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Dec. 2010/Jan. 2011 * The Mountain Astrologer �

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� full colorThe Mountain Astrologer’s “Editor’s Choice”Get 43 previously out-of-print articles

from TMA in the 1990s, now available on CD!

NEW

Included in the collection:Lynn Bell .......................A Conversation with Alex RupertiRuth Clydesdale ........... Marsilio Ficino’s Holistic AstrologyJoseph Crane ............... Ptolemy and Rudhyar RevisitedSandy Cruz...................Gardening in Tune with the MoonDonna Cunningham...... Working with Teenagers’ Charts “ “ Counseling the Client in Crisis “ “ Your Reactions to Clients “ “ Communication and Client NeedsAdrian Ross Duncan..... Astrology: The Ultimate ToolBronwyn Elko................ The Astrology of Free WillDennis Flaherty ............ Grahas: Planets in Vedic AstrologyJodie Forrest................. Odin as MercuryDana Gerhardt.............. Big Zucchini Mind “ “ Looking Deeply at the MoonRay Grasse ..................Symbolism and SynchronicityJoAnn Hampar.............. Planning Events Using Electional AstrologyRobert Hand ................. Whole Sign Houses, Parts 1 & 2Geraldine Hannon ........ ReVisioning the Sun and MoonRobin Heath..................Preliterate Sources of AstrologyBill Herbst .....................Astrology and Psychotherapy “ “ Saturn and the Four Birth MomentsDanick Jawer ................ Recovering the MoonLinda Johnsen .............. Introduction to the Vedic ChartBrad Kochunas............. Living an Astrological LifeJoe Landwehr............... Domain of the ShadowGretchen Lawlor ........... Improving Parent/Child RelationsMichael McLay.............. Jungian Approach to AstrologyJeanne Mozier .............. Star-Navigating the Midlife CrisisJessica Murray ............. Asteroid GoddessesPierz Newton-John ....... Astrology as if the Earth Mattered Ellen Perchonock.......... Composite Charts/Relationship CounselingMary Plumb ..................Geoffrey Cornelius on Divination (Interview)David Pond................... The Astrology of CreativityJane Ridder-Patrick ...... The Astrological ConsultationBruce Scofield .............. How to Read a Chart (4-part series)Tem Tarriktar................. Using Minor ProgressionsMichael Thurman.......... Astrology and the New PhysicsChristopher Warnock.... Planetary Days and HoursAnne Whitaker .............. The Saturn Cycles

All articles include all chart wheels and illustrations that originally appeared. Each article is in searchable pdf format, easily read by either a PC or Mac. Allow 2–3 weeks for delivery.This CD collection is not for sale in stores or through our usual overseas distributors, and is not downloadable online.

How to Order:

Call:(800) 287-4828(530) 477-8839Office hours are 9–4 Pacific Time

Mail:TMAPO Box 970Cedar Ridge, CA 95924(You can use the order form at the center of this issue; just indicate you want the CD.)

Online:www.mountainastrologer.com(Use our back issue order form and type in “I want the CD” instead of back issue numbers.)

Introductory prices through Dec. 31, 2010:

$19 for current TMA subscribers

$26 for non-subscribers

postpaid to US/Canada (all other countries, add $2 for extra postage)


�from the Publisher* TMA Announcements

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NEW! The Mountain Astrologer's “Editor’s Choice” CD: Get 43 previously out-of-print TMA articles from the 1990s all on one CD. All articles are in searchable pdf format. See a list of the articles included and ordering information on page 4.

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Looking for an astrologer? The advertise-ments in this issue of TMA are a good place to find one! In particular, the Professional Directory on pages 90–91 features the ads from profes-sional astrologers from various disciplines.

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The Mountain Astrologer’s “Editor’s Choice”Get 43 previously out-of-print articles

from TMA in the 1990s, now available on CD!

NEW

Included in the collection:Lynn Bell .......................A Conversation with Alex RupertiRuth Clydesdale ........... Marsilio Ficino’s Holistic AstrologyJoseph Crane ............... Ptolemy and Rudhyar RevisitedSandy Cruz...................Gardening in Tune with the MoonDonna Cunningham...... Working with Teenagers’ Charts “ “ Counseling the Client in Crisis “ “ Your Reactions to Clients “ “ Communication and Client NeedsAdrian Ross Duncan..... Astrology: The Ultimate ToolBronwyn Elko................ The Astrology of Free WillDennis Flaherty ............ Grahas: Planets in Vedic AstrologyJodie Forrest................. Odin as MercuryDana Gerhardt.............. Big Zucchini Mind “ “ Looking Deeply at the MoonRay Grasse ..................Symbolism and SynchronicityJoAnn Hampar.............. Planning Events Using Electional AstrologyRobert Hand ................. Whole Sign Houses, Parts 1 & 2Geraldine Hannon ........ ReVisioning the Sun and MoonRobin Heath..................Preliterate Sources of AstrologyBill Herbst .....................Astrology and Psychotherapy “ “ Saturn and the Four Birth MomentsDanick Jawer ................ Recovering the MoonLinda Johnsen .............. Introduction to the Vedic ChartBrad Kochunas............. Living an Astrological LifeJoe Landwehr............... Domain of the ShadowGretchen Lawlor ........... Improving Parent/Child RelationsMichael McLay.............. Jungian Approach to AstrologyJeanne Mozier .............. Star-Navigating the Midlife CrisisJessica Murray ............. Asteroid GoddessesPierz Newton-John ....... Astrology as if the Earth Mattered Ellen Perchonock.......... Composite Charts/Relationship CounselingMary Plumb ..................Geoffrey Cornelius on Divination (Interview)David Pond................... The Astrology of CreativityJane Ridder-Patrick ...... The Astrological ConsultationBruce Scofield .............. How to Read a Chart (4-part series)Tem Tarriktar................. Using Minor ProgressionsMichael Thurman.......... Astrology and the New PhysicsChristopher Warnock.... Planetary Days and HoursAnne Whitaker .............. The Saturn Cycles

All articles include all chart wheels and illustrations that originally appeared. Each article is in searchable pdf format, easily read by either a PC or Mac. Allow 2–3 weeks for delivery.This CD collection is not for sale in stores or through our usual overseas distributors, and is not downloadable online.

How to Order:

Call:(800) 287-4828(530) 477-8839Office hours are 9–4 Pacific Time

Mail:TMAPO Box 970Cedar Ridge, CA 95924(You can use the order form at the center of this issue; just indicate you want the CD.)

Online:www.mountainastrologer.com(Use our back issue order form and type in “I want the CD” instead of back issue numbers.)

Introductory prices through Dec. 31, 2010:

$19 for current TMA subscribers

$26 for non-subscribers

postpaid to US/Canada (all other countries, add $2 for extra postage)

Dear Readers: What a year it has been, astrologically and otherwise! Most people I have talked to — or heard news about — have experienced significant life changes over the last eight months. That outer-planet cardinal t-square challenged each of us in different ways, pushing us far beyond our comfort zone. Along with relationships ending, health crises, and financial loss came stories of spiritual illumina-tion, emotional healing, and new careers launched. I was surprised that it wasn’t worse on the collective (world news) level — although don’t say that to any-one in Russia (killer heat wave), Pakistan (historical flooding), or the U.S. Gulf states (oil spill). Now Saturn has moved out of the configuration, which will lighten things up a bit for most of us. But we are left with the long Uranus–Pluto square that will be the most persistent aspect through mid-decade. TMA will feature articles in the upcoming year on that alignment, as well as Neptune’s extended stay in Pisces, starting in April. In this issue, though, we wanted to map the terrain that lies just in front of us — 2011. We asked regular TMA columnist Stephanie Austin to take an in-depth look at 2011, and she delivered! This issue also includes articles that will be particularly useful to the practicing astrologer. Finally, some of you have been asking us to provide an option to receive TMA in a digital form that you can download to your computer or read online. We’ve been researching this, and now it looks like we will be able to provide such an option. Our goal is to offer you a choice of: (1) paper only, (2) digital only, or (3) paper plus digital. We will continue printing TMA on paper for the foreseeable future, but we should have news on how to get digital TMA just after the first of the year, so check our Web site, www.mountainastrologer.com, in early January for more information. We hope you enjoy this 23rd-anniversary issue of TMA, and we wish you a happy, healthy, and peaceful holiday season!


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Feature Articles

2011 Astrological Outlookby Stephanie Austin

With all the hype about 2012, the year 2011 may seem like only a run-up to the main event. But this comprehensive list of astrological themes and tips — including a table of critical degrees and transits — gives this pivotal year its due!

The 2010 AAR Astrology Con-ference in Craiova, Romaniaby David Osborn

An American astrologer attends an astrology conference in Romania and reports on some of the presentations. The subjects range from Brad Pitt to the year 2012. Learn a little bit about a fascinating Eastern European country!

An Interview with Judith Hillby Tony Howard

This lifelong astrologer and her interviewer touch on a variety of topics: her astrological research, medical astrology, the concept of free will, and growing up in the Haight (in San Francisco) during the turbulent ‘60s.

The Astrology of Sectby Chris Brennan

Sect is an ancient technique that evaluates the planets depending on whether the native was born during the day or at night. Using this gives new depth and meaning to the terms “malefic” and “benefic.”

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Issue #154 • Dec. 2010/Jan. 2011

52 One After Anotherby Kennet Gillman

Knowing the qualitative differences between daytime and nighttime births is a great first step in chart rectification and general understanding. Then, you can use the sequence of natal planets coming to the Ascendant to further refine your analysis.

Exploring the Meaning of the Dwarf Planet, Erisby Heather Ensworth

… Or is it really Xena? Before this controversial body was named Eris, her discoverer called her Xena, after TV’s warrior princess. That name may resonate better with this planet’s energy, as seen in the charts of several “peaceful warriors.”

Before the Client Arrivesby Linea Van Horn

Let’s say you’re not a seasoned astrologer. You’re still feeling your way through your astrological readings, and you wish somebody would give you a road map for how to prepare for an appointment. Well, you’ve come to the right place!

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The Twelve Teas of Christmasby Kelly Surtees

Stay healthy and happy through the frantic holiday period by drinking these herbal teas attuned to your Sun, Moon, and rising signs!

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NOTE: The opinions and philosophies expressed by the writers published in The Mountain Astrologer are not nec-essarily a reflection of the opinions and philosophies of the Publisher or the staff. Diversity is welcomed in the spirit of catalyzing discussion. TMA’s role is to be a resource and to provide a forum for the global astrological community. In addition, readers should exercise good judgment when purchasing a product or service advertised in these pages, as we do not investigate each product or service.

© 2010 The Mountain Astrologer - all rights reservedManufactured and printed in the United States

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The Mountain Astrologer (ISSN 1079-1345) (Dec. 2010/Jan. 2011, Vol. 24, No. 1) is published 6 times per year (bi-monthly) by The Mountain Astrologer, 436 Colfax Ave., Grass Valley, CA 95945-6840. PERIODICALS postage paid at Grass Valley, California and additional mailing offices. Subscriptions are $39.00 for 6 issues in the United States. If you want The Mountain Astrologer delivered via first-class mail, add $12 for extra postage. Postmaster: send address changes to The Mountain Astrologer, P.O. Box 970, Cedar Ridge, CA 95924-0970.

Volume 24, No. 1

THE

MOUNTAINASTROLOGER

STUDENT SECTION

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10 Horoscope Detective: Natal Retrograde Planetsby Frank C. Clifford

Engaging the Scorpio Hydraby Dana Gerhardt

Aspect Analysis: Mining the Minor Aspectsby Donna Cunningham

Sky Watch: December 2010 & January 2011by Julene Packer-Louis

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8 Letters to the Editor

81 Book Reviews by Mary Plumb

87 Astrology Newsby Gloria Star

88 ClassifiedAds

89 SoftStar News by Hank Friedman

90 TMA Professional Directory

108 Cartoonsby Jasper Benjamin and Tim Brown

92 Dec/Jan Declination Graph and Solstice A*C*G Map

93 Where’s That Moon?

94 Dec/Jan Forecast Calendarby Jeff Jawer

103 New and Full Moon Reports • Sagittarius New Moon • Gemini Lunar Eclipse • Capricorn Solar Eclipse • Cancer Full Moon by Stephanie Austin

TMA DepartmentsForecast Section

Article Particles74 The Responsibility of Wisdom by Ryan M. Evans

75 The First Hour by Dian Bustillo

76 Reflections on My Solar Returns by Edwin Stuart

For information on the cover artist, see page 9.


�Letters

to theEditor

In TMA’s “Letters to the Editor” section, we do not print the street address or phone number of contributors unless the writer requests us to do so. If you wish to have other readers contact you, please specify the information that should be printed with your letter. We do not print anony-mous letters. Letters may be edited for content or shortened to meet space restrictions, subject to the discretion of TMA’s editorial staff.

Spotlight on the Fed

Dear TMA: I cannot thank you enough for printing the article, “Funny Money and the Fed,” by Kathy Allan, in your Oct./Nov. 2010 issue. This was the first time I have ever encountered The Mountain Astrologer. While I was waiting in line at my local health food store, the magazine caught my eye, due to my recent inter-est in the world of astrology. Flipping through the pages, I was surprised and ecstatic to see an article written about the Federal Reserve. As someone who has been researching and advocating against the destructive policies of the U.S. government and the Federal Reserve, I have been extremely frus-trated by the lack of public knowledge regarding the true cause of our eco-nomic troubles. I am a deeply spiritual person, and being an Aquarius, I have always felt a strong urge to fight the injustices in the world. Discovering this article definitely gave me an even greater respect for the field of astrology. I now plan on becoming a dedicated reader!

— Perryn DutigerRockland County, New York

On Using Midpoints

Dear TMA: I would like to commend Manda Selva for her excellent article on Mid-points (TMA, Oct./Nov. 2010). I have often heard references to midpoints in

astrology, but I have been leery and skeptical of using them. Manda Selva’s article was a thor-ough and lucid introduction to the sub-ject, and it helped me to clearly see the justification for using this approach. The schematic diagram representing the forces of the planets as a bowstring was very helpful. After reading this article, I went through some of the charts I have been studying and looked at the importance of Sun/Moon midpoints in these charts. In one situation, the client’s chart had Asc = Sun/Moon, and this was quite fitting, since he was very comfortable being in the limelight. However, it appears to me that aspects with mid-points should have an orb of within 3 degrees; otherwise, the effect is not seen. I am hoping to read more articles from this author in future issues of TMA.

— Cartwright JeffersonLodi, California

Intervention in Childbirth

Dear TMA: Corrie Cooperman’s point (see “Letters,” Oct./Nov. 2010, p. 8) that all interventions in childbirth, including pain medication, affect the birth time is well taken. The birth time may indeed be delayed by such interventions, but since they are done once labor has already started, they do not interfere with the onset of labor itself. Choosing a time at which to induce labor is fun-damentally different, because it robs the baby of its role in initiating the process that is triggered when, karmically speak-ing, he or she is “ready” to be born.

— Judith AntonelliBrookline, Massachusetts

Clockwise Houses

Dear TMA: I would like to make a contribution to TMA’s “Chart Challenge” (Oct./Nov. 2010). Some of my results are similar to the ones which have already been pre-sented to “Joan,” but here is another approach. Jacques Dorsan, a French astrol-oger, pointed out that while the Sun, Moon, and planets progress through

the zodiac, week to week, in a counter-clockwise direction from west to east, they progress through the houses in 24 hours in a clockwise fashion from east to west. So, why are the houses counted in the same direction as the zodiac signs? Surely, when the Sun rises in the morn-ing, the world of nature comes to life and human beings awaken from their sleep-consciousness into their ego- consciousness. It does not make sense that the 12th house of secrecy and con-finement (hospitals, prisons, research laboratories) should be above the hori-zon in the light of day; rather, it would be better placed at the end of the dark-ness of night. Most people go to work about two hours after sunrise, not four hours before sunrise, so it would also make more sense that the 2nd house is above rather than below the horizon. Mercury, the ruler of Joan’s Mid-heaven and Ascendant, is not in the 4th house but in the clockwise 9th house. When someone takes a long journey over land or sea, we can watch them dis-appear over the horizon — hence, the 9th house of long-distance travel should be below the horizon. Short trips are visible if there are no obstacles in the way, so the 3rd house should be above the horizon. We exercise our lower mind in practical pursuits in the open (3rd house), but our higher mind in philo-sophical and spiritual pursuits in the privacy of the 9th house (below the horizon). With both the Sun and Mer-cury in the clockwise 9th house, Joan should consider work which has world-wide ramifications. Dorsan notes that Mercury so placed is adept at learning foreign languages. Backed by the Gau-quelins’ research, he considers the house governing a profession to be clockwise from the Midheaven, i.e., the clockwise 4th house. The house counterclockwise from the Midheaven (the clockwise 3rd house) gives an indication of a person’s vocational ambitions, in addition to the above. Uranus in the clockwise 3rd house gives an inquisitive mind and inventive talents in the realms of communications, writing, psychology, and counseling. As the Sun in the 9th house is trine Pluto in the clockwise 2nd house, Joan should have various sources of income and will no doubt experience ups and downs in


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About the Cover Artist

Artist Patricia M. Bowers draws on both personal and cultural events to inspire her art. Patricia believes art is creation that crosses reality with imagination. She feels the essence of art is the fulfillment of a vision, dream, or thought that presents itself and then is moved by spirit toward realization. Her recent body of work has been with the ancient art of Mandalas, symmetrical designs found in many cul-tures throughout the world. Patricia has also created a collection in bold primary colors and other textured mixed media.The art appearing on this cover is titled “temple of life.” For more information about Patricia’s work, visit www.patricia mbowers.com or e-mail [email protected]

the domain of finances. The Moon, also in the clockwise 2nd, leads to financial fluctuations as well and suggests a pref-erence for seasonal activities or busi-nesses with variable returns. The clockwise 6th house relates to employment, health, and the nature of the partner, whereas the 7th describes how the partnership or wedding unfolds. Joan’s Jupiter in the clockwise 6th gives her good health, executive ability, and an attraction to partners with a jovial and optimistic character, though this could be modified by the square to Chiron in the clockwise 9th house. Venus, in the clockwise 11th house, benefits from devoted friends and pos-sibly earnings from real estate. Neptune there indicates elevated spiritual aspira-tions and friendships with artists, occult-ists, or astrologers. An English translation of Dorsan’s book, The Clockwise House System, with many additional horoscopes, will be published in Spring 2011 (Steiner-books, Great Barrington, MA).

— Wain Farrants North Yorkshire, England

Synastry and Couples Counseling

Dear TMA: I want to comment on the article “Synastry, Conscious Relationship, and Couples Counseling,” by Greg Bogart (TMA, Aug./Sept. 2010). Although I felt there were a lot of useful insights into relationships and synastry charts, the author failed to comment on same-planet conjunctions when going through planetary aspects. For instance, he did not highlight the Moon conjunct the Moon, Venus conjunct Venus, nor Mer-cury conjunct Mercury — all aspects that play a significant role in my rela-tionships. I have had three (relatively) long-term relationships with men whose Moons conjoin mine, in Capricorn, as well as long-term girlfriends with the Moon conjunct mine, and the love of my life (whom no one has surpassed) had his Venus within a few degrees of mine. I can’t figure out why the author discussed many other combinations (such as the Moon and Mercury, the

Moon and Venus, the Moon and Jupi-ter, etc.) but did not talk about what it means when the same planets are together in synastry. Otherwise, thank you for a helpful and well-written article.

— Marka SmithSanta Fe, New Mexico

Student Sectionp. 10

Shirley Temple Black

Equal houses, Mean Node

Editor’s Note: This continuing series in the Student Section presents the chart of a well-known person, with emphasis on one particular aspect or theme of the chart, to help readers explore its sym-bolism as it plays out in the person’s life and work.

Retrogrades (n) are an interest-ing phenomenon in astrology — not just in their apparent backwards motion but also in how astrologers perceive and interpret this optical illusion. Much has been written on retrograde cycles (most famously, the Mercury retrograde) and on the importance of retrogrades in horary and electional astrology. Yet, there is relatively little to read about how they function in the natal horo-scope. This is surprising if we consider how much of our art — from the diur-nal cycle to the eternal dance of the Sun, Moon, and Earth — stems from observing the heavens from our own viewpoint. But first things first. When a planet appears to move back-wards, we have a celestial “second chance” to revisit old ground and retrace our steps (as the planet does) and to put things back on track. Observing Mercury’s retrograde cycle (three weeks every 3–4 months, 3–4 times a year) teaches us that Mer-curial areas of life (and those associated with our own Mer-cury placement) encounter delays, derails, and detours — often in order to help us rethink our options. We learn

to value and practise the prefix “re-”: to research, rethink, reconfirm, reorganize, and review. It is a time to notice slipups, to correct mistakes, and, where possible, to maintain a healthy distance from the conveyor belt of routines and work. But ideally, we should stop short of mak-ing firm decisions for the future or taking new action — unless we wish to revise or renegotiate these later. Information is often revealed that puts a situation in a new light. During Mercury’s retro-grade in May 2009, for instance, the U.K. press revealed the gross misuse of allowances and expense claims by Par-liamentary ministers. At that time, Mer-cury had crept into Gemini, stationing at 1° (both the planet and the sign delight

in “getting away with things”), only to traverse back into Taurus (being “called to account” on monetary matters) and squaring the Jupiter–Neptune conjunc-tion (large-scale scandal/deception) in Aquarius (elected representatives of the people). The news reports resulted in a number of resignations, firings, and impromptu retirements from the political scene. Still, what is often written about ret-rograde planets in the natal chart (fre-quently derived or skewed from horary and electional astrology) can have a del-eterious effect on the student astrologer. For example, those born with Mercury retrograde are sometimes said to be slow learners or even “mentally back-ward” — the placement is depicted as a sort of astrological dyslexia. My students who have natal Mercury retrograde seem to learn best when approaching a

problem from a different angle, access-ing and reworking the information

visually or laterally. Interestingly, in doing so, they’ve taught me to adapt (Mercury) and teach them in a different way. Robert Hand asserts that retrogradation does not destroy a planet’s influence but makes it “better suited to some situations than to oth-ers.”1 I’ve found that compa-

nies and enterprises born under Mercury retrograde can thrive if

they actively engage in the process of retrogradation, and I’m reminded

of the chart (not shown) for the social networking Web site, Friends Reunited.2 Mercury (ruler of the 11th house) is ret-

Second Chances:Retrograde Planets in the Natal Chart

by Frank C. Clifford

Horoscope Detective

Dec. 2010/Jan. 2011 • TMA p. 11

rograde in Pisces: The purpose of the site is to get back in touch (Mercury ret-rograde) with lost (Pisces) friends (11th), exchange information, and, as the Web site proclaims, “never lose touch with your past.” The more natal charts we study, the more we realize that words such as “backward” don’t assist the client, nor do they do justice to such a place-ment. In historical texts, words such as “deception” and “dishonesty” crop up. Others see natal retrograde plan-ets as areas where the promise is not fully materialized, or potential is with-held until later. Linda Reid writes that retrogrades “remain dormant or grow ready for release at some future time.”3 In my experience, a natal retrograde planet (less so for the outer planets) can be fully engaged early in life — perhaps too early, before the self-awareness or maturity to handle it is present — only for this early promise to be put “on hold” while we catch up on other levels. Later, we are given a second chance to explore and benefit from the planet’s potential, but on a more secure and grounded basis. The planet pauses, gestates (is subjugated, even) until we are ready to manifest it in a way that serves us best. In fact, the planet fully blossoms later rather than sooner, perhaps once we’ve recognized our true purpose (the Sun in our birth chart).4 And indeed, astro-nomically, retrogradation is dependent upon a planet’s relationship to the Sun, as seen from Earth.5

I’ve often worked with clients with four or more retrograde planets (roughly 14% of people have four, 5% have five, and 1% have 6). These clients often say they feel that much of their life has seemed to be “on hold” or that they’ve cast aside initial aims or talents and settled for “real life.” Yet, the promise inherent in these placements is a second chance to explore and establish early ambitions later in life. Many celebrities with several retrograde planets have had initial periods of success, only to face a long “pause” before developing a more solid foundation and firmer career tra-jectory. It would be convenient to state that this second chance takes place under a particular transit or station, but there doesn’t seem to be a predictable trigger or age at which it occurs.

A retrograde planet takes on greater importance when placed in a key posi-tion, for example, on an angle or as a singleton or a “handle,” as in the case of Shirley Temple’s chart, which fea-tures Saturn retrograde as the handle of a bucket chart. (See Chart, facing page.) Saturn is retrograde for 36.5% of its cycle, but when prominent, it can suggest that we take on burdens or parental responsibilities early in life and must wait to realize our own goals later. Noel Tyl writes of a legacy of feelings of inferiority due to the lack of an author-ity figure in early childhood — or the presence of a tyrannical one — and “a pause built into development for some very hard lessons to be learned.”6

From Child Star to Foreign Ambassador Throughout her life, Shirley Temple has been an embodiment of Saturn retrograde in Sagittarius in the 1st house. Born just 18 months before the Wall Street Crash of 1929, her arrival onto the movie scene at three years old coincided with a time of national despair and yearning for escapist enter-tainment. Little dimpled Shirley Temple was a diamond in the Great Depres-sion of bread lines, soup kitchens, and Apple Annies. She personified hope and optimism, making Americans feel good about themselves. She brought a bubbly, irrepressible energy and sparkle to her screen roles. (The Mercury–Jupiter con-junction — ruling all four angles — in Aries in the 5th house says much about her precocious talent.) A child mature beyond her years, with a knowingness and the work ethic of an adult (Saturn square her Virgo Midheaven), Temple

was a Goldilocks goldmine: She became the world’s most bankable and market-able movie star for four years in a row (as transiting Neptune roamed over her MC). She single-handedly reversed the fortunes of the Fox studio and earned herself a fortune (Saturn rules her 2nd). This prominent Saturn is evident in her life story.7 Her first roles were in the Baby Burlesks films: a series of satires of well-known films with children playing adult roles (Saturn). Later, she was often cast as a poor little orphan (Saturn) in order to melt the hearts of audiences and encourage them to embrace and parent her. In addition, her birth certifi-cate was altered to shave a year off her age. Yet, the studios couldn’t avoid her inevitable move into adolescence: By May 1940, as transiting Jupiter and Sat-urn crossed her Sun, movie mogul Dar-ryl Zanuck announced her retirement from Twentieth Century Fox. She con-tinued to act for a few years, entered a four-year marriage (filing for divorce on December 5, 1949, as Saturn crossed her MC and squared natal Saturn), and officially retired a year later upon her marriage to Charles Black. Shirley Temple Black matured well and showed little sign of wanting to cling to her childhood fame. She moved from national treasure to a valuable corpo-rate asset (Sagittarius rising is a natural meet-and-greeter). But with her promi-nent Saturn natally retrograde, she had a pause, then a second peak, evolving into a conservative Republican political figure — an activist for the cause of civic responsibility — who took a moral stand against pornography, was appointed the first woman Chief of Protocol of the United States, and held diplomatic posts in Ghana and Czechoslovakia (note that Saturn is in Sagittarius). She was also the first high-profile celebrity to state publicly that she had breast cancer (in the autumn of 1972, as the Solar Arc MC moved into Scorpio); she spoke out about her setback and physical loss (a mastectomy) with a dignity and candour worthy of her pivotal Saturn placement.

Chart Data and SourceShirley Temple Black, April 23, 1928; 9:00 p.m. PST; Santa Monica, CA, USA (34°N01', 118°W29'); AA: birth certificate on file from Tom and Thelma Wilson.

In my experience, a natal retrograde planet can

be fully engaged early in life – only for this early promise to be put “on

hold” while we catch up on other levels.


Retrograde Planets

References and Notes1. Robert Hand, Horoscope Symbols, Whitford Press, 1981, p. 42.

2. Friends Reunited Web site, February 24, 2000; 12:00 a.m. GMT; Car-diff, Wales, UK (51°N29', 03°W13'); source: Companies House (www.companieshouse.gov.uk).

3. Linda Reid, Astrology Step by Step, Canopus, 2001, p. 113.

4. These ideas were stimulated by my discussions with Lois Rodden, who had written about it in Money: How to Find It with Astrology, Data News Press, 1994.

5. For a complete exploration of retrogradation, see Erin Sullivan’s insightful volume, Retrograde Planets: Traversing the Inner Landscape, Arkana, 1992.

6. Noel Tyl, Synthesis & Counseling in Astrology: The Professional Man-ual, Llewellyn, 1994, p. 39.

7. Even her name — “Temple,” as a building/edifice (Saturn) for wor-ship (Sagittarius) — is shown by this 1st-house placement, and “Shirley” is said to mean “bright meadow.”

© 2010 Frank C. Clifford – all rights reserved

Frank Clifford is an astrologer–palmist, teacher, and author of Palmistry 4 Today (U.S. revised edition, 2009), The Astrologer’s Book of Charts (2009), and The Clifford Data Compendium on Solar Fire. His most recent book is Getting to the Heart of Your Chart: Playing Astrological Detective (November 2010). He runs the London School of Astrology, and his Web site is www.flareuk.com

Dec. 2010/Jan. 2011 • TMA p. 13

EngagingthE Scorpiohydra

real people. Transits through the 5th house can stage a romance, and sure enough, on the day this transit was exact, Wendy met a man eager to romance her. She was waiting for an elevator in an office high-rise when he handed her his business card: He worked at the coroner’s office. His eyes were intense. “During the day I cut into corpses,” he said, “and at night I dabble in black magic.” Standing much too close, he whispered that he could get a little voodoo doll that would make her crazy to have sex with him. His Sun sign? Scorpio, of course! But I haven’t met any Scorpios like that. They may be out there; however, the ones I know are about as twisted and

by Dana Gerhardt

Editor’s Note: This is the concluding article in Dana Gerhardt’s series that correlated each of the zodiac signs with one of the mythical twelve labors of Hercules.

Scorpio gets a bad rap. You hear things like “Watch out: Matthew is a triple Scorpio!” or “I’m nervous — Joe’s ex- girlfriend has a Scorpio Moon.” People expect devious or perverse behavior from this sign, though I think that’s unfair. Even so, I can’t resist sharing the following story. It happened to my friend Wendy as Pluto, Scorpio’s modern ruler, opposed her 5th-house Moon. When transiting planets meet natal planets, the archetypes might sud-denly spring to life and enter our lives as


Scorpio

diabolical as the average surgeon, thera-pist, or tax consultant. So, I’m sympa-thetic when a Scorpio comes somewhat defensively into my office, mumbling: “I know I’ve got the same sign as Charles Manson, but most of what I read sounds scary and not true of me.” This sign’s clichés are creepy. Pick up a pop astrology book, and you’ll find that having Scorpio planets can make you secretive, controlling, venge-ful, power-mad, paranoid, obsessive, and oversexed. They can also bring you passion, determination, resourcefulness, and a keen intuition — but these posi-tive Scorpio traits aren’t on the tip of most people’s tongues. After all, this is the sign of scorpions, snakes, and vam-pires. It rules tyranny, quagmires, and rotting garbage; also the underworld, death, and body parts we don’t openly discuss (the colon, anus, and genitals). When people talk astrology at parties, rarely do the Scorpios cheer and “high five!” each other the way other signs do. Yet, theirs is one of the most pow-erful signs of the zodiac. Focused on transformation, Scorpio holds the keys to life, death, and rebirth. It digs deep, solves mysteries, heals sickness, saves lives, builds wealth, and surrenders to high-voltage ecstasy. It governs depth psychology, metaphysics, and magic. Without Scorpio, we’d be hapless ama-teurs when struggling against our un-conscious demons or bargaining with the powers from invisible realms. It’s strange that a sign so concerned with control would do such a poor job of marketing its own gifts; perhaps there is method to this madness. Like a magi-cian skilled in misdirection, Scorpio may want us distracted by its creepier expres-sions. When cultural ecologist David Abram studied Indonesian magicians and shamans, he was surprised that nasty rumors often swirled about them, spread by the very people these healers routinely cured.1 The villagers whispered that the dukuns danced with demons or recited their spells backward at night to reverse their daytime cures. Curiously, the shamans did nothing to dispel sus-picion. Eventually, Abram understood why. Community fear bought the magi-

cians precious gifts: privacy and the space to do their deeper work. Scorpio needs space for its deep work, too, unlike the sign that pre-cedes it, beautiful and charming Libra, that graceful doyenne of harmony and smooth surfaces. Scorpio is fasci-nated with what’s underneath the sur-face. Libra throws open the curtains and invites others in, but Scorpio prefers the shadows, comfortable with what others avoid or hide. It overturns the rock and studies the wriggling creatures under-neath. Like a root tip poking through the dirt, or the worm feeling its way to a rotting corpse, Scorpio thrives on the riches of the underworld. This is why those with Scorpio planets make such good therapists, researchers, and mystery writers; also detectives, claims adjusters, surgeons, satirists, investors, and tax accountants — not to mention, the occasional devil-worshipper or serial killer. We do not always know what our Scorpio friends are thinking — and that may be just how they like it. Every sign corrects the weaknesses of its preceding sign. Libra can be super-ficial, apathetic, and vacillating; Scorpio is anything but wishy-washy. Its judg-ments are firm. Its style is tenacious. As a water sign, it’s motivated by emotion, as are Pisces and Cancer, though each sign maneuvers in its own way. If we say that imaginative Pisces floats like a dreamy mist, and nurturing Cancer rolls like a soft and nourishing stream, then Scorpio pools as groundwater, powerful, sustaining, and unseen. The water ele-ment is sensitive and intuitive, but Scor-pio is also tough. Robert Hand says it’s the only water sign that’s willing to fight2 (although I know a few Cancers who might disagree). Scorpio’s emblem is the scorpion, an eight-legged predator with a venom-ous sting. When Gaia learned that Orion was planning to slaughter her beloved wild beasts, out of all her myriad crea-tures she chose the scorpion to attack him. The mighty hunter ran all the way to the ocean. Artemis the huntress even-tually killed Orion — some say with an arrow; others claim it was the scorpion she sent that did the deed. Eventually, Artemis repented and tearfully granted Orion immortality in the stars. But there was the scorpion waiting in the constel-

lations, still on the case. Rising as Orion sets and setting as he rises, even now Scorpio is scuttling through the heavens, forever in pursuit. Scorpio’s sting is unnerving, but this sign’s intensity can be quite benefi-cial. With it, we can revive projects and partnerships weakened by fear or half-heartedness. Considering what may have slipped through our fingers over the years, we might agree that tena-cious Scorpio has a style worth cultivat-ing. Whether or not we have Scorpio planets, we all have Scorpio in our chart somewhere, plus an 8th house, this sign’s natural home. When planets or progressions move through these areas, “doing” Scorpio may be necessary. Par-ticularly if we aspire to wholeness, we should be willing to cultivate every sign — as a mode of being, a style of per-ception, another angle on the truth. Yet, it’s wise to be cautious with Scorpio. Like Mickey Mouse as the overreach-ing magician’s assistant in The Sorcer-er’s Apprentice, we could fall victim to the very forces we hope to control. Scorpio’s power can surge to extremes. Its focus can lock into obsessive loops. Its ruthlessness can sting itself in the end. Or so the stories go. Let’s see what Hercules discovers on his Scorpio mis-sion, when he must kill the nine-headed Hydra of Lerna.

Confronting the Shadow In Greece, south of Argos, on a nar-row strip of land between Mount Poti-nos and the sea, lies a storied region of abysses and springs. There, through the bottomless waters of Lerna, Dionysus entered and returned from the under-world. There the fifty daughters of Dan-aus decapitated their husbands and buried their heads. Guarding this abyss is a giant serpent known as the Hydra — or water snake — though some call her the murderous bitch of Lerna. She has nine heads; one is indestructible and immortal. Her breath is deadly, as is her poisonous venom. Hercules is eager to meet her. With his nephew Iolaus by his side, Hercules locates her lair and shoots flaming arrows into the abyss. Out she slithers, furiously hissing and spitting. Hercules charges forward; her heads writhe and reach for him. He chops off one head. Before it hits the ground, two

Dec. 2010/Jan. 2011 • TMA p. 15

heads grow in its place! Meanwhile, the Hydra wraps herself around his leg, and a crab begins attacking his trapped foot. He can’t escape, but he doesn’t want to. Furi-ously, Hercules starts chopping heads as fast as they keep multiplying. It’s a stand-off. But the Hydra seems to be winning. Such are the steel nerves of this sign. It stands firm. It’s got grit — backed by the competitive nature of Mars, Scor-pio’s traditional ruler. Why are there so many heads in this story? Lest we miss its deeper meaning, the gods want us to know that this is a tale about con-sciousness. The labor begins with Her-cules shooting the arrows of conscious awareness into the darkness, exposing an unconscious demon. The Hydra repre-sents Scorpio’s shadow. With her many heads in the dark, she depicts the twisted memories, desires, and thoughts we don’t often see or admit we have. Her-cules models the right response: Don’t recoil from what comes to light; go after it. His first instinct is to kill it — which is the rational mind’s usual reaction to unpleasant shadow material. Our hero quickly learns that what he chops off only grows stronger. This is an important law of underworld physics: What we resist or repress we will energize. As the Hydra’s heads multiply, we have a chilling por-trait of Scorpio in the grip of its own obsessions. But there is more. The serpent also depicts the alert presence of Scorpio’s

deeper intuition, the way it seems to have ears in all directions and eyes in the back of its head. When our Scorpio planets are seized with determination, we could say there’s an inner Hydra empowering them. She is the potent force behind Scorpio’s obsessions and drives, also its uncannily accu-rate hunches. What really sends the jealous Scorpio lover into a fit of vio-lence? What nails the Scorpio detec-tive to that 30-year-old murder case? The stalker obsessed with a celebrity may not be so different from the Scor-pio novelist gripped by the murmur-ing world of his characters. The jealous lover, the driven detective, the novelist writing for days without sleep — all are Hydra-fueled. This power can be as constructive as it is destructive. Storytellers typically describe the Hydra as foul and loathsome, yet this is a Scorpio tale. That means there’s

more to it than what meets the eye. Scorpio is the sign of the “occult,” after all — a word whose Latin root means to conceal or hide. We should ask what hides behind the Hydra’s foul and deadly breath. She is a serpent. To an initiate of the mysteries, this is code for sacred power. In cultures throughout the ancient world, snakes and serpents were revered as the guardians of immortality, shedding their skin when they got old and thus rebirthing themselves. Snakes were emissaries of the Great Goddess, wisdom-keepers, holding the secrets to life and death. Snakes have been asso-ciated with prophecy, their venom used for mystical trances. Cassandra, the great oracle at Delphi, was once found as a child with snakes licking her ears. Though ruled by masculine Mars, Scorpio is a feminine sign. One of the deeper instructions of Scorpio’s labor is to unite masculine and feminine, just as the sign draws its testosterone-driven ruler into the feminine mysteries. The labor is about reconciling the Hero with the Great Goddess. Indeed, with the Hydra coiled around his leg, we could say the hero is merged with her! But how does he hold his own against such power? This is the question inside each of our Scorpio planets, as they take us into painful love affairs, odd hob-bies, unpleasant pasts, and other peo-ple’s secrets. How does the focused and incisive masculine dance with the

One of the deeper instructions of

Scorpio’s labor is to unite masculine

and feminine.


Scorpio

many-headed intuitions of the sacred feminine? Scorpio wants us to enter into her deep wisdom and absorb its essence without losing ourselves. But the ancient temples are far away. Initiates are no longer identified and taken to the priest-ess for proper training. Today, most of us meet the potency in our Scorpio planets on our own. I have Mercury and Venus conjunct in Scorpio. I still remem-ber the afternoon in college when these two made themselves known. It was one of those periods when I was living at the library. I’d shifted venues to my boyfriend’s house, hop-ing to renew my concentration. After my boyfriend and his roommates went out, I could focus on nothing but the stillness of the house. Suddenly I was startled into motion. Without the slight-est idea why (though now I know it was the Hydra’s prompting), I made a beeline for my boyfriend’s closet. Dig-ging behind his hiking boots and ten-nis racket, I pulled out the stack of letters I didn’t know he had written to the girl he’d been seeing behind my back. The letter on top was from her. She said she was returning his poetry and love let-ters because he lacked the courage to act on them. It might have consoled her to know that he had saved them — and that he’d never written poetry like that to me. My Venus snake was aroused; no shrinking violet, she got him back. Even-tually he married me. Ten years later, Mercury and Venus brought me hidden information again. I startled my hus-band by recounting a dream in which a sexy woman appeared. As I described her, he gulped. She looked just like the secretary I didn’t know he was secretly in love with. It took months for this dream information to reach my con-scious awareness. But when it finally did, my Venus snake was done; she let him go. Scorpio planets bring many transformations. It takes courage to poke after mys-teries. The underworld is an uncom-fortable place. It is also vast, containing so many things: the hidden letters of cheating lovers, the secrets of replicating viruses in a researcher’s lab, what hap-

pened to that still-missing child, as well as the literal underworld where corpses decompose and where gems, oil, and ores are formed. There is truth down there. And wealth. It’s not for nothing that Lord Pluto, God of the Underworld, is also the god of lucre. Scorpio likes the power that wealth can bring, and it appreciates what forms under pres-sure. Hence, the interrogator, the psy-chotherapist, and the oil tycoon share a common bond. Yet, whatever Scor-pio unearths generally needs refining. Before one can cash out the treasure, transformation is required. Stones are split, the gems shaped and polished, ores are smelted and tempered. Arduous as this work might be, it’s certainly more straightforward than the refinement of matter from that inner world in which most of us toil. Our per-sonal underworlds hold memories, repressed desires, our family complexes, the collective unconscious with its gifts and neuroses, all of which is bound-up energy and power. How do we make riches of it? Maybe Hercules can show the way. Remember that he brought assistance on his Scorpio mission. The sign that treasures its privacy instinc-tively knows that it can do more in part-nership than alone, like the patient with her therapist, or the spiritual master who reaches higher levels of realization with his consort. “Iolaus!” Hercules shouts. “Take a flaming tree and hold it on the mon-ster’s neck just as I sever the head.” After nearly an entire forest is cleared, the Hydra’s wounds are fully cauter-ized, and no new heads grow back. Next, Hercules slices off the immortal head and buries it underground, back in the underworld, where the serpent’s eternal wisdom belongs. The hero dips

his arrows into her blood, gaining the potency of her poison. He has success-fully merged and received her teachings in life, death, and rebirth — until the next transformation is required.

The Soft Heart of Scorpio In our Scorpio planets and houses, we all have wounds like the ones Iolaus cauterized with transformative fire. From these tender areas, vengeful heads can sprout. Or we can prevent their growth if we’re willing to endure the pain that comes from touching them with aware-ness. At times, this process feels just as death-defying as the meeting between Hercules, Iolaus, and the Hydra. “The general rule in nature,” writes Annie Dillard, “is that live things are soft within and rigid without.”3 Of the water signs, Pisces’ fish are the exception, liv-ing as they do in such a supple medium. But Cancer’s crab and Scorpio’s scor-pion know the wisdom of armoring. Life is so sharp against our soft insides. It pierces us. The Buddhists call this inner soft spot bodhichitta, our good heart. It is our naked tenderness and vulnerabil-ity, the inner raw material that is per-haps what’s best about us. This psychic ore of the underworld, when refined, can become the great love and self-less compassion of a bodhisattva or saint. Yet, in its raw form, this tender-ness more commonly inspires great defensiveness. Ironically, protecting our soft spot is how we usually develop our indifference, even hatred of the world. We have a choice with our Scorpio pro-cess. We can cauterize our wounds with awareness, or simply burn the vulnera-bility into a hard surface. I think of a few bad-ass Scorpio-rising people I’ve known. They sport a look that refuses to give them away, that just dares you to guess what they’re feeling. But stay with them long enough, and a moment will come when the cover drops, and inside their usually indifferent eye, you’ll see something soft and unprotected. A pool of sadness. A deep and silent record of some early vulnerability and torment. A horoscope’s rising sign represents that first cover-ing of personality, the psychological skin grown to suit one’s early environ-ment. Scorpio-rising children were per-haps more naked than most, wearing

Scorpio, the sign that treasures its

privacy, instinctively knows that it can do more in partnership

than alone.

Dec. 2010/Jan. 2011 • TMA p. 17

their soft spot like a target. Such vulner-ability may have made them the first among us to learn the arts of defensive covering. I think of this Scorpio sensitiv-ity every year during the annual bikers’ Christmas toy drive. It attracts hundreds of bikers — tattooed, pierced, bearded, greased, defiant — the kind of people you wouldn’t want your family to meet on a deserted highway. Yet, on this day, every biker carries a plush bunny, bright frog, or teddy bear: sweet offerings “for the children,” as those interviewed on the local news tearfully explain, reveal-ing the soft spot underneath their leather and chains. Like a piece of god’s own heart inside of us, this divine tenderness may be just too much voltage to control. When it’s hurt, it’s like a live wire danc-ing on the pavement, or a nine-headed Hydra hissing from its cave. How do we contain this power? Before we fully understand Scorpio’s mysteries, we often dance fitfully — jealous, vengeful, raging, and in grief. But we must ground and empower ourselves, through right management of this more-than-human power. This is the deeper instruction of Hercules’ final two acts — placing the immortal head in the ground and dip-ping arrows in the Hydra’s poison. What do these actions mean? If you want Scorpio’s respect, you must contemplate this mystery and discover the message for yourself.

The Touch of Death Whenever I write an astrology arti-cle, the gods visit. First, I must sit like a beggar outside the Zen master’s gate, empty and uninspired. The sentences come slowly. After a mysterious interval that proves my sincerity — sometimes days, sometimes weeks — the teacher arrives. The archetype I write about begins appearing everywhere, on TV shows, in the blogs, at the grocery store. The sign or planet takes over my thoughts. It winds through my sentences, tells me where to go next, and lets me know when I’m done. I enjoy this sur-render. But I was not prepared for the event that Scorpio arranged. When I was 300 words into the article, my Scorpio-rising father died. He was two weeks away from his 89th birthday. At 3:00 in the morning, his sister heard him mutter, “Christ!” It wasn’t until daybreak that she discovered him on the floor of his bedroom, unable to get up. He fell again that afternoon while opening a can of tuna. “Shit!” he moaned. Blood poured from his head. Death is another Scorpio mystery that hides behind a hideous surface. It’s universally sad. We consider it a defeat. But as my father lay barely conscious in the hospital, his upper body thin and wasting, his legs swollen three times their size, with a fatty tumor bigger than a cantaloupe in his belly, death seemed more friend than enemy. The final week

my father was in the hospital, I began to think of him as Christopher Columbus heading off for a New World, the pio-neer of our nuclear family, embarking on the greatest adventure of all. Indeed, when he finally passed, it was within hours of the Jupiter–Uranus conjunc-tion, that wonderful aspect of discovery and invention. It was trine his Scorpio Ascendant. I once heard the great astrologer and data collector Lois Rodden talk about death. I was surprised when she said that benefic Jupiter was often involved. Yet, why not? From the soul’s point of view, it’s such a gift to move on. Grim Reaper Saturn also takes an interest, and on the day my father died, Saturn was marching toward his Libra Sun. But when I put the transits of my father’s death chart around his natal wheel, it was neither Saturn nor Jupiter who vied for my attention. To an astrol-oger’s eye, the planets will often wink, vibrate, or grow larger to announce that they’re involved. The blinking planets this time were Mercury and Mars. Tran-siting Mars in Scorpio was conjunct my dad’s natal Mercury (ruler of his 8th house of death); transiting Mercury in Virgo was conjunct his natal Mars (ruler of his Ascendant and the body). These were the psychopomps who arrived at 1:10 p.m. to escort my father into

continued on page 89


Aspect Analysis: Your Toolbox for Chart Interpretation — Part Eight

Mining the Minor Aspects:Research in the Blogosphere

by Donna Cunningham

For the past seven issues of TMA, we’ve considered aspects — the basic

building blocks for most applications of astrology. We’ve explored conjunctions, semi-sextiles, sextiles, squares, trines, quincunxes, and oppositions. For the series finale, your editors wanted an article about lesser-known aspects like the septile, semi-square, and sesqui-quadrate. There’s one problem with that … Nobody really knows what they mean. All you ever read about them is one abstract sentence or phrase. You see it over and over in books, journals, or online, with no real documentation of the aspect in action. Authors rarely give interpretations of these aspects in people’s charts, with case examples of how they work. Except for the quintile, often described in the charts of geniuses, it’s mainly theory, no application. Largely missing are real-life experi-ences with these aspects natally or by transit — specific, concrete details, not abstractions. We’re left to wonder what these aspects mean in terms of behavior pat-terns, feelings, urges, repeated situations or events, and inner and outer conflicts. Conversely, what gifts, abilities, and per-sonality traits are associated with them? With none of the sexy substance of human existence clarified, it’s no wonder that such aspects remain minor in our eyes. As you’ll learn here, I made it my mission to remedy that lack of informa-tion by doing a research project on my blog, Skywriter.

An Overview of the Aspects:Better Known vs. Lesser Known Since this is the end of the series, an overview will serve as a refresher as well as an explanation of why these so-called minor aspects are so mysteri-ous. (I prefer to call them lesser known, since the research results showed them to be anything but minor.) The better-known aspects are based on dividing the 360° circle into 12 equal portions of 30° each. The 12 signs are sorted into cat-egories by element (fire, earth, air, and water) and mode (cardinal, fixed, and mutable). The zodiac is an orderly progression of repeated elements and modes, as shown by Table 1 (below). The key to understanding the seven aspects we’ve covered so far lies in predictable relation-ships between the signs, elements, and modes that make it possible to analyze any planetary pair and gain an under-standing of how the planets affect one another.

As you can see from Table � (fac-ing page), the conjunctions, squares, and oppositions are between signs in the same mode — one in each element. Of the two most commonly used “easy” aspects, trines are in the same element, and sextiles are in compatible elements. Although semi-sextiles and quin-cunxes are in different modes and incompatible elements, they’re at least based on even divisions of the circle by 30°. By contrast, the lesser-known aspects don’t fall into neat 30° segments, but instead consist of odd fragments like 45°, 51.43°, 72°, or 135°. A semi-square (45°) puts a sign and a half between two planets. Sometimes the pair is in adjacent signs, like the semi-sextile, and sometimes it’s two signs apart, like the sextile. The quintile (72°), though we’re not reporting on it here, can fea-ture either sextile signs or square signs. The sesquiquadrate (135°) is sometimes between signs that are trine and some-times between those that are quincunx.

Table 1: Signs, Modes, Elements

Aries: cardinal fire

Taurus: fixed earth

Gemini: mutable air

Cancer: cardinal water

Leo: fixed fire

Virgo: mutable earth

Libra: cardinal air

Scorpio: fixed water

Sagittarius: mutable fire

Capricorn: cardinal earth

Aquarius: fixed air

Pisces: mutable water

Dec. 2010/Jan. 2011 • TMA p. 19

Table 2: Better-Known Aspects

Aspect Degrees Signs Apart Modes Elements

Conjunction 0° 0 Same Same

Semi-sextile 30° 1 Different Incompatible

Sextile 60° 2 Different Compatible

Square 90° 3 Same Incompatible

Trine 120° 4 Different Same

Quincunx 150° 5 Different Incompatible

Opposition 180° 6 Same Compatible

The pattern of elements and modes is no longer predictable, so we cannot easily use them to analyze such an aspect in a particular chart.

A Summer Research Projectin the Blogosphere You can see the difficulty in ana-lyzing lesser-known aspects system-atically with the building blocks we’ve used in this series. How, then, can we understand them? I decided that it was time to rectify our lack of knowledge by drawing on an excellent resource: the blogosphere — specifically, the commu-nity that’s growing up around my blog, Skywriter. One of the most pleasurable sur-prises about blogging has been the reader participation. It turns out that a blog can be an excellent venue for gath-ering information about particular chart features through reader feedback. When I write about a topic like stelliums or accidents, readers share their experi-ences and data in the comment section so that we all learn more. It’s a great and unanticipated tool for research. Skywrit-er’s followers tend to be at the interme-diate to advanced or professional level of astrological studies. They are bright, articulate, and self-aware, and they use astrology for self-knowledge and per-sonal growth. I should note from the outset that this wasn’t scientific research with stan-dardized questionnaires, interviews, con-trol groups, and statistical analysis. It was more along the lines of clinical research intended to collect anecdotal evidence. In that, it was successful and extremely

useful. Unlike the tepid response to stan-dard questionnaires, the readers partici-pated enthusiastically in this research, many with detailed reports of a particu-lar aspect in action. There were 450 responses among the six aspects we studied, often with two or three such aspects to a reply. In this article, I’ll write only about the three aspects with the biggest pool of data: the semi-square, septile, and sesqui-quadrate, with a combined total of 265 responses. The semi-square, with 140 participants, got the highest number. You’re invited to join in and round out the data on the other three in the series: the quintile, bi-quintile, and mundane square.1 Good research starts from a neutral place with no preconceived ideas, col-lecting reams of data and observations and then digesting it. Therefore, I didn’t give the readers any background about the aspects — none of the standard quotes about them and none of my own experiences. Each post in the series was devoted to a single aspect, which par-ticipants were asked to look for in their charts. The specified orb was 2°–3°, but many readers calculate their charts on Astrodienst (www.astro.com), which uses wider orbs. Here are the instructions my readers received:

“Please address these questions in your response. Ask yourself whether you can see that combination of plan-ets operating in your life and how. How do they show up in your life in terms of behavior patterns, feelings, urges, repeated situations or events, and inner

and outer conflicts? Conversely, what gifts, abilities, and personality traits do they convey? Think of specific, concrete details, not abstractions. “If the aspect seems significant, are there any other features in your chart that could account for it? Is there any other type of connection between the two planets? For instance, if Venus and Neptune are sesquiquadrate, do you have Venus in the 12th house or in Pisces, or a prominent Neptune in Libra (e.g., on the Ascendant or Midheaven or conjunct the Sun or Moon)? Or are Pisces and Libra the two strongest signs in your chart? If any of these conditions is true, that creates another sort of con-nection that could partially explain any effect of the aspect. “If there’s no other connection between the two planets, then think about the qualities and issues the two planets represent, and see if they form a pattern in your life. Consider the drives, urges, and needs represented by the two planets in the aspect. Think about the meanings of the two planets, and combine them. Do you see those quali-ties in yourself? What do they look like in your life? And how does it feel? Tell us your conclusions in the comment section for this article.”

What We Discovered Some aspects are more com-mon than others. Mercury is never more than 28° from the Sun, Venus is never more than 47° from the Sun, and they often move one degree per day. Thus, these three bodies moving at the same speed remain in aspect for quite a while, not just a day or two — but only certain types of aspects are possible. Mercury can only be conjunct the Sun, but Sun–Venus conjunctions, semi- sextiles, semi-squares, and (wide) septiles are possible, as are Mercury–Venus con-junctions, semi-sextiles, semi-squares, septiles, and quintiles. Aspects between the slower- moving planets, from Saturn on out, last a long time and appear in the charts of everyone born during that period. However, these aspects can still have a potent effect, especially if either planet is strongly featured in the chart. One reader reported: “The septile is between Saturn in Libra in the 12th


and Uranus in Scorpio in the 2nd. The idea of turning my love of astrology into something I could use to make a living took quite some time for me to warm up to. I had some kind of block to over-come, as astrology had negative associa-tions that were entirely self-generated. Making the decision to pursue astrology has actually helped set me free from my own self-imposed prison.”

Even the most skeptical were surprised by how strong these aspects were and how much impact they had. As intermediate, advanced, and professional-level students of astrol-ogy, once they found the aspect, they readily recognized the pattern in their lives. One reader with a Saturn–Neptune semi-square said he felt that it didn’t have any effect. It’s true that it’s a slow-moving aspect and shouldn’t have a big impact, unless strongly featured in the chart. I suggested that he read a post I’d written about the tendency for children with this aspect to take over some par-enting roles in alcoholic or dysfunctional families. He wrote back, “I just read the Saturn–Neptune article, and it really applies to me. Amazing. I have been studying astrology for over 30 years and have always considered the minor aspects to be truly minor. Now I know that’s not so!”

Minor aspects to the Ascendant and Midheaven were also impor-tant. Even major aspects to the angles like squares and quincunxes are easily missed in chart interpretation, yet they powerfully modify how we project our-selves. I didn’t anticipate, however, that the lesser-known aspects to the angles would have such an impact. For example, the septile (51.43°) seems to be a mixed blessing, convey-ing some abilities and yet also some challenges. Among the septiles I discov-ered in my own chart was one between Venus in Gemini and the Midheaven. On one hand, a personable writing style has brought me a certain popularity. On the other hand, the resulting high profile

also involved me with short-term roman-tic connections who were drawn to my fame rather than my true self. Here are examples of readers’ aspects to the angles: “My Leo Sun semi-squares my Ascendant. Who am I really, and does it matter in light of my Virgo-rising duties? That’s how it feels sometimes as I try to balance the two.” “Saturn in Cancer semi-squares my Virgo Ascendant — sometimes I am more reserved outwardly than I’d really like to be.” “Aries Mars semi-square Gemini MC: Mars wants to act now, whereas the Gemini MC wants to talk about it now. So, I’ve learned to think before I speak and act.”

The nature of the two planets involved determined the effects of an aspect, rather than the particu-lar angle between them. In the expe-riences provided, there seemed to be little difference between various types of aspects. The issues, situations, and life themes for the pair of planets were simi-lar across the board and not unlike the themes found in mainstream aspects between them, like the conjunction or opposition. The feelings, difficulties, and effects reported for a Mercury–Saturn aspect, for instance, were strikingly similar, regardless of whether it was a semi-square, septile, or sesquiquadrate. They also weren’t that different from the themes seen with Mercury–Saturn con-junctions, squares, and even trines that dozens of readers reported in an earlier post about that combination. One reader described his Mercury– Saturn sesquiquadrate like this: “Mer-cury in Taurus in the 12th sesquiquad-rate Saturn in Capricorn in the 8th. I have always been inhibited with my intelligence as I did not graduate from college. I own my own business and hired PhDs and MBAs to work for me, as I always surrounded myself with people much smarter than me. At 51 now, it has only been in the last 4–5 years that I discovered that I am highly intelligent.” Related issues showed up with a Mercury–Saturn semi-square: “One way it used to manifest was in my communi-cations with my father. No matter how I

said it and how many times I said it, he would not listen to me. There’s a general sense of being unheard by people in my life and misunderstood. I would say that words are difficult for me to express. It’s a vast ocean of deep and serious words and thoughts trying to squeeze out from a very tiny and narrow funnel. It gets all very convoluted.” A reader with a sesquiquadrate between Venus and Uranus reported a typical Venus–Uranus pattern of relat-ing: “I am strongly anti-marriage, but my history doesn’t provide any reason for this. I could not sign a piece of paper to secure my relationship with someone; my attachment to someone is something I give or take freely and does not require evidence. In an otherwise laid-back, non-opinionated person, this is the one thing I can rant and stamp my feet about when pushed.” Another described a Jupiter– Saturn septile as not so different from a conjunction or square between those planets: “I work a lot. Like a whole lot. And even while I’m working a lot, and other people see it as workaholism and berate me for having no outlet or release, I don’t lose my Jupiterian ideal-ism, because I freaking love what I do and I want to do it more. I often sur-prise myself with this attitude towards work, because that is definitely not what was communicated to me throughout childhood.”

The ease or difficulty reported with any particular aspect seemed to depend on the compatibility of the signs and elements involved, rather than the nature of the angle. When the planets were placed in incom-patible signs, readers tended to expe-rience the aspect as more difficult. For example, the sesquiquadrate is some-times between signs that are trine and sometimes between signs that are quin-cunx. The sesquiquadrate points from 0°–14° Cancer would fall at 15°–29° Scorpio, trine by sign; however, the points for 15°–29° Cancer would be 0°–15° of the quincunx sign, Sagittarius, and more difficult to reconcile. In aspects of this category, compatibility depends on whether the earlier planet in the zodiac falls into the first half of its sign or the second.

Minor Aspects

Dec. 2010/Jan. 2011 • TMA p. 21

“What Does the Aspect Feel Like?” I also wanted an assessment of the overall qualities of each aspect, a purely emotional reaction, so I asked readers what each aspect felt like. The most-reported assessments were for the sesquiquadrate and semi-square. Here are some attempts to convey their nature.

Semi-squares: “My take on this aspect is that it acts as if it’s a square with half the punch. It’s a ‘square in training.’ Maybe next time around, I will have these aspects as squares … who knows.” “I think of a semi-square as a benign stress/attractor.” “I have semi-squares galore, and they’re a bit like a hornet’s nest when they get activated. It’s like a square on a very short tether.” “The semi-square doesn’t seem to have the angst of a square. It’s not an ideal situation, but there seems to be something more accepting in the rela-tionship between semi-square planets. There’s no battle of wills, it simply ‘is.’ It’s like a reined-in square without the action/resistance — an annoyance, but you can resist the need to scratch!”

Sesquiquadrates: “Sesquiquadrates seem to be extremely powerful. The energy seems to manifest, regardless of whether you’re aware or not. Again, maybe the ease or hardship is mitigated by the element.” “I can’t put my finger on what the sesquiquadrate stands for in my life. My general feeling is that it creates awkward-ness, like a gangly youth with all limbs and little control, motor skills–wise — all bumps and knobs that somehow we need to learn how to grow into through trial and error, or through wisdom that hopefully comes with age and maturity.”

Okay, How Do You Interpretthe Lesser-Known Aspects? Now that you’ve found a juicy new septile or sesquiquadrate in your chart, how do you figure out what it means? Some steps in the method we’ve been using throughout this series remain a good place to start. First, think about the pair of planets and how innately compatible they are.

Are they likely to enhance one another’s goals and needs, or detract from them? What issues and qualities do they por-tray, and what happens when you try to blend them together? Among the better- known aspects, a Mercury–Jupiter square would be far less of a challenge than a Saturn–Pluto trine. The same would be true in aspects like a sesqui-quadrate or a septile. Then, consider the two signs involved and how they conflict or co-operate. Let’s say it’s a sesquiquadrate in signs that are trine, like Jupiter in early Aries to Mars in late Leo. That’s at least compatible — maybe a bit over the top in exuberance, but still lively and full of drive. Compare that with Jupiter in late Aries aspecting Mars in Virgo, almost like a quincunx. Mars in Virgo’s none-too-tactful pickiness would deflate Jupiter in Aries’ frequent enthusiasms. What about the elements and modes involved — are they compatible or not? A septile between Venus in early Aries (cardinal fire) and Saturn in late Taurus (fixed earth) might make relation-ship conflicts harder to work with than one between Venus in late Aries and Saturn in early Gemini (mutable air). Next, bring in the two houses. What areas of life do they represent? Do they tend to support one another, or are there serious conflicts of interest? Let’s say a CEO has Jupiter in Libra in the 10th, creating a corporate image based on fairness, honesty, and cordial commu-nity relations. When you note that Jupi-ter is septile Pluto in Scorpio in the 12th, you start to wonder about hidden agen-das and backroom deals. If you’re starting to see how the pair of planets might operate in your life, are there any related chart features that account for the effect? For instance, sup-pose it’s a Mercury–Mars septile, but you also have Mercury in Aries in the 1st and Mars in the 3rd. That might create a false positive result, making the aspect seem stronger than it is. Now, ask yourself whether the issues, themes, and situations you’ve identified for this pair of planets ring any bells. To what extent is this planetary combination enhancing or disrupting your life? At what level of evolution are you using these planets, and what could you do to make them work together

better? Are there newly identified strengths and abilities that you could benefit from using — especially in the areas of life the two houses govern? If you answer all these questions, you should have a clearer understanding of this previously ignored chart feature.

It’s Been a Useful Summer Project! To sum up the results of this meaty summer project, no clear distinction between the lesser-known aspects emerged from looking at them in this way. What we did discover was that the “minor aspects” are simply less well understood. I prefer to call them the lesser-known aspects, because this research confirms that their effects are often anything but minor. In seeking real-life examples, we were going for the feeling of the aspect and its impact, rather than a theoretical formulation. Again, this would be classified as clinical research rather than a study strictly according to the scientific model, but as a clinician, not a scientist, I find that it’s valuable information. If you weren’t around for the entire series, the posts are still online, and you’re wel-come to explore them at http://skywriter.wordpress.com. Be sure to visit the com-ment sections to check out what other readers have said and to share your own insights about what these aspects mean in your chart.

Note1. In the mundane square, any planet on the Ascendant is considered square to any planet on the Midheaven or IC. The two planets may or may not actually be in numerical aspect to each other, but they supposedly act as though they were square.

© 2010 Donna Cunningham – all rights reserved

Donna Cunningham, MSW, is a long-time contributor to TMA and author of numerous books available at www.moonmavenpublica tions.com. Her e-mail course on chart interpre-tation draws students from around the world. She teaches tele-seminars on astrology and is planning a series on aspects. Visit her blog at http://skywriter.wordpress.com


sky watchDecember 2010 & January 2011

by Julene

Packer-Louis

Jupiter is visible in the evening dur-ing December and January. Saturn and Venus are visible in the morning. Mer-cury begins December as an evening planet, goes through a period of invis-ibility to conjoin the Sun, and then re-appears in the morning sky in January. Mars is visible only during the first few days of December. The rising and set-ting times below are in Local Standard Time.

Visible Evening Planets Mercury and Mars are visible above the southwest horizon at sun-set on December 1 in the constella-tion Sagittarius. Mars sets around 5:30 p.m., followed by Mercury at 6:00 p.m. December 5 is probably the last night to observe Mars until he reappears in the morning sky in spring. On December 6, the Moon will occult Mars from 10:30 through 11:40 p.m. GMT. This is 5:30 p.m. EST, as Mars is setting, and 2:30 to 3:40 p.m. PST, while it is still daylight. By the time it is dark, and Mars sets on the West Coast, the occultation will be over. In Central Standard Time, this is 4:30 to 5:40 p.m., and it will be possible to witness the occultation in that time zone. Mercury will remain visible until December 14, when it sets around 5:30 p.m. Jupiter rises during the daylight hours and pops into view high above the southeast horizon during evening twilight on December 1. Each night, you will see him a bit farther to the west

as the skies darken. By the evening of January 1, Jupiter will come into view above the SSW horizon as sunset dark-ens the sky. By the end of January, Jupiter will be above the WSW horizon at sunset. Jupiter sets around 1:00 a.m. on December 1 and around 7:15 p.m. on January 31. During these two months, Jupiter travels eight degrees eastward (direct) through the constellation Pisces. He appears farther west at each consecutive sunset because the Sun is moving roughly one degree east each day toward Jupiter. To further understand how this happens, cast a horoscope using the sidereal zodiac1 for December 1, 2010 at 5:30 p.m. when the Sun is just below the horizon. You’ll see Jupiter around the 11th-house cusp. Now cast a chart for January 31, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. to get the Sun just below the horizon again. You’ll find Jupiter around the 9th-house cusp. In fact, you can cast a chart for any time you are planet-watching, since the horoscope is a sky map at that given point in time. The Ascendant/Descendant axis is the east and west horizon,2 and the Midheaven is found by locating the ecliptic due south. (That’s why south is at the top of the chart — we face south to see the ecliptic in the Northern Hemisphere.)

Visible Morning Planets Saturn rises just east (left) of the Moon at about 3:00 a.m. on December 1 in the constellation Virgo. Saturn will

move only three degrees through Virgo before stationing retrograde on Janu-ary 25. However, he will rise earlier each night for the same reason that Jupiter rises earlier each day. On New Year’s Eve, Saturn rises around 1:15 a.m. On January 31, Saturn rises around 11:15 p.m. On December 2, Venus rises to the east of the Moon at about 4:20 a.m. Venus will move about 55 degrees east during December and January, so we will get to observe her in more than one constellation. On Christmas morn-ing, December 25, Venus rises between Zuben Elgenubi and Zuben Eschamali of the constellation Libra shortly after 4:00 a.m. On January 23, Venus rises soon after 4:30 a.m. to the east of Antares, the alpha star of the constellation Scorpius, representing the heart of the scorpion. If you’re up at this hour, note that, when Scorpio rises in the east, Orion sets in the west. After all, it was the scorpion that did Orion in. Venus is rising at roughly the same time because she is moving nearly as fast as the Sun, which is of course one day’s turn of the Earth on its axis. Mercury appears in the morning sky just before his direct station. On Christ-mas morning, Mercury rises at about 6:50 a.m. in Scorpius, below and to the left of Antares. On January 2, locate Mer-cury above and to the left of the sliver of a waning Balsamic Moon. On January 25, Mercury rises around 6:45 a.m. just east of Nunki in Sagittarius.

Dec. 2010/Jan. 2011 • TMA p. 23

Calendar of Celestial Events

* Apogee is the Moon’s farthest distance from Earth.** Perigee is the Moon’s closest distance to Earth.

Eclipses The total lunar eclipse on Decem-ber 21 lasts from 5:29 through 11:05 a.m. GMT, with totality occurring at 8:18 a.m. GMT. Observers in north-ern Europe can witness this in the west just before sunrise. Those in North and South America can observe it after mid-night. The eclipse rises opposite the sun-set over northeast Asia. The partial solar eclipse on Janu-ary 4 lasts from 6:40 to 11:01 a.m. GMT, with the maximum eclipse occurring at 8:51 a.m. GMT. Western Europe can witness the partially eclipsed Sun ris-ing, while people in Russia and China can see it setting. Observers in north-ern Africa and central Asia can locate it midday. Please remember not to stare directly into a solar eclipse without eye protection, and never look at one through binoculars or a telescope unless you have the proper solar filters.

Meteor Shower Anomalies The Geminids are active December 7–17 and peak on December 13 around 2:00 a.m., when Gemini is at the zenith. This is the best winter shower, with 85 colorful meteors per hour expected. About two-thirds of the Geminid mete-ors are white, roughly a quarter are yel-

low, and those remaining are blue, green, and red. This is a mysteriously unique shower because the parent is not the usual comet but rather an aster-oid named 3200 Phaethon. Scientists at NASA are still uncertain how an asteroid (made of stronger materials than a comet) would break off bits to form a meteor stream. The Quadrantids are active January 1–5; 25 meteors per hour are expected at the peak, around 5:30 a.m. on the morning of January 4 when Bootes is near the zenith. Meteor showers are named for the constellation they radiate from. However, the Quadrantids radiate from the northern portion of the constel-lation Bootes. Originally, the shower radiated from Quadrans Muralis, a con-stellation that borrowed stars belonging to Bootes, Hercules, Ursa Major, and Draco to form the shape of an instru-ment used to plot the stars. In 1922, the IAU (International Astronomical Union) took a few such constellations out of the sky maps we know today. The parent comet of the Quadrantids was first believed to be Comet C/1490 Y1, though it is now believed to be 2003 EH1. Sky maps to help you locate the planets and meteor showers are avail-

able at the International Academy of Astrology: www.astrocollege.com/ campus/libraries.cgi. Look for the dedicated section “Mountain Astrologer Sky Maps.”

Notes1. The sidereal zodiac uses the fixed stars of the constellations as the reference point. The tropi-cal zodiac uses the equinoxes and solstices to mark the ingress into the cardinal signs and uses the Earth’s seasons as the reference point. The planet will be in the same house position in the sky in both the sidereal and tropical zodiacs, but the sign will often be different. The difference is caused by the precession of the equinoxes, where the vernal equinox slips backward one zodiac degree every 72 years.

2. The Ascendant/Descendant axis is where the Horizon intersects the ecliptic in the east and west, respectively. This Horizon is a great circle that passes through the center of the Earth. The observational horizon is as far as the eye can see in all four compass directions.

© 2010 Julene Packer-Louis – all rights reserved

Julene Packer-Louis is the CEO of the Inter-national Academy of Astrology (www.astrocol lege.com), where she has been teaching for ten years. She is available to lecture to your group and for astrology consultations; e-mail [email protected]. Her personal Web site is www.yogicastrology.com

December 2010 January 2011

Dec. 1 at 11:00 a.m. EST: Mercury at greatest eastern elongation (21.5°)

Dec. 5 at 7:16 p.m. EST: Uranus stations retrograde

Dec. 10 at 6:56 a.m. EST: Mercury stations retrograde

Dec. 13 at 3:36 a.m. EST: Moon at apogee* (404,407 km / 251,287 mi);

Geminids peak

Dec. 25 at 7:25 a.m. EST: Moon at perigee** (368,462 km / 228,952 mi)

Jan. 4 at 5:30 a.m. EST: Quadrantids peak

Jan. 8 at 10:00 a.m. EST: Venus at greatest western elongation (47°)

Jan. 9 at 9:00 a.m. EST: Mercury at greatest western elongation (23.3°)

Jan. 10 at 1:23 p.m. EST: Moon at apogee (404,975 km / 251,640 mi)

Jan. 21 at 7:11 p.m. EST: Moon at perigee (362,792 km / 225,428 mi)

Jan. 25 at 11:05 p.m. EST: Saturn stations retrograde

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2011 OutlookAstrological Themes, Hot Spots, and Tips

by Stephanie Austin

The question is not what you look at, but what you see.

— Henry David Thoreau

Astrology reminds us that everything is connected, that there is an inherent

wholeness and an intimate rela-tionship between the cosmos and everyday life. Regardless of whether we use the tropical or sidereal zodiac, Renaissance techniques or trans-Neptunian objects, astrology’s focus on cycles helps us to remember that everything is changing, that the frontiers of our universe and our consciousness are ever expanding. The year �011 will be one of the most important in human history. We are immersed in a


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greatly accelerated time of change, which challenges us to incorporate new views, both of ourselves and of the world we live in. The parable of the elephant and the blind men is an apt metaphor for these times.1 In this tale, one blind man feels only the elephant’s trunk, another only its leg, another its ears. They each, of course, come to very different conclusions as to the true nature of the beast and, separately, are unable to grasp the whole. The story illustrates the primary evolutionary task of this year: to remain open to new per-spectives and mindful of how our lim-ited perceptions and assumptions can blind us to a far greater reality. So, the elephant of change is here. What do some of its primary compo-nents look like? We’ll examine outer planets changing signs, major align-ments, the influence of the Turning of the Ages, and a few other indicators of 2011’s transformative potentials.

Theme 1: Endings and Beginnings

The best way to face the unknown is by not knowing.

— Swami Beyondananda

Transits and Cycles Transits are messengers of change. The prefix “trans-” means “to go through.” Transit, transition, transforma-tion, and transcendence all stem from this root concept: to change and evolve. As a planet leaves one sign and moves into the next (called an ingress), our attention is drawn to embrace the arche-typal energies encoded in that sign. The more thoroughly we have learned the lessons of the previous sign, the better prepared we are to meet the curriculum of the next. The word “zodiac” comes from the Greek words zoe (meaning “life”) and diakos (“wheel”) — the wheel of life or, alternately, the circle of living things. The twelve signs of the zodiac comprise a universal cycle of development, from the emergence of individual expression

to the return to the source. Each sign encodes a particular set of qualities nec-essary for the evolution of conscious-ness. From personal identity (Aries) to transpersonal consciousness (Pisces), each sign expands on the growth of the previous sign. The planets also form a develop-mental progression. Each planet is a gateway into a more inclusive under-standing. The greater the planet’s distance from the Sun, the more encom-passing is its field beyond the personal, and the greater the awareness necessary for its skillful expression. For example, if we have not developed a healthy sense of autonomy and boundaries (Saturn), then we will have trouble breaking away from convention and respecting diver-sity (Uranus). Aspects, the spatial relationships between the planets, form a progressive cycle of development as well. Conjunc-tions — when two planets meet at the same degree of the zodiac — mark the beginning of a new cycle. Subsequent aspects, especially squares (90°) and oppositions (180°), symbolize significant turning points.

Shift Happens in Pisces and Aries In 2011, the primary ingresses occur in Pisces and Aries, indicating a year of major transitions. Pisces repre-sents the completion of a cycle; Aries, a new expression of the cosmos. In 2011, Jupiter and Uranus ingress into Aries, Chiron and Neptune move into Pisces, and dwarf planet Ceres enters and ener-gizes both signs. Whenever a planet appears to change direction, it lingers around a point in the zodiac for weeks, greatly intensifying the archetypal intent

of that planet and sign. This year, the first degree of Aries — the beginning of the beginning — is further highlighted by Ceres’ retrograde station at 0°39' Aries on July 26, 2011 and Uranus’s station direct at 0°38' Aries on Decem-ber 10. Those shifts, coupled with Nep-tune’s station retrograde at 0°55' Pisces on June 3 and Chiron’s station direct at 0º38' Pisces on November 10, shine a huge cosmic spotlight on what we are leaving behind and what we need to take to the next level. Jupiter finishes its once-every-twelve-year passage through Pisces on January 22, 2011. As the largest planet in our solar system, Jupiter represents the principle of expansion; in Pisces, it corresponds to increasing our compas-sion and understanding of spiritual reali-ties. Jupiter entered Pisces on January 17, 2010, sprinted into Aries on June 5, and then re-entered Pisces on Sep-tember 8, ending 2010 at 27° Pisces. In 2011, Jupiter moves quickly through Aries (January 22 to June 4), turns ret-rograde on August 30 at 10°21' Tau-rus, and ends the year at 0°25' Taurus. In Aries, Jupiter inspires individual ini-tiative and courageous leaps of faith. In Taurus, Jupiter looks for more beauty and peace, more contentment and sta-bility. Jupiter in any sign asks: What matters most to you? What beliefs need to be updated? What is possible now? Uranus, with its orbital period of 84 years (far longer than Jupiter’s 12-year and Saturn’s 29-year cycles), coincides with larger, generational changes. The mythic God of Chaos breaks down old structures in order for new ones to emerge. As the modern ruler of Aquarius, Uranus functions as the Awakener, the liberator from con-ventions and mores that have become stifling and destructive. In Aries, Uranus sparks rebellion and generates grass-roots movements that challenge hier-archical organizations and calcified institutions. Uranus blazed into Aries from May 27 to August 13, 2010 and re-enters the first sign on March 11, 2011. Both natally and by transit, Ura-nus highlights where we must be will-ing to innovate, question the status quo, and be an agent of change. Uranus’s last pass through Aries (1927–35) saw women’s suffrage in Great Britain,

2011 Outlook

In 2011, the primary ingresses occur in Pisces and Aries,

indicating a year of major transitions.


��Gandhi’s civil disobedience movement in India, and (in the United States) Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal, the reorganization of the Federal Reserve, and the passage of the Social Security Act, as well as extraordinary discover-ies in quantum mechanics and radio astronomy, which greatly expanded our comprehension of the universe. Uranus’s last pass through Aries was amplified by five exact squares to Pluto (1932–34, 20°–25° Aries–Cancer); this one (2010–19) will be intensified by seven squares to Pluto (see Theme 2). In Aries, Uranus asks: What alternatives do you need to explore? Where are you ready for a radical change? How are you making a difference in the world? Each time humanity makes a new discovery in physics or astronomy, there is a corresponding leap in collec-tive consciousness; a new archetype and template for creation emerges. Chiron, discovered in 1977 orbiting between Saturn and Uranus, represents a bridg-ing energy, a link between the physical constraints of Saturn and the metaphysi-cal realm of Uranus. His mythic image as a Centaur — half-human and half-animal, half-mortal and half-divine — reminds us that there is no separation between physical and spiritual, between humanity and the rest of creation, and that as we help others, we help our-selves. On February 8, 2011, Chiron re-enters Pisces, where it remains until

February 18, 2019. Chiron dipped into Pisces for three months in 2010, from April 20 to July 20; the Deepwater Hori-zon environmental disaster in the Gulf of Mexico occurred the very day Chiron entered Pisces, the sign most associated with the ocean. Chiron’s re-entry into Pisces will reveal how much is still left to heal from that titanic oil spill, and it sig-nals a time of increased efforts in restor-ing ecological balance. The last passage of Chiron in Pisces was 1960–69, dur-ing Uranus’s previous conjunction with Pluto; now that Uranus and Pluto are square, Chiron in Pisces again urges us to wage peace, not war, and to honor the sanctity of all life. What connects you with your higher self? What do you need to heal? What opens your heart? Ceres transits Pisces from March 21 to July 11, 2011, hovers at the first degree of Aries for 30 days, and then returns to Pisces from August 10, 2011

to January 19, 2012. Ceres’ passage through Pisces and into Aries helps us to remember and reclaim what has been splintered off from our collective psyche — the power of the feminine, the impor-tance of understanding where we came from, and the value of knowing where we belong. As the most massive body orbiting between Mars and Jupiter (con-taining almost one-third of the asteroid belt’s total mass), Ceres was considered the eighth planet for 50 years after its discovery in 1801, until the detection of other bodies orbiting between Mars and Jupiter prompted a new classification. In Roman mythology, Ceres was the god-dess of agriculture; her name derives from the Indo-European root ker, mean-ing “to grow.” Known to the ancient Greeks as Demeter, Ceres played a central role in the Eleusinian mysteries — the sacred rites of birth, death, and renewal — which connect her with both spiritual and physical sustenance. Ceres’ association with a goddess rather than a god coincided with new options emerging for feminine expres-sion, beyond that symbolized by the Moon (mother) and Venus (consort). As the Great Mother, linked with the cycles and resources of nature, Ceres’ 2006 astronomical upgrade to dwarf planet reflects yet another shift in our relationship to the feminine and to the Earth. Dawn Mission, an unmanned NASA project launched in 2007, is on

Now that Uranus and Pluto are square, Chiron in Pisces urges us to wage peace, not war, and to honor the

sanctity of all life.


��

its way to Ceres, due to arrive there in 2015 after exploring Vesta this year, suggesting an even greater increase in feminine, Earth-based awareness emerging in the collective conscious-ness. If Ceres is a relatively new astro-logical archetype for you, notice what you experience when Ceres conjoins Mars on January 28, 2011, Neptune on March 20, Venus on March 29, and Chi-ron on March 30. Ceres asks: What is your relationship to your feminine side? to the Earth? Are you listening to your intuition? Do you live in a place and a way that is nourishing and sustainable? The most important ingress into Pisces involves Neptune, since it has the longest orbital period of the three (168 years, versus 50 for Chiron and 4–5 for Ceres). Traveling far beyond Uranus, invisible to the naked eye, Neptune embarks on a 14-year passage through Pisces, taking us deeply into the mysteries of nonlinear time and space, territory that has long been mapped by mystics and, more recently, by mod-ern physicists. Subatomic experiments have demonstrated that there is no real separation between the observer and the observed and that the greater the amount of attention, the greater its influ-ence and effect.2 In Neptune’s realm, we discover that we live in a holographic universe3 — a virtual world created by our intention, maintained by our focus, and in constant connection and com-munication with all of creation. We dis-cover the power of the heart, which generates an electromagnetic force field thousands of times stronger than that of the brain.4 We realize that there are many dimensions and many universes to explore, that our intuition is more powerful than our intellect, and that we are eternal, infinite beings. Neptune was discovered in 1846, just before its last ingress into Pisces (1847–61), a period coincident with the rise of Theosophy, Marxism, and other social movements, as well as important developments in photography and wire-less communication. During that period, women’s suffrage was granted in Austra-lia, Russian serfs were emancipated, and the U.S. Civil War over the abolition of

slavery began (1861–65). It was also a time of widespread financial crises in Europe, the height of the Romantic movement in music, the California Gold Rush, the first oil well drilling in Pennsyl-vania, and the apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Lourdes. Neptune begins its next pass through Pisces on April 4, 2011; it retrogrades for a brief revisit of Aquarius from August 4, 2011 to Feb-ruary 3, 2012, when it re-enters Pisces, essentially remaining there until 2026. Neptune asks: What are your highest ideals? What illusions or preconceptions are holding you back? Where do you need to do less and be more?

Eclipses We swim in a sea of vibratory fre-quencies; microwaves, radio waves, X-rays, gamma rays, ultraviolet and infrared radiation surround and pass through us day and night. Every six months, the Sun, Moon, and Earth align precisely enough to interrupt a signifi-cant portion of that constant flow. Our consciousness is rebooted. We receive a major upgrade, a larger hard drive capable of running more complex pro-grams. As the electromagnetic energies supporting a particular configuration of consciousness shift, we become aware of new options and pathways. Eclipses thus represent special opportunities to break old patterns and make major changes in our lives. They occur close to the same degree in 19-year cycles; issues that were important previously cycle around, either for com-pletion or for advancement to the next level. Solar eclipses are extra-powerful New Moons, significant initiations into a higher level of consciousness. Lunar eclipses are extra-potent Full Moons that

expose unconscious aspects of human nature; feelings and fears are closer to the surface, making it clearer what is motivating or blocking us. Eclipses highly activate the arche-typal energies of the sign in which they occur. Note in which house(s) they fall in your natal chart; something begun almost two decades ago in that area of your life must go the next level, or be released. Any planets located within 5 degrees of the eclipse are especially primed for major developments. In 2011, there are six eclipses, four solar and two lunar, all quite potent:

• The January � solar eclipse (14° Capricorn) coincides with the third conjunction of Jupiter and Uranus, this time at 27° Pisces, which squares the Galactic Center (GC) at 27° Sag-ittarius. (See the “Cosmic Wildcards” section below.)

• The June 1 solar eclipse (11° Gemini) has the transiting (True) North Node within a few degrees of the GC.

• The June 1� total lunar eclipse (24° Sagittarius–Gemini) falls within a few degrees of the GC.

• The July 1 solar eclipse (9° Can-cer) opposes Pluto at 6° Capricorn, squares Saturn at 11° Libra, and squares Uranus at 5° Aries, generating an extremely powerful cardinal grand cross.

• The November �� solar eclipse (3° Sagittarius) is a SuperMoon (see Sidebar on facing page) and coincides with Mercury turning retrograde that day at 20° Sagittarius.

• The December 10 total lunar eclipse (18° Gemini–Sagittarius) coincides with Uranus turning direct at 1° Aries.

Full Moons at 29° Just as the signs, planets, and aspects represent a universal cycle of development, so do the 30 degrees within each sign. Planets in the earli-est degrees of a sign require our cour-age and initiative; at the 29th degree, our wisdom and compassion. The early degrees function like Aries, symbolizing the beginning of a new phase; the later

2011 Outlook

Eclipses highly activate the archetypal energies

of the sign in which they occur. Note in

which house(s) they fall in your natal chart.


��degrees are akin to Pisces, signaling a completion and a transition to the next level. The first three Full Moons of 2011 peak at the last degrees of a sign, with the Sun appearing in the last three signs of the zodiac. This double emphasis on the last degrees of the last signs further emphasizes the transitional nature of this year:

• January 19: Sun at 29°27' Capricorn

• February 18: Sun at 29°20' Aquarius

• March 19: Sun at 28°47' Pisces

The Lunar Nodes The lunar nodes have an 18.6-year cycle, remaining in the same sign polar-ity for approximately 18 months. The transiting North Node represents the collective spiritual frontier; the transit-ing South Node, what is being released or redefined. As one of the few things in astrology that move primarily retro-grade, the lunar nodes symbolize the pathway of return to our cosmic origins. From July 27, 2009 to February 13, 2011, the North Node in Capricorn calls us to develop self-reliance and dis-cipline — to reclaim our power and be mature, responsible adults with healthy boundaries. The South Node in Cancer requires that we release codependency, martyrdom, and destructive attach-ments to our family, ethnic group, or nation. What do you need to weed out of your life in order to grow? Where are you taking too much, or too little, responsibility? What are your primary goals? From February 13, 2011 to Sep-tember 2, 2012, the lunar nodes shift from Capricorn–Cancer to Sagittarius– Gemini. The transiting North Node in Sagittarius calls us to question old beliefs, explore new perspectives, and discover our truth. We grow through education, exposure to other cultures, and contemplation of the meaning of life. The transiting South Node in Gem-ini bids us release cynicism, superfici-ality, and overreliance on the intellect. What assumptions need to be exam-ined? What is no longer true for you? Where do you need to expand your horizons?

Retrogrades Retrograde periods in general are times to review, repair, and release whatever is blocking our progress and to further develop and integrate changes we have recently made. No planets are retrograde the first 25 days and the last six days of 2011, so it’s full speed ahead from January 1 to January 25 and from December 25, 2011 to January 24, 2012. Mercury retrograde passages are opportunities to let go of mental pat-terning, old ways of thinking and com-municating. In 2011, Mercury will be retrograde March 30 – April 23, August 2–26, and November 24 – December 13. All three of Mercury’s retrograde periods will be in fire signs this year (Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius), calling us to re-evaluate our aspirations, our moti-vations, and how we express ourselves. Mercury retrograde directs us to use our right brain as well as our left to reassess whether our goals and strategies are in alignment with our spiritual intentions. Mercury ordinarily moves through a sign in about one month; when retrograde, it doubles its time in that sign. In 2011, Mercury spends 66 days in Aries, 58 in Leo, and 67 days in Sagittarius, stress-ing the need for initiative, creativity, and optimism.

Theme 2: Revelations. Breakthroughs and

Breakdowns. New Alliances.

The greater the emergency, the faster the emergence.

— Barbara Marx Hubbard

Back to the elephant story: 96% of our universe is invisible.5 Our eyes and our scientific instruments register only a small fraction of the electromagnetic spectrum, which interpenetrates and regulates everything, from subatomic to super-galactic levels of existence. Dark matter, dark energy, “junk DNA” — much still remains beyond our current borders of knowledge. The alignments discussed below symbolize that we are ready to cross into new frontiers of outer and inner space.

SuperMoons In 2011, there are six Super-Moons, three Full and three New. A SuperMoon is a time when the Moon is both at perigee (its closest approach to the Earth) and syzygy (at New or Full phase). Super-Moons generate stronger gravita-tional pulls on coastal tides, weather patterns, and tectonic plates. Our psyches are more easily shifted as well; emotions surge and viewpoints change as new shores of under-standing are exposed. While not as strong as an eclipse, a SuperMoon increases the electromagnetic influ-ences of the Sun and Moon, offer-ing greater opportunities for insights and change.

SuperMoon highlights:

• February 18 Full Moon (29°20' Leo–Aquarius) includes five bodies in Aquarius; the Sun conjoins Ceres at 17°, Mercury at 23°, Mars at 26°, and Neptune at 28° Aquarius and Chiron at 1° Pisces.

• March 19 Full Moon (28°47' Virgo–Pisces) closely squares the lunar nodes at 28° Sagittarius–Gemini; the Sun conjoins Uranus at 0°26' Aries.

• April 17 Full Moon (27°44' Libra–Aries) features five planets in Aries: Uranus at 2°, Mars at 12°, Mercury at 14°, Jupiter at 19°, and the Sun at 28°.

• September 27 New Moon (4°00' Libra) has five planets in Libra: Mer-cury at 3°, the Sun and Moon at 4°, Venus at 15°, and Saturn at 18°. The conjoined Sun, Moon, and Mer-cury square Pluto at 5° Capricorn and oppose Uranus at 3° Aries.

• October 26 New Moon (3°02' Scorpio) conjoins Juno at 1° Scor-pio, trines Chiron at 1° Pisces, opposes Jupiter at 5° Taurus, and quincunxes Uranus at 2° Aries.

• November 24 New Moon (2°37' Sagittarius) is also a solar eclipse; it squares Chiron at 1° Pisces, trines Uranus at 1° Aries, and quin-cunxes Jupiter at 2° Taurus.

�0 www.mountainastrologer.com

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Jupiter Conjunct Uranus The year 2011 begins with a con-junction of Jupiter and Uranus at 27° Pisces, heralding a year ripe for quan-tum leaps in consciousness. The Jupiter–Uranus conjunction in Pisces catalyzes profound inner as well as outer developments, since this combi-nation of energies expands our sixth sense, our intuition, which can attune to dimensions and realities far beyond the physical plane. This conjunction also catalyzes advancements in technol-ogy that facilitate an increased under-standing of our interconnectedness and interdependence. Experiences of unity consciousness become more easily attained; knowledge of higher dimensions, more easily accessed. As this conjunction closely squares the Galactic Center at 27° Sagittarius, con-scious contact with life forms beyond our solar system may move from the realm of science fiction to fact sometime this year. Jupiter and Uranus rendezvous every 13–14 years, but their meet-ings in Pisces have been rare: Their last conjunction in the twelfth sign was in 1334; the next time will be in 2093. The January 4, 2011 conjunc-tion is the third in a series of three; the first two were in 2010 (on June 8 at 0° Aries and on September 18 at 29° Pisces). Since Jupiter rules expansion, and Uranus innovation, the years of their conjunctions coincide with major breakthroughs. The previous conjunc-tion (1997 at 6º Aquarius) saw the first

animal cloning (Dolly the sheep) and the first spacecraft landing on Mars. The 1983 conjunctions (6°–9° Sagittarius) witnessed the Pioneer 10 space probe leave the solar system, and the 1968–69 conjunctions (1°–4° Libra) corre-sponded to Neil Armstrong’s walk on the Moon and the first Internet trans-mission. This year’s Jupiter–Uranus conjunction in Pisces reminds us that the current environmental, economic, and social challenges will not be solved solely by advances in technology, but through a spiritual revolution, a shift into a more unified awareness.

Jupiter Square Pluto Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system and the second-biggest broadcaster of electromagnetic energy (after the Sun), represents opportunities to enlarge our experience and under-standing of life far beyond what has been codified by our social, cultural, and religious institutions. Profound insights and new sources of energy come to the fore as Jupiter moves into Aries on January 22, 2011. Jupiter makes its final of three squares to Pluto

on February 25 at 7° Aries–Capricorn (the first two were on July 24, 2010 at 3°23' Aries–Capricorn and on August 2 at 3°12') and its third opposition to Sat-urn on March 28, 2011 at 14°21' Aries–Libra (the previous oppositions were on May 22, 2010 at 27°52' Pisces–Virgo and on August 16 at 2°26' Aries–Libra). Scalar waves, discovered by Nikola Tesla before the turn of the 20th cen-tury, provide virtually free, unlimited energy. Information about these bidirec-tional, longitudinal electromagnetic fre-quencies has been suppressed by vested interests in oil and other profitable energy sources.6 These kinds of abun-dant, free, renewable energy sources are due to re-emerge as Jupiter and Uranus transit through Aries.

Uranus Square Pluto Squares mark major turning points; they urge us to manifest the visions that were seeded at the previous conjunc-tion. Uranus and Pluto conjoin only once every 125 years or so; they met three times in 1965–66 (16°–17° Virgo) and were within 10° of each other through most of that decade, one of the most turbulent and creative in modern history. As the forces of change (Ura-nus and Pluto) opposed the status quo (Saturn), we saw tremendous advances in science and technology: the first man in space, the first synthesis of DNA, Chaos Theory, and the Gaia Hypoth-esis, as well as major social and political movements — civil rights, feminist, and anti–Vietnam War demonstrations, the independence of many African colonies, and the Cultural Revolution in China. Demands for freedom and equal-ity build as Uranus re-enters Aries on March 11 and, by mid July, is only 1°22' from an exact square to Pluto. These archetypal energies of revolution and evolution remain within 5 degrees of a square through the end of 2011 and move on to form seven exact squares between 2012 and 2015 (7°–15° Aries–Capricorn). Longstanding corruption and inequality become more intolerable, and the calls for reform more insistent, as this square approaches exactitude. Those born with Uranus in Virgo (1961–69) and Pluto in Virgo (1956–72) are being pushed to the front lines of change, both in their personal and

Planetary Travel in 2011

Body Zodiacal Distance Traveled in 2011 January 1 December 31

Ceres 29° Cap – 1° Ari 28°58' Cap 24°33' Pis

Jupiter 27° Pis – 11° Tau 26°33' Pis 00°25' Tau

Saturn 10°– 28° Lib 16°39' Lib 28°17' Lib

Chiron 28° Aqu – 6° Pis 27°37' Aqu 01°54' Pis

Uranus 27° Pis – 5° Ari 26°57' Pis 00°50' Ari

Neptune 27° Aqu – 1° Pis 26°44' Aqu 28°53' Aqu

Pluto 5°–8° Cap 05°19' Cap 07°19' Cap

2011 OutlookSaturn, the ruler of

Capricorn, remains in Libra until October

2012, echoing Pluto in Capricorn’s emphasis on ethics, equality,

and justice.

Dec. 2010/Jan. 2011 * The Mountain Astrologer �1

C �1professional lives, by this square and by oppositions from Ceres, Chiron, and Neptune transiting through Pisces. Peo-ple born with Uranus in Libra (1968–75), Uranus in Cancer (1949–56), and Uranus in Capricorn (1988–96) will be galvanized by this alignment to blaze new trails in relationships, wom-en’s issues, and business. All of us will be pressured to let go of what no lon-ger serves our growth and to more fully share our unique gifts with the world. Pluto compels us to look at the shadow side of Capricorn, which is both the misuse of power and the fear of being one’s own authority. During Uranus’s passage through Capricorn (1988–96), there was widespread expo-sure of political, religious, and institu-tional corruption in many countries, in addition to the fall of the Iron Curtain and the Berlin Wall. During Chiron’s sojourn in Capricorn (2001–05), major corporate fraud began to surface (e.g., the Enron and Arthur Andersen scan-dals). Neptune’s passage through Capri-corn (1984–98) coincided with multiple mergers and increasingly extravagant

financial compensation for CEOs. As Pluto continues to transit Capricorn (2008–24), demands for accountabil-ity and integrity increase, and a triple bottom line (which includes social and environmental factors as well as mon-etary profit) becomes essential for eco-nomic and human survival.

Saturn in Libra Saturn, the ruler of Capricorn, remains in Libra until October 5, 2012, echoing Pluto in Capricorn’s emphasis on ethics, equality, and justice. On an individual level, Saturn requires that we deeply examine all our relationships, question the roles we play, and fully honor or renegotiate our agreements. Saturn demands that we let go of playing victim or dominator and work toward a win–win solution. On a social and politi-cal level, Saturn in Libra supports team-work, reconciliation, and equal rights legislation. Although some strides were made in civil rights during Saturn’s last passage through Libra (September 21, 1980 to August 24, 1983), there is still a long, long way to go in terms of

social and economic equality world-wide. It is sobering to remember that it was only 30 years ago that Sandra Day O’Connor became the first female U.S. Supreme Court Justice and Jesse Jack-son was the first black man to address the Alabama legislature. In 1980, an international treaty dedicated to gen-der equality was formulated (CEDAW, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women); as of this writing (September 2010), 186 countries have ratified that treaty, but the U.S. has not.7 Much work also remains to be done regarding racial injustice and economic disparity. Minor-ities are frisked, arrested, incarcerated, and given longer sentences in the U.S. far more often than whites.8 Since 1979, the gap between the wealthy and the poor has widened: 64% of all income growth has gone to the richest 10 per-cent.9 Saturn asks each of us to roll up our sleeves and work to change what is unfair and unsustainable. What is out of balance for you? Where do you need to reclaim your authority? Where do you need to draw the line?


��

Sign Degree Event Date 2011

Aries 0° Jupiter enters Aries Jan. 22

0° Uranus enters Aries March 11

0° Sun enters Aries (equinox) March 20

0° Ceres enters Aries (at 1° Aries until Aug. 10) July 11

0°38' Uranus direct Dec. 10

0°39' Ceres Rx July 26

1°17' Mars conjunct Uranus April 3

4°33' Uranus Rx July 9

7°02' Third Jupiter–Pluto square Feb. 25

12°53' Mercury direct April 23

13°30' New Moon squares Jan. 4 eclipse April 3

14°21' Third Jupiter–Saturn opposition March 28

22°20' Mars conjunct Jupiter April 30

24°21' Mercury Rx March 30

27°44' Super Full Moon (Libra–Aries) April 17

Taurus 0° Jupiter enters Taurus June 4

0º21' Jupiter direct Dec. 25

5°20' Jupiter trine Pluto Oct. 28

5°57' Jupiter trine Pluto July 7

10°21' Jupiter Rx Aug. 30

12°30' New Moon May 2

26°13' Full Moon (Scorpio–Taurus) May 17

Gemini 11°01' Solar eclipse June 1

18°08' Lunar eclipse (Gemini–Sagittarius) Dec. 10

24°23' Lunar eclipse (Sagittarius–Gemini) June 15

Cancer 0º Sun enters Cancer (solstice) June 21

9°11' Solar eclipse July 1

22°27' Full Moon (Capricorn–Cancer) July 14

29°27' Full Moon (Cancer–Capricorn) Jan. 19

Leo 7°15' New Moon July 30

18°41' Mercury direct Aug. 26

20°41' Full Moon (Aquarius–Leo) Aug. 13

29°20' Super Full Moon (Leo–Aquarius) Feb. 18

Virgo 1°12' Mercury Rx Aug. 2

5°27' New Moon Aug. 28

11°01' Sun squares the June 1 solar eclipse Sept. 3

19°17' Full Moon (Pisces–Virgo) Sept. 12

24°23' Sun squares June 15 lunar eclipse Sept. 17

28°47' Super Full Moon (Virgo–Pisces) March 19

Note: These are listed in numerical sequence by degree, not in chronological order.

“Hot” Degrees in 2011 Transit Tips Outer planets (Ceres, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto) represent transpersonal energies and evolutionary processes; the inner planets (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, and Mars) have much shorter cycles, representing more personal energies and also acting as triggers for the longer, outer-planetary processes. The Uranus–Pluto square is in effect from 2007 to 2019 (using a 10° orb). Not every day is going to bring hair-raising, mind-blowing, radical change, but when-ever a faster-moving planet (Mercury, Venus, Mars, as well as the Sun and Moon) lines up by conjunction, square, or opposi-tion to the Uranus–Pluto square, the cos-mic winds really pick up. Here are some prime examples:

• The Moon will activate the Uranus–Pluto square once a week, as it goes into the cardinal signs of Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn.

• The Sun, Mercury, and Venus will do the same, but only a few times per year. For instance, Venus in Cancer squares Uranus on July 7, 2011, opposes Pluto on July 8, and squares Saturn on July 13.

• Mars will line up twice: in April and again in August. Mars in Aries conjoins Uranus on April 3, 2011, squares Pluto on April 11, and opposes Saturn on April 18. Mars in Cancer squares Uranus on August 9, opposes Pluto on August 10, and squares Saturn on August 25.

Cosmic Wildcards Geophysical evidence shows that the electromagnetic fields of the Earth are changing. As our brain processes and stores information via its own electromag-netic structures, we are directly affected by fluctuations in the Earth’s magnetic field.10

Solar winds, radiations from the cen-ter of our Milky Way galaxy and beyond, have an effect on us as well. Much more difficult to measure and predict, these influ-ences have long been noted for their dis-ruption of communication networks. While trying to identify sources of static, Karl Jansky, a Bell Telephone engineer, found radio waves streaming from the Galactic Center in 1931, birthing a new field, radio astronomy, as Uranus in Aries squared Jupiter and Pluto in Cancer and Saturn in Capricorn.11


�� Sign Degree Event Date 2011

Libra 0° Sun enters Libra (equinox) Sept. 23

1°46'Super Galactic Center (SGC): Jupiter opposes SGC Uranus opposes SGC Ceres opposes SGC Juno conjunct SGC

Jan. 31 April 12, Oct. 16 July 11– Aug. 10 Aug. 2

4°00' Super New Moon Sept. 27

9°11' Sun squares the July 1 solar eclipse Oct. 2

10°26' Saturn direct June 12

14°21' Third Jupiter–Saturn opposition March 28

17°13' Saturn Rx Jan. 25

18°24' Full Moon (Aries–Libra) Oct. 11

27°44' Super Full Moon (Libra–Aries) April 17

Scorpio 3°02' Super New Moon Oct. 26

18°04' Full Moon (Taurus–Scorpio) Nov. 10

26°13' Full Moon (Scorpio–Taurus) May 17

Sagittarius 2°37' Solar eclipse Nov. 24

3°51' Mercury direct Dec. 13

18°08' Lunar eclipse (Gemini–Sagittarius) Dec. 10

20°07' Mercury Rx Nov. 24

24°23' Lunar eclipse (Sagittarius–Gemini) June 15

26°55'Galactic Center (GC): Jupiter–Uranus square GC Mercury conjunct GC Venus conjunct GC Lunar eclipse on GC

Jan. 4 Jan. 10 Feb. 1, Nov. 23 June 15

Capricorn 0° Sun enters Capricorn (solstice) Dec. 21

2°34' New Moon Dec. 24

4°53' Pluto direct Sept. 16

7°30' Pluto Rx April 9

13°38' Solar eclipse Jan. 4

22°27' Full Moon (Capricorn–Cancer) July 14

29°27' Full Moon (Cancer–Capricorn) Jan. 19

Aquarius 0° Ceres enters Aquarius July 11

13°53' New Moon Feb. 2

20°41' Full Moon (Aquarius–Leo) Aug. 13

28°08' Neptune direct Nov. 9

28°31' Mercury and Mars conjunct Neptune Feb. 20

29°20' Super Full Moon (Leo–Aquarius) Feb. 18

29°31' Neptune conjunct Ceres March 20

table continued next page

On July 27, 2010 researchers using NASA’s fleet of five THEMIS spacecraft discovered a form of space weather they dubbed a “spacequake,” a tremor in the Earth’s magnetic field that can reach all the way down to the surface of the Earth itself and rival in strength that of a magni-tude 5 or 6 earthquake. Million-mile-per-hour solar winds “shake” and change the shape of the Earth’s field, affecting com-munication satellites circling the Earth and all of us below.12 At this point, space-quakes are not easily predictable but are expected to increase as the current solar cycle peaks in 2013.13

Our Sun, along with 200 billion other stars, orbits around the center of the Milky Way galaxy. At the Galactic Center (GC) lies a super-massive black hole, four million times larger than our Sun, which not only absorbs but also emits enormous amounts of microwave, infrared, and gamma waves that penetrate and affect the electromag-netic fields of Earth and all its inhabitants. Celestial bodies aligning with the GC focal-ize these electromagnetic transmissions, which provide tremendous energetic sup-port for releasing old patterns and beliefs. Each year, the Sun, Mercury, and Venus conjoin the GC; in 2011, the much rarer Jupiter–Uranus conjunction squares it on January 4, and the June 15 lunar eclipse conjoins it. Another powerful source of electro-magnetic radiation is the Super Galactic Center (SGC) at 1°46' Libra — a colossal black hole with the mass of billions of suns, around which the Milky Way and many other galaxies revolve. Ceres, Jupi-ter, and Uranus form oppositions to the SGC as they ingress into Aries. Add in the stellar emanations of pulsars, quasars, black holes — more than 8,700 deep space objects catalogued to date by pio-neering deep space astrologer, Philip Sedgwick14 — and we begin to grasp the dynamic vastness and intricate intercon-nectedness of our universe.

Theme 3: The Age of Aquarius, the Mayan Calendar, and 2012

Rather than as a precise date on which major changes happen, I see 2012 as


C��

the temporal epicenter of a cultural earthquake.

— Peter Russell

Like the Moon, each astrologi-cal Age waxes and wanes. There are no fixed lines in space; everything is in motion, in process. The twelve astrologi-cal Ages that comprise the Great Year, an approximately 26,000-year cycle, reflect collective, developmental themes, each prominent for a period of about 2,150 years. The astrological Ages pro-gress in reverse, so we are now in tran-sition from the Age of Pisces to the Age of Aquarius. There is much debate about exactly when the Age of Aquarius begins; Nicholas Campion, in his Book of World Horoscopes, mentions at least 70 dates, spanning a range of 1,500 years. Whatever marker one chooses, it is obvious that humanity is in a momen-tous transition, needing to evolve from hierarchy to equality, from competition to collaboration, from survival of the fit-test to what fits all. Aquarius represents the development of group conscious-ness, where we move beyond identify-ing with our ego, family, religion, race, and country to realizing that we are all members of the human race. It is the

age of unity in diversity, where unity does not mean uniformity, but the expo-nential creativity and progress gener-ated from egalitarian, collective efforts. The eleventh sign in an archetypal cycle of 12 asks of us: Are we doing our part? Are we in touch with our individuality and our interdependence? In order to graduate to the Age of Aquarius, we must learn the lessons of Pisces, which involve transcendence of duality and reclamation of the sacred. Throughout most of Western civiliza-tion, the dominating archetype of the Age of Pisces has been that of sin and redemption, exemplified in the myth of the Fall of mankind from the Garden of Eden. Whether or not we were raised in a Judeo-Christian faith, there is a belief deeply buried in the modern collec-tive unconscious that we are inherently flawed and that Heaven and God are somewhere other than here on Earth and intrinsic to all life. The belief in original sin has led to the demonization and degradation of the feminine, the body, and the Earth itself. It keeps us in fear, robs us of our power, and locks us into polarization, conflict, and scarcity. Reuniting matter and spirit, head and heart, nature and humanity, remains the fundamental challenge and impera-tive of this crucial period. In order to evolve from duality to unity conscious-

ness, all that has been hidden in our personal unconscious and collective shadow must be brought to light and transmuted. Indeed, the darkest hour is often just before dawn; as we witness the necessary breakdown of the old Age and all that has supported it, it is extremely helpful to keep the big picture in mind. Every ending is a beginning. The zodiacal wheel of life keeps turning. There are many other indications that humanity has reached a major evo-lutionary juncture. A dimensional shift, from the limited perception of duality to a collective awareness of our inher-ent divinity and interconnectedness, has been prophesied as the Mayan End Times, 2012, the Hopi Fifth World, Timewave Zero, the Ascension, the Great Awakening. It has also been described as a singularity, a bifurcation point, a chaos window, a quantum bridge, zero point, a “time of never-ending peace,” Shambhala, Christogenesis. None of these is about the end of the world, but rather the birth of a new era. In order to fully appreciate this extraordinary period in human history, it is helpful to examine our constructs of time. From a three-dimensional point of view, time is linear, a one-way trajectory of past, present, and future, each phase demarcated from the other. Astrology recognizes another kind of time, cyclic time, which is relational; the beginning of a new cycle is inseparable from the end of the previous one, with its inter-mediate stages interlinked as well. There is yet another kind of time — described as fractal time by Gregg Braden,15 Time-wave Zero by Terence McKenna,16 auric time by Sergey Smelyakov,17 and evolu-tionary time by Carl Johan Calleman18 — which encompasses an exponential, nonlinear component. We are all famil-iar with the linear progression of num-bers 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. One example of an exponential series is the Fibonacci sequence, which progresses by adding the previous two numbers to arrive at the next: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, etc. The Fibonacci sequence is inter-twined with the golden ratio, or phi, which appears on every level of exis-tence. This ratio generates self- referencing patterns called fractals, which are seen throughout nature,

2011 Outlook

Pisces 0° Chiron enters Pisces Feb. 8

0° Ceres enters Pisces March 21

0° Neptune enters Pisces April 4

0°38' Chiron direct Nov. 10

0°44' Sun conjunct Chiron Feb. 19

0°55' Neptune Rx June 3

1°03' Mars conjunct Chiron Feb. 24

3°15' Chiron conjunct Ceres March 30

5°29' Chiron Rx June 8

13°55' New Moon March 4

16°24' Ceres direct Nov. 6

19°17' Full Moon (Pisces–Virgo) Sept. 12

27°02' Third Jupiter–Uranus conjunction Jan. 4

28°47' Super Full Moon (Virgo–Pisces) March 19

“Hot” Degrees in 2011 - continued


��from snowflake and cloud formations to plant and coastline configurations.19 When this kind of geometric progres-sion is applied to time as well as matter, surprising designs of creation appear. Quantum leaps in evolution become explicable and predictable. Mayan cosmology uses an expo-nential, nonlinear time system, which maps a 16.4-billion-year evolutionary cycle. Its nine levels, or Underworlds, correspond to major phylogenic devel-opments: the emergence of cellular, mammalian, familial, tribal, regional, national, planetary, galactic, and univer-sal expressions of consciousness. Each Mayan Underworld is 20 times shorter than the previous cycle; more cre-ation and change occur in less and less time.20 As each end date approaches, the lag time between thought and cre-ation decreases, ultimately to the point where creation appears instantaneous. According to Mayan scholar Carl Johan Calleman, the end date of the Mayan Calendar, which signals “the completion of creation and the attainment of Cosmic Consciousness” is October 28, 2011.21

December 21, 2012, the date most often specified for the end of the Mayan Long Count Calendar, has been called the “Galactic Alignment” and associated with the crossing of the winter solstice with the center of our Milky Way (GC).22 According to astronomer Jean Meeus, that occurred in 1998.23 It will take 36 years for the Sun to completely cross the Galactic Equator (taking into con-sideration the Sun’s half-degree width); that occurs in 2034. If one uses the radio telescope–defined center of the GC, that date becomes 2219.24 These various dates and methods of measur-ing immense spans of time and space — plus the fact that the Sun will never actually make a precise alignment with the GC (since the GC lies 5.5 degrees south of the ecliptic)25 — remind us that we are dealing with a process that is not easily quantified and that there may be not just one, but a succession of major shifts in consciousness. What all these factors point toward is that we are immersed in a transfor-mative process that, as in the tale of the blind men and the elephant, appears

incomprehensible and unsolvable from our current level of awareness. We are birthing a new reality. The ending of one Age and the beginning of the next is happening moment by moment, breath by breath, heart by heart. How we experience this juncture depends on our willingness to open, expand, and change. We are all in this together. Everyone counts; everything matters. What are your hopes and dreams? What is your role to play at this pivotal time on Earth? Align every aspect of your life with your vision. Live your truth. “Become your truth, and you become the next truth that is available. Until you embrace this page of your truth, you will not turn the next page; you will not know the next thing, and you will rob this from the world as well.” (Carruch, channeled by Carol Steinel) References and Notes1. John Godfrey Saxe’s version of the famous Indian legend, plus the Chinese, Jain, Buddhist, and Sufi versions can be found at: www.kheper.net/topics/blind_men_and_elephant/Buddhist.html


��2. The Mystery of 2012: Predictions, Prophecies and Possibilities by Sounds True.

3. Visit www.crystalinks.com/holographicuni verse.html for several fascinating articles on holographic theory.

4. For more information, read Renee A. Levi’s fascinating article, “The Sentient Heart: Mes-sages for Life,” at: www.collectivewisdomini tiative.org/papers/levi_sentient.htm

5. http://map.gsfc.nasa.gov/universe/uni_mat ter.html

6. www.prahlad.org/pub/bearden/scalar_wars.htm

7. www.aclu.org/womens-rights/

8. www.huffingtonpost.com/bill-quigley/four teen-examples-of-raci_b_658947.html

9. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/ 2010/09/the_rich_getting_richer_in_one.html

10. R. A. Kerr, “Magnetism triggers a brain response,” in Science, 11 June 1993: 1590.

11. www.bell-labs.com/news/1998/june/4/2.html

12. http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/sci ence-at-nasa/2010/27jul_spacequakes/

13. http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/sci ence-at-nasa/2010/16jul_ilws/

14. www.philipsedgwick.com/Bio/NewBioAs tro.htm

15. Gregg Braden, Fractal Time: The Secret of 2012 and a New World Age, Hay House, 2009.

16. Terence McKenna, The Archaic Revival: Speculations on Psychedelic Mushrooms, the Amazon, Virtual Reality, UFOs, Evolution, Sha-manism, the Rebirth of the Goddess, and the End of History, HarperSanFrancisco, 1991.

17. Auric Time: www.soulsofdistortion.nl/ATS.html

18. Carl Johan Calleman, The Mayan Calen-dar and the Transformation of Consciousness, Bear & Co., 2004.

19. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_ratio

20. http://shiftoftheage.wordpress.com/2010/ 01/08/the-mayan-underworlds-and-2012/

21. www.calleman.com/content/articles/end_of_creationcycles.htm

22. John Major Jenkins, Maya Cosmogenesis 2012, Bear & Co., 1998, and Galactic Align-ment, Bear & Co., 2002.

23. http://shamanicastrology.com/astro-news/the-2002-planetary-alignment-in-the-sacred-hoop

24. Richard Grossinger, 2013: Raising the Earth to the Next Vibration, North Atlantic Books, 2010.

25. http://2012wiki.com/index.php?title= Galactic_Alignment

© 2010 Stephanie Austin – all rights reserved

Author bio can be found on page 107.

(Note: These suggestions can be applied not only to your Sun sign, but also to your Moon and Ascendant and the signs of the transiting planets.)

Take radical responsibility. Think out of the box.

Trust your intuition. Choose love.

Aries: Remember that these are unprec-edented times. What worked before may be totally ineffective or even detrimental now. Hold “beginner’s mind.” Suspend preconceptions. Do NIA (Neuromuscu-lar Integrative Action), Aikido, jogging. Watch Gladiator, Endurance. Read The Way of the Peaceful Warrior.

Taurus: Beauty opens the heart and feeds the soul. Create as much beauty as possi-ble in your life. Sell or give away whatever you don’t use, need, or doesn’t make you smile. Garden. Sing. Play music. Watch Chocolat, Ratatouille. Read The Little Money Bible.

Gemini: What we are thinking, we are praying for. Monitor your thoughts, speech, and media exposure. “The news” is more than just about natural or man-made disasters. Keep a journal. Watch Jon Stewart’s The Daily Show. Learn Nonvio-lent Communication (cnvc.org).

Cancer: Listen to your feelings; they are your spiritual GPS, telling you whether you are on your path or taking a detour. Ask every few hours: What do I need right now? Nurture yourself. Take a nap, a bath, a walk. Watch Evening, My Family. Read God Herself.

Leo: Do what brings you joy. You are unique. When you don’t express and live your truth, the world is a poorer place. Listen to your heart; it knows more than your mind. Sing. Dance. Create. Watch The Lion King, Billy Elliot. Read The Art-ist’s Way, Wishcraft.

Virgo: Be particular — but don’t judge; just focus on what is helpful, efficient, and es-

sential. Listen to and take good care of your body; it’s your divine vehicle. Do yoga or Qigong. Watch Once, The Tale of Des-pereaux. Read Taming Your Gremlin.

Libra: Peace is an inside job. Notice what throws you out of balance. Where are you giving more than you are receiving? Where do you need to speak up or renegotiate? Take a couples dance class. Watch Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Read If the Buddha Married.

Scorpio: Make friends with your shadow. Opposites attract, so we can become whole. Whatever we love or hate reflects some aspect of our unconscious. Face your fears. Do EFT (Emotional Freedom Tech-niques), EMDR (Eye Movement Desen-sitization and Reprocessing). Watch The Shadow Effect, Departures. Read Betrayal, Trust, and Forgiveness.

Sagittarius: Question all assumptions. What applied before may no longer be true. Ask yourself daily: What’s the les-son here? What matters most right now? Do a vision quest. Travel. Watch The 13th Floor, What the Bleep Do We Know!? Read Spontaneous Evolution.

Capricorn: Live your ethics, your integ-rity. What are your goals and standards for success? Are you doing what you want, or what you think you should be doing? Take an Outward Bound course. Watch The Ma-trix. Read The Corporate Mystic.

Aquarius: Question authority. Collaborate with like-minded souls. We are all in this together; everyone counts, everyone mat-ters, everyone can and does make a dif-ference. Create community. Watch Patch Adams, Erin Brockovich. Read Three Cups of Tea.

Pisces: Be in gratitude as much as possi-ble. “Everything is either love, or a call for love” (from A Course in Miracles). Trust your intuition, study your dreams, listen to your heart. Meditate. Pray. Watch Ground-hog Day, Gandhi. Read The Marriage of Spirit, Earth to Tao.

Survival Tips for 2011 and Beyond


��

On my way to Israel, Palestine, and the Holy Land this year, I spent a few days visiting some old friends in Bucha-rest, Romania to recover from jet lag. Since I was going to be spending my birthday in Jerusalem, I decided to give my astrologer friend Jeni a call, to have her do my solar return. During the consultation, Jeni told me: “Every year, the AAR, or Associa-tion of Astrologers from Romania, holds a conference in Craiova, in southwest-ern Romania. Craiova is quite a beauti-ful city. “The conference will be on the weekend of June 11th to June 13th,” Jeni declared. “I think that it would be a great opportunity for you to connect with other astrologers here in Romania.” This would be taking place after I returned to Romania from my visit to the Holy Land. “Okay, I’ll go, then,” I replied. “Sounds like it should be a terrific expe-rience for me.”

On a Friday afternoon in June, a bunch of local astrologers, along with Jeni and myself, piled into a mini-van at Piata Victoriei (Victoria Square) in downtown Bucharest to head off for Craiova. Not long after cross-ing the fabled Olt River, we rolled into Craiova. The intoxicating scent of linden blossoms filled the sultry June air. A long, leisurely stroll through the center of town that evening finally took us to a charming terasa de vara (sum-mer terrace restaurant), where coffee and a wide variety of crêpes were on the menu. There I was greeted by Mihaela

Dicu, the honorary president of the AAR and also the hostess of the conference. I spent a good part of the evening in stimulating conversation with fellow astrologers, who are always some of the most interesting people you will meet anywhere. A day or two before the confer-ence was to begin, I had called my old Romanian friend Sam and told him that I would be going to an astrology confer-ence in Craiova that weekend. “When you’re in Craiova, be sure to visit the Museum of Art,” he said. “You can see two of Constantin Brancusi’s famous sculptures, ‘The Kiss’ and ‘Mademoiselle Pogany’ there.” On the first day of the conference, we headed over to the meeting hall. To my utter amazement and delight, it was located inside the Museum of Art! Not only was I able to take in the Brancusi sculptures during the conference breaks, but also the paintings of Theodore Aman and Romanian impressionists like Nico-lae Grigorescu.

The Conference and the Individual Presentations The conference hall was on the second floor of the museum and was decked out in full baroque splendor. An electric Uranian atmosphere was building in anticipation of the start of the conference. Mihaela Dicu, as master of cer-emonies, gave the opening address and welcomed us all to the 2010 AAR Astrofestival. (See her photo on page 40.) The conference was conducted in Romanian, which I speak fluently.

Brad Pitt: Earth and Fire The first presenter was Raisa Dobrovolschi from Craiova. Her talk was entitled “Brad Pitt, from His Role as the Mentor of the Dalai Lama to the Film about Vlad the Impaler.” Brad Pitt’s natal chart centers on a rugged and dynamic mix of the fire and earth elements, with his Sun and Ascendant in Sagittarius and his Moon, Mars, Venus, and Mercury in Capricorn. In his chart, said Raisa, Mars is so well placed that it actually functions as a benefic planet. One of the most striking and distinc-tive things about Brad Pitt’s chart, Raisa told us, is the great number of place-ments that are conjunct fixed stars. His natal Sun is conjunct Acumen, and his Ascendant is conjunct Antares, but the fixed star placements don’t stop there. The prominence of so many fixed stars in Brad Pitt’s chart gives him incredible focus, ambition, and drive. Another astrologer in attendance at the conference told me she thought that Brad Pitt’s fascination with vampires and other macabre themes came from Black Moon Lilith in the 12th house of his natal chart. In Romania, as in France and many other European countries, Black Moon Lilith, or the Moon’s apo-gee point, called Luna Neagra in Roma-nian, is quite popular with astrologers. Raisa ended her talk with a discus-sion of Brad Pitt’s current project, a film about Vlad Tepes (Vlad the Impaler), who was the historical basis of the Drac-ula legend. Whereas Hollywood gets quite carried away by the “vampire bit,” concluded Raisa, Prince Vlad had an important and beneficial influence on the Romanian psyche, as the ruler of Romania, because he imposed a sense of order and discipline on the Romanian people. However, he was rather ruthless and draconian in the enforcement of his law-and-order policies.

Shifts in the Global Balance of Power The second presentation, by Dan Ciubotaru of Bucharest, president of the AAR, was not only masterful and amaz-ing, but also addressed the question that has been on everyone’s mind: What’s going to happen on December 21, 2012? His talk was entitled “The Year 2012 from an Astrological Perspective.”

Astrology Blossoms with the Linden Trees

by David Osborn

The 2010 AAR Astrology Conference in Craiova, Romania


��

Will 2012 bring tumultuous changes on Earth, or a quan-tum leap forward in spiritual consciousness? Nothing so cata-clysmic or airy-fairy, said Dan. Most likely, it will bring great geopolitical shifts in the balance of power in the world and revolutionary breakthroughs in the economic order and the way we do business. On a personal level, the momentous planetary configurations of the 2012 winter solstice will affect everyone in a different way, Dan explained. Dan’s approach was brilliant, insightful, and basic to all astrological forecasting: In what way does this upcoming plan-etary event resemble similar ones that have gone before? Dan quickly zeroed in on the key astrological configura-tion contained within the planetary lineup for the 2012 winter solstice: a yod with Jupiter in Gemini as the apex planet, framed by a base configuration of Saturn in Scorpio sextile Pluto in Capricorn. A yod involving these particular planets, Dan explained, is quite a rare occurrence; it has only hap-pened twice, since the year 1600. The last time this happened, interestingly enough, was in May 1989, just a few short months before the fall of the Ber-lin Wall and the demise of communism in Eastern Europe. As it will be in 2012, Jupiter in Gemini was the apex planet, but the two base planets, Saturn and Pluto, were switched around in 1989, with Saturn in Capricorn and Pluto in Scorpio; other than that, there’s only a few degrees of difference between the planetary placements of both configurations. The first yod, in 1989, can be seen as a prelude or presaging of the one in 2012. In addition, the ingress of Neptune into its domicile sign of Pisces in 2012 will serve to unveil the true nature and sig-nificance of the revolutionary changes that began in 1989 and where they are headed. Then, in a cascade of flowing synastry, Dan compared these two yods with the natal charts of important people, nations, events, and organizations that are key players on the world stage and in the shifting power balance between East and West. Included were charts for NATO, the Yalta summit, the Soviet Union, and many others. Also analyzed was Roma-nia’s natal chart, the Great Unification of the Three Princi-palities that took place after World War I at 12:10 p.m. on December 1, 1918 in Alba Iulia, Romania. This chart is now the one that all Romanian astrologers use as the natal chart for their nation.

Various Other Presentations Mariana Dumitru, from Valenii de Munte, gave a talk on “The Moon, in Both Popular Tradition and Astrology.” Of particular interest in this presentation was how the Moon was used to forecast the weather, according to Romania’s pastoral and agrarian traditions. Alina Barca, from Bucharest, gave an interesting pre-sentation on locational astrology entitled “AstroCartoGraphy — a Way Towards Conscious Travel.” What I found particu-larly innovative about this presentation was how she com-bined Jim Lewis’s AstroCartoGraphy with Michael Erlewine’s Local Space maps and showed how significant the intersection

Astrology in Romania


C ��points between the two systems were. To demonstrate this, she gave examples from her own life and travels, where these intersection points pinpointed important localities involved with herself and the people and events she encountered. In conclusion, she did an astrolocational case study of Charles Lindbergh and his successful flight from New York to Paris. Valeriu Panoiu, from Bucharest, gave a wonderful lec-ture that shed a lot of light on an aspect of astrology that is relatively unknown to most astrologers. It was entitled “Plan-ets, Houses, and Signs in Exaltation.” It was a crash course in everything you always wanted to know about exaltation but didn’t know to ask, and how the phenomenon of planetary exaltation could be applied not just to the planets in signs, but to the houses as well. Valeriu explored the history of planetary exaltation all the way from ancient Babylon to the present. Relationships between planetary domicile and exaltation signs can be used to explain the classical concept of house joys; to understand other strong and dignified placements of the planets, both by sign and house; and also to elucidate special affinities between the signs of the zodiac that were previously obscure. All this was done with a neatly arranged and well-thought-out sequence of overhead charts and slides. After a brief break, Dan Ciubotaru returned to give an interactive presentation entitled “Children in the Natal Chart.” He began the presentation with an explanation of how to use a classical Arabic and Persian astrology technique called the Part of Children, to judge whether or not the natal chart bodes well for the production of offspring. After thoroughly explain-ing and demonstrating how the technique works and how the rules of judgment apply, he then put up sample charts and asked the audience to decide whether or not each individual had children. Mihaela Dicu from Craiova turned to the principles of classical astrology for the next presentation, which she entitled “Pars Fortunae — the Most Ancient Set of User’s Instructions.” She started out by expounding the classical rules for judging the Part of Fortune and whether it augurs well for the native or not. Using Whole Sign Houses, she then showed her audience how to rotate the wheel of the houses and arrive at additional judgments and divinations by putting the Part of Fortune in the 1st house and seeing where the other plan-ets fall. The central case study of her presentation was that of Queen Elizabeth II of England who was, by all conventional worldly measures, a real “long shot” for the throne of England, but who nonetheless succeeded in ascending to the throne, according to Mihaela, because of the extraordinarily benefic and auspicious placement of the Part of Fortune in her natal chart.

Reflections on Astrology and Spirituality in Romania All too often, the mass media and world press overly pub-licize and sensationalize the bad that happens in a country, while failing to give sufficient coverage, or any coverage at all, to anything that is positive or uplifting. Such is especially the case with Romania, which in the popular imagination consists chiefly of orphans, AIDS babies, demented dictators, and voracious vampires.


�0 I would like to dispel that notion and point out that a lot that is good, noble, and spiritually uplifting, including astrol-ogy, has come out of Romania. For insiders in the know, Romania and the Romanians have truly made their mark in the world in the arenas of culture, the arts, and spirituality. Spirituality is a big part of the Romanian heritage and national identity. This spiritual bent goes all the way back to the ancient Dacians, a Thracian tribe whose homeland was in southern Transylvania and who were the ances-tors of the Romanian people. The main reason they were such valiant and fear-less warriors in battle, and why the Roman emperor Trajan found it so hard to conquer their homeland of Dacia, was that they were totally unafraid of death and saw the subtle spiritual worlds to be just as real as the physical world. They viewed birth as being a rather somber event, in which the incoming soul was taking on the suf-fering and burdens of this world, and death as a joyous release back into the infinite world of Spirit. The famous

Laughing Cemetery in Maramures, in northwestern Romania, is powerful testi-mony to this fact. Brancusi, the famous Romanian sculptor I mentioned earlier, is the sublime genius of modern sculpture, whose works are often emulated but seldom equaled. The essence of his genius is his ability to portray the core archetype, or pure spiritual form, behind his subject matter. Brancusi was

a deeply spiritual man who led a sim-ple, meditative life; among his mentors in the subtle astral realms was the great Tibetan yogi Milarepa. Mircea Eliade, the great authority on yoga and Eastern philosophy and a scholar and author on comparative reli-gion, was also Romanian. His books are available in bookstores everywhere. Eliade was a bold, original thinker in the fields of comparative religion and mythology and is credited with develop-ing many seminal and influential ideas and concepts. He was professor of com-parative religion at the University of Chicago until his death in 1986. I started my own exploration of as-trology in Romania in 2000 by joining an astrology club that met under the aegis of an open university in Bucharest. I was impressed with the quality and erudition of the astrologers I met there.

For those who are interested in learning more about astrology in Romania, I would like to suggest the following Web sites:The Association of Astrologers from Romania: www.aar.org.ro

Dan Ciubotaru’s Ascella Astrology Clinic: www.ascella.ro

The e-mail address of my friend Jeni Nicolae, vice president of AAR: [email protected]

Although these Web sites are in Romanian, they do have a Contact section (the word is the same in both English and Romanian). Dan Ciubotaru and Jeni Nicolae are both fluent in English.

© 2010 David Osborn – all rights reserved

David Osborn is an herbalist, astrologer, and licensed acupuncturist who has been in private practice since 1987. He has traveled the globe — studying astrology, yoga, herbal medicine, and natural healing — and has lived in Roma-nia and speaks the language. David has a Web site on traditional holistic Greek medicine and Medical Astrology: www.greekmedicine.net

Mihaela Dicu, master of ceremonies


�1

Judith Hill is a lifelong, second- generation astrologer and award-winning author. She has given

more than 6,000 in-depth personal astrology readings and excels in most branches of Classical Western astrology, but she is perhaps best known for her medical and vocational work, to which she has devoted much of her energy. Judith is a gem and a great asset to the Oregon area, where she has a long and successful local astrology practice and teaching presence. She is truly one of Oregon’s best-kept secrets. Her books are practical and detailed; through them, she shares a wealth of knowl-edge, the kind that can only be gained over a lifetime of research and direct experience. Her books include The Astrological Body Types; Medical Astrology: A Guide to Planetary Pathology; The Lunar Nodes: Your Key to Excellent Chart Interpretation; Vocational Astrology; The Part of Fortune in Astrology; Astro-Seismology; and The Mars-Redhead Files. Judith has recently written and lavishly illustrated a delightful book of twelve profound and amusing children’s stories, entitled Mrs. Winkler’s Cure (using the pseudonym Julia Holly). She can be reached at www.judithhill astrology.com This interview with Judith was recorded in February 2010.

Tony Howard: Who was your first astrology teacher? How did you meet, and what was his or her most profound influence on you?

Judith Hill: My father was a fine ama-teur astrologer. When I was three, he would sit me on his knee, and we would peruse his fine collection of hand-drawn charts, which he kept in a blue binder. Being a strange child, I was fascinated and took to astrology quickly. Between ages 10 and 14, he tutored me in the art of reading natal and transit charts. I spent almost the entire ninth grade studying astrology. Fritzi Armstrong’s Metaphysical Town Hall bookstore in San Francisco was one of the first stores offering a full shelf of astrological books. This was a major pilgrimage site of mine between the ages of 10 and 25. I’d bus down-town as a twelve-year-old and get lost in the book stacks. I gave my first professional paid reading at 14 years old, following an intensive four-year study period and what one might call a semi-apprentice-ship. In my later teens, books were my main teachers, augmented by lecturers. Breadth being important, I made deep studies of palmistry, phrenology, anthro-pology, numerology, prophecy, world theology, music, art, herbology, and gemstones.

Astrological lectures were held at Moe’s and Cody’s bookstores in Berke-ley, California. In my twenties, I became one of the denizens and lecturers at the Institute for the Study of Consciousness, in Berkeley. The renowned physicist Arthur Young founded this incredible place. Friday night symposiums were conducted on an endlessly wide array of “far left” science and esoterica. Dur-ing this period, I was privileged to rub shoulders and work closely with many of the greatest questioning minds of the late hippie era, including inventors, researchers, and scientists. We were studying Arthur’s theories, too, and no scientifically savvy astrologer’s educa-tion is complete without reading Arthur Young’s The Geometry of Meaning and The Reflexive Universe. Arthur briefly hired me to perform astrological experiments with progressed astrology. I remember that we were tracing every detail of the life of actress Lillian Gish. I miss that place.

TH: The documentary, Following Sean, features Sean Farrell, a man looking back on his child-hood growing up, as you did, in the Haight Ashbury neighborhood of San Francisco in the late 1��0s. It was filmed in 2005 as a follow-up to the 1969 student short film, Sean, which includes some candid

by Tony Howard

A L i f e t i m e o f A s t r o l o g yAn Interview with

Judith Hill


��

conversations with four-year-old Sean on location, and both films offer a unique, intimate glimpse into those mythic times. Looking back, what is your perspective on the way that same environment shaped your understanding of, and interest in, astrology?

JH: Since I grew up in the Double H Print Shop (my parents’ business) right on Haight Street, obviously the neigh-borhood and times were a powerful influence on me. The most astonishing and brilliant individuals passed through our living room on a daily basis. The average hippie on the street was astrology-positive. Haight Street at that time was not dissimilar to an open insane asylum. Everyone was pushing the limits, challenging the boundaries. Any child growing up in that milieu would be exposed to a wide palette of alternative thought, and I was no excep-tion. People’s interest in Eastern philos-ophies and mysticism was burgeoning. Astrology was far more accepted and in vogue among the young. My ten-year-old friends all knew their Sun signs and the general traits associated with them. This would be considered astonishing today, but it was normal to us. And I wonder if there are even any young people today who are enjoying such an experience.

TH: Can you recall any of the char-acters that passed through your living room during this time period who influenced your thinking?

JH: The great author Tillie Olsen was close friends with my mother. They both grew up in the Yiddish-speaking com-munities of New York. There was the great Jewish artist Si Lewin (who is still living) and Chet Helmes, who ran Fam-ily Dog Productions. Janis Joplin, rock producer Bill Graham, Marty Balin (of Jefferson Airplane), and some of the great poster artists like Wes Wilson all paraded through the family print shop in need of poster production. The car-toonist Ashley Brilliant — I remember him well, a tall, handsome man with

wild black hair and beard — was often chatting at the front desk with my mom. Recently, I read a book on the history of the early Haight Ashbury. It surprised me that our print shop was never men-tioned, because it was such a hub of activity in that era, and right on the street! It was a wonderful place and time to grow up. Artists, musicians, writers, and activists of all kinds came through our space.

TH: So, it sounds like that environ-ment allowed you to experience astrology without any doubt of its validity or of yourself for being interested in it. Was there ever a time when you reacted against this freedom with skepticism?

JH: A skeptic at heart, I had to prove astrology for myself. When the NCGR offered a skeptic’s challenge of astrolo-ger’s skills, I enthusiastically accepted. Two of us passed the test 100% — myself and Heidi Lutts. As a result of this experience, I’ve designed sev-eral methods to test astrology on its own ground, the way astrologers actu-ally work. Someday, maybe we will get the chance to do this kind of test-ing. My approach in astrology is not to “believe,” but to test the validity of any claim with direct experience. When a lot of data goes continually in one direc-tion, I begin to assume that something is going on. Each chart is a test. I learn new things with each reading, each client. You can see astrology working every day in your own life. However, you must learn to separate your own expectations and belief system from what you actually do find.

TH: A lot of your time has been spent doing astrological research. What are the key areas you have been interested in? And what are some of the discoveries that have most shaped your perceptions?

JH: Astro-genetics and astro-seismology are two areas in which I spent a com-bined ten years working with statistics and scientists. Mark Pottenger was most helpful with the genetics statistics. There were a lot of other helpful people, including professors and intentionally incognito experts who had privileged access to data. One thing that became obvious was how easy it would be to design projects that would prove astrol-ogy “works.” Astrologers have more than once fallen for the ruse of matching Myers-Briggs or similar self-descriptive psychological personality tests on paper to astrological charts. This does not work! It would be like asking someone to take a Spanish exam given by a Chinese interpreter without first estab-lishing common definitions for pro-nouns. These personality tests provide information such as: “Subject 33 describes herself as level 10 ‘feminine’.” The astrologer is then asked to match her to a “feminine” chart. But no one has defined what this word “feminine” means as a testing definition. The hap-less astrologer thinks of pink slippers and Pekinese dogs. Subject 33 thinks it means an aerobics class in tight leotards. And therein lies the conundrum. Astrol-ogers can’t win at this game and, as a group, rarely score higher than 50%. And of course, the press has a heyday with this, denouncing astrology as “myth.” Well, of course they would! I’d be happy to share my research designs with anyone who is genuinely inter-ested. We could prove that astrology “works” if we test highly skilled astrolo-gers — separately, as individuals — on their own terms with their own methods.

TH: Tell me more about the test-ing method you’ve designed. Can you elaborate on your thought that “someday, maybe we will get the chance …”? What do you envision?

JH: The tests I’ve designed place astrologers in their own environment,

My approach in astrology is not to

“believe,” but to test the validity of any claim with direct

experience.

Judith Hill Interview


��with their own tools, mind, and lan-guage. (Most tests separate astrologers from their own language and are thus designed to fail — for example, request-ing that the astrologers match psycho-logical surveys to charts!) These tests could be groundbreaking, because the results could prove to the general public the efficacy of true astrology in the hands of the proficient, experienced, and educated professional. This is something that has not been done successfully to date. There are several ways this could be done properly. I’ll describe one design here for an astrologically valid Astro-logical Skills Challenge using medical astrology:

The astrologers chosen for this skills challenge must be tested and proven professionals in full-time consulting practice, with at least ten years in the field of medical astrology. We would not ask a basketball player to test him-self with a baseball exam. To the media, any astrologer accepting the skills chal-lenge will be reported as representing all astrologers. Should the astrologer fail the exam, this result will be touted by the media for years to come as proof to the general public of a failure of astrology! For this exam, the astrologer is pre-sented with sets of two or more birth charts and must sort them by medical

diagnosis. This test is unique in that the owners of the birth charts need not be present. The horoscopes used must be for persons whose:

1. birth data are accurate from birth certificates only, and the Ascendants are not on or near the cusp of a sign (to compensate for possible errors in recording the birth time);

2. diagnoses have been verified with the attending physician’s signature.

The astrologer segregates the charts into two groups from within the follow-ing pairs:

• Group A: Persons of ages 20–45 who are not obese and who suffer from chronic, severe high blood pressure

(hypertension), versus persons of ages 20–45 who suffer from chronic, severe low blood pressure, inhibited circulation, and edema at the ankles.

• Group B: Persons who suffer clin-ical catatonia, versus persons who suffer violent mania with severe hyperactivity.

• Group C: Persons over 40 from the same cities (in order to rule out the effects of variations in drinking water mineralization) who have suffered from repetitive, chronic kidney stones and/or kidney failure, versus persons over 40 who have never suffered from kidney stones, nor any other kidney ailment whatsoever.

• Group D: Morbidly obese adults over 30 who have always been obese since childhood and cannot easily lose weight, versus emaciated adults over 30 who have always been severely under-weight since childhood and cannot eas-ily gain weight.

The astrologers tested should be permitted and encouraged to prepare for this test by studying the natal charts of non-test subjects who suffer these iden-tical maladies. Following the test, each astrologer’s scores should be posted indi-vidually, not collectively. Why? Because this is an individual test of skills, and astrology is an individual “science.” This way, we avoid the trap of one inept astrologer’s score influencing the

One cannot “prove” anything specific about a symbol

because a symbol can represent many

possibilities.


��

scores of the skilled. If several astrologers can perform at the level of 70–100%, then we would have a real victory for astrology.

TH: You received a research grant from Arthur Young and his Insti-tute for the Study of Conscious-ness in Berkeley. What work did you do with the grant, and what did you learn from that experience?

JH: Arthur Young invited me to present the astro-seismology research completed by Mark Polit and myself at the Insti-tute for the Study of Consciousness. In case your readers do not know Arthur Young, he was the brilliant physicist who developed the Bell helicopter and solved several problems with heli-copter flight. He was also an avid astrol-oger who resolved the connection between astrology and physics with his mind-boggling book, The Geometry of Meaning. The year before he died, he hired me to perform various tests on his astrological theories. I like to tell people this story because we must correct this notion that “scientists don’t believe in astrology.” Some of them do! Some of them are astrologers, but of course this makes them unpopular with their fel-lows. The grant money I received was used to fund the Redheads Research Project, with Jacalyn Thompson. We studied Mars’ angular position to the Ascendant in the birth charts of naturally redheaded people.

TH: What did you learn from your study?

JH: Globally, we learned that natal Mars distribution curves by angle to the Ascendant vary considerably between populations of natural redheads and non-redheaded Caucasians. Non- redheads have a predictably “flat” line distribution through the chart, with a tiny rise here and there. The “Redhead Curve” has notably large peaks and valleys. We had approximately ten groups of redheads, and they all showed this anomalous curve line. It is visually clear.

Take Mars placements within 30 degrees on either side of the Ascendant, and compare these with Mars birth placements opposite — 30 degrees on either side of the Descendant — then place these numbers side by side for redheads and non-redheads. Invariably, the redhead population will have a higher ratio of Mars on the Ascendant side and a lower ratio of Mars on the Descendant side. The difference between the two numbers is the exciting thing — rather high in every group. This differential will vary between highly sig-nificant and just under significance, but the redheads will trump non-redheads every time both in plain numbers and in the look of the curve. Redhead curves visually look alike and nearly match each other. Non-redhead curves are nearly flat. The results of this last study and my final observations were pub-lished by Borderland Research Sciences Journal. Noted researcher Nick Koller-strom also performed some private analysis and scrutiny of these last results, though I am not sure where his conclu-sions were published. We also noticed many other phenomena in the study, too numerous to explain here.

TH: You must have identified some interesting patterns while working with all those statistics. Can you share any that stand out?

JH: One discovery was that patterns always exist, and these patterns vary for each study topic. The seismic work we did (myself and Mark Polit) showed that each region of the Earth had its own earthquake patterns. There was no one pattern for all earthquakes world-

wide. However, the patterns that we found were amazing and could not have occurred randomly. Areas of the globe turned out to be as unique as people. I’ve always wondered if this is due to the mineral content of the soils. Follow-ing suggestions from Rudolf Steiner, the German chemist Lily Kolisko was the first to visibly demonstrate the effects of the transiting Moon upon metals in salt solution. And Nick Kollerstrom, as reported in his astonishing book, The Metal–Planet Relationship, later repli-cated this experiment to show that some metals in solution respond (on camera!) to lunar transits to their associated tra-ditional planets; this response is seen in the first ten minutes following the con-junction, as I remember. These findings discount the claim that “there are no studies that prove astrology.” Actually, there are now several studies that show positive results. Arthur Young once told me, “You can win the battle but you can’t win the war,” when it comes to the current anti-astrology climate in science.

TH: With your research back-ground, how do you feel about the trend toward the “astrology of pos-sibility”? And by that, I mean forms of astrology that focus on promot-ing the concepts of free will and personal choice over determinism in a reading. Your work suggests that you are aligned with this approach, yet free will and personal expression present a core problem when trying to “prove” something solid about a certain symbol. How do you work with that?

JH: One cannot “prove” anything spe-cific about a symbol because a symbol can represent many possibilities. This is why Jacalyn Thompson and I chose to study Mars in the charts of redheads. One could not argue our results on psy-chological grounds. My approach to this problem is to try to discern what actually happens in the lives of my clients by thinking about the concept of karma. Hindu theology accepts the idea of variable karma. One child has very fixed karma and perhaps is born with a harelip. Another might be born talented and wealthy. Another individual has flexible karma, where

The mechanics of medical astrology

are such that if one acquires depth of skill, a world of

insight is opened into “unsolvable” cases.



��little is fixed, and whose life resembles a tumbleweed in motion. The average person is a combination of fixed and flexible karma. Fixed karma may domi-nate one area of the chart, and flexible karma another. Or we might find karma showing up strongly in one area of the life and not another. I have seen many examples of this. The birth chart gives us quite the window into the issue of fixed vs. flexible karmas. There are many types of karma. In the West, we tend to think of karma as “what goes around comes around” or “tit for tat.” However, we have “practice makes perfect” karma, too. We start up new karmas all the time. “First Cause” happens each minute, as we perform new thoughts or actions that bear fruit later on. Yet, no first cause can occur without having itself been born of mani-fold rivers all flowing together “just so,” to produce this first cause. In one sense, free will exists, variably. Think upon your own life, character, and circum-stances. Are you “free”? Where, when, and how much? We discover that our concept of free will is highly variable.

The profound study of astrology leads the mind into these great questions. Wonderful!

TH: What sparked your interest in medical astrology?

JH: I’ve always been crazy about her-bology and natural health. At eleven, I was reading Back to Eden and every-thing I could find by Edgar Cayce. Long hours in high school were occupied in Golden Gate Park (San Francisco), dodging among the hippies (literally) and studying wild herbs. I would have become a naturopath if I hadn’t gotten sidetracked into astrology! One day, a roommate brought home a rare copy of Introduction to Medical Astrology by William M. David-son, and the game was on. Here was a real doctor explaining medical conun-drums through the window of cosmo-biological charts. I found his other book, Medical Astrology and Health, even more interesting. Then, there was Robert Jansky’s Modern Medical Astrology, which was

fascinating; Cornell’s Encyclopedia of Medical Astrology; Max Heindel’s 1929 work, Astro-Diagnosis, a Guide to Healing; and the book, Case Notes of a Modern Medical Astrologer, by Marga-ret Millard, M.D. I took to all of it like a duck to water. It worked. The mechanics of medical astrology are such that if one acquires depth of skill, a world of insight is opened into “unsolvable” cases. And of course, knowing safe timing for treat-ment and surgery is of immense value. Why, I wonder, with all this knowledge, are surgeries still scheduled during eclipses and Full Moons? It is well known, even among nurses and the police, that people hemorrhage more during those times.

TH: Medical astrologers like you are in short supply. Why do you think that is?

JH: It takes a bit of work. Anyone aspir-ing to practice medical astrology must also get a grip on anatomy, disease pro-cesses, etiology (causes), and nutrition. Perhaps, too, there is a legal barrier.


��

You cannot legally diagnose or pre-scribe, so a lot of prospective medical astrologers may think, “Why bother?”

TH: Can you share one or two cases in which you’ve seen a medi-cal astrology reading have a pro-found positive effect on a client?

JH: Oh yes, a good one. First, please note that I never give “Medical Read-ings”; I only give lessons in medical astrology, using the client’s birth chart as a hypothetical example. A well-known acupuncturist/Chinese herbalist fell quite ill. No doctor could find the cause, and she eventually turned up in my office. Her lesson chart suggested an insidious poisoning “in the air.” She admits that, at the time, she thought I was nuts. Any-way, she contacted me a few months later to inform me that I was the only one who correctly saw the cause. Some workmen visiting her home discovered that she had a carbon monoxide leak and would probably have died had she not slept with her window open! All five or so doctors had missed it, but there it was, right in the birth chart we examined in the lesson. It did not take a genius to see this, just a simple, direct knowledge of basic medical astrology.

TH: A good astrologer learns how to navigate through a sea of pos-sibilities when interpreting the symbols. With medical astrology, precision must be more important, especially when attempting to give people practical information. What is your approach in this regard? Do you tend to describe all pos-sible interpretations to the client? Or do you have methods that help you to get more precise?

JH: First of all, you cannot legally give diagnostic advice or treatment. What you can do is give a lesson in ancient medical astrology, using the chart as a hypothetical example. And of course, you can use the art for your own study purposes. First, the student must have a thorough grasp of signs, houses, nodes, and planets — and what body

parts, organs, and glands these “rule.” He or she must have a complete grasp of the case at hand and of both symp-toms and causes (etiology). For exam-ple, there are many possible correlations for headache. The astrologer must know all possibilities, because the chart will potentially reveal which one is the correct cause in this particular case. And to make that determination, one must know the rulers. For instance, if the cause of the headaches was min-eral deposits in the kidney tubules, you would need to know what that might look like astrologically.

TH: You’ve had an extensive focus on vocational astrology. And your book on the subject is very practi-cal, especially with the inclusion of all of those chart examples! Have you had the opportunity to talk with someone a few years after a vocational astrology reading, to find out what they did with the information? And can you share one of those stories?

JH: Oh yes, this happens a lot. Twenty years ago, I gave a vocational reading for a 16-year-old boy, at the behest of his worried adoptive mother. He was living in a home for wayward youth. Everything in his birth chart suggested a great cartoonist and a fine skill with graphics, and I shared that idea with him. Although he was deadpan and silent throughout his reading (most teens are, in the office), he heard this. Fifteen years later, I received a phone call from this same young man. He relayed that he had gone to great

effort to find me because he needed to extend a big “Thank You.” Taking the hint from his chart reading, he went into cartooning and graphics. At the time of the phone call, he was a successful and happy cartoonist and Web designer. Another fantastically amusing case comes to mind. My co-researcher Mark Polit had me do the chart of his infant daughter. I kept seeing “she will be looking into distant worlds, physically,” or something like that. This is how Mark relates it. I kept describing the physical objects, but also the quality of looking into the distance at the same time. It puzzled me. Today, his daughter is an astro-geologist, with a working focus on the planet Mars. At that time, so many years ago, I had no idea that such a vocation existed! I could only describe it in the same manner that the visiting Polyne-sian tribal chief described his first sight-ing of doorbells in England: “small carvings of mammary glands that, when pressed, emit a shriek.”

TH: When you’re sharing the options available for someone dur-ing a vocational reading, do you also point out choices that might be inappropriate?

JH: If the chart shows a tendency toward drowning, then I might find it appropriate to warn against a career in undersea photography. Sometimes, a client is drawn like a lemming to a self-destructive path or perhaps to a voca-tion where the “fixed karma” of their finances is stacked too heavily against them. In these cases, I may be com-pelled to mention something.

TH: I’ve been thinking about how some astrologers come across to clients as being very authoritative. But the client is in control of this perception, in large part. Some astrologers like to use the word “should” — for instance, saying that one should pursue a certain type of career, or that one should learn a certain lesson, as indicated by a symbol in the birth chart. To the client, this information appears to arise organically, as if the read-ing is dictated by the universe

As astrologers, our words can have too

much power, and we need to be aware of our potential near-Godlike status to

some clients.



C ��itself and is merely being deci-phered by the astrologer. So, too much weight is given to the inter-pretation. And yet, the “shoulds” that come up are ultimately of human design. Also, the whole concept that we should move in a certain direction at all feels like a human construct. What are your thoughts on this?

JH: Wow. This is a supremely impor-tant question. This question should be used in all astrological training programs! Because of the human animal instinct to always seek leaders and alphas, we con-sulting astrologers do very much have this problem of “authoritativeness.” Our words can have too much power. So, to work with this, we astrolo-gers first need to be aware of our poten-tial near-Godlike status to some clients, especially male astrologers who will be reading mostly women’s charts. We have an enormous responsibility here. I’ve witnessed many female clients who were in complete despair, even anguish, due to what an astrologer told them. The client gave the astrologer’s words huge authority and power. The subcon-scious of the client can be wide open during a reading, and unknowingly, a hypnotic command can enter, substan-tially influencing the client. We must each study up on how this process works, its potential, and how to avoid it! Each astrologer should have a means of diffusing the client’s ten-dency to take their word as absolute. When astrologers sense that a client has come to the table looking for The Great Authority, they need to clap their hands and wake that client back up! For instance, I often explain to cli-ents that my reading is not the Word

of God, and I can be wrong. The infor-mation that I share from the chart read-ing comes from ancient sources, many astrologers who have recorded their experiences, plus my own experience and intuition. Still, I can be wrong. Or I can be close and still not saying the precise word the client needs to hear. Also, the chart may suggest hundreds of things that I do not understand. Despite all that we know, your chart is a brand new thing in the universe — an individual. So, I may say to a client, “Keep your ears open to what feels right for you. There is much we do not know.” The planets are as weather, and the client is the farmer. It is so important to place psychologically subordinate clients right back in the driver’s seat! Hand those keys back to them, and empower them to use their transits to the best avail. All that said, occasionally I do see something so clearly that the “should” or “shouldn’t” word is used. Still, I make it clear that the course of action is always the client’s choice.

TH: Regarding your work with the lunar nodes, do you feel that the Moon’s nodes clearly outline a direction to move in that is heal-ing for the client? And if so, can you share one client story in which you’ve had the opportunity to know how the client applied such energy to positive effect, after learning the information from the reading you presented?

JH: This is a huge question. A book could be written — and just was: my book, The Lunar Nodes: Your Key to Excellent Chart Interpretation.

(Editor’s Note: This book was reviewed in the Feb./March 2010 issue of The Mountain Astrologer.) Many cli-ents have been saved from financial ruin merely by my warning them to leave the stock market prior to Jupiter or Saturn’s arrival on their South Node. I have received some thank-you letters around that kind of advice. My experience, though, is that most clients don’t listen to such warnings. I may say, “Don’t go horseback-riding when Mars crosses your South Node.” And naturally, this is exactly when the client will decide to go horseback-riding. One client called to say she remembered my words as she was flying through the air. It makes me wonder …

TH: How do you feel about the current state of astrology as a profession? Do you see the profes-sion as being in a growth phase? Do you see astrology one day gaining enough respect that it will again be taught and studied in our universities?

JH: I am concerned about what may be a decline in interest. And of course, with all the easy fast-food astrology, I wonder how the skill level is out there. I don’t know, but I suspect it’s slipping. As a student, I read the best of the Illustrated National Astrological Journal (1933–35), and every article in it was genius and clear. My view is limited to the West Coast, but the general culture in my area derides astrology as much as ever. Younger students are continually con-fused about what to give weight to in a chart (is Jupiter equally important as an obscure asteroid?) and which books are the best. The information and choices



C��

The Astrology of SectThe Difference between Day and Night Charts

by Chris Brennan

Saturn comprise the diurnal sect, while the Moon, Venus, and Mars comprise the nocturnal sect. (See Diagram 1, above.) Thus, there is a distinction between a diurnal team of planets and a nocturnal team of planets. Mercury is considered to be intrinsi-cally neutral, as he often is in astrology, but he is usually said to ally himself with the diurnal sect when he is a morning star; conversely, he allies himself with

the nocturnal sect when he is an eve-ning star.1 Mercury is a morning star when he rises before the Sun on the day of the native’s birth, but he is an eve-ning star when he sets after the Sun on the day of the native’s birth. (See Dia-gram �, below.) Robert Schmidt has pointed out that the notion of sect could be likened to the concept of a two-party political system, as in the United States where you have two political parties that are vying for control of the White House.2 When the Sun is anywhere above the horizon, as demarcated by the Ascen-dant/Descendant axis, the chart is con-sidered to be a diurnal or daytime chart, and the planets of the diurnal sect are considered to be the party in power, whereas the nocturnal planets have their authority lessened. Conversely, when the Sun is anywhere below the horizon, the chart is considered to be nocturnal, and thus the nocturnal team of planets is considered to be the party in power, while the diurnal planets have their authority reduced.

A planet’s sect status alters the quality of that planet in the chart and the way that it acts as a benefic or malefic, for better or worse.

Diagram 1

Diagram 2

Editor’s Note: This is an expanded and slightly edited version of an arti-cle that was first published on the author’s blog on November 25, 2008: http://horoscopicastrologyblog.com/2008/11/25/the-astrology-of-sect

An immensely important technique in the Hellenistic astrological tradition that did not survive into modern times is the concept of sect. Sect was used by ancient astrologers in order to make qualitative distinctions about how cer-tain planets functioned in a chart, based on whether the native was born during the day or at night. This provides a more accurate depiction of certain areas of the native’s life and adds a greater level of refinement and nuance to pre-dictive techniques. The term “sect” is a translation of the Greek word hairesis (αιρεσις), which has a variety of meanings out-side of its astrological usage, such as the act of “making a choice” or taking “a course of action,” but it also referred to “a school of thought” or “a philosophi-cal or religious sect.” This term was often used to refer to a group, faction, or division of people that adhere to a specific set of views or tenets. For exam-ple, in modern times Christians would represent a specific hairesis, while Muslims would represent a separate hairesis. Within the context of horoscopic astrology, sect is a scheme whereby the visible planets are divided into two fac-tions or sects: a “diurnal” or daytime sect, which is led by the Sun, and a “nocturnal” or nighttime sect, which is led by the Moon. The Sun, Jupiter, and


C ��

Sect as a Qualitative Measurement An important point to note is that sect is primarily a qualitative measure-ment that has to do with altering the benefic or malefic status of a planet in a given chart. That is to say, a plan-et’s sect status alters the quality of that planet in the chart and the way that it acts as a benefic or malefic, for better or worse. The malefic planets, Mars and Saturn, tend to be particularly problem-atic when they are contrary to the sect in favor (i.e., Saturn in a night chart or Mars in a day chart). On the other hand, the malefics can be quite benign and even beneficial or constructive when they are of the sect in favor (Saturn in a day chart or Mars in a night chart). Notice the distinct difference in the delineation that the 4th-century astrol-oger Firmicus Maternus provides for Saturn in the 8th house, depending on whether Saturn is in a day or night chart:

Saturn in the eighth house, if by day, allots an increase in income over a period of time. If he is in the house or terms of Mars, he indicates for some an inheritance from the death of strangers. But if he is in this house by night the inheritance will be lost.3

The same is true for the benefic planets, insomuch as Jupiter tends to be the most positive or “benefic” in a day chart, while Venus tends to be more benefic in a night chart. Conversely, Jupiter tends to have some of his more positive significations restrained in a night chart, while Venus’s benefic sig-nifications are somewhat inhibited in a day chart. Again, notice the distinction that Firmicus makes in the delineation of Jupiter in the 10th house, depending on the sect of the chart:

Jupiter in the tenth house … by day makes heads of public busi-nesses, leaders of important states, men on whom great honors are conferred by the people, anxious to be conspicuous for popularity. They always enjoy a good living. Some carry on the affairs of great men and emperors; others receive rewards and prizes throughout their lives … But if Jupiter is in the tenth house by night, he makes the natives honorable in character but easily cheated, and their inheritance is often quickly wasted.4

Demonstrating the Technique Having outlined the theory, now let’s demonstrate the technique briefly with a couple of example charts. In these examples, I will illustrate the distinction

between having each of the malefics in a day chart versus a night chart, and how Mars and Saturn will act differently based on the overall sect of the chart. Both natives were born in the same year, and both have Scorpio rising, with Mars and Saturn in the 1st Whole Sign house, but one was born during the day and the other was born at night. The first native, whom we will call “Marina,” was born in the middle of the day, with the Sun above the horizon in the 9th Whole Sign house, so this is a diurnal chart. (See Chart 1, below.) Just based on this information alone, we know right away that Mars is going to be the more problematic planet in this chart, since it is a nocturnal malefic in a diurnal chart, while Saturn will have some of his more negative significa-tions restrained. Since Mars is in the 1st house, we know that its significations will be primarily directed toward the body of the native, since the 1st house is associated with the health, vitality, and physical constitution of an individ-ual. Indeed, Marina regularly has Mars-related injuries from constantly bumping into things and getting cuts and burns on various parts of her body. The second native, “Tabitha,” also has Scorpio rising, with Mars and Sat-urn conjoined in the 1st Whole Sign house. (See Chart �, below.) How-ever, Tabitha was born at night, about

Chart 1: “Marina”

Chart 2: “Tabitha”

Charts use Whole Sign houses and the True Node.


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two hours after the Sun had set over the horizon, so she has a nocturnal chart. This tells us that, in her chart, Sat-urn is more likely to be the problematic planet with respect to her health, body, and vitality, while Mars will have its more negative significations restrained somewhat. This is, in fact, the case in Tabitha’s life, insomuch as she has been more prone to developing Saturn- related ailments. She is anemic, often feeling weak, fatigued, and cold and sometimes appearing to be pale. Recently, with the activation of Saturn as a time-lord,5 she developed a form of cancer, which she is still in the process of trying to recover from. These two charts are useful as examples because they show how cer-tain planets in a chart can have their significations modified in a major way, simply due to the sect of the chart, all other considerations aside. Although these may seem like somewhat nega-tive or depressing examples to use, they do help to demonstrate the point quite clearly. The same principles can also be applied to the benefic planets in a chart, Jupiter and Venus, in order to deter-mine which areas of the native’s life are likely to be more fortunate or filled with ease. Of course, sect does not com-pletely override other considerations related to the placement of a planet by sign, house, and configuration with other planets, but it does provide a cru-cial starting point for the delineation of each planet in a chart, and using sect,

you can more accurately ascertain the benefic or malefic functioning of any planet. Sect, then, is an important piece that is missing from the modern debate over whether or not “benefic” and “malefic” are useful distinctions to make in astrological practice.

Sect-Related Rejoicing Considerations There are also two additional sect-related “rejoicing conditions” that are of lesser or secondary importance in the overall analysis of sect in a chart. The first is related to the horizon, and the gist of it is that diurnal planets prefer to be above the horizon in a daytime chart and below the horizon in a nighttime chart. Conversely, the noc-turnal planets prefer to be below the horizon in a daytime chart and above the horizon in a nighttime chart. (See Diagram �, below.) The second additional sect-related rejoicing condition is simply that the nocturnal planets prefer to be in noc-

turnal signs, which are the same as the feminine signs, while the diurnal planets prefer to be in diurnal signs, which are identified with the masculine signs. In the Medieval tradition, these two additional considerations were elevated in their level of importance, almost to the point where they were thought to be on a par with the primary sect con-sideration. However, in the Hellenistic tradition, these two sect considerations played a minor role as additional or separate rejoicing conditions. Above all, it should be stated that the main determination with regard to sect in a chart is simply whether the chart in question is a diurnal or noctur-nal chart — and which planets are of the sect in favor and which planets are contrary to the sect in favor. The two additional sect considerations, accord-ing to the horizon and according to sign, play a somewhat reduced or minor role in changing the sect status of the planets.

How Sect Is Useful as a Technique The interpretive value of this tech-nique is that, in the vast majority of charts, you can quickly determine with a high degree of accuracy which planets will be helping the native out and gen-erally acting as positive “influences” in their life — and, conversely, which plan-ets will be acting as particularly prob-lematic or even destructive factors with respect to the life of the native. As a general rule, and setting aside other mitigating factors, the malefic that is contrary to the sect in favor will often act as the source of many of the native’s greatest challenges, difficulties, and hardships in life, both in its natal place-ment and when it is activated as a time-lord or within the context of its transits. On the other hand, the benefic planet that is of the sect in favor will often act as the source of many of the native’s greatest windfalls, strengths, and areas of relative ease, both in its natal place-ment and in its transits. While this approach necessarily involves somewhat subjective distinc-tions about the nature of good and bad, it can be a useful tool for helping the astrologer to understand not only what will happen in an individual’s life, but also how the native will actually expe-

Jupiter tends to be the most positive or “benefic” in a day chart, while

Venus tends to be more benefic in a

night chart.

Diagram 3

The Astrology of Sect


C �1rience it personally. This ability to bet-ter describe the subjective experience of a person can, in turn, lead to a greater sense of empathy and compassion on the part of the astrologer, by showing areas of ease or difficulty more clearly and vividly. Within that context, sect is one of the most useful and immediately applicable techniques that have been recovered from the ancient astrological traditions thus far.

Chart Data and Sources“Marina,” July 19, 1984; 4:31 p.m. EDT; Hamilton, Ont., Canada (43°N15', 79°W51'); AA: from birth certificate.

“Tabitha,” April 24, 1984; 8:34 p.m. EST; Warwick, RI, USA (41°N42', 71°W23'); AA: from birth certificate.

References and Notes1. This approach is adopted and spelled out explicitly by Claudius Ptolemy (Tetrabiblos Book 1, Ch. 7); Paulus Alexandrinus (Intro-duction, Ch. 6); and Porphyry (Introduction, Ch. 4). It appears to be implicit in other Helle-nistic authors such as Rhetorius of Egypt, with the exception of Vettius Valens, who mentions a strange rule whereby Mercury follows the sect

of the lord of its bounds/terms (Anthology, Book 3, Ch. 5).

2. Robert Schmidt, Kepler College Sourcebook of Hellenistic Astrological Texts, Project Hind-sight, 2005, p. 49.

3. Firmicus Maternus, Ancient Astrology The-ory and Practice: Matheseos Libri VIII, trans. Jean Rhys Bram, reprinted by Astrology Clas-sics, 2005, Book 3, Ch. 2: 16–17, p. 77.

4. Firmicus Maternus, Matheseos, Book 3, Ch. 3: 18–19, pp. 81–82.

5. In Hellenistic astrology, there are several tim-ing techniques called “time-lord systems” that are used to determine when the natal potential

of a certain planet will be awakened and will manifest itself in the life of the native, for bet-ter or worse.

© 2010 Chris Brennan – all rights reserved

Chris Brennan is a practicing astrologer and researcher from Denver, Colorado. He was educated at Kepler College, where he focused on cross-cultural com-parisons between the astrological tra-ditions. He spent two years study-ing at Project Hind-sight, a translation

project for ancient astrological texts. He is the current President of the Association for Young Astrologers and former Research Director of the National Council for Geocosmic Research. His forthcoming book is entitled Hellenistic Astrol-ogy: The Study of Fate and Fortune. He con-ducts consultations and teaches online classes through his Web site at www.ChrisBrennanAs trologer.com. He can be contacted by e-mail at [email protected]

Diurnal planets prefer to be above

the horizon in a daytime chart and below the horizon

in a nighttime chart.


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Editor’s Note: This article is an edited extract from the author’s book of the same title, which is available from www.freeconsiderations.com

I was born in a country in which the moment of a child’s birth is rarely recorded; birth certificates state the day but not the time, exceptions being royal and multiple births. To understand and to predict my future and that of oth-ers (many of whom, like me, knew only their day of birth), I have experimented with several ideas over the past 50 years to quickly identify whether the birth occurred during the daytime or at night, and which was the first planet to rise to the eastern horizon in the hours follow-ing birth. These methods are based on the sequence in which the planets follow each other across the sky. This article introduces you to two of my discoveries.

Day or Night? There is a priceless but little-known tool that is invaluable for an astrologer who has the task of rectifying an indi-vidual’s time of birth. It is a feature of what was known in earlier times as the decennial. When asked to interpret an indi-vidual’s horoscope, the first question the astrologer should answer is whether the birth occurred in the daytime or at night. Is the Sun located above or below the horizon in the birth chart? Each of the planets has its unique strengths and

weaknesses that are interpreted very dif-ferently according to whether the birth chart is diurnal or nocturnal. In a diur-nal chart, the Sun, for example, tends to act as the benefic that Western astrology teaches; however, when it is below the horizon, in a nocturnal chart, the Sun frequently appears to act very much as Hindu astrology says: as a malefic. The astrologer faced with an unknown time of birth can, by a quick review of the ages when major life-changing events occurred in the native’s life, together with their nature, imme-diately identify whether the Sun was above or below the horizon. If a person was born during the day-time, when the Sun was above the hori-zon, then early in that person’s 19th year, usually around the age of 18¼, a major event will occur that will change the direction of the person’s life. The timing of this life-altering event may not occur precisely at the age of 18¼ years, but it will certainly occur close to that age. If the person was born during the night, with the Sun below the horizon, such a life direction–changing event will occur early in the 25th year, usually close to the age of 24¼. The nature of these life-changing events will be symbolized by the planet that, at the moment of birth, is next ahead in the zodiac from the appropri-ate light: ahead of the Sun for a diurnal birth, ahead of the Moon for a noctur-nal one.

Why these two ages? Why 18¼ and 24¼? As life begins at the moment of con-ception, a person we would nowadays say is 18¼ years old has, in fact, expe-rienced 19 years of life up until that time — nine months within the womb and 18¼ years outside of it. What is so important about 19 years? The period of 19 years belongs to the Sun and relates to the Metonic cycle. The Greek astron-omer Meton is said to have inaugurated this cycle in Athens on June 27, 432 B.C.E., at what was then the beginning of the summer solstice. Every 19 years, an eclipse returns to the same degree of the zodiac; 235 lunations occur in these 19 years. This same 19-year cycle was earlier well known in Babylon, where it was the basis for the cyclic calendar and was used to identify the annual dates of the solstice, equinox, and the rising of Sirius. To the present day, the Chris-tian ecclesiastical calendar, in its Easter dating, continues to maintain the basic principle of this 19-year solar cycle. The first 19 years of life of anyone born dur-ing daylight hours will be ruled by that person’s Sun. Similarly, for a nocturnal birth, it is the Moon that rules the early life, and the appropriate event that will radically redirect the individual’s life will occur in the nine months immediately prior to the 25th birthday, usually close to age 24¼. The age of 24¼ years iden-tified for this life-altering event is due

One After

Another

by Kennet Gillman


C ��to the 25-year lunar period commenc-ing, like that of the 19-year period of the Sun, at the time of conception. The length of the Moon’s period relates to the phases of the Moon occurring on the same days of the year every 25 years. Here, a year is an Egyptian year of 365 days: 12 months, each of 30 days, with five additional days at the end. In these 25 Egyptian years, there are exactly 309 lunation cycles. The Moon rules the first 25 years of anyone born at night.

The following are evidences of some daytime births: George Washington was some months short of his 19th birthday when he made his only trip outside of con-tinental North America, to Barbados, where he stayed for two months and caught smallpox. Alexander Hamilton, the first Treasury Secretary of the United States, also appears to have been a daytime birth. He was born on January 11, 1755, on the island of Nevis in the West Indies, and was 18 years and five months old when he came to New York to attend college. He never returned to the West Indies. By contrast, at age 24¼, he was in his third year as George Washington’s aide-de-camp, hoping to be given a diplomatic assignment to France, which Congress denied him. John Lennon was a few months past his 18th birthday when he and Paul McCartney formed their song- writing team. The big event at age 24¼ was passing his driving test. Adolf Hitler’s mother died in the early morning hours of December 21, 1907, when he was 18 years and eight months old. Four months earlier, he had received his patrimony and gone to sit the examinations of the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna, which he failed. With Adolf gone, his mother, who had undergone an operation in January 1907 to remove a cancerous breast, is said to have “let herself go and became an old woman.” No life-changing event occurred in Hitler’s 25th year to suggest that he was born at night. Hitler’s nativ-ity is examined in greater detail later in this article. The philosopher Bertrand Russell was born on May 18, 1872. On June 24, 1890, he first attended Cambridge

University. Within two months, at which time he was 18¼ years old, he declared himself an atheist, having been influ-enced by the writings of John Stuart Mill. King Juan Carlos of Spain was born on January 5, 1938. In March 1956, at age 18 years and two months, he accidentally shot and killed his brother.

Here are some indications of night births: Abraham Lincoln was 24¼ when his village store failed and his partner died. He was left badly in debt. He sur-vived by getting appointed as the town’s postmaster. Shortly thereafter, he began to study law. Richard Nixon, born on January 9, 1913, graduated from Duke Univer-sity Law School on June 7, 1937, at age 24 years and five months. Jacqueline Bouvier, born on July 18, 1929, was one month short of becoming 24¼ years old when she mar-ried John Fitzgerald Kennedy on Sep-tember 12, 1953. Charlie Chaplin, born on April 16, 1889, was 24¼ in July 1913 when the Keystone Film Company first offered him a contract to become “a moving picture actor.” The Nobel Prize–winning novelist Doris Lessing seems to have been another night birth. She married Gott-fried Lessing, an enemy alien and communist, when she was in her 25th year. At age 18¼, she had been work-ing in a telephone exchange, filling her spare hours with drinking, dancing, and flirting.

Josef Stalin was 24 years and eight months old on July 7, 1903 when Tsar Nicholas II signed the order for him to be exiled to Siberia. Four months earlier, Stalin had instigated a riot at Batumi Prison, where he had been imprisoned since April 1902. When Peter the Great of Russia set off on his Great Embassy to the West, he was 24 years and ten months old — seven months after the suggested age of 24¼. However, several months earlier, he had sent 50 Russians to West-ern Europe to study seamanship, navi-gation, and shipbuilding, so it appears that this revolutionary concept that radi-cally altered his life direction took some time in becoming actualized.

Jack Nicholls, D.Sc. and Ross Har-vey, in Considerations VII:4, stated that they had used this diurnal–nocturnal discrimination procedure “many times without a failure.” That was almost 20 years ago. Subsequent intensive use of this approach by others has confirmed that earlier finding.

Which Planet Rises First?The Decan Once the astrologer has decided whether the birth occurred in the day-time or at night, the next step is to find which planet will first come to the Ascen-dant following the moment of birth. Every horoscope contains ten plan-ets, the seven known in classical times and the three discovered in recent cen-turies, together with the four angles, and these are identified as being located among the twelve signs of the zodiac. Many hundreds of newborn babies are born on the same day, with similar aspects or planets in the same house or sign. One way these individuals can differ is in the order in which the planets come to affect the life. A word of caution here: It is the order of the planets at the moment of the birth that is used. The birth sequence is fixed; any alteration in it, such as the Moon passing another body, that occurs at any time after the moment of birth should be ignored. If the time of birth is unknown, use the method described above to decide whether the birth occurred in the day or at night, and then separate the diurnal

Each of the planets has its unique strengths and weaknesses that are interpreted very

differently according to whether the birth chart is diurnal or nocturnal.


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Chart 1: Sunrise on May 7, 1919

Chart 2: Eva Perón

bodies from the others. The simplest way to do this is to erect a chart for sunrise at the birth location (see Chart 1, below): One of the planets below the horizon at sunrise will usually be the first to rise if this is a diurnal birth, while the Sun or one of the planets above the horizon at sunrise will usually be the first to rise if it is a nocturnal birth. Note the use of the word “usually” in the preceding paragraph. There can be instances in which a planet designated by the above rule as a nocturnal- or diurnal-riser — Uranus in Chart 1 is a perfect example — could be the first to rise were the birth either diurnal or nocturnal. As several hours of daylight still remain after the planets in Leo have risen above the Ascendant, Uranus could then become the first planet to rise in a diurnal chart. Follow-ing sunset, Uranus would continue to be the first to rise, but the chart would now be a nocturnal one. The planets are the Sun and Moon (termed planets here), Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Nep-tune, and Pluto. No other bodies are involved; Chiron, the nodes, and any asteroid or other body hypothesized by different authors or schools are not used in this technique.

Celestial longitude is usually suffi-cient to determine the sequence of the planets. However, which planet in a close conjunction is ahead of the other is best determined by the methods of primary direction.1 A planet in the 1st house with a positive altitude cannot be the first to rise; one in the 12th with a negative altitude can. The horoscope of Eva Perón will be used as an example. Chart 1 (below) is cast for sunrise on her birthday at her birth location. Uranus and Mercury were above the horizon when the Sun came to the Ascendant. They will have risen over the Ascendant sometime during the night. Between the rising of Mercury and the moment of sunrise, the Sun will have also been the first body next to rise. Just three bodies, Mercury, Uranus, and the Sun, could have been the first

body to rise if this is a night birth. Any of the remaining seven planets (plus Ura-nus) could be the first to rise over the Ascendant into a daytime sky once the Sun has risen. The Moon crossed Saturn shortly after sunrise, sometime between the rising of Mars and the later rising of Venus, while the Sun did not pass over Mars until the next day. The first planet to rise after birth will rule the first ten years of life. The sec-ond planet to rise will rule the second ten years, and so on. Each planet, as it comes in sequence to the Ascendant, will take over control of the life for a period of ten years. Applying the day–night method previously described to discriminate between day and night births, there can be no doubt that Eva Perón was born during the night — her life radi-cally changed in her 25th year when she met her future husband, Juan Perón. Their romance and marriage were like a fairy tale or the climax of a movie, quite against all rational expectations. Noth-ing at all comparable occurred in her 19th year that would argue for a day-time birth. We are left with three planets that could be the first that rose after her birth: Uranus, Mercury, or the Sun. To decide which of these is appropriate, let’s consider what happened to Eva in each of the decades in which she lived.

The first planet to rise after birth will rule the first ten years of life. The second planet to

rise will rule the second ten years, and so on.

All charts use Whole Sign houses.

One After Another


C ��

Since Eva Perón died when she was 33 years old, only the following sequences of decan2 rulers are possible (see Table 1, above): As a child, she was Eva Maria Ibar-guren. She experienced humiliation and poverty from the year she was born. Her father abandoned the family, forcing them to move into a rural slum. To keep the family from starving, her mother was forced to sew clothes for the local villag-ers. The Sun could rule this decade. It is afflicted by its conjunction with Mars, which is more than usually malefic in Taurus, the sign of its detriment, and both the Sun and Mars are also squared by the very difficult Moon–Saturn con-junction. Uranus, with its well-known effect of disrupting home life, could also rule these same ten years. Mercury seems the least likely. Eva had ambitions to become an actress, and at age 15 she used her good looks and willingness to provide sexual favors to get taken to Buenos Aires, where she changed her name to Maria Evita Duarte. In Argentina’s capi-tal city, she had a series of affairs but only managed to get bit parts in the theater. All three rising planets could rule this second decade. Either the Sun or Mars would signify Eva’s attempt to

improve her life by doing whatever was necessary, while Mercury in Aries cannot be completely ruled out. Everything changed once Eva became 20 years old. This was the start of a miraculous decade. She quickly obtained a part in a new radio soap opera and was such an instant success that she was soon able to form her own radio company and rapidly became one of the best-paid radio actresses of the time. Then came “my marvelous day,” when she met Juan Perón, a prominent army officer with a ministerial position in the army-ruled government. The pair fell immediately in love and together began to live on an exhilarating switchback that swung rapidly from the depths of despair to the peaks of success. It culminated in Eva’s moving into the Unzue Palace as the wife of the newly elected president. Of the three planets that could rule Eva’s twenties, only Venus is appropriate for these events. At the start of the following decade, Eva was found to have cancer but was not told about it. She suffered great pain without knowing its cause and was deceived by her doctors, seemingly on the orders of her husband. She died at age 33 in Buenos Aires on July 26, 1952 at 8:25 p.m. local time. Congress had

given her the title “Spiritual Leader of the Nation,” a title without precedent. There was national mourning. To the people she had become Santa Evita. Her body was embalmed, and three exact copies of it were made. All found their way to Europe. Her true body was buried in Italy, under an assumed name. Of the three possible planets, only Pluto can have ruled this final decade. With Venus ruling Eva’s third decan and Pluto her final one, we can now say with confidence that the Sun was the first planet to rise and that her Ascen-dant is therefore somewhere between 20° Aries and 15° Taurus. This agrees with various sources, all of which place the birth close to 5:00 a.m., at which time Mercury is already above the Ascendant, and the Sun is the first body to next arrive at the eastern horizon, followed in turn by Mars, Venus, and Pluto. (See Chart �, facing page.)

Adolf Hitler Adolf Hitler was born on April 20, 1889 in Braunau, Austria. The recorded time was 6:30 p.m., which places Ura-nus just above the eastern horizon, with the Moon first to rise after the birth. However, events in the six decans of Hitler’s life lead me to suggest that

Table 1: Eva Perón’s Decan Rulers

Ages Night birth Day birth

0–9 g b ` d c i e h f a g

10–19 b ` d c i e h f a g b

20–29 ` d c i e h f a g b `

30 – death d c i e h f a g b ` d


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Uranus had not yet risen over the Ascen-dant when he was born. In brief, these events are listed in Table � (below). There is no doubt that Hitler was born in the daytime. The Sun would have been visible in the western sky for another 52 minutes following the recorded time of his birth. Of the two sequences identified in Table 2, Sequence B, with Uranus below the horizon and the first planet that will rise into the eastern sky after birth, is clearly the more appropriate. Each of the planets in Sequence B bet-ter symbolizes events in Hitler’s life in each ten-year period than do the alter-native planets in Sequence A. Hitler’s twenties were difficult. To better understand the rulership of Jupi-ter, the Greater Benefic, during these years, we see that it is located in Capri-corn, the sign of its fall, and closely con-junct a debilitated Moon. (See Chart �, facing page.) While the Moon conjunct Jupiter can be wonderfully positive, it will not be so at all when it occurs in Capricorn, the sign in which both bodies are weakened. Also, Jupiter, a naturally diurnal planet, is inappropriately located below the horizon in this daytime chart.

Despite these difficulties, Jupiter acted in a protective manner and brought Hit-ler safely out of the deadly trenches of the First World War. A biased observer may have wished that Jupiter had also received several square aspects, to have severely weakened its protective mode and allowed the world to avoid the many horrors Hitler subsequently brought about. Attending lectures at university, the public speaking, the political organizing, and writing his best-selling book can all be associated with Mercury ruling Hitler’s thirties. This again points to B as being the correct sequence. Becoming the ruler of Germany when the Sun ruled the decan is obvi-

ously right, as are the events of the Sec-ond World War, which coincided with Mars ruling his decan after 1939. Both of these rulerships are listed in Sequence B and confirm that it was Uranus, not the Moon, which would be the planet first to rise to Hitler’s Ascendant follow-ing his birth. Chart 3 has Uranus arbi-trarily placed just a few arc minutes from the Ascendant, but the Ascendant could in theory be several degrees earlier in Libra. Accurate prediction does not require greater precision.

Winston Churchill The usually accepted chart for Brit-ain’s wartime prime minister has the last degree of Virgo on the Ascendant, with Mars in Libra the first planet to rise after birth. However, based on the sequence of rising planets in the decan, I don’t believe this is correct. All of the available evidence points to the birth having occurred at Blen-heim, England in the early hours of November 30, 1874, sometime between midnight and sunrise; this tells us that only one of four planets — Mars, Jupiter, Mercury, or the Sun — could have been the first to rise after birth. Table � (facing page) lists the four alternative sequences of planets that could govern each of the different ten-year periods in Churchill’s long life, together with major events occurring in each of these periods, depending on which of the four planets first arrived at the Ascendant after his early-morning birth. Churchill was born at night. He was aged 24¼ when he resigned from the army. By contrast, at age 18¼, he was

Table 2: Hitler’s Decan Rulers

Ages EventsSequenceA B

0–9 Father retires from the Austrian customs service and becomes a bee farmer. a g

10–19 Younger brother dies. Elder brother runs away from home. Father dies. Mother dies. He is ambitious to become an artist. e a

20–29 Period of poverty. He joins the German army. First World War. Twice awarded the Iron Cross for bravery. Escapes death. b e

30–39 Attends lectures at university. Much public speaking and political organizing. Imprisoned. Writes Mein Kampf. ` b

40–49 Election success. Becomes Chancellor of Germany. Attains fame. d `

50 – death

Starts World War II. Successful invasions. Has great power. Tries to exterminate the Jews. Poor health. Defeat. Suicide. c d

One After Another

It is the order of the planets at the moment of the birth that is used. The birth sequence is fixed; any alteration in it, such as the Moon passing another body, that occurs at any time after the moment of

birth should be ignored.


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Table 3: Churchill’s Decan Rulers

Chart 3: Adolf Hitler

Chart 4: Winston Churchill

studying to take his entrance exams to go into the army. There is a distinct difference between the nature of events in Churchill’s life when he was in his thir-ties as opposed to those that occurred when he was in his forties. He was 31 years old when he was given a post in the government. Two years later, he was promoted into the Cabinet, subse-quently becoming Home Secretary and then the First Lord of the Admiralty. This was a phenomenally fast rise to power for anyone at such an early age. In the same period, he married, and his wife gave birth first to a daughter and then to a son. The nature of these events would appear to rule out the two sequences of events labeled as C and D, which would have Saturn or Neptune ruling the period. By contrast, Churchill’s forties were extremely difficult. The First World War was happening, and the combination of naval setbacks and failure in the Darda-nelles, for both of which he was largely responsible, forced him to resign his office, go to France as a soldier, and experience life in the trenches under fire. He then helped the White Russians, who were badly defeated by the Bolsheviks. Later in this same period, two daugh-ters were born, his mother died, he received an inheritance, and purchased

Rising planets Ages EventsA B C Dd e b ` 0–9

Father quarrels with Prince of Wales. Briefly in Ireland. Sent away to school where he is unhappy.

e b ` c 10–19Father self-destructs his political career. Injuries. In trou-ble with authorities. To Harrow school. Studying to go into the army.

b ` c f 20–29Father dies. Goes into army. To India. Resigns from the army. War correspondent. To South Africa. Captured by Boers but escapes. Becomes famous. Elected MP.

` c f h 30–39Marries. Promoted into the Cabinet as Home Secre-tary, then becomes First Lord of the Admiralty. Chil-dren born.

c f h i 40–49First World War. Resigns from the Cabinet. In trenches. Experiences a black depression. Back in the Cabinet as Colonial Secretary. Mother dies. Inheritance. Buys and repairs Chartwell Manor.

f h i g 50–59 Chancellor of Exchequer. Out of office. Loss of money in market crash. Much writing.

h i g a 60–69

Warns against Hitler. Abdication crisis. Attacks weakness of Britain’s air defenses. Daughter elopes. Writing. Second World War. Back in Cabinet. Becomes Prime Minister. Battle for Britain’s survival. He and Stalin split up Eastern Europe.

i g a d 70–79Victory. Loses election. Large financial gains. Again Prime Minister. Feeble concentration. Awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature.

g a d e 80–89 Sadly resigns his office. Suffers strokes. Painting. Physi-cal pain and discomfort. Daughter commits suicide.

a d e b 90 Death.


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the derelict Chartwell Manor, which he then repaired and moved into. Because events during this ten-year period appear much more likely to be ruled by Saturn than by Venus, the sequence of planetary rulers in Column B of Table 3 has my vote, which means that the first planet to rise after Churchill’s birth was Jupiter. Examination of each of the other ten-year periods, associating them with the time ruler listed in Column B, confirms that this sequence is more appropriate than the sequence listed in Column A, the one associated with the time of birth usually accepted, or with those in the other two candidate sequences, C and D. Accordingly, I sub-mit that Winston Churchill’s Ascendant was after 16°30' Libra and earlier than 23°30' of the same sign. The Ascendant of Chart � (see p. 57) has arbitrarily been given the 20th degree of Libra. (See Chart Data below.) The clairvoyant Charubel associated this degree with: “The sun shining brightly,” and he wrote that it “denotes a great man; a public character; one who will be noted in his day and whose presence among mankind will be considered essential. The world will ever appreciate the pres-ence of such a one.”3 Those present in London during the Blitz of the Second World War, as this writer was, will

realize just how appropriate Charubel’s words are for Churchill.

Chart Data and SourcesDay and Night Births: The birth dates of each of the several people used as examples of day and night births come from the standard biographies and are confirmed in Chambers’s Biographical Dictionary (1969) and The Cam-bridge Biographical Encyclopedia (1994).

Sunrise, May 7, 1919; 6:44:59 a.m. LMT; Los Toldos, Argentina (35°S11', 59°W05').

Eva Perón, May 7, 1919; 5:00 a.m. LMT; Los Toldos, Argentina. Nicholas Fraser and Marysa Navarro in Eva Perón (London, Deutsch, 1980) write: “At some time after five o’clock on 7th May 1919, an Indian woman went on foot to a house west of the village to deliver a child.” The former mayor and publisher of the local paper, as cited by astrologer Marion March, and Paul Montgomery in Eva Evita, agree on the same time. On a June 1979 Thames TV program, Queen of Hearts, it was stated that she was born “early in the morning.” AstroDatabank gives 5:14 a.m. LMT from Marc Penfield, but he has her born in 1908, eleven years earlier than the other sources. To complicate matters, there are three birth dates given in the official records: November 21, 1917 in the ledger at the Come-dia Theatre in Buenos Aires for Evita Duarte; May 7, 1919 in the Los Toldos church register for Eva Maria Ibarguren; and May 7, 1922 on her marriage certificate as Maria Eva Duarte.

Adolf Hitler, April 20, 1889; 4:56 p.m. GMT; Braunau, Austria (48°N15', 13°E03'). No time is listed on his birth certificate. Information obtained at the local church, where he was baptized, and reported in Zenit has the birth as 6:30 in the evening.

Winston Churchill, November 30, 1874; 3:21:21 a.m. GMT; Woodstock, England

(51°N51', 01°W21'). Again, no time is listed on the birth certificate; 1:30 a.m. on November 30, 1874 at Blenheim Palace is given by John Addey in the Astrological Journal #67. He is quoting from a letter written by Winston’s father.

Notes1. Solar Fire provides a Primary Mundane mod-ule within its Transits option. Select the follow-ing: Directions to Radix, and blank the transit and progression options; Primary Mundane under Directions at top right; birth date and 120 years for Period; all ten bodies for Progs; the Ascendant and Midheaven for Radix; and conjunction and opposition for Aspect Progs. The sequence of planets coming to each angle then results.

2. The “decan” is the name I have given to this method. Each of the ten planetary bod-ies, ordered by their sequence in coming to the eastern horizon following birth, rules the life for a period of ten years.

3. Charubel, The Degrees of the Zodiac Sym-bolised, The Aries Press, 1943, p. 28.

© 2010 Kennet Gillman – all rights reserved

Kennet Gillman has been a student of astrol-ogy since 1960. He has practiced the craft in Britain, Germany, Kenya, South Arabia, and North America. He moved from Europe to the United States in 1970 and was the Research Director of ISAR between 1970 and 1977. He was the owner–editor of the quarterly publica-tion Considerations from 1983 to 2006. Ken is a graduate Fellow of London’s Institute of Stat-isticians (FIS, MIS) and an elected Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society (FSS). Before retiring from the workplace, he headed a New York firm of consulting statisticians. Ken can be contacted at [email protected]

One After Another


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Editor’s Note: Some parts of this article are excerpted from the author’s book, Finding Our Center: Wisdom from the Stars and Planets in Times of Change, IUniverse Press, 2009.

Since the discovery of Eris in 2005, astrologers have been attempting to

uncover the archetypal and astrological meaning of our new dwarf planet. What does she mean for us in this time, and what significance does she have in our charts? Eris eluded discovery by astrono-mers for years, due to her eccentric orbit and unusual path, which is 44 degrees off the plane of the ecliptic. This new body was identified in 2005 (from images taken in 2003) by astronomers Michael Brown (Caltech), Chad Trujillo (Gemini Observatory), and David Rabi-nowitz (Yale University). Eris is the larg-est dwarf planet known; when she was first discovered, the astronomers and NASA declared her to be our solar sys-tem’s tenth planet because of her size (which has been determined to be about 4% larger than Pluto). Eris is a trans-Neptunian body, like Sedna, orbiting the Sun beyond the Kuiper Belt. This belt consists of asteroids and cometary matter scattered outward into the far-thest reaches of our solar system after its fiery birth. Eris’s unusual orbital pat-tern results from the effect of Neptune’s gravitational field on many of the Kuiper Belt objects. At the August 2006 meeting of the International Astronomical Union (IAU), this dwarf planet’s discovery generated debate about whether Eris (known up

to that time as “Xena”) should be clas-sified as a planet. In the ensuing conflict among the astronomers, she was des-ignated as a dwarf planet, along with Ceres — and Pluto was demoted to this status as well. Because of Eris’s size and that of Pluto and Ceres, all three had to be classified either as planets or as dwarf planets. In the contentious debate, the requirements for being defined as a planet were that the body has to be in orbit around the Sun, have sufficient mass so as to be nearly round in shape, and to have “cleared the neighborhood around its orbit.”1

It is this last qualification that excluded Pluto, Ceres, and Eris from planetary status, since all of them share their orbits with other planetary bod-ies. Pluto shares its orbit with its large moon, Charon, and intersects with the path of Neptune for part of its revolu-tion around the Sun. (Interestingly, this requirement did not exclude Neptune

from planetary status.) Ceres and Eris were not qualified to be planets because they share space with the surrounding asteroid belts and do not “clear their orbits” to become the primary entity in their orbital field; instead, they are part of a larger astronomical community. From a philosophical perspective, these new criteria for planetary status, formulated by the IAU, are significant. In essence, this creates a definition of importance that is characterized by iso-lation and individualism. To be a planet, it is important to be large and to so dominate your own field of movement that you are the only primary body in that area of space. This may reflect our Western cultural idealization of sepa-ration and individuation, by which we also measure our human psychological functioning. Pluto is effectively a double planet, together with its moon, Charon, which is almost the same size, and Pluto peri-odically moves within the orbit of Nep-tune. Ceres is part of the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, while Eris is among the Kuiper Belt asteroids. Sedna, another dwarf planet, is also a Kuiper Belt object and intersects with the inner Oort cloud. All of these plan-etary bodies are an integral part of a larger community of asteroids and plan-ets; they perhaps bring into our collec-tive consciousness a corrective to the idealization of individuation and a new perspective about connection and com-munity. At the same time that many sci-entists are questioning whether our solar system may be part of a binary star sys-tem — and just as we are on the cusp of

by Heather Ensworth

Exploring the Meaning of the Dwarf Planet,

Eris(Or Is It Really Xena?)


�0

the Age of Aquarius, with its emphasis on collaboration and community — it seems fitting that these new planetary bodies are challenging our cultural over-emphasis on individualism. It was the contentious debate trig-gered by the discovery of Eris that led the astronomers to name her after the Greek goddess of strife, and to name her moon Dysnomia, after one of her chil-dren, the demon of lawlessness. Eris is known in Greek mythology for her role in starting the Trojan War by stirring up conflict among the Olympian goddesses. When Eris was not invited to a wedding party, she arrived unannounced and tossed a golden apple into the crowd, which read Kallisti, meaning “for the fairest one.” This had the goddesses Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite all vying for the prize, and each tried to bribe the judge, Paris, the prince of Troy, who was chosen by Zeus to resolve the conflict. In return for selecting her, Aphrodite offered Paris the hand of Helen, wife of the king of Sparta, and Paris consented. This ignited the Trojan War and resulted in the destruction of the city of Troy. This Greek legend illustrates the dangers of discord, competition, and abuse of power. In the end, the need to be the best, the one chosen from the field of competitors, led to the downfall of all the people involved. Ironically, the astronomers — in their apparent need to avoid expanding the community of officially designated “planets,” which would result from a more liberal defini-tion of the term — may have set them-selves up for ongoing conflict.

The Character of Eris/Xena Let us consider what we know of the nature of this new planetary body — which, for two years prior to this debate, was known as “Xena.” Astrono-mer Michael Brown named her after this heroine, because he was a fan of the popular television series Xena: Warrior Princess (September 1995 – May 2001). He named her moon Gabrielle, after Xena’s companion and closest friend. The setting for the television show was ancient Greece, and the series drew liberally on mythologies from many cul-

tures around the world. The primary story line was about Xena’s profound transformation from a violent warlord to a spiritual warrior on a quest for jus-tice and healing for all. As a young child, Xena had been traumatized as she watched her village being destroyed by warriors. After years of acting out her rage by seeking revenge upon those who had slaughtered her family, she realized that she had become as destruc-tive as the enemies she hated. She then took a radically different path and set out to become a warrior for peace, to right the wrongs of her previous crimes and try to end the cycle of violence. Xena’s journey represented a spir-itual quest without allegiance to any religious institution or defined belief system, and in this sense, it was very Aquarian. Accompanied by her friends, she roamed across the countryside and formed relationships with the diverse people that she encountered along the way, relating to them without regard to their status, power, or wealth — again, Aquarian traits. She rebelled against authorities or laws that were not in alignment with what she felt was just and fair, which is also Aquarian. As part of a modern myth, developed out of modern technology, Xena symbol-izes many of the patterns characteristic of the Aquarian Age that we are moving into. Across the Piscean Age, Western civilization has been profoundly shaped by Greek cosmology and, in particular, by the Platonic notion of the ideal as separate from material reality. We see this reflected (in patriarchal societies) in the dualities of spirit and body, Heaven

and Earth, and male and female. The ancient Greek culture also idealized the mental capacities and forms of logic that so permeate our Western ways of think-ing and knowing. In contrast, the character Xena fol-lowed her own path, guided by intuition and life experience, in attunement with her body and the natural world around her. Her spirituality was an embod-ied one, not one of religious beliefs or dogma. She sought to right wrongs, to set things back into balance, and in this way, she represents a return to natu-ral law and a more integrated notion of spirit and matter. Unlike the goddess Eris of Greek mythology, Xena was dedicated to undoing the damage of strife and war-fare. Xena was a model for how to transform trauma into healing. She chal-lenged the laws, normative beliefs, and authorities that she encountered, and she dared to step out of the cultural pat-terns and collective consciousness of her time. Through her deep inner and outer exploration, she became aware of her unconscious reactivity and cul-tural conditioning, freeing herself to step into a new way of being at the thresh-old of a new Age. She embarked on a journey with no clear destination, whose only purpose was to live in truth, to act from the heart, and to serve justice. Her companion in the series, Gabrielle — in contrast to Dysnomia, the demon of lawlessness — was known for her sensi-tivity, compassion, and love of mythol-ogy, the way in which stories weave meaning and connections in our lives. I believe that the nature of the char-acter Xena is much more in tune with this new planetary body, whose orbit is eccentric and off the beaten path of the ecliptic, than the name that the astro-nomical community assigned to her. Perhaps the name Eris says more about the dynamics of the astronomers at the conference than it does about the archetypal meaning and nature of the planetary body. It is worth noting that the other planet in our solar system that is known astrologically for its eccentric and non-conformist nature, Uranus, does not fit the official name it was given, either. As Richard Tarnas clearly states, in Pro-metheus the Awakener, the astrological

As part of a modern myth, Xena

symbolizes many of the patterns

characteristic of the Aquarian Age that we

are moving into.

Eris/Xena


�1understanding of the planet Uranus, with its qualities of genius, freedom, unpre-dictability, innovation, and individual-ism, actually resonates more fully with the nature of Prometheus, who rebelled against the gods and brought fire to humanity, than with the Greek god, Ouranos.2 In Greek mythology, Ouranos was one who resisted change. Rather than being the archetypal rebel, he was striving to retain his power and was eventually overthrown by his children. From an astronomical perspective, Uranus is a rule-breaker. While most of the other planets spin on an axis that is perpendicular to the plane of the eclip-tic, Uranus’s axis is nearly parallel to the ecliptic. Its south pole is directed toward the Sun and receives more solar energy than the equator of the planet, yet its equator is hotter than its poles, and scien-tists are unable to explain how this is so. In a similar way, Eris is a rule-breaker who steps out of the astronomi-cal norm with an unusual elliptical path and with her orbit tilted 44 degrees off the plane of the ecliptic. It is notewor-thy that this planetary body evoked con-flict in the astronomical community, and the arguments about the definition of a planet led to her being named after the Greek goddess of strife. Perhaps this process mirrors our fear of or reaction to her unique character and her audacity in stepping off the ecliptic, out of a tra-ditional orbit. Her original name, Xena, seems to correspond more closely to her true nature. And is it not significant that, in this age of technology, one myth for our time may come from our modern media? Also, in this period of transition and global change, the debate about Eris/Xena may reflect the tumult caused by the call for new forms of conscious-ness and new ways of being, as we move into the Aquarian Age, contrasting sharply with efforts to cling to old forms and traditional beliefs more consistent with the Piscean Age. Our recently discovered dwarf planet, like Xena, follows her own path, circling in close to the Sun and the other planets of our solar system and then off into the outer edges of the Kuiper Belt. She moves in harmony, not dis-harmony, with the other planetary bod-ies around her but is unique in her orbit. She has no need to “clear her neigh-

borhood” to prove her dominance or to strive for hierarchical advantage. True to her original name, Xena, she dem-onstrates how to step out of cultural conditioning and engrained patterns of thinking and acting. From an astrologi-cal perspective, she defies our efforts to place her on the ecliptic, because her very nature reflects her disengage-ment from this “traditional” or norma-tive path. Now, at the end of the Age of Pisces, she symbolizes the importance of daring to cast off old patterns and habit-ual ways of knowing, doing, and being and to follow new, uncharted paths. As we prepare to move into the Age of Aquarius, with its values of diversity and community, she models how to be unique and yet able to live in peaceful co-existence with others.

Journey through Deep Waters Eris/Xena now travels through the constellation Cetus, one of the constel-lations (along with Aquarius, Pisces, and Eridanus) in the southern sky, in the region known as the Water. Cetus lies below the line of the ecliptic and is associated in Greek mythology with the gateway to the Underworld. In more modern times, Cetus has been seen as a whale, while in ancient Greece, it was viewed as a serpentine sea creature. In Mesopotamia, the stars of Cetus were associated with Tiamat, the Mother of all life in Sumerian and Babylonian mythology. Although seen in later inter-pretations as a “sea-monster,” Tiamat was not depicted this way in the more ancient stories. Instead, she was associ-ated with the deep sea, with the primor-dial waters from which all life comes. She gave birth to the dragons and ser-

pents, which we know were the earliest images of the Sacred Feminine and of the divine, both in the sky and on the Earth. Tiamat was the supreme goddess of the sea and of the source, the chaos, of creation. In the Babylonian epic, the Enuma Elish, she was the holder of the Tablets of Destiny who was later slain when the gods feared her powers of creation and destruction, and she was sliced in half to form the heavens and the Earth. So, our new dwarf planet, as she passes through this constellation, reminds us of the depths, the source of all life, and of the power of chaos, the cauldron of creation and destruction. She heralds the return of the Sacred Feminine and the dissolution and trans-formation of our current patriarchal belief systems. She encourages us to let go of our personal stories and cultural conditioning, to dive deep, and to return to right relationship with Source and with all of life. Because Eris/Xena’s position is 44 degrees off the plane of the eclip-tic, it does not make sense to place her on the ecliptic in the natal chart; it would be attempting to force her back into a normative way of being when her very nature is about being off the beaten path. How, then, do we inter-pret her astrologically? Perhaps the best way to understand her meaning in the birth chart is to look at where she would intersect with the ecliptic, given her cur-rent position, and see that as the point in our charts where we experience her call to move into a new way of being, to step out of the norms of our culture and our patterns from the past and do something radically different. In this

Xena was a model for how to transform trauma into healing. She

challenged the laws, normative beliefs, and authorities that she

encountered, and she dared to step out of the cultural patterns and

collective consciousness of her time.


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Chart 1: Gloria Steinem

Chart 2: Joan Baez

way, what becomes important is the house placement of Eris/Xena in the birth chart and whatever close aspects (particularly conjunctions) she makes to other planets in the chart. The sign that she is in, when translated to the eclip-tic, is not significant. In fact, it is better to focus on the constellation that she is actually moving through (off the eclip-tic), because that symbolically shows us what archetypal energy she is car-rying and how she is urging us out of conventional ruts. Since she is currently moving through Cetus, the Whale, this may mean that she is calling us to dive deeply into the waters of the uncon-scious and the collective consciousness to attune to the Sacred Feminine, to Source, and to find ways to be warriors for peace and healing in these times of change.

Eris/Xena in the Chart Let’s look at a few examples of how we might interpret this new dwarf planet in a birth chart. Interestingly, Lucy Lawless, the New Zealand actress who played the role of Xena in the tele-vision series, has Eris/Xena conjunct both her Sun and Moon in Aries, along with Saturn and the North Lunar Node. (Her birth data are conflicting, so the

chart is not shown, but the conjunctions, except for the Moon, would still be valid.) Again, it is important not to think of Eris/Xena as being in Aries; rather, this is the point where the dwarf planet intersects with the chart to call us to go deeply within, connect to our unique-ness, and follow our own path. With Eris/Xena so prominent in Lucy’s chart and identity, it is not surprising that she portrayed Xena in the television series for six years and that her life reflects the nature of Xena in her values and her actions. For example, these Xena-like qualities are evident in Lucy’s active involvement in many charities that are centered around her concerns about health issues, children and families, and the environment. Another person who carries a strong Eris/Xena imprint is Gloria Steinem, American feminist, author, and social activist, who dared to step away from cultural norms and blaze her own trail. She was an important leader in the women’s liberation movement in the 1960s and ’70s and a staunch advocate of justice and fairness for women. In her birth chart, Eris/Xena ( ) conjoins her Sun and Mars in Aries in the 5th house and trines her Moon in Leo. (See Chart 1, below.) Steinem took a dif-ferent path in 5th-house ways, through her self-expression and creativity. As a columnist for New York magazine and

later as founding editor of Ms. maga-zine, she traveled extensively and fought for social reform, especially equal rights for women. Her book, Revolution from Within: A Book of Self-Esteem, is a beautiful description of her inner and outer journey and her search for truth, healing, and transformation. Although Steinem has both her Sun and Moon in fire signs, she shows the influence of Eris/Xena energy by following a path of justice and by working in collaboration with others, rather than being focused on personal power or fame. The chart of Joan Baez also shows a prominent Eris/Xena signature. This American folksinger, songwriter, and activist has Eris/Xena in the 1st house, conjunct her Aries Ascendant and South Lunar Node and sextile her Moon in Gemini. (See Chart �, below.) Joan Baez is well known for her songs that address social issues and for her com-mitment to nonviolence, human rights, and environmental concerns. As a singer, her voice is very distinctive, and her songs span a diversity of musical styles (from rock to pop to country to gospel). Like Xena, Joan Baez has trav-eled extensively throughout her life and has been in many personal relation-ships, while pursuing her chosen causes. Eris/Xena has interfaced with the ecliptic in the sign of Aries since the mid 1920s and continues there for

All charts use Koch houses and the True Node.

Eris/Xena


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Chart 3: Al Gore

Chart 4: Richard Tarnas

more than a hundred years, until 2044 when it enters Taurus. Aries is a cardi-nal fire sign associated with leadership and “warrior” qualities; yet, people with Xena conjunct the Sun in Aries, such as Lucy Lawless and Gloria Steinem, or on the Ascendant, like Joan Baez, seem to show qualities of being a warrior for peace and justice rather than being intent on personal gain. It is interesting that Joan Baez, among many others with Eris/Xena aspects, also has a strong Neptune in her chart (conjunct her Descendant, trine her Sun, in an out-of-sign trine to her Moon, and close to her North Node). Neptune’s gravitational field is a catalyst for Eris/Xena’s unique orbit off the ecliptic, and Neptune often seems to exert its influence in the lives of those with prominent Eris/Xena placements. While this Neptunian influence for Joan Baez relates to her love of music and her compassionate social concerns, the influence of Eris/Xena is seen in her warrior energy, which gives her the abil-ity to act on her passion for justice and healing in a uniquely creative manner. We might hypothesize, from the charts of these three examples, that Eris/Xena is strong (making major aspects to the Sun, Moon, or Ascendant, in partic-ular) in the birth charts of women who have followed their own unique path and are committed to human rights and

the environment. This passion for social justice seems to have been shaped by their own life experiences. The deep connection with Eris/Xena may have encouraged them to defy cultural norms and have the courage to be an advocate for social change. One man who has a significant Eris/Xena placement in his chart is Al Gore. Eris/Xena is conjunct his Sun in Aries in the 9th house and square his Moon in Capricorn in the 5th house. (See Chart �, below.) Al Gore has pursued a career of traditional public leadership and ser-vice for much of his life, reflected in his Aries Midheaven and Leo Ascendant, as well as Pluto, Saturn, and Mars in the 1st house. However, he has demonstrated the influence of Eris/Xena in his life-long concern for the environment, which

often led him to be in conflict with others in positions of power, as well as in ten-sion with the prevailing trends of materi-alism and consumerism. This eventually drew him onto his own independent path. He now travels around the world, promoting environmental action and urging the global community to change its course and its current attitudes, to live more in balance with the Earth. His strong spiritual and philosophical beliefs (9th house) about the environment are reflected in his book, Earth in the Bal-ance,3 and in his award-winning docu-mentary, An Inconvenient Truth. For men, a strong Eris/Xena sig-nature, with the concomitant tendency to break out of the cultural norms, is revealed in a connection with the Sacred Feminine. This often mani-fests not only in concerns for social jus-tice, but also in a love for Mother Earth and a desire for humanity to embrace a more embodied spirituality, a belief sys-tem that fosters a deep respect for the natural world. For example, Richard Tarnas is a philosopher and astrologer who has followed his own unique life path and advocates new forms of con-sciousness; in his book, Cosmos and Psyche,4 he has written about our need to return to an “ensouled” understand-ing of the Universe. His Eris/Xena con-joins his North Lunar Node in the 10th house of career. (See Chart �, below.)

What is important is the house placement

of Eris/Xena and whatever close

aspects (particularly conjunctions) she makes to other

planets in the chart.


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A New Planet for a New Age Characteristic of all these examples of men and women with prominent Eris/Xena chart placements is their tendency to challenge society’s mores and to fol-low a unique path as reformers. Such people are frequently targeted with neg-ative projections in much the same way that the dwarf planet was seen as the instigator of conflict among astronomers and was therefore named “Eris.” How-ever, rather than seeing Eris/Xena’s dif-ferentness as a threat to our existing beliefs and scientific notions, we can view her way of being as a corrective to our limited understanding of the nature and orbital movements of planetary bodies in our solar system. Similarly, those with a strong Eris/Xena signature (particularly in aspect to the Sun, Moon, Ascendant, or lunar nodes) dare to question the status quo; they model new ways of consciousness that encour-age justice, healing, and a respect for the environment. Rather than trying to force Eris/Xena into the mold of traditional plan-ets, we should recognize that her gift is in her uniqueness. Instead of attempting to fit her on the ecliptic when her true nature is about moving off the eclip-tic, we need to interpret her presence as indicating how we are being called into individual and global transformation. As she moves now through the stars of Cetus, she whispers to us to dive into the waters of our personal and collec-tive unconscious, to seek new ways of being, and to be open to the mysteries of the unknown. If we react in fear or anger when she challenges our existing

belief systems, then we (not the plan-etary body) become like the Greek god-dess Eris, seeking power, prestige, and control, no matter what the cost. If we listen to her deeper meaning, Xena, like the Warrior Princess of modern myth, can guide us in a profound journey of discovery, healing, and transformation. She can teach us how to be unique and also to connect with the diversity of oth-ers. In this time of intense worldwide change, she is calling humanity to move beyond dominance and violence and to choose a path of peace, justice, and reconnection with each other and the natural world, as we transition into the Aquarian Age.

Chart Data and Sources(in alphabetical order)Joan Baez, January 9, 1941; 10:45 a.m. EST; Staten Island, NY, USA (40°N35', 74°W09'); AA: birth certificate in hand from Steinbrecher.

Al Gore, March 31, 1948; 12:53 p.m. EST; Washington, D.C., USA (38°N54', 77°W02'); AA: birth certificate in hand from Marion March.

Lucy Lawless, March 29, 1968; 6:25 a.m. NZT; Auckland, New Zealand (36°S52', 174°E46'); DD: Some sources indicate a birth

date of March 28, and the birth time is uncer-tain; however, there is a strong Eris/Xena con-junction with the Sun on either date, and the house placement is not used.

Gloria Steinem, March 25, 1934; 10:00 p.m. EST; Toledo, OH, USA (41°N40', 83°W33'); AA: from birth record in Gauquelin Book of American Charts.

Richard Tarnas, February 21, 1950; 12:30 p.m. CET; Geneva, Switzerland (46°N12', 06°E090'); AA: Lois Rodden quotes his letter in June 1993; Pat Taglilatelo quotes his e-mail in June 2003.

References1. International Astronomical Union press release 0603: http://iau.org (accessed August 2010).

2. Richard Tarnas, Prometheus the Awak-ener: An Essay on the Archetypal Meaning of the Planet Uranus, Spring Publications, Inc., 1995, p. 12.

3. Al Gore, Earth in the Balance: Ecology and the Human Spirit, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2000.

4. Richard Tarnas, Cosmos and Psyche: Intima-tions of a New World View, Viking, 2006.

© 2010 Heather Ensworth – all rights reserved

Heather Ensworth, Ph.D., is an astrologer and clinical psychologist who teaches and prac-tices in South Hamilton, Massachusetts. She is the author of the recently published book, Find-ing Our Center: Wisdom from the Stars and Planets in Times of Change (IUniverse Press, 2009). To contact her, telephone (978) 468-2021 or e-mail her at: [email protected]; Web site: http://risingmoonhealingcenter.com

Eris/Xena has interfaced with the

ecliptic in the sign of Aries since the mid

1920s and continues there for more than

a hundred years.

Eris/Xena

To get other views, TMA articles on Eris have appeared in:

• April/May 2007 (2 articles)• October/November 2007


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You’ve taken the classes, been to the conferences, read the books, and paid your dues. Now, to your amazement, people are actually offering to pay you for your astro-logical expertise! When this happens, it’s a sure sign that you’re at a new stage in your development as an astrologer, and it’s time to step into your knowledge and wisdom. But you may be at a loss about how to prepare for a session with a new client. You can nervously waste many hours dithering over details that turn out to be insignificant, while overlooking an obvi-ous major transit that is slightly out of orb. What you need is a way to organize and direct your preparation and a method to sort through and prioritize all that infor-mation, to find important themes and details emerging from the chart. By care-fully and consistently following a structured approach before the client arrives, you will free yourself during the session to have a more direct and genuine interaction with the client and rely less on your notes. One of the first things impressed upon me as a budding astrologer was the need to develop a method for analyzing charts — and then stick to it. Of course, the method will change over time, as one’s interests and abilities evolve, but the impor-

tant thing is to systematically work through a set of procedures in order to perceive the patterns and promises of the chart. Other-wise, it is impossible to be objective; one sees what one wants, whether for good or ill, and overlooks glaring indications to the contrary. Emotional detachment and a defined procedure are crucial, if this is to be avoided. A suggested set of steps will be included in this article, but now let’s address the first moment of the client–astrologer interaction. Normally, the client will contact you by phone or e-mail. This is your signal to fetch a client intake form. I strongly suggest that you develop one, print off several copies, and leave them in a file folder near your phone or desk, at the ready. It’s also possible to do this electroni-cally, of course. Call me old-fashioned, but I like having a paper trail.

Client Intake Form The advantages of using a client intake form (a sample is shown on page 66) are numerous. This will give you control over the entire exchange, beginning with the first contact. Being ready with the form indicates your professionalism and lets you grab the reins right off the bat.

Before the Client Arrivesby Linea Van Horn

By carefully and consistently following a structured

approach before the client arrives,

you will free yourself during the session to

have a more direct and genuine

interaction with the client.


��Astrology Client Intake Form

Name

Address

Phone: Home Work Cell

E-mail

Birth Data

Source of data

Special concerns at this time:

Notes from meeting:

Date/time of initial call

Referred by

Appointment date/time

$$ Quoted

Follow-up appointments:


�� Here are some crucial items to include on your client intake form:

• Client’s first and last name (separate them), phone number, e-mail address, and mailing address

• Client birth data: date, place, and time with reference

• Appointment time, date, and place

• Length of session

• The name of the person who referred the client

• Concerns at this time

• Rate per hour, list of your services

• Notes from the session

• Follow-up appointments

This form functions, first of all, as a guide to getting all of the information you need from the client and keeping it in one central location. Be careful when recording the information. Double-check the spelling of the client’s name. When you get the birth time, ask for the source of the information: Emphasize the importance of a documented birth time. Most people don’t understand how quickly certain aspects of the chart can change: When you stress this to the cli-ent during the intake, it can result in fur-ther efforts on their part to find a more accurate birth time. Although you can have a pleasant conversation, focus on getting the facts you need. When you’ve filled in all the required blanks, confirm the appointment details and gracefully complete the phone call. The intake form also serves as a cover sheet for the client folder in your confidential professional files. You do have a client file system, right? If not, get yourself a file box or cabinet to orga-nize your client files, because before you know it, you will have lots of them, and these are not the kind of things you want to leave lying around. Use the client intake/cover sheet to keep track of changes of address, phone number, e-mail address, etc., especially if you don’t have a digital client database. The intake form is also a great place to keep notes from the first and subsequent sessions with the client. These notes can be very helpful in the future, should the client return, and he or she will be really

impressed by your memory! Be sure to record the date when you add new information. Whenever I make an appointment, I inquire what the client wants and expects from an astrological reading right now. I ask if they are seeking help for a specific problem. Knowing this will assist you in your preparation. If it’s a first-time client, I also ask if they have ever had a chart done before and when. Some people haven’t had their chart read since the 1970s, but others get a reading every year. That bit of info will affect not only your preparation but also how much astrological language you use with the client. Ask the client who referred them to you, and note this on your form. If a colleague has referred the client to you, it’s good form to send a percentage of that client’s payment to your colleague as a referral fee. Also, I have a policy that any client who refers five paying clients will receive a free 60-minute session. There are few things as valu-able as a satisfied client, and this policy further encourages referrals, which are typically the best source of new clients. The intake form helps you to keep track of who is referring clients to you. Be ready to state your services and prices. Jot them down on the intake form itself, so when the client asks, you’ll be ready. Describe your areas of specialty. Give the potential client an idea of what you usually do in a read-ing, how long it takes, the information you cover, etc. State if you include a complimentary chart wheel, whether or not you record the session, and how you deliver the recording. These days,

audio files can be delivered for free over the Internet, using services that send large files, such as yousendit.com Set up the appointment imme-diately. Don’t leave this up in the air. This is especially true if the client is on the phone. People who call are serious about a session. Make the appointment right then, and confirm it by e-mail (if possible), carefully reviewing the date, time, and place of the session. The length of the appointment should also be clarified at this time. I urge first-time clients to book a 90-minute session: This allows time for depth without wearing out either the client or yourself. Subse-quent visits are usually 60 minutes long. The intake process is an important component of the client–astrologer rela-tionship. When this is properly handled, everything flows more smoothly.

What Charts to Use Once you have gathered all the necessary information, there’s one more thing to do before the step-by-step pro-cess starts: Print the charts. Print every-thing you think you will need before beginning your analysis. What follows is the list of charts I use; your list may be different. I try to print them in the same order so I don’t forget any. One of these days, I will learn to use the wonderful Astrologer’s Assistant tool on Solar Fire, which is designed to automatically generate a batch of charts like this. Until then, I manually print them up in this order:

The analysis checklist: (See Sidebar, page 68.)

• Natal chart with aspect grid, and/or the new Solar Fire “whdata” chart, which contains lots of useful information but no aspect grid.

• Pretty version of natal chart to give to client.

• Bi-wheel: natal chart on inside and transits for consultation on outside. This will give you a quick overview of the major transits going on for the client at the time of the appointment.

• A 12-month transit report, starting with month of visit, using transiting Mars through Pluto. I prefer to use a graphic ephemeris, which permits me to see what I am looking for on a single page.

When you get the birth time, ask

for the source of the information: Emphasize the importance of a documented

birth time.


��The Analysis Checklist

Natal Chart with Aspect Grid

Overview• Chart type (bucket, splash, etc.)• Hemispheric or quadrant emphasis• Element and mode emphasis• Chart overtone• Stellium or house emphasis• Final dispositor or mutual receptions

The Specifics of This Chart• Sun — sign, house, aspects, ruler• Moon — phase, sign, house, aspects, ruler• Ascendant sign. Planets close to Asc. Condition of ruler. Close aspects to Asc.• MC/IC rulers (planets/signs) — parental axis: career• Planet near an angle (within 5 degrees), planets in angular houses• Singletons, isolated or unaspected planets• Nodal axis• Any other aspects that have not yet been listed: houses these planets rule• Anything else that catches your eye (e.g., most elevated planet, out-of-bounds planet(s), stationary planets — this last requires a look at the ephemeris)

The Patterns of This Chart• Aspect patterns (if more than one, list separately)• Helping Hands (features or aspects that help/support native)• Repeating themes that emerge (rule of 3)

Transits and Graphic Ephemeris

List the biggest outer-planet activity for next 12 months; note if client is just coming out of a period of major outer-planet transits. Do this for Pluto, Neptune, Uranus, and Saturn. Notice any strong triggers by Jupiter or Mars. You might need a separate sheet of paper, since you never know how many lines will be required.

Pluto, etc.: transiting sign and house;

Aspect _______ 1st pass ______ 2nd pass _____ 3rd pass ______ 4th pass/5th pass _______

Secondary Progressions (P2): Use only the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, and Mars. P2 Sun positionP2 Moon positionP2 phase position (P2 Moon to P2 Sun)P2 Ascendant and MC (always use birth location for progressions)Any progressed planets on natal Ascendant, Descendant, MC, or IC?Any aspects perfecting this year?Any planets changing direction?Planets changing signs?Planets changing houses?Planets conjunct natal planets?

Solar Arc Directions (SA): Use all the planets. Look for:Any SA planets crossing the natal Ascendant, Descendant, MC, or IC?Any SA planets conjoining a natal planet?


��This method is a way of graphically displaying planetary motion for the selected planet(s) in relation to other transiting planets and the natal chart. At first blush, graphic ephemerides look confusing, but once you’ve figured them out, they are an excellent aid for seeing how the transits will play out over the next year. However, any method of previewing the transits of Mars through Pluto against the client chart will suffice.

• Tri-wheel: natal chart on the inside, secondary progressions (P2) in the middle ring, and solar arc directions (SA) on the outer ring.

• For 90-minute or birthday sessions, Solar Return (SR) chart (1 or 2, depending on how close to birthday).

If this seems like a lot, don’t worry. You’ll be looking for specific things on each page, not analyzing every detail of every chart. You’ll quickly develop focus and discipline as you practice this proce-dure. There is so much information that one must quickly learn how to discern what is important and avoid being dis-tracted by what is not. The single most common mistake that budding astrolo-gers make when beginning to work with clients is that they over-prepare. This is not to be used as an excuse to under-prepare: I am simply saying that, since you have only a limited amount of time with the client, don’t spend your valu-able preparation time agonizing about every detail. Now is the time to trot out the step-by-step method. Once I have all the charts printed out, I do two “sweeps” through the information. The first pass is to gather facts, sort information and data, collect dates, etc. One by one, I look at the charts I have printed, fol-lowing what my eye is drawn to, and moving quickly through the checklist. I always start with the natal chart itself, next the transits, and then the two types of progressions, in that order. I move rapidly through the first pass, a fact- finding mission. A yellow highlighter is my most important tool at this point in the process. I highlight the most notice-able factors on the charts so I know where to look when I come around again. The second time around, I ana-

lyze, synthesize, and interpret the charts. This takes much longer.

Natal Chart with Aspect Grid I remember my very first astrology conference. It was in 1991, in Santa Fe, New Mexico with Alan Oken. I was blown away by his ability to quickly analyze a chart but finally realized that, once I had delineated 5,000 charts, I’d probably be pretty good at it, too. One very sensible suggestion I took away from his workshop is to start with the big picture and then drill down to the details. I’ve done it that way ever since, and you’ll find that it’s the master strat-egy behind the following delineation protocol. It’s outside the scope of this article to describe or explain every technique used in the following system. These are the things that I’ve come to find are important. Your list may be differ-ent. Don’t get hung up at any one point if you encounter something you don’t know or don’t use. Just go on to the next thing.

Overview: This part should not take more than five minutes, and you only have to visit this area once. You’re not analyzing at this point, even though themes may already be forming in your mind. If so, jot down key words and concepts — that’s all. You’ll develop these ideas later. Move quickly through this list. Look for: 1. Chart type (bucket, splash, etc.): These are described by Marc Edmund Jones, Michael Meyer, and many oth-ers. Not all charts are easily categorized, but ones that closely match a specific

pattern can show distinct personality characteristics. 2. Hemispheric or quadrant empha-sis: Emphasis on one half or quarter of the chart is important. 3. Element and mode analysis: If things are well balanced here, move on. Pause only for imbalances. Zero or one planet in an element or mode indi-cates a lack thereof. When this happens, check the chart for a compensating fac-tor: e.g., a strong Moon placement in a chart with no water. Four or more planets in one element or mode indicate an abundance of that factor. Both lacks and excesses are important. 4. Chart overtone or signature: Most activated mode and most activated element, e.g., an abundance of planets and points in fixed signs, and also in water signs, gives a Scorpio overtone, even if the native has no Scorpio plan-ets or points in the chart. 5. Stellium or house emphasis. 6. Final dispositor and mutual receptions: Mutual receptions (MR) are two planets in each other’s signs, and they are a helpful indication. I gener-ally use traditional rulerships, but if they don’t result in a mutual reception, I will look at modern rulers. Occasionally, I’ll find an MR this way. Ditto with final dispositors. Final dispositors are rare but important. There is a simple litmus test you can perform to check for the possi-bility of a final dispositor: Does the chart have one planet, and only one, in its own sign? If the answer is no, there can-not be a final dispositor. If the answer is yes, there might be a final dispositor. Follow the chain of rulership through the chart. If everything leads back to the one planet in rulership, that planet is the final dispositor and rises to the top of planetary considerations.

The specifics of this chart: Now is the time to systematically gather infor-mation on the components of this chart. When finding aspects, list the very clos-est aspects (one or two) for each planet. Don’t list everything. You’ll get distracted by too much detail. 1. Sun: sign, house, aspects, ruler and its condition. 2. Moon: phase, sign, house, aspects, ruler and its condition.

Since you have only a limited amount of time with the client,

don’t spend your valuable preparation

time agonizing about every detail.


�0

3. Ascendant sign: Planets close to the Ascendant. Planets here will modify the Ascendant and can affect the birth circumstances as well as the physical appearance. Note the condition of the ruler and any close aspects to the Ascendant. 4. Condition of Mercury, Venus, and Mars: Sign, house placement, aspects to other planets, condition of ruler can all be important, particularly if one of these planets rules the Ascendant or the Midheaven (MC). Remember that Mercury and Venus are never far from the Sun, so being ahead of or behind the Sun makes a real difference with these two planets. 5. Saturn: Sign, house, and closest aspects. 6. MC/IC rulers: planets/signs — parental axis. 7. Planets near an angle (within 5 degrees) and planets in angular houses: These planets operate more effectively than in succedent and especially cadent houses. 8. Singletons, isolated or unaspected planets: Such a planet can be quite a maverick in a chart, throwing in a wild-card element. Sometimes the planet is underutilized, but other times it can become the “calling card” for the person. 9. Nodal axis (especially if it receives hard aspects): According to the tenets of Vedic astrology, planets placed near the nodes can feel eclipsed. Nodes can also exaggerate. 10. Close aspects that have not yet been listed. 11. Anything else that catches your eye (e.g., most elevated planet, out-of- bounds planets). Stationary planets require a look at the ephemeris.

The Patterns of This Chart 1. Aspect patterns: Note aspect pat-terns (grand trines, t-squares, etc.) and analyze them. The first consideration is always the planets involved. I do this on a separate sheet of paper. 2. Helping Hands: One or more corners of an aspect pattern has useful aspects that indicate talents or tools to help with the issues expressed by the pattern.

3. Repeating themes that emerge (rule of 3): Often by the end of the first pass, themes and contradictions will begin to emerge. They will definitely develop during the second sweep or analysis. Jot down your impressions and expand upon them as you move through the delineation.

Once you’ve completed the first pass, go over the specifics of the chart again, this time filling in your interpre-tations, ideas, and possible expressions for what you see. Use what you know before consulting any other sources. By the time you work through the second pass, you’ll be ready to discuss the natal chart with your client. Many clients also want to know what’s coming up for them in the next several months or over the next year. I do not recommend looking beyond one year in advance — that’s more informa-tion than most people can retain.

What’s Ahead for the Client? Transits and Graphic Ephem-eris: Of all the predictive techniques, I find that transits give me the best results, when it comes to seeing both broad and specific themes in the client’s devel-opment. They are also very useful for narrowing down the timing of such development. Begin by checking the bi-wheel of the natal chart and appointment tran-sits, highlighting anything really obvious. Remember: The slower the planet, the longer its transit and the more important it is from a developmental standpoint. Then, use the graphic ephemeris to check for major transits, starting with Pluto, then Neptune, Uranus, and Saturn. Don’t worry too much about Jupiter. I find this wonderful planet functions largely as a protector when transiting the chart, a benefit that is under-recognized at best. There-fore, many people are disappointed when Jupiter “fails” to deliver. Even our expectations of Jupiter are inflated! Mars mostly acts as a trigger and can be very good for timing. People who have a strong Mars in their chart — near the Ascendant or MC, for exam-ple, or ruling their Sun or Moon or in close aspect to a luminary — are par-ticularly sensitive to Mars transits, so

look carefully for Mars triggers when doing predictive work, especially when these coincide with longer, more diffi-cult transits. Suggest vigorous exercise, martial arts or other one-to-one sports, and high-energy dancing to direct the energy. Always try to give clients some options for dealing with challenging aspects. Don’t use any planets faster than Mars; they will distract you from what’s important in this broad overview. Remember, the slower the planet, the more powerful its transit, and power is what you’re looking for here. If the cli-ent wants more granular detail, suggest an additional session or two. For each outer planet, list the major transiting aspects it is making and the month each transit becomes exact. Focus on aspects to the key natal plan-ets, and pay special attention if the transiting planet is crossing an angle, assuming that you have a reliable birth time. Notice whether the client’s Sun, Moon, Ascendant ruler, or angles are being affected by current mundane aspects. If so, the client is part of the big-ger picture and is involved or swept up in events that are larger than any indi-vidual. This is true for many people in this day and age. Don’t record every single transiting aspect. Focus on conjunctions, opposi-tions, and squares. Trines and sextiles can be helpful but, I have to admit, the Uranians are right: Hard aspects are where the action is. The fastest way to zoom in on the important transits is to use a graphic ephemeris or time map from your software. List the month of the exact pass. Don’t list the exact date! To suggest that an outer-planet transit can be nar-rowed down to a specific day diminishes the overall transformational effect of the activity.

Pluto: transiting sign and house; Aspect _______________ 1st pass ______________2nd pass ______________ 3rd pass ______________ 4th pass ______________

Use as many lines as you need for Pluto, following this format. Then go on to Neptune, Uranus, and Saturn, using

Preparing for Clients


�1the same procedure. This will give you quite a bit of information. Note that you should only list important aspects within about one to three degrees. When your client has transiting Pluto square the Sun, there is no need to mention that exact septile from transiting Makemake to the client’s Draconic Moon. If you find one or two major transiting aspects — any of the outer planets contacting the Sun, Moon, Ascendant, MC, or their ruler(s) — it’s much better to explore that in depth instead of simply listing a whole series of aspects that are meaningless to the client. Too much information is over-whelming. Focus on the big stuff! That’s where change happens. Here are some key concepts for outer-planet transits: They are bigger than you! Because the planets move so slowly, these transits take a long time to complete. Due to retrograde motion, outer-planet transits usually have three passes and can have as many as five. Stationary or turnaround points get extra emphasis. In Astrology, Karma and Transformation, Stephen Arroyo points out that there is little awareness during the process: A person needs some time after the transit is complete to integrate, incorporate, and under-stand it. He says:

When one sees that a particu-lar transit will be repeated over a period of many months, one should view that series of transits as rep-resentative of an entire process of change and transformation which will be especially deep and which will begin some time before the first event and continue for some time after the last aspect.1

Here are a few key words and con-cepts for outer-planet transits: Pluto — This powerful dwarf planet dredges up matters from the deep unconscious to transform and regen-erate them. Pluto transits require sur-render to a higher power. Of course, they can be quite trying, often bring-ing life-changing circumstances that feel outside one’s control, and unfortu-nately, resistance is futile. Pluto repre-sents extremely concentrated power. It

brings death and destruction of the old, sometimes literally but often on a sym-bolic level; it fosters rebirth. Pluto throws the covers back on whatever is hidden or repressed. People you haven’t seen in years may resurface during Pluto transits, or a situation develops that is hauntingly familiar: These faces and circumstances point the way to trans-formation. Let go of any baggage you are carrying, so you can move forward freely. Do things a new way. Find your heretofore hidden inner treasure and resources: This is your authentic self, and reclaiming it is the true purpose of a Pluto transit. Neptune — This watery planet has effects you might expect from the God of the Sea. Neptune dissolves, washes away, sensitizes physically and psychi-cally, refines, spiritualizes, and causes leaks both large and small. It is pres-ent in free-floating anxiety, divine dis-content, and existential angst. Neptune defies definition, and its transits tend to ooze out on either side, showing up early and lasting long past their wel-come. Neptune is a shape-shifter. It is idealistic, transcendent, and mysti-cal. It is an escape artist, and the urge to escape is very strong during a Nep-tune transit. It introduces a world of infinite possibilities and heightened imagination. The power of images and sensitivity of soul and body cannot be overemphasized to the client undergo-ing a Neptune transit. Uranus — Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride: Or in the words of modern astrologi-cal jargon, expect the unexpected. This planet disrupts but brings liberation and detachment, which is often a relief to the client. Uranus speeds things up, revolutionizes, and clears the decks. It

encourages independence and auton-omy, invention and innovation, all of which is scary for some people. Typi-cally, people on the verge of a Uranus transit feel restless and impatient. When it’s in full swing, people find themselves behaving “willfully” and erratically, or at least doing things they’ve only dreamt of before! This planet is the Great Awak-ener, and I believe it to be a benefic planet, bringing positive changes. Fear not. Saturn — Saturn takes 28 or 29 years to circle once through the signs and is an important developmental key. Pay special attention to its transits to its natal position and the house it’s mov-ing through by transit. This planet rules lessons and restrictions. A Saturn tran-sit is a time for people to mature and manifest themselves. One becomes more aware of the passing of time itself, and a peculiar relationship seems to develop: Days are long but weeks are short. Being touched by this planet brings wisdom, responsibility, and duty, often forced upon one. These are gen-erally times of hard work, delayed grati-fication, and consequences — whether for good or ill. Some people have low energy and a feeling of isolation, which can lead to important personal reflec-tion. These periods can also bring times of loss, loneliness, grief, and learning to do without. There can be an almost spartan enjoyment of belt-tightening. This is also a good time for the client to consolidate belongings and projects in his or her life. There are several other consider-ations when working with transits. Note when a client has multiple, overlapping, or concurrent transits. It’s not unusual for a client to show up on your door-step having two, three, or even more outer-planet transits going on at the same time. There are two main reasons this happens. The client may have a close aspect pattern, or several planets near the same degree, and these natal planets are all being triggered simulta-neously. Or transiting planets may be making aspects to each other, so more than one transiting planet is triggering a natal point or points. Sometimes, such a growth period can last for several years. If this is the case, provide the beginning and ending dates, and give the client

Saturn transits are generally times of

hard work, delayed gratification, and consequences –

whether for good or ill.


��

a clue about how far they have come through the process. Remind them that they have a lot on their plate right now. Such a period in a person’s life denotes an extreme growth opportunity, and it’s often at this point that they find them-selves hiring the services of an astrologer to gain some insight. It’s good that they are trying to cooperate with the energies of the outer planets as best they can, and it is the astrologer’s honor to assist in this process. Later, when looking back, the client will realize it was exactly this period that forced personal growth. Pay attention to periods of transit-ing Venus and Mars retrograde, and always note where they affect the client. Check for the Chiron return at age 50½. You won’t believe how many people come for a session at this critical junc-ture, purportedly about being freaked out at this decade marker, but perhaps on a deeper level to reconnect to Chiron issues from preverbal childhood. Finally, note whether important themes in the natal chart are being trig-gered or the native has just emerged from a period of stress. If the client has had a huge transit in the last 2–3 years, ask about it. Outer-planet transits pro-vide the framework for growth, both in timing and understanding. The client may be ready to put these changes into a broader perspective.

Progressions are another useful forecasting method. I use two differ-ent types, which may sound like a lot, but I look for very specific information from each method. If the progressions do not provide any important informa-tion, I don’t use them. Often they will corroborate and support the transits, or help fine-tune the timing. They should always be used in conjunction with the natal chart. Transits happen in real time, but progressions are symbolic time, where one unit of time symbolizes another unit of time, e.g., a day for a year. This cre-ates a fractal-like pattern of planets and aspects, slowly moving through time, rather like a kaleidoscope. For a broad look at the year ahead, we get the most information from the slower-moving

transiting planets. With progressions, however, since planets move much more slowly in this technique, we use only the faster planets, from the Moon and Sun through Mars. The slow outer-most planets barely move at all in sec-ondary progressions over a person’s lifetime. But the Sun moves at a regu-lar speed of one degree per year. Other fast-moving planets also clip along at a regular rate. Watch for times when pro-gressed planets (Mercury, Venus, or Mars) change direction; when a pro-gressed planet changes signs or houses, especially when crossing an angle — the Ascendant/Descendant or MC/IC axis — and when aspects in the natal chart become exact (perfect) by progression.

Secondary Progressions (P2) — According to this technique, each planet moves at its own rate of speed, based upon ephemeris speed starting on the date of birth. Progressions show a slow unfolding of growth over time. Be sure to calculate progressions for the birthplace. Do not relocate progressed charts: The angles will be off! Use only fast-moving planets. Check the posi-tion of the P2 Sun and Moon. What is the lunar phase? Is the P2 Sun, Moon, Ascendant, or MC near the cusp of a new sign within one degree? or chang-ing houses? The P2 Sun is the evolving identity. It moves at a rate of one degree per year, so by the time a person is 30, and usually before, the progressed Sun moves into a new sign, a sort of “add-on” to the natal Sun sign. When it hits an angle or a natal planet, or makes an exact aspect to another progressed planet, the person really embraces it and perhaps becomes identified with it.

There’s no doubt that, in secondary progressions, the P2 Moon is the main source of action. It moves at a steady pace of about one degree per month, or one sign in 2-1/2 years. It takes about 29 years to complete one cycle around the zodiac. Hopefully, that number caught your attention, for it is the same length as a Saturn transit cycle! Berna-dette Brady, in her wonderful hand-book on predictive work, The Eagle and the Lark, says the P2 Moon acts like a flashlight. It loses its normal maternal, domestic qualities and instead functions as a spotlight on areas that need atten-tion. She writes:

So what does the progressed Moon mean? I believe it means nothing in its own right. If you are shocked by this statement, think back to the world of transits. Not many astrol-ogers work with the transits of the Moon to the natal chart because they are so frequent … The ancients saw this rapid movement and called the Moon the “Translator of Light,” a carrier of energy from one planet to another … Thus, the meaning of the Moon was that of a carrier of energy. The astrologer can eas-ily extend this concept of the Moon being a carrier of energy to the pro-gressed Moon, suggesting that she has no meaning of her own but rather acts to highlight other plan-etary energies.2

I have had very good success with this method over the years. Many astrolo-gers also track the progressed Moon phases: New, Full, and Quarter Moons. A couple of final notes about pro-gressions: Watch for evolving aspects, which as my first teacher Elizabeth Ruth used to say, turn “squares into trines.” Let’s say you have the Sun square Pluto in your chart, a 90-degree aspect. When you’re about 30 years old, your pro-gressed Sun will have moved forward 30 degrees and will now be either trine or sextile your natal Pluto. And voilà! Before your very eyes, you’ve turned a square into a trine, and you didn’t even try.3 When I accused my teacher of being sappy, she said: “Try it! It really works.” And she was right!

Check for the Chiron return at age 50½. You won’t believe how many people

come for a session at this critical juncture.

Preparing for Clients


�� You can easily see if Mercury, Venus, or Mars was retrograde at or near the date of birth. Check in the ephemeris, or use your software to find the ages when these planets changed direction by progression. Also, note whether the dates of important pro-gressions line up with strong transit dates. Again, timing to the month is perfectly adequate here.

Solar Arc Directions (SA) — Solar arcs are a variation on sec-ondary progressions, but the whole chart moves at the same rate as the progressed Sun. Therefore, the posi-tion of the Sun is the same in both P2 and SA. Solar arcs preserve the integ-rity of the natal chart relationships and advance the entire chart at a uniform rate. The planets move faster than in secondary progressions, so there is a lot more action. Planets in this tech-nique move at a steady rate of one degree per year, so you can easily go backward and forward several years. For this reason, solar arcs are an excel-lent tool for rectification. Keep orbs very small, not more than one degree. This technique is an excellent tim-ing device and is useful in a first chart analysis, since you are looking for only a few specific things. You’re looking for SA planets moving onto or away from angles or conjunct or opposite natal planets. SA planets are espe-cially effective when hitting one of the angles.

Solar Returns (SR) —This is the “birthday chart,” which gives the client an excellent reason to come to an astrologer, and I always suggest it to clients. Many astrologers give dis-counts to clients during the month of their birthday, to encourage busi-ness. This is the perfect time to use the solar return chart. It’s effective from one birthday to the next, and requires a firm birth time. For regular clients, go over last year’s return to see how the previous solar return worked out. Use these charts to confirm or aug-ment the information you’ve gathered from transits and progressions. Often, the solar return will strongly support or echo another technique. Sometimes, it introduces whole new themes, or

shows clearly which part of life (house) will be most affected that year.

One Final Step Once you’ve gone through the process of gathering the activity and dates from each predictive technique, be sure to note the blocks of time that are particularly stressed or stim-ulated, using primarily the transiting medium- and slow-speed planets as the main timing devices. This is most easily observed in the graphic ephem-eris. Then, consult your notes about progressions (and solar returns, if you are using them) to augment the tran-sit information. This is one of the most useful pieces of information you can give your clients.

How Much Time to Spend Preparing For most budding astrologers, pre-paring for a consultation is a serious commitment of time, often far surpass-ing the number of hours spent in the actual session. If you lack experience at doing consultations, it will take you much longer to prepare for them. This is natural and good, because you’re learning a lot with every chart, and this process cannot be hurried. This issue is less troublesome if you are not charging for your readings, or doing them strictly to learn. However, once you’ve been doing this for a while or realize that, including your prep time,

you’re only earning $5 an hour, it becomes imperative to restrict the amount of time you spend in preparation. You’ll also learn not to over-prepare. There’s only so much information you can cover in a reading, so release yourself from the expectation that you have to know everything. Use a method. Throw away the books — or at least get as far as you can without them, force yourself to write down your own ideas, and then consult the books. My rule of thumb: Spend the same amount of time preparing as the session is long. The maximum consultation time is 90 minutes, so the most time I will ever spend is three hours on one client, including both the prep time and the actual session. At the beginning, I spent much longer. Now, I am actually spending less time in the preparation stage. If you get stuck, use the consultation chart (that is, a chart set up for the date, time, and place of the consultation) for guidance. It can direct your attention to the issues that really need to come up and can also let you know in advance if there are matters the client wants to address but neglected to mention during your intake conversation. The process described in this article will go a long way to help an astrologer prepare for a client, but Robert Blaschke, in his Handbook for the Self-Employed Astrologer, comments on some additional factors one needs, to approach an


During the prep time, you’ll

become so well acquainted with

the chart that you can spend most of the session

maintaining eye contact with your client.


C��

The Responsibility of Wisdom

by Ryan M. Evans

“As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” — Proverbs 23:7

This article is dedicated to the memory of those who passed in the James Ray tragedy in Sedona, Arizona, in 2009.

In another life, another time, and a far distant place, I was engaged to be married. “Angie” was intelligent, intui-tive, radiant, sexy … I was a goner. She was a body worker and healer several years my senior, so I deeply trusted her wise words, even though a couple of times my wounds and fear obstructed my own truth. I had much to learn. I so yearned for her radiance and wisdom. And with a vulnerable heart from a pre-vious relationship, I was grateful for a partner who modeled for me something I knew I was fast embodying. Since my spiritual sojourns in my youth, I had been trying to actualize the wisdom, humor, and “right liveli-hood” of masters like Dan Millman, the Dalai Lama, and my Aikido sensei. Yet, while I often failed miserably, I gath-ered some magnificent experience and actually transformed a bit of it into wis-dom. There was hope, I told myself. I was riding high with this gal, and I was learning about healing modalities, from natural medicines to a variety of body-work. I had already studied astrology and flower essences for more than ten years, but I intensified my studies and even began teaching classes. Also, I was about to take a course that would actu-ally give me letters after my name! Then, while on a romantic vacation, Angie received a reading from an astrol-oger. That evening, we got into one of our passionate discussions with differ-

ing points of view. “Maybe we are ene-mies!” she yelled. “Where in the hell did that come from!?” I asked. “The astrologer said we should be enemies and was amazed that we were engaged,” she said. “How completely irresponsible,” I replied. “He doesn’t know shit!” “Yes, he does, he has many famous clients and has been doing astrology for longer than you’ve been alive.” I carefully navigated the argument into a lovemaking session, which always seemed to bring us back together, but still, I was awake all night worrying about the implications of the astrologi-cal “fact” that was now permanently fused to Angie’s Gemini mind. The next weeks were filled with an invigorating Tony Robbins seminar, a “transforma-tional gate” healing weekend, an official big fat rock on Angie’s finger, and much romance and intensity, as usual. Yet, something was amiss, and the subtle clues of her detachment from me were like an occasional whiff of some-thing foul passing on the air. But I trusted her still. I couldn’t admit the pos-sibility that she, with all her knowledge of the healing arts, had done anything wrong, so I believed her lies when my intuition started telling me otherwise. I used my farm as collateral on a new house for her and was happy that the “enemy thing” was an illusion. Four months had passed since the reading. We were engaged. She was living in a house owned by me and was the most spiritual healer in our town — able to read generations of past lives and mas- sage exactly the hurt spot without even asking. And she was having an affair.

The astrologer was right. Even though Angie totally infuriated me at times and my healing process occasion-ally caused me to retreat into my 12th house, I was (and I thought she was) totally committed to the relationship. Nevertheless, during those four months, she lied, cheated, and stole that poten-tial enmity into existence. And on the day I walked in on her and her lover, it instantly became clear that the astrolo-ger had been right. But my question is on the quantum level: If the astrologer had not stated, “You should be enemies,” would we now be enemies? What would have happened if he had stated the aspect he saw in a way that acknowledged free will, such as: “You two share incredible power and, like plutonium, can either power a city or destroy it. What you do with it is up to you.”? Could this have given her a bit more personal empow-erment to say something to me like: “There’s this new patient, and I know he’s a friend of yours, but I’ve found we have this connection, and I want to explore it, and I know this is really scary for the both of us, considering our history and connection, and I want to honor that and each other by being honest, and I hope you understand that I need this freedom, and I know this really hurts.”? Hardest thing to do as an emotional being, I know, but just what if she had been given something other than “you should be enemies”? Regard-less of our breakup, would we still be amicable, at least? What if we, as astrologers, could use our language in ways that empower the choice of the individual? When we see a symbol historically considered malefic, or in detriment, or weak, or poorly aspected, what if we choose the highest possible outcome of that poten-tial reality and speak of it thusly? As astrologers, aren’t we all aware of the immense responsibility that we have as symbol readers? Are we all prepared to do the necessary inner work to face our own demons, so that we don’t have to share them with our clients? In the four years since these events transpired, I have gone through a “dis-proving” stage with astrology (which did not last), plunged into the abyss of facing the demons (where I now sit, tentacle


��around my neck, talon in the back, but sword in hand), and have been very careful to see my sacred job as an astrologer as being “one who holds the lantern.” Regardless of my own interior battles, I must steady my hand and my heart so that those seeking light may gather a bit of fire for their own lamp. My hope is that you will, too.

© 2010 Ryan M. Evans – all rights reserved

Ryan M. Evans, astrologer, organic flower farmer, and flower essence teacher, plays guitar and does vocals for the undiscovered AstroBand, “Grand Master Stevie F and the Evolutionary Revolutionaries,” which made its debut in Calistoga, California, in Septem-ber 2010. Contact Ryan at [email protected] for readings or advice on how to raise teenagers.

The First Hour

by Dian Bustillo

Jody sat across from me, peering at the chart she saw on my desk. “You are going to explain that to me, aren’t you?” she asked frostily. “Well, most of it,” I answered with a smile. “It contains more information than you’ll need for today, but this way, you’ll have a copy of the chart that I used to do this consultation and a refer-ence for the future.” Jody nodded. Then she pressed her middle finger on the paper and slid her copy of the chart off my desk as though it might bite. As she looked down at it, I did my usual introduction for the taped recording and began the consultation. “Jody, you have a Leo Sun, Scor-pio Moon, and Virgo rising.” “Virgo rising?” she repeated. “That’s not good.” She looked dis-tressed, something I hadn’t expected. I took a deep breath. “I don’t know who told you that, but there are no bad signs. All signs have strengths and weaknesses.” “No, no!” Now there was a tone of panic in her voice. “Virgo is bad. Bad, bad, bad! I want another sign rising. How can we change my rising sign?” I lowered my voice, trying to bring a feeling of calm to the young woman. “Your rising sign is based on your time of birth. That’s something we can’t change. But I can tell you all the good things about it.” Jody was becoming agitated. She began rocking back and forth in the chair and wringing her hands. I sat back and watched her for a moment, trying to decide what to do. I poured her a glass of water. “Would you care for a drink of water?” I offered.

“Is it filtered or plain tap water?” “Filtered.” She picked up the glass and took a few sips. Then she sat up in the chair, back erect. She tossed her head back, flipping her long blonde hair away from her eyes. She seemed more composed. I smiled serenely. “Okay. Let’s begin again. You are a Leo with a Scor-pio Moon and Virgo rising.” “No!” This time she yelled. “Change my rising sign! I told you, no Virgo rising.” “Jody, I can’t change the facts of a chart. I can only interpret what is there and give you tools to accentuate the positive and minimize any negatives.” “Well, then,” huffed Jody, rising abruptly, “I guess I’ll have to find a bet-ter astrologer. One who knows how to change my rising sign.” She gathered her coat and hand-bag, then turned back to me. Her face was calm once more. “Can you recom-mend someone?” she asked. I specu-lated — did I have a colleague who deserved this one? “No, I don’t know anyone,” I answered. “Sorry.” I held the door open for her and quietly locked it behind her. Then, I made a cup of chamomile tea and turned on a white-noise CD to re-center myself. What a way to start the day!

© 2010 Dian Bustillo – all rights reserved

Dian Bustillo is a professional astrologer, lec-turer, and teacher with clients throughout the United States. She believes that clients need to understand and honor their life cycles. She feels that everyone can benefit from astrology if you just keep it simple. Visit her Web site at www.dianbustillo.com or e-mail [email protected]

£Sessions taped in

person or by phone.

www.michaelmercury.com [email protected]

Michael Mercury

Astrologer 30 years

• Natal analysis • Forecasts• Relationships• Free monthly forecast• Spirit Speaks Internet Radio Show

(916) 834-4321


��

Reflections on My Solar Returns

by Edwin Stuart

When I was seventeen, it was a very good year … I got my driver’s license soon after my birthday in August 1960 and started tooling around the town and countryside of West Winfield, New York in our family’s second vehi-cle, an old black Ford. The Ford sort of became “my” car (until I totaled it when I was eighteen). What could be more exciting and fulfilling to a teenage boy? Unless it was teenage girls. Socially a slow starter, I finally danced with and kissed a girl in my 17th year. Marilyn was thirteen years old, the younger sis-ter of a 15-year-old I had a big crush on — and actually it was Marilyn who kissed me in a very aggressive manner when we were riding in the backseat of a car driven by her mother, and I was talking to her sister in the front. Prob-ably she was trying to shut me up. For a girl who was only thirteen, she had a strong personality, which I later real-ized had something to do with her Sun and four other planets in Leo, including Venus conjunct Pluto. I never did date the older sister. The closest I came was dancing with her at a school dance chaperoned by my mother, which made me a little inhibited. This was sometime in the fall of that year; then, early that spring, I started going steady with another girl — with the same last name as that of the two sisters — who was my off-and-on girlfriend until I was a college senior. A precessed solar return1 for my 17th year has the Sun in the 7th house, two and half degrees from the Descen-dant, along with Uranus, which trines Jupiter in the 11th house. (Solar return charts are not shown.) Venus and Pluto are also in the 7th. My non-precessed

return has one planet (Mars) in the 7th and not strongly placed. I believe that the first of these charts describes what happened to me that year much more accurately, but it isn’t my goal to con-vince anyone with this short article, partly because I still haven’t convinced myself. The anecdotal examples given here are simply intended to encourage readers to apply an open mind to what-ever they read on the subject, as well as to their own experience. That is how I have tried to decide which method of using solar returns is the most reliable (if, in fact, either of them is). Any comparison of precessed and non-precessed returns can quickly lead to the astronomical reasons behind each, reasons that many of us find a bit hard to grasp. For me, the prob-lem starts when I try to mentally visu-alize three-dimensional information about various planes, orbits, revolutions, and apparent motions all intersect-ing and interacting together to produce the astrology that we take for granted. Although looking out into the galaxy on a clear night is always a reminder of the awesome reality of the stars and planets, it’s different when I look at a horoscope. There, I’m working with a flat picture containing a set of symbols, and that’s mainly how I approach astrology. As far as trying to come up with some theoretical reason that we should or shouldn’t precess returns, I think this route only leads to endless debate. If one technique produces charts that seem more accurate and work better, that’s the one I’ll use. It’s the same with the zodiac itself. Although there are perfectly good reasons for using the sidereal zodiac, the tropical signs best fit

what I know about myself and the other people whose charts I’ve done. I know that my Mercury is in critical Virgo, not Leo; I know that I’m an egocentric Leo, not a Cancer. (See Chart, facing page.) I also know that I’ve had relationships with several Aries women who were definitely not Pisces. The Aries women were especially good at both initiating and ending the relationship, whereas the Pisces women put up with me for the longest time. I met one of those aggressive Aries females the year I turned 21, and my precessed solar return for that year (1964 in Canton, New York) again had an emphasis on the 7th house. It was my senior year in college, and a fresh-man girl was boldly staring at me while we stood in line in the cafeteria. She became the first girlfriend I was defi-nitely in love with, and the feeling seemed to be mutual, although it later turned out to be not quite the same on her part. Everything was fine for the first year, though — the year covered by my return that had four planets in the 7th house and Saturn in the 1st trining Mars conjunct Jupiter in the 5th. Later, when I was 36, I met the woman who became my wife. We met in November 1979 in Detroit, Michigan, and she soon became the main focus of my life. My precessed return for that year featured Neptune very close to the Ascendant, trine Venus, the Sun, and Jupiter in the 9th house. I would have anticipated a return chart with more emphasis on the 7th house, but the non-precessed return was even less impres-sive in every respect. (This goes back to my earlier point that, if neither type of return is what we would have expected, the temptation is to choose the one that appears to fit the best, rather than con-sider the underlying possibility that solar returns just don’t work.) My precessed return for the fol-lowing year seemed at first even more inappropriate, though it was saying something loud and clear about the 7th house. Pluto at 19°28' Libra was just minutes away from the solar return Descendant of 19°01' Libra. Mars was also close by at 17°53' Libra. So, did someone get murdered? Was I kid-napped? No, it wasn’t quite that bad —


��

I just got married. Getting married might not seem to fit Mars conjunct Pluto, but I think that the 7th-house emphasis is the key. One month before we married in 1981, there was a New Moon in Aries conjunct transiting Mars and Venus, and all of these were very close to my natal 7th-house cusp. This is when we offi-cially decided to get married, and four weeks later when the Moon returned to Aries on May 1, we did. There was nothing particularly Aries-like about the wedding. We had been thinking about it for months. It was just very simple and without any Venus frills. The ceremony was performed by a judge, with three of our friends as witnesses. Afterward, we went to a restaurant and had a little food and some drinks — that is, every-one did but me, since I was going to work. The main astrological factor was how the New Moon, along with Mars and Venus, activated my 7th house. It was the same in my precessed solar return for that year. Mars conjunct Pluto near the Descendant doesn’t sound much like a loving relationship, but I think the Pluto aspect of it reflected not only that it was a major life transition, but also that, especially at first, there was a strong “you and me against the world” feeling to our relationship. It was just the two of us, working at our unskilled swing-shift jobs and coming home to spend time together in our little apartment. We didn’t even have a TV, but we were happy there. In 1984, when I turned 41 and was living in Fort Wayne, Indiana, my precessed solar return again had Pluto only minutes from the Descendant, and it was one degree from exactly squaring the Moon. This could also be regarded as ominous, but the most important thing that hap-pened that year is that my wife became pregnant with our first and only child. Pluto does not always portend bad things, and it’s said by some astrologers to rule the biological phenomenon of conception, which is also a trans-formative event in the lives of the parents.

When I turned 50 years old, my return chart for 1993 featured a pre-cessed Sun about one degree from the Ascendant. This by itself looked very positive, but there were three other planets that were also angular and were squaring or opposing the Sun — Saturn, Pluto, and the Moon — and it turned out to be a relatively bad year. My marriage was now on life sup-port. My wife didn’t seem to want to have anything to do with me, although she still managed to cause me problems. We didn’t physically touch each other all year long. This had started gradually; a few weeks went by without any affec-tion, then a few months, until it seemed that we had passed a point of no return. We lived at opposite ends of the house.

She had her area in the living room at the front, while mine was in my study room at the rear. If I invaded her space in hopes of a little conversation, I was greeted with peevish agitation — as though my very presence were more than she could bear. How could a Sun in Leo man make a Moon in Leo woman so uncomfortable? I never fig-ured that one out. My only friend in town had moved away the previous May. I was having a lot of problems at my post office job, because I couldn’t trust a single one of my co-workers. It was a cold win-ter; one January morning, the tempera-ture was 19 degrees below zero. In late January, my mother suddenly died.2 The astrological events that brought this about — mainly, her Uranus return — were clear in her chart, but my horo-scope was undergoing no special transits at the time. Still, I deeply felt this loss. Even though there were six of us chil-dren, I realized after she died that no one will ever love you like your mother. She was the nucleus that held our fam-ily together. Her house in the little town where I had grown up was still in some sense a home to me, a place I loved to visit. Now it, too, was gone. On May 24, 1994, there was a par-tial solar eclipse whose path passed close to the northern Indiana city where I lived. It fell at 3°43' Sagittar-ius, two degrees from my Moon, but even though my chart wasn’t strongly affected, the eclipse itself was memora-

ble. Everything grew quieter and dim-mer, and the colors were subdued,

as though I were wearing old sun-glasses. It was almost a meta-phor for my state of mind. I felt dispirited, tired, and deserted. I wrote in my journal a list of half a dozen ailments, aches, and pains that were bother-ing me. At least, I could see an astrological reason for those: a transit from Saturn at 6°–8°

Pisces that aspected three plan-ets in my chart.

That May, I also had my first reading by a well-known profes-

sional astrologer, but this didn’t really tell me anything I hadn’t already fig-ured out myself. Then, in July, I made

Edwin Stuart

Equal houses

Pluto does not always portend bad things,

and it’s said to rule the biological phenomenon

of conception, a transformative event in the lives of the parents.


��

The Twelve Teas of Christmas

by Kelly Surtees

Here’s my own astro-version of the Twelve Days of Christmas, which offers tea suggestions based on your zodiac sign, rather than gift ideas. Nothing like a little practical astrology to help you stay fit, well, and happy through the holiday madness, what-ever you’re celebrating! Herbal teas are a gentle but effec-tive way to support physical and emo-tional wellness. Each zodiac sign is linked to different body systems and organs (via planetary associations), so along the way you’ll learn a little about some of the connections between astrology and good health. Take note of the teas suggested for your Moon and Ascendant sign as well as your Sun sign. Some say it’s the Moon’s sign that matters most when dealing with astrology and the body. Try some of these teas, and see which works best for you.

Aries rules the head, face, sinuses, blood, and the muscular system. Best teas: ginger, ginkgo biloba, and licorice.

Health Tip: Arians should avoid caf-feine at all costs.

Taurus rules the neck, throat, and voice. Best teas: slippery elm (bark), valerian, fenugreek, and licorice. Health Tip: Tau-

reans should cut back on sugar and fats, wherever possible.

Gemini rules the shoulders, arms, and hands as well as the lungs (breathing). Best teas: nettle, echinacea,

lavender, and calendula. Health Tip: Geminis benefit from good breathing practice, which makes yoga an excellent form of exercise.

Cancer rules the belly, breasts, uterus, and diges-tion generally. Best teas: peppermint, chamomile, raspberry leaf, and dan-

delion. Health Tip: Feeling good helps Cancers make healthy food choices.

Leo rules the spine, chest, heart — the car-diac system. Best teas: dandelion, chamomile, valerian, nettle, and fen-

nel. Health tip: Regular cardio exercise keeps the heart happy.

Virgo rules the intestines and abdomen as well as the process of absorb-ing nutrients, minerals, and vitamins from food.

Best teas: fennel, lavender, slippery elm, fenugreek, and peppermint. Health Tip: Virgo symbolizes purity, so food in the simplest form agrees best with Virgos.

Libra rules the kidneys, bladder, ovaries, and the endocrine system. Best teas: ginseng, juni-per, rosehip, licorice, and

dandelion. Health Tip: Staying hydrated with clean, fresh water is important for Libras.

Scorpio rules the bow-els, genitals, and organs of elimination. Best teas: dong quai, ginseng, rasp-berry leaf, valerian, fenu-

Solar Returnscontinued

an appointment to see a psycholo-gist. Her nonjudgmental and open-minded attentiveness, as she listened to me talk for an hour about the things on my mind, was truly ther-apeutic. She even knew enough astrology for us to talk about that. Leaving her office at the end of the session, I felt uplifted by a mild sense of euphoria and well-being. Not long after starting these weekly visits came my birthday in August. It was a new year, with a new solar return!

Chart Data and SourceEdwin Stuart, August 10, 1943; 11:15 a.m. EWT; Oneida, NY, USA (43°N06', 75°W39'); AA: birth certificate.

Notes1. A solar return chart is cast for the day and time in the year when the Sun returns to its exact natal placement for you, and the return chart is effective from one birth-day to the next. A precessed solar return uses a moving (sidereal) zodiac to adjust for the precession of the equinoxes; with that adjustment, you’ll notice that the Sun in your solar return is not at the precise degree and minute of its (tropical) placement at birth. For the locations of returns, I use the current residence, as long as it’s not a tem-porary place, like a vacation lodging, but the real home at the time.

2. This story is told in the article, “Josephine: An Astrological Eulogy,” in The Mountain Astrologer, June/July 2010, p. 83.

© 2010 Edwin Stuart – all rights reserved

Edwin Stuart welcomes mail at 4514 Croisan Scenic Way, Salem, OR 97302; or e-mail [email protected]. His collection of articles, Thirty Years in the 12th House, is available from Amazon.com

Please tell your friends about

The Mountain Astrologer.


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In April/May, we'll have a variety of topics, including the elements, Chiron, and the declination cycle of Uranus.

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greek, and nettle. Health Tip: Scorpios should cut back on salt, wherever possible.

Sagittarius rules the thighs, hips, and buttocks, plus the sciatic nerve. Best teas: dandelion, fresh lemon, and red clover. Health Tip: Sagittarians benefit from keeping the legs active.

Capricorn rules the skin, teeth, hair, nails, and bones — the entire skeletal system. Best teas: chamomile, fenugreek, elderflower or elderberry. Health Tip: Calcium is important to help Capricorns maintain strong bones.

Aquarius rules the ankles, calves, nerve impulses, and the circulatory system. Best teas: nettle, elderflower or elderberry, fresh garlic, yarrow, and echinacea. Health Tip: Aquarians should avoid overstimulation.

Pisces rules the feet, toes, and the immune and lymphatic systems. Best teas: echinacea, yarrow, nettle, rosehip, peppermint, and chamomile. Health Tip: Pisces people are happiest when the feet are well taken care of.

© 2010 Kelly Surtees – all rights reserved

Kelly Surtees is a full-time astrologer and writer who offers astrol-ogy chart consultations to clients around the globe. She runs astrol-ogy classes and workshops in Canada and Australia, as well as in cyberspace. Kelly holds qualifications in astrology, counselling, and life coaching, and she has more than ten years of professional experi-ence; www.kellysurtees.com; +1 519 217 5842.


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compiled by Mary Plumb

Classical Medical Astrology: Healing with the Elements by Oscar Hofman, The Wessex Astrologer, 4A Woodside Road, Bournemouth BH5 2AZ, England, 2009. Softcover—142 pp.—$24.95 (£11.99) (ISBN 978-1-90240-540-7). Available from wessexastrologer.com Oscar Hofman runs an international school of traditional astrology in the Netherlands and is the editor of a Dutch magazine, Anima Astrologiae. John Frawley, who also wrote the Preface to this book, trained Hofman in traditional astrology. Classical Medical Astrology is a book that will serve newcomers to the subject as well as those with years of experience. The “classical” astrology herein was practiced for more than 20 centu-ries in the West, before science and the “Enlightenment” discounted the tra-ditional worldview. In this worldview, the cosmos is seen as all-connected and as composed of the four elements: Fire, Earth, Air, and Water. (There is an understanding of a fifth element, the “ether” or “quintessence,” which is “the connective medium to the higher, non-material world.”) “Part 1: The Basics” begins with a chapter on the essential qualities of heat and cold, and moisture and dry-ness, which combine to form the four elements. All illness is understood as an imbalance of these four elements, also called the four “humors.” In this chapter, Hofman describes the humors as they appear in the seasons and the


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physical and emotional developments in life. The next chap-ter, “Symptom and Disease,” explains the relationship between these two, e.g., many symptoms, four causes. Can-cer, for example, is a symptom described as “an alarm-bell that something is seriously out of order.” The deeper cause is always an excess of one of the four humors. The classi-cal medical astrologer can use the chart to see the deeper cause and apply remedies to restore balance. The author explains that when modern cancer treatment is success-ful, it is usually the case that the underlying cause (in that particular instance) is too much heat, and the medication, which is generally cooling and drying, will have an effect on the symptom (the cancer itself) as well as the deeper imbal-ance. Hofman is open-minded about modern medicine; he encourages a rapport between traditional and modern doc-tors. (He also gives an “Important Note” at the beginning of the book, emphasizing that the information herein “is not intended to take the place of orthodox medical advice … Certainly in the case of illness, advice should be sought from the proper medical authorities.”) “Astrological Anatomy” is a comprehensive chapter on signs, houses, and body parts, the planets and organs, and the planets and the seven major glands in the body. The work on the glands is especially intriguing. Hofman writes, for example: “Glands are pre-eminently the contact points between psyche and body and they have an important over-all regulating function in the human body/mind system.” “Part 2: Diagnosis and Treatment” is the book’s larg-est section. The primary astrological technique he teaches here is using a horary chart for diagnosis and treatment. One employs not only the familiar tools of horary (such as essential and accidental dignity of the planets, day and night charts, receptions) but also the understanding of the humors (of both signs and planets) to assess the horary to arrive at the diagnosis. The diagnosis, again, aims to identify the deeper cause of the disease. Hofman explains this very clearly and gives examples from charts. This book is informed by an elegant understanding of how astrology works. “The signs describe the general poten-

cies, the possibilities the cosmos offers. The planets are the dynamic factors of formation which give the potencies a real form on earth.” Although the book emphasizes practical issues, the author’s understanding of the cosmos as a “living organism” is apparent. He writes, for example, that although “astrology is completely logical, logical and mechanical (machinelike) are different things. Logic means being under-stood on the basis of principles.” The author’s awareness of those principles pervades his work and makes this book stand out among others with a similar subject. Hofman covers much that has been part of traditional medical practice. He discusses the decumbiture chart, which of course is historically important; he shows, however, that it is not nearly as useful for diagnosis as the often simple-to-use horary chart. Very generally, the 1st-house ruler (here called the Lord) in the medical horary is the querent’s body; the dispositor of that planet is the cause of the disease: “If we know the deeper cause of the disease a whole battery of measures can be applied to treat the disease on the physical, psychological and spiritual levels.” The author goes on to describe many treatments, from the deeper cause of the humors or the planetary energies that have become imbalanced because of the excess of the humor. The “end goal of healing is restoring the balance so that the planetary energy streams in the body will function well again.” “Treatment” is an excellent chapter that includes diet, lifestyle, traditional psychology (of the humors), herbs, plan-etary hours, bloodletting, and alchemical or “spagyric” prepa-rations. Some of these treatments may sound exotic, but the author writes: “Sometimes a change in dietary habits will suf-fice; it is the most elegant way to fight a disease.” A remarkable chapter, “The Spiritual Level,” discusses a very specific method of healing taught by the mystic Hilde-gard von Bingen (1098–1179). Her overall approach was to “heal the soul through conscious spiritual choice and prac-tice, meditation, prayer and crystals.” This chapter describes her association of each of the 35 vertebrae in the human spine with a virtue (and a difficulty). The virtues can be strengthened by applying a particular precious stone to the area. Hofman suggests how one can use stones within the framework of the astrological diagnosis that he is demon-strating. One essential point from this level of healing: “The simple starting-point is that someone who chooses the good, activates more of his healing soul power.” The chapter on “Precious Stones” distinguishes this heal-ing modality from herbs. Stones focus “very strongly on the planetary energy, while herbs are characterised much more by their humoral effect.” A chapter on “Prevention” assesses the balance of humors from the natal chart. One way that a consulting astrologer can help clients is by using horary to see what the effects of treatment will be, or to ascertain whether surgery should be avoided. This is an extremely useful technique, since casting a “full election” for a very specific time has its drawbacks in practice. Questions about operations and treatments are covered in Chapter 10. This is a beautifully designed book. There are appen-dices (“Stars Associated with Blindness” and “How to Spot

Book Reviews


��Body Types”), an Epilogue, Glossary, Bibliography, and Index. Oscar Hofman writes very well; his manner is gentle yet confident and clear. The use of classical medical astrology, as taught herein, has many immediate applications. Hofman returns again and again to the essential idea that the deepest cause of disease is an excess of one of the humors. As astrol-ogers, we have a natural and exemplary way of uncovering a more harmonious state of balance. This fine book would be a wonderful and very practical addition to many astrolo-gers’ libraries.

— reviewed by Mary Plumb

The Best of Charles Jayne by Charles Jayne, American Federation of Astrologers, Inc., 6535 S. Rural Road, Tempe, AZ 85283, 2009. Softcover—172 pp.—$22.95 (ISBN 978-0-86690-449-0). Available from Amazon.com Charles Jayne (1911–1985) was a key figure in mod-ern technical astrology. He was relentlessly curious about celestial movements and measurements and was familiar with the work of many astrologers, both his contemporaries (Carl Payne Tobey, Reinhold Ebertin, Cyril Fagan, Dane Rudhyar) and his predecessors (Ptolemy, Lilly). Some read-ers may remember ACT (Astrological Conferences on Tech-niques), a Web forum that Charles Jayne created in the late 1970s with Michael Erlewine. This new edition, subtitled A Book of His Books, com-bines four of Jayne’s works. (AFA previously published this collection in 1995.) The books included are: Horoscope Interpretation Outlined, Introduction to Locality Astrology, Parallels: Their Hidden Meaning, and The Technique of Rectification. The first book, Horoscope Interpretation Outlined, is the most accessible. It is an eclectic approach to a very thorough interpretation of the natal chart. Jayne details a systematic method that encourages “a clear analysis of any horoscope.” His method begins by establishing the importance of getting a view of the whole chart. Jayne refers to Marc Edmund Jones’ Seven Chart Patterns and Rudhyar’s Eight Lunation Phases. He explains configurations in longitude — grand crosses and trines, t-crosses, mystic rectangles, and kites, as well as some of his own discoveries, including the hard rectangle, grand hexagon, and the fanhandle. Jayne also explains the importance of planetary patterns that occur in declination. He demonstrates why “everyone should make full use of parallels, contraparallels, antiscia, and contrascia in tracing out relationships in a chart which otherwise would go undetected.” Jayne describes extensively the Sun and Moon’s aspects (in longitude and declination) to the Ascendant, Midheaven, and Vertex. In a section called “The Pivotal and Singular Factors,” he adds such refinements as the equinoctial points (0° Aries and Libra), planets conjunct or opposite the Vertex to be considered in accidental dignity, and eclipses within the birth year. In the Addendum to this first book, the author discusses lunar and planetary nodes, harmonic charts and midpoints, and paran aspects. Jayne is focused on technique and explaining the spatial logic behind an


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obviously impressive and creative range of methods. He leaves a more thorough interpretation of planets in signs and houses to others, and he provides a list of recom-mended authors. The second book, Introduction to Locality Astrology, is very technical. I enjoyed reading it (twice), but can’t say I understood it. This book includes discussion of several ver-sions of the Johndro chart, an early version of a locality chart. When mapping the zodiac onto the Earth, Johndro recommended that a “fixed baseline be used which equates the Greenwich Meridian to zero degrees Aries of the tropi-cal zodiac.” (Johndro also discovered that the Greenwich Meridian has a “curious relationship to the Great Pyramid.”) Readers who are interested in the theories and measure-ments behind astromapping techniques will be enthralled with this chapter. Jayne uses the birth horoscope of Jacque-line Onassis (specifically, her connection to Athens) to dem-onstrate the mathematics of the Johndro locality chart. The third book, Parallels: Their Hidden Meaning, is an extensive description of parallels in declination. Jayne divides the basic ways of interpreting a horoscope into aspects in lon-gitude; harmonics and planetary pictures (based on the same principle as the Arabic Parts); and aspects in declination, the “hidden” way, so-called because you cannot identify them on a flat, two-dimensional chart wheel. This book discusses parallels in the natal chart and by transit, progression, direction, and synastry. Jayne excels at understanding the theoretical basis of his techniques and has also observed which methods have stood the test of time and practice. His explanations are complex, but then he gives a surprisingly clear example from someone’s life that shows the theory in action. The last book in this collection is The Technique of Rec-tification. First, Jayne exhorts the student to practice rec-tification over and over, since in his view nothing hones astrological skills and perceptions so well. Similar to his style throughout the other books in this volume, Jayne offers a treatise on the various rectification methods employed by astrologers over the years. His own method is typically eclec-tic: He uses transits (especially of Saturn and Uranus), sec-ondary progressions, the solar arc Ascendant, the Uranian planets, and various prenatal charts (including “the chart of fate,” which “occurs at Moonrise or Moonset about three months before birth at a quarter Moon”). Part of what I find delightful in Charles Jayne’s work is his habit of describing an exceptionally precise theory and technique, followed by a simple astrological observation. He must have been a very interesting man to know.


Jupiter’s Dance by Martin Goldsmith, Sothis Press, 2010. Softcover—318 pp.—$24.95 (ISBN 978-0-9724476-1-4). Available from: www.martingoldsmith.com and Amazon.com When I first received this book, I naturally looked at the sections on the sign and house of my natal Jupiter. It was

Book Reviews


C ��clear right away that there was a lot here that was truly new. This is no surprise, given the way Martin Goldsmith came up with his interpretations. Rather than relying on keywords or tradition, he employed a rigorously empirical method, col-lecting many hundreds of example charts for each of Jupi-ter’s signs, houses, and aspects. Occasionally, this method produced radical results. For instance, in a mini-essay on Chiron, based on this same method, he flatly denies that Chiron is related to alternative healing, since an insignificant percentage of alternative healers have Chiron conjunct either the Sun, Moon, or Ascendant. His own description of Chiron is, in fact, much more complex than anything one might glean from the Wounded Healer archetype. Goldsmith’s portrait of Jupiter is a lot more recogniz-able, yet the central dynamic is nonetheless surprising. Gold-smith sees Jupiter as a bridge between the individual and the Divine. People with a strong Jupiter recognize energy flows in every situation and are able to subtly adjust their own actions to these flows. They “dance” within their situations and are, therefore, remarkably effective in getting things to go their way. Jupiter-ruled people are also very persuasive, especially in their speech. According to Goldsmith, Jupiter is related to oratory and all the professions that involve public speaking. This would include politics, law, preach-ing, teaching, and even stand-up comedy. All of these pro-fessions rely on the ability to subtly adjust one’s message to one’s audience — and to the mood of the moment. Martin Goldsmith has been a serious astrological researcher for more than four decades. His first book, Moon Phases: A Symbolic Key, arose from an investigation into a system created by the poet and occultist William Butler Yeats. Moon Phases has been an essential tool in my own astrological practice for many years. His second book, The Zodiac by Degrees, emerged from decades of research into the Sabian symbols. Both of these earlier works were based on Goldsmith’s empirical method. The layout of his third book, Jupiter’s Dance, will be recognizable to all astrologers. It is a handbook with Jupiter in the signs, houses, and major planetary aspects. Yet, there are also several novel features, including an historical essay on changing ideas about plan-etary intelligences, a detailed description of the author’s research methods, and an annotated Bibliography on the history of astrology. Perhaps the most controversial elements of the book are the mini-essays on the planets included in the section on Jupiter’s aspects. These often-radical revi-sions give us a clear idea of Goldsmith’s overall program — the systematic revision of all of astrology’s basic elements through the empirical method. Written in a learned but lively style, Jupiter’s Dance seems to be aimed at practicing astrologers, yet even begin-ners will get a lot out of this book. For instance, it’s very interesting to see the many famous people who have one’s own Jupiter sign and placement. But whether the reader is a beginner or an experienced practitioner, the delineations of Jupiter’s various positions are detailed and penetrating, pro-viding fresh insights with each new reading.

— reviewed by David A. Tomlin

The Transiting Planets by Frances Sakoian and Louis Acker, American Federation of Astrologers, Inc., 6535 S. Rural Road, Tempe, AZ 85283, 2009. Softcover—256 pp.—$24.95 (ISBN 978-0-86690-597-8). Available from Amazon.com A classic that has long been hard to find, The Transiting Planets, by Frances Sakoian and Louis Acker, has been reprinted by the American Federation of Astrologers (AFA). This new edition has all ten planets (the Sun through Pluto) in one volume; previously, each planet was in a separate small book. The authors were very popular in the 1970s, and this work is one of their best collaborations. It is commendable that the AFA has made it available to a new generation of astrologers. This is a true astrological “cookbook” — each section begins with a general description of each planet in transit and how that planet is applied in predictive work. These sections are interesting. Retrograde, Stationary, and Direct Periods of Mercury; Retrograde Venus; and some thoughts on progressed Mars making a station are examples of some of the specifics the authors include. Then, in the main part of the chapter, the planet is described as it transits each house and in major aspect (conjunction, sextile, square, trine, and opposition) to every other planet. (Transit Saturn Opposi-tion Venus is different from Transit Venus Opposition Saturn; this may sound obvious, but some books combine the two.) The authors write about the personal level of experience, as well as look at trends that might be observed in a more public way. They mention “favorable” and “adverse” aspects. The interpretations are very good, both practical and psychologi-cally sensitive. The Transiting Planets is a fine book that contains a wealth of clearly communicated information for astrology students at any level of experience. It is especially useful to have all the work together in such an accessible format.


If you wish to propose a book for review, please call Mary Plumb at (541) 488-3048, or e-mail [email protected]. We would like to open up the Book Review section to include other forms of new media, such as e-books, CD-ROMs, and DVDs. If you have a product that you would like to have con-sidered for review, please contact [email protected]


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by Gloria Star

Astrology News

If you have astrology news or events of interest to the astrological community that you would like to share with TMA readers, please send your information directly to Gloria Star, P.O. Box 311, Clinton, CT 06413; or e-mail: [email protected]

Cosmic Vacationing

Just before the autumnal equinox, a gourmet feast under the stars featured a six-course dinner with wine pairings at The Boulders Resort in Carefree, Ari-zona … and a guide to the evening’s stargazing by astrologer Tom McMullan. This is one of three seasonal “Dining with the Stars” events featuring McMul-lan and held at The Boulders each year. Digging a bit deeper, I’ve discovered that more and more resorts host din-ing under the stars, with the stars them-selves as the headliners for a gourmet event. In a recent article in the New York Times (August 12, 2010), Elaine Glusac reported that resorts around the world offer stargazing tourism. Some provide mini-observatories, but most simply take advantage of night skies that are not light-polluted. In Glusac’s article, “Stargazing at a Resort, in Comfort,” she gives information about such resorts in Maui, Chile, Colorado, and Truckee, California. She notes that the only resort currently employing the talents of an astrologer is The Boulders. Enterprising astrologers might consider reaching out to help make astrology a part of what could certainly be a stellar evening!

Planetary Investing

A feature article in Investment Week (U.K.) on September 6, 2010, by Caro-line Allen, titled “Leaning on the Stars,” encourages investors to include astrolog-ical insights with their investment strate-gies. She mentions legendary financier J. P. Morgan’s use of an astrologer; she focuses a great deal of attention on Arch Crawford and also writes about other astrological approaches to investing. She sums up: “So, if you are not getting inspiration from the readily available

views of your favourite managers, cast your eyes to the heavens and feel the power of the planets.” Ms. Allen is man-aging editor of Global Wealth magazine.

Hubble Spots Pluto Blushing

BBCNews.co.uk reported on May 2, 2010 that images taken by the Hub-ble Space Telescope reveal colorful changes on Pluto’s surface. According to the article, NASA says this “plutoid” (or dwarf planet) is becoming increasingly red, and its illuminated northern hemi-sphere is growing brighter. It is thought that these are seasonal changes, “con-sequences of surface ice melting on the sunlit pole and then re-freezing on the other pole.” As we astrologers know, there’s still much to be discovered about this mysterious planet. NASA states: “The Hubble pictures underscore that Pluto is not simply a ball of ice and rock, but a dynamic world that undergoes dramatic atmospheric changes” — at the very least!

In Brief

• Congratulations to 2010 Kepler College graduates Chris Brennan and Lynn Bootes on attaining Associate of Arts (A.A.) degrees, and Maria J. Mateus who received her Master of Arts (M.A.) from Kepler. On another shore, the Sophia Centre for the Study of Cos-mology in Culture at the University of Wales, Lampeter, has awarded a Post-Graduate Certificate in Cultural Astron-omy and Astrology to Linda Culleton.

• A group of Australian astrologers are creating a movement to make 2012 the “Year of Astrology.” Calling this fel-lowship the C*I*A (Cosmic Intelligence

Agency), they plan a celebration at the FAA Conference in Australia in January 2012 to launch the program. Astrologers everywhere are encouraged to start a group, host an event, and let the C*I*A organizers know about it. For further information, contact: 2012@cosmicin telligenceagency.com

• Astrologers in Warren, Michigan are keeping a close eye on a new regulation requiring “fortune-tellers” to be finger-printed and pay an annual fee of $150 plus $10 for a police background check, in order to do business. Michigan officials say they want to ensure that unscrupulous fortune-tellers are not preying on the vulnerable. Time.com (September 2, 2010) published informa-tion about this in an article by Elizabeth Dias, “In the Crystal Ball: More Regula-tion for Psychics.”

In Memoriam

Well-known Italian astrologer Serena Foglia died in Milan on July 25, 2010. Born on September 9, 1925, she earned an M.A. at Bryn Mawr Uni-versity and went on to become a psy-choanalyst, astrologer, journalist, and writer of both astrological and fiction books. Since the year 2000, an award in her honor has been presented annually to a new talented astrologer in Italy.

© 2010 Gloria Star – all rights reserved

Gloria Star is a professional astrologer, author, and teacher. You can learn more about her and her services through her Web site, www. GloriaStar.com


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URANUS IN ARIES CD. In-depth lec-ture on Uranus in Aries that covers Planet Uranus, Sign Aries and Uranus in Aries & transit through 12 houses, by Dee Patterson. Call (502) 894-9977 or www.deepatterson.com/products. $19.99 ships free U.S. 77 min. Dee is Past President Astrological Society Ky.

THE AVALON SCHOOL OF ASTROL-OGY. An independent school licensed by the state of Florida. Provides education and training to be a competent astrologer. Please contact: 6212 NW 43rd Street, Suite A, Gainesville, FL 32653, (352) 375-1250, [email protected], www.ava lonastrology.com

ASTROLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY ASSOCIATION. For all interested in the psychological approach to astrology pioneered by Bruno & Louise Huber. Foundation Courses in Astrology, Di-ploma in Astrological Psychology, mem-bership, magazine, consultations, Huber books and resources. Visit www.astrolog icalpsychology.org, or call 0044 (0) 1479 831374.

CORRESPONDENCE

MALE ASTROLOGER, incarcerated, extremely lonely, seeks pen pal for cor-respondence, friendship, and visitation to share same interest. DOB 7/12/67, 5:51 p.m., Chicago, IL. Write to Darrin Shatner, B42950, P.O. Box 112, Joliet, IL 60434.

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ADVERTISERS’ INDEX

In the Aug./Sept. 2010 issue of TMA, there was an error in the Aries Full Moon essay on p. 106: The paragraph about the Sabian symbols had the Sun in Aries and the Moon in Libra. Of course, the reverse is correct: the Moon in Aries and the Sun in Libra. We regret letting that slip away from us.


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TMA’s SoftStar News the other world. He took two gasping breaths and was gone. I did not want to write this article after my father died. I’m sure my editors would have been kind to me. But I had already engaged Scorpio’s archetype, and its steely grit insisted I drive to the finish. And the very psychopomps that took my father on his journey were also at work in my chart (they’re my Ascen-dant and 8th-house rulers, too). When Dad fell, Mars was conjunct my 3rd-house Scorpio Saturn.4 Mercury was con-junct my Virgo Ascendant. Together they urged: “Keep writing. Scorpio wants its story told.” I hope I’ve done it well.

References and Note1. See David Abram, The Spell of the Sensuous, Vintage Books, 1997.

2. Robert Hand, Horoscope Symbols, Whitford Press, 1981, p. 228.

3. Annie Dillard, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, HarperCollins, 1974, p. 92.

4. Saturn rules fathers, and Mars brings head wounds and falls.

© 2010 Dana Gerhardt – all rights reserved

Dana Gerhardt, M.A., is a practicing astrol-oger in Ashland, Oregon. For appointments, e-mail [email protected] or call (541) 535-7631. Dana offers the computer reports, “Your Venus Unleashed” (see ad on p. 17) and “Moon-prints,” a personalized report by mail that looks deeply into your birth Moonscape and the cur-rent positions of your lunar nature. Also avail-able is “Twelve Moons,” a monthly workshop in Sun–Moon cycles. For more information, visit her Web site: www.mooncircles.com

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Free Astrology Fonts Astrologers and programmers often ask me for a source of free astro-logical fonts. Visiting the excellent Web site, www.fontpark.net, I found three different sets of astrological fonts at these links: www.fontpark.net/en/font/astrologyp01/; www.fontpark.net/en/font/astrologyp02/; and www.fontpark.net/en/font/astrologyp03/

A Free Vedic Astrology Program Want an amazingly powerful free Vedic astrology program? The latest full version of Jagannatha Hora includes many more time changes for the United States and Canada, day and night formulae for Sahams (Greek Lots or Arabic Parts, Vedic style), transiting planetary stations, and planetary aspects on each house in Rasi and divisional charts. For those who are unfamiliar with the program, Jagannatha Hora was an advanced commercial Vedic astrology program whose author decided to dis-tribute it for free. It packs a huge amount of information about birth charts (Jai-mini karakas, alternate Lagnas, ashtakavarga, etc.), eight graphs using different methods of ascertaining planetary strength, several dasha systems, several chakra charts (e.g., sarvato bhadra chakra), a completely unique transit calen-dar, analysis of the yogas in the chart (with short interpretations), and much, much more. In order to get Jagannatha Hora with the atlas, go to this link: www.vedic astrologer.org/jh/jh_full_install.zip. The file is quite large, so you will need a fast Internet connection to download it. Note: If you have doubts about a time zone provided by this or any other astrology software, you can verify it at www.astro.com/atlas/ by entering a birth-place, verifying the location on the next screen, then entering the date and time, and hitting the Tab key. The correct time zone will be shown on the bottom right of the screen.

How do I find out about the latest time changes? Did you know that Indiana hopes to move to the Central Time Zone? If you need information about the latest time changes in the U.S. and the world, go to this link: www.timeanddate.com/news/time/ I couldn’t figure out how to find the time zone tables for a particular city at www.timeanddate.com, so I wrote to the Web site’s author, and he replied: “You just need to go to the page of the city in question (use the search, or find it on the world clock), and then click on the Time Zone tab. This will list all time changes for that city.” I would add that at the top of the page shown in the Time Zone tab is the option, “See changes for other years,” which you can use to select the table for the year you are interested in examining.

© 2010 Hank Friedman – all rights reserved

Hank Friedman is a professional Western and Vedic astrologer, author, and teacher. Visit his Web site, www.soulhealing.com, for free in-depth astrology tutorials and software guid-ance. You can contact him at: [email protected] for help in choosing the right astrology software for your needs.


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Graphic Ephemeris of Declination – Dec 2010 & Jan 2011

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PHASES OF THE MOON (START-POINTS)

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TMA FORECAST CALENDAR

Geocentric Aspects, Ingresses, and Stations

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Overview for December and January The Sun’s annual shift from visionary Sagittarius to re-sponsible Capricorn is not only a change of seasons but also a launching pad for the New Year. But the transition this time around may be more dramatic than usual. There’s a to-tal lunar eclipse on December 21 on the same day that the Sun changes signs. This event occurs at 29° Gemini, which could represent exhaustion due to an overload of ideas or a scattering of energy. A lunar eclipse is about closing a chap-ter in our lives, a notion reinforced by the Sun and Moon’s presence in the last degree of a sign. Surrendering and pas-sively allowing the waves of change to gently wash over us are unlikely to happen this time around, however. That’s be-cause the conjunction of expansive Jupiter and innovative Uranus in Pisces is tensely square this Full Moon, triggering excitement about the future and a restless urgency to create something new and different in our lives. Expect some hiccups, delays, and shifts of plans or direc-tion along the way. The guiding intelligent light of Mercury that’s steadfast and reliable in earthy Capricorn wobbles in retrograde from December 10–29. The common glitches in communication, technology, and travel might manifest, yet any Mercury retrograde also brings second chances to recon-nect, repair, and reorient ourselves. The Messenger Planet backs into Sagittarius (not its favorite place in the zodiac) on December 18. Mercury’s presence in this shoot-from-the-hip sign of the Archer can cause something to explode with big ideas and promises that have no bearing on reality. Still, this apparent backward motion gives us another opportunity to get fired up with hope and vision before Mercury returns to pragmatic Capricorn on January 13. The Capricorn New Moon on January 4 is a solar eclipse, another signal of adjustment when egos may take a bruising. Strict Saturn, Capricorn’s ruling planet, squares this Sun–Moon conjunction, increasing the likelihood of frustra-tion, doubt, or delays. Nevertheless, these challenges may provoke us to dig deeper to discover untapped resources and to regenerate determination and a sense of purpose. Sat-urn’s square to conquering Capricorn from accommodating Libra is a reminder that the support of others is essential for making most plans come true. Taking the time to line up allies can transform the potential negatives of this eclipse into a much more secure vessel for the long journey to come. Transformational Pluto’s proximity to the integrative North Node of the Moon rewards us when our goals are alloyed with a passion that permits us to persist in the face of dis-approval. The Sun’s entry into Capricorn runs our central star through the gauntlet of outer planets in late mutable and early cardinal signs: Jupiter, Uranus, and Pluto. Therefore, the steady climb for which the Goat is famous will prob-

Forecast Calendar for December 2010 & January 2011by Jeff Jawer

All times given are in Pacific Standard Time.For Eastern time, add 3 hours; Central Time, add 2 hours; Mountain Time, add 1 hour;

Greenwich Mean Time, add 8 hours.

ably be countered by surprises and impasses that interrupt the normal flow of progress. Solar squares to Jupiter on December 16 and Uranus on December 18 invite excess and excitability that serve as wasteful distractions or immature acts of rebellion. Yet, on the positive side, these transits can open our minds to possibilities far beyond our usual expecta-tions. The challenge of working with the intuitive flashes and radical ideas that are emerging is to discern the difference between realizable goals and intriguing but unachievable concepts. Still, any desires to drift off into the blue skies of fantasy will quickly be grounded at the winter solstice (sum-mer solstice in Soweto) on December 21. The Sun’s ingress into earthy Capricorn is normally enough to slap us into sobriety, but the demands of reality are even stronger this year. The Sun’s conjunction with pressurized Pluto will squeeze the air out of illusory trial balloons on December 26. A bad-to-the-bone Mars–Saturn square on December 29 is waiting to skewer any remaining fantasies. Yes, the last of three Jupiter–Uranus conjunctions on January 4 will hurl down lightning bolts of genius, breakthroughs, and revolu-tionary impulses, but the Sun’s square to Saturn on January 7 is another reality test. This will bury inappropriate ambi-tions and give substance to worthy ones. Still, the tides of hope keep rising and falling — and will rise again when buoyant Jupiter returns to adventurous Aries on January 22, just two days after the Sun soars into idealis-tic Aquarius. This is a one–two punch of innovation that sees beyond the two-dimensional limits of Saturn and Pluto. Life returns in brilliant color, 3-D, and surround sound in an at-mosphere of emerging enthusiasm. Jupiter (called “guru” or “teacher” in Sanskrit) in pioneering Aries invites risk-taking and independent action. Beliefs are not slogans on T-shirts or words in self-help and holy books now; they are alive in our actions and energized through individual initiative. This might lead to impulsive behavior that appears foolish and sometimes steers us into dead ends, yet the rekindling of en-thusiasm offered by generous Jupiter in this first sign of the zodiac makes it easier to move on from failure and quickly take off to explore new avenues of experience.

Wednesday, December 1 – Friday, December 3: The Libra Moon’s early-morning conjunction with serious Saturn begins the day with a dose of sobriety that’s not meant to block prog-ress but to direct it with patience and diplomacy. The ability to communicate graciously is supported by a lovely sextile between Mercury in Capricorn and Venus in Scorpio. This is normally a light and breezy aspect that’s ideal for small talk and smoothing out differences of opinion. However, the pres-ence of these planets in heavy-duty signs suggests that strong messages are being transmitted gently now.

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�� At 9:37 a.m. on Sunday, the Sagittarius New Moon spawns another wave of hope that can inspire us well into the New Year. Visions of tomorrow are not merely wishes but have the substance of Saturn to help make them real. The Ringed Planet’s sextile to this Sun–Moon conjunction provides a balance of hope and realism that enables us to fulfill the promise of this lunation. Uranus’s shift to direct motion (at 26°40' Pisces) reinforces the possibility of freeing ourselves from the limits of the past. Naïve fantasies will not diffuse the power of this New Moon, because Mercury joins Pluto at 5:15 p.m. (4°24' Capricorn) to tear away veils of il-lusion. Steely-eyed analysis can see the world in such harsh light that Sagittarian balloons of hope are punctured before they even leave the ground. The discerning mind must find ways to resolve problems rather than merely discovering them. We should choose our words carefully to keep our conversations constructive.

Monday, December 6 – Tuesday, December 7: The rockets of revelation launched by yesterday’s New Moon in Sagit-tarius are boosted with lunar aspects to six planets on Mon-day. We can almost feel the rumble of rising expectations with squares to Jupiter and Uranus in the morning and a con-junction with enterprising Mars in the afternoon. There’s a change of pace, though, when the Moon moves into orderly Capricorn at 3:15 p.m. and slows expansive impulses. It may be frustrating for some to have their enthusiasm checked by rules, obligations, and authorities, yet this natural evolution from idea to execution works best when accompanied by a well-designed plan. The evening is a mix of sweet and sour with a lunar sextile to Venus followed by a conjunction with Pluto. The Capricorn Moon gets reinforcements to assure law and order on Tuesday as the Sun sextiles this responsible sign’s key planet, Saturn, at 12:01 a.m. (15°06' Sagittarius– Libra). This harmonious aspect between the planets of ego and engagement is a subtle source of self-trust and discipline. A more overt expression of focused and purposeful action comes when assertive Mars enters Capricorn at 3:49 p.m. The Warrior Planet’s presence in its sign of exaltation reflects a greater willingness to work hard and, if necessary, struggle to achieve our goals. The Moon’s square to Saturn at 7:17 p.m. either supports our sense of commitment or kills it with doubt and disbelief.

Wednesday, December 8 – Friday, December 10: We may be especially resourceful on Wednesday as Venus sextiles Pluto at 8:14 a.m. (4°30' Scorpio–Capricorn) to help over-come losses and uncover hidden assets. The favorable con-nection between the planets of love and resurrection is also helpful for repairing damaged relationships. Even pain can be turned into gain when we’re willing to look below the surface to uncover the true causes of discomfort. Lunar sex-tiles to expansive Jupiter (in the afternoon) and inventive Uranus (at night) add vision and insight to brighten the so-ber atmosphere of the Moon in Capricorn. Then, at 11:31 p.m., a lunar ingress into airy Aquarius lifts some of the bur-dens of responsibility, inviting in perspectives unfettered by

At 6:43 a.m. on Thursday, the Moon dives into the fixed water sign of Scorpio, adding weight to emotions; expressing them could become more difficult. Nevertheless, this lunar ingress encourages a deeper examination of underlying mo-tives and desires. Even if passions are strong, a slick sextile between Scorpio’s traditional ruling planet, Mars, and Nep-tune (26°06' Sagittarius–Aquarius) softens hard edges and invites curves of cooperation and gentle persuasion. On Friday morning, however, Mars in Sagittarius’s soft ar-rows grow sharp with an explosive square to electric Uranus. If Martian initiative or aspirations were diffused by Neptune’s tender touch yesterday, Mars’ kinetic contact with Uranus can trigger anger and rebellious behavior today. Still, innovative activities could release the power of Mars square Uranus in creative ways that break down barriers and free us from te-dious routines. Fortunately, a brilliant Mars–Saturn quintile (72°) quickly follows to clean up any damage caused by im-pulsive behavior — or to design unique structures that sup-port unconventional ideas.

Saturday, December 4 – Sunday, December 5: Enthusiasm is sparked as the Moon enters forward-looking Sagittarius at 9:59 a.m. on Saturday, and eyes are lifted to the boundless skies of opportunity. Taking a more philosophical look at life is a way to overcome the constraints of current circumstances. How-ever, the Moon in Sagittarius sometimes encourages escape into the future to avoid dealing with immediate issues.

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��the limits of reality. Idealistic Aquarius may feel cold and distant, yet it frees us to reframe our lives within less rigid boundaries. Planetary activity is light on Thursday, with only a Moon–Venus square early in the day. This fast-moving but sensitive aspect offers a contrast between the Aquarian need for space and the Venus in Scorpio urge to merge. Friday’s headline event is Mercury turning retrograde at 5°56' Capricorn. The reversal of the Planet of Commu-nication will continue until December 29. It may be neces-sary to retrace our steps — to tie up loose ends, reconnect with people, be more attentive to details and careful when traveling. Mercury also forms a favorable sextile to Venus today that is ideal for discussing delicate issues and express-ing ourselves artistically.

Saturday, December 11 – Sunday, December 12: Saturday is sweet and tender, starting with the Moon’s conjunction with dreamy Neptune very early in the day. The imagina-tion, compassion, spirituality, and idealism of this transit are continued by the Moon’s entry into Neptune’s home sign of Pisces at 10:41 a.m. It’s a day when sticking to plans is nei-ther easy nor desirable. Allowing ourselves to follow feelings wherever they flow can salve the soul and relieve emotional wounds. Lunar sextiles to Mars and Pluto will take the edge off anger and make it possible to assert oneself or express discontent without being disagreeable. There are real op-portunities for healing with this combination of Plutonian depth and Piscean tenderness. Sunday’s only notable aspect is so early in the morning that it’s more likely to be experienced very late on Saturday night. It’s a Moon–Venus trine that mixes romance and eroti-cism in a delicious cocktail of public sociability or private pleasure.

Monday, December 13 – Tuesday, December 14: Monday starts with a First Quarter square of the Sagittarius Sun and the Pisces Moon joined by Jupiter and Uranus. Normally, we’d expect delicate Pisces to diffuse the enthusiasm of the Sagittarius Sun, but this lunation is more likely to pour gas-oline on the fire than put it out. However, any ideas about making a radical move had better be calculated down to the last tiny detail, since the close proximity of Mars, Pluto, and retrograde Mercury in Capricorn leaves virtually no room for error. The bolder one’s goals, the more important it is to measure and manage every step along the way. This is a very complicated day: Lunar conjunctions with free-spirited Jupiter and Uranus in the afternoon are followed by tense unions of Mercury and Pluto, Mercury and Mars, and Mars and Pluto from 8:10 to 8:11 p.m. The mind can grow sharp as a knife, and this may lead to cutting remarks. Cynicism is possible with this tight trio of doubters, yet when attention is focused on tough problems, solutions are likely to arise. The stark contrasts between Piscean sensitivity, Jupiter–Uranus adventurism, and the threesome of Mars, Mercury, and Pluto will diminish when the Moon enters spontaneous Aries at 11:15 p.m. This energy is best applied by moving forward instead of burrowing into resentment from the past.

The Aries Moon kicks up strong words and powerful feelings with squares to Mercury, Pluto, and Mars on Tues-day morning. These potent transits can be useful for clearing away obstacles and closing the book on old assignments to make room for new ones.

Wednesday, December 15 – Friday, December 17: We may be slowed down when the speedy Aries Moon opposes Sat-urn at 6:44 a.m. on Wednesday. However, caution in the morning will likely be overcome by a taste for excess later, as pleasure-seeking Venus forms a sesquiquadrate (135°) to boundless Jupiter at night. The search for love, approval, and possessions could lead to overvaluing an individual, object, or experience. It’s appropriate to explore new sources of de-light, but going too far can prove costly and unsatisfying. Thursday gets off to a more realistic start with the Moon’s ingress into earthy Taurus at 10:49 a.m. This sensual and sensible sign loves comfort, bargains, and keeping things simple. However, excess may rear its head again with a square between the Sun and Jupiter at 1:47 p.m. (24°50' Sagittarius–Pisces). Dreaming of faraway places or other di-mensions makes it hard to focus on what’s right in front of us. Big promises and high hopes are meant to inspire us and widen our aspirations, but exaggeration can spur promises that may not be kept. With the Moon’s balanced trines to Mercury and Pluto in the afternoon and evening, the voice of reason poses concrete questions for dreamers and schem-ers who are strong on vision and weak on facts.

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Friday is light on planetary activity, allowing time and space to evaluate the big picture images projected by Thurs-day’s Sun–Jupiter square. Financial and intimacy issues could be aroused by the Taurus Moon’s opposition to Venus in Scorpio in the morning, but with both planets in resistant fixed signs, it’s best not to push for resolution.

Saturday, December 18 – Sunday, December 19: Energies are all over the place on Saturday, which starts with a com-passionate and imaginative Sun–Neptune sextile at 2:30 a.m. Forgiveness is a gift of this aspect, yet edginess may follow with two hard aspects to spiky Uranus. Venus’s sesquiquadrate to the Planet of Revolution at 9:09 a.m. disturbs the equilib-rium in relationships. Plans can suddenly change, and moods may shift at the drop of a hat. Breakthroughs in tastes are upsides of this status-upsetting aspect, though. At 10:48 a.m., the Sun slams into a square to Uranus (26°44' Sagittarius– Pisces) that triggers surprises and discourages cooperation. Independence and willfulness can be useful qualities when used for true discovery or liberation. Yet, while some are fighting for freedom, others may react with extreme insecu-rity, since a stressful Sun–Venus semi-square (45°) shakes our sense of self-worth. Tension may be released when the Moon leaves conservative Taurus and enters adaptable Gemini at 7:37 p.m. This air sign offers emotional flexibility and detachment to take the sting out of social gaffes or feel-ings of isolation.

Cerebral Gemini’s ability to step back and observe without judgment gets additional support from its brainy ruling planet, Mercury, on Sunday. The Messenger Planet joins the Sun (at 28°02' Sagittarius) while both form magi-cal quintiles to Saturn that are excellent for creating order out of chaos. The ability to see reason in the midst of un-reasonable situations compensates for the hypersensitivity incited by the evening’s Mercury–Venus semi-square.

Monday, December 20 – Tuesday, December 21: Minds may be racing under a jittery Gemini Moon on Monday when the Twins’ ruling planet, Mercury, backs into a tense square to Uranus at 3:31 p.m. Conversations may be inter-rupted and travel disturbed due to unexpected ideas and events. Brilliant but complex concepts may pop into our heads. Taking the time to simplify unusual concepts de-creases their chances of fading as quickly as they came. If impulsive speech upsets relationships, a tender Mercury–Neptune sextile at 9:03 p.m. (26°27' Sagittarius–Aquarius) is perfect for rounding off rough edges and inviting calmer communication. Those gentle moments may be the lull before the storm. We face the whirlwind of a Full Moon lunar eclipse in the last degree of Gemini at 12:14 a.m. on Tuesday. Squares to the Sun and Moon from expansive Jupiter and eccentric Uranus in Pisces could provoke feelings of panic, if we’re overwhelmed by too much too soon. Yet, if we remain flexible and witness the firestorm of emotions and events without taking immediate action, surprising ways of break-ing old patterns may be revealed. At 1:22 a.m., the Moon enters Cancer, which is great for cuddling and nurturing but not for detachment. Calmly assimilating whatever un-certainty or excitement is rocking the world would be help-ful. A lunar opposition to Pluto at 10:00 a.m. invites us to dive into the dark recesses of the psyche to purge fears and desires that hold us back. The Sun’s entry into Capri-corn at 3:39 p.m. may mark the first step toward finishing what needs to be done and directing our energy toward climbing the next mountain. Mercury’s square to Jupiter at 4:59 p.m. can skew perspectives, but careful evaluation helps us hit the mark.

Wednesday, December 22 – Friday, December 24: Wed-nesday is relatively quiet with a wobbly Mars–Neptune semi-square at 5:58 p.m. that either tempts us to chase illusions or inspires us to act with compassion and imagi-nation. Late-night lunar trines to Jupiter and Uranus en-liven the creative atmosphere. The Moon’s entry into dramatic Leo at 4:50 a.m. on Thursday encourages personal expression and theatrical behavior. Yet, the openhearted spirit of this sign can serve as a generous entrée to the holidays. Friday starts with a sane and stabilizing sextile to Sat-urn from the Moon, quickly followed by a lunar square to Venus that sometimes stirs up insecurities. However, the Moon’s trine to Mercury later in the day injects reason into conversations and reduces tension.

Placidus houses, True Node

CAPRICORN SOLSTICEDecember 21, 2010 • 6:39 p.m. EST

Washington, D.C.(see ACG map on page 92)

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��Saturday, December 25 – Sunday, December 26: The Moon’s ingress into practical Virgo at 7:13 a.m. colors Christmas Day with an air of efficiency. Details that must be managed with precision can make form more important than feelings. This sign requires strict adherence to family rules, but this may not appeal to folks whose rebellious spirits have been awakened by this week’s Uranus-tinged lunar eclipse. Hap-pily, the Moon’s trines to the Sun and Pluto offer enough good will to overcome differences and successfully observe this annual ritual. Digesting Christmas dinner on Sunday, celebrating Kwanzaa, or recovering from a solstice fête is shadowed by a Sun–Pluto conjunction at 5:01 p.m. (5°09' Capricorn). Fears within the family or about the general state of the world may diminish optimism. But Pluto was the God of Wealth as well as the Lord of the Underworld, reminding us of the rewards of descending into the deep recesses of the psyche. When we face the dark with light in our hearts, the shadows disappear, and what once looked hopeless paves the way to riches.

Monday, December 27 – Tuesday, December 28: A quirky quintile of Mars and Uranus at 3:06 a.m. on Monday, be-tween the Virgo Moon’s oppositions to Jupiter and Ura-nus, gets the week off to a creative start. We may awaken with a sense of urgency, but given the genius of this Mars– Uranus aspect, we could find unexpected solutions to vex-ing problems. At 9:38 a.m., the Moon moves into Libra, but its square to Pluto at 6:24 p.m. stirs up dark thoughts un-common to this harmony-seeking sign. This sets the stage for the Last Quarter square of the Moon at 8:20 p.m., when Libran accommodation counters the Capricorn Sun’s need for dominance. Pluto’s hard aspects to the Sun and Moon can provoke power struggles — and perhaps even shame; some may consider engaging in unethical behavior. However, the Sun and Pluto’s close proximity to the North Node in Capri-corn signals the benefits of following one’s own desires rather than trying to please and protect everyone else. An exigent Venus–Pluto semi-square at 2:29 a.m. on Tuesday can underscore questions about our desirability or self-worth but can also eliminate people-pleasing behavior. The lovely Libra Moon runs into hard aspects with Mars and Saturn in the middle of the day that could serve those with clear goals and the drive to achieve them.

Wednesday, December 29 – Friday, December 31: Wednes-day brings the most difficult aspect in traditional astrology: a square between Mars and Saturn (16°33' Capricorn–Libra). The conflict between the planets of go and stop is lessened, though, because they are both in their signs of exaltation. This suggests that each is strong and, therefore, able to ex-press itself at the highest level. It’s about focus and produc-tivity, as well as the ability to push to the top (Mars in Cap-ricorn) while gaining the support of others (Saturn in Libra). The Moon’s entry into intense Scorpio at 12:50 p.m. offers the singleness of purpose needed to harness this extremely powerful aspect. Yet, the dark, resentful side of the Moon in Scorpio could exacerbate anger and frustration. This en-ergy is too good to spend on negative thoughts when it can

be used to build something of value. Mercury slows down and shifts gears late on Wednesday to begin moving forward again at 19°37' Sagittarius, making this day a potential turn-ing point that empowers conscious change. Thursday is quieter with soft lunar sextiles to the Sun (before dawn) and Mars (at night) to keep the energy flow-ing without too much friction. On Friday, the year 2010 finishes on a high note with the Scorpio Moon’s early-morning passage over seductive Venus, trines to Jupiter and Uranus, and a fuzzy little square to Neptune. Then, the Moon enters Sagittarius at 5:21 p.m. to help ring in the New Year with enthusiasm and visions of a brighter future.

Saturday, January 1 – Sunday, January 2: Saturday is a good time to rest, since there is very little planetary activity. Sure, the Moon in Sagittarius stimulates the urge to stretch our legs and expand our minds, but without the pressure of reaching for a specific goal. At 11:22 p.m., the Moon’s sextile to Saturn quietly caps off the day. A spacey Sun–Neptune semi-square at 5:06 a.m. on Sun-day lacks focus. But this ambition-killing aspect is perfect for lingering in bed to dream about worlds without worry. The Moon’s squares to Jupiter and Uranus in the early evening, though, start stirring restless feelings. These aspects excite some to consider bold adventures, although they can also provoke thoughtless comments that may be true but are hurt-

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��ful. The Moon’s ingress into Capricorn at 11:39 p.m. turns us toward more restrained behavior and pragmatic attitudes.

Monday, January 3 – Tuesday, January 4: Monday’s only notable aspect is the Moon’s conjunction with Pluto at 9:42 a.m. This lunar transit in the hard-nosed sign of Capricorn can enable us to find reserves of strength to push past ob-stacles in pursuit of our goals. Less desirable expressions of this transit include power struggles, manipulation, and un-reasonable fear of loss. A deep sense of impending change is appropriate, though, with a New Moon solar eclipse tomorrow. First, there’s a squishy square between Venus and Nep-tune on Tuesday at 12:28 a.m. (26°50' Scorpio–Aquarius) that can spur romantic dreams and visions of escape from reality. Yet, few events are more real than the New Moon in Capricorn at 1:03 a.m. Normally, this begins a fresh cycle of ambition, commitment, and discipline. A tense square to this Sun–Moon conjunction from Capricorn’s ruler, Sat-urn, reinforces the seriousness of these times. But since the Moon is eclipsing the Sun, we cannot will our way through situations now or follow the lead of our egos. Solar eclipses remind us to look inside and reflect on our feelings. Self-care is required: We will not achieve our ambitions if we lack emotional nourishment. Another significant event is the third and final conjunction of Jupiter and Uranus (27°02' Pisces); this can brew up a brainstorm of brilliant ideas to

unsettle our orderly lives. Restlessness pushes against the restraints of duty, and Venus abets the revolutionary ten-dencies of Jupiter and Uranus with deliciously irresponsible trines. Still, the curmudgeonly Capricorn Moon’s square to Saturn at 7:01 a.m. and conjunction with muscular Mars at 3:50 p.m. force us to face daily life and put grander ideas on hold.

Wednesday, January 5 – Thursday, January 6: Wednesday is rich with original thinking. The Moon enters progressive Aquarius at 8:08 a.m., providing the emotional distance needed to observe ourselves from afar. Habitual patterns stand out in this stark light, allowing us to break away from the unconscious responses that are holding us back. The Sun forms quintiles to Jupiter and Uranus to provide chan-nels of expression for their recent radically inventive con-junction. These aspects encourage innovations that seem impossible to the conventional eye. Thursday’s only significant astrological event is a fast-moving trine from the Moon to Saturn at 5:00 p.m. that gives some structure to the futuristic concepts and strange feelings that have been brewing ever since the Moon entered Aquarius.

Friday, January 7 – Sunday, January 9: Messages are pro-foundly mixed on Friday. Planetary winds appear to be blowing in every direction. The fun starts with Venus’s ingress into Sagittarius at 4:31 a.m. This transit initiates a more playful approach to relationships, pleasure, and the pursuit of profit. We may need to take some risks to re-invigorate a current relationship or start a new one. But then, at 6:01 a.m., a Sun–Saturn square (16°55' Capricorn– Libra) chills the day with demands, guilt, and a glut of responsibilities. A more inspiring interpretation sees this aspect as an ally that helps us to efficiently meet our obli-gations so we can carve out more time for play. At 12:51 p.m., the Moon joins nebulous Neptune; we take a vaca-tion from reason and allow imagination to float our boats. The pre-eminence of feelings is bolstered by the Moon’s entry into watery Pisces at 6:57 p.m. The weekend is ush-ered in with a dash of escapism and a need for uncondi-tional acceptance. Saturday’s only aspect is an early-morning Moon–Pluto sextile that makes it relatively easy to shuck off the dead skin of outmoded attitudes. Sunday starts with a strong dose of reality, when play-ful Venus bumps into a semi-square to no-nonsense Sat-urn. A lack of love, resources, or joy can be countered by clear intentions to work hard to earn the approval we seek. Lunar sextiles to the Sun (in the morning) and Mars (at night) reduce friction, making it possible to disagree in an agreeable way and take care of business without break-ing a sweat.

Monday, January 10 – Tuesday, January 11: After we dream our way through lunar conjunctions with Uranus and Jupiter, the Moon zips into impatient Aries at 7:24 a.m. on

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100Monday. Emotional urges for immediate action can provide the fire to start new projects but may also burn out quickly, leaving tasks unfinished. Our minds are likely to be moving fast, too. A tender and imaginative Mercury–Neptune sextile just past noon — ideal for sweet and subtle conversations — is rapidly followed by Mercury’s excitable square to unruly Uranus at 4:13 p.m. (27°13' Sagittarius–Pisces). With this brilliant but erratic aspect, any tendencies to talk first and think later are bound to ruffle feathers, especially when the Moon makes its unfriendly square to Pluto at 6:54 p.m. This intense and distrustful alignment resists unorthodox ideas and tolerates only the darkest kind of humor. The potential for mental overdrive continues on Tuesday — with exaggeration and an excess of words or details — when Mercury squares Jupiter. This clash between the plan-ets of lower and higher mind represents a challenge to find the right relationship between facts and philosophy. Like yesterday, it’s followed by a lunar aspect that tries to put the brakes on runaway talking: The Moon opposes stern Saturn at 5:48 p.m. As always, though, the purpose of the Ringed Planet’s presence is not to squelch ideas but to narrow our focus and shape these ideas into usable forms.

Wednesday, January 12 – Thursday, January 13: An inven-tive Mars–Uranus sextile at 2:30 a.m. (27°16' Capricorn–Pisces) gets Wednesday off to an excitingly original start. Still, trusting our instincts may not be quite so easy when the spontaneous Aries Moon forms a First Quarter square to the self-contained Capricorn Sun at 3:32 a.m. This is a test of the principles espoused during last week’s New Moon in Capricorn, to see which plans (if any) are worth pursuing and what adjustments we must make to meet our goals. This lunation is quite remarkable, though, because Capricorn’s ruling planet, Saturn, is still in orb to oppose the Moon, fa-voring a more stately pace of progress, while Mars, Aries’ ruling planet, is close to the Sun, thus accelerating the action. The stark contrast between these approaches could increase tension to a breaking point, but this Sun–Moon square can also build a healthy balance of initiative and discipline. Mer-cury’s clever quintile to Saturn at 8:00 a.m. helps us to find common elements to keep projects on track. At 7:36 p.m., the Moon enters stabilizing Taurus, switching the mood from innovation and an enterprising spirit to safety, comfort, and consistency. The Moon’s exaltation in Taurus reflects the material and emotional well-being of this placement, yet there’s a danger of becoming overly cautious and resistant to the unfamiliar. On Thursday, Mercury shifts into Capricorn at 3:25 a.m. Capricorn is both practical and ambitious, combining its cardinal instinct for growth with an earthy need for secu-rity. Mercury in this sign is excellent at calculating risks and setting long-term strategies. There’s plenty of energy to fuel ambition, with a supportive sextile between Mars and Jupi-ter at 4:36 p.m. Jupiter dreams large in Pisces, while Mars in Capricorn helps us to turn vague hopes into finished products.

Friday, January 14 – Sunday, January 16: A trine between the Taurus Moon and the Capricorn Sun at 7:16 p.m. is Fri-day’s only notable astrological event. It’s a subtle but favor-able alignment in earth signs that helps us to address issues patiently and realistically. At 5:22 a.m. on Saturday, the Moon flits into Gemini, where variety is the irresistible spice of life. Staying on course — any course — is challenging with Luna in the butterfly sign. Curiosity can distract our attention easily, so minds and bod-ies tend to wander. Yet, if we’re stuck in a rut, there’s nothing like this lunar placement to reveal a world of wider options. Conversations flow easily, and emotions can be described with less pride or guilt. At 2:42 p.m., Mars ingresses into Aquarius, the oddly named air sign of community action and independence. This is a strange paradox, since individ-ual freedom and collective concerns hold equal value in this abstract sign. Following the rules and sticking to plans are not what Mars in Aquarius is made for, but experimenting with new and unusual forms of behavior is ideal now. The friendliness of this sign is boosted with the Moon’s opposi-tion to flirty Venus in Sagittarius at 10:08 p.m. Sunday’s only astrological event is a lunar tine to Saturn at 12:47 p.m. that brings a bit of order to a breezy Moon in Gemini day.

Monday, January 17 – Tuesday, January 18: The week starts with a possible emotional roller-coaster ride: The Moon

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101squares Jupiter and Uranus in the morning. These aspects are previews of solar transits to this exciting couple today and Wednesday. Next, though, is the Moon’s return to her watery home sign of Cancer at 11:29 a.m. The chances of feeling safe and cuddly aren’t good, as Luna heads toward an opposition to a Mercury–Pluto conjunction that’s exact at 9:48 p.m. (5°56' Capricorn). This combination is great for intense conversations, research, stripping away illusions, and concentrating on essential issues. Yet, Mercury–Pluto also represents a tendency to notice what we’re lacking, which can either lead toward healing or reinforce negative think-ing. Still, hope rises with a Sun–Uranus sextile at 1:56 p.m. (27°26' Capricorn–Pisces) that encourages experimental be-havior and supports self-discovery or reinvention. It’s odd to have this high-spirited and liberating aspect while the mind’s eye is burrowing into the shadows with the Mercury–Pluto pairing. Perhaps we can sort out these contrasts on a relatively tranquil Tuesday marked only by a serious square between the Cancer Moon and Saturn in Libra at 4:54 p.m. As usual, the value of this event depends upon how well we integrate the need to keep an open mind with the instinct to turn inward and ignore the world around us.

Wednesday, January 19 – Friday, January 21: Wednesday’s key event is the Full Moon in Cancer at 1:22 p.m. This lunar opposition to the Sun occurs, as it did last month, in the 29th

degree of a sign, where the tides of change feel inescapable. Yet, thanks to creative trines to the Moon from the inven-tive Jupiter–Uranus conjunction in Pisces, we’re unlikely to roll over and let circumstances have their way with us. The drive to act with purpose is abetted by energetic Mars’ proximity to the Capricorn Sun. The still-lingering Mercury–Pluto union could poison the atmosphere with secrets and suspicion — or offer intellectual depth to support emerging ambitions. In either case, the Moon’s entry into enterprising Leo at 2:15 p.m. tips the scales toward confidence and cre-ativity, although people who are more into style than sub-stance can trip over their egos and fail to catch this wave of opportunity. The Sun’s sextile to Jupiter at 2:39 p.m. is a classically positive aspect that broadens consciousness, perhaps expanding self-respect. At 7:43 p.m., a fiery Moon–Mars opposition may trigger conflict or provide competition as a motivator for advancing our interests. At 2:19 a.m. on Thursday, the Sun shifts into Aquarius, taking the edge off ambition with more appreciation for col-laboration. This idealistic sign does best when engaged in activities that benefit communities, yet voluntary participa-tion is essential because external pressure will be strongly resisted. Fortunately, favorable lunar aspects to Venus and Saturn bring charm and social skills that can be applied for constructive purposes. Friday is another day of mixed signals. A lunar opposi-tion to dreamy Neptune at 10:59 a.m. encourages imagina-tion and escape, yet the Moon’s entry into efficient Virgo at 3:10 p.m. puts productivity back on the front burner. Still, all work and no play is not the story on Friday night when vivacious Venus forms a quintile to romantic Neptune at 7:34 p.m.

Saturday, January 22 – Sunday, January 23: Jupiter’s return to Aries at 9:12 a.m. on Saturday inspires initiative and a desire to act without restraint. Learning from direct expe-rience can be more valuable than adhering to the values of others, when this wise planet is in this self-motivating sign. It’s a good time to put higher principles into action. Mercury’s semi-square to Neptune at 5:10 p.m. can cloud our minds with illusion or misinformation, although inspi-ration and healing conversations are possible when we let go of fixed ideas. Sunday starts with a solidifying Venus–Saturn sextile (17°13' Sagittarius–Libra) that combines love and pleasure with reason and responsibility. Social graces also thrive when the Moon enters people-pleasing Libra at 3:58 p.m. However, a lunar opposition to Jupiter at 4:23 p.m. invites excess — and judgment, when others don’t meet our expec-tations. Happily, any misunderstandings or disputes should be smoothed over with an objective Sun–Moon trine in air signs at 10:26 p.m.

Monday, January 24 – Tuesday, January 25: The light-hearted Libra Moon traverses tough territory on Monday with a tense square to Mercury at 5:20 p.m. and a conjunction with Saturn at 8:37 p.m. These aspects can provoke testy conversations or even shut down communication entirely.

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10�Nevertheless, mature minds focus on facts and discuss difficult issues with patience and respect. At 11:23 p.m., a sweet sextile from the Moon to Venus overcomes any reticence; an atmosphere that invites pleasure is bound to reduce stress. A Mercury–Uranus quintile at 12:45 a.m. on Tuesday sparks ingenious ideas on Monday evening that may linger into the following morning. The Moon’s forgiving trine to Neptune takes us on a gentler course at 2:05 p.m. How-ever, at 6:15 p.m., a lunar ingress into Scorpio descends from metaphysical clouds to dive into heavier matters. Dark feelings, fears, and psychological spelunking are com-mon in the fixed water sign. Still, its purpose is to lead us to the core of our being, where real transformation usually begins. Authority also comes from within, as Saturn turns retrograde at 8:05 p.m. (17°14' Libra). This doesn’t signal a retreat from worldly responsibilities or our potential for accomplishment. It simply balances external obligations with internal guidance and restores an inherent sense of our own authority and purpose.

Wednesday, January 26 – Thursday, January 27: A more serious tone is expected on Wednesday morning with a Mercury–Saturn square at 1:58 a.m. The possible down-sides are doubt, delay, and demeaning conversation, but the benefits of this mentally demanding aspect include clear thought and intellectual discipline. At 4:58 a.m., the Scorpio Moon forms a Last Quarter square to the Aquar-ius Sun, challenging solar idealism with lunar skepticism. Yet, the Scorpio Moon’s purpose is to measure the costs of grand ideas and schemes, to make sure they are doable and worth the investment of resources. Mars in Aquarius close to the Sun may want to fight for an ideal, regardless of the price, which is fine if principles are more important than productivity. Perhaps, though, the Moon’s supportive sextile to Pluto helps us dig deeply to come up with the goods to achieve our noble aspirations. Another source of hope is a Mercury–Jupiter quintile on Thursday at 5:34 a.m., which represents skillful com-munication and mental dexterity, allowing us to attend to details without losing sight of the big picture. A lunar square to Neptune at 6:39 p.m. could provide a distraction or a break from stress, yet the Moon’s subsequent trine to Uranus at 7:01 p.m. may snap us back to attention with a fresh concept or renewed sense of enthusiasm. We re-ceive a boost from the Moon’s entry into outgoing Sagit-tarius at 10:55 p.m. This raises our sights to gaze upon an unbounded future of possibilities.

Friday, January 28 – Saturday, January 29: Friday’s light astrological winds bring a few lunar aspects — sextiles to the Sun at 2:35 p.m. and to Mars at 5:34 p.m. Neither is dramatic, but both add energy while smoothing out some of the rough spots of the Moon in rambunctious Sagittar-ius. This sign is goodhearted but also opinionated and can express truths without much sensitivity. However, these gentle sextiles maintain Sagittarian horsepower with a ride that’s smoother than usual.

Saturday, too, is relatively calm, with another pair of desirable lunar contacts. At 6:17 a.m., the Moon’s sextile to Saturn injects a dose of maturity, responsibility, and good planning. Instead of reaching for the stars without much sense of what it takes to get there, Saturn can offer a realistic road map. At 7:18 p.m., the Moon joins joyful Venus to spur a playful mood that’s just right for fun or romance.

Sunday, January 30 – Monday, January 31: There’s a shift in the emotional atmosphere when the Moon enters dutiful Capricorn on Sunday at 6:04 a.m. The ambitious side of the Capricorn Moon might appreciate a stretchy square to ex-pansive Jupiter at 8:53 a.m., yet this aspect can also provoke unkind judgments. Acute awareness of how far short we are of our goals can deflate balloons of aspiration. It’s important to be gentle, especially with ourselves. But warm fuzzies are not part of Capricorn’s repertoire and will be extremely rare when the Moon joins implacable Pluto at 6:02 p.m. At worst, we may feel as if strength is being drained from our bodies — by a controlling person or circumstances beyond our con-trol. Yet, the gift of this transit is to cut through to the core of necessity, thus providing focus and empowerment. Monday, too, is relatively light on astrological action; there’s only a lunar square to Saturn at 2:40 p.m. on the schedule. This stressful aspect between the Moon and the ruler of its current sign, Capricorn, can thicken the walls of doubt and duty but also presents limits with such clarity that the next step will become obvious.

© 2010 Jeff Jawer – all rights reserved

Jeff Jawer is a counseling astrologer, writer, and lecturer with a B.A. in the History and Sci-ence of Astrology from the University of Mas-sachusetts at Amherst. He is the author of Your Astrology Guide, an annual forecast book co-written with Rick Levine. Jeff and Rick are also co-founders of StarIQ.com and seminar lead-ers for www.HeavenandEarthWorkshops.com. Jeff writes regularly for Tarot.com and AOL.

He helped create AFAN and UAC and is a frequent speaker at major astrology conferences. Jeff lives in Bellevue, Washington and can be reached by e-mail at [email protected]

Don't miss TMA's special Feb./Mar. issue!

Mailing to subscribers in early January and in the stores by the end of January, this is a theme

issue on archetypes, dreamwork, water houses in the birth chart,

alchemy, and much more!

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December 5, 2010 — 9:37 a.m. PST December 5, 2010 — 5:37 p.m. GMT

Sagittarius New Moon – December 5by Stephanie Austin

Just a few hours after this New Moon, Uranus ends its five-month retrograde period, intensifying the urge to break out of narrow mindsets and stifling circumstances. Uranus stationed retrograde on July 5 at 0°36' Aries; it turns direct at 26°40' Pisces and again reaches 0°36' Aries on March 22, 2011. It’s full speed ahead now, since all planets are in for-ward motion until Mercury turns retrograde on December 10 at 6° Capricorn. Cosmic support for quantum leaps is aug-mented by Mars’ conjunction with the Galactic Center at 26°55' Sagittarius (exact on December 3). Profound insights and important discoveries continue as Mars meets up with Mercury and Pluto on December 13 at 5° Capricorn. The answers are there; we just have to ask the right questions — and be willing to listen. The Sabian symbol for this New Moon at 14° Sagittar-ius suggests that reconnecting with spiritual knowledge that has been passed down through the ages can help us to meet our current challenges: “The Great Pyramid and the Sphinx; the enduring power of occult knowledge and of its quasi-divine Custodians, ‘Seed-men’ of a previous cycle of exis-tence.” Use the power of this New Moon to see what is true now, and take the next big step on your path. Bear in mind: “Your eyes actually show you what you believe, not what you see.” (Mike Dooley)

The charts for the lunations in this issue are all set on the natural wheel with 0° Aries rising. All references to Sabian symbols are from Dane Rudhyar, An Astrological Mandala: The Cycle of Transformations and Its 360 Symbolic Phases, Vintage Books, 1973. At each New Moon, as the Sun and Moon rise together, we receive a cosmic invitation to spiral to the next level of that particular sign. Sagittarius emerges from Scorpio’s cave and cauldron, in search of the meaning and wisdom to be gained from those alchemical tests and trials. As the third, transpersonal fire sign, Sagittarius’s quest for knowledge is furthered by exposure to new views; traveling beyond the borders of everyday experience, we attain a greater under-standing of the world and our place in it. Several factors conspire to broaden our horizons at this time. The Sun and Moon align within one degree of the Great Attractor located at 14°02' Sagittarius. Our solar sys-tem, along with the entire Milky Way galaxy — and its stellar neighborhood of 40 other galaxies (called the Local Group), each with their billions of stars — are all moving toward an even larger gravitational source called the Great Attractor. Beyond this lies an even more colossal magnet called the Shapley Supercluster, a dense collection of approximately 20 major clusters of galaxies, all radiating huge amounts of radio waves and other forms of electromagnetic energy. Gravity bends light, and light encodes information, so this New Moon’s alignment with these superpowerful trans-mission sources opens up a wormhole (a shortcut in time and space), enabling us to grasp things that are ordinar-ily beyond our field of awareness. Meditations during the peak of this New Moon and the next Full Moon, which aligns with the Galactic Center, can provide especially valuable insights and solutions. Jupiter, the second-largest source of radiation in our solar system (after the Sun), is at 24° Pisces and is part of a dynamic t-square, amplifying the poten-tial for major revelations and leaps in conscious-ness. Jupiter conjoins Uranus at 27° Pisces, squares both Mars at 28° and Pallas at 24° Sagittarius, and opposes Juno at 23° Virgo. Conjunctions represent new beginnings, squares mark important turning points, and oppositions call for mutuality and integra-tion. The close involvement of Juno and Pallas, two of the first asteroids to be discovered and named for feminine rather than masculine deities, highlights issues of inequality and injustice. Juno’s legendary struggles with Jupiter symbolize the imperative to reconcile gender ineq-uities. Pallas’s birth from the head of Jupiter represents the need for foresight, creative intelligence, and the perception of patterns. Altogether, this powerful t-square signals that it is time to relinquish beliefs and traditions that support dis-crimination and domination of any kind.

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December 21, 2010 —12:14 a.m. PSTDecember 21, 2010 — 8:14 a.m. GMT

Gemini Lunar Eclipse – December 21by Stephanie Austin

This is the third of five Full Moons in a row that form at the very last degree of a sign, signifying that we are in a very important transition time. The end degree of any sign, like the final sign, Pisces, requires that its archetypal energies be expressed with both wisdom and compassion. Archetypes are templates of energy, matrices that shape and focus our perceptions. They are the architecture of matter, providing structures and pathways for the evolution of consciousness. This Full Moon is a total lunar eclipse, which greatly amplifies our opportunities for transformation. New path-ways and options appear as old networks dissolve. During an eclipse, the continual streams of electromagnetic energy from the Sun and Moon are interrupted, weakening the Earth’s force fields as well as our own and thus making it easier to shift grids, dimensions, and the configuration of our consciousness. This Full Moon lunar eclipse is further potentized by its proximity to the Galactic Center (GC) at 26°55' Sagittarius. The heart of our Milky Way galaxy transmits tremendous amounts of gamma, X-ray, ultravio-let, and other forms of electromagnetic energy. Any planet aspecting the GC focalizes the evolutionary codes stream-ing 24/7, helping us to remember and realize our soul intentions.

Juno, which closely opposed Jupiter at the last New Moon, exactly opposes Uranus at 26°46' Virgo–Pisces dur-ing the peak of this eclipse, catalyzing radical changes in how we view relationships. Juno also tightly opposes Jupi-ter at 25°16' Pisces, squares Mercury at 26°16' Sagittarius, and along with the Sun and Moon at 29°20' Sagittarius–Gemini, generates a mutable grand cross, a cosmic man-date for far-reaching change. If Pallas at 0°09' Capricorn is included, this energy configuration, also known as a grand square, forms five oppositions and 12 squares. This potent combination, which includes three of the four major aster-oids (with the fourth, Vesta, also in Sagittarius), suggests that we have reached a major crossroads and are ready to make a big shift in how we perceive and relate to each other. We are primed to reshape the roles and rules of relationship to establish freedom, fairness, and benefit for all. Full Moons bring light to the shadow side of each sign. The shadow side of Sagittarius is fanaticism, arrogance, and overindulgence; Jovian fervor for certainty and liberality can go to extremes. The shadow side of Gemini is rational-ization, duplicity, and amorality; the Twins can dissociate, splitting head from heart, mind from body, spinning facts into fictions. The Sun and Moon at the last degree of these two signs call us to be impeccable with ourselves and oth-ers — no fudging, no white lies, no delusions or dogmatism. Jupiter’s approaching conjunction with Uranus in Pisces shows that the way out is through compassion, remember-ing that no one and nothing is separate, that we have all “been there,” and that “them” is us. Just before the peak of

this eclipse, Venus once more reaches the degree where she stationed retrograde on October 8 (13°14' Scorpio),

providing us with another incentive to let go of what keeps us mired in perpetual fear, separation, and conflict. The Sabian symbols underscore the need to question our most fundamental assumptions and beliefs: For the Sun at 30° Sagittarius: “The Pope, blessing the faithful; the need to pay homage to traditional values upon which the Invisible Com-munity of the spirit is built.” And for the Moon at 30° Gemini: “A parade of bathing beauties before

large beach crowds; the setting of social standards through personal excellence and competition.” The

many squares and oppositions of this eclipse empha-size that it is time to expand and raise our sights. Who

are we? Why are we here? What is the purpose of our life? Ponder and live your answers. This extra-potent Full Moon and the solstice that forms later that day at 3:39 p.m. PST remind us: “There is no path to truth, it must come to you. Truth can come to you only when your mind and heart are simple, clear, and there is love in your heart; not if your heart is filled with the things of the mind.” (Krishnamurti)

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January 4, 2011 — 1:03 a.m. PSTJanuary 4, 2011 — 9:03 a.m. GMT

Capricorn Solar Eclipse – January 4by Stephanie Austin

To see the NASA map of this eclipse, go to: http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEplot/SEplot2001/SE2011Jan04P.GIF

We have never been here before, nor will we be here again. Our Earth rotates at 7,000 mph and orbits around the Sun at ten times that speed, while hurtling through space around the GC at more than 500,000 mph. As our solar system makes one complete circuit around the GC every 225 million years, our galaxy is also speeding across the universe. We are continually spiraling through new quadrants of space, nearing the end of a 2,150-year astro-logical Age and, according to Mayan cosmology, the close of a 14-billion-year evolutionary cycle. Welcome to a new year and, quite possibly, a new era and life. Only a few days into 2011, we have a solar eclipse highlighting a Jupiter–Uranus conjunction square the Galactic Center, signaling a very significant milestone in human history. The last time Jupiter and Uranus were conjunct in Pisces was in 1334; the next time will be 2093. (For more about this, see p. 30 of the “2011 Outlook” article in this issue.) From the optimistic fires of Sagittarius, we turn toward the earthy practicalities of Capricorn. What are our objec-tives now, after realizing greater truths and potentials? Saturn, the ruling planet of Capricorn, squares the Sun and Moon, mandating yet another shift in perspective and direction. Saturn symbolizes physical reality, the limitations

of time and space, as well as manmade laws — customs, norms, and legislation. In Libra, Saturn forces us to re-evaluate all partnerships and agreements, eliminating or renegotiating contracts and mores that are prejudiced and inequitable. Pluto continues its long transit through Saturn’s sign (2008–24), pressuring businesses, governments, and institutions to become ethical and sustainable. Pluto’s cur-rent conjunction with Pallas, which symbolizes social justice and the laws of manifestation, accents Saturn’s imperative for accountability and integrity. Pluto stationed retrograde on April 6 at 5°25' Capricorn; on January 3, Pluto again reaches that degree (its shadow point), signaling a readiness for all of us to set new standards and goals for ourselves. Venus is in Scorpio, Pluto’s sign, closely square Chiron and Neptune in Aquarius and trine the Jupiter–Uranus conjunc-tion in Pisces, making it easier for us to connect with like-minded souls and to envision viable alternatives. Solar eclipses occur in 19-year cycles, returning our attention to beginnings we made almost two decades ago and at the halfway point of that cycle. On January 4, 1992, there was a solar eclipse at 13°50' Capricorn; and on July 5, 2001, a lunar eclipse at 13°34' Capricorn–Cancer. What was happening in your life during those times? What is cycling around now, either for completion or advancement? This eclipse spotlights one of the brightest stars in the sky, Vega, located at 15°19' Capricorn. For many years, Vega was the baseline for calibrating telescopes and the brightness of all other stars. It was the first star after the Sun to be photographed (July 17, 1850) and the first star

to have a car named after it (the Chevy Vega in 1971). Vega was the northern pole star approximately 14,000

years ago and will be so again in about another 14,000 years. To the Babylonians, Vega was the “Messenger of Light.” In ancient Egypt, Vega was associated with Maat, the goddess of divine wis-dom, balance, and order. Maat used a feather to weigh the hearts of deceased souls, determining the readiness of souls to evolve to the next dimen-sion. Vega’s proximity to this eclipse and its mythic associations help us recall and attune to our guid-ing star; Vega’s square to Saturn reminds us to live

by the spirit (not just the letter) of the law. The Sabian symbol for this eclipse at 14° Cap-

ricorn instructs us to learn from history and carry for-ward only what will serve us now: “An ancient bas-relief

carved in granite remains a witness to a long-forgotten culture; the will to unearth, in our culture as well as in any culture, what has permanent values, and to let go of non-essentials.” This eclipse calls us to own our spiritual power — to recognize our power to create and be fully responsible for those creations. It tells us: “When in doubt, ask: ‘What would love do here?’ Then do it!” (Gini Gentry)

Dec. 2010/Jan. 2011 * The Mountain Astrologer 10�

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January 19, 2011 — 1:22 p.m. PSTJanuary 19, 2011 — 9:22 p.m. GMT

Cancer Full Moon – January 19by Stephanie Austin

This is the fourth of five Full Moons in a row that occur at the very last degree of a sign (see Gemini Lunar Eclipse). Full Moons bring light to the dark, to what has been hitherto unseen. They enable us to recognize where we are and where we need to go. Capricorn, the tenth stage in an archetypal cycle of devel-opment, requires that we become our own authority: that we no longer look to others to tell us what to do and what not to do with our lives. In the third earth sign, we learn discipline and dedication, commitment and consequences, maturity and mas-tery. The shadow side of Capricorn can be dominating or sub-missive; either way, we abdicate responsibility. Blame and guilt lock us into an endless cycle of victim, tyrant, rebel, and martyr roles, until we remember that we always have a choice. Opposite Capricorn, Cancer represents the matrix of the feminine, which nurtures and protects life so it can reach matu-rity. The first water sign teaches about feelings, family, and food; how emotions function as our spiritual GPS; the impor-tance of where, how, and with whom we live; and what helps us to grow. In the fourth sign, we learn about sensitivity and caring, needs and nurturance, safety and support. The shadow side of Cancer manifests when we are not in touch with our feelings and expresses itself in self-indulgence or self-sacrifice. The transiting lunar nodes, the points in space where the Moon crosses the orbit of the Earth around the Sun, have been in Capricorn–Cancer since August 22, 2009, continuing to advocate taking back our power and releasing toxic patterns of dependency and entitlement. As in the previous New and Full Moons, Juno plays a starring role as well. Shortly before the peak of this Full Moon, Juno stations retrograde at 29°42' Virgo, very closely trine the Sun, sextile the Moon, and opposite the Jupiter–Uranus conjunction in Pisces — highlight-ing archetypal themes of masculine and feminine, partnership and equality, tradition and transforma-tion. Because of Juno’s retrograde phase (ending on May 1 at 14°00'), its passage through Virgo extends to almost ten months, from October 2, 2010 to July 27, 2011. Juno’s increased time in Virgo, along with its extended linkup with the Jupiter–Uranus conjunc-tion, represents a collective readiness to move beyond servitude and patriarchy to a mutually advantageous social order based on equality and collaboration. Vesta, which is often associated with Virgo, conjoins the GC in Sagittarius and squares Juno, Jupiter, and Uranus, con-tinuing a mutable t-square that has essentially been in effect since the beginning of December 2010. All this further galva-nizes us to keep working toward a balanced integration of our inner masculine and feminine, so that we can create mutually beneficial relationships, an egalitarian economic system, and a more peaceful world.

The Sabian symbols for this Full Moon caution us to acknowledge but not glorify the past, and to make certain that those in power are acting in the best interests of all concerned. For the Moon at 30° Cancer: “A Daughter of the American Revolution; the prestige and conservatism of a long-maintained heritage.” And for the Sun at 30° Cap-ricorn: “A secret meeting of men responsible for executive decisions in world affairs; the power to assume responsibility for crucial choices arrived at after mature discussions with those who share this power.” All the major cosmic lights remain green until January 25, when Saturn becomes the first planet of the year to turn retrograde. If you haven’t yet taken a giant step forward this year, now is the time. Use this Full Moon to clarify what you need to reach your goals, and remember: “In Nature’s economy, the Golden Rule overrules the Rule of Gold.” (Swami Beyondananda)

© 2010 Stephanie Austin – all rights reserved

Stephanie Austin, M.A., is an astrological counselor specializing in life purpose, career, and relationship readings. Stephanie also teaches astrology for personal and professional development. Her background includes a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, a master’s in Conscious-ness Studies, and a lifelong involvement with meditation, nature, and healing. For information on astrology readings, classes, and forecasts, visit her Web site at www.EcoAstrology.com

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© 2010 Tim Brown – all rights reserved

impending reading with calm and confidence. He says:

What can the astrologer do to center himself before the cli-ent arrives? The single most important factor … is not to have to rush to get ready. This means that you will have to discipline yourself ... well in advance ... and begin to pre-pare ... The astrologer will have to determine just how much time he needs to calculate charts, print them, take notes, get his taping equipment ready, along with being sure to have eaten, groomed and tidied the space before the client walks in the door.4

The precious minutes you take to prepare for a client should be time well spent, organized, and efficient. Using this method will help make it so. During the prep time, you’ll become so well acquainted with the chart that you can spend most of the session maintaining eye contact with your client, instead of rustling around with charts and notes. This is per-haps the main advantage of being well prepared when the client arrives: It will permit a more direct interaction between one human and another, allowing you to participate in the most authentic way with the person who has come to seek your knowledge of the sacred ancient wisdom that is astrology.

Notes and References1. Stephen Arroyo, Astrology, Karma and Transformation, CRCS Pub-lications, 1978, p. 207.

2. Bernadette Brady, The Eagle and the Lark, Samuel Weiser, Inc., 1992, p. 114.

3. I think this process represents the accumulated wisdom of experience. Of course, it can work the other way, too. You can also turn your trines into squares or quincunxes. So, perhaps it’s a mixed blessing. At any rate, it pays to look.

4. Robert Blaschke, Astrology: A Language of Life, Volume III, A Hand-book for the Self-Employed Astrologer, Earthwalk School of Astrology, 2002, p. 70.

© 2010 Linea Van Horn – all rights reserved

Linea Van Horn, CA NCGR-PAA, is the Astrologer at Large. She has been a professional, full-time astrologer since 1998. She is founder and President of the thriving San Francisco Astrological Society and serves as Education Director of the San Francisco Chapter of NCGR. Linea is also on the NCGR Board of Examiners. She worked at Astrology.com from 1998–2005 and at The Astrologer, Inc. from 2005–2009. Linea currently devotes herself full time to teaching and mentoring, writing, consulting, and blogging in San Francisco. She can be reached at [email protected] or (415) 566-8174. Visit her Web site at astrolo geratlarge.com

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continued from page 73Preparing for Clients

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available are all vastly more complex, and yet the attention spans are not trained to focus on clear thinking and chart-reading skills. I start my students on memorizing the basics, collecting horoscopes, and mental training. It has been difficult for me to find students who will finish the simplest homework assignment, much less memorize anything. One can only hope that my experience is not universal. Old slow-style learning trained the mind, hand, and heart. Drawing up charts by hand plugs one personally into the uni-versal oneness and source of information, in an ineffable way not so easily accomplished with “cold” computer-generated charts. Before reading a chart, I always, without exception, take the extra trouble to put it in my own handwriting. I take this as an act of respect to the soul of the client. Everything slows down when we get away from the computer. There are some conveniences lost in doing so, but much regained. Being primates, our nervous systems are imitational. Now our nerves are attempting to imitate the speed of a computer. This may explain the epidemic of insomnia and also why so many people are hyper. Have you noticed the disjointed and rapid-fire speech patterns of our youth? An astrologer who wishes to really “feel” into the universe needs an inner core of peace. We need to slow down. My students must take the extra time to cogitate over a chart drawn in their own hand. And in the same way that compost creates a healthier garden, this investment will help them to develop a profound mind. As far as new astrologers entering the profession, poten-tially brilliant astrologers may not choose a field where they face derision and suspicion. However, I see a bright future for astrology in science. Today we are seeing the development of chronomedicine (www.londonintegratedhealth.co.uk/chronomedical_assessment.html) and chrono-oncology, both of which involve the importance of timing in medicine. MDs, naturo-pathic doctors, and nurses abound who attend medical astrol-ogy seminars. I rarely meet a naturopath or an acupuncturist who is not interested in astrology. The old prejudice is falling away in some circles. But there appears to be considerably less interest among young people to invest themselves in a dedi-cated academic study of professional-level astrological sciences than there was in the 1960s. No doubt there are complex rea-sons for this decline, and some of them are likely financial. The good news is that the younger generation seems far more accepting of all persons traditionally outcast, including astrolo-gers. In time, this will produce a new climate for astrology.

© 2010 Tony Howard – all rights reserved

Tony Howard is an Evolutionary Astrologer, writer, and Web developer in Portland, Oregon. He graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in His-tory and Film Theory from the University of Colo-rado and began his astrology studies with Steven and Jodie Forrest, following a successful career in magazine publishing. Tony is the creator of Find AnAstrologer.com, a searchable online database of astrologers; e-mail him at [email protected], or visit his Web site: www.astroraven.com

Judith Hill Interview cont. from pg. 47

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