Interesting.
I find that your supportive view of Edith Hathaway not currently tenable for me. However, I do respect her intellect and knowledge of history as well as her recognition that the planets are affecting events. I do not as yet concur with her wisdom about the interpretation of the outcome of these events and their significance in light of spiritual expansion and those responsible for it.
Even though we appear to disagree on the outcome and the undercurrent origins of said events that correlate with the placement of many exterior planets together.... we still seem to agree on the manifestation of such signs from the sky and their impact on worldly trends and destiny.
In Brihat Samhita by Sage Varahamihira (which is compendium on mundane astrology) in volume one chapter 47, under the notes culled out from various Shastras, it is said that when Jupiter and Saturn both come together and transit in a single zodiac sign, then there will be pestilence, cholera, and deaths, among the people may occur. In this explanation, it has given occurrence of deaths, which can mean deaths on account of various events as mentioned above. The Indian Shastras don’t take into account the planets like Uranus Neptune and Pluto. However it’s affects per tropical Astrology have a great importance in mundane astrology the planet Pluto for example is the cause of deaths on a mass scale and is the main cause of major earthquakes too.