is in
the eighth house and opposite Neptune in the second house. This often brings grandiose
ideas about money, death, murder, deception, and possibly anger with or against
women.”
Evie flipped over the page to the next chart. Then she began to discuss the
suspect’s progressed chart as a single wheel as well as in a bi-wheel fashion starting on
April 27, 1997. “His progressed sun was in the sign of Scorpio. The sun in a chart is
equivalent to one’s ego. Scorpio is ruled by Pluto, which symbolizes death,
transformation, gang activity, or a mob type mentality. Scorpio and Pluto equal secrets.
Pluto is symbolic of Plutonium and bombs. The cusp of the third house was in the sign
of Scorpio and the third house symbolizes electrical things and communications. The
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progressed sun in Scorpio was conjunct his progressed Jupiter in Scorpio and this typifies
philosophy but with a god-like behavior.”
Jason sipped his black coffee while Evie continued. “The suspect’s progressed
moon was in Aquarius and opposite his natal Saturn in the 12th house. This indicates a
time of depression, anger, and frustrated emotions. The moon in Aquarius can bring
about sudden and erratic emotions. The 12th house symbolizes the subconscious mind,
behind the scene activity, hidden things, secret things, or secret enemies. Saturn equals
restriction, structure, coldness, and prisons of the mind. At this time, the Gatekeeper may
have been possibly seeking emotional freedom from coworkers, partners, open enemies,
and marriage partners. The progressed moon in the sign of Aquarius was sesquisquare
natal Uranus. This could be indicative of highly unpredictable, sudden, eccentric, and
radical emotions. Uranus equals technical or electrical things,” she said.
“Bombs are made from uranium,” said Pat.
Evie stopped talking. Her eyes were wide open and her jaw dropped some. “I
didn’t know that,” she said. She quickly composed herself. “Well at this time, Uranus
was in the suspect’s 11th house and this symbolizes his friends and groups he belongs to
and his progressed moon was in a square aspect to the progressed sun and his progressed
Jupiter. By the way gentlemen, I was wondering if he had friends that could have helped
in this crime?” she asked.
“Well, we haven’t ruled that out. It’s possible that the suspect has some more
evidence stored somewhere else. A friend may be helping him in that way. He does have
a very strange sister named Elzora who claims to have some sort of weird psychic
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powers.” Jason said.
Evie shook her head from side to side then she pointed to the next set of
complicated charts. She wanted to discuss the suspect’s chart for the transits and
progressions for April 27, 1997 because she previously noticed the date on the top of the
page. Beside the date, the suspect had written the words, Starting Point. “By June 1997,
his progressed moon was opposite progressed Saturn. During this time, he may have had
feelings of withdrawal, restriction, even suicidal thoughts. Secrets are emphasized during
this time and hateful feelings towards secret enemies, especially as progressed moon
approaches Pluto,” she explained. “The progressed moon in Aquarius is square his
progressed sun. This typically indicates a time when a person experiences conflicts
between their emotions and their ego… Look here,” she said while pointing to the chart,
“His progressed sun was in Scorpio and this can be a very unforgiving time. The sun
rules his first house with Leo on the cusp. The moon rules the 12th house, the
subconscious mind, secrets, and secret enemies. In addition, he had the progressed sun
square his progressed Saturn. This planetary aspect can represent a time of emotional
withdrawal. However with the other aspects in the chart it can point to an unforgiving
time in one’s life.” The two men listened intently. Jason straighten up in his chair and
Evie continued. “By the time of the bombing, March 29th 1998, his progressed moon
moved into an opposite to his natal ascendant. Usually, astrologers say that this
combination can cause a person to experience unpredictable or unstable emotions. The
person can become eccentric while they also seek emotional freedom.” Evie paused and
looked directly at Jason. “What about the man’s boss, his career, his job, his friends?” she
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asked.
“As far as we can tell, his wife has supported him for many years. He quit his job
working as a forensic analyst for the Chicago Police Department back in the 1970’s. He
hasn’t worked since, as far as we can tell,” Jason said.
Evie was dumbfounded. “Really? A forensic analyst.”
“Yes, the guy is no idiot. As we said earlier, we found documents where he wrote
about planting evidence,” Jason said.
“Unbelievable! This is absolutely the craziest thing I’ve ever heard,” Evie
remarked. She turned back and faced the chart then continued with the astrology reading.
The astrology engaged and seemed to fascinate both men. “His progressed Venus was
beginning to separate from his progressed Mars. Now this combination could equal
building. However, since the planetary aspect is separating, we can assume that his
project was complete. In addition, his progressed moon in Aquarius is opposite his natal
Saturn in the 12th house. This could indicate a time of depression, anger, frustrated
emotions. The moon in Aquarius can bring about sudden and erratic emotions. The 12th
house symbolizes the subconscious mind, behind the scenes activity, hidden things, secret
things, and secret enemies. Saturn equals restriction, structure, coldness, and prisons of
the mind. At this time, the Gatekeeper may have been seeking emotional freedom from
open enemies. On top of all of that, his progressed moon was in a sesquisquare to his
natal Uranus. Astrologers say this causes highly unpredictable and radical emotions.
Uranus equals technical things or electrical things. And as you pointed out Pat, uranium
equals bombs.”
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“What was going on astrologically on the night of the bombings?” asked Jason.
“Well… do you want it in a brief nutshell?” Evie asked.
“Yeah, just give us a general rundown of the night,” Pat said.
“Ok… during this time, he was prone to having disagreements with superiors. He
had a narrow focus in his thinking and most likely, strained communications. The tension
was building inside and his emotions may have been overly unstable. He probably felt
like going to extremes and rebelling. Another words, he was blowing things out of
proportion and feeling confrontational, on edge, impulsive, self-centered. He wanted to
shake things up and force dramatic changes in his life and in other people’s lives.
However, he was also in a secretive mood. During this time, he had the ability to tap into
his creative force and use his intellectual energy. Engineering solutions to problem are
highlighted. Maybe he had an urge to get things done rapidly. For sure, he wanted to
shake things up, force changes. He was goal oriented and focused on building, beginning,
or undertaking a creative project, obtaining information, using his analytical abilities.
However, he most likely was thinking obsessively, feeling an overwhelming intensity,
and thinking destructively.”
“This is extremely enlightening!” remarked Pat. Jason nodded.
Evie continued. “Mercury retrograde usually equals confusion. Now, if he was a
student of astrology, he may have been hoping that Mercury retrograde would cause
confusion for the police. He may have been betting on the police loosing the evidence
and hoping that the crime would go unsolved. The new moon is a good time to initiate all
projects. There’s lots of energy in the waxing phase of the moon. Gentlemen, do you
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think that he wanted publicity?” she asked.
Pat immediately responded. “Oh yes. He’s been making noise and filing law suits
in town for many years. He even had the nerve to come in to the police station prior to the
crimes and warn us about the people who we believe were his intended targets. As we
said earlier, he thought they were into drug trafficking and narcotics, some kind of Mafia
or terrorist organization, money laundering, as well as fraud. He even worked on a local
politician’s political campaign so he could have an inroad into local politics.”
Jason added, “We believe he set off several other bombs on the same night. One
at the chief of police’s home, one at the ex-chief of police’s home, another at a city
council member’s home, and also at the city water tank. But, this case, we believe…
really revolves around this one particular woman he was sexually obsessed with named
Meenaa. You’ll probably understand it more after you have a chance to look through all
the documents.”
Evie was worried. She thought to herself, “Evil intentions are definitely a
possibility with this chart. Her mind was spinning. There was so much information…
bombs, sex, obsession, romantic fantasies, the occult, astrology.” She knew the key
would be to sort through the documents and then begin putting the story together in her
own mind.
“You know, I am really fascinated and amazed at the accuracy of and how
enlightened and detailed the astrological interpretation was,” Jason added. Evie smiled.
She’d heard a remark like that before.
“Me too,” said Pat. “It sure seems like you’ve certainly got him figured out.” He
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paused then continued, “Let me ask you, would an astrologer be able to predict a
bombing or a fire bombing in Falls City, CA on March 29, 1998, before it happened?”
Evie took a deep breath and exhaled. “Astrologers make all kinds of predictions,
but I think it would be impossible for an astrologer to know precisely where a bombing
may or may not occur. The type of astrology that would be used to indicate natural or
man-made disasters, severe weather patterns, earthquakes, volcanoes, cultural trends,
world affairs, events for nations, countries, states, and cities is called Mundane
Astrology,” she said in a no nonsense tone.
“Mundane? What does that mean?” Pat asked.
“The word mundane is from Latin, mundus means world. It’s also... sometimes,
it’s called Political Astrology. It’s the astrology of nations and political events. In
Mundane Astrology, charts are drawn for nations, for events such as wars, for national
leaders, for political parties. These horoscopes – or charts are read in a similar manner as
a natal or person’s chart. Mundane is the oldest form of astrology. In ancient
Mesopotamia, astrologers or ancient Magi were government officials who studied the
heavens for their kings. The word magi is the plural Latinized form of the Greek words
magoi and megistos. The root of the word magi gives us the word magician and if magi is
translated from Latin into the English vernacular, the word means men or magistrates
who are the greatest and magnificent lords. Some cultures performed religious
ceremonies led by Magi. Robert Macoy, the author of A Dictionary of Freemasonry,
gives details about dramatic rite of passage rituals led by Magi priests who wore golden
globes suspended from their necks and delivered oratories to their community just prior
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to assisting a new postulant into the penal fires of purgatory. At the end of the theatrical
performance, the community celebrated for the newly initiated member. The Magi were
priest-like astrologers in charge of bringing restoration and balance while they served as
hierophants to the community. The rite culminated with a transfiguration or final
transformation of the person and in the process, they matured, gained wisdom and
became enlightened.53 The Magi were both astrologers and spiritual leaders who
enlightened the masses with the hope of bringing fortunate influences to their
community. Herodotus, suggests that the historical Magi may have been from the sacred
caste of the Medes, their religion was fundamentally Zoroastrianism, they interpreted
dreams and because they were skilled at astrology, they are credited for finding Christ.
Their fame grew all over the Roman-Greco world and many people believed they could
give prophetic advice that would reveal significant political events that would affect
humanity. The picture paints the Magi as highly revered Zoroastrian priests and healers.
By calculating and interpreting the planetary positions with precision they became known
as masters at prognostication. The Magi rose to great positions as consultants and
advisors to rulers, heads of governments and to politicians because of their astrological
skill and divination techniques. Historians of the period, such as Josephus and Strabo,
said during the birth of Jesus, that the Magi dwelled in the Parthian Empire and they were
not only astrologers, but they were known as Kingmakers. At this time, the Magi or
astrologers predicted plagues, wars, fate of the nation, and future economic conditions for
the country and it’s King.”54
“So an astrologer would be able to tell something about what would happen to the
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country?” Jason asked.
“Well, to a certain degree... we would be able to see trends. The chart of the
locality should be included in the study of Mundane Astrology. You need basic data and
the horoscopes for the city or country you are studying. Professional astrologers get the
birth or the incorporation time for the city, town, or country they are studying. They
would need this birth time to be able to predict what potential events are likely to occur.”
Pat leaned casually back in his chair without taking his eyes off of Evie. “What if
they didn’t use the birth chart of the city?” Pat asked.
Evie’s green eyes sparkled. She grinned and looked closely back at him. “Oh,
that’s essential! For example, when doing mundane work, if a war starts, a chart is cast
for the moment the hostilities began, when the troops of one side opened fire, invaded, or
started bombing the people of the other side. A chart of this type is read exactly like a
horary chart. 55 Predictions are made from this type of chart for the potential outcome of
the war. The astrologer would use this chart in relationship to the birth of the nation’s
chart. The astrologer would also look at the national ruler’s chart, the president, king, or
the country’s political leaders. We never ignore the national chart or the political leader’s
chart, provided we have them when we do mundane work.”
“This is really an involved science.” Pat commented.
“Yes, it is. If, astrologers are looking for upcoming trends or events for the United
States, we always look at the United States birth chart. We then compare the U.S. chart to
the event to form our analysis or to predict potential disasters or trends. When
professional astrologers are looking at the trends or potential events for their specific
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locality, they always use the city or town’s incorporation date as the birth chart,” she said.
Jason leaned forward and took a moment to consider her answer. “So… if I
understand you correctly, an astrologer would not know where a bomb was going to
explode without also incorporating the cities birth chart?” Jason asked.
Evie nodded her head. “Correct,” she firmly answered.
“We brought along a copy of an interview of the suspect that was taken by the
police. Could you read it and answer some questions?” asked Pat.
Evie sat down in her chair. “Sure. I can try.” Evie took several minutes to glance
through the document. After she was finished reading she looked up at Jason.
Jason flipped to page thirty of the document. “Okay, on page 30 the Gatekeeper
says, ‘Because of the 21st degree of Aries, a bombing or a fire bombing or a shooting or
something violent would occur in Falls City, CA on Mar 29 1998.’ Would he know this
in advance?” he asked.
Evie thought a few seconds before she answered. “I don’t think so, especially if
he didn’t use the birth chart or the incorporation date for the city. I can look and see, if
anywhere in his notes he uses that information. However, without using this critical piece
of information, it would be impossible for an astrologer to know what may occur in a
specific place or at a specific time on earth. The entire world was under the effects of the
21st degree of Aries along with the other planetary positions on March 29, 1998. One
must use the birth chart of the place to be accurate or to predict an event. If an astrologer
doesn’t use the birth chart of the town, city, or nation, they wouldn’t know if the event
was going to occur in Russia, France, Canada, Sacramento, or Falls City,” she explained.
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Jason looked satisfied. He continued. “On page 32 he says, ‘I looked at my own
chart. My chart astrologically says Saturn opposes. And the answer to that is in my
position you can’t do a fucking thing about it. There was at 21 Degrees of Aries. I have
Aries where a full moon is, I have all this Martian stuff?’ He admits to looking at his own
chart, but not once does he say he looked at the city’s birth chart.”
“Well, guys... the way most astrologers work is without looking at a chart for city
or country, there would be no way to know where the effects of the 21st degree of Aries
may likely occur,” she replied.
“As I said earlier, in these documents, the suspect refers to himself as the
Gatekeeper. Do you know or have you ever heard of the term Gatekeeper?” Pat asked.
Evie looked at Jason then at Pat. She knew they weren’t putting her on. “I know
it’s a common term used in the role playing games. In those types of games, the
Gatekeeper symbolizes evil or the dark side. It’s a dark force and it may be related to
magic and the occult, Druids and Wicca. I’ve heard Gatekeepers are called the Guardians
of the Quarters in casting circles, rituals, and invocations. The Gatekeeper is referred to
in the invocations, ceremonies, and offerings made to the Gods. Sometimes, Gatekeepers
are called the Keeper of Keys. A Gatekeeper watches over a person or thing and keeps it
from harm. Basically, the term is from occult lore. The meaning of a Gatekeeper also
includes sexuality, mentality, intellectual thought patterns, out of body experiences, and
traveling to the astral plane. The Gatekeeper waits for the person to arrive at the door or
gate. The responsibility of a Gatekeeper is to test the person before he or she can pass
through the door. They examine the lessons we learn on the physical plane, how we
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develop mentally and spiritually. If we pass the lessons we are given the keys and we are
able to get past the Gatekeeper door and enter the world beyond or the after life,” she said
in a firm assured voice.
Pat shook his head from side to side in disbelief. He looked down. “This really
sounds really evil and frightening!” he said in a somber tone.
Evie clasp her cold hands together. She took a deep breath and tried to smile.
“Well, if a person wants to use the occult in a negative way, there is the power to do so,”
she said struggling to sound calm.
Jason felt a chill at the back of his neck. He leaned back and placed his palms
lightly on his thighs. “So, if we leave you these documents, do you think you can help us?
Can you tell if these documents are a plan to bomb?” he asked in a deepened serious tone
of voice.
“Absolutely,” Evie answered. “But you guys are going to need to give me a few
weeks to analyze and review them. I will give you a call when I get a clearer picture of all
of this. Hopefully, I’ll have something for you before Thanksgiving. After that we can get
together and go over everything.”
Both Pat and Jason seemed relieved. Pat said, “Oh, thank you... we’d really
appreciate it. You’ve really been informative and we could use your expertise.”
Jason looked at his watch. “I can’t believe it... it’s already 2:45. I need to get back
to the station plus we’ve taken up enough of your time for today.”
All three pushed their chairs back and stood up slowly. Evie led the men to her
front door. She extended her hand to Pat and he shook it. “Thanks so much Evie. We’ll
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be in touch.” he said. He tilted his head down, turned, and slowly walked down the
sidewalk towards Jason’s Chevy truck.
Jason looked directly at Evie. He looked like the saddest man she’d ever met. He
gently cupped Evie’s hand with both of his. There was resignation in his dark eyes.
“There’s a fine line between good and evil. This could be a dangerous game. You need to
get into the habit of locking your doors. I’ll call you in a couple days,” he said speaking
quietly while his eyes penetrated her bluish-green ones.
Evie nodded. She was well aware of the fine line between good and evil, light and
darkness. She was frightened. She shivered and watched Jason walk to his truck. Both
men turned and glanced back to her. They waved then got into the truck.
Evie stood paralyzed. She watched attorney Patrick O’ Shay and detective Jason
Ares pull away from the curb and drive away. She stepped into the house, closed the front
door, and locked it. She was cold… almost dead cold.
****
November 12 through 15, 1998
Evie intuitively knew this was just the beginning of their relationship. This
moment was just a single point of reference. However, she could sense a gall force storm
brewing. She felt like she needed to prepare for some sort of an earth-shattering battle.
She went to her file cabinet and smoothly slid the drawer open then pulled out the
Gatekeeper file. She shook her head from side to side and touched her fingertips to her
forehead. Her first goal was to put all of the hand written and typed documents in
chronological order. It was a daunting task. Fortunately, the Gatekeeper had stapled the
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pages in regards to the bombing together. She wanted to see clearly into his mind and
learn what brought this case about. After all of the documents were in order, she would
be able to analyze and interpret the astrological symbolism.
Evie had to start at the beginning to see the pattern and the plans that the
Gatekeeper had laid out in astrological symbolism and interpretation. It was repulsive,
compelling, overwhelming. She was doing Forensic Astrology. From the diary that the
Gatekeeper wrote, she could tell that he had a total preoccupation with himself. This is a
mark of the sociopath. He planned and committed such unspeakable acts and yet
somehow rationalized and turned it all around and pretended to be the victim. Even a
sociopath knows right from wrong. In public, sociopaths can be true thespians. They put
on an affable, confident face for others to see.
Evie believed the Gatekeeper had calculated the best time, astrologically for the
elimination of his victims by using astrology in an effort to thwart justice. The
Gatekeeper’s diary showed he clearly planned the bombings with a decision to kill. The
Gatekeeper wanted to receive justice. He had waged a merciless assault against several
unarmed and unsuspecting victims. There wasn’t a shred of remorse in his writings. The
Gatekeeper’s words were powerful and cumulative. His diary was an astrological
confession to commit premeditated murder.
Evie shuddered at the thought. She tried to present a brave front, but at times, to
minimize of the seriousness of the case and as a way of coping, she would occasionally
go into denial. She did what she always did with her painful motions. She pushed them
down into her soul. She denied her feelings, so that she could have the fortitude to go to
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battle when it was necessary.
She knew she had to stay unaffected and somewhat detached emotionally. If she
didn’t, she would feel outrage for a person who would use astrology to plan such a
diabolical crime and this would not be a professional approach.
She couldn’t let her guard down. If she did, she would feel a sense of foreboding
and apprehension. She prayed and meditated. She used mental alchemy to keep her
vibration high. She worked hard at alchemizing her thoughts. She needed to prepare
herself physically, spiritually, and mentally to be able to go to battle against the
Gatekeeper.
The Hermetic teachings that she had received would be the path to her survival.
She wore special gems to keep her vibrations and thoughts on a spiritual plane. All
talismanic gems and stones have their own vibratory rate. She often wore an amethyst
because the stone can bring an understanding of death and rebirth. The stone also brings
spiritual awareness, balance, psychic abilities, inner peace, healing and positive
transformation. In her pocket, she carried a blue topaz because the gem inspires psychic
knowing and insight. She believed the gem could help align her spirit, bring focus, and
help her to avoid sudden death. On her left ear, she wore a very small diamond stud
earring because she thought it would give her the courage to look within without illusion.
Before Evie’s mother passed away from cancer, she had given her her father’s red
garnet tie pin after he passed away. She wore it because the gem represented faithful
devotion to others, to self, and to one’s aim. She believed the stone could awaken the
inner fire of creativity and it would give her protection against sudden and unexpected
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accidents. She used a blue sapphire stone for helping her achieve her own divine destiny
or mission in life. The stone instills hope, faith, and joy during one’s journey. When Evie
meditated, she used a white crystal. A crystal helps facilitate wisdom, brings clarity of
thought, increases memory, causes transformation, and brings a pureness of heart. All
crystals amplify prayers, wishes, and help bring positive visualizations.
She focused on harmonious thoughts of power and vitality. During her
meditations, she tried to recall events in her past where she used initiative, courage, and
confidence. She listened to harmonious music to sooth and calm any discordant
vibrations, her anxiety, and all self-destructive thoughts.
Evie also incorporated essential oils and elixirs into her daily routine. She used
myrrh for revitalizing her body and enhancing her spirit. She knew that it was good for
chest infections, a tonic for her stomach, and it would stimulate her white blood cells. For
a sedative and an anti-depressant, she he drank chamomile tea. If she was feeling stress,
she used lavender oils in a hot steam bath because the oil tended to balance her central
nervous system, soothed her spirit, released all of her tension, and non-productive
hyperactivity.
Evie had her own personal fears that she needed to overcome. However, she was
full of faith and resigned to face the unknown. The task that Evie faced was daunting and
critical in nature. How she handled herself and the obstacles would alter history. All
magicians understand when they assert themselves in the universe they must be
courageous and use audacity. Their goal is not to slay the dragon but only to call out the
ills of society so that civilization is restored.
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Each morning and night, Evie prayed, “Oh thou Eternal Spirit in whom I live,
move breathe and have my being! I come before you to partake of the healing forces of
the Legions of Light. This soul is struggling to fulfill a part in the Divine Plan. Even as
the Sun vitalizes all physical life, so do the healing rays of Divine Goodness vitalize and
regenerate the Soul when illness of body and misfortune of life threaten to invade one's
immortal soul. Thus, the soul grows in happiness, usefulness, and spirituality and strives
to take its rightful place in the Divine Plan. May I remain in silence, as I ask that all those
gathered here on Earth and to those on the astral that partake of Your Divine Goodness
and Power, for protection and guidance. May the Legions of Light direct their healing
energies so that I may live in perfect health and fortune in all areas of life. O Thou eternal
Spirit, I thank you for the healing aid and the opportunity to live a more constructive life.
So shall it be…”
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Chapter 7
SHADOWS AND DARKNESS
Monday November 16, 1998
The weekend after the meeting with the detective and the prosecutor went by fast.
Besides working on deciphering the Gatekeeper’s code and putting the documents in
order, Evie prepared for a busy week teaching at the university. She arrived at the
classroom semi-prepared to lecture on Faust. It was good she had taught the course
before.
“Good morning,” Evie said. Some of the students nodded and replied to her
greeting and others simply looked up at her. “So… I hope you are ready to discuss Faust
because you will see as we move along… that God’s nature in Marlowe’s Faustus is truly
different from the Faust in Goethe’s work. God in Marlowe’s Faustus damns Faustus but
in Goethe’s Faust, love due to the creative power of the Eternal Feminine saves the Faust
character. Goethe said, ‘Faust may be regarded as a synthesis of world and spirit, which
gives us the most blessed assurance of the eternal harmony of all Being.’56 Faust is
considered Goethe’s masterpiece, embodies all of the elements typical of the era because
one can also see there is a combination of both human emotions along with human logic
in the drama.” Evie stopped and looked at the students. She could see that Christopher
was looking at her as if he had something to add. “Christopher, we haven’t heard from
you recently. What human emotions do you see that Faust exhibits?” Evie asked.
“Most of the time Faust is portrayed as an intense and reckless character… he is
resentful, depressed, self-deprecating, and hateful. Faust has a cynical attitude towards
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politics, society, theology, and orthodox Christianity,” he said.
“Very good,” Evie said then she paused and walked towards the window. She
looked out and was silent for a moment. Evie thought about how changes were visible in
nature. The trees reflected a change due to their various bright colors. For her this life
was a miracle. Without turning around, she said, “The nature of God is reflected in the
play through the evolution and the Eternal Feminine.”57 Evie turned and looked at the
students. “Goethe’s Faust seems to suggest the liberal and optimistic sentiment of
European enlightenment,”58 she said then paused and took a sip from her water bottle.
“William… how do you think Goethe’s Faust depicts German Romanticism, Classicism,
paganism, and humanism?” Evie asked William.
William looked up. “Well… in Goethe’s Faust we see a more mature Faust
character. Even though Faust is a sinner, there is reconciliation for the tragic figure in the
end,”59 he said.
“That’s right… In Faust and Faustus: A Study of Goethe’s Relation to Marlowe
Otto Heller says that the essential content of Goethe’s Faust is remorse, repentance, new
birth, giving and withholding grace, and the internal drama of a man whose soul is
divided.60 Goethe demonstrates that he is concerned with the heroic elements in the
individual personality because he concentrates on human potential,” Evie said. “Ok…
turn to the Prologue in Heaven because this is where we first encounter the archangels
Raphael, Gabriel, and Michael who are speaking.” Evie waited for the students to turn to
the passage. “Tony… nice to see you,” Evie said with a slight grin while turning her head
downward while looking at him with her eyes over the rim of her reading glasses. Tony
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looked sheepishly at her. Her mouth turned into the shape of a patient smile. “Ok… Tony
read the passage where the archangel Raphael speaks.”
Tony’s face slightly blushed. He could be an excellent student if he would only
attend his classes on a regular basis. He cleared his throat then began reading. “Raphael
says, ‘His aspect lends the angels power, / While none may gage his secret way; /
Sublime past understanding tower / Those works as on the primal day,’”61 he said.
Evie briefly looked at the clock then her notes while Tony read the passage. After
he was finished, she looked up and said, “The fact that Raphael is the first angel to speak
is highly significant because the name Raphael means God has healed. In the Apocryphal
Book of Tobit, Raphael guides Tobit’s son on a magnificent journey and by the end, the
angel cures Tobit’s father’s blindness. The symbolism is that Raphael open people’s eyes
to the causes of social evils and to the sources of prosperity.62 One can deduce right from
the opening lines of the drama that the plan will be to open Faust’s eyes so he can see
clearly. Goethe gives us another clue to Faust’s future because he calls the angels an
envoy and this means angeloi or messengers in the Greek language. This envoy of angels
begins to describe a cosmic system created by God that is in perfect balance and this
reinforces the idea that the end goal is to save Faust’s soul.63 God ordains the angels to
have certain powers of their own and this will be important all the way to the end of
Goethe’s Faust.” Evie stopped and looked at the clock. It was a bit early to stop class but
she was distracted. “Guys… that’s all for today. Next time we’ll turn our attention to an
unusual wager made between God and Mephistopheles because this is where we’ll learn
what the golden key is that will lead to Faust’s salvation. See you Wednesday.” The class
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seemed relieved and eager to get out of class early.
Evie walked directly to her office without stopping for her usual Chai Tea Latte at
the Java City on campus. She had barely unlocked the door when her office phone rang.
She picked up the receiver and said, “Professor E. J. Taylor…”
“Hi Professor… it’s Jason.”
Evie giggled some. “Oh hi Jason… what can I do for you?”
“Umm… well I was wondering if you could come down to the evidence lab on
Friday and help me sort through some of the Gatekeeper’s other documents. I mean…
there’s a lot of documents but some of them could really help us understand him and they
might be valuable and help us get to a conviction,” he said.
“Okay… Friday works… what time?” she asked.
Jason breathed a sigh of relief. For a moment, there was silence. “If you could
meet me at the Home Depot parking lot off highway 101 around 7:00 a.m., you can leave
your car there and ride in my truck with me. That way you don’t have to deal with Bay
Area traffic,” he said.
“Alright…,” she said.
“When you’re here I’ll drive you to the Gatekeeper’s neighborhood so you can
see where he lived and I’ll give her a tour of the location of the crimes… I think this
might give you a more complete picture in your mind,” he said.
“That sounds good… I guess I’ll see you Friday then,” she said.
“Thanks Evie. I really do appreciate you.”
****
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Friday, November 20, 1998
E. J. drove half way to the Bay Area and pulled into the Home Depot parking lot.
Jason was already there when she arrived. He got out of his truck and opened the
passenger side door for Evie. She got out of her car and smiled at Jason. “Right on time!”
he said.
She grabbed her handbag along with a smaller bag she had packed with a pair of
Sonoma State sweats and tennis shoes so she could change into comfortable clothes for
the ride home. Jason took the bag of clothes from her and put it behind the seat of his
truck. Then he turned and looked at her sparkling eyes and he flirtatiously said, “You
plan on staying over?”
Evie blushed and smiled. “No… I just brought a change of clothes for the ride
home.”
He smiled, nodded, and watched her get into his Chevy truck then he walked to
his side, got in, and started the engine.
“Buckle up,” he said. Except for the sound of news on the radio, there was a brief
moment of calm silence between the two while Jason pulled his truck onto the overloaded
freeway. After he merged into the stream of congested traffic, he said, “You know
Evie… when I read the diaries I get this sensation of evil that seems to resonate off of the
diaries. It kind of reminds me of the heat that rises from an asphalt road on a hot summer
day. It’s kind of like there’s waves of a hot glare… you know those distorted waves you
can see when you drive across the dessert.”
Evie nodded. She knew exactly what he meant about feeling an evil presence
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because she could feel it too.
At the evidence lab, Jason and Evie found a cache of astrology documents and
articles that the Gatekeeper had written and saved. One particularly incriminating
document titled “The Safe Solution: A Cinco de Mayo Surprise” was in the large stack of
papers. This was his plan to bomb a commercial real estate company in the Bay Area. It
was an astrological electional plan and it was extremely complicated. However, for some
reason, the Gatekeeper did not carry through with his plan. Both, Jason and Evie had their
own theories about why the real estate company escaped sudden disaster.
The Gatekeeper’s “Cinco de Mayo Surprise” was similar to the deadly bomb that
Timothy McVey used to bomb the building in Oklahoma City because like McVey the
Gatekeeper also planed to fill a safe with ammonium nitrate fertilizer. It appeared from
the diary, that once the real estate company was defused, the Gatekeeper planned to start
his own company and make a ton of cash.
Besides finding the “Safe Solution” plan, they also found a revealing document
titled “W.T.C. Bombing Event Chart Analysis”. At first, both Jason and Evie were
puzzled by the title of the document. However, after discussing it, they realized that the
document was an astrological analysis of the first attack on the World Trade Center that
occurred on February 26, 1993.
In the document the Gatekeeper wrote, “A thief is a peregrine planet in an angle
and the moon is at 4 degrees 34 minutes of Taurus. The moon is exalted in Taurus in the
11th house. This strong position is exalted and protects the public. He is a clandestine
bomber, but Mercury in the 10th house suggests government will catch him. Mercury
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equals the bomber, the significator. The south node in the 12th represents the bomber.
Mercury under the sun’s beam creates a weakened effect. And mercury is conjunct the
fixed star Markab and Mars, and this aspect further weakens mercury. Let the question
concern the 10th house, the system, the Fed’s, the State, 11th house associates, and the 9th
house as lawyers and judges. Jupiter rules Law enforcement, institutions, the Department
of Corrections. Does a Void of Course Moon predict an Investigative Failure? I must
look at the event chart and be certain that the ruler of the 12th house is very strong and
posited somewhere away from the 10th house – the Fed’s. I must watch for all Mercury
stationary and retrograde days because they will confound and confuse the matter. I must
be absolutely certain that mercury’s position is very strong. I must watch for peregrines
as the chart significators. I need to watch for the ruler of 10th and the Fed’s to be
retrograde. This will thwart the Federal Government’s investigation. Pluto rules bombs,
plots, death, terror. Pluto is retrograde and trine Mercury. This protects the bomber.”
Jason and Evie then opened a box and found a ten page document titled “Code
Named the Gatekeeper”. The document puzzled them. However, they were determined to
find out if the document revealed more. Tucked and folded inside they found a death
certificate of the defendant’s mother. They examined it closely. Suddenly, they became
startled and unnerved because they found out that the Gatekeeper’s mother’s maiden
name was Dragon.
On the first page of the “Code Named the Gatekeeper” document, the Gatekeeper
wrote, “A Force of Spiritual Evil will be surrounding me on Sunday, March 9, 1997.
After yesterdays solar eclipse at 18 degrees and 31 minutes of Pisces, the moon has
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moved out of the shadow of the eclipse. The moon is now strongly waxing to an
opposition to vicious mars in Virgo. This eclipse is prophesied to lead to the eventual
downfall of our targeted individual. Twenty years ago I did psychic astrology for the
public. I can’t work with the public now because I am the exclusive property of my
associates. I only do esoteric or hidden astrology for myself. I absolutely prefer to work
alone in my research, particularly since I can’t tolerate being touched while in trance. I
delineate all charts, place them in an array, and then do my work. With strangers, I hide
my voice with some rather expensive electronics, which change voice timber and tone
without sounding mechanical. My identity can never be disclosed except with my
permission – after I read the situation. The consequences could be catastrophic to me
otherwise. I work with over two hundred different entities while in trance. These entities
are my own army of other world workers. The quality of my work shows because I give
very accurate names, dates and most importantly, I can heal families who are under
pressure from law enforcement. My associates pay me very, very well to work
exclusively for them and their gambling interests. Occasionally, I need help in casting
spells. I am code-named the Gatekeeper. My mode of operation is to use women to
destroy my targets. The one-armed angel constantly guards me. No one can get around all
of my minions. My angel shields me. When I get in a jam, my angel shows me the way
out through my dreams. The Gatekeeper is unbeatable.”
Jason was feeling sick with worry. “Evie, what do you think this all means?”
“Well…,” she began, “Occult doctrine teaches that every astral plane has its
guardian or a type of Gatekeeper who challenges the neophyte who is approaching the
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opening to the other dimension. Somehow, one must learn to get past the Gatekeeper in
order to gain entry into the astral world. The Gatekeeper can be both positive and
negative simultaneously. The guardian to the entry acts like a guide. They help the person
fulfill their own karmic journey or destiny.”
“I really don’t understand all of this,” Jason said.
Evie could tell that the Gatekeeper used the term gatekeeper as a force to be
reckoned with. This was a powerful and a controlling force and one they should all fear.
“Look,” she began, “esoterically, a Gatekeeper is a part of a person’s own subconscious
mind. It is the sum total of everything they have brought with them into this world. It
includes the lessons they have learned, the growth they’ve experienced, as well as their
own tribulations. This soul development is what makes it possible for a person to enter
into the Light at the end of their earthly existence.”
Jason was absorbed as Evie continued to explain the term Gatekeeper. She said,
“The early Gnostics and Christians developed many of these afterlife ideas. They based
some of their ideas on extensive accounts of afterlife passwords. Gatekeepers, as a
subjective experience, involves an inner world journey. Passwords and Gatekeepers are
both part of the beliefs we’ve inherited from classical world. They were part of the laws
of physics in the ancient world. In those days, people circulated lists of passwords
because they believed that the proper password was the only way to get into the afterlife.
The key was finding a password that a Gatekeeper would accept. In those days, people
believed there were opposing forces in the universe and it was the interplay of these
forces that were responsible for both creation and for keeping the world in motion. The
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light, or love is one force and the dark, or fear is the other force. These two forces are
oppositional powers that are both at work in the world. The ancient esoteric student
believed that the sun, moon, and each planet had its own Gatekeeper. However, in order
to continue to develop one’s soul on the karmic journey the person needed the proper
password. The Gatekeeper holds the key to the person’s journey.”
“But how did it get so dark because what you’re saying kind of reminds me of
Saint Peter?” he asked.
Evie turned and looked at Jason. “Gatekeepers actualize themselves through
humanity itself and because of this they can wage a war of chaos within the minds and
souls of the unsuspecting. A Gatekeeper is always watchful over the door to the eternal
but also on guard at the door into the abyss of darkness. Saturn is the ultimate Gatekeeper
and is very menacing. When a person is dealing with this type of Gatekeeper, one must
always use caution and self-discipline. If one doesn’t, they can loose all they have learned
because this type of Gatekeeper has the power to chain a soul and cast it into the desert.
This is when a person sinks into total depression, isolation, and despair. These feelings
can cause a person to have suicidal thoughts. This is when a person faces the Grim
Reaper – death,” she said then she briefly paused and continued to explain to Jason about
Gatekeepers. “In general, the term Gatekeeper or Guardian is related to magic, the occult,
Druids and Wicca. Gatekeepers are called the Guardians of the Quarters and they are
called upon during rituals and invocations. There is a reference to a Gatekeeper is in an
Irish ritual called the Invocation of Manannon. During certain times of the year, people
gave various different offerings to the god of the occasion. Sometimes, the offering was
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simply to build the energy.”
“What do you mean by building energy?” Jason asked.
“Mostly the invocations were used for the production of food such as during the
planting or harvesting seasons. They used the rituals to build up the energy so the crops
would grow and in return they would receive a bountiful crop.”
She continued. “There were also those who believed in a Keeper of Keys. The
people prayed to the Keeper and they ask for it to watch over and keep them safe from
harm.”
The Code of the Gatekeeper, reminded Evie of a prayer she had read a very long
time ago. In her mind, she recalled how in the prayer, the people called upon Manannon
to cleanse their hearts and give peace and life. The prayer also asked for Manannon, the
Keeper of Keys, and the spirits of the old times to declare their land, the sea, the sky, and
the four directions to be kept sacred so that no one with evil intentions could trespass.
In the massive stack of documents, Jason and Evie found that the Gatekeeper also
used a number of aliases. One alias that he used was Annuit Coeptis.
“What the hell does Annuit Coeptis mean? Jason asked.
“Do you have a dollar bill?” she asked.
Jason looked at her as if she’d lost her mind however he reached for his wallet
and took out a dollar bill.
“Turn it over and look at it closely,” she said. He did.
“See the words Annuit Coeptis?” she asked. Jason nodded. “The words are part of
the Great Seal of the United States of America. Our Congress accepted this design in
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June 1782. Annuit Coeptis is above the split unfinished pyramid which symbolizes
strength, permanence, future growth, goal of perfection, the light, and duration. On the
top half of the pyramid there is a divine and omniscient all-seeing eye and this eye
symbolizes deity, creator, foresight, eternal vigilance, and wisdom.”
Jason’s eyes brightened. He tucked the bill back into his wallet and stuck it in his
back pocket then he said, “I kind of remember the Eye of God being symbolic in The
Great Gatsby.
“Exactly,” responded Evie. “The Eye is a Freemason and Rosicrucian symbol. It’s
also found in Egyptian Masonry. To many students of the occult, this phrase is connected
to the idea that it is often a necessity for one to brake through with all force. It is
understood as a forcible overthrow of darkness and barbarism. In other words, sometimes
if one can’t bring down the government by peaceable means, then they use force.” 64
“Jesus!” exclaimed Jason. “The alias our guy used sure seems to fit his plan.”
“It is very symbolic. Annuit Coeptis can also be traced to the Roman poet
Virgil.65 It’s associated with the story of Aeneas, who was the son of Venus, and his
travels from Troy to Italy. If you translate Annuit Coeptis from Latin into English, it
literally means, “All powerful Jupiter, may you favor my darling undertakings.” She
continued, “After Congress accepted the symbol, Thomas Smith Webb said, ‘And
although our thoughts, words, and actions may be hidden from the eyes of man. Yet, that
All-seeing Eye, whom the sun, moon, and stars obey, and under whose watchful care
even comets perform their stupendous revolutions, pervades the inmost recesses of the
human heart. And will reward us according to our merits.’66 The Pyramid and the Sphinx
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are part of the many mysteries of ancient Egypt and some believe when the two are
united there is a perfect formulae of the magic found in nature.”67
Jason flipped the page over and he saw another alias. The Gatekeeper wrote, ‘I
was born again into the Arian Nationality on April 7, 1997 at 11 hrs 02 min Universal
Time. My new name shall be Joel Cohen. New beginnings for one full year.’
“It looks like he also called himself Joel Cohen. I wonder where the heck he came
up with this name?” he asked.
“From what I know, the name Cohen or Cohenim is part of Jewish ancestry. The
name can be translated into maintain the fires. The Parshat Tzav or Leviticus 6:6 says ‘A
fire continually shall be kept burning upon the alter, it should not go out. It is a mitzvah
for the Cohen to maintain the fire.’68 God demands that we bring fire on our own and of
our own, so that we may be closer to the Creator of Heavens. It is not that God needs the
fire, but man needs the experience of the fire. Before the Almighty, we bow down and
light the fire on the tabernacle as a way to purify our physical body, mental body, and
spiritual body. We are to actively take part in the consecration and we do this by fire. The
Cohenim have certain obligations and functions. Because of this, they must maintain a
level of ritual purity that restricts their freedom in many ways.”
Evie asked, “Do you think that the Gatekeeper was thinking of terrorism, terrorist
organizations, skin-heads, and people who use violence as a means to justify their desires
when he wrote, ‘Entry into the Arian Nationality’?”
“I think it’s pretty obvious,” said Jason. “You know, I was reading Mind Hunter
by John Douglas a while back. He’s an FBI Profiler. In his book, he mentions there a
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suspect named Jacob Cohen. Now, in the book Douglas says that Cohen was a fugitive
accused of killing a police officer in Chicago in the winter of 1972. Jacob Cohen also
shot an FBI Agent named Richard Carr. Now this is getting pretty interesting because it’s
possible that the Gatekeeper may have been familiar with this particular case since it
involved the Chicago Police Department.”
“What do you mean Jason?” Evie asked.
“Well, around the time of the shooting, the Gatekeeper was employed by Chicago
PD as a forensic analyst.”
“Oh god, this is really an intertwined web,” she replied.
“Yeah it sure is. Look here,” Jason read from the document out loud as he pointed
to the page, ‘My name is Joel Cohen. I am a research astrologer who, upon appropriate
occasion, will do private readings for persons willing to trade information for
development of a new branch of astrology. Specifically, I research extended-family
astrology and the astrological relationships among extended family members.’
Jason skipped past some astrological calculations and continued to read the
Gatekeeper’s words to Evie. ‘Uranus, the planet of group enlightenment went stationary
direct and the Aquarian Initiative was conceived. The year 1998 is the Great Preparation
Year when Neptune retro-cycles back and forth over the 29th degree of Capricorn. After
November 28th, Neptune permanently joins Uranus. This will introduce a group concept
collectively called “The Age of Aquarius”. My focus shall be on the tremendous amount
of money that will be made after the super-boom in the local real estate.’
“The date on this document is the same year as the bombings,” he said.
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Jason handed Evie the document and she read it silently to herself. The
Gatekeeper wrote, “At 8:30 P.M. on Monday, March 31, 1997 evil will follow me all the
way to April 30, 1997. March and April 1997 are very, very intense ... the rest of the year
is much easier.... Unusual Vibration – Feel the Presence of Evil during April 1997. April
is torrid. Mid-April violence to me because Evil will be following me around. On or
about April 2, 1997, my sister Elzora said in her sleep she heard the alarm go off on my
house. There was a particular sound, she ask our mother to help, she saw our mother, and
she said to stop sounding false alarms. Elzora interpreted this psychic message to be that
someone may possibly have a copy of our entry code. The code must be changed. I must
be prepared to move fast at very critical moment or else I will have to confront physical
violence. The Forces of Spiritual Evil are fueling the Falls City based Moslem fanatics.
They are opposing me. I must expect neurotic behavior from people where my proposals
meet reversals and bizarre challenges. This is Meenaa! She has fired up her family. They
are sticking together. She is hiding her Judas role! Meenaa never thought she had to pay
back her debt to me. It will be impossible to negotiate because someone will have a deaf
ear and someone will betray me. I must clean up all my papers and get the stuff out of my
house. I must get clearly organized. Expect a search warrant. People will be at my house
looking for stuff. Elzora said that she saw people come to my house to get my stuff
related to... I must clean up all! April 21st through April 29th is a phase for very unusual
projects. A very shocking event will occur between April 20th and 22nd. There is a
potential for a death. I must stay out of it – they brought it on themselves because they
are villains. I will feel regret. Although, the event has a long-term benefit for me. Elzora
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says this may be the get to the back of the bus period when someone else takes the heat in
my place. April 29th is a profound day because there will be an unusual awareness of the
universe on this day. It could be a very progressive day because a release of the negative
is likely. This equals freedom. Obstacles will be removed. On April 30th, I will be
relieved of a burden; my work will be done. It is up to courts and media to do their work.
Evil inclinations are considerably heightened during this time. I may be blocked by the
Falls City Organizations which are operating on the other side. I feel betrayal coming on
July 4th through July 11th. I must be really careful of betrayal. Someone arrogant is
planning to undo me. By the end of the week it will be settled to my benefit.”
While Evie was reading to herself, Jason opened another large box full of
documents. He found articles written by other people and astrologers. He noticed that on
nearly every one the articles, the Gatekeeper wrote his own comments along the margins.
He also underlined some of the specific phrases and sentences on the articles. Murder
was the focus of all of the articles. On one article, Jason noticed that the Gatekeeper had
underlined the sentence, “A murderer’s chart will usually show the potential for
committing such an act. Such people may have aspects that show possible cruelty,
impulsiveness, and other traits, all connected to the chart areas and factors that have to do
with violent acts against others.”
On the top right corner of the article, Jason noticed that the Gatekeeper made a
number of notations. “Hey… Evie, what are these symbols?” he asked.
Evie stopped reading and looked the document Jason had in his hand. She studied
it for a few minutes and then she said, “This is a drawing of his natal planets and their
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positions. He drew the natal planets Pluto and Saturn in a square aspect to natal Mars.
Here, he listed the words aggression, vindictive, physical violence, and war underneath
his diagram.”
Jason mouth was closed, tightly. He looked at Evie, rolled his eyes, and shook his
head back and forth. He set the document aside and pulled another set of stapled pages
out of the dusty box. In this group of papers, Jason and Evie noticed that the Gatekeeper
calculated Meenaa’s chart and the charts of her family members.
On Meenaa’s chart, “Shipwrecked Fortunes during March 1998”, was written
across the top by a thick black marker. There were also other notations and comments on
her chart. On the chart he wrote, “Her chart indicates a potential for murder – make it
appear like a suicide.”
On the backside of Meenaa’s horoscope the Gatekeeper wrote, “My aspects have
a potential for violence and cruelty because of my frustration and aggression brought on
by her deception. This is a hard aspect. I have extremely violent midpoints. The midpoint
between Mars and Saturn will provide the clue to my problems. The midpoint between
my Mars and Uranus is where my erratic and aggressive behavior lies. My Pluto and
Mars midpoint causes me to want to run roughshod over people. Murderers are usually
strongly connected to their victims. I must look at my own Part of Death, Part of
Assassination, and Part of Suicide.”
Evie recalled that on the Gatekeeper’s horoscope page and in the Muslim
Bombing Document, the Gatekeeper had included the Part of Death and the Part of
Fortune. On his horoscope page, he also noted the Part of Violence, Danger, and
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Decapitation – the killing planet. Evie was disturbed because the Gatekeeper’s primary
focus seemed to be about murderers and his victims in relationship to his natal chart.
One long typed document Evie examined was titled, “Celtic Scorpionic Festival”.
On the first page of the document the Gatekeeper wrote, “On October 31 the Celtic
Scorpionic Festival of Samhain arrives as a final winding down of the old year into
decay, then death followed by a rebirth. Supernatural beings, both good and evil,
culminate to haunt the country-sides and forests in an effort to return to their earthly
homes. During Samhain, you are just as likely to meet an angel as a demon along a lonely
path, for all spirit forces are then at the peak of power. Like myself, Scorpio is fascinated
by death and decay. The sign provides haunted areas that are in the throes of
disintegration. Scorpio is a compelling force. It gives me psychic shivers and sensual
pleasures. Scorpio is a charismatic and charming sign because it feasts on the lifeblood of
the weak or innocent. It is an indescribable force charged by Pluto, the planet of sex and
death. Scorpio is fixed water, the swamp, or sinkhole. Pluto rules Scorpio’s demons.”
Evie turned to the next page and continued to read what the Gatekeeper had
previously typed. He wrote, “With this Samhain, at 15 degrees of Scorpio, I will set in
motion events that will manifest on many levels. During this significant time of choice,
not everyone will say yes or open the door. However, my opportunity is knocking.
Sometimes blessings will come in strange disguises and that we may be unaware that we
are entertaining the Devil himself. The moon’s nodes will bring about contacts and
situations without asking for our readiness. Fortunately, Jupiter offers protection and I
was born with Jupiter conjunction Venus, which together at the cusp of the fourth house,
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will provide my protection. However, the Scorpionic energy – the best and the worst – is
the grief that I continue to experience.”
Evie put the document aside. She didn’t know if the district attorney would be
able to use it as evidence or not. Although, she did think it was an important clue that
revealed the Gatekeeper’s state of mind. “Jason, you might want to read this… it could be
important.”
Jason took the document and read it silently. “What the heck does this mean?” he
asked.
“Well, the Gatekeeper’s talking about Halloween or rather All Hallows Eve. It’s
an interesting time of year. Today, it’s a popular holiday that coincides with All Saint’s
Day and All Soul’s Day. It’s the only holiday that is celebrated outdoors and at night. In
the medieval world the term hallow meant to make saintly or to make holy and the
medievals always started the following day at sunset the night before a holiday. They
celebrated All Hallows Eve because they had a kind of pre-occupation with the dead.
Some believed that on Halloween there would be spiritual anarchy if they didn’t celebrate
dead ancestors. So people carved pumpkins or turnips to keep the dead from merging into
the physical world,” she said.
“I had no idea that’s what Jack O’ Lanterns were for!” Jason remarked.
“Well according to Irish mythology, it started out as an Irish Harvest Festival. The
pagans – or country dwellers who lived outside the city believed this was a period of
transformation because it was in between summer and winter. Samhain simply means
summer’s end. The festival is in between the fall solstice and the winter equinox. It was
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primarily a pastoral and agricultural festival. People gathered together to celebrate the
changing of the seasons and they prepared the crops and livestock for the winter season
to approach. They thought the season was a threshold moment because summer has
ended and darkness is descending. During the festival, people thought there was an
intermingling of the spiritual world with the living. Summer – and the light – returns to
the underworld. Nature goes to sleep and this allows the undead beings to surface through
Irish burial mounds,” she said.
“Like the mounds at New Grange?” he asked.
“Yes and other smaller burial mounds all over Ireland. Anyway, during Samhain
– the Irish Harvest Festival, the folks lit huge bonfires that were both spectacular and
disturbing. Even Julius Caesar wrote about the bonfires in Ireland during his conquest.
But the bonfires were to guard off evil spirits. They also constructed a huge cage-like
Wicker Man out of wood slats. The people forced criminals to climb up inside the cagedshaped man and then they burned them alive. Anyway Caesar commented that this was a
type of human sacrifice and he thought it was rather barbaric,” she explained.
“God, it sounds like pretty rough justice!” he said.
“Well, those days were tough times! Anyway, the holiday really is about the dead.
The prayers and offering given at celebration helps those who have died get out of
Purgatory and into Heaven. It’s kind of like giving a Purgatory Intervention but it had to
include the Principal of Reciprocity,” she explained.
“Evie… I will never think of Halloween in the same way!” he said smiling. “I
think Pat might want to look at the Gatekeeper’s concept of Halloween… Pat’s a pretty
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good Catholic!” he said.
Evie laughed and set it in the keeper stack. The next document she noticed had
“Pluto” written across the top of the page in bold letters. Underneath Pluto, the
Gatekeeper wrote, “Any planet found in conjunction with Pluto is completing an entire
evolutionary cycle, with a totally new evolutionary cycle to begin. The planet can be two
things: The vehicle through which the person experiences confusion, dissociation,
alienation, and discontent in order to learn about the nature of personal delusions, dreams,
and illusions. Pluto may also be the vehicle through which the person can experience the
universal, the timeless, and the source. I have natal Pluto conjunct Saturn and natal Pluto
conjunct the Ascendant, so I am a natal Pluto conjunct natal Saturn personality because
of the Ascendant involvement. The fact that the conjunction occurs in the 12th house of
self-undoing, says the experiences are negative for the first Saturn cycle. I must learn to
cope with law enforcement-related issues. People, such as myself, with Pluto on the
ascendant and Pluto conjunct Saturn promotes the need to actualize and realize their own
authority. They establish the authority within society any way they can. Saturn makes this
concrete. The goal is to learn lessons relative to external – Saturn power by asserting
Pluto over authority. Pluto presents a fear of being consumed by authority – Saturn –
hence I will asserts my own self-authority and contain the Saturn aspect. I have the
potential for leadership. Pluto rules my sociological role; Saturn is the place for the role.
The evolutionary intentions are described by Pluto’s polarity point at 12 degrees of
Aquarius in the 6th house nearly conjunct the 7th house cusp. I must look at the Aquarius
house for Aquarian ideals. There are lessons to be learned in this life, and with Pluto –
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Aquarius – Uranus - North Node with the conjunction of Uranus to the North Node, we
know that Aquarian ideals through groups and associations dominate. I must watch
transiting Saturn, transiting Uranus, and transiting Pluto aspects. Because of the natal
Saturn conjunct natal Pluto, look to transiting Saturn to find the circumstances for
evolution of this aspect. With Pluto rising, there are many Scorpionic secrets that often
cloud my personality. If I misdirect my Plutonian powers, I can be cruel and vindictive.
Since there is an affliction from Saturn, I can also be downright ruthless in my attempts
to get my way in all personal matters and relationships.”
Evie was chilled. Her heart was pounding and she was beginning to develop a
headache. Nevertheless, she forced herself to turn the page over and continue reading
what the Gatekeeper had written. He wrote, “I will be faced with hidden aspects of death,
rebirth, and abuse of power if I am not cautious when I am dealing with the underworld
activities. I do possess great reservoir of hidden inner strength and personal regeneration.
I have a magnetic appeal and fascination for all things that are hidden beneath the
surface, which overflows into my sexual appetites and desires. At times, I am best at
playing the role of the forceful dominator, which can also be a hidden danger that I must
watch for. My natal planet in Scorpio represents the parts of me that deal urgently with
the lessons of transformation, regeneration, death, and change. Scorpio is the sign of
inner change. This Halloween I will use mirrors and cauldrons of water to regenerate my
soul and to gain a glimpse of the future. Like, the ancient Pagans, I believe Halloween is
a time when our year dies and the veil between one dimension and another is thinnest.
This is an auspicious time to make spirit contact, so as to appease the ruthless underworld
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god Sammael by sacrificing something cherished. This is much like Pluto squaring Venus
would demand, as in my natal chart! If I do not do this willingly, this Scorpio-like god
will send his demons and ill-willed spirits and make my life a living hell. Sammael’s gift
to us has been to teach us about value systems, to help us evaluate whether what we
clutch, own, and desire and what is appropriate to our soul’s growth and yearning for
wholeness. My natal Halloween chart demands that something be done – something must
be done that will produce results on the physical plane! The square is our karma inclusive
of the universal law. A square involving Scorpio deals with the very fiber of our
emotional center. With my natal Venus at the Halloween-nadir position, the Halloween
experience will occur through a woman. It must be Meenaa! The Venus position on the
nadir promises there will be home based problems, adverse circumstances, and criminals
– I am the Grim Reaper like the god Pluto who rules the underworld.”
Evie finished reading the Pluto document. She set it aside. She leaned back in her
chair and closed her eyes. Her headache was beginning to turn into a migraine. At the
time, Jason was in the back of the evidence lab sorting through another box. Evie sat still.
She tried to calm herself by taking in slow long breaths. However, the atmosphere in the
evidence lab wasn’t conducive to meditation. The air had a repugnant odor created from
dusty rubber tires, marijuana plants, old documents, and various other confiscated items
by Falls City police.
Jason returned to where Evie was sitting with another large box full of documents.
The box was so big, he could hardly see in front of him. He carefully bent down, set the
box on the floor, straightened up, and then wiped the dust off of his hands on his thighs.
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He looked at Evie sitting with her eyes closed. “Are you okay? You look pale,” he said.
Evie opened her eyes and looked at him. “I’m okay but I am starting to get a
headache.”
“Stay sitting. I’m going to get you a cold 7-Up with a cup of ice and some
Motrin,” he said.
Jason left the room briefly then returned with the drink and medicine in hand.
“Here, take these.”
Evie reached for the pills he had cupped in his left hand and she put them in her
mouth. He handed her the drink and she swallowed. “Thank you,” she said.
Jason was standing behind Evie. He placed his hands on her shoulders and began
slowly rubbing the knots out of her neck. His hands were warm and powerful. Evie sat
completely still. It felt natural for her to acquiesce to Jason’s touch. He said, “You
haven’t had anything to eat. You’re stressed out and I know you’re tired.”
After a few minutes, the massage started to relax Evie. She turned and looked up
at Jason. “Jason, you are a gifted healer. Thank you.”
He gently took his hands off of her. “Feeling better?” he asked.
Evie blushed some. “Yes, I am,” she replied.
“Well, this is the last box. How ‘bout we breeze through it together then I’ll take
you to get something to eat? I know this good Italian deli near Mission Hills. After we
eat, we can drive up to the area where the Gatekeeper did the bombings if you want.”
Evie smiled. “That sounds fantastic,” she said.
Jason sat down next to her and they began sorting through the stack of papers.
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Evie adjusted herself in her chair and started reviewing a typed document titled
“Ninth House Signing”. She noticed that in the third paragraph, the Gatekeeper wrote,
‘Uranus in my chart indicates a yen for public exposure. Uranus trine Mars gives me an
inventor or engineering aspect. Uranus is conjunct my North Node of the moon and this
represents the future and defines karmic events that I have chosen to assume in this life. I
do have a double personality along with an independent streak. My intellectual
adaptability and curiosity is coupled with a thirst for knowledge. This nodal point brings
a pioneering and inventive quality my personality – I am an inventor and builder of all
Martian things – especially electrical things that go boom! I have Neptune opposing a
full Aries moon. Neptune rules deception and here rules self-deception. Therefore, I must
use lies and evasiveness to extricate myself from all ordinary and inordinate situations so
that people I encounter will have trouble distinguishing what is real from the imagined or
illusory. I will use deception as a way of escape. I have Saturn trine my full Aries moon.
Saturn will lend circumstantial help. People will not suspect me. Scorpio rules revenge
and that is vengeance that is given or taken. The planet Pluto is the Grim Reaper and it is
the first planet to rise to perfection in my chart. The days of hell are coming the end of
March. No jail time. If there is a public trial, law enforcement will lose. I will become the
Poster Boy of American Patriot Movement, because the Police Department, FBI, and
ATF will get their ass kicked. They are giving me a Big Soap Box to stand on. If I pay
special attention to all Scorpio placements, I can get away with murder! The ninth house
is where all of my luck lies. Brilliant! I am the Lord of Thieves and the Grim Reaper!’
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Evie reeled back in her chair with her eyes wide open. She was feeling panic and
distress. She wanted to scream, to run for help, but she remained frozen, like a trapped
animal. Jason could see that Evie had a long face and worried look on her face.
“What did you find?” he asked in a concerned tone.
Evie’s lower lip quivered. “Jason, you need to read this last document,” she said
with her voice breaking.
Jason leaned over towards her and silently read the “Ninth House Signing”
document. Evie watched him. She could see that Jason was becoming distressed. His eyes
darkened and the color of his skin started to grey some. Sweat was starting to form on his
forehead and his hands started to tremble. He put the document on the table. He leaned
way back in his chair, put both hands behind his head, closed his eyes, and sat silent –
immobile.
Jason thought quietly to himself, “This is an individual who is both highly
intellectual and knowledgeable but also a person who has a permanent character disorder.
The Gatekeeper enjoys impressing people with his brilliance and intellect. He will
challenge anyone who is an authority figure. He portrays all the signs of being a
psychopath and he has an innate ability to be a superlative liar and chameleon.” Jason
also believed the Gatekeeper was a self-aggrandizing maniac who fed on chaos and
confusion. His own frustrations fanatical obsessions led him to seek out victims.
Evie also sat quiet, thinking. Like Jason, her mind was wildly racing. She
thought back to all of the diaries she read. In them, the Gatekeeper admitted having a
predisposition for violence. He thirsted for and engaged in voyeuristic behavior. He
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watched and did surveillance on his intended victims, like a lion on the prowl. He felt his
behavior was justifiable and warranted. He used astrology diabolically and analytically so
he could be in control of the external world yet he couldn’t control himself. From the
diaries, Evie knew that the Gatekeeper enjoyed manipulating people. He used charisma
and charm to control people for his own gain. However, he also had manic-depressive
qualities, terrible mood swings, and severe emotional disorders. These qualities were
obvious to her because he frequently wrote about demons and the evil forces that
surround him. He had a vivid imagination and he believed that he had the ability to travel
to other spheres of reality and he would be able to escape from the outside world through
his psychic visions. Evie thought to herself, “The Gatekeeper’s antisocial and deviant
behavior must be due to a manifestation of something going on within his own mind.
There must be something more than his astrological signature that has caused these
internal character weaknesses. Was this a life-long pattern or a structure of his
personality? Was it his environment, negative thought patterns, upbringing?” One thing
Evie was sure of was the Gatekeeper did not commit this crime because of some unusual,
inexplicable, or unstable behavioral pattern. This was not a sudden lapse in judgment or a
temporary phenomenon. His defiant act against the people was well-planned and premeditated and he had no guilt and no remorse.
Jason opened his eyes and leaned forward. He turned to Evie and starred at her
bluish-green eyes then he reached for her hand. He grasped her hand tightly with both of
his. His head tilted downward, his jaw was clinched, and eyes narrowed. He had a
determined look etched onto his face. His eyes darkened and with a menacing plea, he
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fiercely said, “The Gatekeeper says he can get away with murder! The Gatekeeper has to
be stopped… If he isn’t it’s more than likely he’ll find more people to target – to target
because he has a perverted desire to commit mass murder!”
She nodded at Jason then looked down. “I’m terrified,” she said as a solitary tear
trickled down her flushed cheek.
Jason reached for a tissue, dabbed her tear dry, and reached around her with both
arms. “I know. I am too,” he said softly. They tenderly embraced for a few moments then
Jason said, “Come on let’s get out of here… it’s nearly 3:00 o’clock. Let’s go get
something to eat.”
They walked out to the Chevy truck and both got in. Jason started the engine then
turned and said, “The Italian Bistro we’ll go to is Lucca’s. They make all kinds of deli
sandwiches…”
“That sounds fantastic,” Evie said.
****
They both stood looking at the menu at the delicatessen. There were too many
choices. “What do you suggest?” Evie asked.
“Humm… do you want to get us the table outside and I’ll surprise you with one of
my favorites?” he said while smiling.
Evie smiled and had a bashful look on her face then she turned her head slightly
but had her eyes still fixed on his. “Ok… I am always up for trying something new
once!” she said then walked outside and sat down at the umbrella covered table. For a
minute, Evie watched Jason place their order at the counter then she turned her gaze away
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from him and looked over her shoulder towards the sunset. She was tired.
Jason came out of Lucca’s holding a tray with sandwiches and two Cappuccino
Lattes. “I hope you like it.”
Evie watched him sit down next to her then she removed the wrapping from her
sandwich and took a healthy bite. “Delicious! What is it?”
“I got you a Prosciutto Toscano of Tuscany… it has peppered ham, garlic,
rosemary and juniper with sweet mozzarella and sun-dried tomatoes. I got the Prosciutto
with Havarti Cheese on a sourdough roll… do you want to taste mine?” he asked.
“Oh no… mine is perfect. Thank you,” she said smiling. Jason smiled back at her
and started eating his sandwich.
“After we eat, I want to drive you up to the hills so you can see the crime scene…
where the bombings took place… if you have time that is,” he said.
“That sounds good… I’d like to see the area,” she responded.
The drive through the neighborhood was enlightening. Although the opulent
mansions impressed Evie, she was running out of steam. Not even the cappuccino she
had just had gave her much of a boost. She was exhausted.
By the time Jason merged onto the freeway, it was nearly 5 o’clock. Rush hour.
Traffic was barely moving. Evie partly rolled down the window so she could feel the
breeze on her face. She closed her eyes and leaned her head against the seat. Jason
reached for her hand. She turned and looked at him out of the corner of her eye and
smiled. She held his hand close to her inner thigh. Evie definitely knew what she liked.
She liked to be touched but only when she liked to be touched. She liked to be touched by
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him.
By the time they arrived at the Home Depot parking lot, it was approaching 6
o’clock. Jason pulled in, parked, and turned the motor off. He turned to Evie and said,
“Evie… I hate that you’re headed right into Friday night traffic. Would you like to follow
me to my house… it’s just a few blocks away… you can wait for traffic to die down?”
“That sounds like a good idea… I really don’t have the energy to battle the
freeway right now,” she said.
Evie got out of Jason’s truck and into her car. She followed Jason’s truck to his
house and while she was driving, she thought to herself, “What am I doing? God… he’s
pulling me in like a magnet… his aura… his charisma is compelling.”
Jason pulled into his driveway and jumped out of his truck. He had Evie’s bag of
clothing in his hand. He waited for her to park her car. “You forgot this in my truck,” he
said as he slung the bag’s strap over his shoulder. Evie smiled and followed him to the
front door. Jason’s home was small, conservatively decorated in semi-masculine décor
but it was orderly and warm. There was a dark overstuffed leather sofa facing an old
fashioned fireplace with bookshelves on either side. “Would you like to try a glass of
cabernet sauvignon I bought from a winery in Washington State last time I was there?”
he asked.
“That sounds perfect,” she said.
While Jason walked to the kitchen, Evie scanned Jason’s music and book
collection on the book cases. She immediately was drawn to his books on early Christian
theology such as Hidegard: Prophet of the Cosmic Christ, Saint Catherine of Siena: Her
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Life and Times, Passionate Spirituality: Hildegard of Bingen and Hadewijch of Brabant,
Erotic Morality: The Role of Touch in Moral Agency, Christian Mystics: Their Lives and
Legacies throughout the Ages, The Essential Writings of Christian Mysticism, City of
God, and The Divine Comedy. “Make yourself at home,” he said from the kitchen. Evie
was impressed by Jason’s book collection, smiled to herself, and sat down on his sofa.
When Jason returned to the living room, he had two long stem wine glasses and
the bottle of wine in his hands. He sat down beside her then clicked on the remote control
button to the stereo. Evie immediately recognized the tune. It was Billie Holiday’s What
a Little Moonlight Can Do. The upbeat tunes and swift moving rhythm lightened both of
their heavy moods. They smiled at each other and Jason poured the wine. They didn’t
discuss the Gatekeeper’s diaries at all. Instead, they each told stories about their
childhoods, their family backgrounds, and lost loves.
Jason poured Evie a second glass of wine, then offered to let her take a warm
bubble bath in his old fashioned claw-foot tub. She agreed. They both stood up and Jason
led her to the bathroom. The bath was immaculate and decorated in simple black and
white. Evie liked the intricate pattern of the one inch octagon black and white tiles on the
floor. Jason turned the water facet on and poured in a cap full of Dr. Bronner’s Magic
Soap made with organic rose and olive oil into the water. He turned to Evie and handed
her a large Egyptian white cotton towel then he left the room. Evie closed the door,
partially. She undressed and slipped into the warm bubbly rose scented water. Evie was
completely emerged in bubbles when Jason came to the bathroom door. “Are you
decent?” he asked.
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“It depends on what you mean by decent,” she flirtatiously responded. He peered
in. His eyes looked at her covered in the bubbles. He had a newly poured glass of the
cabernet in one hand and a lit vanilla scented candle in the other one. He handed her the
glass and put the candle on the edge of the sink. He turned around, walked towards the
door, and flicked the light switch off. He looked back over his shoulder at her.
“Relax…,” he said softly. He left the door partially open.
“I always follow a detective’s orders,” she said. She could hear Billie’s voice
bellowing from the next room. She sunk down under the bubbles and allowed the aroma
of elixirs from the rose oil to permeate her body and soul. She could hear sounds coming
from the kitchen. She was unaware that Jason was a culinary aficionado. She could smell
basil, garlic, and oregano.
Evie got out of the tub and dried off. She looked in the cabinet and found a
container of all natural delicately-scented Shea butter cream. She moisturized her feet,
elbows, and hands with the super-rich formula. She put her cream colored lace Wonder
bra and matching panties back on. Then she snuggled into her sweat shirt and pants. She
took her empty wine glass and went to the doorway to the kitchen. Jason was chopping
fresh tomatoes. She could see water boiling. It was ready for pasta. Jason’s glass of wine
was half full. At first, he didn’t notice her. Then he looked up. He smiled. “Feel better?”
he asked.
“Amazingly better,” she said as she stepped closer to him. He poured more wine
in her glass and held out his glass to her. They toasted.
Jason put his wine glass down on the counter and pulled her in closer with both
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arms. He kissed her deeply. Evie’s lips moved to his neck. It tasted like a sweet salt. The
combination of sandalwood and musk scents in his cologne made him smell deliciously
manly. He lightly pressed his head against the side of her neck. He tightly grasped her left
hand with his right hand and she snugly held his left hand with her right one. Then
suddenly, Evie pulled away from Jason’s embrace. She thought of Faustian Bargains and
the deals we make with the Devil. Evie turned and solemnly faced him.
On some deep inner level, Jason knew what she was thinking. He reached for both
of her hands. He looked down. His face had a pained look. He frowned and pulled his
eyebrows slightly inward towards the bridge of his nose. Then he looked deeply into her
eyes and said, “I don’t want to take my eyes off of you. I’m already falling in love with
you…”
Jason had barely got the words out when Evie interrupted. “But if anyone finds
out about this, it could cause a real shit-storm. We can’t do this… not now,” she said.
“You’re right… this could compromise both of us… this could jeopardize the
case… we could completely derail the trial with this,” he said.
“I know… I guess we all make deals, whether we admit it or not with devils,” she
said and then let go of his warm gentle hands.
He put his hands on her shoulders and looked into her teary eyes. “Sometimes we
fall so we can learn to get up. After this is over, we will have free will again. I promise,”
he said.
She put her hand on his cheek and shook her head. “Not now. We can’t do this,”
she said then she walked to the front door.
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Jason put his arms around her. They briefly embraced then he let her go. “Call me
when you get home,” he said while looking at her.
“I will,” she said.
Evie slung her clothing bag over her shoulder then turned away from Jason and
walked alone to her car. Jason watched her walk away from him. Her head was tipped
down towards the walkway. She walked about halfway down the sidewalk then stopped.
Evie turned around and looked back at Jason. He looked so sad. Concerned. Evie gave
him a kind of half-wave but he didn’t smile, he simply starred. Finally, he nodded at her
and held his hand up with his palm facing her. He held his hand still for a moment and he
tried to smile. Evie partially smiled back. For just a few seconds, she stood completely
still looking at Jason. Then she turned around and walked the rest of the way to her car
then got in and started the engine. Evie sat still for a second with both hands on the
steering wheel, then she put the car in reverse and backed away from Jason.
Jason stood by his front door and watched Evie back her car out of his driveway
and drive away from him. After the tail lights on Evie’s car vanished, he went inside in
the house and locked her door behind him. He felt empty and full at the same time. He
didn’t want to be away from her. “We need to be on guard. We need to be careful.
Careful of every move we make. If we’re not we could likely turn into the very thing we
are fighting. Fucking Gatekeeper!” he thought. Once again, he felt like the Lone Wolf.
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Chapter 8
A BREWING STORM
Friday 11:00 p.m., November 20, 1998
Evie pulled into her driveway around 11:00 p.m. Except for a small lamp on the
entryway table, her home was dark. Her cat Milo greeted her with a familiar brush
against her leg. It was only an hour’s drive home but she already missed Jason’s touch.
Evie set her handbag and the clothing bag on the dining table then she dialed the
number for Jason’s home phone. “Hi… I made it,” she said.
“Good… I was worried about you,” Jason said.
“I’m fine… there wasn’t much traffic,” she said.
“I miss you already…,” he said quietly.
“I know. Me too. Sleep well…,” she said. Evie put the receiver down, walked to
the front window, and looked out.
A thick layer of fog was descending on the quiet street. She couldn’t see any life
at all however she didn’t feel exactly alone. Evie was lost in thoughts about the evening
with Jason when her phone rang. The caller I.D. displayed the word “Private”. She smiled
and perked up. “What is he doing calling me so quickly?” she thought.
Evie darted past Milo and grabbed the phone like a school girl. “Hey you…,” she
said.
There was no response from the other end of the phone except the sound of
breathing.
“Jason… is that you?” she asked.
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A chilling silence was the only response to her question. “Jason…?” she asked
again. Again, there was no reply. Evie clicked the off button and redialed Jason’s home
phone.
Jason rolled over in his bed and picked up the phone. He cleared his throat and
answered, “Hello…”
“Did you just call?” Evie asked.
Jason sat straight up in his bed. “No… what’s going on?” he asked.
“It’s nothing… I just got a call and thought it was you since we just hung up. It
was probably just a wrong number,” she said.
“Was a number displayed?” he asked.
“It was a blocked number…” she replied. Then, Evie heard the call waiting beep.
“Hold on, someone is calling…,” she said.
Jason stood up and waited for Evie to come back on the phone. It seemed to take
forever even though it was just seconds.
“Jason...,” she said nervously.
“Who was it?” he asked in a worried tone.
“No one… they didn’t say anything,” she said.
“Evie… do you want me to call the local police station and have them drive by
your place?” he asked.
“Oh no… don’t be silly. It’s nothing. I’m just a little rattled after going through
the Gatekeeper documents today,” she said.
“Was everything in order when you got home? Did you notice anyone or anything
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on the street or around your house?” he asked.
“No detective…,” she said with a slight giggle. “Everything was quiet and in
perfect order,” Evie said. Then she walked to the front window and turned the wood
blinds closed.
Jason sat down on the edge of his bed. “Okay… do you want me to sing you a
little lullaby?” he said playfully.
Evie smiled and laughed. “I think you better stick to investigative work,” she said.
Jason enjoyed Evie’s quick wit. He leaned back on his pillows and put his feet on
the bed. “Ok I get it… you don’t think I can sing?” he said teasingly.
The thought of Jason singing amused Evie. “I heard you singing along with Billie
Holiday earlier this evening…,” she said while smiling.
Jason laughed then cleared his throat. “Like this… Ooh, ooh, ooh… What a little
moonlight can do. Ooh, ooh, ooh… What a little moonlight can do to you. You’re in
love. Your heart’s fluttering all day long. You only stutter cause your poor tongue… just
will not utter the words… I love you!” he sung out loud and slightly out of tune.
“Ooh, ooh, ooh… that was pretty good for a cop!” Evie said while laughing.
Jason smiled. “Ok… so I should keep my day job. Get some sleep little
moonbeam!” he said.
“I will… you too,” she said then she hung up the phone.
Evie picked up Milo and stroked his long black and white fur. Then, she
undressed and snuggled under her warm feather comforter. It had been an exhausting day
yet an emotionally exhilarating evening. She leaned back on her pillows and closed her
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eyes. “Jason… oh my god… Jason,” she reminisced about his warm body next to hers.
Then she realized that she couldn’t think of Jason, not this way. It wasn’t the time and it
wasn’t professional. She had to keep focused on the Gatekeeper and not let her personal
desires for Jason get in the way.
****
Monday, 8:34 a.m., November 23, 1998
Monday morning was typically when inmates in the Falls City lock-up received
visitors from attorneys, family members, and were able to make personal phone calls.
Around 8:30 a.m., the court appointed lawyer, Gordon Harper, went to the Falls City jail
to visit the Gatekeeper. During the half-hour meeting, the two discussed what evidence
the police had gathered so far and who was working on the trial with the prosecution side.
The Gatekeeper was stunned when Gordon Harper told him Professor Evelyn Jayne
Taylor from Sonoma State University was working as a consultant for the police to
decipher the diaries because he remembered the anonymous phone call he had made to
the professor prior to planning Meenaa’s murder. After his attorney left, the Gatekeeper
asked to use the payphone.
The Gatekeeper’s sister Elzora was sitting at her kitchen table shuffling and
fondling her deck of Tarot cards when her phone rang.
“Elzora…,” he said.
“Oh dear brother… how are you my love?” she asked.
“I’m bitter bitter cold… they don’t provide even so much as a warm blanket in
this god forsaken place. It’s like a damn gothic cathedral and believe me, the cook is no
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culinary expert… the food is absolutely horrendous,” he said indignantly.
“My dearest brother… what can I do to make you feel better?” Elzora asked.
“The cops brought in an astrologer to decipher my diaries. You must make a
powerful psychic impression on the astrologer. Do a Tarot card spread. Focus your
energy and find a way to shape-shift the situation,” he said viciously.
Elzora immediately knew what her brother wanted her to do. He wanted her to
scare the living daylights out of the astrologer in any way or manner she could think of. If
she was able to terrify the astrologer, she might drop out of working on the case.
“Name?” she asked.
The Gatekeeper turned his head and looked over his shoulder to see if anyone was
listening then coldly he said, “Professor E. J. Taylor, Sonoma State University.”
Elzora reshuffled the deck of cards. “The Eight of Swords will provide bondage
through fear. She’ll find herself unable to act because she’ll feel like she’s locked inside
in a labyrinth of paralysis. She’ll be guarded by the three Furies,” Elzora said spitefully.
“Make sure the psychic impression creates quarrelsome and turbulent activity in
the realm of her subconscious mind,” the Gatekeeper said in a low ominous tone.
Elzora took a long deep breath and touched her third finger on her right hand to
her forehead. “Alright… I’ll also draw the Nine of Swords... this will create chaos, great
fear, and anxiety.”
“Yes, yes, yes… the card of nightmares and frightful visions…,” said the
Gatekeeper gravely.
Elzora pulled out the Nine of Swords and sat it along side the Eight of Swords.
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“Doom and torment…,” said Elzora in a vile voice.
“Add the Devil… Typhon…,” said the Gatekeeper.
“Oh yes, Typhon… this will add a splendid element… she’ll be drawn in and will
create the very future she fears most!” said Elzora. Then she pulled out the Devil card
and placed it next to the other two cards on the table.
“I must go now… dear sister I love and miss your warmth and sweet caresses,”
the Gatekeeper said sadly.
Elzora sat at the table quietly contemplating Professor E. J. Taylor and the force
of the three Tarot cards.
****
Monday, 9:37 a.m., November 23, 1998
Jason Ares arrived at the Falls City Police Station around 9:30 a.m. Monday
morning. He walked directly to his office. He sat down at his desk and saw that the
message light on his phone was blinking. He dialed the phone number to listen to the
recording. “Detective Ares… this is Jay down in lockup… the Gatekeeper made a phone
call to his sister a while ago. I didn’t hear the entire conversation but I did him mention
someone named E. J. Taylor at Sonoma State during the call. I thought it might be
important.” Jason immediately dialed the number for FBI Agent Eric Landon.
Eric Landon answered the phone after two rings. “Agent Landon,” he said in an
all business-like tone.
“Hey Eric… this is Jason Ares,” Jason said casually.
Eric Landon leaned back in his office chair. “Hi bud… what’s up?” Landon
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asked.
“I have a personal favor to ask,” said Jason.
“What’s that?” Landon replied.
“Well… you know we brought in Evie Taylor to decipher the Gatekeeper
documents,” he said.
Eric Landon chuckled under his breath. “Oh sure… your voluptuously delicious
astrologer professor,” he said in somewhat of a cynical tone.
Jason clinched the phone tight and he leaned forward. “Come on… it’s not like
that. She’s a brilliant woman, she has credentials, and she’s helping with the case. I
worked with her all day Friday at the evidence lab and we uncovered a ton of useful
evidence… At this point, her help is going to be critical if we want to get a conviction,”
Jason said in a determined manner.
“Okay, Okay… sorry about that. I just have my doubts about all of this astrology
crap…,” Landon leaned forward. “So what do you need?” Landon asked.
“I want you to authorize a phone tap on her phones,” Jason said in a serious tone.
Eric Landon briefly paused. The detective’s request confused him. “What’s this
all about? I thought you trusted her,” Landon said in a questioning tone.
“I do… we should and can trust her, but she’s received some strange phone calls
Friday night plus today the guard at the jail informed me that he overheard a phone call
the Gatekeeper just made to his sister and in the call he mentioned E. J.’s name. I just
want to make sure we’re doing all that we can to protect her. She’s important to me…
she’s important to the case,” Jason said persuasively.
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“Okay bud… I understand,” Landon said.
Jason took a deep breath, exhaled, and leaned back in his chair. “That’s
fantastic… but when can you get it pushed through the department’s red tape?” Jason
asked.
“No worries… think of it as done,” Landon said.
“Thanks Eric… I appreciate it.”
“Jason… I gotta ask you… are you getting personally involved with this woman?
Does she know we’re going to monitor her phones?” Landon asked suspiciously in a low
voice.
Jason leaned forward. For a moment he thought, “It’s none of your fucking
business whether or not I’m getting personally involved with Evie…” Jason Ares knew
he couldn’t let on that he was falling hard for Evie. If anyone found out, it would
completely derail the trial. He had to lie to protect Evie, himself, and the case. Jason
faked a laugh then he said, “No and no… I’m not getting personally involved and no, she
doesn’t know and she can’t find out that we’re going to monitor her calls. If she knew, it
would upset her. She’s never been around criminals or cops… this is all foreign territory
to her. I don’t want her to worry but I do want to make sure she’s protected… we just
don’t know what the Gatekeeper is capable of or if he has someone on the outside
working with him.”
“Gotcha… she’s been protected in that Ivory Tower until now… I’ll get a tech out
to her place sometime today,” said Landon.
Jason leaned back and took another long deep breath then exhaled. “Good… she
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teaches classes all day today at the university so that works,” Jason said.
“Okay bud… I’ll keep you posted if anything weird comes up,” said Landon.
“Thanks Eric.”
“No problem… I’ll be checking in with you next week unless something pops up
before hand.”
“Alright… see you then,” Jason said with relief.
For a few moments, Jason wondered if he’d done the right thing by calling Eric
Landon and asking him to bug Evie’s phones. If she knew, she’d worry but if she didn’t
know and found out later, she’d think he didn’t trust her. She’d feel violated and she’d
definitely be fuming mad at him. He already knew enough about Evie to know that truth
and trust were two of the most important things to her. By not telling her, he was lying to
her and lying was absolutely something Evie would not tolerate. He felt as if he was
between a rock and a hard place but he didn’t think he had a choice so he made a deal
with the Devil and decided to keep the phone taps a secret. He also knew this meant
there could be no flirting and no more singing Billie Holiday lyrics on the phone. His
conversations with Evie would need to be all business from now on unless it was in
person.
After the phone call, FBI Agent Eric Landon leaned back and smiled. He thought,
“This is perfect… we need to watch this astrologer. After all, can we trust her? What the
hell is she up too? Why is she working for free? What’s her story?” Then, Landon sat
straight up and placed the call to his tech guy so he could bug Evie’s phone lines.
****
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Monday, 11:43 a.m., November 23, 1998
The FBI technician casually knocked on Evie’s front door. There was no
response. He used a lock-pick and clandestinely entered Evie’s house through the front
door. He didn’t waste anytime surveying the location. He could see that the front door
opened to the living room and there was a hallway that led to the right to the bedrooms.
He could see that by going straight forward, it would lead to the kitchen and small dining
area. He saw the first telephone sitting on an antique roll-top desk in the living room.
Then, he walked directly ahead and he saw a second phone on the outer wall, over the
kitchen counter. He turned and walked down the hall to Evie’s bedroom. He quickly
realized that she had two separate phone lines with one line connected to the phone in her
bedroom.
All of Evie’s phones were cordless. Line one, was connected to the phone in the
bedroom. It was a white cordless unit. He checked to see if it had a dial tone. It did. The
tech turned and moved quickly back down the hall to the living room. The base units for
both phone lines were in her living room. One of the units had a black wire tied to the
computer and the other had a white wire tied to both the living room and bedroom phone
lines. There was a wall outlet in the baseboard under the large wood desk.
The technician stood still silently analyzing the best approach to take. He thought,
“My best bet is to put a two line box between the phone base and the wall outlet as well
as a selection switch so that an encryption box can be inserted into the path between the
phone and the wall selectively. That way, we can select to encrypt or not if we want.” He
got down on the floor and began working. He sealed the box so no one could tamper with
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it and concealed it behind Evie’s heavy roll-top desk. After he was finished connecting
all of the proper wires, he left Evie’s house without anyone noticing.
Monday, 8:53 p.m., November 23, 1998
It was dark and getting cold outside by the time Evie walked out of the building
her office was in on the university campus. Since the last time she was outside, the
temperature had dropped significantly. She stood on the top step, set her heavy bag down,
and zipped up her coat. She reached down for her bag, got out her floppy-billed grey felt
hat, and pulled it snuggly down over her ears. She tucked her hands into her coat and for
a few seconds she looked over the campus. She could see the library from where she
stood. She would’ve liked a hot tea but she knew by this time of night the Java City near
the library would already be closed. There was very little activity except for a few
meandering students who had night class. Many students had most likely already gone
home for an early Thanksgiving weekend.
Evie started down the steps towards the sidewalk. While she wondered what she
would do for Thanksgiving. She thought, “Alone again. No invitations… I guess Milo
and I will cook a small turkey and a sweet potato. Mom… I really miss you especially at
the holidays… that god damn cancer ate you up from the inside out… Stop it Evie! This
doesn’t help. Just walk. Just get to your car and get home.”
Evie tried to shake off her grief. However, up until she’d been given the task of
deciphering the Gatekeeper documents, letting go of her grief had been the most difficult
assignment she’d ever been given. Evie picked up her pace. She walked quickly into a
frigidly brisk north wind. She bowed her head slightly so her hat would block the blast of
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cold moist air. All of a sudden, a figure of a woman wearing a long dark coat with an
attached hood stepped out from behind a tree and stepped directly in front of her. Evie
nearly slammed right into her but she stopped herself just in time.
“Pardon me… I didn’t see you,” Evie said politely.
“You need to pay closer attention to things in your environment Professor
Taylor… because you could easily get hurt or hurt others with your actions…,” the
woman said in a low piercing tone.
Evie stood frozen in place. “I’m sorry… my hat…,” Evie said but didn’t have
time to finish speaking because the woman interrupted her.
“You’re sorry… you have no idea what a terrible outcome being reckless leads
too… one’s future is doomed if they neglect to see the signs in front of them,” the woman
said in a stinging tone. Then she briskly brushed passed Evie.
Evie stood still completely frozen and dumfounded for a few seconds while she
watched the vampire-like female disappear into the darkness of the low lit campus. She
didn’t recognize the woman, she certainly didn’t mean to nearly have a head on collision
with her, and she had no idea how the woman knew who she was. “God… that was
creepy,” she thought. Evie moved swiftly across campus to her car because the sidewalk
incident had unquestionably rattled and cut through her like a sharp razor.
As soon as Evie entered her home, she immediately sensed something. However,
she couldn’t put her finger on what she sensed but she didn’t feel right about the vibration
in the house. Something was off. Evie looked around but she didn’t notice anything out
of place. She called for Milo. “Milo… mama’s home kitty.” The cat didn’t respond. She
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thought, “This is weird… the only time the cat hides is if someone he doesn’t know
comes to visit.” She unzipped her coat and slung it over the chair at the dining table then
put her bag down. Once again she called out, “Milo… here kitty kitty.” Nothing. She
tried again. Panic was beginning to set in. “Milo… kitty, kitty!” she yelled loudly.
Finally, he darted down the hall towards her. Evie scooped him up and stroked his soft
furry body then went to the window and looked out. Something moved in the front
bushes outside Evie’s house. The only thing she could make out was a dark shadowy
figure. A cold chill stung down her entire spine. She thought, “Someone is watching
me… no it’s just the wind blowing the bushes.” Even so, she quickly twisted the blind
closed anyway then went to check for messages on the phone.
“Hi Evie… it’s Jason. Call my home number when you get this. Thanks.”
Evie took her coat off, sat down, and planned to call Jason but before she could
pick up the receiver, her phone rang. Evie looked at the caller I. D. and it said private.
She quickly picked up the phone. “Hello,” Evie said.
Silence.
“Hello… who is this?” she asked. There was no response so Evie hung up
quickly. She was unnerved. She quickly dialed Jason’s phone number.
After two rings, Jason answered. “Hello.”
“Hi… it’s Evie.”
“How are you?” he asked.
“Gosh… I don’t know. I’m a little shaken up.”
Jason’s mind immediately went into overdrive. He wondered if she’d discovered
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the bug on her phone. “Why? What’s going on?” he asked.
Evie proceeded to tell him some of the minor details about the dark female figure
on campus, about Milo hiding, that she had a strange feeling that someone was watching
her, and that someone called again without saying a single word. Jason listened and
although he seemed attentive, he simply told her not to worry. He felt better knowing all
of her calls were being taped yet he personally had to be cautious of how and what he
said to her.
“Evie…,” Jason paused then continued, “are you doing anything for
Thanksgiving?” he asked carefully. He didn’t want to be alone on Thanksgiving. He
wanted to be with her on Thanksgiving but he stopped himself short of asking to join her
for dinner. He realized that since the guys were listening to her phone calls, he’d better
keep it all business.
Evie perked up and smiled. “No plans… I figured I stay home, cook a small
turkey, and grade papers. Why do you ask?”
Jason paused then cleared his throat. “No reason… I was just wondering,” he said
then he paused again. “Evie… I have to work on the case over the weekend. But I really
hope you have a good weekend and take some time for yourself. Things are going to get
very tense as we get closer to the start of the trial and we need to make sure we’re ready,”
he said in a cool business-like tone.
Evie was taken off guard by Jason’s aloof tone. He seemed off. Detached. Then
she thought, “Is he acting this way because I left so suddenly on Friday night? Surely, he
understood… surely this wasn’t just another egotistic macho male thing…”After all, they
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did agree that they couldn’t be together except professionally until the trial was over.
“Okay… you too,” she said trying to not sound disappointed. Jason was certainly acting
out of character but Evie tried to not read too much into it. She knew he was under a lot
of stress.
“Call me if you need me otherwise I’ll talk to you next week,” he said.
“Okay… good night,” Evie said then she leaned back on the sofa.
“Good night, Evie,” Jason said then he quickly hung up the phone. He thought,
“Shit… I’m a real bastard… but it has to be this way… for now.”
“How weird… he didn’t want to chat or flirt or much of anything,” she thought.
Evie stood up, walked down the hall to her bedroom, and turned the light switch
on the lamp on her bed stand. She slipped out of her clothes, grabbed a pair of warm
pajamas, and put them on then crawled into bed. She leaned back against her overstuffed
pillows and shut the light off. For a few minutes, she sat quietly contemplating in the
complete darkness. She couldn’t stop thinking of the conversation she had just had with
Jason. He was so distant to her. She squeezed her eyes closed and tried to relax.
She was just at the brink of sleep when all of a sudden she felt something grasp
her throat with a fierceness she had never known before. She opened her eyes and in the
darkness of the room, she could see what appeared to be an apparition of a wolf. She felt
pinned down by the animal. She grabbed at her throat and she struggled and gasped. Evie
couldn’t get enough air. She choked and coughed. She sat straight up. Finally, air.
Quickly, she turned on the lamp beside her bed. Her heart was still pounding with a fast
uneasy cadence when her phone rang. Evie didn’t answer it. After what seemed more
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than twenty rings, the ringing finally stopped.
Evie was sweating. Her heart was racing. She stood up, walked into the dark
bathroom, and splashed water on her face. She grabbed for the hand towel and wiped her
face off. She could see her exhausted face in the mirror because the light from the
bedroom illuminated the bathroom. For a few seconds she stood still wondering how
much more she could take when all of a sudden she could see a six-foot four two hundred
thirty pound dark entity with no facial features except glowing greenish yellow eyes that
glowed like a devil’s in the mirror behind her. The evil guardian appeared to sneer at her.
Evie quickly turned around but as quickly as she did, the apparition disappeared.
Adrenalin flooded Evie’s limbs. She felt frozen. She wanted to scream or run for
help but if she did ask for help, who would she ask and what would she tell them? They’d
think she was off her rocker if she told them an apparition or supernatural being just
appeared as a reflection in her in her bathroom mirror.
Evie stood looking around her bedroom. She was shivering. She felt almost dead
cold. She grabbed the oversized white goose down comforter off of her bed and walked
to the living room. She tossed the blanket on the sofa and systematically turned every
single light on in the room then she went to the kitchen to make a hot cup of chamomile
tea. Evie intuitively knew this was going to be one of many long sleepless nights.
****
By Mid-December, Patrick O’ Shay, the Prosecuting Attorney, notified Evie that
he planned to take the evidence in front of the Grand Jury shortly after News Years. Pat
wanted her to testify. Patrick felt this decision would do away with the need for a
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preliminary trial. He explained to Evie, that the Grand Jurors are picked and that they
serve for an entire year. Jurors first review and hear all the evidence then they decide
whether there is enough evidence to proceed onto a regular trial.
All of Evie’s life she felt something profound would happen to her. Evie could
never have thrown herself into this battle against such a formidable foe unless she
believed mentally, physically, and spiritually that the defendant was guilty. There was
absolutely no doubt in her mind that he was guilty. She had that familiar knowing in her
heart that confirmed her belief.
Evie had never stepped foot into a courtroom. She was grateful they were going
through the grand jury process instead of the preliminary trial because she would get to
practice and feel the sensation of the trial without a cross-examination by the defense
attorney and without the Gatekeeper staring at her. The testimony would be somewhat of
a dress rehearsal for the full-blown trial if they got an indictment.
She felt that if the grand jury rendered an indictment, this would help her to brace
herself against the tempest and the brewing storm. Her testimony would come near the
end of the grand jury session. She prayed that the jurors would have the evidence they
would need to indict the Gatekeeper. Pat had told her by phone that if they got an
indictment, they could relax for while.
****
January 7, 1999
The grand jury had already been in session for nearly one week. At this point,
Evie knew they needed to get an indictment. It was her responsibility to report and
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interpret, with acute accuracy and precision, all of the astrological documents.
Personally, she also felt that it was her responsibility, as an astrologer to preserve the
integrity of this sacred science.
The district attorney and Evie prepared for several days on the phone before she
gave her testimony. They discussed the astrological language and terminology, which
parts of the diary she would testify about and how and what he would ask her during her
testimony. Both she and Pat wanted to make sure everything was completely
straightforward. It was also very important that Evie keep the astrology simple and basic
so the grand jurors would be able to completely understand.
The night before her testimony, she only got three hours of sleep because she
tossed and turned with the anticipation of the questions. She kept over and over them in
her head. Each time, she was at the brink of falling asleep, another thought or feeling of
fear would come over her. She would get hot, break into a sweat, and then get ice cold.
This hot cold cycle repeated itself again and again. She laid in bed, wondering whether
she knew the material.
“Did I pack of the documents we’re going to use? Did I pack the books I need?
Did I put a map of how to get to the courthouse in my car?” she thought obsessively.
When she got to the grand jury witness room, the walls were lined with FBI and
ATF agents, the lieutenant, several detectives, and Jason. This was the first time she’d
seen Jason since she backed her car off of his driveway. His dark penetrating eyes meet
hers with warmth. There were purple circles under his eyes. His face was etched with
fatigue. He had been struggling with the enormous workload of pulling all of the
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evidence together and the responsibility of understanding the hidden and dark meanings
of the Gatekeeper’s diary.
Jason could sense that Evie’s nerves were under pressure to the point of breaking
and the afflictions were taking the toll on her spirit. He put his hand on her arm to give
her some consolation and encouragement. She had the feeling that nothing would ever be
the same even after the trial was over. They had a brief conversation before he left to go
give his testimony about the Gatekeeper’s Evil Star Baten Kaitos. Pat thought this would
be the perfect introduction of the astrology to the jurors. The plan was that after Jason
was finished testifying, Pat would bring Evie in to close.
While Jason was testifying, Evie sat reviewing the documents and her notes.
There was a noticeable and abnormal quiet in the room. It was like the pall of dead air
before a raging storm is nearing a raging brew. She could not allow herself to collapse
under the pressure from the Gatekeeper because she knew, if she did, she would live in
darkness and in self-hatred for the rest of her life.
When Jason came out of the court room, he looked at Evie and he said, “You’ll
razzle-dazzle them with that purple outfit!” Then he touched her hand with a reassuring
caress. Evie thought that the color purple would give her divine protection. She knew she
needed protection.
Then, Pat came out of the Grand Jury room and signaled for Evie to come. He
said, “Let’s do it!” He gently put his hand on her back and they went through the door.
For a moment, she thought terror would get the best of her. Flashing lights and
swirling circle’s of light were passing before her eyes. Evie was literally seeing stars.
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She couldn’t focus on any of the jurors. She lost her sense of time, space, location. She
put her hand on her heart and touched a small astrological charm that her dad had given
her for good luck long before he died. She took a deep breath and then she said quietly to
herself, “I am nervous goddess. I need your guidance.”
All of a sudden, a sense of calm and strength enveloped her. She started moving
under another a power unknown to her. She felt this was some sort of pre-ordained
mission that she had been training and preparing for sense she was a young girl. She
knew she was meant to do this even thought every word she spoke would be analyzed,
scrutinized, and dissected by the jury. Nevertheless, she felt a sense of power.
After the testimony, the grand jury went into deliberations. The jury members
quickly reached a verdict to indict the Gatekeeper. Evie knew that she would need to
refine and continue to analyze the documents for the trial.
Over the course of the few weeks, Pat, Jason, and Evie met numerous times to
discuss the case. They worked well together. They also had regular conference calls. She
truly appreciated both men because they treated her with dignity and respect at all times.
Evie taught both Pat and Jason astrology along with the dark philosophy the
Gatekeeper used. She enjoyed her discussions with Pat. He expressed himself as a strong
and gentle conciliator. He was born when the sun was in the sign of Pisces but he also
had several planets in Aries in his chart. Both Pat’s rising sign and moon were in the sign
of Leo when he was born. He was not timid, meek, or self-effacing. With the Leo rising
and moon in Leo, he was a natural leader with a very strong sense of dignity, self-respect,
and personal honor. It would be against his nature to treat another person in a humiliating
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or dishonorable way.
Evie admired people like Pat. He was a strong individual, tremendously loyal, and
sincere. She could tell that he would be willing to go to extraordinary lengths to make
other people happy and feel safe. He had a great heart and a lot of courage. He allowed
Evie to feel comfortable to go to him for strength, encouragement, and acceptance. She
rarely saw him hurting, discouraged, or vulnerable. He had a warm disposition and a gift
for putting her in a good mood with his charming personality. She also liked his youthful
manner. He was always alert and displayed a quick mind. He had the qualities Evie
wanted in a friend because he was conscientious and solid, yet sensitive and
compassionate.
At heart, Pat primarily reflected the higher energy of a Pisces sun. This enhanced
his gentle, tolerant, forgiving, impressionable, intuitive, and receptive side. Evie liked the
fact that he seemed to be attracted to the mystical, emotional, and imaginative side of life.
She told him he was psychic but just didn’t know it. Sometimes when they were working
together, he would get impressions and they would turn out to accurate. It was apparent
to Evie that he could literally feel other people’s pain as if it were his own. Evie respected
that Pat lived his life by devoting himself to the service to others who were victims of
crimes.
She thought that he could have been a healer because he had a natural,
unquenchable thirst for knowledge, wisdom, and understanding of life. He seemed in
harmony with the universe. She believed he was an effective individual with a
compassionate warrior’s attitude. Because of his passionate convictions, he was willing
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to fight when he was faced with a challenge.
Evie believed that Pat’s fight would always be with a strong spiritual base
because he was truly connected to a higher source of wisdom. His personal mission was
to be a potent force for change, growth, and healing in this world. At one point, she called
him Braveheart and she absolutely meant it. Although, at times, she worried about him
because he constantly felt an internal gnawing pressure bubbling inside.
Jason was a Capricorn with several planets in the sign of Aquarius. Evie knew he
was strong, persistent, determined, and stable. He was a much quieter man than Pat. She
knew he was also loyal, very hard-working, conservative, organized, meticulous,
trustworthy, and honorable. Occasionally and unexpectedly, he would express an
eccentric and unconventional side.
Jason was the one who pursued the astrology part of the case. He was the one who
encouraged Pat to believe in Evie. He also had strong Scorpio energy in his chart. He was
extremely strong-willed but had a passionate dedication and determination about his
character. Evie witnessed him be capable of total concentration, show tremendous selfdiscipline and self-denial but use strong survival instincts and intuition. He used his
instincts like a superb detective should and followed through with devotion.
Jason called nearly her everyday. If she paged him, he would call her back within
minutes from his office or his cell phone. Sometimes, when Evie called him he would say
it was strange because he was thinking about her. She shared everything with him about
the case. In turn, he shared a lot of the inside information with her. He also helped to
keep her emotionally grounded and feeling safe. He would let her cry and share her fears
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with him. Jason completely understood Evie’s emotional state. They often shared
intimate thoughts, dreams, feelings, and worries.
Together Evie and Jason would get into analytical and probing conversations.
They both had strong Scorpio energy in their charts. Frequently, their discussions
revolved around the sexual obsessions of the defendant. Evie wasn’t embarrassed by the
topic. She was comfortable speaking frankly with Jason. They dug down into the plutonic
nature of the Gatekeeper. They worked hard to uncover the hidden meanings of the
defendant’s dark references. Jason helped Evie to not be fearful in the face of adversity.
Evie knew that Jason was a man of righteousness, patience, and valiancy. He was
open-minded and knowledgeable of criminal forensics. But the most important thing to
her was the fact that he was intuitively in tune with her. Jason was fundamentally, a
religious man who had respect for traditional religion, ethical behavior, and purity of the
soul. He wasn’t a fan or a believer in astrology, but he did believe in and trust Evie. Jason
saw the value and importance that astrology was to the case.
During many of their conversations, they discussed moral conduct, ethics,
theology, and religion. Jason began to realize that Evie’s beliefs were not all that different
from his. Sometimes, Jason asked Evie to look at his chart to see if he was going to have
a bad day. She always got a kick out of his humor. They did laugh. Sometimes, they
joked and laughed just to break up the tension. They knew a sense of humor was
essential.
Jason truly respected and trusted Evie as a partner. However, when they spoke,
they never mentioned the one forbidden night they almost slipped. Their conversations
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were always about the case and about taking care of business.
For months, Evie suffered with insomnia. When she did sleep, she dreamed that
night demons were attacking her. She believed the Gatekeeper sent the attacks. Jason told
her that he also had visits from night demons and that they were terrifying him. Both
Evie and Jason knew they could not let their guard down until they got a conviction
because the night demons were there… in the silence of darkness… lurking.
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Chapter 9
THE PENULTIMATE AFFAIR
January 11, 1999
After the grand jury rendered an indictment, the Gatekeeper tried to maintain selfcontrol. However, the pressure was building up inside of him and his self-control was
beginning to erode to a dangerous degree. He was becoming a boiling cauldron of rage.
He began to obsess, day and night about what he had written on paper and who may
come forward to rat him out.
****
“Operation Clean Sweep” was the first plan the Gatekeeper remembered. The first
time the Gatekeeper met Meenaa, was in the early spring of 1995. Meeting Meenaa
would be the event that would foreshadow the outcome of the next few years. “All I
wanted was to destroy the real estate company that sold me a home with a faulty
foundation… I got sidetracked by Meenaa!”
He thought he could mastermind a relationship with her and have control over
Meenaa. He thought, “I will engineer a relationship with this special woman named
Meenaa. Our relationship will be a predictable, stable, long-term relationship. I want to
have all of Meenaa as well as her image. I will give her power, status, privilege,
authority, and money. I will promote Meenaa’s image to stardom and use her image to
clean up after my target is destroyed.”
Meenaa was a woman with unique qualities and extraordinary talents. She was a
trained, experienced realtor. She had the personality, sensuality, and professionalism the
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Gatekeeper needed. “Meenaa was capable of overt manipulation of men and she had the
ability to consciously control and knowingly express that. I truly thought Meenaa would
be extraordinarily beneficial to me. I assumed she would have been able to facilitate what
I wanted and stroke me at the same time. I thought Meenaa’s image was perfect. Meenaa
was my Ms. Clean Ideal Profile,” he thought to himself.
Meenaa was no old crow. She had a fresh face that balanced flexibility with
maturity. Even though her ethnicity was Middle Eastern she had very little accent. Her
finances were a mess so she was hungry to succeed. She was a hard worker and accepted
risks with high stakes. Her complexion was light olivine and she wore minimal face
make-up. For the Gatekeeper this was all the better for media presentation. Her body type
was slender. She had an appealing visual image because of her eyes. Her personality was
charismatic. She was eager, a charmer, and had a smooth, sweet voice that
communicated vulnerability. “Meenaa could light up the screen with her disarming
presence. Yet she had self-centeredness about her – she focused her attention on
achievement and she executed her plans well. When I met her, she had not been
permanently corrupted...yet, that is. The presence of that woman!” he thought.
The Gatekeeper also believed that Meenaa was his ideal candidate because she
possessed a mentoring capacity. “Meenaa – my Ms. Clean was emotionally receptive and
demonstrative. Even though she kept me at the correct distance, a definite two-way
rapport was established. A person who is mentored can never be more then a transient
success unless the learning is at the gut level – learning must be experienced, rather then
observed. Receptivity and response together allowed the shared visionary experience.
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Mentoring is seductive, but must not end up a seduction. Meenaa seduced me!” he
thought.
The Gatekeeper recalled developing a “Social Contract” that he called the “Good
Mirror Golden Rules”. “My goal was intimacy. Fear destroys trust; intimacy reinforces
trust. We are all afraid to tell our truths because we do not want to be emotionally
abandoned. Hence, we manipulate, embellish, shade the truth, and not disclose acts,
which destroy trust,” he thought. For a while, the Gatekeeper watched Mina in action but
he kept himself at a distance at least on an emotional level.
“When did Meenaa first call on me? I remember now, it was April 12, 1995.”
****
“Why am I here?” she asked him in a soft sensual voice.
“Meenaa you came to me under your Evil Star… Saturn and Capricorn
activation’s were all involved. The solar eclipse in Scorpio, brought you losses and
problems. You hit bottom, now with a big ouch! So get going and let’s see some
movement! January is coming! In January 1996, the moon’s node will soon conjunct
my natal Mars. You came here under your star, I will take you only so far, but I can’t
let go of you at this moment. Today is the first day of the rest of our relationship in
this lifetime,” he said.
“Will there be future lifetimes when we meet?” she asked.
“Yes. In these future lifetimes, we will each pay for the deficiencies we engineer
in this lifetime. We can make new karma if you agree to my Social Contract,” he said.
****
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The social contract defined what the Gatekeeper wanted from the relationship and
what he wished to give to her. “I offered a special relationship – a social contract to my
female friend, Meenaa,” he thought angrily. “I promised to be a good mirror to Meenaa. I
promised to be a true friend, with forgiveness and absolution available upon request in all
matters not just proscribed by our agreement. I promised to not betray any trust, and if
such ever should happen for any reason, I promised to ask for forgiveness and absolution.
I promised one free pass for any transgression so long as we talked it out. I promised one
professional courtesy – a free information investigation if the purpose was to thwart
others who would or could deceive her business transactions.”
The Gatekeeper remembered when he proposed the “Social Contract” and his
creation of a new media image called Ms. Clean to Meenaa. She said, “I promise to
answer any three questions of an intimate nature, at any level, so that any uncertainties
can be dispelled regarding this relationship. I also promise that, from time to time, we can
take a time out from our respective lives and go on a long walk and talk with you so we
can review and renew this Social Contract.”
“Ms. Clean had a false god. Perhaps, I should have subtitled this search, Ms.
Pure-heart. Perhaps, I should have asked the masters. If, I had asked my master –
Typhon, I would have had better control over her image. Instead, I created a reactive
monster! I gave Meenaa power and status, privilege and authority… and the money!” he
thought.
“Now, I sit in jail… will I pay the price for trying to rein in the monster? Will
circumstances, the Evil Star, and Saturn crystallize time as events? The Evil Star
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produced an affliction upon Meenaa. She was the reactive monster. Meenaa fed on me for
money! Her Mars and Part of Fortune is square Saturn and this is an affliction from and
to men. In this lifetime, Meenaa had to learn her lesson through pain. Meenaa used her
Mars to acquire money. The Evil Star blinded her to her actions. She preferentially
reacted and projected the Evil Star’s energy through her Mars sexuality. Meenaa needed
further work,” he thought.
****
“What do you mean that I came to you under an Evil Star?” she asked.
“Meenaa, you have a double affliction to your natal Mars and the Evil Star is
square to your natal Saturn. Your Part of Fortune is conjunct Mars and the Evil Star. If I
help you to be Ms. Clean, I will have fulfilled your karma. Saturn rules karma. Saturn
produces karma through the crystallization of events. You must knowingly accept the
Mrs. Claim role. You must understand that if you knowingly accept the promotion I offer
you, you will have to repay the Evil Star its due,” he said.
Meenaa sat quiet contemplating what the Gatekeeper told her. “If I accept help
from you, then do I not need to fear bad karma from the situation?” she asked.
“You will have absolutely no guilt. I will help your soul choose the path for your
soul’s growth,” he answered.
Silently he thought, “I will use her to clean up after I destroy my business
competition. I will promote her to stardom just as her chart shows, but this stupendous
rise will lead to her downfall. She will be bludgeoned into oblivion by the Evil Star’s
downside. She must experience her downfall just as she was driven from Afghanistan. I
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must approach Meenaa with a Faustian bargain – a pact with the Devil.”
****
The next event the Gatekeeper remembered occurred on Tuesday, May 2, 1995.
This was the day the Gatekeeper met Meenaa to discuss business at a small coffee shop
on the East side of town. The conversation was supposed to be about business, but
instead it was personal. “I need to tell you that an Afghan male has started paying for my
attention,” Meenaa said.
The Gatekeeper already knew a new male stud was in Meenaa’s life.
“Really…where did you meet him?” he coyly replied.
“Yes… really. I met him through my sister-in-law. He showed up at the office
first and then, he came to my home. He asked me to dinner and I went. During dinner he
proposed an offer of marriage to me,” she said.
The Gatekeeper felt that Mina’s sister-in-law had effective control over the
family. He was envious and hated her for that. As long as Meenaa was tied to the in-laws,
he would not be in complete control of her. The Gatekeeper looked straight into those
eyes of Meenaa’s. “He’s the one who runs an Afghan prostitution ring and he lives with
one of the prostitutes,” he said casually.
Meenaa suddenly stood up. She was obviously angry. Shocked. “I need to get
back to work. I have things to do,” she said.
“You didn’t finish your coffee…,” he said smiling.
“I don’t want it… I need to go,” she said.
The Gatekeeper took a sip of his black coffee and smiled while Meenaa hurried to
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her car. He thought the sister-in-law wanted to expand her business and to polarize the
community. He believed she was a hard moneylender, a legal loan shark with a real
shady reputation. He heard a rumor that she burned up her own car just to collect the
insurance money. The thing that pissed him off the most was he believed the sister-in-law
shamelessly engaged in mortgage fraud and developed owner occupied down payments
sourcing schemes.
****
The Gatekeeper recalled that on June 26, 1995, he secretly discovered information
about a dinner party held at a dinning hall – the Afghan Festival Committee Meeting Hall
by Meenaa’s relatives, his targets. “This was an Unholy Alliance!” he thought. The
Gatekeeper thought Meenaa could connect him with people who were involved in
organized crime because her family bought a business that used to be Mafia owned and
run by a strip-club cartel owner named Sam Conti. Meenaa’s cousins bought the dining
hall and currently ran it. He thought “Operation Clean Sweep” would be an appropriate
title.
After he found out about the dinner party, he called and left a message on
Meenaa’s phone. “Why didn’t you get back to me? Do you have a coup d’état to report to
me or do you want to become independent from me? Did you just need me to open the
door for you so you could start planning an end run around my attempts to retain control
for expansion through this Afghan Festival of yours? Are you trying to make the peace
with your family… form some kind of Unholy Alliance? Call me!” he said in a sinister
voice.
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Meenaa did not tell him about the dinner party, but he found out anyway.
“Meenaa was exposed! She refused to return any of my calls. Was I perceived as a
personal threat to The Unholy Alliance? Or just to her? Are the Kabul business people
laundering drug money through their operations? This is a very speculative question
since Meenaa hangs out there. This business is a locus of Afghan community activities
and provides a client pool,” he thought.
****
The Gatekeeper remembered the series of letters he titled the “Walk and Talk
Series”. He wondered and worried if the letters would be discussed in court.
Dear Meenaa,
This morning, I'm writing on July 4, 1995 to withdraw my offer of the trust me,
Walk and Talk, outing as planned for late this week. The purpose was to talk out the
personal side of our business relation, an attempt by me to engineer a relationship where
we could both feel safe on both the professional and personal levels.
On the operating level, I prefer you playing the role of as Ms. Clean,
businesswoman, personal friend, and confidante. I know it would be impossible to act
with complete confidence in you without a personal knowledge of you. I would be
gifting the major parcels of time and financial benefit to you because I admire you, and I
would ultimately benefit from your successes. The possible misinterpretation of intent
could be legion. Yes, I do have feelings towards you. Nothing could work without
saying the flirtation and seductiveness is not a seduction. To see through each other's
eyes is seductive and must be talked out before any work could proceed on the intended
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level of close cooperation, or else in several months from now there could be a lot of
mixed signals and hurt feelings.
After much consideration, explained below, I have come to the conclusion that
you would continue to react to me as a woman rather than as an Afghan woman. I would
forever be writing letters to engender trust, feeling my way through your defenses to get
close enough to you so that I could turn away to outside business without worrying
whether you would turn on me. Your lies and deceptions would force me to periodically
re-analyze then re-engineering the business and personal relationship aspects.
I suppose I should put myself in your shoes and see through your eyes, the eyes of
a woman forced to do business with males as part of her business. I have asked for your
trust, knowing that we have a history of trust. This week was to be an excursion north
away from the city and into an area so we could have no distractions or time deadlines
and have the time to get acquainted on a more personal level. With Walk and Talk, there
was a lot to be discussed, the setting of boundaries and limits, reassurance is of openness
– and yes, I do flirt! - Talking about where all these elements that make any relationship
work could and should not lead.
I want your trust. I wanted that last three-page letter I gave you to be our social
contract. It was a written reassurance that in spite of the familiarities that come, with
working together, we could/would maintain a discrete distance so that the relationship
could continue to be productive. I like putting things in writing, for protection from
ambiguity and for accountability.
I must add knowledge the reality of your being an Afghan and a woman operating
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in the American culture, there will never be any possible liking relationships for me
relative to women, with whom I would choose to execute certain business moves. Such
maneuvers would only be possible with a close relationship, someone with whom I had
an “engineered” a knowable, predictable, stable long-term relationship. Yet the only
really long-term trust relationships I have ever had, have been with one totally trusted
Hindu, one male, the wife of a long-term friend, and my relatives.
You personally are flirtatious. I enjoy your attentions. I enjoyed watching you
earlier this year when a man came into your office. You generously hugged him to put
him it ease and then you told me it was only so I could get access to him. I was a bit
shocked by your behavior and your lies. I refuse to engage in such boundary violations,
but apparently it works to your advantage.
Overt manipulation of men is one of your very feminine gifts. If you could
consciously control and knowingly express that, it would be of extraordinary personal
benefit to me during 1995 and 1997. I expect to be under such duress that your attention
would be desirable to keep me distracted. Regardless, such a gift of attention would act
like a good mirror, a point of reference, from which in responding, I could see myself
more clearly and therefore act more effectively in prosecuting my lawsuit.
Whether it is your openness in describing your life, your freely flowing
conversation that expresses your feelings, or some of the physical things you do to
communicate with touch: such as hugging men and how you brush your hand across my
arm. I presume you openly do these things with all other men you like, you feel
comfortable expressing yourself. However, you said it has brought you grief from male
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clients who did not understand the definition of the word Coquette. Look it up in a
dictionary.
I suspect your former Afghan husband and his family, vocally disapproved of
such overt behavior, but such behavior isn’t one of the many interpersonal tools women
use for relational selling, it is necessary for closing deals. And this behavior is what
makes you so useful to me, even if I have to get around someone who could be obstinate.
This is what is a very sensitive subject to most women. To get me what I want and
stroke me at the same time. I have wondered how you would react to my clinical
discussion of this sensitive subject. I have also wondered how you rationalize such
behavior as professional until I set down this weekend to look at what you consciously do
relative to your Afghan socialization. Then I realized what missing developmental
elements from American culture were absent from your experiences and whose absence
may complicate Our Social Contract.
You also say you never dated before getting married - never dated a man! You
said that your pre-marital resume did not include the socialization experiences that are
part of American culture. Do you remember when you recently came to my home and I
ask you to sit closer on the sofa? You were perched on the cushion edge. I wanted to
look into your eyes, to see how you handle closeness, to find out whether you would
listen carefully and trust me to not make a pass at you.
You also say you have been shocked at how some of your male clients think you
are available for sex or sex as a trade-off for business relations. And you wanted
assurances from me that I was not going to blindside you on this subject. That is why I
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wrote the Social Contract. That subject was to be one of the discussions we would have
had this week, flirtations vs. boundary violations.
You apparently want the benefits of flirtation; you want flirtation as a business
tool, but covertly and without the complications of someone getting overt - acting out the
rest of the action. I know in your heart that you feel this emoting is sincere and you
rationalize as how you give yourself to people. What you are missing is the fact that you
are within a business relationship and that such behavior, even with other business
associates, is just plain inappropriate unless overtly expressed as personal and nonbusiness. That is why for so many years, I have just shaken your hand regardless of my
personal feelings.
Yes, I am a flirt, too and just as guilty of manipulations of you and other people.
However, I recognize boundary violations as inappropriate. This discussion is per Our
Social Contract and is an attempt to come to terms with both of our behaviors. The
alternative to talking out the manipulations is eventual crossed signals and a catastrophe
for business.
Our Social Contract is more than just an agreement to agree on boundaries. It is
to open the door to talking about behaviors and establishing our rapport where the
manipulations and conditional behavior can be replaced with communication and the
permission to speak openly. No more covert stuff, no conditional trust, no more seductive
behavior aimed at the subconscious, and no ducking the manipulative intent. I want to
give and get permission to overtly flirt - a contradiction of intents. I want to talk about
these things openly. The ultimate manipulation is not to be manipulative. We have to
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talk about handling intimacy as a consequence.
This is all getting so complicated. I wish you as a divorcee, had been through
some of the cultural experiences of the American Dating Game, so you could see at a gut
level what I am talking about. Originally I had hoped just the opposite, that your not
being Americanized, your being Afghan would allow me to communicate with you as a
woman without your responding as a female. I hoped you would be curious about what’s
going on between people, but I suspect that female wariness is just culturally
independent.
The fall out, of this not going on a Walk and Talk, is this: I am separating our
relationship into two parts, business and personal. You and I can have a good business
relationship as always, but any personal stuff will have to go through another woman
such as our mutual friend. If either of us have a complaint, observation, or personal issue
to explore, we can request all three of us to get together.
The execution of the Ms. Clean campaign will occur through her to you. I believe
that she will volunteer to provide the emotional support and contact with you needed to
make the venture successful. You will end up, through her as a conduit from me, with an
incredible amount of inside information on the city’s economy and my dismantling of the
same. I must get information to you ahead of any public discussion so that you can
position in yourself as the recipient of the fallout.
As for personal mutual deceptions, I believe the above arrangement will terminate
any need to watch each other. I can be direct; you can stop worrying how I will respond.
I was really angry by being unable to access you over a number of days. You left me
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hanging professionally. My repeated messages to your office and home were
unanswered. I do not believe your explanation was adequate. That left a lot of question
marks that I had hoped to discuss on our Walk and Talk.
I was really worried about why you had not gotten back to me. Were you mad at
me? Possibly murdered by your former husband? I decided to stop at your home and
ring your doorbell. Do you remember the permissions we have to do this as an expression
of trust?
I did not ring your doorbell. I could look up into a window and see an Afghan
male seated at a table talking to you, so I decided to it would be better not to interfere
with your family or personal matters. You were alive and well.
The next day you called me. As part of your explanation, you told me about your
all female relatives. Three times, you asserted no males. Why would I care about the
presence of males except as a test of whether you would choose to deceive me? From
your statement, that no males were visitors that day, I conclude that for some reason you
did not want me to think you had gentlemen friends.
My goal is not to have you tell the truth about your behavior, even though an
unconditional relationship requires the same. My goal is to know what the truth is and to
predict your behavior. Whether you deceive or not is irrelevant, so long as I can tell
what’s going on. Then you are a knowable quantity. We all have our lies we tell to
protect others from knowledge of our behaviors. The unreturned phone calls and males
are yours.
I am now looking for a professional hand holder, a friend with whom I can
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communicate and be close and a good mirror. No wife can fill this job. I have asked my
sister Elzora to be a part-time telephone hand holder. She will be here visiting next week,
offering her support to my efforts. If things get really tough, I can import some of my
long-term women friends for a week or two, but I do need a local woman who
understands me.
I look forward to our continuing business opportunities as a group venture. But
we do have to get past all of this garbage first, or everything ends up on hold.
He recalled the second letter her wrote to Meenaa on July 5, 1995.
Dear Meenaa,
The letter I wrote to you yesterday still applies. I did not have the confidence that
you would see what the trip north was about. I still do not have confidence about the
same, and hence wrote that letter and now this letter.
What is the trip north all about?
If you had said, “Yes, lets go north and Walk and Talk,” then you would have
scored 1000 points on my trust and confidence scale. I offered you an unconditional
relationship with me. To go north would require you to reciprocate and offer me the
same.
The trip north is about your giving up that portion of how you attempt to
manipulate men to your advantage as a woman. Also, to discuss how you overtly use
your manipulation skills so we can get past what I call privately wiggle ass games. If I
were to explain this female relational concept to any man, they would immediately grasp
the concept. Can you?
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So many women try to use sex as a weapon to control. I play the game hard, only
to teach the lesson that sex as a weapon of manipulation and control must be let go and
transcended as an operating procedure. Sex, femininity, flirtation, and touch, as such a
manipulation forever requires you to maintain a distance. The business posture becomes
supine and the woman becomes a whore. You have had problems with males who try to
follow through on the preferred bait and your husband has rebelled.
You have failed with me because I require that women, give up the required
emotional distance. Sex is a relational tool and is required if we are to succeed. I offer
intimacy, an emotional intimacy rather than intimacy as a sexual tool or as a substitute.
This intimacy results from the trust and confidence of an unconditional relationship.
I still ask that you continue to use this sex as a relational tool, but only to help me
in my task of manipulating others. Men are so easy to kitty or pussy whip. Some females
use sex, their femininity, flirtation and the unspoken offer of physical or emotional
intimacy as a manipulation or invitation to a man in order to get him to the door. If they
had the confidence to not be so manipulative, to get beyond personal attraction as a
business tool, to ask or demand that the relationship that they offer be upgradeable to
unconditional, with themselves not on the agenda, then they could end up being a super
star. Or fall flat on their face.
I think you gain some kind of feedback and are unwilling to give up the power
you get from manipulation. This freedom to manipulate is a major payoff for you. I
really don't know what skills you would use that could replace this formidable
manipulation tool.
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Once you and I get beyond the manipulation stage and embrace the concept of an
unconditional relationship, then we can have the friendship and business relationship that
leads on to greatness. Giving up power and excepting equality and friendship is difficult,
but intimacy and the personal growth that proceeds from this emotional trust are so much
better in the long haul.
This is what the trip north was about.
There are only three possible responses from you about my offer to Walk and
Talk. Say yes and you get a gold star. All this stuff gets talked out and you win, win,
and win some more. Ms. Confidence will never see any more tests, ever. I know what
the score is. I have been around the block a few times and will respond with appropriate
rather then inappropriate behavior.
If you say, No… you still get a gold star. You took a position and were willing to
trust me, to risk your self as I gave you permission to. The worst possible choice is do,
say nothing and let time run on. Perhaps you will make some lame excuse. Then I repeat
the lesson and decline involvement in promoting you, or put you on some kind of
probation or mellowing period. Above all, I need feedback! That is the key to
communication. We can not have a fiduciary relationship, a trust, without this process.
A fiduciary places the interests of others before her own. A fiduciary exercises
the highest level of trust possible. If you need manipulation at a distance in order to
succeed, then you can never get close enough to be a fiduciary. If you can’t talk it out,
whether on my terms or yours, then you are not ready.
It all comes down to how aware you can become about the relationship that is
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being offered. It is about establishing and maintaining directness as I am doing now with
these series of letters.
This is an on-the-record letter of explanation and is being sent this morning. It
will be delivered to your home and your office. This is all without knowing what your
decision is on how to handle me on our Walk and Talk.
I hope you choose correctly. I truly do like you and will shield you from any
personal side of me that you indicate would make you feel uncomfortable. But you can’t
have me around unconditionally while you are conditional. Trust is everything,
particularly if I am to trust you with really large sums of my money and power in the
years ahead.
We still need that trip north or what ever is equivalent, but I shall not be available
again until this fall. Think about what is required. Read my enclosed letter with an open
eye on this Walk and Talk, work it out concept. You are learning that anybody who
spent five years working the sex crimes beat is quite aware of how to manipulate those
who manipulate with charm or what ever it is called.
I apologize if you feel used. You are not the first charming woman to go through
these hoops. The last one thought she could finesse her way past a felony. I have hope for
you because I do not see you as corrupt, just human. You need to learn to trust this very
unusual friend of yours.
Sincerely, with love and friendship,
The Gatekeeper
P.s. You know me, so just know I had to include your clipped horoscope for your
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perusal. I chuckle every time I read it.
****
The Gatekeeper remembered that he met with Meenaa on July 10th at 10:05 a.m.
for breakfast.
“The astrological, soul basis for you being here, at this time and with me, as you
pass through, on your way is your fate. I believe you now understand how I feel about
you, with a willingness to be your Gatekeeper. A gatekeeper is not to be a caregiver, but a
caregiver and adviser,” the Gatekeeper explained.
“But, care-giving is about emotional and material support. That requires the
capacity to listen, to be a good mirror, not exploit the instead promote individual growth
and integrity. That requires meeting basic material needs, including financial support,”
she replied.
“Are you looking to me as your refuge from the slings and arrows of misfortune?”
he asked.
“Shelter followed by promotion and support is the essence of care-giving.”
“Do you want me to feed you a feed forward loop to make your progress
possible?” he asked.
“What do you mean… feed forward loop?” she asked.
“A feed forward control loop must be paired with a feedback control loop….
Gate-keeping is about controlled progress. Hence, that’s why I have the title adviser.
Therefore, I as your Gatekeeper must act as your caregiver and adviser. I have the task of
providing control loops for you so you can progress into the next phase of your life,” he
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said.
The Gatekeeper believed that Meenaa was from a past life relationship. He
wanted her to benefit in this life and to remember him in the next lifetime where they
would meet.
“Will we not have anything more than a personal, non-physical relationship in
this life?” she asked.
“I believe we have a fated complementary relationship developing from which
much personal and professional contact will evolve. In this life the way that I can love
you, is to promote your interests and to help you along into the second – external
circumstance – the lunar node Saturn cycle. Your responsibility is not to betray my trust.
Let things grow, from which all else will evolve,” he said.
“Can we make a fresh start?” she asked.
“Yes, our relationship will be revitalized,” he said.
Meenaa looked away. He thought to himself, “Did we have this fresh start? Or is
the relationship stillborn?” Then he looked directly at her and said, “You are still wanted,
but only for practical reasons.” The Gatekeeper immediately shoveled in his eggs and
hash browns. He was impervious to Meenaa.
Meenaa wiped her tears and leaned in closer to him. Anger began to develop in
her eyes. “I got down on my knees… I begged my husband to change. But, he kicked me
with his knee into a wall. That was the turning point when I decided I would not put up
with my situation. I stopped having sex with him even though he demanded it. I planned
my escape and rented a furnished house in the hills – secretly,” she said.
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The Gatekeeper hardly looked at her. He shook his head back and forth. “Meenaa,
the Evil Fixed Star was activated,” he said without emotion.
“My husband hit me in the head. So after he left the house for the day, I collected
my clothing and belongings and left for my hide- out. But I stupidly told my father where
I was and my husband found out. All of my family have turned against me. They each
took a turn to visit and castigate me for my behavior. They blamed me. My father has
refused to visit me again,” she said sadly.
“This was an especially bad blow for you Meenaa and at a time when you needed
support,” he said.
“I was forced to go to marriage counseling so I could patch things up with my
husband. After we were finished at the counselor’s, I invited him to come to my house.
Practically as soon as we got in the door the bastard raped me! The next day I went to my
gynecologist so I wouldn’t get pregnant. Now, I have no desire for a man, no need for the
comfort of a man, because of the disillusionment I have experienced at the hands of my
husband. I want to be free from submission!” she said strongly.
“I bet anything that your rape was natal Mars square Saturn especially with the
Evil Star conjunct your natal Mars,” he said in a matter-of-fact tone.
“The Afghan bastard grabbed me by my throat with both hands and he had me in
a stranglehold so strong that it fixed my head upright against the wall. Then he hit me
with his forehead on my forehead above my right eye. The blow caused a golf-ball-sized
bruise,” she said. Meenaa leaned over and pointed to her forehead. “Look, I still have a
scar from it,” she said.
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“I don’t see anything in… I mean on… that pretty head for you to worry about
Meenaa,” he said in-between chewing buttered toast dipped in egg yoke.
The Gatekeeper loved it that Meenaa depended on him. He thought, “Meenaa was
free with her own home. Nobody thought she could hold onto it. She says her parents do
not know, no one knows, that I have been the only one who has helped her financially.”
“Meenaa this was a critical juncture in your life and I was the only one there for
you. You are still just learning to trust me. I know it’s tentative, but it is growing and
developing…” The Gatekeeper felt that he was doing these things for her. He dreamed of
her coming to him in another lifetime. “You can repay your Goodness Gatekeeper with
love. There is this karma that needs to be fulfilled. However, you are carrying anger
towards men inside of yourself. You need to learn to trust your Gatekeeper. I understand
you are hurting inside, but so am I. We can heal together and eventually grow. After you
are healed you will become a beacon for other suppressed women – a role model for the
younger Afghan female generation,” he said.
Later that day, the Gatekeeper wrote in his diary about the breakfast meeting.
The Meenaa Interview
“Meenaa had a very pleasant time at breakfast... from me. She opened up.
Meenaa says she at onetime liked her husband, but never loved him. She was
experiencing a repressed atmosphere, feeling controlled and losing it. Meenaa had
planned her escape mechanism. She asked her husband’s sister to speak to him and plead
with him to change his dominating ways.”
****
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The reality was that the affair with Meenaa was about the Gatekeeper’s own
needs because he was a narcissist. Meenaa was a victim. The Gatekeeper’s own acts
boxed him in on all four sides in the small jail cell.
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Chapter 10
A SELF-IMPOSED PURGATORY
January 13, 1999
Patrick O’ Shay, the district attorney, notified E. J. that she would be required to
testify at a pre-trial hearing under an 1101 Motion – Credibility and Character of
Witness: Evidence of Character to Prove Conduct on January 25, 1999.
****
January 25, 1999
At the hearing, Gordon Harper, the defense attorney objected to the testimony
under People vs. Kelly and People vs. Johnson. He felt it was a Kelly-Frye issue and
argued whether, first of all, what was Evie being qualified as? An Astrologer? Then, was
she qualified to testify in that type of expertise? Then, lastly, is that the kind of area that
is subject to expert testimony under Kelly? The Defense felt it was a two-pronged test.
Could she be qualified as an expert? And, even if she was, was it the kind of scientific
area that is subject to expert testimony?
During the hearing, Mr. Samuel Archer, Superior Court Judge asked, “Mr.
Harper, is there an issue of authorship of the writings?”
Defense Attorney Harper stepped forward and faced Judge Archer. “No, your
Honor, we’re not challenging the source of the material upon which this individual, this
witness, relied.”
The District Attorney felt it was an evidentiary issue so he asked that the Court
allow the testimony as admissible. He wanted the Judge to instruct as to the extent of it’s
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admissibility after the testimony.
Mr. Harper argued, “As an Astrologer, we believe she cannot opine that it was
prepared before that date. She can simply interpret the exact meaning of the astrological
language. Logic may dictate it was written before, but it would not be subject of an expert
opinion, and that’s the distinction that I’m making. It’s an important one because, as the
Court now knows, this is the only document, the only piece of evidence, that the People
have that demonstrates directly in their opinion that my client did these bombings.”
The defense attorney continued to argue. He said, “The documents have been
characterized repeatedly as a confession. In order for it to be a confession, it has to be a
plan, planned ahead of time. If it’s retrospective, then it’s not a confession. So we are
allowing this woman to opine as an astrologer that it’s a confession, and 352 alone would
dictate that she shouldn’t be able to do that.”
Fortunately, for the prosecution, Judge Archer agreed to hear the testimony so
Patrick O’ Shay and E. J. began going through the Astrological evidence. Late in the
afternoon on January 25th, the testimony for the prosecution was completed. However,
the defense team had a right to cross-examine her the next day.
****
January 26, 1999
Judge Archer gave his ruling after the cross-examination was complete. He said,
“Ms. Taylor has special knowledge, skill, and experience in the field of astrology. This
skill has been demonstrated by her ability to interpret and translate the astrological
symbols and principles that are generally accepted in the study of astrology. This is not a
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Kelly-Frye analysis case. The Kelly-Frye issues pertain to the introduction of evidence
pertaining to new, novel, or scientific principles or techniques. In this case, the witness is
more akin to an interpreter of a foreign language and the jury will need assistance in
understanding the symbols and the principles upon which astrology is based. The words
and symbols are not quite as simple as the defense analogy pertained, which was a quote
in French.”
“The astrology symbols give meaning to the document. I think the testimony of
this witness is important for the jury to understand the entire meaning of the document. In
some cases, the symbols refer to what occurred in the past, in some cases it indicates a
present tense, and in some areas it indicates a future tense. In the Court’s view, it’s valid
and the District Attorney can elicit an opinion as to what these sentences mean. Do they
mean past tense, present tense, or future tense? Hence, in the Court’s view, the testimony
is admissible pursuant to Evidence Code Section 801, and it is not made admissible by
the Kelly-Frye rule. The district attorney can illicit an opinion as to the past, present and
future, and it is admissible.”
This ruling was an important win for the prosecution’s case because E. J. would
be allowed to testify as an expert in the field of astrology. She would render the ultimate
opinion that the document was prepared before the bombings.
Although extremely stressful, in many ways, E. J. was thankful to have a pre-trial
hearing because it would be a dress rehearsal for the jury trial, which was imminent. It
also gave her an opportunity to get an intuitive feel for Judge Archer who was a seasoned
judge with twenty-plus years in the criminal sector. Samuel Archer was a six-foot tall and
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well-built muscular gentleman who appeared to be in his mid-sixties. He had a full head
of silvery white hair, a sculpted jaw-line, prominent cheek bones, and dark eyes that
revealed intensity.
On the other hand, Gordon Harper was well-padded with sloping shoulders. He
was about five feet six inches tall with an over-sized rounded head and curly balding hair
that he wore in a comb-over style. His complexion was freckled and ruddy. His eyes were
small and hazel-colored. He had an in-curved nose that tipped up at the end. His
temperament seemed antagonistic, testy, and sarcastic. However, he was an experienced
and successful trial lawyer and had defended some of the Bay Area’s worst criminals in
his twenty-year history.
****
11:00 p.m. January 26, 1999
The first night after E. J. Taylor’s testimony at the pre-trial hearing the
Gatekeeper was fatigued. He recalled that on July 18, 1995 he gave Meenaa a copy of her
luridly sexual psychic tapes he made for her. “Before July, she started to bond to me…
both emotionally and financially. She did take several loans from me,” he thought.
He remembered on the tape that he said, “I psychically photographed you to my
sister Elzora who is also naturally psychic. If anything happens to me, Elzora come to
you, as a source, so she can begin investigating.”
It occurred to the Gatekeeper that Meenaa started to detach from him immediately
after she received the tapes because she phoned the Gatekeeper and she said, “I don't
know how I tolerated you for so long!”
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The Gatekeeper thought about the conversation. He also remembered a trip
Meenaa planned to take with a male friend. He could still feel jealousy bubbling inside
just at the thought of her trip. “She wanted what was coming! The bitch wouldn’t go with
me but she went to Palm Springs for her adventure with her newest male stud.”
He remembered that during the phone conversation when Meenaa told him she
didn’t know why she tolerated for so long, he paused before answering. He took a long
deep breath then exhaled. “Meenaa, something is coming your way and you must be set
free to explore this. I must detach myself from you and never trust you again,” he said
angrily. Then he slammed the phone down.
He remembered that after the phone call he went to his dark study and unlocked
the door, slammed it shut, then furiously locked it. Once he was in the office, he lit a
small black candle in order to give illumination to the current cycle of events that had
transpired with Meenaa. He went to his file cabinet and took out his astrological chart. “I
have natal Neptune opposite natal moon, which equals Neptunian danger. Transiting
Saturn is opposite natal Neptune. Meenaa has natal Neptune conjunct my natal Venus.
This equal’s deception. It also indicates that Meenaa is a femme fatale. Disappointment
in love is acute if you fall for someone who is not at all worthwhile – this is the
illusion…,” he thought acidly.
He gazed at his Tarot deck and thought about doing a spread. Instead, he thought,
“Everything went south after Meenaa reviewed her psychic tapes. She was adamant that
she had nothing to offer – a friend. She was angry that she had agreed to transfer personal
and clinical information.”
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****
He fell onto the jailhouse cot because he was emotionally exhausted. A cold chill
went straight through to his bones. While looking at the blank ceiling, he remembered
writing a document on July 25th 1995 at 6:00 p.m. He titled this document “Great
Insights”.
“Today is the Great Insights that came from defining our special relationship. We
are beginning a great understanding. This is not a case of cultural taboos about hand
holding and touching as I first thought. And it is not a case of not liking me, for which
there is much proof. The openness is genuine. We do have a very special
communication unlike anything in the last twenty years for me and unlike anything
Meenaa has known. The issue is not about trusting me. Meenaa trusts me. The problem
is her aversion to being close, to being touched from anybody. She feels very
uncomfortable about closeness. The intense reaction is by her admission abnormal. She
doesn’t fear being close; she just feels deadened, unwilling and unable to respond. She is
emotionally paralyzed. She’s never learned to accept physical intimacy, physical love.”
The Gatekeeper felt Meenaa’s aversion to physical intimacy was the result of the
years of abuse at her husband’s hand. He looked at the blank ceiling of his cell and
thought, “Meenaa’s husband neglected her emotionally and forced her to have sex with
him as a convenience. She never loved her husband although she told me that at one time,
she did love her cousin. However, her feelings were unacceptable.” The Gatekeeper felt
that Meenaa had sacrificed her own needs and her own identity.
He recalled that at one time she said, “I don’t know what it is to desire a man. I
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have no need for a man. I’m tired of being propositioned by men who tell me how
beautiful I am. They tell me how much they want me but it’s only for sex. I’m tired of
having friendship being betrayed by men.”
He shrieked out-loud, “Males pursued her since she was a child. She was an
incurable flirt! She used flirting to gain reassurance and self worth. She needed to attract
men, but keep them at a distance. If men did respond to her, she reacted with suspicion.
She saw it as a demand for intimacy. This frightened her.”
Enlightenment struck the Gatekeeper like a bolt of lightening. He sat up straight.
“It wasn’t me. It was her. She couldn’t respond!” he yelled out.
He calmed down and he smiled to himself. “Meenaa will eventually need to enter
therapy. Only when she is sufficiently financially secure, will she be able to turn inward
and devote her focused attention to overcoming her aversion. With financial security, she
could overcome her fear of failure. However, she will return to her dependence within her
culture. I experienced same thing at age twenty-one. I’m the one who offered her an
open relationship. I taught her how to talk openly. Meenaa wanted to have a relationship
but she didn’t realize what we had was intimacy,” he thought disdainfully.
He stood up, stretched his stiff body, and then paced back and forth in the small
area between the cot and the toilet in the cell. “Instead, she reacted to me with her Evil
Star... I offered her an opportunity!” he shouted scornfully.
The Gatekeeper flopped back down on the make-shift bed. He shook his head
back and forth and starred at the blank wall. He thought, “I resent her. Meenaa caused my
misery. I should have ended my involvement with her. She violated and victimized me…
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she put me in a cycle of Plutonic soul searching. The Scorpion’s energy put me in a
period of testing and confrontation. It was a time of culmination and climax in close
personal relations. Meenaa was deceitful. She took me for a ride. I should have
terminated Meenaa! Now, I’m behind bars and I must avoid the tendency to cave in.”
The Gatekeeper sat up and reached for the yellow legal pad his lawyer had left
him then he began to write down his thoughts.
Lunar Nodal Giving and Receiving…
“The north node is what a person experiences this life, while south node brings
people from past lives into the present. The north node is the bread and butter, salt and
pepper arrangement where each should augment the other while still retaining the
individual flavor. This presents a superlative configuration that brings achievement and
happiness to both parties. If, the south node connects to Mercury, there is one way
communication, from teacher to students, lecturer to audience, whereby the natal person
draws in lessons. When the north node connects to Venus, a synergistic bond is formed
and brings a non-possessive loving relationship that is needed by both parties. This
guarantees a beneficial emotional and material relationship. However, if the south node
aspects Venus, then the natal person needs admiration and attention.”
The Gatekeeper stopped writing. He tapped his pen on the legal pad. He thought,
“Meenaa and I could have conquered the world together because in our charts the north
node and Mars are connected. However, all she wanted from me was a transfusion of
energy. We could have had success in the name of the mutual game – the cornucopia
incarnate. We could have had huge success in a short duration of time. It would have
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been a productive collaboration that benefited us both… like a factory that grinds out
quality and quantity of experience. I was her Karmic Gatekeeper, her enabler. I was the
one who got Meenaa beyond the learning curve. I should not have prolonged the tutoring
relationship. I could have been a transcending and liberating force for Meenaa. I wanted
to teach her individuality. I was exceptionally supportive, even idealistic. I believed in the
immediate heart to heart rapport and had the feeling that together we could have done
anything. Because Meenaa enchanted and ensnared me, I’m in a regrettable and
unforgettable position. Now, I must hang on for dear life. I must focus on the strength,
power, and forces of the Pluto to weaken the position I’m in.”
****
The Gatekeeper rolled over on his side and closed his eyes. He needed sleep but
his mind was racing. He recalled writing a note to Meenaa around the first part of August
1995.
He wrote, “Meenaa, my active role as your Gatekeeper has been April 21st
through July 27th 1995; now I assume a passive role. There will be two more Gatekeeper
transits. One on Sept. 27 1995 and the other on January 13 1996. None of them will be
lovers even with a fifth house role; they will be all older men who help. I wish we could
work something out, but no more Gatekeeper from me. July is over. So go enjoy
yourself my friend. The contract still holds from July 19.”
He remembered that after he finished writing the note, he started working
furiously on his and on Meenaa’s astrological charts. At the time, he wondered if Meenaa
would ever learn how to meet his needs. If she did, he could prepare her for self-
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understanding. It would have been an educational, emotional, and touching intimacy.
However, she needed to analyze the relationship but was unable to do so. He recalled
coming to the conclusion that he must work wholly and consciously for her interests and
must deny his own ego.
He recalled that he jotted down his thoughts after he was finished analyzing the
charts. He wrote, “My natal Mars in Libra and natal moon in Aries. No secret or selfish
advantage, beware of personal delusions. Beware of the Venus women who appeal to
your favorite ideals, and then take you for a ride. Mars and Neptune equal deceitful
actions. I must be careful of people who appeal through favorite ideals or delusions and
then take me for a ride. I must investigate a female. My psychic impressions should be
taken seriously and I will be able, through imagery, to see tomorrow. Jupiter stationary
retrograde in Sagittarius tells me everything! Selfless activities are only for charities.
Viral infections are possible during this time. My energy level is low. Meenaa must
come to terms. She must exchange nurturing with me or else the affliction will once again
shatter all of her hopes. Meenaa has once again bought a male who gave a lot. However,
the Evil Star which lifts her up so high, once again shatters her and leaves her even more
afraid to trust men… even the Gatekeeper leaves! This is the ultimate hurt that will
totally destroy her. She did not use the Gatekeeper appropriately – she did not learn to
give her complement portal to him. She will be violenced – big time! Meenaa did not
learn from the Gatekeeper how to deal with this boundary problem she has. Meenaa will
have a tremendous power-up from her birth chart. There will be an Evil Star influence…
a double reinforcement. The Evil Star is activated through Aries!”
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He turned over and sat up. The jail was quiet. All of the other inmates were
sleeping. He thought to himself, “Meenaa was a Nurturer Black Hole. I should have been
more aware! She has Jupiter conjunct natal moon. I should never have gone near the
Nurturer Black Hole!”
Even though at the time, the Gatekeeper knew better then to go near Meenaa’s
Black Hole, he did because he believed they had unfinished business in this lifetime. He
sat quiet and thought about their relationship. He re-examined the relationship he had
with Meenaa. After sever minutes of silent contemplation, he ascertained that his
relationship with her was karmic in nature.
“Meenaa was special. If I had chosen someone other than Meenaa, they wouldn’t
have had the same behavioral patterns that I saw in her. I wouldn’t have been able to
obtain the special favorable treatment that I proposed to get and give to Meenaa. Nor
would another candidate have responded to me the way she did,” he thought.
He asked himself, “Who was this person Meenaa? How did she treat me? Was it a
strictly business relationship? I recognized that trust-ability and control-ability issues
were a problem with her. She wasn’t even fifty percent on both issues.”
The Gatekeeper remembered that he wanted Meenaa to identify what kind of
relationship they had because at the time he was worried about her continued deceptive
behavior in her interpersonal relationships. “Meenaa’s behavioral patterns upset me and
that’s why my trust in her was limited. Unfortunately, I didn’t watch and analyze her
behavior close enough and she blindsided me! Trust and my ability to control her was the
major issue in our relationship,” he thought.
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****
He sat completely still on the jailhouse cot with his back against the cold wall and
he closed his eyes. He could see clearly in his mind’s eye. It was as if he was transported
back in time. He could see himself sitting at his desk in his office in his home. He vividly
remembered that at the time he asked the Tarot cards what kind of relationship he had
with Meenaa.
“The question is what kind of relationship does Meenaa have to me?” The
Gatekeeper shuffled his deck of tarot cards. The only card he drew was The Wheel of
Fortune. From the cards, he concluded that Meenaa must acknowledge the type of
relationship she claims they have. She has two choices. Choice one is that in this lifetime,
she is simply engaged in a friendship relationship – an acquaintance relationship clause in
our contact. Choice two includes a friendship relationship plus a karmic relationship.
At the time, he thought, “Meenaa must acknowledge a belief in the Hindu
doctrine of reincarnation from which flows an acceptance of karmic duty as one of life’s
tasks. If she wishes, I will embrace her but she must understand the doctrine of
reincarnation and then respond to me with behavioral changes that convert her fifty
percent to at least ninety percent. For her to modify her behavior, she has to first
acknowledge what kind of relationship we have. If she embraces my doctrine of
reincarnation then she will naturally adhere to the tenants of her karmic duty to me and
will I accept her. However, she must adjust her deceptive behavior.”
For a few minutes, he silently contemplated. Then he asked himself, “What is
Meenaa’s point of behavioral reference?” He sat completely still staring at the Tarot
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cards and then the answer came to him. “Meenaa has a continuing reputation as being a
user of people. What point of behavioral reference would allow such abuse of a
relationship? I must acknowledge my own ultimate breaking point to be her
Transcendental Ruler. This lifetime is just one of many lifetimes where we will engage
each other individually and together. All relationships have a beginning, middle –
however short or long of duration, and an end. The end comes when the persons – or
souls – must let go and move on. If Meenaa wishes to continue with her user behavior,
then I will accept her for what she is which is a transient non-transcendental relationship.
With such a person, the only reality that counts is the current theme. Right now, our
relationship looks to be temporary at best. I will need to continually reevaluate her worth
and consider my own material circumstances. On the other hand, if Meenaa wants to have
more than a transient non-transcendental relationship then her Transcendental Gatekeeper
will embraced her. However, she must be placed on probation. While she’s on probation,
I will give her immediate feedback when she does things that are unacceptable. I could be
putting my business at risk if I make Meenaa my priority but I do want to have a
complete transcendental relationship with her. This is going to be a very long haul!
However, the chance to have a transcendental karmic relationship with Meenaa is more
important to me than anything else that will transpire over the course of my lifetime.
Saturn crystallizes time as an event. However all events have a consequence and Meenaa
needs to know the meaning of this.”
The Gatekeeper desperately wanted a definition of his relationship with Meenaa
and he wanted to somehow crystallize their relationship. He was desperate for her to
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choose what kind of relationship she wanted with him. He decided that he should call her
and ask her what her point of reference was as far as their relationship went. Did she want
to be his Multi-lifetime Karmic Associate or simply a Transient Associate to her
Transcendental Director?
The Gatekeeper picked up the phone and dialed Meenaa’s number. After two
rings, she answered the phone. “Good morning Meenaa...,” he said politely
“I’m at work. Don’t call me at work. I’m far too busy to talk to you…,” she said
abrasively.
Meenaa’s tone made him feel emotionally violated. “Your Gatekeeper has
fulfilled!” he said angrily then slammed down the phone.
After the phone call, he got into his car and drove directly to Meenaa’s office. He
wanted to give her a letter he had written the night before. Meenaa looked up. Her mouth
dropped open when she saw the Gatekeeper standing in the door to her office. Then she
got up in a huff and walked towards him. “I told you I was busy today. What do you
think you are doing just coming to my office?” she asked in a pissed off tone.
The Gatekeeper outwardly maintained his composure. However, his eyes were
stern and slightly menacing. He put his hand on her upper arm. “Come outside. I need to
say a few things to you.”
Meenaa knew she had no choice other then to talk to him. Either she complied or
he would give it to her – big time – in front of her coworkers so she went outside with
him. They sat down on a sidewalk bench and the hostile energy calmed somewhat.
“Meenaa, this issue is not about intimacy, even though you think it is. The reason
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I will no longer be your Gatekeeper is because a future relationship with you is nearly
impossible.”
“You are obsessed. You don’t want to be my friend. You are controlling. I want to
be your friend but you have not been able to control your sexual desires. I think we
should put some space between us,” she said firmly.
The Gatekeeper was silent. He knew keeping his sexual desires under control
would be a difficult assignment because his normally acquiescent wife had threatened to
leave him. This news had a serious emotional impact on him. Now, he was vulnerable.
He longed for Meenaa to touch him. Stroke him. If, he were with Meenaa, in any
situation, whether it was business or pleasure, he would need to shield his lustful feelings
towards her. He did not want to risk her rejection because of his neediness. If his wife
had not planned to abandon him, then he would not be tempted to overreach towards
Meenaa. With his current situation, he felt that he couldn’t afford to expose his feelings
or experience Meenaa’s rejection. The emotional distance from her was killing him. He
felt that he was meeting Meenaa’s need for distance but his need for closeness was
unrequited. He normally had a difficult time masking his feelings – especially when he
was needy. He didn’t want Meenaa to know how needy he was and he had already
anticipated the rejection because of his excessive neediness. To protect himself
emotionally, he finally came to the ultimate conclusion.
“I think it’s best if I terminate our relationship,” he said callously.
“You want closure now?” she asked in disbelief.
“Yes I do. I have a clean conscious,” he replied coolly.
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Meenaa stood up and started to walk towards her office. Then she turned back and
looked at the Gatekeeper. “You’ll be back,” she said tersely. The Gatekeeper didn’t say a
word. Meenaa smiled. She knew he’d be back. “I know men... I know you,” she said
curtly. Then she turned and walked away from him. Her ass wagged in her short skirt.
“You’ll be back!” she said teasingly.
At that time, the Gatekeeper intended to never go back to her. It would take a lot
of effort for him to emotionally disengage himself from Meenaa. While he was driving
out of her office parking lot, he thought to himself, “Now I shall work to see if Meenaa
can be set-up after August 21, 1995. I believe I have evidence that she has commented
fraud. However, I need to get her to pay her debt to me first! She has the propensity to
deceive me in our friendship. I must set her up for the test.”
The Gatekeeper needed Meenaa because he thought she knew about the Afghan
Mafia and he hoped she could be his early warning alerter. Besides, she knew his
personal stuff and he wanted her to pay him back. More important was the fact that
Meenaa knew enough about his plans that if the police caught him, she could testify
against him. He considered the situation. He thought, “Should I protect her? Forgive her?
Meenaa can testify...”
The Gatekeeper remembered that a few days later Meenaa called him. She
sounded desperate. “I need your help. I need to get my finances straightened out. My aunt
demands that I repay the loan she made me. I need money and social contacts from you. I
received a notice from my car lender and they are demanding payment in full!”
“How much is that?” he asked.
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“Nine thousand dollars,” she said.
“Without a car you’re going to be finished in the business world,” he said in a
matter of fact tone. “You could rent a car until you receive some income…”
“Oh please, how am I to rent a car with my credit cards maxed out? I need help…
I got notice my medical insurance company cancelled my policy and my mortgage
company is going to start the foreclosure process because I am three months behind in
house payments.”
“Gosh… it’s a good time to sell your house because it coincides with the very
best time in the housing market’s annual season. It would bring the best possible price.
There will be a steep correction in all the financial markets over the next couple months.
You just have to work at it and think creatively,” he said frostily.
“You don’t understand! I have been working at it… I had three deals fall apart
last month. I was expecting seventy-five thousands from those deals. Another one fell
apart when I was out of town…,” she said hysterically.
“Oh, that’s right… you were with your new male friend in Palm Springs.”
“What does that have to do with it? I work all the time even when I’m out of
town,” she said adamantly.
“All I can say is right now the fixed Evil Star, Baten Kaitos has the power. It has
jinxed you… it is the only fixed star out of eighty-three fixed stars that produces an
immigration and isolation. The star rules commissions, sex, men, and genitals. Right
now, this fixed star was has a malefic aspect from Saturn. It is dragging your entire
material world into a deep plummet. If you don’t think positively, you will hit bottom
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sometime in November. You will be thwarted by more career problems, car problems,
and failing relationships if you don’t change,” he said in a grave voice.
“What should I do?”
“I could loan you my address files and books but we would need to do some kind
of provisional contract.”
“What kind of contract?”
“You need to acknowledge that I already gave you thirty-seven hundred dollars
and you need to agree to my personal and business terms.”
“First, what are your business terms?” she asked.
“If I allow you to use my books, you will have access to at least sixteen hundred
businesses, and nearly sixty thousand names of executive’s in the surrounding Bay Area.
If I give you the books, you need to become my core business partner and I want a
percentage of the business.”
“Well I need money for the interim because I still have a cash flow problem –
now!”
“Maybe you can get some cash from your husband.”
“My husband is very stingy. He worships money. If I go back to him and ask him
for money he’ll suffocate me! What should I do, close my eyes while he fucks me?”
“That would be better then loosing your business reputation or your house,” he
said in an unemotional tone.
“I did that with him while I was married to him and now if he even touches my
hand my skin crawls. You are the only man in my life that I’ve had an open and trusting
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relationship with. As my Gatekeeper, you’re the only person who has stuck by me.
Nearly every week, I receive a call from my aunt who I owe the thirty thousand too.
She’s expecting I pay her a balloon payment in December,” Meenaa screeched.
“Meenaa, I encourage you to prospect with determination. I can’t help you with
money, you do have options such as all these gentlemen you told me were continuing to
ask you for marriage,” he replied coolly.
“I could never get married with so much debt on my head. Besides, I have no
interest in men or have feelings towards men,” she said abruptly.
The Gatekeeper scowled. He was silent. He thought, “Meenaa is hustling me
with the hustle hammer. Her not wanting sex is all bullshit! I’m not treating her like she’s
a wife.”
Then, in a cruel voice he said, “Meenaa, regardless of how I feel about you
personally, my only desire was to promote you professionally because it could’ve
benefited me financially. Believe me, I don’t want sex for free. However, I have given
you several loans and they were not for free!”
“You’re treating me like my ex-husband did… a goddamn wife. I did that before.
All you want is a wife to fuck! You think you can buy a fuck? Forget it,” she said
sharply.
“Meenaa… believe me, I do not want you to act like my wife. You’ve really
insulted me. As far as I’m concerned you can have the fucking core of my business for
free but I expect you to give me the check for thirty-seven hundred dollars back. There is
no need for me to give you a loan now. However, I will loan you my books until October
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twenty-eighth but after that, I want no further contact with you!
Meenaa was really sour. She screamed, “I need to pay my bills!”
The Gatekeeper didn’t express any emotion. “Meenaa there will be no provisional
contract for using the books. You can do what you want with the information. There will
be no terms. I’ll let you use them for free.” He paused momentarily then in an angry
sarcastic tone, he said, “Look, I want to end this relationship now! You can go to your
husband for money!”
Meenaa’s eyes filled with tears. “You can keep your fucking books! You value
money not my friendship! I don’t want your books, I wanted you to be my friend. You
are abandoning me!” she said in a raised angry tone.
“Meenaa, I’m really too busy to deal with your problems today. Call me
tomorrow,” he said in a cutting tone. Then he immediately hung up the phone and smiled
to himself. He thought, “Tomorrow we’ll see if she backs off – again.”
The next day Meenaa called the Gatekeeper. She was frantic. Her financial
circumstances had put her into a corner. She knew the Gatekeeper would require her to
sign a new social contract with him. “I’m really getting organized,” she said
emphatically.
“I have four conditions for our new social contract. This is a forewarning. There
will be no bullshit! No more deception! No more confusion! No running away! Feelings
return when you re-experience intimacy. Come to the house tomorrow and expect to greet
me with a big hug,” he said in a disturbing tone.
“I’ll be there in the morning.”
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“With a very big hug?” he asked in a mocking voice.
“Yes… with a hug.”
The Gatekeeper was excited. He was eager for Meenaa to go down on him. The
thought of her moist sweet female fragrances consumed him for the rest of the day. Later
that night he was lying on his side away from edge of his bed in a light sleep when he
began to have a powerful visitor vision. The vision was no vignette. He tried to turn over
onto his back but a strong force seemed to be holding him in place. He didn’t resist the
force because he felt that this was a message from a visitor to announce a presence. He
knew he needed to pay special attention.
In the first part of the vision, he could see Meenaa moving from room to room,
still socializing with her extended family and other Afghans who were capable of helping
her, but were withholding their support, in part because of something mutual and
unspoken, but she chose the binding. The interpretation of the vision was that he felt that
Meenaa was still involved with the extended family and with her relatives on a regular
basis.
In the second part of the vision, he could see Meenaa walking away only to turn
into a dead-end hallway. She was boxed in on all three sides with no doors out. The
voice drifted away and Meenaa was alone, cut off, in distress, confused, isolated, and
lost. In the vision, she turned to talk to him, but he could not communicate directly back
to her. However, he continued to listen with compassion.
Meenaa expressed her feelings of emotional isolation. He could see the number
twenty-eight clearly in his mind. The dates September 28 and October 28 were written
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clearly on the wall in front of him. The first twenty-eight showed confusion but the
second twenty-eight showed clarity – the events to pass thereafter were fixed like a
known path that must be walked by her. There was no third twenty-eight symbol. He felt
this meant emptiness for her. She would try to cut her losses. He felt that she had hit the
true bottom from which she would try to rise above for the next decade.
The interpretation meant he must wait until after September 28, if at all, to help
Meenaa. By Oct. 28, the picture would be much clearer. In the meantime, there would be
emptiness for Meenaa. She would be in distress.
For the first time in the vision, he could speak to Meenaa and she listened. He
cried out to her emotionally and it seemed like she reached out to him, to bond. However,
all he got was business talk from her. They repeatedly talked past each other on different
levels. She was detached and he was emotional. She couldn’t see that she was in an
emotional box like a mime boxed in by an invisible wall. She was a person who couldn’t
touch or be touched. This isolation was causing her grave distress.
For the Gatekeeper, the interpretation was that Meenaa was still an Afghan with
Afghan connections that bound her to her culture. The business with him did not mesh
with any of her normal feelings. She was stuck with people that she couldn’t turn to but
who greatly influenced her into the isolation that was relative to him. Even though the
only way out was with the Gatekeeper, Meenaa felt it had no emotional substance. She
couldn’t or wouldn’t attach emotionally to him for a way out.
The final interpretation of the vision was to do nothing until the evenings of the
twenty-eights. No matter what he did for her, Meenaa would not reach out. He shouldn’t
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help her financially – the money was for a losing cause. He must detach and cut his
financial losses – promote but don’t support.
At 4:37 a.m., he was clearly awake. He thought, “These visions appear to be
strictly block driven.”
The essence of the visitor vision was the observation that like himself, Meenaa
was stuck in a self-imposed purgatory, a place or state of temporary suffering or misery.
She chose to embrace the Afghan culture that imposed emotional and financial burdens
yet provided little substance for him in return. Meenaa chose to challenge that culture by
divorcing her husband and she had to pay the price as their black sheep.
He thought, “Where were Meenaa’s rich cousins? Where were her rich in-laws
and former husband? They are the ones she tried to please by adhering to their cultural
standards. Let them pay the price! The purgatory of expectations are Meenaa’s emotional
box and they are obviously self-imposed. She, and only she, can release herself from the
box. Meenaa needed a Gatekeeper after her divorce. Allah only provides if the person
listens. Did Meenaa listen?”
Meenaa had after all, seemingly secured her financial position which would have
allowed her to laugh at her Afghan detractors. However, she decided to distance herself
from her Gatekeeper, who then chose to abandon her.
“Meenaa did not modify her behavior. She did not cut her ties with her Afghans.
She did not have to change in anticipation of another fourteen-year circumstance half
cycle that would bring emotional and material wealth,” the Gatekeeper thought bitterly.
He remembered that he had previously told her that the first week of August
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would produce a bounty of material gain – which was truly a feed-foreword control
aspect on his part to keep her baited and hooked. However, Meenaa chose to ignore the
Gatekeeper’s warning that material gain must be balanced by her giving sexual
stimulation and receiving nurturance from him. This was the essence of an astrological
Jupiter transit over Meenaa’s natal moon in the second house of money. This transit
brought her the purchase of her house after her divorce in February 1995.
“God does not mock. This is his world… I am conscious of how the world
operates. Hence, I warned Meenaa that she needed to balance material gain with
nurturing,” he arrogantly thought.
The Gatekeeper believed that Meenaa needed to change in order to get out of her
cultural box. Change can have supplementary or complementary consequences. Any
change that involved him must be a complementary action on her part. Otherwise, Saturn
would crystallize the time as an event and the event that would generate a consequence.
Meenaa chose to embrace the material wealth and ignore her Gatekeeper’s
warning. He thought, “She was afflicted within by an Evil Star named Baten Kaitos and
this predisposed her to her behavior. The Evil Star afflicts Mars and rules her genitals
and her sexual energy. The Evil Star promised a promotion to an extra high place of
glory followed by a consequent demotion to an equally low place of disgrace – the
immigration star of isolation, depression, accidents, sexual problems, and a ship wreck of
her Part of Fortune.”
In light of the above esoteric perspective, the Gatekeeper interpreted what cultural
changes were needed for Meenaa. He thought, “Her father repeatedly and mercilessly
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criticized her for divorcing her husband and exposing herself to my financial security.
Meenaa’s father expected her to subsidize him and pay for an occasional big-ticket item
such as an airline ticket. He should have gone to his own age group of relatives for
financial support instead of looking to Meenaa for help. After all, he had other relatives
who had a lot more money then Meenaa.”
“Screw the Afghan culture criticism that resulted! The Afghan culture did not
pay Meenaa’s mortgage payment! I did. Meenaa should have disclosed that she was in
financial trouble and needed a time out from the Afghan cultural expectations that took so
much from her yet provided little emotional or material support,” he said out loud with
hostility.
He thought, “She should have spoke up for herself and denied the Afghan cultural
police expectations that bled her emotionally and financially. She should have told her
family to terminate their demands to keep up with the Afghan cultural expectations. She
should have told those who expected money from her to go elsewhere. If Meenaa had
acknowledged her financial woes, she would have gone to these Afghan cultural police
and asked them for their help! What good were the rich cousins if they would not help!
Why did Meenaa rely upon a non-Afghan’s mercies, her Gatekeeper, to keep her afloat
and yet, at the same time use Afghan cultural expectations to distance herself from the
same Gatekeeper who needed her to stroke his sexually deprived wand – big time? If I
ignore the message I will be in great personal peril because I know that god is watching.
The message needs to be heeded.”
“I must wait until the shadow of the solar eclipse passes on October 23, 1995 at
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8:32 p.m. before I should help Meenaa if I don’t see changes in her. By October, our
future will be clearly visible but forced by circumstance. If I don’t wait, I will be in the
shadow of eclipse and forever tied to her,” he said out loud to himself.
The following morning, the Gatekeeper anticipated receiving Meenaa with open
arms. Unfortunately, the meeting did not go the way he planned. When Meenaa walked
through the door, a cold chill immediately permeated the home so the Gatekeeper didn’t
offer her a seat.
The Gatekeeper put both hands in the pockets of his jacket. He glared at her. “I
must take my early morning psychic visitor’s advice. If your Afghan blood relatives don’t
love you enough to give you money, why should I? Are you going to change your
behavior and form an intimate bond to me?” he asked with reprisal in his voice.
For a moment, Meenaa stood in silence staring. She was stunned. “This is getting
too personal. I can’t mix business and pleasure!” she said.
The Gatekeeper knew that both Meenaa’s house and car payments were overdue.
Her Afghan relatives were not going to finance her lifestyle. Without his help, her
fortunes would be shipwrecked. He had a cold-hearted stare in his eyes. “My dear
Meenaa, I think I am still seeing a presentation… so I think I will wait until after Oct 28th
to help you, unless you can show me you have changed… however it is possible that you
will find some new unsuspecting Gatekeeper who will give you money!” he said
vengefully.
“You are a manipulative, soul-less machine!” she said callously.
Meenaa’s anger stimulated the Gatekeeper in an odd perverse way. He knew she
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needed the money but she shouldn’t have given him the hustle. Did she think he would
simply just cave in and give her everything she wanted without giving him so much as a
teardrop of kindness? “I’m sorry, but this is how it must end. I won’t financially support
you with a loan but you can have the prospecting resources so you can generate some
business income. It’s really too bad but your finances are not my problem. Even though I
have feelings towards you and want to help this is way too much. Go fuck your husband!
Good luck,” he said smugly.
Meenaa was furious. Her eyes were narrow and the corner of her lip was curled in
a downward frown. She clenched her fists then turned and stormed out of the house. The
Gatekeeper watched her ass shake as she trotted to her car. He slammed the door and
went into his dark room to read cards, review his psychic impressions, and interpret what
had occurred with her.
Finally, he came to a conclusion. On a Post-it sticky note he wrote, “Mercury is
retro-cycling over my natal Neptune. No honesty. No clarity. I must avoid financial and
long-term commitments. Rashness! Meenaa is a financial risk! The time to end Meenaa is
now! End the Meenaa saga! She is my self-imposed purgatory!”
The Gatekeeper sat back in his chair. He thought, “The reactive manipulative twoheaded monster will take a very painful fall soon!” The Gatekeeper sat quietly
contemplating his next move. He thought, “Somehow I must reign in the monster or she
may try to blackmail me. She is emotional and in financial straights. She may get
extremely desperate and expose my plans. I must create some sort of camouflage for
myself. I need to get the reactive monster off my back. Her ex-husband needs to rescue
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his pussy. I’m not the cause of her problems. Her uncontrollable spending and a
deteriorating business market are her problems. She needs a cash infusion.”
The Gatekeeper decided his best bet was to call a business contact that also knew
both Meenaa and her husband intimately. The two men exchanged a few polite words.
Then they scheduled a breakfast meeting at the Venus Café for the following morning.
The Gatekeeper arrived at the Venus early. He enjoyed the café because it has
cloistered booths that line the walls and red lamps that light up the cozy little place. A
thick delicious aroma of smoky bacon and sweet syrup permeated the air. The waitresses
are delightful. He liked to watch the cute girls hustle around serving up coffee, taking
orders, and clearing plates. The Gatekeeper ordered his usual – Eggs Florentine with a
side of the Venus Heavenly Biscuits and black coffee.
When the Gatekeeper’s contact arrived, he didn’t have time to order so much as a
cup of coffee because the Gatekeeper immediately asked him to convey a message to
Meenaa’s husband. The Gatekeeper leaned in. He glared at the friend. “I want you to talk
to Meenaa’s husband and convince him to consider reconciliation with her. Tell him he
should let her come live with him without the benefits of re-marriage. Tell him he should
work on her, work with her, or do whatever Afghan’s do to get their wives back…
including back in bed. Meenaa’s husband must be certain to approach her on either the
twenty-seventh or the twenty-eighth of September. I have already prepped Meenaa to
expect help with her material circumstances on these two days because these are her best
days astrologically. You need to specifically state this is not a message from Meenaa but
it’s a message from the Gatekeeper,” he said in a banefully callous tone.
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The contact sat back in the booth. His mouth dropped wide open. He was stunned.
“Okay… is there anything else?” he asked in a trembling voice.
“Yes…,” the Gatekeeper reached inside his shirt pocket and took out a folded
unsigned typewritten note that delineated how bad Meenaa’s finances were. “I want you
to give Meenaa’s husband this note so he will know that her car lender wants nine grand,
her medical insurance has been cancelled, and she is behind in her house payments.
Meenaa needs a cash infusion of ten grand for back debts and four grand per month so
she will close her eyes and fuck him if necessary,” he said coldly with a smirk on his
face. His eye’s glowed like a devil’s.
The Gatekeeper’s friend fumbled with the note then put it inside his classic style
black leather Day Planner. His hands shook. An icy chill flooded his limbs. “It sounds
like Meenaa’s in dire straights,” he said sadly.
The Gatekeeper didn’t trust the man’s compassion for Meenaa but this was the
one open avenue that led directly to her husband. The Gatekeeper leaned in and starred
into the contact’s eyes. He had a menacing look on his face. His eyes narrowed and his
nostrils flared. “Tell her husband that she is absolutely desperate. She needs money so
badly that she is actually vulnerable to his ministrations,” he said in a dark low tone.
The contact stood up. His faced reddened and small beads of sweat were starting
to form on his forehead. He wanted to scream and run away. He clenched the black
leather appointment book tightly with his sweaty right hand. “I will be certain the
message is delivered today,” he said with fear in his voice. Then he promptly left the
café.
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The Gatekeeper sat still in the cloistered booth. He maintained a hardened exterior
but inside he feared that Meenaa would blackmail him. After all, she knew he was
investigating the local Afghan Mafia for drug smuggling and trafficking. She knew he
broke in to her sister-in-laws office and took a number of documents. She knew he
thought the locals were corrupt and taking bribes. At one point, he told her about his
theory that there was the corruption and fraud in town. He even showed her his
documentary film, Falls City Park USA. If Meenaa ever told the police about Operation
Clean Sweep, it would lay out his visionary plans to destroy Century 21 and Western
Relocation Management Company. She knew that after he destroyed the real estate
company he wanted to start his own company with her acting as his own Medusa’s head.
However, Meenaa was unaware that his plan included bombing the companies. She
thought the Gatekeeper’s plan meant that they would work together and somehow lock
down and clean up the local real estate market.
“Meenaa was tempted by the enormous sum of money they could make. Meenaa
agreed to the Faustian Bargain with her Gatekeeper because she is a greedy whore. Now,
she must be bludgeoned into oblivion by my evil stars!” he thought vengefully.
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Chapter 11
SHIPWRECKED FORTUNES
1:37 a.m. January 27, 1999
It was after midnight and the Gatekeeper was still awake in his cold stark cell at
the county jail. He remembered that a few days after the meeting at the Venus Café, he
found out from his contact that Meenaa was once again involved romantically with her
ex-husband and that she was considering her options. He recalled being livid when he
heard the news. Later that same day, he wrote an entry in his journal. “Saturn has moved
away from the South Node, so the Gatekeeper is out! When Pluto goes stationary direct I
will be hurt, hurt, hurt!”
He vividly remembered that he called his sister Elzora for a psychic consultation.
During the call, Elzora said, “Meenaa intends to look the husband over, but she wants to
be wary of him until she knows the financial potential of him benefiting her. I had a
vision and in it, I saw a man who has repeatedly approached her at work. I warned you
about this man a few months ago. He is not the pimp you thought he was with but he is a
Ladies Man. He is the type who has a huge ego. He thinks he can have any woman. For
now, he wants Meenaa and he will promise her anything she wants but only if the
chicken comes home to roost.”
At the time, the Gatekeeper thought that Meenaa had two real problems. First,
she had not learned her lesson because she was a simple minded money lady and she did
not believe in love the way that real women do.
Elzora continued to talk. “Meenaa only believes in a love that delivers money,
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money, money because she likes her presents! Mere trinkets can purchase Meenaa…
which may be valuable to her but they are but simple charms to men.”
“I agree…,” said the Gatekeeper, “the reason she has so many financial problems,
when everyone else all around her are doing well, is she needs to be brought to her knees
by a particular circumstance so she could learn her lesson. Meenaa chose to trade love for
an access to money, she manipulates people to gain money… she’s a whore.”
“She sells her soul for money. This will be her certain downfall,” Elzora replied
spontaneously.
“Meenaa will learn her lesson from her husband because there is another woman.
There’s a witch at his side who will stand her ground and not budge. Meenaa will try to
maneuver herself and try to get past the witch but she will not succeed. What do your
cards say I should do?” asked the Gatekeeper.
“The first card is the Three of Swords. Meenaa’s Afghan husband will pierce and
rip her heart out! A love triangle will devastate Meenaa but it will be good for you. It
appears to me, that she will likely go for it if she thinks she can control him. The second
card is the Five of Cups… right now all Meenaa can see are the three cups of spilled
wine. She doesn’t recognize that you have two filled cups for her to drink from. She’s
focusing only on what she’s lost. The third card is the Five of Pentacles. I predict that
Meenaa will experience more bad luck. She will loose more money and business unless
she realizes that the spiritual is more important than the material. The final card is the
Four of Cups. Meenaa will go back to her husband because he will indeed tell her
anything and everything to get her back in his Afghan bed but he will ultimately drop her
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for the other witch because the grass is always greener on the other side,” Elzora said in a
slow controlled voice.
“I should go help Meenaa so she’s not so desperate. I should give her some hope
but loan her no money…,” said the Gatekeeper.
“If you weaken and give her money, for you will suffer at home. I see ice coming
off your wife! The relationship you have to Meenaa will ruin your marriage. Keep
Meenaa on the hook for business purposes but you must place an emotional buffer
between you and her. What ever you do for her, you must be in the background. You can
help her rather then abandon her but do not get into a love triangle with her. Help her but
do not open your heart to her. Especially avoid the rebound! Go pretend to help her. Get
your money back then back away quickly! Put plenty of distance between the two of you.
This ex-husband that Meenaa is so attracted to is fated to ruin her. He will rip her heart
out and destroy her so you must watch out! After her heart is ripped out, she will come
crawling back to you for your help. At that point, do not help her!” Elzora said forcefully.
“I understand and will follow your advice but before you go, I am giving you a
very important assignment. It’s critical that you get me gun replacement barrels and a
silencer,” he said.
“Do you need them to be purchased out of state and discreetly shipped?” she
asked.
The Gatekeeper was familiar with the concept of throwing out tools that make
marks to avoid detection after he’d committed a crime. He also knew that if he replaced a
gun barrel, it would remove the markings left by the bullet that’s been shot by the gun.
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“Yes… you need to take special care of the all of the paperwork pertaining to their
purchase so it can’t be traced back to us. You must avoid detection of any kind. If we’re
ever caught it would show forethought and premeditation,” he said sternly.
“Brother… I am quite capable of handling this simple assignment. After all, at
this time you do need guns for your own protection,” Elzora said.
“Call me when your assignment is complete,” he said.
That night the Gatekeeper was dead asleep when he had a vision of Meenaa
looking like La Llorona, the crying lady.69 Meenaa was trying to contact him in the
vision. He could see clearly that there was a connection between her and her ex-husband.
The Gatekeeper reached out to her and offered her a plan of action that would get her
financially secure so she would focus on developing her sexuality. He could see her from
the outside through a dirty window. He studied his subject intensely. Meenaa tried
looking out through dirt on the window but couldn’t see so she unlocked the latch and
opened it. Meenaa looked at her Gatekeeper coldly. “I will use you just to learn,” she
said. Then she closed the window and walked towards her marriage bed.
The Gatekeeper woke up completely. The vision’s message was clear. “I must get
rid of her in six months or she will break my heart,” he thought. He sat up and reached
for his phone. The contact’s answering machine picked up. “Meenaa owes me $37,000!
Promise me before Allah that you will not say anything to her but keep your eyes open
and on her! I am out!” said the Gatekeeper.
After he hung up the phone, he grabbed his journal and began jotting down his
thoughts. “Yesterday’s conversation with my sister was directed at removing Meenaa
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from my scene. When I was informed, that she and her Martian husband were in the
process of reconciliation it brought intense psychic and emotional problems. I suffered.”
The next day, Meenaa called the Gatekeeper. “Are you sending notes to my
husband about my debts?” she asked angrily.
“Yes. I sent him a note through our mutual friend. In the note I told him about
your debt structure and what I was doing to help you clean-up and out!” he frankly
replied.
The conversation ended abruptly because Meenaa slammed the phone down.
The Gatekeeper sat back in his chair and tapped his finger on the desk. He
thought, “Does Meenaa have a male stud in her future? She must figure out for herself
that her husband’s having relations with the witch. I think Meenaa will have him even
though he admits he has the other witch. She said she can’t share herself with any man
yet she will get involved with him even if she does have to share him with the witch. All
this wariness is just preliminary bullshit! Meenaa will go down easily for him all he has
to do is wait her out! This is a warning from the other side! Do not know Meenaa after
six months. She is my heart breaker! I grew her for ten months and she brushes me off!
She did not learn her lesson to stop using men yet she goes down on him and not on me!
Elzora warned me from the other side! Do you really need Meenaa? No! I can’t afford to
find out about price paying! So, give one exit interview then seal her off contractually.”
The Gatekeeper was furious. He decided he had to call Meenaa back so he could
give her a glimmer of her future. “Meenaa, I have been looking at your horoscope and
because I once had feelings for you, there are some things you need to know about your
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coming cycle. First of all, after this, you are out of my life... so don’t call me anymore. I
heard about your selection of men and I believe your judgment is screwed up. Just wait
until April 30th you will be burned and likely stabbed! It will be like hell on earth for you.
This peaks for you on May 4th! I heard you are going back to the bastard and planning to
remarry during that week! Well, get this… a real shit storm is due as your fucking
wedding present! You best seek out protection for yourself from April 17th through May
20. You need to take refuge from the Martian’s outbursts. You have protection from the
Evil Star until November but then all hell will arrive with an eclipse and then you will
either divorce again or it will be a renewal of hell. I guess you have to go back to your
husband… the Martian for more punishment? The ultimate sexual violence is the
Martian. Saturn rules you, Meenaa and due to your circumstance, you must wait for Mars
to cross the eclipse. Expect sexual violence. This all started with you going back to your
family as my Muslim Marko Bird of Karma. I will expose them all! All of May is
dangerous for you Meenaa. Stay home! Mars will cross the eclipse degree and in the
build up to exact conjunction it will burn those who are trapped by Saturn and Mars.
When Mars goes into Taurus, it will dump its energy on you and you will need
protection. Saturn will dump on you specifically through men. Right now, you are
attracting problems to you and your problems are all related to men and money. I have
written down all of my notes and I will mail them to you as soon as possible along with
all of my old notes. Be aware that we must meet sometime in the near future to figure
how to handle your husband and your debt to me. He may be a threat. The sequence of
events is not over yet! According to your chart, what appears to be a setup of you by him
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is due on your next birthday. On your birthday the Evil Star… Caput Agol predicts a
disastrous fight or danger to you. This is the star of burns, cuts to the head and throat, but
most likely indicates a setup for losses through proposals from men. Remember, Saturn
will present circumstances but it is tied to the Evil Star. This is a trap! You will be
pressured. I have given you specific warnings about this every time we have met. He is
not telling you everything. He’s hiding something and when you find out what it is you
will grieve. Either you or your husband, or both, will have an unrealistic attitude about
the developing relationship. Eventually the romantic cloud will lift and the truth of the
relationship will become clear. Both of you are pretending that the other person is ideal
when they are not. As a result, he will do something behind your back! Lies and
deceptions are headed your way. The best example is thievery through deceptive
communications. This is not over until you face the terrors. Take care of yourself,” he
said cruelly. The Gatekeeper slammed down the phone before Meenaa could say a word.
Then he dialed the number for her husband.
The husband answered after two rings. “Hello,” he said politely.
“Repeat after me… cash and health… implosion! The amount Meenaa and
ultimately you, owes me is thirty-three thousand four hundred ninety five dollars. Meenaa
knows there is a deadline!” he said with hostility.
Meenaa’s husband recognized the Gatekeeper’s voice. He was in complete
shock. “I’ll talk it over with Meenaa… I can’t commit now,” he said.
“Listen! One degree of Aries is a gun hot to the head. Saturn means that
circumstances will constrict ones health. A loss of your wife will occur on or after
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December 16, 1997 when Saturn is at 13 degrees of Aries. You will live to regret ever
going back to her. She’s a double black hissing cat in marriage and partnerships. The
actual beginning of your stress will start when the chicken comes home to roost. Meenaa
is your karmic payback! Learn to cope with Saturn because you’ll be shipwrecked! The
negative peak power is going to be between March 27th 1998 and April 1998. Watch
yourself because it is a time of danger!” the Gatekeeper said forcefully. Then, he
slammed down the phone.
Next, the Gatekeeper studied Meenaa’s horoscope. He wrote his thoughts down
so he would have them for future reference.
“March 15th 1998 Jupiter enters Meenaa’s 5th house. Beware of a man! Peak
danger from March 1, 1998 through late April 1998 as transiting Mars crosses her Part of
Marriage and while Pluto is stationary retrograde at her natal moon. Her husband’s Mars
and Part of Fortune will be activated but Saturn will conjunct his progressed moon
March, 1998. He should expect Shipwrecked Fortunes! Meenaa was my fated flirtation
that led to my own personal expansion and learning. She needed to encounter her
Gatekeeper in order to learn her lesson. I had an evolutionary impulse to teach her how to
receive love and giving from others. However, Meenaa wasn’t able to accept or recognize
what came her way because she is emotionally distorted. Her path of opportunity was
through my second house of money. The double-crossing black cat was a whore for my
money. I fell into the Black Hole. Its pull was so strong that I nurtured and provided it
with a path of opportunity because of my generous Jupiter. Now I will repay it with its
own afflicted karma. I promised to be a very-juicy-sex partner for the hissing black
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pussy. Now, all I promise Meenaa is devastation and pathology through her partner. I
will emphasize Pluto during this upcoming cycle of retribution. Pluto rules bombs. This
will be like a cold blast from the devil in Dante’s Inferno! The evolutionary intent for
Meenaa was that she learned the lessons of equality and balance in relationships.
However, since Meenaa didn’t learn, the Gatekeeper – Pluto – the Grim Reaper – will
built-up a karmic problem for her. I must act decisively. All will be set-up and securely
held in place. She is going to be caught in the devil’s net.”
****
3:49 a.m. January 27, 1999
The Gatekeeper threw the county’s thin wool blanket off of him and he sat
straight up shivering. He was worried that E. J. Taylor, the astrologer for the prosecution,
would expose all of his notes and his personal diaries regarding the Meenaa saga in court.
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Chapter 12
A SAFE SOLUTION
March 1, 1999
On March 1, 1999, the jury trial began in front of six men and six women at the
Falls City Hall of Justice, in the Superior Court of the State of California in and for the
County of Alameda. Mr. Patrick O’ Shay began his opening arguments by outlining the
complicated case and telling the jury that this is the story of a serial bomber, drugs,
paranoid vengeance, sex, and astrology. He showed the jury photos of homemade bombs
wrapped in duct tape, paint thinner cans taped to copper pipes, and a freelance video of
an exploded million-dollar Falls City home. The prosecutor explained that the defendant
was a highly intelligent chemist with an extensive background in law enforcement, had
worked for the Chicago Police Department from 1975 to 1979 as a forensic analyst. He
informed the twelve men and women that the defendant had testified in court hundreds of
time on blood, soil, and fingerprint analysis. Patrick O’ Shay hammered home the key
points to the jury and informed them that the defendant knew how cases were solved,
how perpetrators escaped prosecution and conviction, and he explained that the
Gatekeeper studied and practiced astrology.
Patrick O’ Shay explained in detail, the defendant’s grudges against his victims
began as early as 1991 over a problem with the foundation of his house. This grudge
eventually escalated into a wild theory about the police participating in an international
drug trafficking ring. The Falls City police chief and a city councilman, along with a
local wealthy family’s home, were the defendant’s targets. The bomb that exploded
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underneath the 1.5 million-dollar residence was the largest domestic pipe bomb in U.S.
history and it was set on an eight-month timer. Fortunately, the residents were out of the
house or they certainly would have been killed.
The jury was also told that the defendant launched a personal crusade to root out
what he claimed was real estate fraud and drug corruption. The prosecutor explained that
during the course of their investigation the police found a storage locker and that
Detective Jason Ares obtained a search warrant for the locker. A search of the unit
resulted in numerous bomb-making materials, books on how to build bombs, plans to
bomb a commercial building occupied by professionals, plans to kill by exploding
bombs, and hundreds of writings in the defendant’s own hand writing relating to
astrology. Mr. O’ Shay also described, to the jury, the depth of the defendant’s sexual
obsessions with a local Afghan woman and his resentment towards her after she spurned
his romantic overtures.
In addition, the prosecutor told the jury that the defendant told the Falls City
police in a twelve hour interview on May 4, 1998, that the stars told him to leave town
that weekend because a bombing, fire bombing, shooting, or something violent would
occur. Patrick O’ Shay told the jury that an astrologer would testify about astrology
documents, written by the defendant in both English and astrological symbols. He said
these documents were a written confession to premeditated murder.
Patrick O’ Shay took a deep breath. He took a few seconds to look at each and
every juror with passionate intensity then he concluded his opening statement. He said,
“The depth of evil and viciousness of the defendant, as witnessed by the astrologer, in his
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writings, had a profound and frightening effect on her emotions. She was not alone in her
feelings. The two primary investigators also felt the same fear because they had to
investigate a man who possessed such evil hatred and dark plans for committing a mass
murder.”
****
Sunday May 2, 1999
By the time May 2, 1999 rolled around, the trial had been going on for nearly two
full months. The testimony was intricate and involved. The prosecutor showed the jury
almost nine hundred pieces of evidence and the jury heard nearly one hundred witnesses,
including FBI, ATF, local police, and citizens testified against the Gatekeeper in the Falls
City Hall of Justice. Now, it was time for Evie Taylor to explain the astrological angle of
the case to the jury.
On Sunday morning, Evie pulled herself together, packed an overnight bag, and
drove to Falls City. When she arrived, she checked into the Radisson Hotel. While in she
was in the hotel room, she tried to stay in a prayerful and peaceful state of mind. She
listened to music and used essential oils. Around 7:00 p.m., she ordered dinner from
room service then she took a long warm bath. Pat called her several times to check in and
to discuss the final details of their pending presentation. Finally, Evie snuggled into the
unfamiliar bed and she watched some television. That night, she had a very peaceful
nights sleep, which was strange, because it was the first good nights rest she had had in a
very long time.
May 3, 1999
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Finally, at 9:00 a.m., just a few days after the full moon, April 30, 1999, E. J.
Taylor stood in front of Judge Samuel Archer and placed her hand on the Bible. After she
was sworn in, she began her testimony in front of the jury in Falls City, California at the
Falls City Hall of Justice.
The courtroom was newly remodeled. It provided a pristine warm environment.
The architectural style was a circular one and it was without windows with polished oak
paneling, lush blue carpet, and comfortable chairs. After entering the courtroom and
taking her seat, Evie immediately noticed several stunning abundant and bountiful spring
floral arrangements. Jason purchased one of the exquisite bouquets and he strategically
placed it on a table between Evie and the Gatekeeper so it would block all eye contact
between the two.
Court began. Patrick O’ Shay stood sharply at attention and Judge Samuel Archer
asked, “Are you ready to proceed?”
“Yes, your Honor,” replied the prosecutor.
Judge Archer turned and looked directly at Evie. He politely said, “Good
morning, Ms. Taylor.” Evie smiled and nodded to the judge. Then, she looked to her right
side and smiled considerately at each juror.
The Court Clerk said, “Would you state you name and spell you first and last
name?”
“Evelyne, E-v-e-l-y-n-e, Jayne, J-a-y-n-e, Taylor, T-a-y-l-o-r.”
The Clerk said, “Thank you.”
Evie replied, “Thank you.”
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Judge Archer nodded and then he instructed the prosecutor. He said, “Go ahead
Mr. O’ Shay.”
Patrick O’ Shay walked elegantly around the desk like a lion taking command of
his jungle. In a formal tone, he asked, “Is it Ms. Taylor?”
At first, Evie was nervous because the jurors were present and she was somewhat
taken off guard by the expected decorum. This was not like a classroom full of college
students. However, it didn’t take Evie long to get into the rhythm and etiquette of the
expected style. After all, she previously testified at both the Grand Jury proceedings and
at the pre-trial hearing. She answered, “It is.”
Patrick O’ Shay asked, “Are you an astrologer?”
“Yes, I am.”
Without pause, he asked, “And could you tell us about your qualifications and
experience as an astrologer?”
“Well, while I was in college, it was very popular for us girls to study some kind
of astrology to find out who we wanted to date. Although, I have studied astrology for
many years, that was the beginning.”
“Thank you. What college did you attend and what did you major in?”
Evie was nervous. Her mouth was dry. She took a deep breath then a small sip of
water. She answered, “I attended Nebraska Wesleyan University and majored in both
Religious Studies and Interpersonal Communications with an emphasis on theology,
philosophy, and sociology. After, I received my Bachelors degree I was accepted into the
Ph.D. program and majored in Theology at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut.
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At the same time, I have always studied and dabbled in astrology.”
Pat knew Evie well enough to know that she was nervous. Gently, he said, “Take
your time. Did you have any formal training in astrology?”
“Yes. While I was at Yale, I focused on the Philosophy of Religion and the
philosophical worldviews that are alternatives to traditional Christian perspectives. In my
coursework, I studied the history of magic, alchemy, astrology, and witchcraft. My
dissertation involved astrology and it is titled “Dante: An Aficionado of Astrology or a
Dazzling Astrologer?” After I moved to California, I started formal astrological training
and graduated from the Doane School of Astrology in Davis, California. I took a
standardized astrological test and I passed. I then received a Certificate of Proficiency in
the Art of Astrology from the American Federation of Astrologers. This allowed me to be
a part of their faculty and lecture at astrological conventions.
Pat nodded and looked satisfied. “All right. The test you took and passed, was that
a proficiency test?”
“Yes.”
“That certifies you with the American Federation of Astrologers?”
“It’s a certificate of proficiency, yes.”
“And you mentioned you actually lectured at the conventions as a faculty
member?”
“Yes I did. I am a faculty member.”
“And you have had articles and papers published on astrology?
“Yes.”
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“You’ve also written a book?”
“Yes, well a short work, a beginner’s workbook on astrology was published by
the AFA.”
Pat turned to Judge Archer and with a strong tone of authority in his voice, he
said, “I would submit that Ms. Taylor is an expert in the field of astrology.”
There were no objections. Pat was anxious to get down to business. He asked,
“Now myself and Detective Ares contacted you in November of 1998?”
“Yes.”
“Incidentally, you’re not working – there’s no fee that you’re charging for this?”
“No.”
Pat wanted to make sure the jury members were completely clear that Evie was
serving as a witness free of charge. He asked, “And didn’t we offer to pay you on two
separate occasions and you turned us down both times?”
“Yes.”
Pat smiled slightly, nodded, and then continued. “And did we give you documents
to look at…” he asked then he briefly paused. He reached for a document and handed it
to Evie. He continued. “First of all, did we give you the defendant’s natal chart, which is
Exhibit number 205?”
“Yes, that’s the one.”
Pat held up another document and he showed it to Evie. “And did we have you
take a look at this document, a copy of this document 43A, titled ‘A Safe Solution’?”
“Yes.”
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“Okay, and if I could once again pass out 43A to the jurors, there’s 19 copies,
which marked 43B, and also – did you take a look at what’s been marked as Exhibit 125,
32 pages?”
“Yes, I did.”
“And we told you that this document related to a bomb, a safe bomb?”
“Yes.”
“First of all, let’s take this chart here, and that is Exhibit 294. Ms. Taylor, that’s a
copy of the copy that we provided you?”
“Yes. This is a replication of the defendant’s horoscope page that I set up on the
computer.”
Patrick O’ Shay had a flair of confidence and excitement about his demeanor.
“Now, skipping ahead a little bit. Isn’t it true in astrology that a person’s particular birth
date is important?”
“Yes, it is.”
“And we’ll get into that later in the normal course that we’re going to. But for
right now, these symbols, for example, where it says ‘Name, moon,’ and there’s a symbol
of the moon there – is that an astrological symbol for the moon that’s to the left of the
moon?”
“Yes, it is.”
“And for each of these succeeding planets that are down below, are these
astrological symbols that correspond to the planet?”
“Yes, they are. And with the one next to Pluto, there is also another symbol that is
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used on occasion, but they both mean the same thing, Pluto.”
With complete sureness, he asked, “And is this – translating these symbols, it is
something you had training in as an astrologer?”
“Yes, I did.”
“You’ve spoken to many qualified Astrologers?”
“Yes.”
“Approximately how many have you met with and spoken about astrology with?”
“Well, at the conventions, I’ve talked to hundreds.”
“Each of these persons, if they saw these symbols without the cheat sheet, would
they know what the symbol meant?” he asked.
“Absolutely.”
“Would even a beginning astrologer, in your experience, pick that up fairly
quickly?”
“The first step in learning astrology is to memorize the symbols of the planets, the
symbols of the signs of the Zodiac, and then planetary aspects, which are similar to
geometric angles.”
“There are some beginning principals that any beginning astrologer would know,
right?” he asked.
“Yes.”
Pat wanted to impress upon the jury that astrology is a very complex study and he
wanted to provide some introductory instruction about astrology. He asked, “But
astrology becomes more complicated the further and further you delve into it?”
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“Yes, it does.”
“And when I ask you questions, I will ask you about those areas which are
common knowledge and those areas which may be more developed. I’m going to ask you
about some of the principals of astrology. Once again, Exhibit 205, is that the defendant’s
natal chart?”
“Yes, it is.”
“And what is a natal chart? “Natal” is that another word for “Birth”?”
“Yes… or nativity.”
“And why is a person’s birth chart so important in astrology?” he asked.
“The birth chart represents the positions the planets were in the moment they took
their first breath. We look at the time, the day, and the place. By place, I am referring to
longitude and latitude. The time is very important because helps us to correctly and
mathematically set up the twelve house cusps on the chart. There are twelve different
sections that are divided somewhat like a pie. They’re called houses in astrology.”
“If I could interrupt you for a second. Everything you’re testifying to now would
be common knowledge among any astrologer?”
“Yes.”
“If you ever depart from that, could you let the Court and counsel know that?
Another words, if this is an area that is beyond the common knowledge of any beginning
astrologer?”
Evie nodded her head then said, “I will.”
“All right. Go ahead.”
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“Each of the segments, as I said, are the twelve houses, or departments of life is
another common term. There are – each house represents a multitude of symbolic
meanings. Each house has a house cusp.”
“Did you set up the defendant’s chart based on your receiving Exhibit 205?” he
asked.
“Yes, I did. I used the day, month, time, and the longitude and latitude that he had
listed under the words ‘rectified birth time’. I set the time in my computer for 3:41:45
a.m. Central Daylight Savings time, just as he has on his notes. I used the same longitude
and latitude. When I did the calculations, you may notice if you compare the chart to the
defendant’s notes, that there are a couple of minutes that the computer calculated slightly
different, but only by about a minute.”
Judge Archer interrupted and looked directly at Evie. He asked, “Minutes of
latitude and longitude?”
Evie turned to him and looked directly into his eyes. Then, she answered, “Yes,
minutes of longitude and latitude.”
Judge Archer looked satisfied. “Oh, okay,” he said while nodding.
Pat stood firm. His feet were almost as far apart as his shoulders. His arms were
loosely crossed. “So what’s important for someone’s birth chart would be the place they
were born, the date they were born, and the time they were born?”
“Exactly,” responded Evie.
Pat uncrossed his arms and moved one step closer to Evie. “Now, why is the place
they were born important?”
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Evie wanted to try to stay away from a complex mathematical explanation. She
answered, “Because we use longitude and latitude to set up the outer cusps of that chart.”
“All right. And these things that you’re telling the Court about setting up the
chart, is that one of the basic elements that one has to learn in astrology in order to be
engaged in astrology?”
“Yes, they do.”
“Is this one of the first things a person learns when they’re trained, is how to set
up a birth chart for a person?”
“Yes.”
Pat changed gears. With mental agility, he asked, “Now, I’m going to move into
just translating. I’ll give the witness the original of 293, which I represent to the Court
there will be testimony that this was recovered from the storage locker. And what I’d like
to do is give the Court, the original and Ms. Taylor a copy. Let’s take the very first page
here of the document where it states ‘May 8th of 1995 on Tuesday, noonish’ and it says
‘Rules’ up far at the top. It states ‘the trine from’… and then there’s a symbol… ‘makes it
happen, but detrimental.’ First of all, the trine, is that an astrological term?”
“Yes, it is. It’s one of the planetary aspects.”
“Is this something that’s commonly known by any beginning astrologer?”
“Yes.”
“And there’s a symbol there after ‘from’ and there’s an astrological symbol. What
does that symbolize in astrology?”
“Uranus retrograde,” said Evie.
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“Is that something that any beginning astrologer would understand and be able to
translate?”
“Yes, they would.”
“So if any astrologer came to court and looked at this, they would come to the
same conclusion that you would in terms of what that symbol means?”
“Yes.”
“And does it have an astrological significance?”
“Yes.”
Pat continued, “Then below that, it says, ‘the opposition from…’ then an
astrological symbol… ‘promises finality and devastation.’ What does that astrological
symbol mean?”
“It means retrograde Pluto.”
“Then below that it says, ‘the square from…’ then an astrological symbol… ‘is
the timer that inhibits investigation.’”
“That symbol is transiting moon,” Evie responded.
“There’s a sentence next to that that says, ‘so the’ and then there’s an astrological
symbol… ‘represents an electronically timed bang.’ What is the symbol that represents?”
“That symbol is the planet Uranus.”
Pat continued to read the sentences out loud in a self-confident style. He said,
“Then at the very bottom, it says, ‘Finally…’ an astrological symbol and it appears to be
a calculation, then it states, ‘blocks them, helps me.’ Could you translate for the Court the
astrological symbols and degrees?”
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“Yes. Would you like me to read the full sentence?” she asked.
“Please.”
Evie was confident while she translated the sentence. She said, “Finally, the
transiting moon in Virgo is in opposition to transiting Saturn in Pisces, blocks them, but
helps me. Transiting Saturn in Pisces trine natal Venus in Scorpio.”
“Now, those symbols that you’ve described, numerical symbols and astrological
symbols, would they commonly be able to be translated by a beginning astrologer?”
“Yes.”
“Do they have some astrological meaning and significance?”
“Yes, they do,” she answered in a matter-of-fact tone.
As a team, Pat and Evie made good dancing partners. They intuitively could read
each other. Evie knew what to expect from him and he knew what to expect from her.
They had spent an unbelievable amount of time learning each other’s tempo and style.
Pat flipped the page of the document and continued. He said, “Now, on the 4th
page, it states, ‘I must find if any planets are peregrine, since this Big P identifies the
perpetrator.’ Is peregrine an astrological term?”
“Yes, it is.”
“What does peregrine mean?”
“I would like to refer to an astrological textbook interpretation for the Court.” Pat
looked at her and nodded that it was okay. She opened her notebook and turned to the
jury. Then, she said, “This is from Exhibit 298 of my notebooks, in the section that is
labeled ‘Horary/Electional/Glossary/Notes Time-Graphic’. It says, ‘Peregrine – A planet
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is then said to be peregrine, when he is in the degrees of any sign wherein he has no
essential dignity: As Saturn in the tenth degree of Aries, that sign being not his house,
exaltation, or of his triplicity, or he having in that degree either term of faces, he is then
said to be peregrine.’ Now, the reason I wanted to read this is because it is all technical
astrological terminology, quite difficult at times for a lot of people to understand.
Peregrine is an astrological definition meaning alien or foreign.”
Pat began again. “I’m going to direct your attention to the statement, ‘In other
words, I have the bomb successfully.’ That obviously needs no astrological interpretation
of those words in and of themselves.”
“No.”
“That… the bomb has no astrological symbol next to it?”
“No, it does not, in this particular sentence.”
Pat continued. “Now above that, there’s an astrological symbol, and in bold
capitals there’s a word ‘Alpheratz’ and then some astrological symbols, and then after
that it states, ‘Violent death(s).’ Can you translate the astrological symbols?”
Evie sat upright in her chair. Then, she answered, “Yes. The transiting South
Node at Alpheratz at 14 degrees, 16 minutes of Aries and then next to that is Venus,
Jupiter and then a line next to Mars, Violent Death(s), and s in parenthesis. Below that it
says ‘See my natal Mars, natal Jupiter, and natal Venus.’”
Pat held the document loosely in his right hand. “I would like the court and
counsel to take note that underneath it states, ‘Rule’, which in the earlier document, he
has ‘Rules (so far!)’ dated May 8, 1995. Once again, the defendant is referencing rules.”
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Pat paused, and then he continued. “I’m going to read it. It states, ‘In planning any event
– check long term the coming of eclipses. Check the Saros Cycle and see what degrees
are going to be hit repeatedly by eclipses over the next groups of years.’ It goes on to
state, ‘Plan, plan, plan – based upon the meanings and degrees that Investigative and
Electional Astrology suggests would offer the best success. Avoid the meanings and
degrees that would upset your plans. This means learning the nuances of each planet and
aspect, planetary nodes, especially progressions (and eclipse degree transits) and even
evil stars.’ Pat stopped reading then he turned to Evie. “And the question I have Ms.
Taylor, is, where it states, ‘Plan, plan, plan – based upon the meanings and degrees that
offer Investigative and Electional Astrology suggests would offer the best success,’ is the
term Electional Astrology a term that any beginning astrologer would know?”
“Yes, they would.”
“And could you describe for the Court what – first of all, I’m going to ask you, is
what is involved in electional astrology?”
“Electional Astrology is a branch of horary astrology. Horary is about asking
questions. Electional astrology is a long word for the word electing or to choose, the
proper chart that fits the plans in question,” Evie said with certainty.
“Can you give a practical example of electional astrology? And has he accurately
in some ways defined electional astrology in this sentence?” he asked.
“Yes, the defendant has defined, in some ways what election astrology is in the
sentence where he says, ‘Plan, plan, plan,’ and he says ‘for what will offer the best
success?’”
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“Could you give us an example of how you would plan for something using
astrology, electional astrology, for the best success?”
“Yes. For example, if you wanted to buy a business, or you wanted to take a trip,
you would use Electional Astrology and you would see by setting up charts, which would
be the best time for you to do either of those things. Another example would be, when
should I get married,” she answered.
“Okay. Let’s say you want to determine when is the best time to go to Hawaii.
Would that be something that would be involved in electional astrology?”
“Yes, it would.”
Without sounding as if it was out of the ordinary, Pat simply asked, “In fact, you
bought your car using electional astrology?”
“Yes, I used electional astrology.”
Patrick O’ Shay wanted the jury to think conceptually so he asked, “Now when
you did that, did you calculate your own chart, your time and place of birth, date of birth,
and the planetary positions to determine when, particularly to you, it would be the best
time to buy that car?”
“Yes. In doing electional you would incorporate your own natal chart and
progressed chart into the electional chart to make sure that the planets were giving
favorable energy for whatever your endeavor was going to be.”
“Okay. So in other words, in electional astrology, you’re actually choosing the
best time to go ahead with a project, when would be the best time to go ahead with a
project or event?”
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“Yes.”
Pat looked directly at Evie. “And is that something that any beginning astrologer
would understand, what I’ve stated about, what’s involved in electional astrology?”
Evie looked directly at Pat. Then, she genuinely responded, “A beginning
astrologer may or may not understand the concepts at this point.”
“And before we go further, have there been persons, famous persons, who have
actually used astrology and been influenced by it?”
“Actually, Nancy Regan planned nearly everything for her husband by electional
astrology when he was president. J. P Morgan, a famous billionaire used astrology for
investments and apparently once said, “Billionaires use astrology not millionaires,” she
said in a confident tone.
“Any other historical figures?”
“Yes. Kings, queens, and noblemen. All kinds of people have used electional
astrology.”
He nodded once for emphasis, and then he said, “Okay. And has it been used in
history as a means for planning battles, including when to start the battle, who should
command, and where the battle should be fought?”
“Yes… this type of astrology was used as far back as and even before the
medieval period. In fact the Malleus Maleficarum, otherwise known as The Witch
Hammer, states that during the early 1200’s through the 1600’s in many European
communities all classes were affected and concerned with the practice of witchcraft and
astrology which was inextricably mixed with politics.70 Between the years 1232 and 1441
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there were many scandals that involved people of nobility who were suspected of
consulting with professional necromancers, sorcerers, magicians, and astrologers for a
variety of purposes.71 The authors of the Malleus Maleficarum also discuss the use of
astrology, whether one should or should not consult the stars to foretell the future in
addition to whether or not the celestial planets influence people on earth.”72
“Okay. Now, is there a term for astrology known as horary astrology?”
“Yes.”
“And we’ll differentiate that from electional in a moment. But first of all, could
you describe what’s involved in horary astrology?”
Evie turned to the jury and she said, “In horary astrology, the querent is the
person asking the question. An appropriate to use in horary astrology would be something
like should I get married? Should I start a business? Should I take a trip? Where are my
lost keys? That sort of thing.” Most of the jurors looked at her with comprehension.
Pat continued, “Okay. And how does horary answer that question? In other words,
as a question, how does horary answer the question?”
“You set up the chart the moment that you think up the question, and then you
read – you actually cast the chart, then you read the chart, the planetary positions, the
house cusps – from doing that, you’re going to get your answer.”
Purposely, Pat asked, “Is the difference between electional and horary astrology?
In horary you’re looking to what the outcome of a particular event would be, whereas
electional, what you’re doing is taking matters into your own hands, setting up a chart to
determine when things would turn out best for you?”
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“Yes, that would be a fair statement to say,” replied Evie.
“Okay. Now, in this electional astrology, let’s say you’re taking a trip to Hawaii,
are you also influenced by extraneous factors, like when you’re going to available to go?”
“Absolutely.”
“And in calculating a particular time, there are many different times you can go or
would pick? Is it a process of trial and error?”
“Absolutely.”
For emphasis, Pat asked, “And in that, you’re looking at… correct me if I’m
wrong… you’re looking at the planetary positions according to your birth chart to
determine when it’s most favorable for you to go?”
“Yes. You look at the electional chart and then you look at it in conjunction with
your own birth chart and progressed chart to see if you’re receiving the kind of energy
from the transiting planets that you would like.”
Pat stated, “Now, let’s say you’re making a decision whether or not you should
get married.”
“Right.”
“That would be horary astrology?”
“Asking the question should I get married? would be horary. Asking the question
when should I get married? would be electional.”
“All right. So you’re looking at your planetary positions. When would be…
there’s some planetary positions that are more favorable in terms of harmony and love
and things such as that?”
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“Yes.”
“But you’re also dictated by common sense; you may find that a time. Like 2:35
in the morning is inappropriate to have a wedding?”
“Right.”
With ingenuity, Pat tied the astrological terminology and methodology back to the
defendant’s document. He said, “Now, going back here to where it states… he states,
‘Plan, plan, plan… based upon the meanings and degrees that Investigative and
Electional Astrology suggests would offer the best success’, that’s, once again, a
definition for electional astrology?”
“Yes, it could be.”
“Now, directing the Court and counsel to the bottom of the page it says, ‘There
are some people who can get away with murder. This occurs when other people just don’t
suspect them’, and it goes on. Now, this is strictly in English and it could be literal or
non-literal?”
“Yes, I suppose so.”
Pat began again. He said, “All right. Just so the Court’s aware, we’re going to
come back to this document once we get into the Muslim bombing document, but there
are some parallels we’re intending to show, that he’s actually following… He set out in
the ‘Rules (so far!)’ and also this document called ‘A Safe Solution’, some rules and also
some methodology that he’s employing in the Muslim bombing – 43A document. Where
it states ‘Rules’, it says ‘Cardinal signs are good for events, fixed signs are for
permanence, but mutable signs go with the flow.’”
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“Yes.”
“Now, does that have… first question, does that have astrological significance?”
“This is a correct statement astrologically,” responded Evie.
“Would an astrologer understand that and see that as being a correct statement?”
“Yes, I believe they would,” she said.
“Now we are going to jump ahead to 43A, the Muslim bombing document. While
we’re still on the subject of electional astrology, in electional astrology, you’re involving
your own particular birth chart?”
“Yes.”
“And in the Muslim bombing document, how many specific references are there
to his own birth chart?” Pat carefully asked.
Without quiver of doubt, Evie responded, “I counted them and found about fiftynine references to his own natal or progressed chart in this document.”
“And is the fact that those… his birth chart is reflected there fifty-nine times,
we’ll develop it later, but is that consistent with the use of electional astrology?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Okay. Now, would it be inconsistent for an astrologer to examine their own natal
chart in analyzing an event that they were not going to be involved in?”
“An astrologer would only use their own natal chart if the event had something to
do with them,” she categorically answered.
“So, in other words, let’s say that I came to you. You do work with… you do
electional astrology with persons?”
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“Yes and for myself.”
“And typically, lay people… lay in the sense they don’t know astrology… would
come to an astrologer and ask for advice on when to do a particular event?”
“Right.”
“So if I wanted to plan a trip to Hawaii. I would come to you. Would you involve
your chart, or would you involve my chart?”
“Only your chart and your progressed chart.”
“Why is that? Why is my chart… why is my birth chart important astrologically?”
“Well, you’re the person taking the trip, so you’re the person we want to make
sure has the most favorable planetary aspects to take that trip, not me.”
Moving closer to Evie and looking at her square in the eyes, Pat asked, “Now,
would it be inconsistent for an astrologer to examine their own chart in analyzing an
event that already occurred if they were not involved in that event?”
Evie locked her eyes with Pat’s. She didn’t blink. With conviction, she said, “If
they were not involved in the event, they would not look at their own chart.”
“So we’ve talked about, so far, electional astrology. What we’re looking at is as to
when’s the best time to plan an event?”
“Right.”
“Astrology can also be used to look backwards and analyze an event that already
happened?”
“That’s true.”
With composure, Pat asked, “An example you gave to me would be the plane
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crash of John F. Kennedy, Junior?”
Evie turned her attention to the jury and she said, “Right. When John F.
Kennedy’s plane crashed on July 16, 1999 in the Atlantic Ocean, the minute that the
news media were announcing the story of what happened, astrologers, per what the news
media said was the time of the crash, set up charts for the time that the plane left and the
time that the plane crashed. They also then would look at his birth chart and his
progressed chart as well as his wife, Caroline, and her sister. They looked to see if there
were any planetary forces or influences that may be shown in the chart for that particular
event.”
“What they’re doing is, they’re looking back to see whether his planetary aspects
were upon him at that time such that they were bad that he shouldn’t have taken that
trip?” asked Pat.
“Correct.”
“If they were bad, it would confirm that astrology does have an influence on
persons?”
“Yes. It would add some credibility.”
“Now based upon the defendant’s writings and calculations, is it your opinion that
he did these writings and calculations prior to March 1998?” asked Pat boldly.
“Yes, I believe they were written before,” Evie candidly answered.
“And one of the basis of your opinion is the fact that he’s using his own natal
chart?” asked Pat.
Evie replied, “Correct. And the fact that… the number one factor is astrologers
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are somewhat like attorneys or reporters. We get as much factual information as possible,
about events that have occurred. Like a reporter, we report the event based on the
information. We get the facts from television reports or newspaper articles. We get as
many facts as possible such as the precise about the time of the event, whether it’s a
natural disaster, an accident, a death, or a happy occasion. Then we set up the charts
based upon precision. When an astrologer does a write-up, based on those facts, they are
precise. Somewhat like a report in a newspaper article. In this case, it didn’t seem to me
that it was written per exactly what had occurred, and I questioned that.”
Pat nodded at Evie after she finished her answer. Then he turned to Judge Archer
and said, “Your Honor, I’d ask the Court and counsel and the witness to go through a
document previously marked as an exhibit which states at the top ‘A Safe Solution’,
before I have the witness get into the Moslem Bombing document. This document, ‘A
Safe Solution’, is what we believe are the defendant’s plans to bomb a commercial real
estate company here in the Bay Area. I would like to show that the language in this
document is consistent which a plan for a future bombing, just as we believe the Moslem
bombing document will show.”
Judge Samuel Archer replied, “All right, go ahead.”
Patrick O’ Shay wanted to show the jury that the defendant used his own chart to
plan the event in advance. Pat said, “Let me first ask you, did the defendant include the
planetary aspects of his own natal chart in comparison and in conjunction to the
‘Bombing Chart Analysis; A Safe Solution’ that he wrote?”
“Yes, he listed the current planetary positions in conjunct with his natal chart.”
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Pat handed Evie the document, then he asked, “Could you please read and
translate the first two paragraphs for the jury?”
Evie turned to the jury and began reading the complicated astrological plans,
which also had partial diagrams of astrological charts, exactly as the defendant had
written them. She said, “Pluto Stationary Retrograde on March 5, 1996 at 3 degrees 6.9
minutes of Sagittarius, Pluto is stationary direct on August 10, 1996 at 0 degrees 20
minutes of Sagittarius and is trine my natal moon on October 5, 1996. There is a Pluto
return on November 28, 1996 at 3 degrees 6.8 minutes of Sagittarius. Mercury is in on
April 19, 1996 at 19 degrees and 40 minutes of Taurus and transiting Saturn is exactly
conjunct my natal moon plus transiting Uranus is waxing at 2/3 degrees my natal Venus.
Mercury goes stationary retrograde on May 3, 1996 at 28 degrees of Taurus and on May
27, 1996 at 19 degrees and 40.3 minutes of Taurus. Mercury is stationary direct on June
13, 1996 at 28 degrees of Taurus. Mercury is out and then Mercury is in on August 16,
1996.”
Evie flipped over the page of the defendant’s document and continued to read his
diabolical plans to bomb the real estate company. She said, “Avoid transiting Saturn
conjunct my natal moon on April 17, 1996, November 8, 1996, and December 29, 1996.
Transiting Uranus is square my natal Venus on May 8, 1996, October 9, 1996, and
January 24, 1997. Mercury is still the key! On April 11, 1996 transiting Mercury is
conjunct my natal Neptune. Awful timing! Transiting Pluto is trine my natal moon at o
degrees and 56 minutes of Sagittarius and Markab, the fixed star.”
“So, from just these two paragraphs, it is your opinion that the defendant was
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clearly looking at the positions of the transiting planets on the day of February 27, 1995
in relationship to the positions of his own natal planets in the paragraph?” Pat asked.
Without hesitation, Evie answered, “Yes, he was clearly looking at the positions
of the transiting planets on the day of February 27, 1995 in relationship to the positions of
his own natal planets in this list, per his notes, and in the hand drawn diagram or partial
chart below the notes.”
“Did you check the defendant’s chart and calculations to be sure they were
accurate?”
“Yes. This chart was set up to check the defendant’s calculations for A Safe
Solution Chart, dated February 27, 1995. The defendant refers to the transiting planets in
relationship to his own natal planets, the birth position. The graphic and lines represent
which aspects from the transiting planets to the natal that the defendant mentions. I
referred to the list on prior page taken from his notes.”
Pat looked satisfied. He continued, “There are references to Tarot cards next to
the defendant’s partial chart. Could you please read the following paragraphs to the jury
and the interpretation of the astrological symbols along with the defendant’s words
about these Tarot cards?”
“Yes,” Evie said with composure. She turned to the jury and began reading and
interpreting the defendant’s document to them. “In the chart, Mars is conjunct the natal
ascendant. The defendant says the Tarot card that symbolizes this placement stands for
victory. The ego is the killer of the common good. The ancient samurai understands that
victory lies within the subjugation of another. The new man will find triumph in attaining
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a momentous goal, uniting his energies to one constructive end. This planetary aspect is
goal-oriented action, intense intent towards others. Mars is just past a conjunction to natal
Pluto.”
Evie paused briefly. Pat jumped in and asked, “What else does the defendant say
about the Tarot card?”
Evie took a sip of her water then she started reading from the defendant’s Safe
Solution document. She said, “The tarot card represents to strike and massacre. The
fighter is out of complete body-balance. It is as if he is fighting his own shadow, and
because of that, the Yin and Yang fall apart. Nevertheless, Mars and Pluto will give the
person the first strike capability, which will lead to the ultimate destruction of his
enemies. The final action transcends all good by the sheer intensity and depth of feeling.”
“As a person who has studied the occult, in fact a person who has a Ph.D. from
Yale University and specialized in studying these things, how would you explain this to
the jury?” Pat asked.
“This aspect is incomparable action, which brings the realization that the ultimate
balance is in one’s own imbalance. The defendant says, ‘Transiting Sun is conjunct
transiting Saturn, and this symbolizes authority, restricted freedom, outside limitations.’
In the Tarot deck, there are two men on a pedestal, which doubles as a coffin. This is a
suppressed figure which is kept underground and in total darkness. The four coins
symbolize material success and they shine in the light of sunset. In its fullness, the
interpretation can mean one is trying to maintain brilliance at the expense of others.
Transiting Uranus is square his natal Mars. In the Tarot spread, this typically means an
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unexpected and uncontrolled flash, sudden action, a bomb blasting off, and destruction.
This is self-determination ruled by one’s own intentions and by the use of their own
energy source. From the defendant’s notes he says, ‘Natal Pluto is conjunct his natal
ascendant.’ In the Tarot spread, this symbolizes the Shaman who says, I am in control.
The defendants says below his notation of Pluto to his ascendant, ‘I am a machine-like
figure with great knowledge and willpower. I use my power to manipulate my
environment. I shoot hot red fire beams from my third eye. I have venomous power!’
Pat jumped in and asked, “Did you form a particular opinion from reading these
paragraphs written by the defendant?”
“Yes. It was my opinion that he has studied from the books of wisdom and
received secret magical techniques from the ancient ones. The defendant says, ‘Fire,
water, air, and earth on each angle are attached to my exaggerated heart, like medals.
They will prepare the way for my tremendous battle. This is how I approach life.’ I
believe he is obsessive. He is fearful about letting go of control, yet he is susceptible to
feelings of helplessness and fearful thoughts penetrate his subconscious mind when he
finds himself in uncontrollable situations.”
Pat took the leadership role and he said, “Thank you. Now, in the following list,
the defendant asked these questions and we believe that he made plans for bombing the
commercial real estate company with ammonium nitrate delivered in a large safe. Now
this list, in English and needs no translation. He wrote, ‘What is the Gross Weight
allowed in the E (elevator) before overload shutdown? Is there a camera in the elevator?
Do I need a disguise? Get explosive onto push cart(s) for fast dolly loading... Is there a
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building security office? A broom or cleaning services closet? Get complete layout of
building, of neighborhood, of protection services. How do I get into building after hours?
Past hallway locks? Are elevator services “off” after hours? Is parking lot attendant there
after hours? Security services rounds? Are lights on at night? Does use of elevator after
hours, signal to security service? Where can I store the explosive in lower garage? The
package – explosive – Ammonium Nitrate. I must find a company in transition. Go to
D.B.A.’s (Doing Business As) and/or Civil Court Files. Preferably a still-in-place
identified/identifiable storefront or office address with logos in place. Call in to a
defined-enter-point, small time freight service that accepts delivery by sending a truck;
stall such a place, telling them that you will deliver by 5:00 p.m. for relocation through
Western Relocation, if you can’t get there in time… So you will deliver to them… Then
arrive late after closing with the 300lb loaded box… A certified check such as a money
order in an envelope attached. I need phony papers/stationary with the listed phone
number plus address in phonebook…computer generated, everything including business
cards…etc. Business identity laminated ID Card.’ Ms. Taylor, could you please continue
reading the next few paragraphs that follow along with the astrological interpretation?”
Pat asked.
“Yes. The defendant wrote, ‘Begin project. This write-up done from noon to 5
p.m. on October 26, 1995.’ Further down, the defendant wrote, ‘The Grim Reaper Chart
is May 4, 1996 at 7:34:35 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time. The first house equals the Querent
or the matter asked about. Each one of the twelve houses has a planetary ruler. Determine
the first major aspect between the rulers of the two above essential houses to determine
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outcome of the matter. The Moon in the Via Combusta is a stricture against judgment at
15 degrees Libra to 15 degrees Scorpio. This has malefic stars of the nature of Mars (fire)
plus Saturn (hindrance). A significator so placed is ineffective to act in the querent’s
behalf. Moon in Via Combusta acts like moon conjunct Uranus. Watch out for Spica at
23 degrees and 47 minutes Libra plus 1 degree or Arcturus at 24 degrees at the nadir. If
moon is 3 degrees waxing of an aspect just into the next sign, the Via Combusta moon
will sometimes perform.’ After Evie stopped reading from the defendant’s notes, she
stopped and looked up at Pat.
“Ms. Taylor, could you please tell the jurors what a moon in via combusta
means?” asked Pat.
“The moon’s meaning in the via combusta is an unsettled state of affairs that
resists judgment, and involves a perverse self-satisfaction in the confusion. However, if
the horary question is an attempt to put a chaotic condition to advantage, or make some
use of baffling realignment in the general situation, then chart is radical and can be read,”
she answered.
“Thank you. Now, could you please tell us what Arcturus symbolizes in
astrology?”
Evie was desperately trying to be diplomatic and professional. She answered,
“The history of Arcturus according to E W Bullinger, a biblical interpreter of the
constellations, Arcturus is a bright star that the ancient Egyptians called Bootes. This
symbolizes one who rules, subdues, and governs. It has a reputation for achieving justice
through power and it is believed to cause the natives to become belligerent and
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quarrelsome. If involved in legal action, such a native could lose everything.”
“Could you please continue with the next few paragraphs?” he asked. Then Pat
turned and looked at the jury while he waited for Evie to respond.
Evie was still holding the defendant’s document in her hand. She turned to the
jury and said, “Yes. Here, the defendant wrote, ‘Danger, danger, danger! Any stricture
which describes the situation, connotes a radical chart. Strictures are of the nature of
Saturn and warn against the question. I must watch out for transiting moon opposite
retrograde stationary Mercury, which screws up communications. Then as this wanes, the
moon is void of course until the entry into Sagittarius, even though the void is 1 degree
and 14 minutes which could connect the opposition of Mercury to the Sagittarius lunar
motion.’”
“Please explain to the court what in astrology does a void of course moon
indicate.”
For just a moment, Evie hesitated and then she answered, “In the majority of
cases, the void of course moon would accomplish nothing and would go nowhere. On
occasion, I have chosen a void of course moon for an election when I did not want the
prevailing aspects to gain the upper hand. For example, if a real confrontation is
brewing, then a void of course moon could neutralize the whole situation, sometimes in
quite a surprising way, and the confrontation would not happen. It does not mean
nothing happened, however, just not what everyone thought was going to happen.”
“Thank you. Now, in the next paragraph the defendant says, ‘In one particular
attempted coup, the void of course moon rallied the defending forces to pull a surprise
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surrender, sort of, by dissolving the corporate entity and walking away from it
completely. It totally let the air out of the opposing forces tires. They had nothing to
conquer, nothing to gain, and therefore, in a sense, nothing happened. But, indeed,
something did happen.’ Does this sound accurate as far as a void of course moon in
astrology?” asked Pat.
“Yes it does. Void of course moons do, on occasion, serve their purpose and good
astrologers do use them when they can serve such a purpose.”
“Thank you, please continue reading the next few paragraphs for the court.”
Evie took a moment to find her place in the document. Then she began reading
out loud to the jury. “The defendant wrote, ‘Mercury here represents cameras because of
the moon. Is there an ATM or camera nearby to location, or in the elevator itself? The
moon in the late degrees of Scorpio is the Grim Reaper, so when it moves to conjunct
retrograde Pluto, the action is smooth. Transiting moon is opposite a stationary retrograde
Mercury. A trine at three degrees the transiting moon conjunct a retrograde Pluto,
bridges Scorpio to Sagittarius.’”
At this point, the jury was intrigued with the testimony. The consistent pace of the
dance between Evie and Pat helped. Pat asked, “Could you please explain the meaning of
the Grim Reaper, as well as the Tarot card of Death that is listed on this page to the court
and then continue reading the next few paragraphs written by the defendant?”
Evie readjusted herself in the chair and took another sip of her luke-warm water.
Then she said, “Yes, the Grim Reaper is known as Death. There are many Tarot
interpretations for the Death card. These are but a few. On the card, the skeleton stands
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holding a scythe and there is a black bird. We can see behind the bird, a rising sun. This
means the end, transition, transformation. Some sort of boundary was reached. It is time
to give up the existing way of living. As time elapses, there is separation, release,
settlement, stagnation, followed by sorrow.” Evie paused and then she continued. “In the
next paragraph, the defendant wrote, ‘Death is the greatest of all illusions. Meditation,
awareness, and vision temporarily open the limited three-dimensional world we choose to
act in, for the time of corporal existence. The white light of ultimate understanding is
positioned between the open eyes that see this material world. To reach there, various
layers of increasing formlessness will have to be met and understood, until finally, the
center of the cyclone is reached. This can happen here and now, in deep meditation, and
if the body is ultimately left while one is firmly rooted in a state of wakeful awareness.
Pluto in Scorpio is the ultimate understanding and transformation. What dies, what is
eternal? I am more than the sum of my body and mind. I must be open for possibilities of
existence without a physical body. On a well-kept horse, Death rides slowly across a field
holding a flag of a rose. A king, a child and a girl all fall before him. A sun is shining
between two towers in the background. Is it rising or is it setting?’” After Evie was
finished reading, she looked up at Pat.
He asked, “Is the defendant’s portrayal of this Tarot card accurate?”
“Yes, but my opinion is that the Death card represents a shedding of the old self
and does not have to necessarily mean a physical death. This shedding may include the
ending of friendships or associations, the falling through of plans or the end of old habits.
All things are in a flux and must change so that new life can spring from old forms. It is
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time to overcome old habits and to let go of so-called securities. Make a clean break with
the past. Illusions are about the meaning of loss, the ending of a cycle in life, or a
personal separation. It often represents a person that does not recognize the positive
aspects of a painful experience and refuses to learn from them.”
Pat nodded then said, “Please continue for the court reading page three of the
defendant’s notes.”
Evie looked down at the document and found her place. She began translating the
defendant’s words for the jurors. “The defendant wrote, ‘The transiting moon is at 29
degrees 6 minutes and 15 seconds of Scorpio. The full moon was 13 degrees and 19
minutes of Scorpio between the fixed stars of Scorpio. Alphecca is opposite Venus,
Mercury, and Mars. Beware of Venus and Mercury. Let the full moon aspects pass.’”
After she stopped interpreting, Pat said, “Please tell the court what is Alphecca
and the Scales as well as their symbolism with the Tarot cards. Also, what is the Grim
Reaper Chart that the defendant wrote about?”
At this point Evie thought it would be best to give an overview of textbook
descriptions of the star. She replied, “Robinson says, Alphecca conjunct the moon is
symbolic of public honor and dignity, but one often suffers through law, partners and
neighbors. There can be trouble through underhanded dealings and enemies but
eventually a person can triumph over them. There may be bad for love affairs. If conjunct
the sun or moon and well placed in a map, this star promises honors and preferment.
According to tradition, it is said to be associated with the Lord of the House of Death.73
The Scales are associated with the Hebrew letter Heth and the 8th Tarot Trump card
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equals Justice.74 The South Scale is a star with an evil nature. It’s technically called
Zuben Elgenubi and can be found in the southern claw of the scorpion. Symbolically, it is
called the Insufficient Price. According to Ptolemy, the star has the nature of Saturn and
Mars. It causes malevolence, obstruction, an unforgiving character, violence, disease,
lying, crime, disgrace, and danger of poison.75 It frequently shows in many unfortunate
situations, from domestic strife and miscarriages of justice to psychopathic killings that
started out in the guise of love. If it is harshly aspected, especially to Mars, Saturn or the
moon, justice may well take a back seat to vengeance. The star with Mercury symbolizes
being crafty, revengeful, treacherous, quick mind, bad health, bad for gain, disgrace, and
poverty at the end of life. The star with Venus symbolizes such things as bad for
marriage, sudden and secret death, may be poisoned owing to jealousy of one of own sex.
The star with Mars represents bitter quarrels, entailing bloodshed or death. The star with
Saturn symbolizes such things as being dishonorable, one often escapes justice but finally
suffers, they may be jealous, quick-tempered, and have a miserable death. It will bring
serious losses and injuries.”76
Pat continued to speak in a tactful manner. He said, “Thank you. Please continue
reading the next paragraph of the defendant’s writing for the court.”
Evie looked down at the document. Her eyes were getting tired. She began
reading out loud, ‘The fixed star Bungula at 29 degrees and 33 minutes Scorpio covers
occult interests, self-promotion, and self-interest. The fixed star Yed Prior covers success
in astrology, 9th house matters, and self-promotion or self interest at 2 degrees and 14
minutes of Sagittarius. The star is trine Saturn and quincunx Mars.’
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“Please tell the court the astrological symbolism of the stars Bungula and Yed
Prior.”
Again, Evie felt it would be best to answer Pat’s question by referring to wellrespected astrological sources. She turned and looked directly at the jury and made eye
contact with a majority. She said, “Bungula can cause problems when it comes to relating
to women. Rigor adds a fatalistic attitude.77 It’s believed that Yed Prior gives a
passionate, wasteful, and easily seduced nature. The general influence of the star is that it
causes immorality, shamelessness, and revolution.”78
“Could you please read the next paragraph that the defendant wrote for the
court?” asked Pat.
“Yes. ‘The full moon is very public action that becomes a 9th house-SagittariusJupiter matter because of Yed Prior. The moon in a critical degree of any sign, especially
Scorpio, Capricorn, or Gemini means the querent’s judgment is bad. The last degrees are
ruled by malefic Mars and Saturn. A significator or perpetrator at 29 degrees is at the end
of his rope and impatient. Fixed aspects plus signs equal things entrenched and hard to
alter. Scorpio is fixed, but Sagittarius is mutable.’”
“What does the critical degree mean astrologically?”
“The moon is in a critical degree will typically bring matters to a critical point or
a trauma. This shows that there is a crisis concerning the person or thing represented by
the significator,” answered Evie.
“Thank you. Please read page four of the defendant’s notes to the court.”
She began. “The defendant says on page four, ‘Another interpretation is transiting
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moon conjunct a retrograde Pluto, but first a stationary retrograde Mercury intervenes
from an opposition to oppose the conjunction. The package is sent back to its originator
which implies using Century 21, Western Relocation Management letterheads. Therefore,
two receivers are to be used and confusion reigns. Stationary retrograde Mercury in
Taurus says the transiting Venus package can go astray, with Venus as the ruler of the 2nd
house where Cancer is on the cusp. This shows transiting moon action. Transiting Venus
in Gemini is generating an affliction from the stationary retrograde Mercury. I must
observe the last aspect of the moon to see what the moon was learning about... retrograde
Pluto. Observe the next aspect of the moon to see where it was going. Be aware of the
ruler of the sign on the fourth house, which reveals the outcome of any issue at stake.
Watch out! Nothing is lost with the moon in a fixed sign. The moon opposite a stationary
retrograde Mercury just prior, shows confusion. However, if it is conjunct a retrograde
Pluto just after, it shows complications. The fast transiting moon can unite Mercury
opposite retrograde Pluto, where Mercury’s separation is about to begin. This Mercury
rules Gemini where the transiting Venus significator is located. The transiting moon
reunites the Mercury opposite retrograde Pluto. This promises a bitch of a case to
unravel! The matter will be accomplished! The act will be accomplished! Mercury is
conjunct the evil star Algol Caput in the 12th house.’” After reading, Evie’s mouth was
dry, so she stopped to take another sip of the tepid water.
Pat patiently watched for her to set the cup down. Then, he asked, “Please tell the
court what the evil star Algol Caput means symbolically.”
“The ancient Arabic people called the star Algol, the demon star, evil spirit, or
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devil. The Hebrews knew Algol as Rosh ha Sitan, Satan’s Head, or the Devil’s head.
Agol also as known as Lilith. She was Adam’s legendary first wife who was the
nocturnal vampire from the lower world. The Chinese gave it the gruesome title Tseih
She because of the piled-up corpses. Astrologers say that it was the most unfortunate,
violent, and dangerous star in the heavens. The general influence of the star is that it
causes misfortune, violence, decapitation, hanging, electrocution, and mob violence. It
often gives a strong-minded but violent nature because of the death it causes. It is the
most evil star in the heavens.”79
“Thank you. Please read the last few paragraphs that the defendant wrote to the
jury.”
Evie turned to the very last page of the Safe Solution document. She read,
‘Retrograde Mercury in Taurus opposite the Moon in Scorpio is conjunct Pluto in
Sagittarius. Mercury here is so weak as to be vulnerable – they will know who you are! I
must use circumstances of the Mercury position to literally hide from them! Watch out
for the State Authorities! The retrograde Mercury of the prior day, says you can sneak
the package in during the late afternoon. Mercury opposite a retrograde Pluto is sent for a
package climax!’ After she was finished reading, she looked up to Pat and she waited.
Intuitively, Pat knew that Evie was tired and needed a break. He looked at the
clock. Then he said, “Thank you. Your Honor, in view of the hour, I would request we
take lunch recess now.”
Judge Samuel Archer said, “Fine. We’ll recess now, and ladies and gentlemen,
please return at 1:00 p.m. and direct examination of the witness will continue at that
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time.” The judge turned to Evie and said in a compassionate tone, “Ms. Taylor you are
excused, please return at 1:00 p.m.”
Evie smiled at the judge and shook her head in agreement. She stood up and
gracefully walked out of the courtroom. Jason followed quickly her out into the corridor
and grabbed her hand. His eyes were full of concern and pain.
“Are you okay?” he sympathetically asked.
“I’m good… tired, but good.”
“Ok. Hey, Pat and I want to take you out to lunch. Let’s wait on the outside
balcony for him.”
The two walked outside. They stood looking out over the balcony in complete
silence. Jason’s hand was on Evie’s shoulder the entire time.
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Chapter 13
THE CINCO DE MAYO SURPRISE
After Lunch May 3, 1999
During the lunch, Patrick O’ Shay, Jason, and Evie discussed her testimony. Pat
was mostly interested in Evie’s intuitive feelings about the jury. Evie thought the jury
members were compassionate, intelligent, focused, and captivated by the testimony.
Both men agreed with her analysis of the vibrations in the courtroom. After lunch, the
three walked back to the courthouse. Both Pat and Jason went into the courtroom while
Evie waited inside the witness room.
From the bench, Judge Samuel Archer courteously said, “Good afternoon, ladies
and gentlemen. We are back on the record and all jurors are present. Both counsel and the
defendant are present. Ms. Taylor, would you please resume the stand. Go ahead Mr. O’
Shay.”
At precisely 1:00 p.m., Evie took her seat and the testimony resumed.
Pat stood up and walked towards the bench, then respectfully replied, “Thank
you, Your Honor.”
Pat looked directly at Evie and asked, “Now, Ms. Taylor, could you please read
the first few paragraphs of the document titled ‘A Cinco de Mayo Surprise’ written by the
defendant?”
Evie nodded at Pat and began reading from the defendant’s notes. She said, “Yes.
It says ‘On November 1, 1995 at 1:37 P.S.T. I received an idea for back up planning. The
approach of the transiting moon to retrograde Mercury signifies the event or the climax.
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The waxing to retrograde Pluto waning to a Mercury opposition means the event will
occur. The event will occur at stationary retrograde Jupiter due to Sagittarius because
transiting moon translates the retrograde Mercury in Taurus to the retrograde Pluto in
Sagittarius. The retro motion of Pluto brings Pluto to Mercury. In addition, retrograde
Pluto is moving faster than retrograde Mercury, so it applies to Mercury and therefore,
uses the Scorpio energy. This is where the transiting moon in Scorpio is. The translation
of light occurs from transiting moon in Scorpio, but the moon rules Cancer. This suggests
that it is a Cancer-ruled business. I should send the package – Venus. Cancer is a
domestic sign and rules Real Estate, send the package at 23 degrees of Cancer. Transiting
Mercury rules the means. The retrograde Mercury will hide the package for a late Friday
pick up by local delivery. Be certain that Judy, the secretary, is not in that day, but use
her letterhead. The transiting moon is a third party that voluntarily gives helps to deliver
the package which is a Cinco de Mayo Surprise. Let that package be responsive to a
frequency initiator. A very narrow band pass such as per a SAW filter80 or crystal
frequency at 32KHz divided down.81 If we leave a wireless broadcast with frequency, say
with RS Walkie-Talkie whose output is filtered then compared to let these frequencies
through, then we are ok. Let a timer set them on so that at stationary retrograde Jupiter,
the reception can occur.’”
“Now, Ms. Taylor, could you please explain to the jurors what retrograde
means?”
“Retrograde planets imply a return to the old. A person may feel pulled this way
and that with stationary retrograde. The stationary retrograde can indicate the withholding
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or suppression of information.”
“Thank you. Now, please continue interpreting the defendant’s notes for us.”
“Ok, on the next line the defendant says, ‘The person is in a very weak position in
business, health, and legal issues. The person with the stationary retrograde becomes a
victim of circumstance because so much power is weakened. Jupiter stationary retrograde
indicates suppression of prosecution. With the moon approaching a retrograde opposed
Mercury, the deal just may not occur. Frustration! Pay Attention! Transiting Venus goes
stationary retrograde in sixteen days. Venus in the first house supports a favorable
answer, if other factors in the chart concur. Venus rules safes. When Venus goes
stationary retrograde, any benefic benefit dies. The Querent82 is Venus in Gemini. The
Quesited equals Mars in Taurus as per the enemy.’” Evie stopped reading and looked up
at Pat.
He said, “Thank you. Please tell the court what the quesited means in astrology.”
“The quesited is the person, thing, or event that is the subject of the question.”83
Pat enjoyed the well-rehearsed verbal tennis match. “Thank you. Next, the
defendant wrote, ‘the first major aspect between the sign rulers of the two essential
houses determined by the question will show the outcome of the question. Venus rules
safes. Mars rules explosives... so Mars entry into Taurus is Venus ruled and for 8th House
purposes. Capricorn and Saturn rules corporations. The eighth house purposes are death
and restructuring of a corporation. The eighth house rules the money of lawsuit
defendants. Look for your answer in 41 days – on June 18, 1996.’ Now, Ms. Taylor
please tell the court what the eighth house in astrology symbolizes?”
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“The eighth house symbolizes death. It’s known as the house of peril and the
death of someone inquired about. However, in a horary chart it doesn’t mean the death of
the querent himself.”84
“Thank you. Please continue reading page seventeen of the defendant’s notes.”
Evie looked down and turned to the page. “Here the defendant says, ‘Mars in the
twelfth house is a secret enemy and malefic. Mars in Taurus is Venus ruled and is in a
fixed sign. However, Saturn in Aries will strengthen Mars. The enemy – Mars in Taurus
is strong, occluded, very hidden, dangerous, and powerful. Jupiter in the eighth house of
death promises thwarted justice. Planets in nodal degree suggest a catastrophe or fatality
in the matter. Jupiter at the same degree of the moon’s nodes promises a fateful event.
Pluto on the cusp of the first house signifies complications and profound changes over
which the Querent has little control. However, Pluto on the cusp of the seventh house
signifies complications and profound changes over which the Querent’s consultants and
lawyers have little control. Attention! This is what my Psychic Impression gave me on
April 4, 1996. This was prepared at 12:30 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time on October 24,
1995. Justice to be done!’”
Evie stopped reading and looked at Patrick O’ Shay. “Ms. Taylor, please tell the
court what psychic impression means.”
Evie turned to the jury. “A psychic impression is also known as clairvoyance or
clairsentience… it is a French word that means a clear sensation or feeling. One can
perceive information by a feeling with the whole body without any outer stimuli related
to this feeling or information. It’s an inner knowing that the psychic information is true or
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should be followed. The information comes from the subconscious mind. Sometimes a
person gets a feeling in the stomach or throughout the entire body. Clairvoyance means
clear vision about something that is significant and with a specific purpose.”85
Pat indicated understanding. “Thank you. In the next paragraph, the defendant
writes, ‘I must find out if the moon equals the perpetrator. I must know if it means any
aspect will get you caught. Shall I choose a chart for the event where Jupiter is stationary
retrograde? Look to Caput Agol, Bungula, Alcyone, Alnilam, Yed Prior, and Seginus.’
Now, Ms. Taylor, please tell the court what the fixed stars that the defendant refers to and
their significance mean in astrology.”
Evie’s thoughts pointed back to the numerous hours of her research. She turned to
the jury and made eye contact with them. “Bungula is also called Toliman. It is the Alpha
star of the constellation Centaurus and the third largest star in the sky. With this star,
there is an inclination to vengeance.86 If the star aspects the moon, it is said to be
involved in disputes. Caput Agol is referred to as the Ghoul, the Head of Gorgon Medusa,
demons, evil spirits, or the devil. Ancient Arabic people called Algol the demon star. In
Greek mythology, Algol is called the Gorgon’s head. In the Iliad, Homer says that the
Gorgon is a terrible and vicious female monster. According to Homer, the Gorgon is
dreadful and awful… a portent of Zeus that beareth the aegis. The Demon, the Demon
Star, the Blinking Demon, and the Spectre’s Head are the most common names for Algol.
The Hebrews knew Algol as Satan’s Head. Some astrologers say that Algol is the most
unfortunate, violent, and dangerous star in the heavens. It has a violent nature that causes
murder, sudden death, beheading, and mischief. Some Kabalistic students say it is
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associated with the Hebrew letter lamed, the twelfth tarot trump card, or the Hanged
Man.87 Alcyone is the central star of the Pleiades. According to Ptolemy, the star has the
nature of the moon and Mars. It is believed to cause disgrace and bring a violent death.
The influence is clearly evil. It also symbolizes bereavement, mourning, sorrows, and
tragedies. If the star aspects Mercury, there will be many disappointments, loss of
possessions, and loss from legal affairs. If the star is in aspect with Venus, it symbolizes
strong passions, disgrace through women, and loss of fortune.88 Alnilam is a brilliant
white star that occupies the central position in Orion’s belt. The star signifies a lurking
enemy that is a hunter of men rather than of beasts. It is said to give a strong and
dignified nature, self-confidence, and arrogance.89 Yed Prior is the western star in the left
hand of the Serpent Bearer. It is said to bring unseen dangers, enmity, strife and
slander.90 Seginus means a reaper or harvester. It is called the Guard or Protector. It is
said to give strong desires, a tendency to excess, and liking for occultism.91” Evie paused
and took a sip of her water.
“Thank you Ms. Taylor,” said Pat. “Now, if you could please turn to the next
page. Here, the defendant writes, ‘May 4, 1996 is a big day for me… I must wait for
transiting Mars to go to Taurus. The timing will have transiting moon conjunct transiting
Pluto – planning day! Big Question: Will the finger of the Law point at me, the
perpetrator? Or will the moon in Scorpio protect me from the twenty-ninth degree?’ Now,
my question for you is what is the twenty-ninth degree and it’s symbolism in astrology?”
Evie was relieved that in between her long portions of testimony, Pat usually
provided an extensive introduction because this gave her time to collect her thoughts and
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relax some. She said, “The twenty-ninth degree shows some affliction connected with the
matter. The person or matter asked about is at the end of his rope. Desperate. The person
is about to make a definite change. If the significator leaves a zodiacal sign and enters
the next, there could be a turn for the worse. Any planet moving to a conjunction with a
house cusp is about to enter a new department of life because it is leaving the old one.
When the planet enters the new house, it will gradually become fully involved with the
affairs of that house.”
“Please, turn to the next page and tell the court what the defendant means when he
wrote ‘Sagittarius rules Justice. Pluto retrograde on seventh house cusp brings
complications to the querent’s consultants. All events will take a long time to unravel.
Does the transiting moon in Scorpio, but soon going into Sagittarius, mean escape for
Perpetrator? I must verify. Mercury hiding in the twelfth house is very difficult to
catch.’”
In a cool, calm, and collected manner, Evie answered, “The ascendant is also the
querent, or the person asking the question. The defendant is saying that he is represented
by retrograde Mercury in the twelfth house and Mercury is the ruler of the ascendant. He
believes that it will be difficult for the police to catch him because Mercury is in the
twelfth house and in occlusion. Now, it’s important to understand that the word occluded
or occultation literally means hidden.92 The occlusion causes a shadow and spoils clarity.
Occlusion… like occultation… means something is prevented from being seen. It means
being covered by another body so it cannot be seen… such as the moon. Occultations
occur repeatedly for months if the planet is in the same declination as the moon during a
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conjunction. The twelfth house in astrology symbolizes hidden things, behind the scenes
activity… literally hiding.”
Once again, Pat took control. Pat said, “Thank you. In the next paragraph, the
defendant writes, ‘Venus is the perpetrator who is a public figure! This is a vulnerability!
Jupiter in the eighth house of death and warns to watch out for transiting Saturn conjunct
my natal moon trine Pluto and conjunct the part of enemies. Aries is ruled by Mars. Be
aware that the retro-cycle begins on April 19, 1996. This date is the Oklahoma City
Bombing Anniversary! The Solar Eclipse just two days before – April 17, 1996 – has
transiting Saturn conjunction my natal moon. The eleventh house rules juries and the
tenth house rules police, government, and authorities. The ninth house rules the Law and
Judges. The eighth house of death is Pluto ruled and the seventh house rules open
enemies and criminals at large. The single odd-ball planet that appears peregrine is Venus
and this equals the perpetrator. Here is where you are vulnerable.’ Please, Ms. Taylor,
tell the court what peregrine means?”
“A peregrine planet symbolizes someone who is unsettled, careless, or impotent
in the matter inquired about. He is off balance in the matter. According to the famous
astrologer William Lilly, a peregrine planet is malicious beyond expression.”
“Okay. Now the next sentence has, ‘Mutable signs rule the chart angles: the
situation can shape-shift.’ What is this term shape-shift?”
With certainty, Evie said, “The term shape-shifting is to psychically transform
one’s self into an animal, bird, fish, or an inanimate object for a temporary period and to
be able to perform a task as that animal or object. Black magicians and white magicians
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perform the act. The psychic projects mind energy to the mental plane in the etheric
world where patterns are formed and they can change the pattern by using intense
thoughts to change. Magicians can psychically alter their body with the help of the
etheric world intelligences.93 Another term for shape-shifting is dimension-shifting.
Native American Indians believed they could change dimensions and go through a crack
in the atmosphere. The secret is in the art of attention and awareness.94 In Celtic
literature, Druids were known as magicians or wizards who had supernatural powers.
Shape shifting was one of the powers ascribed to Druids.95 There are numerous accounts
of Druids assuming many different forms, as well as having the ability to shape-shift into
different people and assume their personality. Apparently, they also had the ability to
change the identity of other people into different animals.”
“Thank you. Now before the defendant mentions the planet Saturn conjunct his
own natal moon, as well as other planetary configurations in comparison to his chart.
What does that symbolize astrologically?”
The jury was keenly absorbed. Evie answered, “Saturn conjunct moon can be a
lonely time when one feels particularly self-critical. They may experience rejection from
others. The person is likely to have contributed to this rejection. This is often times a
period of emotional pain and profound depression because of obstacles from the outside
world. Saturn in opposition to Neptune can cause a crisis of self-confidence. Plans begin
to deteriorate and this can sabotage a person’s self-esteem. The opposition between
transiting Mars and the defendant’s natal Venus shows a tug of war between opposing
forces. This aspect often may cause feelings of irritation, aggressive impulses, and the
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person may act out with brute force. This is a time when one feels destructive. There may
be impulsive behaviors. They may feel antagonistic.”
“Thank you. Could you please turn to page thirty of the defendant’s document?”
he asked. “Here, the defendant says, ‘Venus is hiding in the cadent twelfth house.
Mercury is not available and will become combust from its position under the beams. The
twelfth house rules disappointment plus coming to grief. The eighth house rules major
injury plus death. Do you do something before, on, or after a stationary retrograde. Do
you do something during Via Combusta moon?’ After reading the defendant’s statement,
Pat paused briefly, then he asked, “What do you interpret from these statements?”
Evie’s voice had a confident tone. She said, “When the moon in the Via
Combusta, it is not safe to judge the chart. Events can take an unforeseen or unanticipated
turn.”
Pat continued, “Next the defendant wrote, ‘What about moon phases? Eclipses?
Before or after an eclipse? What about retrograde planets?’ Please tell the court the
symbolism of retrograde.”
Immediately, Evie answered, “Retrograde planets can indicate that something out
of place; the querent will change their mind and not follow through with the matter. It
indicates that the conditions of the situation are injurious, destructive, and in inferior
condition. A retrograde significator shows a person who will not disclose his true nature.
There is more than meets the eye in regards to whatever it is that the planet stands for.”
“Thank you. Next, the defendant wrote, ‘At 7:34 a.m., Saturday May 4, 1996,
Jupiter is exact. Is the building open? At 3:34 p.m., Friday, Mercury is exact. This is my
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window of timing. I should deliver the package late Friday so it it there by Saturday and
someone at the building will take the package in for storage. Beware! Possible
Refranation!’ Now, please tell the jury what is a refranation?” he asked.
Quickly, Evie answered, “Refranation means one planet applies to another, but
the applying planet goes retrograde before completing the aspect. Therefore, the aspect is
not complete and a successful outcome is denied.”
Pat started talking in a faster pace. He asked, “What do you think the defendant
means when he says, ‘Does an intercepted planet in Taurus or Scorpio restrict the
freedom of planets to act?’”
Evie was feeling the energy of the room starting to increase, so she answered
briefly, “An intercepted planet indicates obstruction, resistance, hindrance, and
opposition. The planet is obstructed and at a dead-end.”
Pat was aware of the afternoon’s late hour so his tempo began to speed up. “On
page thirty-two the defendant wrote, ‘Peregrine planets equals the criminal, the twelfth
house equals sorrow and self-undoing. Pluto rules bombs, the bomber, the crook. Uranus
equals inventions. Mercury equals communications. Mars equals fire and action. The
solar eclipse is at or near the Oklahoma Bombing, so expect another bombing.’” Patrick
O’ Shay barely stopped to take a breath when he asked, “What about when a significator
changes to retrograde, will circumstances change their minds for them? What does this
mean in astrology?”
Evie sensed that she needed to give a short but also a thorough answer. She said,
“A retrograde malefic frequently describes an unfortunate situation. If the retrograde
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planet is the significator, it symbolizes a person who has been discarded or refused
acceptance in the public. Because of the retrograde planet, the querent should not take
part in the matter that is under consideration. Mercury retrograde in the chart means that
there will be a change in the plan or matter will be postponed. There will be a change of
mind in some important part of the plan or question at hand.”
Patrick o’ Shay stood firm and looked directly at the jury. In a serious tone, he
said, “Please read the next paragraph for the court.”
Evie turned to the jury and began reading the paragraph in an unhurried and
controlled manner. “‘The 29th degree shows some form of misfortune to the event or
question.... desperation, end of rope-experiences. Retrograde planets never bring desired
results when retrograde or going retrograde. Transiting Venus is first to rise, gives
encouragement, then later goes stationary retrograde. Venus last aspect was to Jupiter, so
no encouragement. Transiting Venus directly on the ascendant offers hope of solution. Is
this solution of the crime? In other words, I have the ability to bomb successfully,’” she
said.
For a moment, there was complete silence in the room. Patrick O’ Shay looked
directly at Evie, smiled, and said, “Thank you.” He then turned to Judge Samuel Archer
and said, “Your Honor, I’d ask that we take a recess now.”
Judge Archer took a deep breath, looked over to the jury, and he said, “Yes, ladies
and gentlemen, we’ll recess until tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m.”
Then, the Judge looked down at Evie. Firmly, he said, “Ms. Taylor you are to
come back tomorrow morning. Until then, you are excused.” Evie acknowledged Judge
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Archer’s instructions. Then she stood up, walked past the jury through the double doors,
and out into the corridor.
Judge Archer said, “Jurors, have a nice evening and do not discuss the testimony
or any part of the case with anyone. See you all at 9:00 a.m.”
After the testimony, Evie walked out of the courthouse and directly to her car
without talking to anyone. She drove back to the hotel. Fortunately, the hotel clerk
checked her into the same room that she had the evening before. This helped her feel at
home and at peace within herself. She turned the television on but kept the sound on
mute. She stared at the television. The television show Jeopardy was just starting. The
first category that popped up was titled Da Bomb. This startled her. The next category
that popped up was Religious Works. Evie paid attention. She turned the volume up. Part
of the first answer was a slithering snake. She thought, “Okay God, I got your message!”
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Chapter 14
THE STAR WITNESS
May 4, 1999
The hotel operator woke Evie up at 5:30 a.m. She immediately called room
service for coffee and breakfast. She leisurely bathed. Then, she dressed in a long flowing
lavender silk skirt, a cream colored silk blouse, opaque hosiery, with silver jewelry and
stiletto heels. She checked out of the hotel at precisely 8:00 a.m. and drove to the
courthouse. Pat was waiting for her in his office. They exchanged polite conversation
while they walked steadily to the courtroom.
Jason and Aaron Loch, the ATF agent and explosives expert, were waiting for
them when they got to the courtroom. Evie had never met Aaron Loch even though he
was an integral player in the investigation of the Falls City bombings. Jason previously
told her that Aaron had an extensive background in bombings. She also knew from Jason
that Aaron lived in the Phoenix area. When Evie first saw Aaron, she thought he
appeared to be in his early thirties. He was medium height and had well-built square
shoulders and a small waist. His hair was blond and cut in a stylish crew-cut. The features
that mostly stunned Evie were Aaron’s fabulous aqua blue eyes, his marvelous smile, and
his healthy tan.
No buddy was kidding anybody. Aaron Loch was well seasoned and prepared. He
provided technical assistance for federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. He
had taken the United States Ordinances Explosives course funded by the U.S. Department
of Defense. He had also attended the United States Explosive School in Maryland, the
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Great Britain and Northern Island Disposal School in the United Kingdom, and the
Advanced Disablement for Special Explosive Devices. His training and experience were
extensive and included design, safety, hazards, functioning effect, disposal techniques,
and all types of military explosives. His training included a special emphasis on domestic
devices, nuclear weapons, and chemical weapons.
At different times in his career, Aaron had been both an instructor and student,
during seminars at the International Association of Bomb Techniques and Investigations,
for the FBI, and for the United States State Department, Antiterrorism Assistance
Programs. At times, he had been called to go overseas to protect the United States
Embassies through the bomb squad unit and the United States Army had recognized his
contribution by giving him numerous meritorious service medals. His experience
included an excess of five hundred cases regarding incendiary devices. He worked on the
bombing of TWA Flight 800 in New York, the Atlanta bombings during the 1996
Olympics, and numerous abortion clinic bombings.
Patrick O’ Shay went into the courtroom to get organized and Jason, Evie, and
Aaron went into the adjacent witness room. At 9:00 a.m., Pat gestured for the three to
come into the courtroom. Evie took her seat on the witness stand. Jason and Aaron sat
down directly behind the prosecution table. Judge Samuel Archer greeted the court then
reminded Evie that she was still under oath.
Pat was eager to get started. He sprang to his feet then walked around the table
towards Evie and the twelve jurors. He smiled and gave a courteous look to the jurors.
Then, he looked directly at Evie’s eyes and paused, briefly.
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Pat held two copies of one the Gatekeeper’s diaries in his left hand. He handed
Evie one copy. Then he said, “This document, the Muslim bombing document, which
we’ll call… jurors, you have it marked as 43B, it says Retro-Mercury Birthday on the
front page. Ms. Taylor, you testified earlier that you found 59 references in this document
in reference to the defendant’s own natal chart?”
Evie took a deep breath. “Yes, I did or his progressed chart.”
Pat nodded. “All right. Do the writings in that document and his astrological
calculations suggest they were written before or after the bombings? And when I say that,
obviously, there’s some parts that are written even in English, which the jurors can
understand themselves, obviously. But, there’s other parts that are written in astrological
symbolism. Do the writings, both in English and his astrological calculations, suggest
they were written before or after the bombs?”
Evie paid close attention to what Pat was asking. She quickly answered, “Before.”
Pat angled his body towards her. “All right what’s the basis of your opinion of
that?”
Evie looked straight at Pat’s eyes. “Well, if I could take the jurors through some
specific examples in the document… I can give my interpretations of what I thought,
what I based my opinions on, and why I believe that he wrote it before the bombings.”
Pat had a determined look etched on his face. He said, “First of all, so you
understand, did we tell you to assume for this bombing that it was our theory, based on
evidence, that the defendant had gone and found out that people were going to buy a
house. Went in before the house was completed, say sometime between July and October,
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went into the house, put the bombs underneath the house to go off on March 29th of
1998?”
“Yes, you did,” said Evie.
“All right. And I’ll ask the basis for your opinion, but are his writings consistent
with that theory?”
“Definitely,” said Evie.
“And go ahead if you could. Give some of the examples, the basis for your
opinions?”
At that moment, Evie turned her seat and her attention to the jury. She said,
“Okay, well, if we could turn… if you could turn to page one. At the top of the page,
there is the date April 27, 1997 along with the words Starting Point. The defendant has a
list of the transiting planets in relationship to his natal and progressed planets. Transits
are the daily movements of the planets subsequent to birth, over or in aspect to factors in
the natal or progressed chart, or in aspect to other transiting factors. They influence a
person’s moods and decisions. The daily movements of planets are recorded in an
Ephemeris.” Evie took a slow clam breath then continued. She said, “The dates that
follow the words Starting Point are August 4, 1997 and next to this, the defendant listed
transiting Venus conjunct natal Mercury, transiting Mars conjunct natal Mars, and natal
Jupiter trine retrograde Jupiter. These transits indicate a drive to assert oneself, survival,
problem solving, high energy, engineering, confidence, competitive, crusade, moral, and
ethical issues. Next, the defendant wrote, ‘transiting Mars waning in opposition to
stationary retrograde Saturn.’ This tends to create frustration and anger. The person meets
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resistance, they may feel uncomfortable restraint, and yet, they make a determined effort
to control their environment. When two planets are in one and the same degree and
minute of any sign, we say they are in conjunction. The planetary aspect can create
intensity, stress, and confusion. An opposition is when two planets are one hundred
eighty degrees apart. There is also diagram of transiting Mercury at 9 degrees of Virgo
and the defendant wrote, ‘this cycle starts with the dates July 24th and August 4th.’ He
calls this Deposition Day. Next to the date August 17, 1997, he has a notation of
stationary retrograde Mercury at 16 degrees and 12 minutes of Virgo. There is also an
entry of his natal Mercury at 16 degrees and 40 minutes of Virgo. The diagram shows
transiting Mercury going retrograde on August 17, 1997. The diagram the defendant drew
shows transiting Mercury continuing to go retrograde until Sept 19, 1997. There is a
notation on the diagram for transiting Mercury turning direct at 2 degrees and 24 minutes
of Virgo on Sept 10, 1997. The next dates in sequence are Sept 19th and Oct 11, 1997.
He notes that Retrograde Mercury occurs during a square of retrograde Pluto conjunct his
own progressed Mercury and progressed Venus at the same time retrograde Uranus is
square his natal Venus on Sept. 13, 1997. He makes another notation of transiting Mars in
Scorpio square retrograde Jupiter in Aquarius at 13 degrees on Sept. 5, 1997.” Evie
paused and looked up straight at Pat.
Pat straightened the lapels on his jacket and took a step towards Evie. He said,
“Thank you Ms. Taylor. Now in astrological language, could you please explain to the
jury what these planetary aspects indicate?”
Evie’s body was relaxed. She knew the material she was testifying too. She
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began. “A square in astrology is an aspect that represents harsh energy. It can create
conflict, intensity, or stress but positively a square promotes self-growth. Mercury
retrograde in the chart usually means that there will be a change in the plan, the matter
may be postponed, or there will be a change of mind in some important part of the
question the querent or person asking the question needs to take into consideration. Pluto
is the furthest known planet from the Sun. Pluto is the lord of the underworld and the
planet symbolizes the forces that cause deep transformation in our lives. Pluto’s energy is
intense and signifies the areas where a person consciously or subconsciously seeks to
exercise power or control. A difficult aspect is a square to or from Pluto. This represents
a difficult time in life because it is a time that requires people to release negative ideas
and habits, negative relationships, and self-sabotaging actions. Pluto represents our
ability transform ourselves. A person with a well aspected Pluto has the ability to always
change and grow with the seasons. They would encourage others to let go of the old and
embrace the new. On the other hand, a negatively aspected Pluto may bring these changes
on but the person would be unable to accept the rebirth in their lives. Change would make
them feel less powerful and possibly fearful. The metal that is associated with Pluto is
plutonium, which is used in atomic bombs.”
Pat face was relaxed. His gaze was on Evie. He smiled at her, slightly. Then he
slowly nodded and said, “Now, let me kind of sum up and please correct me if I’m
wrong. Is it accurate to say that the natal chart is like a picture of where all the planets
were at the moment you were born and the progressed horoscope is a natal chart
calculated for as many days after birth as there are years in the life of the querent?”
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“That’s true,” responded Evie.
Pat calmly moved closer to Evie and the jury. He paused. His feet were firmly on
the ground and placed apart about the same width as his shoulders. “Ok. Please continue
and interpret the next paragraph for the jurors.”
Evie looked attentively at Pat. Her blink was steady. She clutched the defendant’s
document in her right hand. She slightly readjusted herself in the seat and planted both
feet comfortably on the floor underneath the witness stand. Then she turned the chair
slightly to the right so she could face both Pat and the jury. She said, “The defendant
wrote, ‘New moon at 11 degrees and 02 minutes of Leo on August 3, 1997 at 10:00 am
Pacific Daylight Time through August 4, 1997 1:14. Will see the moon’s sliver – 33
hours. This moon goes to full at 25 degrees and 32 minutes of Aquarius in the 7th house.
The attorney’s secretary called me early in the morning to confirm the 10:00 a.m.
appointment on Monday July 28, 1997. I had already confirmed by voice mail earlier in
the week – all I needed was the deposition address and Court reporters. We had Mars
retrograde, now get Mercury Retrograde! August 11th and 12th are lie low and learn days!
This begins my Martian activation’s: This is a third house event and equals papers and
writing. Jupiter equals justice!’” Evie stopped speaking and looked up.
Pat looked pleased that Evie was able to communicate with ease to the jury. He
leaned slightly forward. “Please tell the jury what the 3rd house and Jupiter symbolizes
astrologically.”
Evie knew how important it was for her to coherently guide the jury through the
document. Her head was erect. “In astrology, the third house symbolizes communication.
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Jupiter represents a person's search for meaning, truth, ethical values, philosophy, and
religion. The planet Jupiter rules the sign Sagittarius and is the co-ruler of the sign Pisces.
A well aspected Jupiter in a chart can bring many good fortunes to the person. This planet
is known for its abundance. Negatively aspected it can bring about expansion to extreme
measures and excess. The results can be going to the extreme and an exaggerated know it
all attitude,” she answered.
Pat sharply focused his attention on the document he was holding. He
momentarily paused. “Now when we see all that, all these numbers, they’re not just
gibberish; they are calculations?” he asked in a curious tone.
“They are,” Evie quickly responded.
At that point, Patrick O’ Shay turned to the prosecution table and picked up a
stack of copies of the defendant’s diary. He asked Judge Archer permission to be able to
give each juror a copy. Judge Archer agreed.
Evie was still holding her own copy of the document in her left hand. So the jury
could see what she was referring to Evie used her right index finder and pointed to the
defendant’s calculations and partial diagrams while she began speaking. “These are the
positions of the planets, the signs that they’re in, the minutes and the degrees. Now,
notice at the top of page two. It’s dated August 4th, 1997. If you look down at the bottom
of the page, next to what looks like kind of a squiggly line, and you will see some
symbols that mean nothing to you, but they do to me. There’s a sentence written there
along with an astrological symbol. I’m going to replace the symbol with the word. I’ll
replace the symbol in English, the full name of the planet.”
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Evie looked at the twelve men and women to see if they understood. All of the
jurors were looking solely at Evie. Some slowly nodded. Then, they all began to sharply
focus on the copies they each had of the defendant’s document. She began in a slow
relaxed voice. “Okay, he says, ‘We had Mars retrograde. Now get Mercury retrograde.’
Now notice that this sentence has an exclamation behind it. And I thought, oh well, let’s
look. I looked at his little doodad, his little squiggly line, which is really… that’s the
travel of Mercury. That seems like an order or a direction to me. I looked in an ephemeris
and Mars was retrograde April of 1997. Now, Mercury did not begin it’s retrograde cycle
until August the 17th. Therefore, this led me to believe that he was waiting for Mercury to
get retrograde. He said, ‘We had Mars retrograde. Now let’s get Mercury retrograde.’”
Pat sparkling eyes were wide open. He jumped in and asked, “To take advantage
of Mercury retrograde?”
“Exactly,” Evie responded.
“A little later you will explain what Mercury retrograde means in astrology?” he
asked.
Evie raised her eyebrows and said, “We can do it now.”
Pat understood that Evie’s intuition was telling her to take care of this business
now, so he asked, “Why don’t you? “What is the term retrograde mean in astrology?”
With a steady pace, Evie said, “The term retrograde is somewhat misleading as no
planet is actually retrograde. It is an appearance due to the position of the planet in orbit
and its relation to the earth. A backward motion, in which the planets appear to have, is
due to the relation of the planets to the earth in their various positions in the Zodiac. The
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planet’s influence is not changed when retrograde, but the individual’s response to the
particular influence of the planet is different; the channel for expression of its especial
qualities or characteristics is not quite as good when retrograde as when they are in direct
motion. On the defendant’s document, retrograde is denoted by the symbol Rx. Mars is
retrograde for eighty days and is stationary two or three days before and after. Mercury is
retrograde twenty-four days and is stationary approximately one day before and after.96
Mercury retrograde is… and defendant states it further in the document. I’ll say it now
and I’ll point it out again. Down further on the page, the defendant says, ‘Mercury
retrograde is a recipe for misunderstanding.’ Well, he’s correct. When Mercury goes
retrograde, sometimes letters get lost in the mail. Computers have problems. There may
be various communication problems. Evidence gets lost by policemen. Maybe, they’re
confused, so they won’t be able to solve the case during this period. In my opinion,
Mercury retrograde was an important time for the defendant because he… rather, I think
he thought this would be a confusing time and he was hoping that the evidence would get
lost, and the case wouldn’t be solved.”
Pat took a wide bold stance. Then, he asked, “On page three, did you find
anything that supported the belief that this document was written before the bombings
and that he was calculating when to put the bombs into the house?”
The jury members were looking attentively at Evie for her response. It seemed as
if they were hanging on every word of her testimony. Evie took a small sip of her
water. She knew that this part of her testimony was critical. She turned to the jurors and
in a calm, slow voice she said, “Well, once again, if you notice at the top of the page,
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the date is August 11th and 12th 1997. It’s kind of hard to read, but… because a little bit
of it was cut off on my copy, I don’t know if it’s on yours, but right next to the date, it
says ‘Lie low and learn days.’”
Once again, Evie pointed with her finger to the part of the document she was
referring to so the jurors could follow along. She said, “And then down at the bottom,
right above this long line that goes across the bottom of the page he says, ‘I should lie
low and do surveillance.’ But notice in the next sentence, he says, ‘but take no wild
risks/speculations!’ That sounds like he’s giving himself a very, very commanding
order. It sounds as if he was planning to do something in advance. It seems to me that
he had very strong feelings about that. Now if you notice, right underneath that, he
wrote, ‘September 10th, 1997.’ Then, in all capital letters, he wrote, ‘Watch out! so…,’”
Evie paused momentarily and looked up.
Pat stepped closer to her and he said, “We can move over to the next page
because there is another reference that he needs to lie low and do surveillance on
August 11th and 12th. Does he make another reference to August 11th and 12th?”
Evie turned the page and pointed to the place Pat had just referred too. She
wanted to emphasize to the jury that this was important. She began to speak in a slow,
steady, low tone. She said, “Yes,” she paused. Then she continued, “It was curious
because if you kind of go down, you’ll see kind of a thing that looks like a lot of pencil
lines that make a big letter C. Next to the letter… if you can read it… it’s very small, but
here he says, ‘Visions of rafters, Sunday.’ There is a hand-drawn arrow next to the words,
‘Monday at 4:00 a.m. August 10th and 11th, 1997.’ This is where I think that he was
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writing about a vision that he had about putting the bombs under the house.”
Pat tilted his body slightly forward and with emphasis he asked, “And… then
could you take this statement in conjunction… rather should we, take it in conjunction
with the very next page where he says at the top of the page, ‘The Solar Eclipse,
September 2nd, 1997?’”
Evie leaned forward and turned her chin towards the jury. She said, “Yes, actually
on page four… there is a reference to the solar eclipse right above where the defendant
wrote ‘the vision of rafters.’ Here, it says the solar eclipse on September 2nd, 1997 is the
‘set-up.’ You can see that the word set-up is in quotes. The next page is the chart he set
up for the solar eclipse. You can see all of his math calculations next to the chart. You
can see all the astrological symbols. He titled the solar eclipse chart The Motivation.”
“Now is that an astrological term? Is set-up and motivation? Pat asked.
Evie shook her head from side to side while she said, “No, no. That’s not an
astrological term.”
“But these calculations are mathematical that he’s making?”
“Yes.”
“And are they calculations that’s he’s making for September 2nd?
“Well… actually, he used universal time for September 2nd, 1997. Universal time
is the time in Greenwich, England, which is eight hours ahead of us time wise. So, to find
the time in Falls City, California, we must subtract eight hours. Now if we subtract eight
hours, we’re back to the evening on September 1st.”
“Now is he using his own chart for this also?”
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Evie nodded with certainty. “I didn’t notice any on the top half of the page, but
when you get down where you can kind of see a… along the edge, where it looks like
symbols of planets. The top one is the sun, then the moon, Mercury, and so on and so
forth. Beside each one of those, he has references to both his natal chart and progressed
charts. I don’t necessarily have to tell you, unless you want me to, what planets he was
using. But there are references to his own chart at this bottom half of the page. He also…
what I thought was interesting about the solar eclipse page is on the very first page… I’m
sorry to have to have you flip back. However, on the first page he wrote, ‘The peak of
success is on September 5th, 1997.’ This led me to believe that the solar eclipse on
September 1st in Falls City through September 5th was apparently important to him.”
“In astrology does… is the solar eclipse of any significance?” Pat asked.
“Very. It’s… a lot of astrologers consider it a very fateful event. Lasting… well,
they… sometimes the effects of a solar eclipse are believed to last for an entire year.
Solar and lunar eclipses97 are important keys to political and social events. They are also
significant in natal and progressed horoscopes. An eclipse happens when the sun, Earth
and moon align so that, in a solar eclipse, the body of the moon obscures the body of the
sun and in a lunar eclipse, the body of the Earth obstructs the moon. In each case, the
sun’s light is obstructed and this causes the eclipse. Eclipses are extremely important in
all horary work and some believe they have a connotation of violence. The onset of wars,
riots, and assassinations are more probable to occur when heavy planets such as Pluto,
Uranus, Saturn, or Mars form squares or conjunctions to the degree of an eclipse.”
Pat flipped to the next page of the defendant’s document. “And then the next page
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the defendant moves from September all the way to March 27th of 1998?”
“Yes, he does.”
“The next page is dealing with March 27th of 1998, right? Let me ask you that.”
For a brief moment, Evie was somewhat confused. Her eyebrows were slightly
pushed together. She tilted her head down and slightly to the left. “What was that?” she
asked.
Patrick O’ Shay took a short step towards her and began to restate the question.
Evie focused all of her attention on him. He said, “The defendant moves from September
2nd… he has charts for September 2nd, and he says September 2nd is ‘the set-up.’ He says
that ‘September 5th is the peak of success,’ but the date on the next page is March 27th.
The next two pages that follow, deal with March 27th, March 28th, and March 29th.”
Evie gazed steadily at Patrick while he restated the question. Her head was erect.
She pressed her lips tightly together. After Patrick was finished speaking, she realized
where he was going with his question. “Yes,” she said.
Pat’s adrenaline was pumping. He enjoyed a challenge. “And before I jump
ahead, is it consistent, what you’ve read, with him having had the vision of the rafters and
the idea to put the bombs in the house in August. Then actually put the bombs in the
house, in September. Do you believe he calculated when to put the bombs down and what
time to have them go off?” he asked.
Evie’s eyes were wide and starring at Pat. “It certainly seems so to me,” she
confidently replied.
“And could you describe what you see on the next page regarding the March 27th,
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28th, 29th period?” he asked.
“Okay, on page six, the sentence also that seemed like he was giving… or rather
planning or giving himself a direction, is ‘Let moon get past all conjunctions and keep the
moon out of 7th house!’ In addition, on this same page, right next to that statement, there
is a reference to his own natal Mars. This sounded to me like it was for a future time,”
she said.
“And once again that little… is there… is his natal chart on this page?”
Evie pointed on the page so the jury could see. Then she began to explain her
thoughts in plain words. “Yes, the little… there’s a little circle with an arrow that points
out. And he… you see a little symbol kind of right above and to the left of that sentence
we just read. That is his natal Mars. So he was in fact, involving his own chart in this
chart.”
“So if you could explain to the jury what… what do you mean by saying… why
would he want to keep the moon out of the 7th house? What effect does it have?” he
asked.
Evie turned to the next page. She said, “Well, on the next page he calculates the
actual chart. At this particular point, back on page six, he hadn’t set up the chart.
However, the on page seven he has the time 6:25 p.m. Sunday, March 29th, 1998. At the
bottom of the page, he wrote, ‘Set timing such that in twilight, Sunday 29March98.’
There’s a line next to 7 p.m.”
Patrick O’ Shay raised his eyebrows slightly and he pushed his head forward and
leaned in towards Evie. Then, he asked, “Is that an astrological sign, or is that just… do
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you know what that is?”
Evie leaned back in her seat and took a slow full breath. Then, she said, “I
researched what the line he drew could possibly mean. Throughout the rest of his
document, when he was using the word at, he used the symbol for the word. Now, as far
as this line… by the way, this was the only place that I saw this mark. If you notice his
notation or the line looks similar to the letter n. I had never seen the symbol before so at
first, I looked in secretarial shorthand books. I couldn’t find any reference to that.
However, by coincidence I found the same symbol on a chemistry table… and it is
remarkable that the symbol stands for nitrogen… the atomic number 7 is also chemistry
number. I personally came to the conclusion that the defendant’s notation could in fact
stand for nitrogen. Later, I looked in a math encyclopedia and the symbol stands for
similar to, around, or near.
Pat interrupted and he asked, “It could also be?”
Evie intuitively answered, “After.”
“So, do you think the defendant’s writing meant set the timing on the bombs near,
after, or around 7 p.m.?”
“Yes, I believe so. I couldn’t find anything else that this symbol could possibly
mean. But I am fairly confident that it does not mean exactly at… it seems more like an
estimation to me.”
Pat nodded in agreement and turned to the next page. “Now on the next page, on
page eight the defendant wrote, ‘Too soon relative to Mecca! Can’t see the moon sliver.’
These pages are stapled in the order they’re in, but do you… is it consistent with page
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eight, having been calculated first, and then him moving over to the next page, page
seven?”
“I think what happened was that he really was calculating page eight first, and
he… and this was for the Saturday night before. After he did the calculations, he realized
that because the new moon was only going to be visible on Friday. On Saturday night, the
crescent would not be visible. This led me to believe that they were… the pages were out
of order when I got them.”
“Now, did you alert us to the fact that this was a Muslim Holiday?” Pat asked.
Evie instinctively knew when Pat wanted her to answer at length. She said, “Yes.
The holiday is the Hajji or the Festival of Sacrifice. During this time, pilgrims travel to
Mecca through the Valley of Mina. The subject of moon-sighting is of interest to all
Muslims. Believers follow strict rules such as fasting. Nearly two million men and
women journey to Mecca for the annual Hajj each year. On the first day of the Hajj,
pilgrims travel towards the Valley of Mina, a small barren village east of the city. The
pilgrims generally spend their time meditating and praying just as the Prophet did on his
pilgrimage. During the second day, of Zul-Hijjah, the sojourners leave Mina for the plain
of Arafat for the wuquf – the standing. This is the central rite of the Hajj. This gathering
reminds them of the Day of Judgment. Some of them gather at the Mount of Mercy. This
is where the Prophet delivered his memorable Farewell Sermon. During the Farewell
Sermon, the Prophet asked God to pardon the sins of pilgrims who stood at Arafat. Just
after sunset, they proceed to Muzdalifah, an open plain about halfway between Arafat
and Mina. The people pray and then collect chickpea-sized pebbles that they will use, on
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the following days, to throw at the Pillars of Satan. Before daybreak on the third day,
pilgrims go back to Mina. They begin to cast the pebbles at white Pillars of Satan. This
custom is associated with Prophet Ibrahim. While they throw seven pebbles at each of
these Pillars of Satan, they are reminded that Satan tried to convince Ibrahim to disobey
God’s instructions which was to sacrifice his son. After they are finished casting the
pebbles, the majority of believers sacrifice a goat or a sheep. On this day, all Muslims
around the world, join other believers by performing analogous sacrifices. This is a
worldwide celebration called the Festival of Sacrifice.” Evie paused momentarily, then
turned and made eye contact with each of the twelve jurors. “Now, it is important for you
to know that the new moon on March 27, 1998, marked the beginning of Zul Hajji.
Muslims begin to fast at the sight of the new moon. The signal for when believers can
begin eating… or break their fast, is when the silver of the moon or the crescent of the
moon is visible. The moon’s silver was visible on the evening of March 29, 1998 at 6:25
p.m. Pacific Time,” she said forthrightly.
Pat was on auto-pilot. “So, the crescent moons are signs to mark fixed periods of
time for the people and for pilgrimage?”
Once again, Evie was prepared to speak in great detail. Before speaking, she
purposely looked at each of the twelve jurors. She said, “Yes. The moon and sun follow
the decree of Allah. The motion of the luminaries is used for calculating the months and
the calendar. Humans have been observing and studying the regularity of motions of the
sun and moon for hundreds of centuries and have done this by using mathematics,
science, astrology, and astronomy. Muslims believe Allah has given them these fields of
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knowledge. Today, we are able to calculate the motion of sun and moon with great
precision. However, Muslims have collected the data for moon-sighting for the last two
centuries. Islamic months begin at sunset on the day of visual sighting of the lunar
crescent. Visual sighting is necessary to determine the start of a month. Although it is
possible to calculate the position of the moon in the sky with high precision, it is often
difficult to predict whether a crescent will be visible from a particular location. Visibility
depends on a large number of factors including weather conditions. Since ancient times,
many civilizations and astronomers have tried to predict the likelihood of visualizing the
new moon.”
While Evie was testifying, Pat loosely held the defendant’s document in his hand.
After Evie was finished speaking, Pat said, “Now, I’m going to jump ahead to page ten.
Then, I’m going to skip from page ten on to page twenty-three. Are these pages involving
an entirely different chart?”
Evie considered the question briefly before answering. “Yes, they are,” she said.
“And so up till then, what we call the Muslim Bombing Document, are all the
charts before page ten… those are one set of charts, but from page ten on are they for a
different set of charts?”
“Yes,” said Evie firmly.
“And did you alert me to that?”
Evie could feel her heart thumping. “Yes, I did,” she answered.
“And you said you think maybe this has to do with something else?”
“Yes, I alerted you after I realized it. I told you that I thought the defendant had
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planned two separate events.”
Pat took a couple steps backward from the witness stand. The turned his body
slightly to the left so he could look in the direction of the jury and also to be able to make
eye contact with Evie. “So, if the jurors can get an idea where we’re heading…” he said
then paused momentarily. “Is it this second group of pages… the pages from ten to
twenty-three… are these the pages where the defendant makes several references about
the police?”
Evie was sitting slightly sideways in her chair so she could also face both Pat and
the jury. She said, “Right. Throughout the remainder of the document, the defendant
makes numerous references to the police.”
Pat’s forehead was wrinkled. His eyebrows were pulled down towards the bridge
of his nose and his nostrils flared, slightly. “And, are there references to death and
fatalities several times?” he asked in a grave tone.
Evie’s stomach knotted up. She looked down momentarily. Then, she looked up
towards the jury. “Many times,” she said solemnly.
“And, the defendant mentions the fixed star Baten Kaitos also?” he prodded.
“Yes.”
“Is it consistent with the defendant having planned one bomb?” Pat moved closed
to Evie and stood silent for a moment then, he asked, “Are there references to
complications and things that have gotten out of control?”
Evie felt a familiar knocking in her chest. “Yes, he mentions that in several
places.”
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Pat had sparks in his eyes. “Is it consistent with him having, after he put the bomb
down under the house, planned a second bombing which would be, in effect, a booby trap
for the police where they would have the booby trap go off at approximately 9 o’clock
p.m.?” he asked.
Evie pointed to the charts on the page that Pat was referring too. “Yes. That
would be these charts,” she said with conviction.
Pat leaned back, pleased. He took a deep calm breath. “And when we go through
that, I’ll ask you the basis for your opinion?”
“Okay.”
“Now first of all, on the top of page ten, it says 9:02 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.
Correct?” he asked seeking Evie’s agreement.
“Right.”
“Now what was he doing with the numbers and symbols that follow down the
page?”
Evie readjusted herself in her chair. She leaned back, some and then looked back
and forth between page ten and the jurors. “Again, he’s doing his time calculations first.
You can see the numbers one through twelve. All of the degrees and numbers next to
those numbers are for the signs on the house cusps of the chart. Below there, are the
calculations for the planets, their positions, degrees, and minutes. At times, the defendant
makes a reference to whether they have special significance. If you turn the page over,
you can see that he calculated how far the moon has traveled in that short time. The moon
is the fastest traveler of all. Those calculations on the right are all calculations for the
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moon.”
“On page eleven… the next page… the defendant has a chart there. Is that chart
for 9:02 p.m. March 29th?”
“Yes, this is the same chart as the chart on the page before. I can tell that because
the calculations match the same ones that he had on the previous page. So I know that
this is the exact chart.”
“Do the defendant’s astrological discussion and his calculations from then on…
do they all have to do with the 9:02 chart?”
“Yes they do,” she answered.
“Does it, once again, involve his own chart… was he looking at what effect would
be on him?”
“Yes.”
The jury followed along attentively while Pat and Evie went back and forth
connecting the questions to the answers. It was as if they were watching a well-rehearsed
ping-pong-ball match.
“Now, on page twelve, could you describe what he maybe means by me and
them?”
“Well, in horary or electional astrology, the person that’s on the first house is the
ruler of the chart. The defendant is basically saying that he’s the ruler of the chart. He’s
the one who is asking the question. He wrote me next to the first house… I won’t
necessarily get into all the astrology with you… but then he wrote them. Now he wrote
this next to the 7th house. In doing this type of astrology, the 7th house is always the
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enemy of the chart. In this case, I find it logical to take this to mean me verses them. The
person asking the question is always called the querent in horary astrology.98 I believe
that the defendant was referring to himself by using me in the hand-drawn diagram. The
first house symbolizes the querent and the planet that rules the first house represents the
description and conditions of the person asking the question. So, it seemed like a battle
was beginning,” she said.
“Does that theme continue on the next page?”
“Yes, and actually, on page twelve. I have a diagram. Did you want me to show
you later?”
“No, that’s fine. Show it now.”
Prior to coming to testify, Evie had re-created a large diagram based on the
defendant’s document. Pat motioned to Detective Ares to bring it forward. Jason walked
forward with the diagram in one hand and an easel in the other. He discretely winked at
Evie as he approached her. She looked back, fondly. Jason carefully placed the diagram
on an easel between the jury and the witness box. Then he returned to his seat behind the
prosecution table.
Evie rose from her chair, smoothly stepped down, stood in front of the large
diagram, and looked directly at Patrick O’ Shay to give her a sign to proceed.
“Go ahead Ms. Taylor.”
Evie stood silent for a moment. She was comfortable because she felt as if she
was instructing a classroom full of students. She turned directly towards the jurors and
looked at them. “Okay… I simply recreated the diagram that he drew underneath the
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words ‘me verses them’. And, where he wrote astrology symbols, I replaced it with
English so that you would be able to read it. On the right side of the diagram, the
defendant put… it’s kind of cut off, but you can see it… he wrote ‘Me, the ruler is Pluto
and Pluto is in opposition to my open enemies.’ The reference to them and the 7th House
is what the question is in regards to. Now, astrologically, the 7th house does symbolize
open enemies, murders, opponents, war, adversaries, and rivals.99 In this case, Pluto
represents the defendant because Scorpio is on the cusp of the 1st house. Mars is also a
co-ruler of Scorpio, so it is safe to say that Mars also represents the defendant.”
Pat stepped towards the easel. “I have to ask, what is the defendant’s or querent’s
real interest in the matter?
At length, Evie answered, “The defendant’s interest in the matter lies in the house
holding the significator or the moon which is his co-ruler. The moon may reflect what he
was thinking about at the time of the question. Astrologers check to see what house the
moon occupies and what house she rules. The moon in traditional astrology symbolizes
women, any woman inquired about, as well as public opinion. In the diagram below, the
defendant places the moon in the 7th house. For him, this symbolizes his open enemies.
He placed the moon in opposition to the ruler of the chart. Now remember, he called
himself the ruler and Pluto.”
Evie paused for a moment. She looked at the jurors to see if they seemed to
understand. “Look here,” she said while she pointed at the diagram, “He wrote ‘Ruler –
Pluto – Me’ and in classical astrology, this is the enemy of the chart.100 The defendant is
plainly saying that he is the ruler and he is Pluto. The planet Pluto, also known as the
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Lord of the Underworld, symbolizes death and activities that are carried out under the
cover of darkness. It also symbolizes rule by threat or terror, crime, espionage, plots,
anarchists, atomic energy, and bombs in general.101 The defendant clearly calls himself
Pluto on this diagram. Pluto is the only planet in the sign of Sagittarius and this reveals
that he was alone at the time. Since the planet was retrograde, it tells us that this is a
person who will not reveal his nature entirely. He has much that he keeps to himself.
There is more than meets the eye as regards whatever it is that the planet stands for. If the
moon’s final aspect is an opposition to Pluto, it will cause enmity, jealousy, and
separation. In the diagram, the defendant has the moon in a final opposition to Pluto.
Here, you can see that the moon is in Taurus, an earth sign. Now, you should be aware
that this earth sign symbolizes something that is at or below ground level… close to the
floor. If you recall, the bombs were placed under the house, at ground level.”
Evie paused. She surveyed the jury members’ faces to see if what she said was
ringing a bell for them. It was. “Ok… Taurus rules ground floor storerooms and dark
basements. This sign suggests that the bombs should be placed somewhere near the
southeast wall of the house. In this case, we know from the explosion that one of the
bombs was placed under the floor… in the floor joists… on the southeast side of the
home. Furthermore, the moon symbolizes the home. The defendant calls this The Event
Chart and in the Event Chart, Pluto is in Scorpio which again, symbolizes bombs… this
suggests the northeast wall of the home. We know from evidence that the location of the
second bomb was placed near the northeast wall of the house.”
Evie mouth was dry. She stopped and reached for her cup and she took a small sip
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of water. Even though she was starting to tire, she was resolute. She was appalled that the
defendant had used astrology in such a diabolical manner but she controlled herself. She
took a slow deep breath so she could concentrate and resume explaining the diagram to
the jurors.
During the testimony, several of the jurors had disgusted looks on their faces. One
of the female jurors shook her head back and forth and had her mouth wide open. An
older man, on the jury, took out a handkerchief, wiped slight tears from his eyes, and then
he slowly cleaned the lenses on his glasses.
Evie began to speak to the twelve in a calm manner. “The defendant was talking
about his enemies when he wrote the moon is opposite the ruler Pluto. And he puts…
here,” she said while pointing, “the eclipse of February, was obviously important to him
because he wrote that on the bottom of the page. What I did for the benefit of the jurors,
is that I went to several different astrology text books so that I could give you an
unbiased astrological interpretation about the symbolism of these chart positions as well
as the meaning of the planets. And Pluto, which the defendant calls ‘me, the ruler, Pluto’
is the destroyer, the beast… it is indicative of rage and violence.”
Pat stepped in closer and interrupted Evie’s testimony. “Let me ask you, was this
making a disturbing effect on you when you were reading it?” he asked in a soft
compassionate tone while looking directly at him muted bluish green eyes. He could tell
when she was tired because the brightness in her eyes was slightly faded.
A brief silence followed Pat’s question. Evie dropped her head and nodded. “Very
much… I lost a lot of hours of sleep.”
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“Go ahead and explain.”
Evie composed herself. “Ok. World renowned professional astrologers wrote the
textbook references that I used. They all say that the moon in the 7th house is the enemy
of the chart, public enemies, lawsuits, legal matters, adversaries, murderers, and
perpetrators.”
Pat was standing in close proximity to Evie and the easel with the diagram. He
had a firm grip on the defendant’s document with his left hand. He flipped the page of the
defendant’s document back to the page before. “On the page before he has me being
Pluto and then them being the 7th house?” he asked.
“Right… the 7th house is the enemy of the chart. They were his enemies.”
“And there are references to police on the pages that follow?” he asked.
“Yes, and the thing I thought was interesting that he waited until the moon got
into Taurus because the moon in Taurus symbolizes basements, underground cellars,
houses close to the ground, any kind of object that you’d put underneath something, not
to mention valuables. So under a house, and you know, valuables. He had it all right
there.”
“And then if that exhibit could be marked that she’s been referring to as people’s
next in order and that would be 236?”
“You can resume your seat,” Pat said.
While Evie was still getting into position in her seat, Pat asked, “On page thirteen
it says ‘earth equals the basement include deception… under, electronic, sudden, and
luxuries.’ What are the symbols he’s got next to those words?”
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Evie sat down and said, “He’s referring to Neptune, Uranus, and Venus.”
“And then he has there… he says ‘Pluto rules complications. Pluto in the 1st house
is loss of control by me over changes, complications…,’” Pat said.
“Yes. Pluto in the first house signifies complications and profound changes over
which the querent has little control.”
“And on the page before when he said ‘me the ruler,’ he’s saying he is Pluto?”
“Yes, he lost control over the situation.”
“And then does he have… where it says… it says ‘terrorism in the name of law.’
What does he say before that? It says Pluto something?”
It was as if Pat and Evie could read each other’s minds. They could almost
complete one another’s sentences. “Yes. It is the beginning of the sentence where he talks
about the solar eclipse. He says, ‘Pluto is at 7 degrees and 57 minutes of Sagittarius. The
Event suggests terrorism in the name of the law. The 4th house is the end of the matter.’
The defendant underlined this. I think he was… he was telling you exactly that… he
believed that this was justified terrorism,” she said.
“At the bottom does he talk about it again?” asked Pat.
“Yes.”
“Pluto in the first house?”
“Yes, again Pluto is in the first house. The defendant said ‘me ruler, Pluto’ before
that, signifies complications and profound changes over which the querent has little
control, and again, he’s the querent.”
“The querent is also the person asking the question?” he asked.
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“Exactly or the person who sets up the chart up.”
“Now going back, you did review the Safe Bomb Documents… astrology
documents?”
“Yes.”
“At one point did he say the querent… if the moon is in the… something, the
querent is in danger of being arrested?”
“Yes, he did.”
“And in the Safe Solutions Bomb Document, is there more ambivalence by him
about whether the planets may not be aligned so he might get caught? It might be a bad
time for him?”
“Yes. In those documents there were more fearful statements that he might have
been arrested,” she said quickly.
“Okay. Now he’s got here planets, planets on page 13 at the bottom. Then he
wrote, ‘Planets in nodal degree suggest a fatality or a catastrophe in the matter?’”
“Right.”
“Is that inconsistent? Is there any reason why he would be writing that if he was
writing this after the bombings?”
“I don’t believe so because… there was no fatality even though, yes, there was a
tragedy, but there was no fatality. We saw from the previous chart where he wrote TV
coverage on the page.” Evie paused and turned back to page eleven. Pat also turned to
page eleven. The jurors naturally did the same. “Ok, let’s see… he has right in the middle
of the chart ‘TV Coverage’. Obviously, the defendant watches television. So, he would
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have heard from the news media and television coverage that there weren’t any fatalities,
so why would he have put fatality? I didn’t… I… that’s what led me to believe he wrote
this document in advance of the bombings.”
“The fact that he’s talking about the solar eclipse again on February 26th, does that
suggest he started planning the second bombings shortly after that or around then?”
“It is very probable,” she replied.
“On page 15 at the bottom, he’s got, ‘the police as community servants are
denoted by the 6th but as the law are the 10th house.’ Does it say the rule?”
“It says ‘the ruler and Saturn in the 10th.’”
Pat’s eyebrows curled inward. His eyes starred straight into Evie’s. It was a good
thing they had become so familiar or she would have felt pierced. However, she knew
this was Patrick O’ Shay’s courtroom drama. “And this suggests that the law is
thwarted?” he asked.
“Yes.”
Pat spoke with a steady cadence and air of self-assurance. He held the document
in his hand. Then he began reading both the astrological language and symbols in full
English as if he were a professional astrologer. Evie wanted to smile at her student but
she didn’t. He said, “The defendant wrote, ‘the 7th house rules criminals at large and
fugitives from justice. The police as community servants are denoted by the 6th house, but
as the Law are the 10th house. The ruler Saturn of 10th is in the 6th house. This suggests
the Law is thwarted.’ Is it correct that the 7th House rules criminals at large and fugitives
from Justice?”
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“Yes,” Evie said while nodding.
“So once again when he’s talking about the open enemies being in the 7th house,
well he’s talking about the 6th house is police, right?” asked Pat.
“Right, the 6th house are the police. The defendant discusses that the police are in
the 6th house. That’s what’s denoted by the police. The planet that rules the police is in
that 6th house and is with the malefic planet Saturn and Mercury. The defendant says,
‘Mercury is in the sign of Gemini and rules the 8th house, which is the house of death.’”
Pat pretended to sound puzzled. Evie knew better. “Does the 8th house in
astrology only rule death?” asked Pat.
“No. The 8th house not only rules death, but it also rules sex, inheritance, bank
escrows, insurance papers… it rules a number of other things besides death, so…,”
Pat cut Evie short. “If you wanted death to occur, would you try to get the event
to occur during a time when the 8th house is stimulated?” he asked enthusiastically.
“Yes.”
“Assuming that this event was considered but never gone through with, is this
consistent with planning the event so that a catastrophe or fatality would occur?”
“Yes.”
Patrick O’ Shay could see the hour on the clock in the front of the courtroom. He
could also see by the weary look on Evie’s face that it was time for a break. However, he
wanted to end the morning session with a bang. He quickly flipped to page thirty of the
document. “If I could direct your attention to page thirty, to the bottom line that the
defendant wrote. Here it says, ‘the 8th house rules major injury and death, so death is
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indicated.’ Once again, the 8th house rules many other things besides death?”
“Yes, it does.”
“And just below that sentence, it says, ‘Pluto rules bombs, plots, death, and terror.
Me ruler Pluto.’ Is it true that Pluto rules bombs?”
“Yes… Pluto rules bombs,” said Evie.
Patrick O’ Shay nodded at Evie. He was pleased. He was smiling discreetly. His
is eyes were bright and surrounded by soft crows-feet. He turned towards Judge Samuel
Archer and said, “Your Honor, since it is nearly noon, I would like to request that we take
our lunch break now.”
The Judge nodded and turned towards the jurors. He said, “In view of the hour,
ladies and gentlemen of the jury, we will take a lunch recess. Please return at 1:00 p.m.”
Then he looked down at Evie and gently said, “Ms. Taylor you are to be back at 1:00
p.m.”
She nodded back to the Judge in affirmation. Evie was relieved. She gathered her
papers, stood up, walked past the jurors, and out of the courtroom.
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Chapter 15
THE EVIL STAR BATEN KAITOS
Lunch Recess May 4, 1999
Evie left the courtroom and stood in the corridor. A few minutes later Jason,
Aaron, and Pat joined her. Evie needed to gather her thoughts. She told the three men that
she needed time to be alone. The detective, the ATF agent, and the prosecutor understood
her feelings. They stood together and watched her walk away.
Evie went to the courthouse cafeteria. The menu was limited but she did order a
small baby green leaf salad with a raspberry vinaigrette dressing, a whole grain turkey
sandwich, and an ice tea to go. She took the sack lunch outside and sat a table under an
oak tree. She didn’t have much of an appetite but she knew she needed physical
nourishment so she managed to eat part of the lunch.
After, Evie was finished eating, she returned to Judge Samuel Archer’s courtroom
and went into the adjacent witness room. It had a sofa, coffee table, and three comfortable
chairs. There were thirty precious minutes were left before she would be called back to
the witness stand. Thankfully, she had the space all to herself so she laid herself down on
the sofa. She needed to rest her weary body and mind. She closed her eyes and took deep
soothing breaths. Like a mantra, she thought, “I shall rise to the occasion, rise to the
occasion! I am ready and prepared to do this thing.” She visualized herself surrounded by
a white protective light. Slowly, she could feel her anxiety and nervous energy decrease.
The muscle tension in her middle back relaxed some and she started to feel somewhat
rejuvenated. Evie’s mental alchemy techniques elevated her spiritual vibration to a higher
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degree.
Jason opened the door to the witness room and Evie sat up. He had an expression
of concern and sadness on his face. “Did you eat?” he asked while he sat down next to
her. Evie looked at him and merely nodded. He reached for her hand and he held it
gently. They didn’t talk. The peaceful silence was interrupted when Patrick O’ Shay
poked his head through the door. “It’s time. Let’s do this!” he said bounding with energy
and self-confidence. Evie stood up, followed Pat into the courtroom, and sat down in the
witness seat.
“Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. We are back on the record and all jurors
are present. Both counsel and the defendant are present. Ms. Taylor, would you please
resume the stand. Go ahead Mr. O’ Shay,” Judge Samuel Archer said.
Patrick O’ Shay stood up, nodded at Judge Archer and said, “Thank you, Your
Honor.” Patrick straightened and buttoned the three buttons on his Classic Italian Cerruti
grey pinstripe suit jacket, picked up the Gatekeeper’s document, and approached Evie.
“Ms. Taylor I would like to jump ahead to page thirty-one. Is the chart as it is set
up is – he’s talking about death, and he’s talking about death in other pages. Are there
indications that this chart is favorable if he wanted death to happen?”
“Yes.”
“Why is that?” he asked.
“Well, if I could show the chart that I did that was based on the defendant’s
calculations.” Pat nodded in the affirmative. Evie stood up and pointed at the large chart
that she had re-created for court. “We’ll just show this chart because the defendant
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clearly says that any planet or angle at a nodal degree equals trouble, fatality, tragedy.
The significators are ruled by the 1st and the 7th house. I concluded that the defendant is
admitting that he is symbolized by the planet Pluto and is one of the significators.
Furthermore, he calls this chart the Event Chart then he mentions that the planets are
generating difficult circumstances,” Evie said.
Pat knew the answer, however he asked, “Now how did you do that chart? How
did you calculate that?”
“I used a computer.”
“How did you calculate it… from his chart?”
“What I did is I took the time that he had, the 9:02, which was from page ten, I
believe – let me make sure.” Evie paused and quickly flipped back to page ten of the
document to make sure she was correct. Then, she looked up and said, “Yes, it was from
page ten. Okay – from page ten, I matched my calculations up with the defendant’s
mathematical calculations. All of the degrees of the planets and the house cusps were the
same, except for on the 7th house cusp, he has 11 degrees and 17 minutes of Taurus. And,
when I did my calculations, I came up with 18 minutes, so there is only one minute
difference, which is pretty insignificant. I looked at all the other planets, and set it up and
matched his notes.”
Patrick O’ Shay gracefully moved closer to the chart and pointed. “But is the
chart, for example, you have at the top there, ‘Saturn, conjunct to evil star Baten
Kaitos?’” he asked.
“Yes.”
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Pat, stepped back and slightly turned to the jury, but was still making eye contact
with Evie. Then, he stated, “I had you read his testimony – not testimony, but his
statement about Baten Kaitos and 21 degrees of Aries to Jason Ares and Agent
Landon…”
“Right.”
“Back on May 4 of 1998… he’s talking about it then. Is this, in effect, for this
date and time, March 29th?” Pat asked.
“Yes, it was.”
“At 9 o’clock?”
“Yes.”
“And, also at 8 o’clock?”
“Yes.”
“And this in astrology, what – what did you find, without even looking at his
statement of it, what did you find the effects of Baten Kaitos is for astrology?” Pat asked.
Evie straightened herself in her seat and leaned forward. “Well, I had to do some
research on that. I found several references to Baten Kaitos.” Evie paused for a moment
and reached down for her notes, and then she said, “In a nutshell, the references say that
Baten Kaitos at 21 degrees of Aries means assassinations by bombs, explosions, and
fire.”
“And the defendant expressed that to some degree in his interview with the
police?”
“Yes, he did.”
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“He said he knew about that before the bombing?”
“Right.”
Pat turned around, walked to the prosecution table and reach for twelve copies of
the police deposition they took when the defendant was brought in for questioning. He
walked forward and passed a copy to each of the jurors. Pat looked at the jury members.
“I would direct your attention to the police interview, on page twenty-two because here
the defendant says, ‘What I foresaw is 21st degree of Aries. It’s an infamous – if I were to
say to you – okay, we’re going to play a game – you’ve heard of jokes where somebody
says 1922. But nobody knows what that means except the guys who are laughing because
they have the inside joke. But, if I said to you, 26 degrees of Taurus, and you were an
astrologer, you would say, oh, yes! God Almighty! That’s Algol Kaput, the evil star!
There’s a lot of them out there. But this is one of the major, major, major ones that has to
do with decapitation. Jane Mansfield was born under it. And she got in a car wreck and
had her head decapitated. Nicole Simpson also had her head decapitated, gilled ear to ear.
Twenty-one degrees of Aries, a bombing or a fire bombing or a shooting or something
violent is going to occur. And my advice to both of you before you fuck your heads off
on this, is to go and get yourself an astrologer and ask the simple question: What do you
know about the evil star Baten Kaitos? It’s in the constellation Cetus, the whale also
known as the monster.’ And then, his actual charts reflect that?” Pat asked.
“Yes, he set them up to reflect that.”
Patrick O’ Shay asked the questions in a way that showed the jury that he had
some expertise with regards to the subject of astrology. “So as an astrologer, if you
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wanted to pick this – if you wanted to take a trip to Hawaii and wanted the most
favorable conditions, you would look at your charts. Now, the defendant’s looking –
assuming he’s looking ahead, when would be the most favorable time for me to have the
effect of death? Does Baten Kaitos, the star at twenty-one degrees of Aries symbolize
assassinations and killings?”
“Yes, and the defendant calls the star – evil,” Evie said.
“And this is something that bothered you?”
“It did.”
“Were you surprised when you read it?”
“Yes, because I don’t use the term evil or focus on darkness when I use
astrology.”
“For what period of time did the Evil Star Baten Kaitos have an influence? Was it
in affect for that specific weekend from the 27th through the 29th?”
“Yes the star had an influence the entire weekend. There were other planets also
near and around twenty-one degrees of Aries.”
“But didn’t you look at documents where it showed specifically for that
weekend?”
“Yes, the whole weekend.”
“Now this is not just you saying that, but actual research documents you found
showed that Baten Kaitos was in effect for that weekend?” Pat asked.
“That’s right.”
“So then, if the defendant intended to kill, the Evil Star Baten Kaitos would
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maximize the effect?”
“That’s right.”
“Now, have you reviewed the defendant’s documents in terms of Meenaa’s
chart?”
“Yes, I have.”
Pat moved up close then put the large re-created chart that Evie had previously
done for court on Meenaa. “If we could move to Meenaa’s chart. Did he refer to the Evil
Star Baten Kaitos in her chart?”
“Yes, he did.”
“And could you explain for that particular weekend how it would affect her more
than others, that star, Baten Kaitos?”
Evie stood up and moved near the chart. She pointed and said, “Her natal Mars is
around twenty-one degrees of Aries. So, that weekend, Baten Kaitos, as well as other
planets, were in the stellium of Aries. These planets along with Baten Kaitos would have
been conjunct Meenaa’s natal Mars. Now, next to her chart, the defendant wrote,
‘shipwrecked fortunes.’”
Pat gestured for Evie to resume her seat. After she was sitting comfortably, he
said, “Now once again, directing your attention to the police interview. The defendant
says, ‘We as Americans or whatever, we call the star Baten Kaitos. However, the ancients
used to call it the monster. Because of the precession of the equinox, the evil star is at the
21st degree of Aries. The 21st degree of Aries has this evil star, which is called the star of
shipwrecked fortunes. Back when the stars were named and their histories given, people
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during the 16th and 17th centuries – they didn’t say the star of auto wrecks. They called it
the star of shipwrecked fortunes and when you had a ship wreck, you either drown, your
life ended, or you got on a new start. The Evil Star Baten Kaitos is something I got
familiar with a couple of years ago because of Meenaa Sadaf. I worked on her chart
frequently. I did astrology for her. My wife doesn’t like it when I do it because she’s a
Christian. But I’m very good at all block buster shit.’ So from this interview and the chart
the defendant has for Meenaa, he was looking at the position of Baten Kaitos in
comparison to her natal chart?” Pat asked.
“Yes, he was.”
“On the chart for Meenaa, is there a reference to shipwrecked fortunes and Baten
Kaitos?”
Evie turned her chair to the chart and pointed to the top of the chart. She said,
“Yes. At the top of the chart the defendant wrote, ‘Live study – shipwrecked.’ Now if the
jurors would please look below those words because they are followed by the words,
‘shipwrecked fortunes – transiting Saturn plus progressed moon will be conjunct twentyone degrees of Aries on March 1, 1998,’” Evie said.
“So his feeling was that her chart makes her vulnerable to the Evil Star Baten
Kaitos?”
“Yes, I think so.”
Patrick O’ Shay paused for a moment. “Now, could you explain to the jury, how it
would be that Meenaa may be more vulnerable to the Evil Star Baten Kaitos –
astrologically, rather than somebody else – another words, whether the defendant, could
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have done her chart to find out if she would be more vulnerable rather than someone else,
that weekend, to the influence of Evil Star Baten Kaitos?”
Evie shifted her weight in her chair and turned her attention away from Pat and
towards Meenaa’s chart. She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “Meenaa has natal
Mars, according to the defendant’s calculations, at twenty-one degrees of Aries. And, on
the weekend of March 29, 1998, there were transiting planets – planets in the sky – were
also at twenty-one degrees Aries. The defendant also calculated Meenaa’s Part of Fortune
and it is also at the same location. Now, the Part of Fortune is an Arabic Part and it means
money, luck, and all kinds of other fortunate things. However, with the Evil Star Baten
Kaitos and the other planets at twenty-one degrees of Aries any fortunate aspect would be
negated. Next to the defendant’s calculations of Meenaa’s chart, the defendant wrote,
‘Meenaa’s fortunes will be shipwrecked’ and below that he wrote, ‘Mid-February 1998
through April 1998, is a time of danger for Meenaa. She will feel the negative peak
power on March 30th, 1998!’” Evie said.
“Does that have anything to do with Baten Kaitos?”
“Yes. It would have been affecting her natal chart along with the other planets
during that period.”
“What about for her sister-in-law and the rest of the Muslim family? Were they
more vulnerable to the Evil Star Baten Kaitos that weekend?”
“According to the defendant’s calculations, the sister-in-law has Mercury, which
symbolizes communications and thinking, at twenty-one degrees of Aries. So, yes, she
too would be more vulnerable that weekend.”
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“Why is it? How many people would be more vulnerable to the Evil Star Baten
Kaitos and twenty-one degrees of Aries on that weekend?” he asked.
Evie sharply focused her attention. “I ran calculations from a data base of charts
that I have. First, I ran the study with a set of four hundred charts and then I used a set of
eight hundred charts. Out of my data base, only about three percent of the charts had
anything at twenty-one degrees of Aries which is the location of the Evil Star Baten
Kaitos,” Evie said with certainty.
Patrick O’ Shay angled his body towards the jury, his eyes widened and his
forehead wrinkled. “So… if you wanted to pick Meenaa and her family out, as targets for
that week, you’re going to have not only the effect of the Evil Star Baten Kaitos, but their
particular vulnerability based on their individual charts that relate to the twenty-one
degrees of Aries?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Once again, when you are, for example planning a wedding, you’re not
predicting that something is going to happen. Are you taking advantage, as an astrologer
of the planetary aspects, what time is most favorable to you?” Pat asked.
“Yes.”
“You do this kind of like the way people use a weather report?”
“Yes.”
“If you wanted to have the best, most harmonious aspects, you pick certain things,
depending how the planets are lined up?”
“Correct.”
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“The weekend of March 29th, 1998 would not be a good time to have the bombing
happen for Meenaa and her sister-in-law?”
“No, it wouldn’t”
“Is that because their charts indicate that they would be more vulnerable because
of the Evil Star Baten Kaitos and other planets at twenty-one degrees of Aries?”
“Yes, both Meenaa and her sister-in-law would be more vulnerable on that
weekend.”
Pat stepped back, turned to the prosecution table, and reached for the Muslim
bombing document. Then, he walked forward towards the jury and looked directly at
Evie. There was a brief awkward moment of silence. “Now, directing your attention to
page sixteen – it says, ‘The situation is equivalent to sitting on a fence. It calls for making
many changes and ending of conditions. Death is indicated!’”
Evie turned the document to page sixteen and paid close attention to Pat. She
nodded and replied, “Right.”
“Is there another reason you believe that there was, perhaps, an intent to kill?”
Evie’s heart palpitated and the muscles across the middle of her back tightened.
“It was – I had the feeling that he wrote it in advance because of the way that he used the
English language in that sentence,” she said.
“Does he frequently use the future tense?”
Evie nodded. “Throughout most of the document, I found mostly future tense.”
“Any planet or angle at nodal degree equals trouble, fatality, tragedy. Can you
help us with that?” Pat asked.
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“Well… a nodal angle…” Evie had started to answer but Pat jumped in.
“Especially if malefic? What is malefic?” he asked.
Evie composed herself. “Malefic is a word that was used in medieval astrology
and it is really another word for evil.” Evie turned to face the jurors and she said, “Pluto,
again, the defendant calls himself, Pluto, was square the moon’s nodes. In astrology, this
is a harsh aspect, a very critical angle, and it signifies death. Planets or angles that are in
the same degree as the moon’s Nodes point to a catastrophe, casualty, fatality or tragedy.
The event is more far-reaching when a malefic planet is involved. The malefic planet
will exert a fateful influence upon the situation. In other words, the fateful turn of events
may be traumatic or calamitous. The defendant says, ‘When an event chart is drawn for
formal conflicts, the instigator – me – ruler Pluto – the Grim Reaper, is the ascendant,’”
she said.
Patrick O’ Shay and all twelve jurors listened closely to Evie. When she finished
speaking, Pat asked, “So then, is the defendant saying that he is the instigator, the
ascendant, Pluto – the Grim Reaper – is the instigator? Obviously, he is the person
initiating the plan, or initiating the event?”
“Yes, I believe so,” she answered firmly.
Pat turned to the jury and asked them to draw their attention to a crude graphic the
defendant had drawn. “The defendant drew a hand-drawn chart and next to it, he wrote,
‘Me, the ruler – Pluto is opposite my open enemies.’ So he is the ruler?”
“Yes, he is the ruler of the chart.”
Pat looked somewhat distracted. He turned the page over and then back again. He
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looked at Evie. Then, he started to ask, “Didn’t the defendant say something about Pluto
– no…” Pat stopped. He refocused his attention, turned the page over again, and found
his place. “On line three, the defendant wrote, ‘No planets are strong, all being below the
horizon. Pluto will rise to the ascendant’…”
Evie sat up, straight. “Yes…”
Pat adapted easily. “Can you determine what time Pluto would rise to the
ascendant?” he asked clearly.
“Yes, Pluto rose to the ascendant after the bombings at 11:13 p.m. March 29,
1998.”
Patrick O’ Shay’s rhythm was steady, again. His body seemed to flow with his
assertions. “Is it fair to say, then, he says, ‘Event chart, drawn for formal conflicts, the
instigator is the ascendant’, the defendant has defined himself, for these purposes, as
being the ascendant and he is the instigator in these charts?”
“Yes, he is the instigator,” Evie said.
“So, the only logical conclusion is that the instigator in the interpretation of the
astrology in this document is the defendant?” Pat asked in a slightly higher tone.
Evie moved her head up and down. “Yes, that is what I concluded.”
Patrick O’ Shay stood upright and erect. He looked around and gazed into each
one of the juror’s eyes for a brief time. Then, he said, “I would like you to direct your
attention to page eight.” He waited for all of the jurors and Evie to find their place.
“Ok… on page eighteen the defendant says, ‘Mercury stationary retrograde is a recipe
for misunderstanding and confusion. Nothing works out as planned. When Mercury is
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retrograde, things go backwards.’ Mercury stationary retrograde, what’s that stand for?”
he asked.
“Mercury stationary retrograde is when – it is just at the brink of going retrograde.
In this case, Mercury was just at the brink of going retrograde or it appears to be about to
go backwards,” Evie answered.
“And so if the defendant did want to have Mercury retrograde – he talks about the
law being thwarted – so is it consistent with him hoping that there will be confusion after
the bombing happens?” Pat asked.
Evie nodded and tilted her head a little to the right. “Yes, that would be a perfect
time if the defendant wanted the police to lose all the evidence or get totally confused. I
think that – doing the second bombing might have been part of the whole scheme to
confuse everybody. He wanted to throw them off the track and the police would think the
bombings were done by some terrorist organization. That is my opinion,” Evie paused for
a moment and then she turned and faced the jurors. She said, “At the bottom of the page,
he says ‘The ruler of the 8th house is retrograde Mercury in Gemini. Therefore, death is
indicated.’”
Pat and Evie had worked together for nearly a year. He knew what Evie’s
philosophy was with regards to astrology and death. Even so, he asked, “Normally when
you do astrology, do you predict death in astrology? Have you ever seen this before?”
Evie’s sullen greenish eyes drooped. Then, she looked directly at Pat and shook
her head back and forth. “I don’t know what other astrologers do, but one of the cardinal
rules that all of my teachers that I have had is we never, never, never, predict death.
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Never!” she said with an air of repulsion in her voice.
Patrick O’ Shay stepped closer to Evie. “Is this something that’s disturbed you?”
he asked in a low tone.
Evie lowered her head and nodded. “This disturbed me very much,” Evie said
painfully in an unnerved and distraught tone. Then, she took a deep breath and slowly
exhaled.
“Once again he would not be asking the question if the bombings had already
happened?”
Evie’s eyes narrowed. “Right, if he had already read the newspapers and he was
writing this up – say a day or two later on April 1st or 2nd, he would have known that no
deaths occurred.”
Patrick O’ Shay squared his torso. His eyes were wide and alert. “The jurors will
be interested in this, whether this was written before or after. The fact that – is he really
asking the outcome? In other words, was the defendant trying to calculate the best time
for the event to happen?” Pat asked boldly.
Evie nodded and looked to her right towards the jury. “Yes, it seems so to me”
she said powerfully.
“Now, the second paragraph, he says ‘Gemini is on the cusp of 8th house of the
dead and this indicates a superb affliction.’ How would you interpret that?”
Evie turned, looked at the chart, and pointed at the chart. Then, she said, “Well…
Gemini was on the cusp of the 8th house on charts he had for the police booby trap
bombs. Mercury is the planet that rules the sign, Gemini. And Mercury was with Saturn,
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Mars, and the Evil Star Baten Kaitos at twenty-one degrees of Aries.”
“In the next sentence the defendant wrote, ‘Jupiter, affliction to justice.’ Is
affliction another word for detriment or bad thing?”
“Yes.”
Pat stepped closer to the chart. “And once again, is that 9:02 p.m. of March 29,
1998?”
“Yes.”
“There’s a statement ‘The new moon will move into Taurus and this will perfect
the event.’ Does that indicate whether it was written before or after the bombings?” he
asked.
“Well… on Friday – the 27th of March – there was a new moon. Both the sun and
the moon were in Aries. The moon travels approximately thirteen degrees a day. Aries is
the first sign of the zodiac and Taurus is the second sign,” Evie paused and she surveyed
the jurors faces to see if they understood. It seemed to her that they did. “So… the new
moon was in Aries on Friday. Now, when the defendant says, ‘The moon will move into
Taurus and will perfect the event,’ – well… the new moon entered the sign of Taurus at
7:08 a.m. on Sunday, March 29, 1998. This statement was another reason I think the
defendant wrote this document before the bombings,” she said assertively.
Pat had a close-mouth grin on his face and he was nodding his head slowly while
Evie spoke. “Okay. And moving to the typewritten portion, on page twenty-one, is there
anything of significance you can help us with?”
Evie flipped to the page and found her place. “Well, after I read through this
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entire document several times, I realized that this typed section is written as if it were a
report because the defendant repeats what was previously written by hand. In the first
paragraph, he says, ‘The angles are all fixed signs, stubborn, entrenched – so the event
will happen. The end of the matter will be unexpected.’ This definitely shows that he’s
predicting that something is going to happen in the future or that he has planned for
something to happen in the future. Now, again, if the defendant wrote this document after
the bombings, the event would not be unexpected because the bombings were covered by
the news media and written about in all of the Bay Area newspapers,” she said with
certainty.
After Evie was finished, Pat asked, “And are these typewritten pages consistent
with his charts previous to that time?”
“Yes, they fit the charts he did for March 29, 1998 at 9:02 p.m.”
“And on page twenty-two, he does write specifically, the Evil Star Baten Kaitos?”
“Yes, in the third paragraph he says, ‘The new moon begins it’s cycle from a
stellium with Mars, stationary retrograde Mercury, Saturn, and the Evil Star Baten
Kaitos.’ In all charts, Mercury reveals what the question is associated with and in all
criminal cases, there are certain planetary rulerships that are invariable. Saturn rules the
police. Mercury rules all of the evidence, including alibis and fingerprints. Jupiter rules
the judge,”102 she said.
“So, he would be taking advantage of both the Mercury retrograde so there’s
confusion and the Evil Star Baten Kaitos so there’s death?” Pat asked.
Evie didn’t have a doubt in her mind. “Yes. He also used Saturn and Mars
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because they are typical of violence.”
“And when you saw that the defendant wrote, ‘Apparently a Venus Party will
make everything come to perfection.’ What’s the significance of Venus?”
Once again, Evie pointed to the chart and looked towards the jury. “Venus is in
the 4th house and the 4th house is symbolizes homes. However, in this document the
defendant says that Venus is ‘the end of the matter.’ Now, it is important to understand
that Venus symbolizes a luxurious home. On the night that the bombs went off, Venus
was ruler of the 7th house. The defendant says that there will be a Venus Party for his
enemies. He says, ‘A Venus Party will make everything come to perfection.’ Again, that
sounded like something was going to happen in the future.”
“Did you express that to me – that, the Venus Party may be that – that the police
will come for him and we discussed what do you when you have a party?” he asked.
“Yes, we discussed having a Venus Party. The first thing I thought of, even
though this is such a dark document…” Evie paused. Then, she turned and looked
directly at several of the jurors and she said, “I honestly kind of started laughing when I
read that. I asked myself who has a party and doesn’t invite guests? If you’re going to
have a big party, you invite all your friends to come. In this case, the defendant planned a
death party!” Evie said. Evie could tell from the jurors’ facial expressions that they fully
understood her logic and her answer.
Pat continued, “Next the defendant says, ‘The moon forms a square to Neptune in
Aquarius, then forms and separates from a quincunx to Pluto, and finally an opposition.’
In terms of time, when would this be?”
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Evie was confident in her astrological analysis. “The moon was in quincunx to
Pluto at 9:02 p.m. on March 29, 1998. The next aspect the defendant mentions is the
moon opposite Pluto. This would have been at 8:54 p.m. on March 31, 1998. By then, the
moon was at 7 degrees of Gemini and Pluto was at 7 degrees of Sagittarius.”
“And the very bottom sentence, of the typewritten page, he says ‘the police as
community servants.’ How does this relate?” Pat asked.
Evie immediately understood the question. “Yes, he talks about the police as
community servants. He says, ‘The Law, is thwarted, especially with no planets above
the horizon to help, the trail is cold. There will be no resolution of the crime.’ So, he was
hoping by making – just waiting another hour to 9:02 – after the planets were below the
horizon that they would be – the police would not be able to solve this crime. Again, the
defendant wrote, ‘In the Event Horary Chart, past aspects show what has taken place and
future aspects show the future as it is to evolve. The moon will be the last planet to
descend – all planets are below the horizon. The angles are all in fixed signs – they are
stubborn, entrenched. So the event will happen. A fixed sign on the ascendant shows
something that has already taken root. It is established. The matter is already under way
at the time of asking. Fixed signs on all four angles shows a sure development. There is
no stopping the matter!’” she said.
After Evie was finished with her answer, Pat asked, “Did we ask you to review
the statement the defendant gave to the police when they were questioning him about a
booby trap bomb on May 4, 1998?”
“Yes.”
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“I’m going to read the sentence on line sixteen of the police deposition, Detective
Ares starts out by asking, ‘Well, why do you think the guy didn’t call back then?’ And
the defendant replied, ‘I haven’t the faintest idea. It really bugged me because April 19th
was coming. Do you stupid fuckers have a big chart? Remember what that was? Waco.
What’s his ass, McVey went over there to Oklahoma City and blew up 168 people –
killed them or whatever. Maybe this guy was a preamble. Maybe this guy was planning a
Venus Party.’ Obviously, this was the sentence that we referred you to?”
“Yes.”
“We had you review this sentence after you had drawn our attention to the Venus
Party?”
“Yes.”
“In context of this, I’m going to ask you about this party, whether it is consistent
with a Venus Party that he described in the astrology document, and also assume that
April 19th was the day of Waco where women and children were killed by the federal
government. And also two years later, April 19th of 1995, was the date of the bombing at
Oklahoma City, at the federal building, where 168 people were killed. And, also assume
that the defendant had in storage explosive material, ammonium nitrate fuel oil, which he
was looking to purchase before and had plans for the Oklahoma City bombing. Assuming
those things, is this consistent with him explaining that he’s having a Venus Party that he
described in the document?”
“Yes.”
“And the basis of your opinion is for a Venus Party, people are being invited. If
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you have a party, you invite people?”
“Yes, you do.”
“You were aware that after the first bombing, the Muslim bombing, which
occurred at 8:06 p.m. that a phone call was made to the police department at
approximately 8:15 p.m. on March 29, 1998. And the phone call directed the police to go
to another luxurious house under construction and about a block away from the first
house? The caller directed to ‘get the bombs out of the house’ then said, ‘…later the
police department will go boom. Bye.’”
“Yes.”
“The phone call was inviting the police to the house?” he asked.
“Yes, I believe so.”
The jury listened carefully to Patrick O’ Shay. “So the police are invited to a
Venus Party, as opposed to some other party. Venus, being in the 4th house, represents the
end of the physical body and the end of the house?”
“Correct.”
“Which would occur if they succumb to the booby trap bomb?”
“Correct.”
“And were his comments to Jason Ares consistent with what you’ve already
described?”
“They seem to be consistent to me.”
“How would you qualify the defendant as an astrologer based on the information
that you have? How would you describe him?” he asked.
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The jury sat transfixed waiting for her answer. “Well… I think that he was into
the occult. I think that he might have been into the dark side of the occult, known as the
Black Arts. This is the very evil side of astrology. You see, astrology could be – it has
both a positive and a negative side. However, throughout all of the defendant’s
documents, whenever he mentions or gives an interpretation, it was always the most evil
side of astrology. To use it in this manner, to me, is absolutely diabolical, evil. I think the
defendant is very intelligent. I think he planned and planned and planned. I just – he says
he is Pluto – death – the Grim Reaper. I think he was ruled by evil.”
“This question is going to relate to page thirteen of the Muslim bombing
document. And perhaps I could preface that by asking why do you think they relate back
to that – they do not relate back to the Muslim family in wanting to bomb them or kill
them?” he asked.
“Well, from page ten on, Muslims are never mentioned. In the previous
document, he mentions them by name. However, from page ten on, he only refers to the
police as his enemies.” She said.
Pat turned to page thirteen of the Muslim Bombing Document, he looked at Evie,
and then he asked, “Could the fatalities refer to the original thought that the Muslim
family would be in the house celebrating the evening of Zul Haijj? The house was sold to
others unknown to him?”
The jury was looking back and forth between Pat and Evie. “Oh, I think he took
advantage of the whole evening. I think, originally, he maybe just planned to do the
Muslim bombing, but then when he realized that they hadn’t bought the house, he
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decided since he had other enemies, he might as well take advantage of the astrological
aspects not only out of revenge but also to throw the police off course. He said, ‘The Law
will be thwarted!’”
“But he used separate charts?”
“Yes, he used separate charts. However, the only thing that is significantly
different is the moon and the house cusps. All of the other planets stayed in virtually the
same degree because they don’t move that fast. So – the only thing that really changed
was the moon and in the Muslim bombing,” Evie paused to point to the first chart, then
she continued, “He wanted his certain criteria, and I wrote the criteria on the other chart.
If we want to put that up, I could answer the question maybe a little better.”
Pat quickly reached for the two slightly different charts and placed them in front
of the jury so they could see clearly. He said, “If I could mark the chart that says 9:02
bombing, as 236.”
Evie turned to the charts and while looking back and forth between the charts and
the jury, she said, “See, first off, the thing that he does in the Muslim Bombing Chart is
he keeps the moon, which typically in astrology symbolizes women, in the 8th house of
death. Then he waits until later in the evening for the next bombing because his criteria,
according to his notes, is to ‘let the moon get past all conjunctions’ and on the next page
he says, ‘Keep the moon out of the 7th house.’ His third criteria is the ‘Sun is below the
descendant.’ Now, his criteria was all met at 6:25 p.m. and at this time, the moon’s sliver
is visible. The moon’s silver is the signal that Muslims can begin eating. They begin their
family celebration at this time. He says, ‘Set the timing such that in twilight.’ So, this
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chart set the stage in motion.”
Next, Evie pointed at the 9:02 p.m. chart so she could show the jury the
differences in the house cusps and planetary positions. She looked at the jury and she
said, “You can see that the only real difference between the first chart and this 9:02 p.m.
chart are the outer house cusps and the position of the moon. This is the chart he used
when he planned the Venus Party. The moon is in the 6th house and this symbolizes the
police and community servants. So, by this time, 9:02 p.m., he was focused on the
police.”
Pat looked satisfied. “Let me ask. How much time would you believe it would
take him to prepare the charts that are here, all of the pages?”
Evie was taken back by the question. She looked up and thought for a brief
moment. Then, she said, “Boy, I don’t know, and I just wonder how many pages he threw
away with all of his math calculations, you know. It takes me – if I don’t use a computer,
it takes me, believe it or not, almost two and a half hours to set up a chart by hand
because there’s a lot of math involved. But I do believe, that he began charting for this
bombing back in April of 1997 and he looked at the astrological aspects all the way
through August of 1997. I believe that during fall of 1997, he realized the wrong people
bought the house. That is when I believe he began charting to bomb the police.”
“Now, finally in the very last paragraph he wrote, ‘Mars equals violent deaths, see
my natal Mars, Venus, Jupiter, and Alpheratz. I have the bomb successfully!’ What does
Alpheratz mean astrologically?”
Once again, Evie felt the best thing she could do was to answer by paraphrasing
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from an astrological textbook, so that the jury could see that she was being objective in
giving her answer. “Alpheratz is a fixed star and it’s Andromeda’s alpha star. It’s
connected to stories about horses and heads, slayings and rescues. It has a connotation of
flight, freedom, and speed, as well as a love of expression.”103
Pat paused for a moment. Then, he turned and looked square at the jury. “So
along with the fixed star Alpheratz, which has to do with speed, freedom, flight, or
escape, and a love of expression, he has written the words, ‘I have the bomb
successfully’…?” he asked as if he were in a stage show performance.
With power and frankness, Evie said, “Yes, he does.”
Pat turned towards Evie and gazed straight in her deep blue green eyes for several
seconds without blinking. Then, he slightly bowed his head at her. “Thank you. I have
nothing further,” he said graciously.
Judge Samuel Archer nodded and looked towards the jurors. “In view of the hour,
ladies and gentlemen of the jury, we will take a recess until tomorrow morning. Please
return at 9:00 a.m. Ms. Taylor you are to be back for cross examination by the defense
attorney tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m.”
Evie nodded in agreement. Then she stood up. She felt like she was floating. She
gracefully walked past the twelve spellbound jurors and out through the double doors into
the corridor. She didn’t wait for Pat or for Jason. Instead, she walked quickly out of the
courthouse to the parking lot to her car. She jumped in and immediately drove to the
hotel. She was mentally exhausted and she needed time to recharge her spirit.
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Chapter 16
THE BLASTED TOWER
Wednesday May 5, 1999
Evie arrived at the courthouse early. By 8:30 a.m. she was sitting in the witness
room, waiting. This day was a critical one because Gordon Harper, the defense attorney,
would begin cross examining her. Her back was in excruciating pain due to the stress,
tension, and all of the sitting. She wanted to think positively so she could forget about her
back pain. She thought to herself, “Who chooses to be a fool?” She recalled the tarot
card, the Fool and remembered that Proverbs 12:15 says, “The way of a fool is right in
his own eyes. But a wise man is he who listens to counsel.” She thought, “The way of the
fool represents lessons learned through life experiences. The fool must learn lessons the
hard way but the hard way is the deeper way. But these experiences are what develop us
spiritually. We just can’t learn by looking out through a glass window. We must go right
to the heart-of-the-matter or more often, into the eye of the storm. I chose to be in the eye
of this shit storm! So many times, I have been the fool! I am the fool! I willingly removed
my foolish costume and exposed my nudity – all of my private parts.”
Evie sat silent. She closed her eyes, leaned down to her knees, and covered her
face with both hands. After a few moments, she looked up, took a long deep breath as if it
would be her last, and then released the air in her lungs slowly. She thought, “During the
cross examination, I must listen to my inner counsel. Oh, my counsel, will you be there to
help me control and have power over my emotions? I know written words and spoken
words can be very dangerous. I will keep the secrets of your mysteries. Oh, my loving
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creator, I trust that you will show me when and how to utilize language to accomplish
this task.”
****
Judge Samuel Archer greeted everyone present at precisely 9:00 a.m. and Evie
adjusted herself in the witness seat. Mr. Harper, the defendant’s attorney, was sitting back
in his chair. He had a smug look on his face and he was lightly tapping his pen on his
yellow legal pad. “We are back on the record and all jurors are present. Both counsel and
the defendant are present. Go ahead Mr. Harper,” the Judge said.
Gordon Harper stood up and walked around the defense table towards Evie. “Ms.
Taylor you were contacted by the District Attorney’s Office in connection with this case
when?” he asked in a patronizing tone.
“They called me, I believe is was November 9th, and we met on November 11th of
1999,” she said calmly.
“Since that time, you have had the opportunity to review numerous documents in
connection with the investigation of this case; is that correct?” he queried.
“I have.”
Gordon Harper nodded awkwardly. He asked, “You have been called upon to
render opinions with regard to certain information that you have reviewed that you
believe is in reference to the Muslim bombing; is that correct?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Mr. Harper shifted his weight from foot to foot. “Have you reviewed any other
documents which you believe refer to the planning of any other bombings other than the
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Muslim Bombing Document?”
“Yes. The second bombing, which we are referring to as the Police Booby Trap
Bomb…”
Gordon Harper pulled his eyebrows together and wrinkled his forehead. He
interrupted Evie and said, “Okay…”
Evie continued to answer. “…and I’ve reviewed what we are calling the Safe
Solution documents which indicate that the defendant planned to bomb a real estate
business.”
“So you have – is it true that you have confined your reviewed documents to
documents that you believe refer to the planning of three bombings, the Muslim
Bombing, the Police Booby Trap Bombing, and the Safe Solution Bombing?” he asked
with artificial ignorance.
“Actually, I reviewed another document that was written by the defendant. Across
the top of the page, were the words WTC Bombing Chart Analysis. The document
indicated investigations, bombs, and plots. Later, Mr. O’ Shay alerted me, that I should
look at when the World Trade Center was bombed in the early 1990’s. I did that and
came to the conclusion that the document was an analysis of the bombing in New York
City, at the World Trade Center in 1993. There were also references in other documents I
reviewed where the defendant referred to the Oklahoma City bombing by Timothy
McVey.”
“So is it fair to say, then, that you reviewed some documents that ultimately you
concluded was an analysis of the World Trade Center bombing?”
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“Yes,” she said.
Mr. Harper had a skeptical look on his face. “And these documents appeared to be
prepared by the same person who prepared the Muslim Bombing Document, the Booby
Trap Bombing documents, and the Safe Bomb documents; is that correct?” he asked.
“Yes, although, the notes were not complete. I looked at the specific dates. Then I
looked at historical facts and I found that this was the date that the bombing occurred.”
“Did they appear to be plans to bomb something?” he asked in a raised voice.
“They appeared to be an analysis of a bombing, that’s what it appeared to me to
be. It was written in more of a current theme.”
“What do you mean… current?
“Like it was a current event, or something that had already happened, not
something that was going to happen in the future. It was more like an analysis of
something that had already happened.”
“Did you at any time believe these plans, the World Trade Center plans, were
plans to do a bombing in the future?” he asked suspiciously.
“The document sounded to me like it was written about something that had
already occurred.”
“So it was a write-up of an event that had already occurred?”
“It seemed to be to me,” Evie said.
Gordon Harper frowned. “Did you have some doubts as to whether that was a
prospective plan or a retrospective plan?”
“I felt that it was something that had already taken place,” she said with firmness
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in her voice.
“Did you review any other documents that appeared to relate to any other events
other than the Oklahoma City Bombing, the WTC Event, the Safe Bombing, the Muslim
Bombing, and the Booby Trap Bombing?”
Evie took a subtle deep breath. “I have reviewed lots of other documents. I can’t
recall if any other documents relate to bombings at this point. I’m not sure.”
Harper’s eyes bored into her. “Do you believe you can predict the future?”
Evie returned his hard look. “No,” she answered.
“Do people come to you and ask you to assist them in planning trips, for
instance?” he asked in a mocking tone.
“Yes.”
“And do you give them advice as to whether it would be a good time to take a
trip?”
“Absolutely.”
Gordon Harper chuckled sarcastically. “And that, in your opinion, is not
predicting the future?”
Evie was determined to not let his ignorance of astrology or his tone of sarcasm
get to her. “I tell people what trends and possibilities may occur. I give them a range of
possibilities. The chart represents a multitude of things. When I give an astrological
consultation, I encourage my clients to use free will. I tell them what the chart represents.
I give them all of the possibilities, and it is their choice to make, unlike your client who
specifically stated what things meant, how, and when. I open the door to creative
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thinking.”
He scoffed at her. “When you designate what possibilities exist, you believe those
possibilities to be true?”
Evie maintained her composure. “I believe that the solar system is a map for one
to follow, and it’s up to the individual to choose what road to take to get to their
destination.”
Mr. Harper turned away from Evie, looked at the jury, rolled his eyes, and at the
same time, he asked, “So you believe that people should guide their lives by reading the
stars?”
“I believe that astrology is only a tool to bring a positive and a beneficial, more
creative way to living, a more wholesome lifestyle. I try to point out to my clients their
best personality potentials, their creative abilities. I point out what would be their best
success for vocations, all kinds of things. I try to lean towards the positive upbeat-type of
astrology.”
Gordon Harper turned back and looked square at Evie. “And this is based on the
position of the star and planets?” he asked in a condescending tone.
“Yes, a lot of it is based upon when the person was born, but also how they
developed, the socio-economic situation that they grew up in, the education that they
received, and what type of parents they were born with. Before I ever discuss a person’s
personality, we sit down and the person fills out a long questionnaire. I am not here to
play guessing games with my clients, I’m only suggest possibilities to them.”
“Well tell me, what is Astrology?” he asked tersely.
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“Astrology is simply to study the stars.”
Mr. Harper was showing signs of agitation. “For what purpose?” he asked in a
raised voice.
“It has been one of the oldest things studied since ancient Mesopotamia. Men
have always sought to seek where they fit within the universe and how the universe was
created. So it’s been something that men and women have studied since the beginning of
time,” she said with ease.
“Why do it? Why study the stars?” he asked in a quick, impatient manner.
Her blue green eyes flashed. She said, “It’s more of a study of the nature of the
universe and what God created, how we fit in with the universe.”
“What can you accomplish by using astrology?” he asked in a derogatory way.
“With astrology, I have been able to tap in and understand what my own birth
chart shows me. The horoscope shows one’s creative potential, what strengths and
weaknesses a person has and how to develop that. It also shows what vocational choices a
person should make, what their personal characteristics are, the areas that need work and
the areas that need to be emphasized. My main objective with astrology is to understand
myself better, as well as to help others to understand themselves.”
“How does astrology help you determine what your characteristics are?” he asked
sarcastically.
Evie ignored his sarcasm. “Well through years and years of research, astrologers
have taken account of – for example, people that are born under the sign of Aries, what
their typical characteristics are like. Now that is just the sign the sun was in the moment
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they were born. But there are characteristics a person will have with the planetary aspects
and positions. Astrologers have done statistical research – they have done case studies on
hundreds and hundreds of charts. They look at a wide range - anything from illnesses,
professions, athletic abilities.” While Evie was speaking, Gordon Harper paced back and
forth in front of her and he looked at his watch several times. She continued. “Michael
Gauquelin, was a psychologist who did a statistical analysis on famous athletes and he
found through his research that Mars would be prominent in a birth chart of an athlete.
We do allot of research as astrologers. My work, before this case, was researching
missing children’s birth charts. I have collected over a thousand charts of missing
children. I was in the process of doing a statistical research project to see if I could fine
what particular planetary positions and aspects were in effect the day and time that the
child went missing in conjunction with their own birth chart. In missing children,
murdered and raped children, or a run away child, I found there are certain planetary
configurations or conditions. I have been keeping track of that sort of information.
Astrology is primarily a lot of research. That is how we study it.”
“What is Aries? What is it?” he asked pompously.
“Aries is the sign of the ram.”
“But is it a star or some relationship between stars? I don’t know. What is it?” he
asked abrasively.
Evie tried to keep her answer to a minimum. She felt like this was a basic
astrological test. She said, “There are twelve signs of the zodiac. Aries is one of them. It
is the first sign of the zodiac.”
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“What is the zodiac?”
Evie knew that the defense attorney was trying to humiliate her and make
astrology sound ridiculous. “The zodiac stands for the circle of animals. The circle of
animals has been symbolic of the twelve signs of the zodiac since the beginning. It’s an
imaginary belt, the ecliptic that goes around the Earth or the solar system.”
Gordon Harper had an artificial grin on his face. “So this imaginary… circle of
animals has some impact on a person’s personality?” he asked mockingly.
Even though Evie felt like screaming, she maintained her composure. She turned
away from Mr. Harper’s beady eyes and looked straight at the jurors. “I do not believe
the stars cause a certain behavior. The birth chart is a map that represents what happens
more on a psychological level. Let me see, if I can explain this in a simple way. A map of
the United States is, for example, a picture of the United States. There are many roads on
the map. You might see rivers and mountains. It is symbolic of the United States. It is
similar to a birth chart or horoscope. I look at the chart, and what I see is a map of the
person’s individual personality, what they were born with, the gifts that they were
brought into this earthly existence with, what lessons God gave them to learn when they
were born into this world.”
“This is an imaginary map, right?” he asked in an annoyed tone.
Evie was looking at Mr. Harper. She hesitated for just a moment and then, she
said, “Well, no…” Once again, Evie turned and looked at the jury. She said, “The
calculations are the exact positions of the planets or they’re orbit, they’re ecliptic, based
on our perspective from Earth. The typical way, astrologers set up a chart is by a method
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called geocentric, which is Earth-centered astrology. However, recently there has been a
lot of research on heliocentric astrology or Sun-centered astrology. Before Copernicus,
people thought the Earth was the center of the solar system. He found out this was not
true and later, Galileo confirmed Copernicus’s research. Today, astrologers use both
methods to make their calculations – they use either geocentric or heliocentric.”
Gordon Harper scowled and paced in front of Evie. “What does ecliptic mean? I
don’t understand that,” he asked.
“This is where all of the planets orbit our solar system. It is the three hundred
sixty degrees – a circle – where each planet travels around the solar system. Planets are in
constant motion and they are in different positions at different times of each day.
Astrologers divide the circle into twelve segments and each segment has thirty degrees.
Each of those thirty degrees is equal to one zodiacal sign. That is how we measure where
the planets are.”
“What planets do you consider?” he asked.
“We consider all of the planets within our solar system, as well as the sun, which
is really a star, and the moon, which is a luminary.”
“And what is of concern to you in your work is the location of those planets at
particular points in time?”
“Yes.”
“And the relationship they have with each other?”
“Right. We look at the planetary aspects.”
“And when you are talking about aspects, what does that mean?”
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Evie was about to answer the question when the defense attorney looked down at
his watch and rudely turned away from her. She knew this was a defense tactic to try and
frustrate her. She was not going to allow the attorney’s body language to throw her off
course. She also wasn’t about to answer his question until he turned around and faced
her. She sat quiet and she inhaled and exhaled several times until Gordon Harper turned
back around. Then, Evie turned to the jury and she said, “Aspects are the angular distance
between the planets, similar to geometry. We use the Earth as the center. We look to see
where the planets are in relationship to where we are on earth. A term in astrology, as
well as in geometry is vertex. Now, as in geometry, we use the Earth as a kind of vertex.
This is the point at which an angle is derived from. As an astrologer, I consider the Earth
to be the vertex. I look out into the sky and measure the distance between the various
planets. It is like doing geometry because we draw these angles, or aspects. For example,
a perfect square is a ninety degree angle and an opposition is a one hundred eighty degree
angle. We use various angles along with longitude and latitude to measure the positions
of the planets. We look at the positions of all the planets – the planet’s particular place on
the zodiac from our perspective on Earth.” Evie finished answer and then, she turned her
attention back to Mr. Harper.
“Okay. And these mathematical calculations of the positions of the various
heavenly bodies have some impact on a person’s characteristics?” he asked.
Evie looked directly at the attorney. “They represent what happens on an internal
or psychological level of the individual. They are symbolic, they don’t cause per se, they
represent in a symbolic way. Each planet, each sign, each house, has a multitude of
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different symbolic interpretations, and we read the chart in that manner,” she said.
Gordon Harper started chuckling and shaking his head side to side in disbelief.
“So the old pick-up line, ‘What’s your sign?’ that’s what we’re talking about, a zodiac
sign?” he asked.
Evie had a good sense of humor. She smiled at the jurors and shook her head up
and down while she said, “Well, in some ways, yes!” She noticed that several jurors were
smiling back at her, fondly.
Mr. Harper had a pretentious look on his face. “Well, I was born September 16th,
1945. What sign is that?” he asked.
“You are a Virgo,” she answered.
Gordon Harper made a dramatic gesture with his arm. “Well what does it mean?
Am I a jerk or a nice guy or what?” he asked hotheadedly.
Evie didn’t react to his outburst. “Sir, that information does mean quite a lot.
However, the kind of astrology I do, takes into consideration all of the planets in your
birth chart, not just the position of the sun. I would need to know the time and place of
your birth to give you a proper astrological chart,” she said in a calm manner.
The attorney was waving his left arm and pacing back and forth in front of Evie.
“Well, since I am a Virgo, does that have any impact on my personality? Does that make
me a jerk or a nice person?” he asked in a booming voice.
All of a sudden Patrick O’ Shay boldly sprang out of his chair. His eyes looked
like they had fire in them. “Objection. Argumentative!” he said in a loud and assertive
voice.
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Judge Samuel Archer used his gavel to bring an end to the courtroom drama.
“Sustained,” he said firmly. Then the energy of the courtroom waned.
The defense attorney gained some composure. “You have an internet site that says
you teach a Course in Miracles. What kind of miracles do you teach?” he asked with
cunning look in his eye.
“A Course in Miracles is a book that is Christian-based with an Eastern type of
philosophy. I do not teach people how to do miracles,” Evie said peacefully.
“What kind of Eastern philosophy?”
“It is a philosophy that is similar to Buddhism,” she said.
“Well, you say you taught miracles; is that right?” he asked in a snotty tone.
Evie was serene. “I was a facilitator and taught the Course in Miracles,” she said
matter-of-factly.
Gordon Harper was angry. He didn’t stop for one second to reflect on Evie’s
answer instead he stopped his left foot. “Did you teach people how to conduct miracles?”
he bellowed like a bull.
“Absolutely not!” she said emphatically. “It was a prayer group – a metaphysical
group,” Evie paused, looked up, and took a slow deep breath. Her left hand was open
with the palm facing up. Like a drummer, she unconsciously moved her hand up and
down in a steady beat and she said, “We read scripture, we prayed, we learned to
meditate. All of us believe in higher power. As a group, we discussed problems we were
having, we listened to meditation tapes, we read and studied the Course in Miracles.”
“You taught Celestine Prophecy?” he asked.
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Evie had nothing to hide. “Yes. That was a book written by James Redfield, I
believe. I’m not sure of the author’s name off the top of my head. Anyway… The
Celestine Prophecy – in the prayer group, we studied it.”
“Well… if you taught it, what was it about? Doesn’t the word prophecy mean to
prophesize or predict the future?” he asked in a sneaky tone.
At this point, Evie knew that he was trying to portray her as a fortune-teller. She
turned her body towards the jury and smiled. “The book had nothing to do with
predicting the future. The book was about one man’s journey to South America and his
search for God. The women and I read one chapter sometime on our own during the
week. When we were together we discussed it. We were kind of like Oprah’s Book
Club,” she said humorously.
The jury was amused. If the defense attorney had done his homework, he would
have known that the Celestine Prophecy was on the top best sellers list at one time. He
could have found the book in any major bookstore under the self-help section.
Gordon Harper looked bewildered. “So… the Celestine Prophecy has nothing to
do with predicting the future by looking at the celestial bodies and the stars?” he asked.
“No. That book didn’t have anything to do with astrology, sir. The book was
more of a theology book,” she said confidently.
“Did you charge for these classes?”
“I did not charge for the woman’s metaphysical class,” she said.
“Any of the classes you teach, do you charge?”
“I have charged private students and clients.”
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“Okay… tell me about the sign of Aries. Do you think a person who is born under
Aries will act in a certain way?”
“Technically, they would have a pioneering personality, of course depending on
all of the other planets in their birth chart. But an Aries, for example would typically be
active and energetic. It’s a fire sign, so they may take action quickly. You may see an
athlete being an Aries type person. But if there are planets that were in adverse aspect to
that sign, they may not express that as such. You have to look at the whole chart. I
believe in a holistic approach to reading a chart, not just looking at the sun, but looking at
the entire chart.”
Gordon Harper scratched his chin then crossed both arms across his chest. “Okay.
Let’s say when something’s in the sign of Aries that would mean that the person would
be a pioneering person?”
Evie straightened herself in the seat. She took a sip of water then she looked
directly at him. “Yes. They could be active, energetic. They could be headstrong. They
could be aggressive and combative if there is discord in the chart, but they may also
express themselves in a more positive and assertive style, rather than combative. With
everything in astrology, there is a positive and there is a negative. How the person learns
to express himself or herself, is up to that individual. Also, it depends on how the child
was disciplined. You could have a child that was born an Aries, who by the chart, shows
may typically express themselves in a discordant or negative manner. But if their parents
were good disciplinarians, kept them in school and made sure they were focused and on
track, if they were born in a culture that emphasized church, ethics, morals, and self-
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discipline, the child may not express themselves in a negative manner.”
“And people come to you for advice to assist them in making decisions on their
life?” he asked cagily.
“Yes. Typically what I would do is point out all of the different options that are
available to them. Then they would choose how they want to direct their life. I don’t like
the idea of playing God with my clients. I simply like to point out what options there are
according to research in the field of astrology. People choose for themselves how they
want to direct their lives. For example, if in their birth chart, I saw a lot of creativity, I
might suggest to them or encourage them to develop that side of they personality if they
hadn’t already done so. I may encourage them to try writing poetry, take a dance class,
try painting, take a music class, anything of that nature that may make them feel more
positive about themselves.”
Gordon Harper wanted to discredit astrology. “Is it true that people with Jupiter
on the ascendant will determine how a person looks?”
“It can. It has been documented through research that a person with Jupiter on the
ascendant oftentimes may have a weight problem,” she said honestly.
Gordon Harper threw his head back and looked amused. “So if you’re born with
Jupiter on the ascendant you’re going to get fat?” he asked.
“You could if you didn’t have other planetary aspects to indicate otherwise. But if
the person expresses it another way, they could be a very generous person with Jupiter on
the ascendant.”
The defense attorney took three steps closer to Evie and he leaned in towards her.
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His eyes glared. “Have you ever given dietary advice based on astrology?” he asked.
“Medical Astrology is the branch of astrology that gets into that area. However, I
feel that giving a medical diagnosis or advice, at least with my particular training, should
be left to the medical professionals. A prognosis or diagnosis is not something that I feel
comfortable giving to my clients. Although, at certain times… I have – based on
astrology – suggested to clients that they should go to their own medical doctor or
nutritionist for a check-up or for treatment. There are qualified astrologers, who are also
medical professionals who give that kind of information to their clients.”
“What is mental alchemy? You’ve mentioned the phrase mental alchemy. I don’t
know what that means,” he asked in a sarcastic tone.
“The origin of Alchemy goes as far back as centuries before and after the birth of
Christ to ancient China, Egypt, and Greece.104 In addition, some of first alchemical
treatises of the Western world come from a number of early Arabic sources. Alchemy is
the precursor to modern chemistry. In the medieval and renaissance periods, alchemists
were fascinated with the creative processes hidden within the universe and they were
intrigued with the large body of Arabic literature that spoke of making the philosopher’s
stone and of transmuting base metals into gold or silver.105 For different reasons the goal
of all alchemists was to find a way to combine, distill, and diffuse the chemical
substances found in base metals such as lead, iron, and mercury in order to make gold.106
Alchemist Thomas Norton wrote the Ordinal of Alchemy in the year 1477 and from his
writing, one can see that alchemy is an arduous path, to be kept secret, and only for the
initiated, the devout, and the chosen. Although, there were alchemists whose sole purpose
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was creating gold and silver, these were considered to be mundane or vulgar
alchemists107. However, spiritual alchemists were similar to Christian monastics because
for both the primary aim was to find the divine path to God. Like Christian monastics,
spiritual alchemists were often clerical brothers, Christian theologians, and in many ways
they lived and practiced their own form of monasticism; the objective is to show that the
only real difference between a spiritual alchemist and a Christian monastic is that the
alchemist had a scientific edge to his theology. When alchemy entered Europe in the
twelfth century, European alchemists continued the practical and scientific methods that
had been established by earlier alchemists; European alchemy was a profound philosophy
that was associated with religious mysteries and alchemists tradition of using veiled and
guarded language continued when they wrote about the Art.108 Similar to Christian
monastics, spiritual alchemists wanted to raise and purify their own souls as well as the
soul of humanity. This arcane form of alchemy was truly a process of soul development
and alchemists thought they would be successful if they were vigilant, prayed, and if they
submitted to the will of God.109 Christian monasticism also stressed similar ideas along
with meditative and ascetic practices because like the alchemist personal purification was
their goal. It was the mindset of both the alchemist and the monastic that if they were
completely devoted to God and through His grace, they could achieve spiritual
purification. In other words, satisfaction and salvation does not come by intellectualism,
human will, or reason alone, it must also be through grace.110 Unlike the monastic,
alchemists used scientific methods such as astrology, material substances, and metals in
their experiments for the “sole purpose of expressing theological, philosophical, and
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mystical beliefs and aspirations.”111 All alchemists kept their knowledge secret and to do
so, they typically used language with hidden metaphors along with complex symbols
because the Art was both materially valuable and spiritually powerful and it could be
dangerous if it fell into the wrong hands.112 Like the Christian monastic, the alchemist
needed to be humble, practice humility, be patient, persevere, have a devotion to learning,
and trust entirely in God113 because their goal was for their soul to merge with or
amalgamate with God, the divine creator. There is a spiritual nature behind alchemy. The
Great Work of alchemy was intimately bound up with the whole religious and
philosophical background, and for many who practiced it the transmutation of metals was
symbolical of the transmutation of imperfect man into a state of perfection.114 During the
process of transmutation, the alchemist tried to convert metal from an impure substance
into one that is incredibly valuable. However, the alchemical operation in the laboratory
is more than just trying to convert an impure substance into a pure one; this is an allegory
for a man who is seeking to perfect his soul. The process of transmutation was an esoteric
and a purifying journey that expanded the alchemist’s mind, soul, and consciousness to
both his inner self and his outer environment. Alchemists correlated this concept of
transmuting base metals into gold – the perfect state – with purifying their souls but for
this to be accomplished, they believed they must live a pure life, receive divine guidance,
and if they performed the alchemical experiments at precisely the right astrological time.
Although there were various methods employed in the laboratory, the alchemist was
concerned with starting the procedure at the proper time and under the right celestial
influences. To do this, they needed at the very least, to know the basics of astrology.
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Alchemist Thomas Norton also believed that the use of astrology was a critical factor for
starting an alchemical operation.115 In the Ordinal of Alchemy, Norton suggests that an
alchemist should choose a horoscope when the ascendant was in a fortune aspect – a
trine. In addition, the moon should be making fortunate aspects to certain houses and
there should be a planet in its own virtue because this is both proper and special.116
Alchemists of the Medieval and Renaissance periods relied on astrology for the proper
timing for their experimental operations, although one should not assume that this was an
invention of the time because even as far back as Hellenistic alchemy, astrology was a
key factor. In the third century, the Greek alchemist and Gnostic mystic Zosimos of
Panopolis suggested that for the proper chemical reactions to occur there must be proper
astrological timing.117 By applying mental alchemy along with astrology, we try to purify
our own thoughts with the use of the birth chart. Both Christian monastics and
alchemists, wanted to find a way to live that would bring harmony to their world and
provide a pathway to the supreme architect and divine creator – their God. Astrology has
always been an important feature of alchemy because each planet symbolically governs a
variety of things in the universe, has its own qualities, vibration, and is connected with a
base metal.118 For example, the sun is masculine and represents the soul, which has a
conscious and subconscious purpose, and gold is its metal. The moon governs motions,
intuition, feelings, and femininity and it rules the metal silver. Mercury symbolizes the
spoken word and all forms of communications and rules mercury or quicksilver. In a
horoscope, Venus maps all of the social thought elements such as love, creative
expression, and material success and the base metal it rules is copper. The planet that
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denotes searching for meaning in life, ethical values, philosophy, and religion is Jupiter
and its base metal is tin. Saturn symbolizes order, form, and discipline and lead is
associated with the planet.119 Mars governs all things that relate to survival, combat, war,
conflict, and destruction and the base metal it rules is iron. The energy of Mars, which if
not controlled properly, can express itself in a very argumentative, aggressive, warlike,
combative quality. However, by the proper training and by the use of mental alchemy, a
person can learn to actually convert that to a positive use of their personality. They can
tone down their negative qualities by using meditation techniques. One technique you
could use if you wanted to apply mental alchemy for a discordant Mars would be to focus
and meditate on domestic thoughts, love, family, home, and hearth. This technique can
help to tone down the difficult and argumentative qualities of Mars in a birth chart. It is a
matter of using mental antidotes to make your personality more harmonious. Using
mental alchemy is an important tool because it can prepare one emotionally, spiritually,
physically, and mentally for the day. With enough training, one can gain control over
their emotional responses in any given situation that comes their way. A person can learn
to rise above the difficult situations in life. The true intent of alchemy was to raise the
person’s inner vibration, refine their souls, live in a harmonious manner with nature, and
merge their desires with God because Alchemists were driven by a passionate love for
God. Grace helped the alchemists persevere and cultivate their interior lives and each step
they took, provided them with an opportunity for enlightened insight that resulted in
spiritual transformation. The goal is to learn to live according to a higher power and
according to nature in a harmonious way. Alchemists used complicated scientific
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methods, such as astrology and a rudimentary form of chemistry, in a systematic way
while they were on the journey to the Heavenly Creator.” The entire time she spoke,
Gordon Harper paced back and forth in front of her.
The attorney was obviously frustrated and in a hostile mood. He silently wished
he’d never asked the last question to Evie. When Evie was finished speaking, she looked
away from the jury and looked directly at the defense attorney. His face was flushed. He
took a deep breath and exhaled, then rudely turned his back on Evie and walked quickly
to the defense table. He stood there for a few minutes and hastily shuffled through a stack
of papers. Finally, he grabbed a copy of Evie’s astrological workbook from the middle of
the pile. Then he turned around and walked towards Evie. “Now in your workbook,
Easing Into Horoscope Reading, you did astrological charts on famous people, right?”
Evie wondered where in the world he was going with his questions because so far,
they had nothing to do with the trial. She took a deep breath. “Yes,” she said calmly.
Mr. Harper opened the workbook and for a few seconds, he flipped through the
pages, then he stopped. “Muhammad Ali, for instance; is that correct?”
Evie was puzzled. She hesitated. “Yes,” she answered.
“Briefly, what can you tell us about Muhammad Ali from his birth chart?”
Evie was confused. “Are you asking me in regards to his personality?”
“Yes, does the chart tell you anything about Muhammad Ali?”
“Oh, yes, certainly,” she said.
Gordon Harper opened Evie’s workbook to the page that had Muhammad Ali’s
chart on it. Then he handed it to her. “Okay. Let’s talk about what it tells you,” he said
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smugly.
Evie briefly glanced to Patrick O’ Shay. He gave her a reassuring nod. Evie
quickly looked at the chart. Then she turned towards the jury and held the book open so
they could see the chart. “Muhammad Ali is a great athlete, Mars is close to his midheaven, which is at 10 degrees of Taurus, and Mars is at 3 degrees of Taurus, indicating
that as a profession he may do something and possibly become famous for his athletic
abilities. The sun is in the sign of Capricorn. This indicates that he is practical and down
to earth – very conscientious. The moon, Mercury, and Venus are in the sign of Aquarius.
This tells me that he is freedom loving and is a humanitarian. He is likely to donate some
of money to charities. At times, he is a rebel and he may seek out the unusual. There are
so many things I could tell you about his chart. He has Leo rising and this indicates the he
is a proud man. His chart indicates a very strong, bold-like stature – which he does have.
Of course, this is a person we all know from his history,” she said.
Gordon Harper’s lower eyelids were tense and straight. His face reddened.
“Without regard to newspaper information that you might get, just with regard to that
chart, not –,” he said in a temperamental and blustering tone.
Patrick O’ Shay practically jumped out of his seat. His face was flushed.
“Objection!” he said forcefully.
Gordon Harper raised his arm and squared his body so it was facing Judge Samuel
Archer. “No, I don’t think so, she qualified it in the end,” he said.
Judge Archer turned and looked directly down at Evie. “Were you – your
comments just moments ago about Mr. Ali, were they based on information that’s outside
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the charts? I mean from media publications?” he asked diplomatically.
Evie looked directly at Judge Archer. “Certainly… yes – if somebody gave me a
chart with no title or name, your Honor, I wouldn’t know if it’s a dog, the start of a
business, the birth of a child, a plane crash, or anything. I – it’s difficult to translate to
people who are not astrologers or students of astrology. It would be like – I mean, I could
give you a hundred and one explanations of a chart if I didn’t who or what it represents. I
need to know who and what this chart symbolizes to give a proper interpretation,” she
said with sincerity.
Judge Archer seemed to understand Evie’s explanation. He nodded to the defense
and he said, “All right. Go ahead.”
Gordon Harper looked satisfied with the ruling. “If Muhammad Ali were to come
to you and ask you if he should go to North Africa this summer and you had his chart,
would you utilize that chart in advising Muhammad Ali as to whether or not he should go
to North Africa this summer?” he asked.
“Yes. I would use his birth chart, his progressed chart, and the chart for the day
that he wanted to take his trip. I would use all three charts in one and from that I would
explain to him what the planetary configurations and aspects mean in those charts,” she
answered.
Mr. Harper’s eyes darkened. “Explain to me how that is not predicting the future,”
he said cleverly.
“What I do is similar to giving a weather report. I can tell if it’s going to be
stormy or sunny, and I might advise them, if they want to go on the trip, what the
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conditions of the trip may be., I would never advise a person to not take a trip or make a
business appointments or appear in court or any situation under any planetary condition.
On the other hand, I might tell them that if they do go, that they need to take certain
actions or precautions based on astrological principals. Now, mind you most people that
would come to me, already have a belief in astrology to some extent and they also believe
in working with the divine principals of God and nature so that things will be more
harmonious,” Evie said.
“You’re giving me a weather report. Is this a metaphor?” he said impetuously.
“Yes, I was giving you a metaphor. It’s similar to that, in that if I advise a client, I
tell them the positions of the planets in comparison to their own chart. I give them all of
the planetary aspects, and it is up to them to choose how they want to direct their life.
And the reason why is because we are believers that we are working in nature, and we
look for the harmonious conditions with what God has symbolized for us to see in those
charts. For example in the spring, we know from experience and living in nature that it is
the time to start planting our crops. We know that fall is the time for harvesting those
crops. But we also know that for the most part, winter would not be a good time to plant a
garden because the conditions of nature would not allow a garden to develop and grow.
We believe that a higher power – or rather I believe… I’m not going to speak for every
astrologer. I believe that everything – that some higher power created order – that the
universe was created intelligently and by design. Everything – and it’s documented in the
Bible – that the stars and the moon, that there are certain seasons to do certain things. For
myself and for many astrologers, the positions of the planets are somewhat like messages
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from our heavenly creator. From astrology, we know whether or not it’s a time for us to
do certain things because we are trying to live in a harmonious way with nature. If it is
not a harmonious time with nature itself, then we should step back and re-evaluate our
choices. For myself, astrology is a spiritual science.”
“This spiritual science that you have just described for us is the art that you have
utilized in examining these documents for the District Attorney, correct?”
“Yes,” she said.
Gordon Harper lifted his hand way up in the air. He was frustrated. He turned his
body away from Evie and looked down at his watch. After a momentary pause, he said,
“Your Honor, in view of the hour I would like to take our lunch recess at this time.”
Judge Samuel Archer nodded his head in agreement.
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Chapter 17
THE TEN OF SWORDS
After lunch May 5, 1999
After the lunch break, Judge Samuel Archer formally greeted the Court.
Immediately after, the defense attorney jumped up and rapidly began asking Evie
questions. “Do Tarot cards have anything at all to do with astrology?” he asked briskly.
Evie ignored his behavior. “Yes. Each Tarot card is symbolic of either a planet
and or a sign of the zodiac.”
“Did you rely upon the Tarot cards in this case in order to come to some sort of
the opinions which you have reached in this case?” he asked.
Evie had a sudden flash of intuition. “Yes. On the defendant’s horoscope page, he
had two Tarot cards listed next to the years 1997 and 1998. One was called the Typhon,
which is synonymous with the Devil card. The other card was the Blasted Tower. Now, I
knew from my training that the Blasted Tower is typically called, the Tower.”
Gordon Harper waved one of the defendant’s documents in his hand. He was
furious. He took several fast steps towards her. “I would like you to tell me what the
meaning of the Tarot cards are that are listed on the defendant’s horoscope page. The first
card is the Blasted Tower and the second one is Typhon.
Evie could feel her body quiver and shake. She regained self-control. “I looked at
several books on astrology and the Tarot. I found references that the Blasted Tower
symbolizes a tower or a castle being struck with lightning bolts. The flaming bolts hit the
top of the castle with such force that the top of the castle starts to crumble. The castle
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burns in a fiery rage. Two people fall headfirst out of one of the upper windows to their
deaths – or down into an abyss of total darkness and despair. A crown of nobility is also
sinking into the bottomless pit. The crown symbolizes money, wealth, material items.
Mars symbolizes the Blasted Tower. The power of Mars, ammunition, and a wicked brute
force completely destroys the castle and kills everyone inside.120 Typhon is another name
for the Devil card.121 However, Typhon is not just a run of the mill kind of devil – or in
any way like the Devil in Christianity. Typhon is a devil par excellence because he is also
a Black Magician. Typhon is truly an evil genius – this wicked diabolical creature –
stands triumphant on top of the ruins of the fallen temple. Typhon holds a torch of
destruction in his left hand. He is exuberant that his torch of destruction has completely
destroyed all traces of a temple. This monster has extremely selfish ambitions and he uses
severe cruelty. Typhon is simply not of this world. He is from a realm of darkness that is
completely unfathomable to nearly any one of us in this room.”122
There was a dead pale of silence in the courtroom.
A deep scarlet flush came over Gordon Harper’s cheeks. His knuckles were white
because his fists were clenched, tight. His distress caused him to gasp for words. He spun
around and put the document down on the defense table. He fumbled and he scrambled to
find his copy of the Muslim Bombing Document.
“So, Ms. Taylor is it your opinion that the defendant wrote the Muslim bombing
document before or after the bombings?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“What you said is consistent with that fact, correct?”
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“Yes.”
“And when you use the word consistent, what you mean is that you cannot
exclude the possibility that is was written before, correct?”
Evie was puzzled by the attorney’s question. “Excluded that it was written
before?” she asked.
Gordon Harper started talking in a faster pace. “Right. You can’t exclude that, can
you? That’s what you meant by consistent?”
Evie kept her rhythm steady and regular. “I can’t see where it could have been
written after the bombs.”
“And the reason you say that is that there are continual references to things that
will occur in the future, correct?”
“Correct, as well as the planetary positions – the position that the planets were in
at the time combined with the way the defendant used the English language.”
“They appear to be written; some of it appears to be written in the future tense; is
that correct? Is that what you meant before, astrologically and in English?”
“Yes.”
“Now, the information that is contained in these documents was available after
the bombings, correct?”
“As far as I know, yes.”
Gordon Harper tried to lay a trap for Evie. “So there’s nothing in the document
that makes it absolutely mandatory that the document was written before the bomb; is
that correct?” he asked with hostility.
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“Mandatory?” she asked.
“Yes, mandatory,” he asked in an exasperated tone.
Evie looked at him hard. “No, but am I suppose to ignore the theory that the
police have about the bombings? Am I to ignore that there was a bomb?” she asked.
“Let’s assume that the assumptions that were given to you by the District
Attorney don’t exist, okay? You don’t – you don’t have any knowledge about the bomb
at all; all right?” he asked in a grousing tone.
“The language and the astrology combined… to me, indicate that this is an
example of astrology which is used to plan something for the future,” she responded
tenaciously.
“Okay. Let’s assume for the moment that the defendant did not do the bombing,
okay? And assume for the moment that he knew he was a suspect in the bombing,
correct? Understand that?” he asked as if talking to a child.
“Right,” she said slowly.
Gordon started pacing back and forth. He was getting impatient. “Assumption…
assume also that he wanted to create a document which would demonstrate how he, as a
suspect, could have done these bombings, would he have created that document?” he
asked in a raised voice.
Evie started shaking her head side to side. She looked up at Judge Samuel Archer
and she said, “I don’t understand that at all. I just don’t.”
Judge Archer was looking down directly at Evie. Before the Judge could speak or
respond, Mr. Harper burst out-loud and he said, “Well, is it possible – is it possible for
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him? You don’t have to look at the judge!”
Judge Archer instantly jumped in. “Wait a minute, wait a minute. I didn’t think
she was finished with her answer, so I indicated to her,” he said in a powerful voice. He
looked down at Evie. “Were you finished with your answer?” he asked.
Evie didn’t break eye contact with Judge Archer. “I just don’t understand what
he’s asking. I don’t understand if we are talking make believe, I’m not sure,” she said
straightforwardly.
Mr. Harper began again. “Is it possible if the defendant wanted to create a
document which would explain how he, as a suspect, could have planned these bombs,
could he have done it, written it after the bombs were done?” he asked in a
condescending tone.
“I suppose,” she said conceding slightly.
“Strange as it seems?”
“Absolutely strange as it may seem!” she said with satire in her voice.
Gordon Harper moved uneasily from side to side. “Okay… So there is absolutely nothing
to preclude the defendant from retro-engineering astrologically his involvement in the
bombings?” he asked.
Evie refused to submit. “I don’t understand why someone would retroactively
explain and pretend that they did the bombings, and spend hours and hours of
calculations, and then not even put it down on paper exactly as it happened. But I
suppose, you know, anything on this Earth, I guess it could be possible, but I just don’t
understand why anybody would do that.”
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“You don’t understand the motivation behind doing something such as that; is that
what you’re saying?” he asked critically.
“Yes.”
“Okay. Exclusive of whatever weird motivation behind doing something such as
that; it’s possible to do it, correct?”
“I suppose it would be possible,” she said.
“In fact, astrologers oftentimes, in astrological terms, explain criminal events,
correct?” he asked stubbornly.
“Yes.”
Gordon Harper pointed his finger and shook his left hand at Evie. “In fact you
investigated the death of Princess Diana. You attempted to analyze the positions of the
planets in an astrological fashion maybe in order to explain some of the phenomena that
occurred; is that correct?”
“Correct.”
“So what you did, you put yourself in the position of the event, at the time, it was
occurring in order to explain the astrological phenomena that were occurring at the time
of the death, correct?” he asked methodically.
“Absolutely.”
“But you were putting yourself – you’re changing yourself in time into the present
time at the time of the death, correct?”
“Right.”
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Gordon Harper was ardently committed to win this fight. Therefore, he didn’t
consider how Evie would respond to his next question. “And so what an astrologer may
do, when an astrologer examines an event, that astrologer actually moves himself in time,
in a time other than after the event, in order to examine what is occurring at the time of
the event, correct?” he asked rashly.
Mr. Harper’s question provided Evie an opportunity to answer the question
without an interruption. “Right. We read news reports about the event. We try to be
precise… as much as humanly possible. We try to find the exact time and place where the
event took place. We try to get as many facts – as many details as we can… we try to be
as precise as possible. In the Muslim Bombing Document – the one we’re talking about
here – that was one of the things that puzzled me most. It led me to believe that the
document had been written prior to the bombings because the events were not reported
accurately in the document.”
“Well, you don’t know what event occurred in this bombing at all, do you?” he
asked in a hostile tone.
“I know what the police and the District Attorney have told me.”
“Okay. Where were you March 29th, 1998?”
“I was probably at home. It was a Sunday night. I’m usually at home on Sunday
night.”
Gordon Harper paused to collect his thoughts. “Let’s assume something further.
Let us assume that you’re going to analyze the events of a crime that happened in the
past, and let us assume that you know who the victims were. Let us assume further that
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you know the birthday, and because of that, you are able to create an astrological chart
for those victims. Let us assume further that you know who a suspect is in the case, and
you know that person’s birth date, and you are able to create an astrological chart. Could
you recreate an astrological examination of that person’s participation in the crime?”
“Yes.”
“Okay. So it is possible to do that?”
“Yes.”
“And you actually have done that with respect to a young lady who was
kidnapped, correct?” he asked callously.
“Yes… Kristen Smart.”
“Okay. Now, you have analyzed a lot of astrological documentation in this case,
correct?”
“Yes, I have.”
“And it appears – would it be a fair statement it appears that the person who wrote
all of this astrological data was the same person, appeared to be the same person?”
“Yes.”
“And that person has some expertise in the area?” he asked quickly.
Evie thought quietly for a few seconds. “Yes,” she said.
“And maybe would be considered an expert?”
Again, Evie hesitated for a moment. “I would consider the person that wrote these
documents to be at the very least, an intermediate astrologer,” she said.
“And maybe an expert, if there is such a thing?” he blurted out in a raised voice.
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Evie’s heart was throbbing in her chest. She turned and looked at the jury. Several
of the jurors had signs of empathy in their eyes. “I’m not sure if I would consider a
person who focuses on darkness an expert astrologer. There’s more to being an astrologer
than being able to set up a chart and perform mathematical calculations. An astrologer is
supposed to be someone who is loving and compassionate, someone who encourages
people, someone who tells the client what they can do, not what they can’t do; someone
who helps them to make decisions for vocational choices, and to help them develop
creative abilities. So… no – I do not think the person who wrote these documents is an
expert astrologer!” she said firmly. Her dark bluish green eyes looks like they could shoot
sparks at the attorney.
Mr. Gordon Harper rolled his eyes and waived his right arm. “Well, the reason – I
guess, if I could summarize your opinion, the person that did the documents was not an
expert because of the philosophy that appears to exist in the documents, that it is a dark
philosophy?” he asked sarcastically.
Tears welled up in Evie’s eyes. She looked down and nodded her head. “It is a
very, very dark philosophy,” she said.
“That is the reason that you believe this person may lack some astrological
expertise?” he asked forcefully.
Evie reached for a tissue and dabbed her eyes. She took a slow breath to calm
herself. “I think… an astrologer should not only be a proficient mathematician - they
should also be working on developing their own spirituality,” she answered carefully.
It appeared as if a dark cloud hovered over Gordon Harper. “But from a technical
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standpoint, this person knew what he was talking about, right?” he asked in a booming
voice.
“Yes.”
“Okay. And there was a lot of math involved in the calculations?”
“Yes.”
Gordon Harper’s eyes narrowed and he starred at Evie. “And the math appeared
to be correct?” he asked intensely.
“Yes, for the most part.”
“And whatever, expertise in math was evidenced in these documents; is that
correct?”
“Yes,” she said.
“Okay. Now you analyzed some other documents with regard to the defendant; is
that correct?”
“I’ve analyzed hundreds and hundreds of pages for the District Attorney,” she
said.
“And did you conclude at some time that the defendant was born again?” he
asked recklessly.
Evie felt as if a bolt of lightening struck her with enlightenment. She must use
mental alchemy, the vibration of the Blasted Tower, the Ten of Swords, and the
Gatekeeper’s own words to blast him to his own vestibule of hell. She realized that she
had to use the Ten of Swords. The only way to disarm a dark entity like the Gatekeeper
was with the swords – all ten of them. She would need to go slow, be decisive, and use
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deliberate blows. “The defendant wrote a document that said he was born again on April
7, 1997. It states in the document that he was born into the Aryan Nationality. I have
never heard of anyone saying they were born again then took on a new astrological birth
chart,” she answered boldly with her eyes flashing.
“And is there a possibility that the defendant was born again into a Christian
life?”
“I don’t think that any rational person would associate that with Christianity. On
the document where he states he was born again into the Aryan Nationality – to me, the
Aryan Nationality is equivalent with terrorists… white supremacists… Skinheads, that
sort of thing,” she said powerfully. “So…” she said.
Evie couldn’t finish responding to Gordon Harper’s question because he
interrupted her. He said, “Could it have…”
Suddenly Patrick O’ Shay passionately leaped up. He was ready to fight.
“Objection! He didn’t let her finish her answer.”
Judge Archer indicated that Evie should complete her statement.
The testimony whipped through the courtroom. “I would not consider a person
who says they are born again into the Aryan Nationality, to be on the same level – at all –
or in any way associated with Christianity!” she said power and authority.
Gordon Harper stepped quickly towards Evie with furious anger. “You interpret
that aside from Christianity?” he asked in a loud angry voice.
Evie was determined and unshakable despite Gordon Harper’s hostility. “I do,”
she said unyieldingly.
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Gordon Harper glared at her. He paced back and forth, silently. “Okay. Now, you
indicated that the defendant speaks of the Evil Star Baten Kaitos oftentimes. What do you
think that means?” he asked.
The jury sat frozen.
“I saw that his definition of the star was the shipwrecked. He was correct. The
defendant said to the police, in the depositions that the star symbolizes a sea monster. I
did the research and found that Baten Kaitos is a sea monster from the constellation
Cetus. Baten Kaitos is just one star in that constellation. It is symbolic of bombs,
assassinations, fires, violence… it symbolizes a lot of things but the important point is
that and it fits with the bombing analysis.”
“What are the other things besides bombs?” he asked.
“I would have to look in one of my books, if I could look?” she asked.
Gordon Harper nodded and he said, “Sure.”
Evie looked up at Judge Archer and she said, “I think the books are in chambers.
They were taken into evidence.”
Detective Jason Ares jumped up and he walked quickly into the Judge’s chambers
so he could get Evie’s binders. He walked back into the courtroom with the thick binders
full of her research and he handed them to her. Then he turned and walked back to his
seat behind the prosecution table.
Evie turned to the section she had labeled ‘Baten Kaitos’ then she looked up at
Gordon Harper and she asked, “Okay. Do you want me to read everything that’s on this
page?”
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Mr. Harper didn’t give her question one minutes thought. “Well, if it refreshes
your recollection, yes,” he said scornfully.
Evie turned her seat and faced the jury. She held the large three-ring binder with
all of her research on Baten Kaitos in both hands. “The Evil Star Baten Kaitos is one of
the central stars in the constellation Cetus. The mythology behind the star is the
personification of everything bad, such as hatred, envy, egotism. Cetus is always pictured
as something ugly. It is an evil lumbering monster that lives deep in the dark waters of
the ocean. In myths, Cetus has been pictured as a gigantic sea serpent, a great whale, a
dragon, and a large beast called Leviathan. Cetus represents fate. This mythical fish is the
Sea Monster of Discord and it is dangerous on account of his hypercritical and deceptive
behavior. It brings alternating losses and gains. It is important to remember that the
defendant wrote about the Evil Star Baten Kaitos being at twenty-one degrees of Aries
and in conjunction with Saturn, Mercury, and Mars on March 29, 1998 – the night of the
bombings. Obviously, Baten Kaitos was important to the defendant. Now, according to
my research, the repressed energy of Baten Kaitos causes unexpected catastrophes,
massacres, assassinations, attacks, fires, nuclear testing, explosions – violent explosions,
and bombings.”
Gordon Harper was infuriated and shocked. He tried to gain control over the
explosive situation. “Baten Kaitos is in the defendant’s astrological writings and
references a negative symbol; is that correct?” he asked.
Evie sat upright. “Yes, he is the one who called the star the Evil Star Baten
Kaitos. I don’t particularly call any star or any planet – evil,” she said bluntly.
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“Now, is it possible, from an astrological stand point, that the writer of this
document considered himself to be a target as well?”
Evie locked her eyes onto Gordon Harper’s eyes. “What bothered me was – on
one document, the defendant wrote, ‘Meenaa would be bludgeoned into oblivion by the
Evil Star Baten Kaitos.’ He also said, ‘Meenaa will knowingly make a Faustian Bargain,
a pact with the Devil.’ And that bothered me, because prior to that document, the
defendant calls himself her Gatekeeper. So… Mr. Harper, I don’t think that he was
thinking about himself. On another document, the defendant wrote, ‘Meenaa’s Prognosis
– Meenaa will see the Evil Star Baten Kaitos the weekend of March 29, 1998.’A number
of these documents have been so disturbing to me, and they have affected me in a variety
of negative ways.”
Mr. Harper appeared to completely loose control. He pointed and shook his finger
vehemently. “So you are emotionally involved in this case?” he asked.
Tears started to well-up in Evie’s eyes. Evie couldn’t see all of the jurors, but
many of them also had tears in their own eyes. She took a sip of water. “I am absolutely
burned out at this point, I am emotionally exhausted. I am very tired.”
Mr. Harper mumbled something inaudible to himself. “Aren’t we all,” he said.
Gordon Harper paused for a moment, looked down at the floor, then he took a few
steps towards Evie. “The emotional involvement that you feel with regard to this case, is
because of the description that you’ve given the jury and more; is that correct?”
Evie was extremely afraid. She researched and interpreted every one of the
Gatekeeper’s documents that the police had confiscated. She also knew that the jury
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would never know about most them. There was a dark cloud of negativity in the air. Evie
knew that the Gatekeeper was using very low-level black magic in the courtroom.
“There’s a lot more,” she said somberly.
“The negative comments that were made by the writer about Meenaa, do you
know when they were made?” he asked.
“I don’t know when some of the writings were made. Some of them had dates and
some of them didn’t. However, I could see from the documents that there was a great – a
great level of obsession towards Meenaa. His sexual obsession towards her became very
dark and showed allot of animosity after she informed the defendant that she was going
back to her husband,” she said. Evie looked directly at the jury during her testimony. She
was on autopilot. “On one particular document, the Gatekeeper said that Meenaa was a
whore for money. He called her a double black hissing cat and a lying bitch. This
document was written on the eclipse of October of 1996. This is the date was also on the
Muslim Bombing Document. The dates matched. So, it was very disturbing.”
“Those comments with respect to Meenaa was at or about the time of the lawsuit;
is that correct?”
“The document said, ‘I decided to sue Meenaa on the eclipse of October of 1996.
That same eclipse was also mentioned in the Muslim Bombing Document,” Evie said.
“In your binders, you have a page marked from a textbook, and you say it is the
crucifixion of Christ, and you have an eclipse sign. Does that also mean reborn?” he
asked.
“Christ was crucified and when Christians celebrate Easter, the Sun is always in
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the sign of Aries. The thing that struck me about the first bombing chart – the Muslim
Bombing Chart is that all of the angles were in a cardinal cross. In astrology, a cardinal
cross is the cross of crucifixion. I think is very disturbing because it goes along with the
fact that the Muslim holiday is called the Festival of Sacrifice. The pilgrims go to the city
of Mina and they throw pebbles at the Pillar of Satan on their way to Mecca. So, I believe
the Gatekeeper thought this was a sacrificial act. Christ was sacrificed on the cross and
Meenaa and her family would be sacrificed by a bomb.”
“When the defendant said he was born again into Aries, Aryan – he meant reborn
as a Christian; didn’t he? It has to do with Jesus Christ! Did it not?” he screamed.
“No! I don’t think this had anything to do with Jesus Christ or being a Christian.
Being born again into the Aryan Nationality has nothing at all to do with Christianity!”
she said.
Jason’s dark brown eyes penetrated Evie while she spoke. His body shook. He
was leaning slightly over in his seat. His elbows were on his knees and his fists were
clinched together tightly. He rocked back and forth and was thinking, “Evie, go, go, go,
go!” Aaron Loch’s jaw dropped and both his mouth and his eyes were wide open. He was
transfixed. Patrick O’ Shay did not flinch an inch! He thought to himself, “I better not
move or it might break her rhythm.”
Evie hardly stopped to take a breath. Here eyes turned to a brilliant green color.
“Being born again as an Aryan – in my opinion this is to become a Skinhead, a white
supremacist, a terrorist. The defendant said it! He said in his own words in the Muslim
Bombing Document, that this is ‘Terrorism in the Name of Justice!’”
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Defense Attorney Gordon Harper was stunned. “I have no more questions of this
witness!” he said quickly.
Judge Samuel Archer took a deep breath then looked down at Evie. “Thank you
Ms. Taylor. You’re excused,” he said compassionately.
E. J. Taylor’s testimony concluded at 2:47 p.m. on May 9, 2001. Evie used all of
Ten of the Swords, strategically. She alchemized the Ten of Swords into the Sword of
Truth and she brought the truth forward during the cross-examination. Question by
question, one sword at a time, she the heart-of-the-matter out into the open. The evidence
that she was able to reveal caused an explosion in the courtroom. Like the lightening
bolts on the Blasted Tower, the entire courtroom was suddenly thunderstruck by her
testimony with shattering results for the defense team.
Evie stood upright then stepped down off of the witness stand. She looked at the
twelve jurors. All of the jurors looked intently at her. They looked stunned. Some of the
women jurors had tears in their eyes. A couple of the men had their mouths wide open.
She nodded respectfully at the twelve jurors and walked past them, out of the courtroom,
and into the adjacent witness room. Detective Jason Ares stood up and followed her.
Jason was overwhelmed with emotion. He grabbed Evie, put his arms around her,
and for the first time since she was in his home, he slowly kissed her on the lips and then
she quickly pulled away. Jason tried to hold Evie’s hand after the kiss but she pulled it
away too. He looked down then he looked at her. He took a deep breath then he said,
“Evie, you are an extraordinary woman. I knew you could do it.”
Before Evie could respond to Jason’s comment Patrick O’ Shay and Aaron Loch
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burst through the door. “You literally blasted and knocked their teeth out! It was surreal!”
Pat said excitedly.
Aaron Loch said, “I can’t believe it! I was supposed to follow your testimony but
after that performance, I think I can go back to Phoenix. How’d you do it girl?”
“It certainly didn’t feel like my own power. I think it was divine intervention from
the Brotherhood of Light,” she said quietly.
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Chapter 18
THE CULMINATION
3:49 p.m. May 5, 1999
Evie said goodbye to Pat, Jason, and Aaron Loch then she walked alone to the
parking lot. She tossed her overnight bag in the back of her car and climbed into the
driver’s seat. For a few minutes, she sat silent with both hands on the steering wheel so
she could gather her thoughts and prepare for the journey home. Divine protection guided
Evie during her testimony. She prayed for protection, an enlightened mind, and control
over her emotions so she could speak the truth with calmness, bravery, and courage. Her
wise counsel answered her prayers. Now, she needed that same protection to be able to
drive down the freeway and back home. She started her car and slowly pulled out of the
lot.
While she drove she thought about the Gatekeeper. She wondered what would or
could cause a human being to loose their way and become so damned diabolical. In every
instance, the Gatekeeper chose to use the darkest interpretations of astrology, the Tarot,
Kabbalah, shamanism, Celtic, Golden Dawn, and Rosicrucian philosophies. The
Gatekeeper was eclectic in his magical studies. He truly thought he had reached the
master level of magic and alchemy even though he had never earnestly concentrated or
seriously developed an expertise in one area. He singled out only the dark side of the
various alchemical and magical philosophies so he would be successful at his criminal
activities. Evie felt this was the reason he was only able to reach the beginning – or
become an adept low-level black magician.
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It was nearly dark by the time Evie arrived at her house. Milo brushed against her
leg and greeted her with his familiar purr and meow. She picked him up and nuzzled his
fur with her nose. The cat comforted her some but not enough. Evie was absolutely
exhausted, mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. She expended so much
energy during her testimony that she felt as if her candles’ flame was about to burn out.
That night both Jason and Pat called her several times to check up on her.
The trial had taken a toll on Evie. For several days, she had trouble resting. She
thought she would relax after she was finished testifying, but she couldn’t because her
mind obsessed on what she said during the testimony. She cried off and on. She felt like
she was about to break down mentally and emotionally. She was deeply afraid. When she
was able to drift momentarily into an uneasy sleep, she dreamed about the trial. She had
lost her appetite for food and for companionship. She wondered how much more of it she
could take. She was so tired and on the verge of a complete mental and emotional
collapse. At one point, during a break in her testimony, she received word that a dear
friend had passed away from a massive heart attack. Even this devastating news could not
distract her. She had to put her own emotions on the back burner. She had to stay focused
until her testimony was over. Now that is was, she needed time to grieve. She needed
time to heal herself.
****
May 6, 1999
Evie stayed in bed all the next day. She was in real physical pain. The only person
Evie wanted to talk to was her spiritual advisor. Evie had met her spiritual advisor while
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she was attending Yale University. He was ordained as a Gnostic Priest and he followed
an apostolic esoteric tradition that was akin to the Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox
Churches. Unfortunately, her spiritual advisor lived nearly two thousand miles away but
she was grateful he called to check on her wellbeing. After they talked for awhile about
the trial, he suggested that they should offer a special healing ritual for everyone involved
in the trial.
“Evie, for the ritual to be successful, we need to include everyone,” he said
firmly.
“Are you saying we need to pray for Gordon Harper, the defense attorney and
even the Gatekeeper?” she asked in a worried voice. She squirmed a little and readjusted
the pillows that were propped behind her on the bed.
“Yes. Now, Evie… listen. Close your eyes and take calming breaths,” he said in a
deep soothing voice. Evie quieted herself. She got comfortable, closed her eyes, and
began to slowly breathed in and out.
“May these whose names we hold in our minds come to the realization that thou
art the Real Self, revealing the Truth and setting them free from all negativity. May they,
as of this hour, resign themselves utterly to the unfailing support of thee as their One
Reality. Instructed by thy Inner Voice, may they turn away from the limitations of the
outer senses, that they may be transformed into the New Image, through the unfailing
strength of thy Perfect Law. May they realize the everlasting and overshadowing
protection of thee, O Lord my God, thou who art the Almighty One. In the Name of God
and the Christ Within, we invoke ye, Archangels of the Universe! Spread your Wings of
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Healing o’er us, as we invoke your Holy Light, and intone your sacred Names... Raphael,
Gabriel, Michael, Uriel! Hail angels of the Healing Art! Come to our aid. Pour forth your
Healing Life into those seeking wholeness. Let every cell be charged anew with vital
force. To every nerve give peace. Let tortured sense be soothed. May the rising tide of
Life set every limb aglow, as by your Healing Power both body and soul are restored.
Leave with each an Angel Watcher, to comfort and protect, till health returns, to ward
away all ill and hasten the returning strength. May Mighty Michael help them to accept
the Sword of Truth; May the Healing Power of Holy Raphael heal their old emotional
wounds. May they find the strength to fulfill their life’s mission with the help of Holy
Gabriel; and be guided by Holy Uriel to the full appreciation of the love and beauty of
Creation. Hail, Angels of the Healing Art! Come to our aid and share with us the labors
of this earth that God may be set free in us and in all people. I think like a God, I speak
like a God, I act like a God: For I am thy offspring, O thou who art the Living God. This
my body is an expression and manifestation of thy Divine Idea. Every nerve, every
muscle, every cell, is now vibrant with Light, Life, and Energy; in perfect rhythm, in
perfect harmony, and in perfect co-ordination with thee, O Lord, my God, thou who art
the Whole. I am in thee, and thou art in me; thou Almighty One, Inmost, and most High,”
he said powerfully.
Evie was thankful for the guidance and the ritual. That night, she slept well. When
she woke up, she actually felt like getting up and moving. She slowly maneuvered herself
to the kitchen and made a fresh pot of Trader Joe’s French Roast. She enjoyed the strong,
rich flavor mixed with soy milk. She lit a vanilla candle and turned her stereo on to the
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light classical station because her spiritual advisor advised that while she was waiting for
the trial to culminate and for her own protection that she should keep music, incense, and
candles burning. She used white sage to clear her home from all negative vibrations.
****
May 6, 1999
Aaron Loch’s testimony was well underway. Since he was the explosives expert,
Pat thought he should be the last witness called on behalf of the prosecution. Evie
remembered Pat saying, “I want to end on a bang, so to speak!”
Aaron Loch told the jury that several days after the Falls City bombings, on April
3rd, 1998, he arrived from Atlanta, Georgia to the local scene so he could examine the
post-blast. His job was to determine what might have occurred as well as construct
accurate mock-up models based on the physical evidence.
Aaron meticulously described the types of components the Gatekeeper used to
construct the bombs. He explained how the Gatekeeper used combustible liquid
contained in a Coleman fuel can, parts from the Casio watch for the timing device,
copper pipes, the circuit board, and how the electrical current was configured with an
attached standard automobile spark plug. He explained how the netting held the huge
devices in place under the floor joists of the home.
All of the jury members were captivated as Aaron explained that by using the
Casio watch the timing could be set for any particular time period in the future. The
bomb was set for months in advance and was only the second of its type that Aaron had
ever heard of. He told the jury that there had been an attack several years prior against
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Margaret Thatcher, the British Prime Minister, at a hotel she was visiting. The
perpetrators had gone in, tore a wall down, planted the device inside the wall, and then
months later the device functioned. However similar, in this particular case, the signal
from the alarm, on the Casio watch, acted as a signal with low voltage, then gave a boost
and dumped power into the spark plug. The low voltage signal caused the spark plug to
heat up and finally to activate the electronic circuit board components that were
connected to the bombs.
Aaron turned and looked at the jury and said, “Smokeless powder – that anyone
could purchase at any local hardware store – was contained in the large four inch
diameter pipes. As each particle of the powder began to burn, heat was created, gasses
continued to build up, and this caused pressure until it reached the point of explosion.
The bombs were made with expensive plumbing pipe. The defendant attached a
combustible Coleman fuel can just to enhance the damage! These domestic pipe bombs
were the largest I have ever seen in my career. They became huge fireballs and the
temperature exceeded nine thousand degrees Fahrenheit!”
Based on the physical damage to the structure, his observations at the crime
scene, and his experience, Aaron told the jury that the hot razor sharp metal fragments
that came off of these destructive devices would have torn through bodies like propelling
bullets at a high velocity. “If anyone had been in the dining or family room area of the
home, the thermal effect of the extremely intense fireball would have without doubt,
caused death!” he said forcefully.
****
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May 17, 1999
Finally, on May 17th, Mr. Patrick O’ Shay rested the prosecution’s case and the
jury applauded. After forty-six full days of testimony and a mountain of evidence, Mr.
Gordon Harper, began presenting the jury with his defense. Anticipation grew in the
courtroom. Everyone involved waited to see if the Gatekeeper would take the stand and
espouse his wildly unsubstantiated conspiracy theories about fraud, corruption, and drug
trafficking in Falls City.
The Gatekeeper previously boasted in numerous letters to local news papers. He
said, “I will hammer the prosecution in real time… soon!”
May 18, 1999
The first witness the defense called was a bomb expert who previously testified
on behalf of Timothy McVey in the Oklahoma City bombings. His testimony was rather
dry and did not help to convince the jury that the Gatekeeper was innocent. After the
bomb expert finished speaking Gordon Harper had the Gatekeeper’s wife and his sister
testify. Both women blew kisses to the defendant after their testimonies. After a mere
eight hours to present their side of the case, the defense rested. The defense case did not
include one word of the sensational testimony, as promised, by the Gatekeeper.
****
May 24, 1999
Closing arguments began on May 24, 1999 at the Falls City Hall of Justice. This
was the 13th week of the trial. For the most part, the prosecution had only circumstantial
evidence to present to the court. However, Evie’s astrological testimony was crucial to
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the case because she was able to show that the defendant planned and followed through
with his plan to commit the bombings. The Gatekeeper’s own astrological notations
provided the direct link between him, his plan, and the bombings.
During the closing arguments, Mr. Patrick O’ Shay, urged the jury to remember
that the astrological documents were calculated precisely for the Muslim holiday of Zul
Haij, the Festival of Sacrifice. He reiterated that at the sighting of the moon’s sliver on
March 29, 1998, the family would have been home having a special meal and a large
family celebration. Patrick O’ Shay said, “The Gatekeeper’s astrological writings are
clearly a confession to premeditated murder. You've never seen a crime that is more
premeditated and calculated. Chances are as great of a meteor hitting the Earth that he did
not do this crime. He made a decision to do a mass murder and his intent was not to be
caught. I don't think you'll see a more dangerous individual. He goes way beyond the
normal criminal mind because he was trained in both forensics and the occult. He is evil
to the core. He is ruthless and relentless in the pursuit of who he determines are his
rightful victims. The defendant has an evil heart and he intended to kill a number of
people. Just by the grace of God, we didn't have a mass murder!”
Patrick O’ Shay stood firm on both legs. He squared his shoulders and looked
straight at each of the twelve jury members. “Ladies and Gentlemen I want to remind you
about the conversation between the Gatekeeper and the police shortly after the bombings
when he bragged to the police and he said, ‘I can do what Timothy McVeigh did and I
can get away with it, but I'll be able to brag about it later.’ The Gatekeeper is a criminal
mastermind like other nationally known bombers such as Timothy McVeigh, who
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bombed the federal building in Oklahoma City. McVeigh’s bomb killed 168 people! The
Gatekeeper is every bit as dangerous as the Unabomber Theodore Kaczynski – only the
Gatekeeper is smarter than either of the two other bombers. The evidence is just
overwhelming that the defendant was the bomber and he intended to kill. The terror stops
here! You will never see anything like this. Ever!” he said in a booming voice.
May 25, 1999
The jury started deliberations the last week of May. Evie Taylor felt that the
experience she had gone through would finally culminate once all of the testimony was
over. However, waiting for the Aaron Loch to finish with his testimony, the defense to
put their side on, the closing arguments, as well as the jury to start deliberations was
difficult emotionally for her. Evie tried to get her emotions balanced and under control by
practicing meditation techniques. Even so, she was having a difficult time practicing
patience. She had insomnia at night. At night, she had night sweats and she had wrestling
matches with her blankets. During the day, she battled against severe headache and back
pain.
On the second day of jury deliberations Pat called Evie three times. Around 4:30
p.m., Evie’s phone rang. She knew it was Pat because she recognized the number on the
caller I.D. “Hi Pat… what’s going on? Is there a verdict this soon?” she asked.
“Not yet but we just got word that the jury wants to review your testimony first
thing in the morning…” he said.
“Oh, Christ! I can’t imagine what for. What do you think the jury is thinking?”
“I don’t know… We’ll just have to wait and see what happens. Evie… please try
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to rest tonight. I’ll call you as soon as I know anything.”
“Okay. Have a good night yourself,” she said and then hung up the phone. She sat
silent. Obsessed. Worried.
May 27, 1999
The next morning the jury reviewed E. J. Taylor’s testimony and shortly before
noon on May 27, 1999, they announced they had a verdict. However, since the trial was
so highly publicized Judge Samuel Archer decided not to announce the verdict until the
following morning. He felt that both sides needed time to assemble people who were
involved in the trial. Mainly, he wanted to give the city officials time to get to the
courthouse and he knew there would be a barrage of news reporters who would report the
verdict. It was torture waiting to hear the verdict.
May 28, 1999
At 9:00 a.m. the courtroom was packed full of people and everyone was present in
their seats. Judge Samuel Archer entered and instructed the jury foreperson to read the
verdict.
“Guilty!” said the jury foreperson loudly. A feeling of triumph and relief swept
over the courtroom.
The Gatekeeper showed no emotion even though he was convicted of eleven
felony counts that included two counts of attempted murder. The prosecution had proved
that the Gatekeeper had used Electional Astrology as a means to commit the crimes.
Patrick O’ Shay was interviewed by the news media after the verdict. He said,
“The jurors felt the astrology documents and Ms. E. J. Taylor’s testimony were the
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critical evidence that helped them to convict.”
A local newspaper also interviewed several of the juror’s. One juror said, “The
Gatekeeper’s handwritten notes on how to stage a crime, when the best time was to set
off explosives, according to the planets’ alignment using astrological charts, and bombmaking books were the key. The Gatekeeper’s writings convicted him. We could all see it
was a plan for the future.”
Another juror said, “We realized this man was a very dangerous person. He spent
all of his time using astrology and other tactics to intimidate and scare people. The
astrological charts – as well as the defendant’s notes to himself about when a Muslim
holiday would end so as to harm the most people at a family gathering – seemed as
indicative of guilt as a direct confession.”
Patrick O’ Shay said, “This has been an emotionally draining experience for
myself, as well as the ATF, FBI, detectives, and the astrologer who pieced together the
evidence for the last 2 1/2 years. I knew that if I didn't keep going forward and pursuing
this, the defendant could very well have killed on a mass basis and it would be on our
conscience. There will never be a case again like this. I have never known of a criminal
who planned out his crime so deviously and in such a meticulous manner.”
Jason and Pat both called Evie immediately after the verdict was read. Pat said,
“Evie…we will be friends for life after this experience. We were limited by the cities
budget for this case and they could never have afforded to pay you what you have been
worth to this case. You could have been out there earning money and being paid for your
specialty, but you chose to work for us for free. You are amazing!”
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Jason said, “Evie… finding you was Divine Intervention and a miracle!”
****
From June through August, everyone waited and prayed for a stiff sentence. Evie
needed distractions to keep her mind off of the sentencing so she kept herself busy by
painting the exterior of her house during the cool summer mornings. In the afternoon, she
stayed in the air-conditioned house reading and working on her fall syllabi for the three
classes she would soon be teaching at the university. She had had limited contact with
both Patrick O’ Shay and Jason Ares over the summer. However, she was aware of the
date of sentencing and knew that all of the people involved, including herself, continued
to worry that the Gatekeeper’s motion for a new trial would be successful. By the end of
August, Evie Taylor was back in her normal fall routine at the university.
September 6, 1999
Finally, on September 6, 1999, the Gatekeeper was denied his motion for a new
trial. During the sentencing, the Gatekeeper stood up. He had venom in his eyes and both
of his fists were clenched tightly together at his sides. “No guilt! No remorse!” he
screamed with rage in his voice. Judge Samuel Archer sentenced the Gatekeeper to thirtyseven years in the California State Prison. The Judge told the fifty-eight year old
Gatekeeper he would not be eligible for parole until he’d served at least thirty-two and
one-half years.
After the formal sentencing was over, both Pat and Jason called Evie and left
messages on her phone. Evie didn’t return either of their calls because in many ways, the
trial was a journey into darkness and into the depths of evil. For Evie, it was somewhat
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like being caught in the throat of Satan. She wanted to forget and move on with her life.
Besides, she was busy with the beginning of the fall semester and she couldn’t afford to
be reminded of the trial or of Jason. Somehow, she was still wounded by the entire
experience. Except for a personal note from Jason letting Evie know that he had received
a promotion in the department, he’d never sent her a personal note other than an
occasional joke so Evie didn’t respond other then to send him a one time congratulatory
note.
****
December 15, 1999
By December 15, 1999, Christmas was quickly approaching and Evie’s class on
the infamous Doctor Faust was drawing to a close. Life was seemingly getting back to
normal for her. The fall semester had been a challenge. Although, the class had some of
the brightest students she had ever had.
It was shortly after 7:00 p.m. and it was cold and foggy outside. Evie was sitting
at her desk in her office at the university preparing the notes for her final lecture for the
Faust class. She had one small desk lamp on and the sound of Christmas carols were
softly playing in the background. Her last lecture of the semester would be on God,
Mephistopheles, Faust, and the human condition.
She wrote, “God asks why Mephistopheles is pessimistic about the human
condition and if there nothing at all worthwhile or redeemable in humanity.
Mephistopheles replies that he has feelings for the miserable condition of mankind which
makes him almost want to torment them less.123 God goes on to explain that Faust does
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serve him, but that he is simply in a confused state. God likens Faust to a gardener who
knows when a tree is in bloom and when it is time to harvest the fruit.124 The God in
Faust is omnipresent, omniscient, all-inclusive, beyond sense-apprehension, infinite, selfsufficient, formless and yet, can take on form. He is depicted as a transcendental creator
without dimension who is the essence of all things and who eternally unleashes a
dynamic and creative energy into the cosmos from the spiritual realm. Mephistopheles
asks God’s permission to gently lead Faust on the path.”125
Evie paused momentarily and thought quietly to herself, “How it is possible that
Mephistopheles can stand before God and ask permission to test Faust?” After a few
minutes, she began to write again. “God permits Mephistopheles to not only test Faust’s
virtue but also tempt him with both material and non-material things of the world because
God knows that Faust will not yield to Mephistopheles. Faust will continue to strive.
Striving is the golden key to Faust’s salvation. God lets Faust’s virtue be tested by
Mephistopheles because this will spur him into activity. God guides humanity through
divine wisdom and instruction. God says, “Man all grows lax and mellow, / And so I like
to pair him with a fellow To play the deuce, to stir, and to entice.”126 God has confidence
that Faust will not stop trying. God’s nature is that he is not only an initiator and author,
he is also omniscient and is the Almighty Architect. Faust and humans constantly strive
and this progressive movement forward and self-creative action is part of the
evolutionary and creative process. God is the prime mover and is responsible for all
movement. And, movement is symbolic of Faust’s striving. Therefore, all movement,
which includes a man’s continued striving, is perfect and virtuous. Any human being who
437
strives is trying to come into perfection through knowledge.” Evie put her pen down,
leaned back in her chair, and closed her eyes.
She was just starting to clear her head when she heard footsteps in the hallway. It
sounded like they were coming towards her office. She opened her eyes and looked
towards the door. Whoever was walking was definitely approaching her doorway. The
footsteps stopped momentarily then started again towards her open doorway. She could
see a human figure in shadow-form on the polished floor. Evie’s heart began to thump.
Her palms began to sweat some. Then, she saw that it was Jason.
His face was worn. Serious. Sad. He tightly clutched a thick manila folder in his
left hand. He stood completely still in the doorway. He starred at her for a moment too
long then he awkwardly said, “Hello Evie, it’s nice to see you again.”
“What are you doing here?” Evie promptly asked without taking her eyes off of
him.
Jason was silent for a moment. He took his eyes off of her and looked down at the
floor then he slowly walked towards her desk. He gently placed the manila folder on her
desk. The label on the folder read Police Evidence: Multiple Homicides – Unknown
Cause of Death (Occult Symbolism) Sacramento. Finally, he looked straight into Evie’s
deep greenish blue eyes and in a low calm serious voice, he said, “I need you…”
438
ENDNOTES
1
Philip Mason Palmer and Robert Pattison More, The Sources of the Faust
Tradition: From Simon Magus to Lessing (New York: Haskell House, 1965), 5.
2
Philip Mason Palmer and Robert Pattison More, The Sources of the Faust
Tradition: From Simon Magus to Lessing (New York: Haskell House, 1965), 3.
3
Philip Mason Palmer and Robert Pattison More, The Sources of the Faust
Tradition: From Simon Magus to Lessing (New York: Haskell House, 1965), 60, 76.
4
Philip Mason Palmer and Robert Pattison More, The Sources of the Faust
Tradition: From Simon Magus to Lessing (New York: Haskell House, 1965), 61.
5
Philip Mason Palmer and Robert Pattison More, The Sources of the Faust
Tradition: From Simon Magus to Lessing (New York: Haskell House, 1965), 64.
6
Philip Mason Palmer and Robert Pattison More, The Sources of the Faust
Tradition: From Simon Magus to Lessing (New York: Haskell House, 1965), 71.
7
Philip Mason Palmer and Robert Pattison More, The Sources of the Faust
Tradition: From Simon Magus to Lessing (New York: Haskell House, 1965), 72.
8
Philip Mason Palmer and Robert Pattison More, The Sources of the Faust
Tradition: From Simon Magus to Lessing (New York: Haskell House, 1965), 3.
9
Bram Stoker, Dracula (Mineola, NY: Dover Publications, Inc, 2000). This
Dover edition, first published in 2000, is an unabridged, unaltered republication of a
standard edition of the work originally published in 1897 by Constable & Co., London.
Bram Stoker, Dracula (Mineola, NY: Dover Publications, Inc, 2000).
Terry Brooks, The Writer’s Complete Fantasy Reference (Cincinnati: Writer's
Digest Books, 1998), 189.
10
11
12
Shakespeare, William, Hamlet, Act I., Scene V.
Suggested Reading: Giurescu, Constantin C. The Life and Deeds of Vlad the
Impaler. New York: Romanian Library, 1969., McNally, Raymond T., and Radu
Florescu. In Search of Dracula: The History of Dracula and Vampires Completely
Revised. 1972. Reprint. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1994., Stoicescu, Nicolae.
439
Vlad the Impaler. Translated by Cristina Krikorian. Bucharest: Romanian Academy,
1978., Florescu, Radu, and Raymond T. McNally. Dracula: A Biography of Vlad the
Impaler, 1431-1476. New York: Hawthorn Books, 1973., Giurescu, Constantin C. The
Life and Deeds of Vlad the Impaler. New York: Romanian Library, 1969.
13
Stephen King, Tommyknockers (New York: Penguin, 1988).
14
The origin of the name Meenaa is from Afghanistan. The meaning of the name
Meenaa is a cup of wine. Namesaz.com, “Namesaz,"
http://namesaz.com/celebrity_names/22877/name/name/null.
15
Note: the term wine-dark sea is from Homer’s Odyssey.
16
Shakespeare, The Tempest, lines 264 -318.
17
Christopher Marlowe, Doctor Faustus, ed. David Bevington and Eric
Rasmussen (New York: Manchester University Press, 1993), 187, 5.1 40.
18
Christopher Marlowe, Doctor Faustus, ed. David Bevington and Eric
Rasmussen (New York: Manchester University Press, 1993), 187-188, 5.1 45-47.
19
Christopher Marlowe, Doctor Faustus, ed. David Bevington and Eric
Rasmussen (New York: Manchester University Press, 1993), 5.1 55
20
Angus Fletcher, Doctor Faustus and the Lutheran Aesthetic (Malden, MA:
Blackwell Publishing Ltd, 2005), 188.
21
Bernard McGinn, Visions of the End: Apocalyptic Traditions in the Middle
Ages (New York: Columbia University Press, 1998), xiv.
22
Bernard McGinn, Visions of the End: Apocalyptic Traditions in the Middle
Ages (New York: Columbia University Press, 1998), 35.
23
24
William Shakespeare, Troilus and Cressida, Act I, Scene III.
Sally ports are used to control entry into highly protected and restricted military
areas, i.e. nuclear weapons storage areas, highly sensitive (and large) conventional
weapons storage areas, i.e. small arms, munitions, etc.
440
25
Marjorie Gelus, "Faust: Pact with the Devil," speech delivered to LIBA 235
Class, April 3, 2007, California State University Sacramento, Sacramento, CA.
26
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Faust (New York: W. W. Norton & Company,
2001), II., V., 12110.
27
Otto Heller, Faust and Faustus: A Study of Goethe's Relation to Marlowe (New
York: Cooper Square Publishers, Inc, 1972), 26.
28
Otto Heller, Faust and Faustus: A Study of Goethe's Relation to Marlowe,
(New York: Cooper Square Publishers, Inc, 1972). 26.
29
Christopher Marlowe, Doctor Faustus, ed. David Bevington and Eric
Rasmussen (New York: Manchester University Press, 1993), 107, prologue 19.
Candace Gregory, “The Gothic,” speech delivered to Liberal Arts Graduate
Class, September 5, 2006, California State University Sacramento, Sacramento, CA.
30
31
Bradley P. Nystrom and David P. Nystrom, The History of Christianity
(Boston: McGraw Hill, 2004), 103.
32
Christopher Marlowe, Doctor Faustus and Other Plays, ed. David Bevington
and Eric Rasmussen (New York: Oxford University Press, 1995), 141, 1.1.45-48.
33
Jeffrey Burton Russell, Witchcraft in the Middle Ages (Ithaca: Cornell
University Press, 1972), 2.
34
Christopher Marlowe, Doctor Faustus and Other Plays, ed. David Bevington
and Eric Rasmussen (New York: Oxford University Press, 1995), 151, 2.1.1-5.
Candace Gregory, “The Crusades,” lecture delivered to History 123 Class,
April 23, 2007, California State University Sacramento, Sacramento, CA.
35
Candace Gregory, “The Crusades,” lecture delivered to History 123 Class,
April 23, 2007, California State University Sacramento, Sacramento, CA.
36
Candace Gregory, “The Gothic,” speech delivered to Liberal Arts Graduate
Class, September 5, 2006, California State University Sacramento, Sacramento, CA.
37
441
38
Patrick Collinson, The Reformation: A History (New York: Modern Library an
imprint of Random House, 2006), 58.
39
Christopher Marlowe, Doctor Faustus and Other Plays, ed. David Bevington
and Eric Rasmussen (New York: Oxford University Press, 1995), 157, 2.3 12.
40
Christopher Marlowe, Doctor Faustus, ed. David Bevington and Eric
Rasmussen (New York: Manchester University Press, 1993), 29.
41
Christopher Marlowe, Doctor Faustus and Other Plays, ed. David Bevington
and Eric Rasmussen (New York: Oxford University Press, 1995), xiv-xv.
42
Angus Fletcher, Doctor Faustus and the Lutheran Aesthetic (Malden, MA:
Blackwell Publishing Ltd, 2005),189.
43
Christopher Marlowe, Doctor Faustus and Other Plays, ed. David Bevington
and Eric Rasmussen (New York: Oxford University Press, 1995), 159, 2.3 75.
44
Christopher Marlowe, Doctor Faustus and Other Plays, ed. David Bevington
and Eric Rasmussen (New York: Oxford University Press, 1995), 2.3 81-82.
45
Christopher Marlowe, Doctor Faustus and Other Plays, ed. David Bevington
and Eric Rasmussen (New York: Oxford University Press, 1995), 2.3 84.
46
Christopher Marlowe, Doctor Faustus and Other Plays, ed. David Bevington
and Eric Rasmussen (New York: Oxford University Press, 1995), 159, 2.3 94-97.
47
Christopher Marlowe, Doctor Faustus, ed. David Bevington and Eric
Rasmussen (New York: Manchester University Press, 1993), 187, 5.1 36-39.
48
Christopher Marlowe, Doctor Faustus, ed. David Bevington and Eric
Rasmussen (New York: Manchester University Press, 1993), 187, 5.1 36-39.
49
Manly P. Hall, The Secret Teachings of All Ages (Los Angeles: The
Philosophical Research Society, Inc, 1988).
50
51
Robert Graves, The Greek Myths: I (London: Penguin, 1960), 134.
The Tarot Expert Software, Inc., A. G. Muller, CH-8212 Experimental Tarot,
Games Systems, Inc, 1995.
442
52
Robert Graves and Raphael Patai, Hebrew Myths: The Book of Genesis (New
York: Doubleday, 1964), 65-69.
53
Robert Macoy, A Dictionary of Freemasonry (New York: Gramercy Books;
Random House, 2000).
54
James R. Lewis, The Astrology Encyclopedia (Washington, D. C.: Visible Ink
Press, 1994), 381. As cited in The Astrology Encyclopedia, Mundane Astrology is from
the Latin word mundus, which means world. This type of astrology is one of the oldest
and most comprehensive categories of astrology. Astrologers drew the charts for the fate
of nations, for wars, for future economic conditions, for political events, for national
leaders and for government officials.
55
Barbara H. Watters, Horary Astrology and the Judgment of Events
(Washington, D. C.: Valhalla Paperbacks, Ltd, 1973), 203-207.
56
William Page Andrews, Goethe's Key to Faust: A Scientific Basis for Religion
and Morality and for a Solution of the Enigma of Evil (Port Washington, NY: Kennikat
Press, Inc, 1913), vii.
57
William Page Andrews, Goethe's Key to Faust: A Scientific Basis for Religion
and Morality and for a Solution of the Enigma of Evil (Port Washington, NY: Kennikat
Press, Inc, 1913), vii.
Patrick J. Sherry, “Sayings and Showings: Art, Literature and Religious
Understanding,” Modern Theology: Religious Studies Department at Lancaster
University (January 2002).
58
59
William L. Reese, Dictionary of Philosophy and Religion (Amherst, NY:
Humanity Books: an imprint of Prometheus Books, 1996), 266.
60
Otto Heller, Faust and Faustus: A Study of Goethe's Relation to Marlowe (New
York: Cooper Square Publishers, Inc, 1972), 36.
61
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Faust (New York: W. W. Norton & Company,
2001), 247-250.
62
More, Thomas, Utopia, trans. Paul Turner (London: Penguin, 2003), xii.
443
63
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Faust (New York: W. W. Norton & Company,
2001), 265.
64
Paul Foster Case, The True and Invisible Rosicrucian Order (York Beach, ME:
Samuel Weiser, Inc, 1992), 87-88.
65
Virgil, Aeneid, 9. 625; Iuppiter omnipotens, audacibus adnue cœptis
66
Thomas Smith Webb, The Freemason's Monitor or Illustrations of Masonry
(Salem, MA: Cushing & Appleton, 1818), 69.
67
Israel and Cris Monnastre Regardie, Llewellyn Weschcke, Carl, The Golden
Dawn: A Complete Course in Practical Ceremonial Magic (St. Paul: Llewellyn
Worldwide, 1989), 659.
68
Leviticus 6:6
69
The legend of La Llorona, Spanish for the Weeping Woman, has been a part of
Hispanic culture in the Southwest since the days of the conquistadores.
70
Heinrich Kramer and James Sprenger, Malleus Maleficarum, trans. Montague
Summers (Kessinger Publishing, 1948), v.
71
Heinrich Kramer and James Sprenger, Malleus Maleficarum, trans. Montague
Summers (Kessinger Publishing, 1948), v-vi.
72
Heinrich Kramer and James Sprenger, Malleus Maleficarum, trans. Montague
Summers (Kessinger Publishing, 1948), 9-41.
73
Reinhold Elbertin and Georg Hoffman, Fixed Stars and Their Interpretation
(Tempe, AZ: American Federation of Astrologers, 1971).
74
Vivian E. Robson, The Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology (York
Beach, ME: Samuel Weiser, 1984).
75
Vivian E. Robson, The Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology (York
Beach, ME: Samuel Weiser, 1984).
76
Vivian E. Robson, The Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology (York
Beach, ME: Samuel Weiser, 1984).
444
77
Bernadette Brady, Brady's Book of Fixed Stars (York Beach, ME: Samuel
Weiser, Inc, 1998).
78
Vivian E. Robson, The Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology (York
Beach, ME: Samuel Weiser, 1984).
79
Vivian E. Robson, The Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology (York
Beach, ME: Samuel Weiser, 1984).
80
SAW filter stands for surface acoustic wave. They are electromechanical
devices commonly used in radio frequency applications.
81
A 32kHz oscillator is often used to generate a system clock or auxiliary sleep
clock in low-power instruments and microcontrollers.
82
Querent denotes one who queries or one who inquires.
83
James R. Lewis, The Astrology Encyclopedia (Washington, D. C.: Visible Ink
Press, 1994), 446.
84
Barbara Watters, Horary Astrology and the Judgment of Events (Washington,
D. C.: Valhalla Paperbacks Ltd, 1973), 65.
85
June G. Bletzer, The Encyclopedic Psychic Dictionary (Lithia Springs, GA:
New Leaf Distributing Co, 1998), 113-114.
86
Vivian E. Robson, The Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology (York
Beach, ME: Samuel Weiser, 1984).
87
Vivian E. Robson, The Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology (York
Beach, ME: Samuel Weiser, 1984).
88
Vivian E. Robson, The Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology (York
Beach, ME: Samuel Weiser, 1984).
89
Vivian E. Robson, The Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology (York
Beach, ME: Samuel Weiser, 1984).
90
Vivian E. Robson, The Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology (York
Beach, ME: Samuel Weiser, 1984).
445
91
Vivian E. Robson, The Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology (York
Beach, ME: Samuel Weiser, 1984).
92
James R. Lewis, The Astrology Encyclopedia (Washington, D. C.: Visible Ink
Press, 1994), 399.
93
June G. Bletzer, The Encyclopedic Psychic Dictionary (Lithia Springs, GA:
New Leaf Distributing Co, 1998), 558.
94
June G. Bletzer, The Encyclopedic Psychic Dictionary (Lithia Springs, GA:
New Leaf Distributing Co, 1998), 168.
95
Peter Berresford Ellis, The Druids (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans
Publishing Co, 1995), 249.
96
Llewellyn George, The New A to Z Horoscope Maker and Delineator, ed.
Marylee Bytheriver (St. Paul: Llewellyn Publications, 1996), 72.
97
Barbara Watters, Horary Astrology and the Judgment of Events (Washington,
D. C.: Valhalla Paperbacks, Ltd, 1973), 95-96.
98
Doris Doane, Modern Horary Astrology (Tempe, AZ: American Federation of
Astrologers, 1994), 7.
99
Doris Doane, Modern Horary Astrology (Tempe, AZ: American Federation of
Astrologers, 1994), 30.
100
Barbara Watters, Horary Astrology and the Judgment of Events (Washington,
D. C.: Valhalla Paperbacks, Ltd, 1973), 65.
101
Barbara Watters, Horary Astrology and the Judgment of Events (Washington,
D. C.: Valhalla Paperbacks, Ltd, 1973), 61.
102
Barbara H. Watters, Horary Astrology and the Judgment of Events
(Washington, D. C.: Valhalla Paperbacks, Ltd, 1973), 185.
103
Bernadette Brady, Brady's Book of Fixed Stars (York Beach, ME: Samuel
Weiser, Inc, 1998), 48-49, 74, 352.
104
E. J. Holmyard, Alchemy (New York: Dover Publications, 1990), 19.
446
105
Thomas Norton, Ordinal of Alchemy, ed. John Reidy (London: Oxford
University Press, 1975), liii.
106
E. J. Holmyard, Alchemy (New York: Dover Publications, 1990), 19.
107
The term mundane and vulgar are to be understood as being common, crude,
secular, practical, and matters of this world in addition to a personal desire for
advancement and attainment of worldly goods.
108
Thomas Norton, Ordinal of Alchemy, ed. John Reidy (London: Oxford
University Press, 1975), lxii.
109
E. J. Holmyard, Alchemy (New York: Dover Publications, 1990), 15-16.
110
The Cloud of Unknowing and Other Works, trans. Clifton Wolters (New York:
Penguin Books, 1980), 138.
111
E. J. Holmyard, Alchemy (New York: Dover Publications, 1990), 16.
112
E. J. Holmyard, Alchemy (New York: Dover Publications, 1990), 16.
113
Thomas Norton, Ordinal of Alchemy, ed. John Reidy (London: Oxford
University Press, 1975), lxviii.
114
E. J. Holmyard, Alchemy (New York: Dover Publications, 1990), 156.
115
Thomas Norton, Ordinal of Alchemy, ed. John Reidy (London: Oxford
University Press, 1975). It should be noted that in an older edition of Norton’s Ordinal of
Alchemy, titled The Ordinall of Alchimy published in London by Edward Arnold & Co,
on pg. 122-3 Thomas Norton gives very lengthy astrological requirements for the proper
timing for alchemists to follow, but these will not be analyzed in this paper due to their
complicated nature. What is important for this paper is the fact that Norton says,
“Astrologie is a profound science: The depth of this Art lyes obcur’d in, is not to be
reach’t by every vulgar Plumet that attempts to found it.”
116
Thomas Norton, Ordinal of Alchemy, ed. John Reidy (London: Oxford
University Press, 1975), 91.
117
Marie-Louise Von Franz, Alchemy: An Introduction to the Symbolism and the
Psychology (Toronto: Inner City Books, 1980), 45.
447
118
E. J. Holmyard, Alchemy (New York: Dover Publications, 1990), 21.
119
E. J. Holmyard, Alchemy (New York: Dover Publications, 1990), 21.
120
Doris Chase Doane, Secret Symbolism of the Tarot (Tempe, AZ: American
Federation of Astrologers, 1993), 61.
121
Doris Chase Doane, Secret Symbolism of the Tarot (Tempe, AZ: American
Federation of Astrologers, 1993), 61.
122
Doris Chase Doane, Secret Symbolism of the Tarot (Tempe,
AZ: American Federation of Astrologers, 1993), 57.
123
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Faust (New York: W. W. Norton & Company,
2001), 10, 293-298.
124
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Faust (New York: W. W. Norton & Company,
2001), 10, prologue 308-311.
125
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Faust (New York: W. W. Norton & Company,
2001), 10.
126
2001), 11.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Faust (New York: W. W. Norton & Company,
448
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