Dwelling mentally on the objects of sense leads to attachment to them. From attachment arises desire and from desire, anger. From anger springs forth lack of discrimination which leads to loss of memory. From loss of memory ensues the destruction of intelligence, and the destruction of intelligence results in decay. (Bhagavad-Gita II: 62-63)
Stephen Craig Paddock was an American mass murderer who committed the 2017 Las Vegas Strip shooting which began at ~10:05 PM on October 1, 2017 when “He fired modified semi-automatic weapons from his room on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel into a crowd of approximately 22,000 concertgoers at a country music festival. He later died at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The incident surpassed the 2016 Orlando nightclub shooting as the deadliest mass shooting by a lone gunman in U.S. history, with 58 fatalities (excluding Paddock) and 489 injuries.” (Wikipedia)
The birth data for Stephen Paddock is rated AA (Accurate/Accurate/from birth certificate) and can be found on Astro.com:
I am a Neo-Vedic astrologer and my astrological analysis is based on the sidereal zodiac, Lahiri Ayanamsha. In this article, I focus on Paddock’s birth chart and transit and progression triggers. I have not focused my analysis on the event chart but will say at least that the fixed star alignments in this event chart reveal a tragic and evil event.
These are the charts for the shooting incident:
And these are the charts for Stephen Paddock’s birth horoscope:
After studying multiple reports along with the horoscope for the event and Paddock’s astrological chart, I am inclined to believe that he had all the necessary potential to perform such an odious act, that he acted alone, and was motivated simply by the warped desire to express his evil nature. What do I mean by “his evil nature”? Psychiatrist M. Scott Peck wrote extensively on his theories of evil in People of the Lie, in which he defined evil as a “force of personal will totally lacking in compassion or spiritual perspective.” For my purposes in this article, “evil” is further defined as any immoral, destructive, and injurious action by an individual, a group of individuals, or a force of nature that causes turmoil and harm to others. It is malevolent and inhumane behavior marked by aggression; and involves taking advantage of others for one’s own benefit.
Scientists have created theories about the development of certain traits of evil/amoral or “antisocial” behavior in individuals, traditionally known as “sociopath/sociopathic” or “psychopath/psychopathic.” In the DSM 5/Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, “Antisocial Personality Disorder” (APD) is defined as a character disorder among individuals who habitually and pervasively disregard or violate the rights and considerations of others without remorse, as in “evil.” In astrology, the significations for “evil” and for severe mental illness, especially as in pathological personality disorders, are most often one and the same.
Research has shown that psychopaths (APD) are indifferent to the threat of physical pain, and show no indications of fear when threatened, which may explain their apparent disregard for the consequences of their actions, and their lack of empathy for the suffering of others. Clearly Stephen Paddock fits into this category based on his actions on October 1, 2017. Not only that, but he was known to be a cold and calculating risk taker throughout his life, which is common among those with APD. His father was a diagnosed psychopath, and it is understood that the temperamental traits that lead to this personality disorder are mostly genetic.
Paddock’s natal horoscope has many 29-degree planets or points, including 1) his ascendant/lagna (body-intelligence-soul incarnation) at 29 Gemini; 2) his Moon (feeling mind, ability to connect with others) at 29 Capricorn; 3) Mercury (intellect) at 29 degrees Aquarius; 4) and Neptune (psychic receptivity and our deepest emotions) at 29 Virgo. Adding further insult, his Moon is in a 6/8 inconjunct (quincunx/shasta-ashtakam) with the lagna, indicating chronic emotional disharmony in need of constant adjustment.
The 29th degree is often called the “death degree,” and is sometimes associated with “death lust.” In Vedic astrology, planets and points at the 29th degree are often thought to be extremely weak, and when there are so many of these, confusion reigns through a repeating theme of incoherent expression and a confused sense of self and purpose. Through hundreds of interviews by those who knew him, Paddock has been portrayed as aloof and disconnected, all of which fits into the scenario of multiple 29-degree placements.
The 29th degree is anaretic (destroying form) and thus is associated with a sense of always having or being “too little, too late,” or “being at the end of one’s rope,” thus indicating great frustrations in the life. Three 29-degree planets as well as the lagna could indicate someone “living on the edge,” with a tendency to over-compensate to the point of perpetual crisis. The 29th degree is also called “fated,” meaning that one with so many of these degrees may play out an unusual destiny. The 29th degree is often connected to “blindness,” which can refer to a literal problem with eyesight, or a lack of clear vision leading to recklessness.
Jupiter, planet of wisdom, righteousness, and justice, is at the zero degree of Taurus, weakly placed in the twelfth house and debilitated in its navamsa, thus acting wholly debilitated (weak). Planets at the zero degree of even signs (like Capricorn) are called mrita avastha according to Vedic astrology, meaning “dead” and not capable of giving anything unless they are propitiated to the point where the associated issues can be brought to light and healed. Thus, the capacity for Jupiter’s grace was sorely lacking within Paddock’s character. In addition, those with zero degree planets and points are often found to act impetuous or immature, which is why we often see them in the astrological charts of hardened criminals. With all his sandhi placements (29-degree and the 0-degree), Paddock had paradoxical qualities and lived between worlds somehow.
In my data base of astrological charts, I found two other criminals born on Paddock’s birth day of April 9. The first seems very synchronous, in that it is the late Eric Harris, one of the diabolical shooters in the infamous Columbine High School Massacre (April 9, 1981). Mental health researchers have concluded that Eric had a disturbed personality with prominent antisocial, narcissistic, and sadistic traits. He also had a god-complex as he once said, “I would love to be the ultimate judge and say if a person lives or dies — be godlike.”
In an interview with an executive casino host in Las Vegas, Paddock was also described as having a “god-complex” which is another term for being an “anti-social narcissist.” We often see narcissism in charts of those with prominent Bharani nakshatra (ruled by Mars/Aries and Venus/Bharani); similarly, conjunctions of Mars and Venus when afflicted will often reflect narcissistic traits. Harris’s horoscope reveals the latter, whereas Paddock’s chart reveals both. The event chart for the shooting also has the Mars-Venus conjunction (in the sidereal sign of Leo).
Further, Harris’ and Paddock’s charts each have the lunar nodes in Cancer-Capricorn (inverted between the two horoscopes), which in either form can point to an inferiority complex. Also both have Sun in Pisces opposite Saturn. One with the Sun in Pisces must learn to develop a firm sense of identity, but Saturn’s aspect reveals roadblocks to this process, meaning there is little possibility of finding a healthy sense of self. The end result points to problems with authority.
The Sun falls in Revati nakshatra on April 9. Here, the Sun indicates a person who can be extremely sensitive with a strong tendency to overcompensate for personal insecurities. With the Sun afflicted, as with Paddock’s chart, the father would be emotionally or physically absent or abusive, setting up trust issues and a tendency to feel alienated and to have many secrets. The secrets usually come out in the end, just as Pisces and Revati are at the end of the zodiac. It is also important to note that for April 9 birthdays, the Sun in its navamsa falls in Purva Bhadrapada nakshatra, which if afflicted can be associated with immoral or criminal actions and quite a few “skeletons in the cupboard.”
The second case study I have is less well known but equally malevolent. Her name is Valerie Solanas (April 9, 1936). She called herself a radical “feminist” (I use that term lightly for her). She was diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic and is perhaps best known for writing the SCUM Manifesto and attempting to murder Andy Warhol. The French poet Charles Baudelaire who was also severely mentally ill was born on April 9 (1821). I am not saying everyone born on April 9 is mentally ill or criminal, but these examples provide some curious synchronicities.
Just as another interesting “coincidence,” recently deceased Playboy founder Hugh Hefner was also born on April 9 (1926). He died three days before Paddock’s Las Vegas bloodbath occurred. This synchronicity pointed me to the fact that the Sun (April 9/same Sun placement) in both charts (Hefner and Paddock) must have been triggered for death around the end of September and early October; and it was, by exact aspects with Saturn (death) and both lunar nodes (Rahu trine, and Ketu sextile, indicating fated events). In regard to Paddock, these aspects involving the trine from transiting Rahu (north node) to transiting Saturn and to Paddock’s Sun reflect the mass catastrophe that he created.
Paddock’s ascendant (rising sign or lagna) is at 29+ degrees of sidereal Gemini conjoined the fixed star Pollux, the wicked twin brother of Castor. This “evil twin” archetype repeats itself as the chart ruler Mercury falls in the nakshatra of Purva Bhadrapada, which is known as the “two-faced man,” a Jekyll-Hyde dual persona who lives both a public and a secret life, which is exactly what has been discovered about Paddock. Pollux is Mars-like (forceful), and its lower expression can be “blind, tyrannical and brutal” (Ebertin). Paddock has been described in multiple interviews as having many interpersonal conflicts and an aggressive personality. Further, his brother named him “the king of micro-aggressions.”
Paddock consorted with prostitutes, and it is actually believed that he spent the last few days of his life with an escort. In a recent interview with one of Paddock’s prostitutes, he was characterized as having a dark and violent nature which included persistent rape fantasies. He bragged that he was “born bad,” which his brother also echoed after the massacre when he said that Stephen Paddock’s mother called him a “bad boy.” One of Paddock’s prostitutes also described him as having an obsessive, paranoid personality with a passion for conspiracy theories.
Purva Bhadrapada nakshatra (where Paddock’s chart lord Mercury resides, and his Sun’s navamsa resides too) is ruled by a diabolical being called Aja Ekapada. In its lowest expression, this is the paramount nakshatra of “evil” as well as dark conspiracies and bizarre conspiracy theories. How appropriate that Paddock’s legacy will be defined by the multitude of conspiracy theories about him and his final motives. This fits perfectly well, in that Mercury in Purva Bhadrapada nakshatra occupies the ninth house of the horoscope, which is the section that relates to posthumous fame.
We may never really know the truth about the reason behind his rampage, but I wonder if the motive was simply to leave everyone else “holding the bag,” wondering what happened, which seems very much in tune with someone of such a sadistic nature. Author, pod-caster, and Master Persuader Scott Adams recently conjectured that the motive might simply have been to show us his evil side, to finally let it all out. Perhaps Paddock’s recent Valium prescription helped reduce his inhibitions so he could “free” his dark side.
Pollux associated with the ascendant (as in this case) suggests one with a brilliant intellect, but a cruel and quarrelsome nature (Dr. Eric Morse). This fits with what has been reported about Paddock after hundreds of interviews, including one with his brother that described him as a highly intelligent and successful person who could and did accomplish anything that he wanted. He was described by another interviewee as someone who was a perfectionist who methodically studied other people with a cold and calculating eye. Clearly, he had the capacity and wherewithal to carefully mastermind and execute mayhem with maximum carnage, especially since he was such a high roller at Mandalay Bay…a totally unsuspecting figure, no doubt.
Several indications of mental illness (including psychopathy/anti-social personality disorder) exist in Paddock’s chart. We would want to see at least three of these in the birth chart of someone who would commit such evil actions, and the points in question should carry other afflictions too, as they do in this case: Moon square Mars; Mars square the lunar nodes; Mars conjoined Venus; Mars opposite Saturn; Saturn opposite Sun (indicating Paddock’s irreverence to authority); and Mars square Pluto (the latter being a combination for the Jekyll-Hyde complex).
The classic combination for megalomania also exists, which is Saturn conjunct Neptune. This is not always the case (not all with this combination have megalomania, and not all with megalomania have this conjunction). However, here it is suggested, given the full Mars aspect to Saturn and Neptune, and the fact that Saturn and Neptune are in the nakshatra of Mars known as Chitra, which sometimes paint a glorified (but false) picture of the life of the native.
Saturn is exalted and vargottama but weak in bala avastha (infant state at the early part of the odd sign of Libra) which means it only has one-fourth of its necessary strength. This was apparently enough strength for a successful real estate career (Saturn is in the fourth house of real estate in the equal bhava chart). He was also a gambler which makes sense as Saturn is conjoined Neptune; and Saturn rules the eighth and ninth houses (indicating gambling success). I have heard rumors about his possibly being involved in money laundering. This could also be true given what I see here.
Saturn in the fourth house of the equal bhava chart, and under malefic influence (aspect from Rahu and Sun), forms Kapata Yoga, a combination for a pretender, and someone who is highly capable of living a secret life and committing atrocities, a perfect description for Paddock. Saturn in the Chandra lagna (Moon) chart forms Sasa Yoga which can also sometimes be indicative of a cold-hearted person.
Neptune and Saturn form a Yod or Finger of Fate (or Finger of God) with Jupiter and Mercury, an aspect formation involving a sextile between Jupiter and Mercury, while both are in a quincunx (6/8) with Neptune/Saturn. Based on what I have already described above, and based on the nature of a Yod which points to fated circumstances, I see a strong destiny and purpose tied up with some deeply warped fixed delusions (Neptune). This Yod would have also made him feel out of control at times, yet also enjoying a sense of danger, as in “living on the edge” which is repeated in all his sandhi (29 or 0 degree) placements in the chart. This seems a volatile situation given that it occurs in a horoscope having such a dominant mutable sign signature, which can point to a highly creative, restless, and high-strung constitution.
Nearly all serial killers and mass murderers have an afflicted but strong Mars as in this case. Mars here is a temporal malefic (ruler of houses six and eleven) and a natural malefic, and thus his nature is harsh, acute, and violent. Mars being opposite Saturn and Neptune can be a signature for a confused and violent nature. Mars is in his own sign of Aries in Ruchaka Yoga (warrior combination/giving a militaristic outlook) in the fourth house from the Moon (Chandra lagna chart).
Mars falls in Bharani nakshatra which is ruled by Yama, the god of death. The most extremist of all the nakshatras, Bharani’s lower expression can be cruel, fierce, restless, arrogant, vain, impatient, and narcissistic. Yama also gives Bharani natives a strong capacity to endure a lot of suffering and carry a heavy weight in life. Mars additionally afflicts fifth lord Venus by an in-sign conjunction (fifth lord is ruler of the mind/wisdom; and Venus in Aries with Bharani Mars can be quite fanatical). Mars is combust the Sun (which can be angry). We often see Aries afflictions like this in the charts of mentally ill or sociopathic/narcissistic/sadistic criminals indicating perhaps some pathological problem in the brain and mind.
Both Jupiter and Mercury also represent the brain and mind, and both are weak and afflicted in various ways including being on the edges of their respective signs. Mercury again is in Purva Bhadrapada nakshatra, whose lower expression can be connected to some kind of malevolent quality or activity. A great number of gruesome murders including mass genocides have been committed by those with prominent and afflicted Purva Bhadrapada nakshatra, since this nakshatra relates to the “persecutor and the persecuted” (Prash Trivedi).
Neptune is sandhi (29th degree) and in a full aspect (opposition) with the Sun, which is often found in the charts of those with personality disorders and other kinds of mental illness. This aspect can signify confusion about the self, a victim complex, and/or mental imbalance related to entity possession. Neptune is additionally in a square (tension aspect) to the ascendant, which we would expect to see in the chart of a chameleon and a passive narcissistic observer with a spineless mentality, one who is/was out of touch with reality and very oddly disconnected, as it appears Paddock was. Neptune is in an exact inconjunct (6/8 quincunx) with Mercury, a classic combination for a delusional individual and/or a con-artist.
Paddock’s sandhi (29-degree) Moon is in the nakshatra of Mars in the malefic eighth house and conjoined north node Rahu while opposing Pluto, all of which reflects the shooter’s standoffish, alienated, and caustic nature. Jataka Tatva says that the Moon conjoined Rahu and aspected by Jupiter indicates a “heinous sinner” (here the Moon is aspected by Jupiter through a rashi aspect). Ketu and Pluto conjoined in Cancer, with Pluto in the poisonous Ashlesha nakshatra and in the second house, points to his cursed genetic and familial heritage. His father was diagnosed as a psychopath and had been on the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted list, all of which clearly impacted Paddock. There are also questions about his mother too, based on the Moon and fourth house afflictions, and also because, quite frankly, she chose to bear four children with a psychopath husband.
Pluto in Ashlesha nakshatra in its lower manifestation is unstable, elusive, crafty, manipulative, and vitriolic. Paddock was known to be verbally abusive to his girlfriend, and was often blatantly demanding and rude to others in public, according to multiple reports given by those who knew him. This line-up points to a severely mentally and emotionally imbalanced criminal mind, deceptive, and loaded with blind ambition.
Paddock had no peace, living atop a powder keg of rage and hatred. He himself told someone recently that his life was miserable. This Moon-Pluto-nodal alignment was directly triggered during the August 7, 2017 lunar eclipse, and this resonated for a few months before and after the eclipse, as well. On the night of his rampage, it was again triggered by his monthly lunar return, with the Moon returning to its natal place.
A few other triggers include:
1. Using the 359-day year calculation, he was in the Vimshottari dasha (cycle) of Mercury-Mars-Rahu. This suggests Paddock in a state of mental suffering and feeling a heightened sense of conflict with “others.” All the issues I have mentioned about his Mercury, Mars and Rahu-Moon-Pluto are triggered in this cycle.
2. In addition, transit Rahu exactly triggered his natal Pluto by conjunction, while Ketu was triggering his natal Moon by conjunction in the eighth house, while transit /return Moon opposed his natal Pluto too, releasing some kind of massive emotional block, as in, “it all blew up.”
3. Uranus in transit ignited his fifth lord Venus (which rules the mind). Venus is also the twelfth lord (karmic events). Uranus transiting back and forth across his natal Venus since the summer 2016 would make him unstable, delusional, and agitated, but also meant that he was fantasizing about and seeking some great demonstration of power and a release.
4. Secondary Progressed Saturn was conjoined his secondary progressed Neptune triggering natal Saturn-Neptune and the aforementioned Yod. This would suggest that he had been feeling hopeless and nihilistic but that once he made his decision to slaughter innocent people, he felt wide awake and believed he was finally seeing clearly.
5. Secondary Progressed Mercury and Moon were in close conjunction with natal Uranus in the first house. This would indicate a belief, albeit distorted one, that there was a greater plan he had to carry out.
6. Transit Pluto stationed direct on September 28, 2017. The station of Pluto is in effect for about ten days so it was still in effect on October 1, making it very strong. It stationed transiting opposite Paddock’s Uranus in the first house, showing his carnage and own death through this shocking event.
I know that many people cannot or will not accept that such an evil capacity exists in one human being, and for whatever other reasons, they choose to believe any of the madcap conspiracy theories about this event, including that Paddock was affiliated with someone else, or that he was a “patsy.” However, I do believe he acted alone and for his own sick personal motives.
The ruler of the eleventh house (Mars) would indicate affiliated groups like ISIS or the CIA or any other number of organizations named in conspiracy theories as his co-conspirators. Paddock is represented by Mercury (ruler of the Gemini ascendant), yet Mars (eleventh lord/affiliates) has no significant aspect of cooperation or collusion with Mercury/Paddock (nothing connecting him to a group). So this makes me feel that he acted alone. He was known to be an outsider, with no known political or ideological affiliation. His horoscope screams “lone wolf,” and reveals that he was more a “perpetrator” than victim.
However, there is a rare aspect between Mercury and Mars which are ~52 degrees apart. This is called a septile (not the same as sextile) which is a 51-degree aspect in Western Astrology, relating to the seventh harmonic and other-worldliness, alienation, and secrecy. The septile refers to a powerful compulsion that must be acted upon. Astrologer Dane Rudhyar wrote that that “the septile could indicate the anti-social predisposition of a native who rather tends to escape from the collective constraints, as if he/she were motivated by an occult power or a certain predestination, which could lead him/her to sacrifice and symbolical life”.
Remember, in the 359-day year calculation of Vimshottari dasha, Paddock was in the Mercury-Mars dasha, so this triggered the septile dynamic between Mars and Mercury. Mars as eleventh house ruler would also relate to his dreams and goals, and the septile with Mercury reflects his distorted sense of a unique destiny that could only unfold and free his soul through one final breakthrough solution. In the end, his name says it all: Paddock, which means a corral or enclosure for taming wild or unruly animals. In this case, for whatever sick reasons, the unruly one broke out of his paddock and laid waste to many innocent lives in this inconceivable tragedy.