Category Archives: astrology

Grief, the Heart, and Brittany Murphy

21 Monday Dec 2009

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“It’s alright to keep your grief, long’s you make room for other things”   Bubbles, The Wire

We are so often told we must forgive, forget, move on, recover; we begin, in fact, to feel that if we aren’t complex-free and happy, we’re in some way defective. This just isn’t so; a natural part of the human condition is to grieve for what was, could’ve been, for our regrets, for the sadnesses that are woven through our days, including the impersonal ones that come to us through the news, the neighborhood, the internet, unbidden. Even without significant trauma, the passage of time will bring change, and that alone can bring us grief, as we look back and recall how things looked different in the past (including ourselves!) how we were more optimistic, or innocent, or energized–and so often in hindsight it seems what we faced was simpler, the choices more easily discerned. the opportunities missed; and yet, if we’re honest we realize that at the time, what was presented was the ultimate challenge, in terms of our ability to deal with the alternatives. We tend to think it was all easier, back when–but in truth our minds have smoothed over the edges–we’ve forgotten the depth of our fears, our goals in the moment, and all the influences we were under.

The natal horoscope gives some suggestion of where we might be vulnerable throughout life, and can point to the areas where we may store our grief. Our Moon is a prime repository, and the House with Cancer on the cusp can be the point where we pour that upset into the physical world;  Neptune may be involved, as we follow the natural impulse and hide from, mask, or misunderstand the affected areas; and Sedna may be the new kid on the block, but also one to watch, as her touch makes understanding (even perception!) impossible in the affected arenas; and hard contacts to the Sun can be debilitating, suggesting Soul vulnerabilities that affect the literal and figurative heart.

Actress Brittany Murphy (10 November 1977, Atlanta GA, no time available) died suddenly yesterday in her Los Angeles home, and my first thought on hearing this was that her heart may have stopped from an electrolyte imbalance; her extremely thin appearance of late points to this as a possibility, and she would not have been the first Hollywood actress to suffer this (Kellie Waymire had a similar cardiac disruption at a young age). With Brittany, no time of birth is available, so we can’t attribute signs to cusps, but transits and Solar Arcs tell us something of the possibilities.

Transiting Neptune and Jupiter are sextile natal Ceres, suggesting the possibility of an exaggerated and poorly chosen diet, perhaps an intensive fast; T Pluto is trine Chiron in Earth–could there have been a strong impetus for transformation (clearly gone too far) as the primal wound is stimulated? I heard a media individual say this morning that Brittany’s career had peaked five years ago; if this was her perception, too, then who knows what emotional damage this may have done, and what it might have spurred her to do to try to change the situation; Solar Arc Pluto was conjunct the Sun, symbol of the heart; and on the day of death, December 20th (and just prior to and concurrent with the time of discovery) the transiting Moon was square natal Uranus, bringing the emotional ‘light’ to bear on the nervous system, and the higher functions specifically. Could this in total show a grief that overcame this young woman? Of course, all this is purely speculative, as cause of death is still to be determined, but the loss of someone young always draws our attention, and gives us a fresh source of Collective, and even personal, grief, through our own empathetic nature.

Addendum: Reports now are stating that Murphy was vomiting severely prior to her collapse; this is a classic symptom of heart failure, whether from natural or induced causes. The chart and transits don’t suggest to me any drug involvement.

Mars Retrograde December 2009

17 Thursday Dec 2009

Posted by in aspects and placements, astrology, Mars

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Finally! Was able to find and turn off the snow. Hope that solves the difficulties some have experienced (including Grinchiness!)–jd

We experience the Red Planet retrograde about every two and a half years; on December 20th we see this during the 5 AM hour PST at 19 Leo 41. And how does an inherently Fiery planet respond to a retrograde in a Fire sign? Fire-ily, of course! In general there’s been a fairly free flow of energy lately; hang-ups have been largely internal, especially through difficulties with clear perception. Now we’ll see the reversal also taking a mostly internal form, though there will definitely be external effects, some of which will come from influences we’re hard pressed to put our finger on. The fiery facet of things will be experienced in the intensity with which we feel the need to look at all actions and our own part in them.

For everyone, the retrograde will bring forward issues of the ‘I am,’ particularly in terms of where we ‘shine’ in the life. We will examine our own personal effectiveness, especially in how our Beingness serves (or fails) to bring us attention and interaction in the world. We’ll be acutely aware that we’re on stage in our own lives; the retrograde will make us ask, ‘Who’s the star of the play?’

The Red Planet, blotchy with anger and topped by a little polar ice cap. Photo: NASA

Using our usual two degree orb, we have a handful of aspects that characterize the nature of the retrograde period. A semi-square to Saturn suggests reality, and material effects, will be of some consequence that requires accomodation, but that these won’t take center stage. A quincunx to Mercury in Capricorn speaks louder: the effects on reality of our communications will be prominent, as will the adjustments we’re being called to make in order to match our message to our reality; the reactions of our ‘audience’ will be key to understanding our effectiveness. This aspect says that words and thoughts will be grounded in the existing material rules, structures, and materials–we may be hard pressed to think past the status quo, try as we might. This is made doubly true when we additionally consider Mars’ retro square to Sedna in Taurus; harsh contact between a withdrawing energy and the asteroid that prevents us from even being aware of a particular matter or energy says that we’ll likely feel the energy tide going out, but won’t have a clue as to what’s actually being withdrawn–and the Taurus placement says there will be comparable material effects, as well. To continue our play analogy, the script will be scrutinized, as will our delivery, but we must look at offstage cues and changes to props, sets, and lighting in order to understand the actual, real-world effects; and, at the end of the retro period, we’ll be called upon to count the box office receipts, and to take a good look at the program–at this point we’ll be able to read the director’s name clearly.

Once again, we’ll need to watch surrounding material shifts in order to get some clue as to what energies are actually being withdrawn or lessened; this will be the only way to know how we must change our communications to suit our own needs and the requirements of reality. The kicker, though, is Mars’ sesquiquadrate to Pluto; this suggests that we will not have a choice. Change must happen, and the aspect says we may be put between a rock and a hard place in the process. Power, our own and others’, internal and external forms, will all be in play during the retrograde period; we will definitely come out the other side with changed ideas of who we are (Mars), how we can behave and act most effectively (Mars), and what this is communicating (Mercury), with commensurate changes to the balance of power (Pluto) in whatever arenas we occupy.

The natal House where the retrograde occurs, along with the House with Aries on the cusp, will be the initial areas where we will see shifts, but since this involves who we are, over the retro period the changes will permeate all areas. Other influences worth note at the time of Mars’ retrograde are a Venus sextile to Jupiter/ Neptune/ Chiron=we may see the value and/ or cost of how these have acted long term for us; or we’ll suddenly see our values aligned with an exaggerated sense of our ideals or our delusions, which calls forward either the primal wound or our own unique skills. Venus is also square Uranus=surprise! In money, love, values, relationships. Chiron semi-sextile Uranus=again, a surprise, this time about our innate skills, or about our deepest wounds. Zeus exact conjunct the Part of Fortune=ambition and power in relationship will be pivotal to the retro period. Jupiter/ Neptune exact conjunct=as if we haven’t had enough of these two; just read this as the propensity to exaggerate or project the ideals or the delusions/ fantasies, with consequent (probably unhelpful) results. And finally, Ceres will be at 29 degrees of Scorpio=stress for those in authority, a panicky feeling that we must negotiate what we need NOW, or a harsh or extreme reaction from Mother Nature.

Catch this excellent post on Mars retro and anger (or is it the projection of anger?) http://lucywatchthesky.com/2009/12/23/turn-that-mars-upside-down-mars-retrograde-and-some-thoughts-about-anger/

Next up: the New Year’s Eve Partial Lunar Eclipse. Personal analysis of the coming eclipse set is still available–please see the ‘Want More’ page for details. Thanks!

The Fantasy New Moon-16 December 2009

14 Monday Dec 2009

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, Moon

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The Moon, in a false color image to show terrain contrasts. Photo courtesy of NASA

The Moon and Sun meet at 4:01 AM PST at 24 Sagittarius 39. When the Sun and Moon align (at least from our viewpoint on Earth) we see a strong pull of energy in the direction of the pairing. It’s a time for new starts; the impetus is all in one direction, offering an advantage if we’ll plan our activities to follow this flow. These new beginnings can be made in the matters of the natal House where the New Moon falls–we all know this–what we may not know is that there is a New Moon picture made by the bodies the Moon and Sun aspect closely, and that these energies, all together, tell us what to expect from the seed that’s planted over the coming month.

For the final New Moon of the year we have an interesting set of influences on our Sag seed energy: sextiles from Jupiter and Neptune (and from Chiron, if we give just a little in our usually strict two degree orb), all in the Fixed Air of Aquarius, and a square from Uranus in open, Cosmic Pisces. Sagittarius is an energy of outreach; we are naturally urged to ‘go forth,’ in some sense, to learn, to teach/ share, to discover, to expand: our world, our knowledge, our horizons. This time, the influence from the Jupiter/ Neptune/ Chiron combination is one that will hold a different emphasis, depending on the astrological chemistry of each individual. The primary potentials are for massive or exaggerated hurt, fantasy, or ideals fueling that Sag outreach. It’s a mental complex rooted in ideas that we’re very sure of (Aquarius, Jupiter, Sagittarius) and that means we may form sparks of thought (the seeds of the New Moon) that are in essence plans to somehow share or reach out (Sagittarius, waxing Moon energy), strongly influenced by the Aquarius energy to which we respond most prominently. These ideas of outreach are propelled by our primal wound (Chiron), our fantasies or delusions (Neptune), and/ or our ideals (also Neptune).

Belief (Jupiter/ Sagittarius) is behind what is planted; which energy we respond to (Jupiter=beliefs, Chiron=hurt, or Neptune=delusions, fantasies, or ideals) is largely dependent on our own natal charts. Do we have strongly developed philosophies of life, a knowledge orientation? Then Jupiter will lead the pack, and may provide exaggeration or put one’s personal beliefs foremost; do we easily see ourselves as victims, targets, or scapegoats? Chiron is the likely star, as our desire to make contact will be driven by the hope of alleviating pain; do we struggle with staying grounded, either because of difficulty connecting to reality, or because we are consistently imposing our ideals on reality? Neptune is probably in play, obscuring, inspiring, and misleading our efforts. Our responsiveness to these energies natally will strongly influence our experience of this New Moon, and the month to come.

There is another factor to consider: Uranus in dreamy Pisces. The energy of individuality, rebellion, and group-think forms a square to the New Moon, and the seed that’s born contains a germ of radicalism, creativity, and innovation, and introduces the possibility that our New Moon ideas will be vetted via the group–and yet the square promises that these facets will be added through conflict, and that this confrontation takes a Piscean form. This suggests that we could receive this influence subconsciously, through dreams and visions, through images, movies, or music, or through an experience of the Collective.

Considering all factors, this is a New Moon of potentials; the biggest challenge is to take the seed energies and sort usable energies, facts, knowledge, inspiration, images and visions, from delusions, fantasies, and responses seated in old hurts. One way to stay grounded (and thus make best use of these potentials) is to earth ourselves through the sign energy of Earth’s current position, in Gemini. This suggests we can bounce ideas off others, discuss, network, and fact-check, in order to see what’s truly feasible, and what may be a little too pie-in-the-sky.

The Full Moon: Fated Displays of Power

30 Monday Nov 2009

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Please see my latest, part 2 of the Annie Oakley/ Calamity Jane series at http://askjulie.wordpress.com Thanks!

 The Full Moon arrives on December 1st at 11:30 PM PST at 10 Gemini 15. Using our usual strict orb of two degrees, we have a couple of aspects that hint at meaning, but don’t actually deliver: a sesquiquadrate of the Moon/ Earth conjunction to Pallas, and a square to the moment’s Part of Fortune. This suggests emotional and material impetus awkwardly brought to bear on power and skills, and all of it ‘in the groove’ of energy flow–in spite of some open conflicts, exercise of abilities feels, if not fated, then certainly attuned to the now, but energies don’t get specific enough to show us the way–and isn’t that what the light reflected by the Full Moon is for? Typically this would drive us in the direction of the opposing Houses of the natal chart across which this opposition falls, and this will figure in on a personal level, bringing ends to subjects involved with the axis. However, if we widen our orb expectation just slightly, we find the Moon/ Earth as part of a Grand Trine with Zeus at 13 Libra 12 and the Vertex at 13 Aquarius 06–does the Vertex count? In this instance, I vote, Yes!

The Grand Trine is in Air, highlighting a mental attitude and response focused on communication–but when we see that Zeus is one of the Trine components, we’re alerted to at least one party’s need to show his or her (or their) power, and the likelihood that this same entity will insist on having his or her way–and will possibly go about getting it through deception or surreptitiously, if need be. The Vertex suggests this dynamic is a fated one, in a way that will course correct lives, and the Moon/ Earth conjunction blends the material world with the emotional and intuitive one, cluing us into the fact that though the approach may be mental, the results will likely show up via emotional reaction and the material results of choices made.

Our Sabian for the Moon is ‘Newly Opened Lands Offer the Pioneer New Opportunities for Experience’ http://www.cafeastrology.com/sabiansymbols_degreemeanings.html This suggests that we’ll meet the energies of the Trine through opportunities offered–and since we are approaching this mentally, we may be inclined to judge and assess according to what we already know; this is not the way to recognize opportunity, which inherently requires a bit of risk. ‘New Lands’ means unfamiliar territory, and the pioneer spirit is one that knows there are no guarantees–we’d do well to adopt a sense of willingness to explore, barring any contraindications occurring in the natal chart by transit or Solar Arc right now.

The Sun, sextile Zeus and the Vertex and opposed the Earth/ Moon, naturally serves to light the Trine. The Sabian for this degree is, ‘In the Left Section of an Archaic Temple, a Lamp Burns In a Container Shaped Like a Human Body.’ Here enlightenment is promised through the ancient, through ritual and tradition, and through the constancy of the Soul. Again we are prompted to awareness of fate and the way it will be affected by the individual Will, and how adherence to or resistance to established ways may be the deciding factor in the way this particular set of events plays out for each of us.

Pic courtesy of NASA

If I Can’t See It, Why Does It Hurt?

23 Monday Nov 2009

Posted by in aspects and placements, astrology, current events in the sky

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The obvious answer to that is, Why must you see something in order for it to have an effect? That’s the situation we’re facing right now: we can feel it, but getting a handle on just where the energies are being generated is nearly impossible. The biggest problems, though, are twofold: we may attribute effects to the wrong sources, and we may insist on things that aren’t necessarily so (the most pronounced of which might be the mantra, ‘Venus square Jupiter means everything is great, dammit!’)

The dynamic in play is a Venus/ Ceres conjunction (strong women, or strong animas, or two values sets, with very different agendas, but both focused on having a power-effect on the situation–look to your values, finances, or relationships for the arena where this appears personally, or in the matters of the natal House where this conjunction is happening for you) opposed Sedna (the ‘blind spot’) all in a T-square with Jupiter/ Chiron (exaggerated hurt or PR, hurt from the social sphere, skills tested under duress–the square–in the social sphere, learning what wounds, or those wounds inflicted by religious, educational, or cultural differences).

This can have about a million different forms, but the essence of it is this: we’re bound to identify hurt coming from somewhere, and get both the nature of the upset and the origins wrong. Sedna makes us unable to see–it’s not a matter of being willing to see, or of making a special effort; the energy of this body removes our ability to accurately pinpoint the conflict (though some number of us will guess correctly in spite of ourselves! It’s just the odds). What, then, can we do about this? How to cope?

Even our coping mechanism comes with a caveat, as Neptune, the Great Obscurer, is involved. We can look to innate wisdom and common sense for guidance (Pallas), as this energy is accessible through feedback from the social realm and from our own attempts to reach out or expand (Jupiter), and through application of the unique Chirotic skills, and our ideals, creativity, and imagination (Neptune). The trine between Pallas and Jupiter/ Chiron/ Neptune allows a funneling of our ‘smarts’ and our most competent attributes so that, by observing the products of actions and thoughts based on our ideal and imaginings, and on the feedback we get from the social sphere, we can determine in what way our perceptual equation is imbalanced. We can pinpoint the relevant power, authority, values, relationship, and financial issues that are really in play at present, and discern whether they truly are injurious, as well as in what way they may serve to help us expand and ‘get the word out.’

Wish I didn’t have to be so vague, but with the involvement of both Sedna and Neptune, nebulousness is almost required! And a word about the Venus/ Jupiter square: don’t forget that a square is a conflict aspect, at least initially–there will be discord within attempts to expand in Venusian areas. If we accept this, we’ll be much more likely to stop insisting that this is a great influence, and start working with it, so that we can resolve the tension and actually make it work for us, likely with great success.

Destined Directions and the New Moon

15 Sunday Nov 2009

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earth and moonNew Moon arrives the 16th of November at 11:13 AM PST at 24 Scorpio 34; there’s a trine of Earth to the North Node and the Sun/ Moon combination trines the South Node (using a two degree max orb) and we also have the Sun/ Moon trine the exact Uranus/ Juno conjunction in Pisces (creating a Grand Trine with the South Node) and square Neptune in Aquarius. There is always a birth of the new in the House of the natal chart where the Sun/ Moon conjunction falls, and this time it will bring easy expression of the uniqueness and empowerment circumstances of the Self, which in itself will be a precise test of how well we’ve learned the lessons of the past. The Grand Trine formation in Water suggests that the greatest revelation and payoff will be emotional; the trine made by Earth to the North Node says that whatever progress there is to our destined development will have a marked effect on the material circumstances of our lives.

We are given a clue as to the nature of this birth of the new (or perhaps in this case a re-birth or resurrection, considering the sign is Scorpio) by the Sabian degree symbol, ‘An X-Ray Photograph.’ Putting all our clues together, this says that the renaissance involves a depth of perception, especially emotionally (the Water Grand Trine) in some matter related to the House where this occurs for us in the natal chart. Expect to see something, in fact, to see through something, so that the bare bones of the matter are exposed–nothing is hidden, in the particular area affected. However, to take the symbol a little farther, an x-ray doesn’t show us the nature of the surface of the object or individual–and that suggests that though we may have very sharp and detailed insight into the matter, we may not see the thing, person, or situation as it’s actually presented, a ‘miss the forest for the trees’ kind of focus. We will express our individuality, uniqueness, and empowerment and, depending on the thoroughness of our ability to process what we’ve learned from the past, we can literally see the very structure of things, and yet there may be a problem as we dehumanize what’s before us–and we’re reminded of this by the Earth trine to the North Node in the Earth element, which asks us to see how the material surroundings, the way things look, the tangible, those surfaces and externals mentioned earlier, are giving information about the direction we’re headed, about our future.Moon in shadow

Under oddities and influences we have Vesta at 29 degrees and the Part of Fortune for the moment of the New Moon exact quincunx Mars and sextile the asteroid Zeus (about which I’m preparing an article right now, which is why I noticed! The article will be included in an electronic quarterly in Pdf form that will be available for purchase soon–I’ll also include–and pay–other contributing astrologers for future issues, and hope you’ll give this pub a try!) This combination suggests that we are in some way stressed about those subjects we find sacred, circumstances in the home, or with the sex life, perhaps feeling a contradiction between the actions we would take (Mars), that energy most characteristic of ‘luck’ or a sort of adept touch (Part of Fortune), and the Zeusian attitude of do what we want when we want. This may form a surface current that crosses and mingles with the New Moon energies, distracting and confusing us. The way to keep them separate is to recognize that what creates an emotional impact (and/ or empowerment or sharp perceptions) will relate to the New Moon, while what creates stress will relate to the Mars complex–this requires us mostly to recognize boundaries and what actions typically benefit us, and stick with these, rather than following those impulses to ‘go rogue.’

Haven’t had a lot of chance to look around, but you shouldn’t miss Jude Cowell’s take on the New Moon http://www.starsoverwashington.com/2009/11/scorpio-new-moon-nov-16-2009-secret.html and Dipali Desai’s thoughts here http://celestialspace.wordpress.com/2009/11/14/new-moon-in-scorpio-on-november-16th-2009/ and Verena Donath’s here http://verenadonath.wordpress.com/2009/11/16/november-16-2009-scorpio-new-moon-2009/

And don’t forget the Leonids, visible the next few nights http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33891078/ns/technology_and_science-space/?GT1=43001

See my latest post here http://askjulie.wordpress.com/2009/11/17/being-in-love-ladies-are-you-an-annie-oakley-or-a-calamity-jane/

Both images courtesy of NASA

The Saturn-Pluto Square

02 Monday Nov 2009

Posted by in aspects and placements, astrology, current events in the sky

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A conflict aspect between two serious heavyweights such as these, not surprisingly, has stirred a great deal of concern, but really shouldn’t. It’s a clash of the titans, a rough meeting of forces with ancient origins–and as such, it will affect most of us as significant background, rather than up front pressure or confrontation. It brings to bear on the life general energies that require discipline and effort (and if we don’t discipline ourselves, circumstances come along and do it for us! Such is the influence of Saturn) and that will require the utmost seriousness and honesty–as Pluto will rile the depths until truth be told.

No wonder many people are worried about this! But, not to fear–it’s an excellent long-term opportunity to make significant, down-to-the-roots changes that can immensely better your world. Will it take work? Yes, Saturn’s involved; Will it be dramatic and messy? Yup, Pluto can bring forward the secrets and question the theatrics that have been protecting them like no other. Is this bad? Only if you don’t want to do the hard work–but this doesn’t have to be especially hard, with the difference between difficult and relatively smooth being one’s willingness to address what comes forward. It’s that simple.

Parsing out the effects of this square over time is best done in two ways: an inspection of the ways it contacts the natal chart, naturally, and in watching what through transit touches the square. This latter will give a tenor to the square, giving the energy clash a certain flavor–and right now, that happens to be provided by a sesquiquadrate formed by Jupiter in Aquarius. This stimulates a strong desire to understand the square intellectually (but the majority of its energies are more primal than that–sensing them works better), and it makes us prone to project the effects outward, into our social sphere or society at large. Tensions generated by needed change will find expression in one’s role or interaction in the group arena–which could be unsettling, as everyone changes partners and shifts position, drawing lines in the sand, demanding the bare-knuckles truth, and overall looking to reflect inner changes in significant change to the surroundings.

See my latest post here http://askjulie.wordpress.com/2009/11/17/being-in-love-ladies-are-you-an-annie-oakley-or-a-calamity-jane/

The Slingshot Full Moon

02 Monday Nov 2009

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Earth-Moon NASAThe Full Moon today at 11:14 AM PST acts like a cosmic slingshot, loading two tense configurations that we’ll be hard pressed to escape: a T-square with the Sun (10 Scorpio 30) conjunct Ceres and Mercury at one end, the Earth/ Moon conjunction (10 Taurus 30) at the other, with an arm formed by Mars in Leo; and a Fist of God with the same Sun/ Mars square, both sides sesquiquadrate the Juno/ Uranus conjunction.

Perhaps the most effective way to look at this is by defining each energy cluster; when we do this, and examine the Sabians related to the Full Moon degree, we find something unusual: that these tense aspects will bring a sense of relief and productive serenity. What a surprise! The Sun/ Ceres/ Mercury group in Scorpio brings a blending of the identity with a sense of authority and a natural ease of communication; in Scorpio this promises depth and intensity, the possible involvement of secrets, the desire to clear the air (and we’ve been seeing this for some time; we can assume this is, logically, the culmination, at least of this phase of development). The Sabian for this degree (courtesy of cafe astrology http://www.cafeastrology.com/sabiansymbols_degreemeanings.html) is, ‘A drowning man is being rescued.’ This promises the process has already begun; the conjunction of energies adds that our own capacity to embrace who we are, to believe in ourselves, and to communicate this is instrumental to the realization of the ‘rescue.’ This presents a challenge of its own: if we don’t, in some fundamental way, know ourselves and our identity, we will be at a disadvantage; the rescue may not be a success, our message may be garbled, our identity unclear.

The Moon/ Earth conjunction is at 10 Taurus 30, the Sabian for which is, ‘A woman watering flowers in her garden.’ This image is in radical juxtaposition to the one for the Sun, and suggests the serenity found both in the process of drowning (at a crucial stage the mind takes one elsewhere, to the memory of something calming and earth-bound) and evokes the flashes coming to the rescued: I will stay home in the garden from now on! It represents the natural reaching toward the polar opposite (water to land) that is the logical result of a land creature (humans) overwhelmed by an element where he or she is only temporarily comfortable (water)—and that brings us to the idea that what we may be rescued from by our sure knowledge of ourselves is the emotional, intuitive, and subconscious influences that have seemed to be overcoming us of late (Moon, manifested–Earth).

The Leonine Mars arm of the T-square suggests that the tension inherent in exercising the ego’s prerogatives (and these are keyed to the Soul’s needs, Leo) will bring about the rescue and resolution, which puts us in a position to tend and enjoy our metaphorical garden, the results of all we’ve been nurturing–in other words, we’ll get what we deserve by our actions that resolve this tension-need.

The other configuration, the Fist, takes the Sun-Mars square, bringing forward the productive tension of the ego/ identity energy mix, and puts both parts into a situation calling for adjustment to empowerment needs and the need to express the uniqueness (or, for some, the need to show themselves within a group). Though tense, this too allows us to resolve a pressing need, and to access some of our most vital Self-expression energies; these are certainly, as well, some of our most original.

Creative types should benefit enormously from this Moon, as will anyone dealing with boundary and empowerment issues, and so will those who have been stuck, in some sense, within the process of creating the life–they will be rescued by the coalescence of their own most typical energies and impulses, and placed in the ‘garden’ of their own creation.

Look to the House of the natal chart where the Sun influence is present (Leo cusp, natal Sun placement, transiting Sun) for ideas as to what areas might offer you the reflection your identity needs to recognize itself, and to the Full Moon House for the life area where the need to resolve the tension has been manifest (and accept that this is where the relevant tension shows–this elaborates on what we’re being rescued from). The dynamic across the House axis where the Full Moon falls is one of material renewal and spiritual resurrection. Where Mars in Leo falls in the natal chart is where the ego can act to end the crisis–but don’t expect this to go forward without some upset and conflict, particularly internally–that’s just the nature of all those squares and sesqui-s!

The Juno/ Uranus conjunction draws on the entire cosmos (Pisces) for empowerment and creative ideas–so even the sky isn’t the limit, in terms of what you can access! The slingshot quality of all these components is that tension, movement, and release will propel us toward the goal–just aim as carefully as you can!

Fun Fact: have any of your heard of this before? The built-in dictionary that comes with Works says:

na·tal [náyt’l]
adj
 of buttocks: relating to the buttocks 
[Late 19th century. < Latin natis “buttock”]
Encarta ® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1998-2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

What??

Fly Girls: Earhart, Coleman, and Co.

23 Friday Oct 2009

Posted by in aspects and placements, astrology, Astrology of Careers Vocations and Callings

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Swank as Earhart

Swank as Earhart

In honor of the new Hilary Swank biopic on Amelia Earhart (and the controversy surrounding its star, who has recently been criticized for sleeping nude and allowing her boyfriend’s young son to see her this way), let’s look at the chart of the pioneering aviatrix and of her rival, another female pilot who could’ve easily outshone Amelia, if not for the efforts of Earhart’s husband–more on that later; first, we’ll peek at Swank’s chart, and see if there’s anything in the natal chart that might indicate the chance of winning two Oscars before age 29, as well as the affinity for sleeping naked. We have no time of birth, but we do have a date and place for Swank (30 July 1974  No Time Known  Lincoln NE USA). Without angles we’re frustrated in connecting energies to the public image, but we are able to see the Leo Sun trine Sag Neptune, a creative and extremely outgoing Soul urge; add the Moon and Pallas each at 29 degrees (Sag and Cap, respectively) and we have the emotional necessity to express the skills–this really is the signature of someone who in just being alive will be compelled to express express express the creative and imaginative nature–and it’s the kind of energy that draws the attention (and admiration, via the skills) of others–and their projections, as well, through the strong Neptune/ Sun contact–really perfect for a performer. No angles takes away a main timing element, but we do notice that the natal Saturn, Mercury, Venus conjunction did, by Solar Arc, contact the Sun at the ages of 18 (Mercury), 25 (Saturn–the year of her win for ‘Boys Don’t Cry’–see? Saturn brings good things to those who work hard!) and 26 (Venus–the point when the paycheck likely soared), so it’s not hard to image major accolades coming in early adulthood to this Leo lady. As to the stir over sleeping habits, Hilary’s Vesta/ Uranus conjunction says that the individuality and uniqueness (as well as the urge to be different) of the Self is sacred to her, and the exact Chiron/ Uranus opposition suggests that the expression of one’s freedom could be a way of refusing to succumb to wounds to the Self-esteem or fears (and that there’s not an ounce of lasciviousness in her penchant for nudity). Not at all a surprise, then, that this Leo should be chosen to portray another Leo, aviatrix Amelia Earhart (24 July 1897  11:30 PM  Atchison KS USA) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amelia_earhart. Rather than concentrate on what every schoolchild already knows about ‘Lady Lindy,’ as she was called (after Charles Lindburgh, another ambitious pilot), I’d like to point out two lesser known facets of her life, the first being her involvement with nursing and social work.

Amelia trained as a nurse in response to the flu pandemic of 1918, and at her Saturn Return, after she’d already earned her pilot’s license and garnered a reputation as an aviator, she began work with Dennison House, a resource for disadvantaged families. We see this in the natal Saturn/ Uranus conjunction in the 7th (the need to do something concrete, progressive, socially relevant, for others); possibly, too, in the Moon/ Pluto conjunction in the 2nd, suggesting deep empathy out of personal experience, and the Grand Square of Sun/ Earth axis and Pallas/ Chiron opposition (this latter across the 12th/7th axis), showing a serious need both to show the skills for personal fullfillment and glory, and to heal wounds, both personal and of the Collective (in this instance, Chiron taking on transpersonal expression, attempting to alleviate some of the darker suffering of others–Scorpionic Chiron in the 7th).

Amelia on the wing, George on the ground

Amelia on the wing, George on the ground

The other thing about Amelia we might not be aware of is that she wasn’t the only famous aviatrix of the time (notably Beryl Markham–read about her interesting life http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beryl_Markham and Bessie Coleman, about whom we’ll talk in a moment), but it may have seemed that way to many in the US, as Amelia’s marriage to George Putnam of Putnam publishing fame in 1931 put her firmly in the limelight–not because her exploits were more impressive than anyone else’s, but because Putnam not only published and promoted her book, ‘The Fun of It’ very successfully, he knew how to work that era’s publicity machine as few others did. The reality was that though others were known for feats just as exciting as Amelia’s at the time, we chiefly have her disappearance, while trying to complete an around the world flight with co-pilot Fred Noonan, as well as her husband’s tireless pre- and post-disappearance promotion, to thank for her status as legend.

The last radio contact with Earhart and Noonan occurred at 8:55 AM local time near Nukumanu Island on the way to Howland Island in the Central Pacific Ocean. If we look at the chart for the time of last contact as it relates to the natal chart, we don’t see a lot of bang-up contact, and to me this suggests that Earhart likely landed her plane on an atoll, rather than plummeting to her death in the ocean (and this is supported by the spotting of old wreckage by satellite in 2001). What we do see hints at some possibilities: the 29 degree Ascendant suggests that at this point, her fate was sealed–whatever was wrong had already cascaded into a determined course; natal chart ruler Venus in transit shows a semi-sextile to the natal Part of Fortune (dubbed the Part of Misfortune by Richard Houck, who found it involved often at points of fate determining events), square to Juno, and opposition to Saturn and Uranus, signalling a moment when the individual is challenged in many significant ways; T Neptune square N Ceres (with T Ceres and Juno at 00 degrees, calling for adaptablility to the ‘new’ vibe), suggesting perhaps that Earhart’s natural sense of earth and sky, so vital to a flyer, may have been confused, or that she may not have recognized a ‘natural’ problem of some kind; and the transiting Moon sextiled natal Pluto–an emotionally charged glimpse into the abyss, certainly echoing the natal situation (of the loaded 2nd House, containing Moon, Pluto, Ceres, Neptune, Venus, Part of Fortune).  Another note on the natal chart: the Mars/ Jupiter conjunction in the 5th, endowing the individual with the romantic view of exploration and pioneering efforts, and connecting the ego and animus to these, with Jupiter ruling the 8th and 9th, bringing in the need to garner others’ support and to explore what’s ‘foreign’–certainly a signature for Earhart’s efforts as a flyer.

Bessie and her plane

Bessie and her plane

Another female flyer, Bessie Coleman, gave Amelia a run for her money–if Amelia hadn’t been married to Putnam, it might have been Bessie who would be the stronger presence in the national consciousness–especially considering that Coleman was the first licensed Black pilot, male or female, in the world. ‘Queen Bess’ (26 January 1892  no time known  Atlanta TX USA) was inspired by returning WWI pilots to take to the air–and when she couldn’t get anyone to teach her how to fly in the US, she went to Europe, where she studied with some of the best flyers in the world. Coleman performed around the country as a barnstormer, a flyer who astounds crowds with daring feats and acrobatics; she became a celebrity, known for her ability and willingness to perform the most difficult stunts. Unfortunately, Bessie didn’t live long enough to fulfill her dream, which was to establish a school for young people of color who wished to fly. It was in 1926, while up with her mechanic and publicity manager at the stick, that Bessie was thrown, unsecured, from the open cockpit to her death. A (literal) wrench in the gears caused the controls to jam and the plane to plow into the ground–and in many ways this rings true to the chart, where great talent and drive is shown as being challenged at every turn (the many squares).

We see Bessie’s spirit loud and clear in the natal chart. A Sag Moon shows the need to reach out, explore, and the willingness to go far to fulfill the emotional needs; Uranus forms a T-square with the Sun/ Earth axis, suggesting that dynamism of the individuality acted to energize (and also present challenges to) the Soul expression and identity and material situations; Vesta is quincunx Saturn–this struck me as an expression of the need, or even insistence, of ‘getting off the ground’–quite literally, in this case! The Nodes create a T-square with Pallas apex, implying that intelligence ran the destiny–but also presented plenty of challenges to moving forward successfully (such as through the desire to do something she at first was unable to find co-operation or support for); Sedna quincunx Uranus, epitomizing perhaps the form many problems took, but also an ‘engine’ that helped drive accomplishment, in that she may not have seen how her own rebelliousness to the system, individuality, innovative spirit, and intelligence served to both hinder and propel her accomplishments; Venus trine Uranus=treasuring the uniqueness of Self, something any groundbreaker needs; and I see bravery in the ‘chain reaction’ conjunction of Venus (at 7 Pisces), then successively Ceres, Jupiter, and finally Juno (at 22 Pisces)–this combo epitomizes a very strong, capable, and confident individual with both the ability to empower herself and an ultimate faith in the Universe (Pisces) that supports her independent path. Read about ‘Queen Bess’ here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bessie_Coleman and here www.bessiecoleman

Here’s an excellent update on Amelia’s status http://ameliaearhart.com/news/2009/10/earharts-final-resting-place-believed-found/, with thanks to Jude Cowell’s http://www.starsoverwashington.com/ for pointing the way

Emotional Bombings: Letterman and NASA

09 Friday Oct 2009

Posted by in aspects and placements, astrology, Chiron, Finger of God, Moon, relationship astrology

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I think these two events, the announcement of an extortion attempt revolving around talk show host David Letterman’s office affairs with staff members, and the bombing of our satellite Moon seeking evidence of water by NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), are in a sense, one and the same, or at least, two reflections of a similar dynamic involving Chiron. Can we call this a ‘hurt to heal’ manifestation of the energies? Maybe, as in Letterman’s case his willingness to speak openly of his involvements took the power away from the extortionist, and though it certainly was hurtful to his new wife, Regina Lasko (but please, she met him while working on the show, over 20 years ago–doesn’t that suggest she knows precisely what kind of environment exists behind the scenes at ‘Late Night’?) it also meant that no one could threaten to ‘out’ Letterman–and for all we know, Lasko may have known about the affairs, and made her own peace with it.

When, on his show, Letterman detailed the threats he’d received, an astute reader asked me if the marriage of Letterman and Lasko hadn’t occurred under some less-than-optimal conditions–and indeed it had. Letterman’s public confession came with a Finger of God formed by transiting energies Mercury and Mars, with apex Chiron–surely an appropriate description of the admission, a kind of ‘Rip the band-aid off quickly’ method of dealing with hurt involving communicating and taking action.

The marriage chart for Lasko and Letterman (19 March 2009 3:00 PM in Choteau, Montana, per Letterman’s own announcement on his show) illustrates that tension may be an ongoing theme, as well as difficulty of the two parties successfully connecting. The Moon (bride) and the Sun (groom) form no aspect at the time of the wedding, but will connect by Solar Arc eventually in sextile–not promising. Juno is also exactly conjunct Chiron, cluing us in to the likely response to a threat of hurt (personal empowerment, taking control of the threat to partnership). The Sun itself is at 29 degrees Pisces, promising unrelenting tension, and Venus (the woman) and Mars (the man) make no contact but will eventually semi-sextile by Solar Arc–again, weak, and add to this Venus in Retrograde–oy! Nothing of a contract or relationship nature should be finalized during Venus’ retreat–we are just too unsteady in identifying our values and what matters to us, if nothing else. And we look at the significators for the Ascendant and Descendant, which also stand-in for bride and groom (designation depends on the personal charts of the individuals, though sometimes it’s obviously related to one or the other), and we see that the Sun and Uranus are past conjunction, perhaps suggesting that the relationship, too, is past its prime contact point (in this case that works out by Solar Arc measurement to have been the conception of son Harry. Sorry, I couldn’t get the chart to reproduce in a readable form–will keep working on it.

Does the wedding chart imply the relationship is doomed? Though I haven’t studied it closely, I think the answer is ‘no,’ as my impression is more along the lines of it being an arrangement–not without genuine feeling, but also missing the compelling spark between two individuals that we typically believe drives marriage today. Perhaps it’s a more practical relationship than we would like to imagine for people who choose to stay together and create a family–romanticism can lead us to over-value sex, magnetism, and one-and-only love while undervaluing companionship and a shared goal (in this case, the raising of their child).

Now what does this have to do with NASA crashing two bodies into the Moon? When it happened, about 4:30 AM 9 October (Pacific coast), the Moon was making a a trine to Chiron. An astute Twitter friend asked me what I thought the bombing signified–and I answered that it was in some way a Collective wound that we must look for the counterpart to in our own lives–but it also may in my opinion signify the kind of insult we’ve been suffering as a Collective for some time, as those who have the power act ‘in our name’ in ways that are pointlessly destructive–am I saying the bombing of the Moon is pointless? I’m not venturing an opinion one way or the other about the validity of the action, since I’m not a scientist privy to the thought process behind this choice–I’m simply saying that, coming right now, this seems to symbolize emotionally destructive actions on a mass scale–an undermining, perhaps, and it’s so interesting that they used a Centaur rocket! I think we meet it best by acknowledging the active Chiron in our own lives–how we may be hurt and hurting others–and the example of David Letterman’s public honesty, no matter what you think of the actions that led to the need for his confession, is a good attitude for us all to take–responsibility, openness, and the courage to own up to who and what we are.

I don’t know what the Moon bombing might stand for, though I was tempted to link it to Obama’s win of the Nobel for Peace. It seems to me a kind of wounding disservice to award someone something before he’s been able to implement so many of his ideas, a way to at once hamstring him (will he be able to send troops where he feels he needs to with the mantel of ‘Peacemaker’ on him?) and to somehow take the glory from the prize–the earning of it, through accomplishment, is where the prestige has always been–and though it was no small feat for an African-American to win the office of President, we need to let him show his stuff–not be in such a hurry to applaud him or condemn him that we don’t listen to his points, support his efforts at reform, and allow him to develop a foreign policy true to what he feels we need–rather than allow this blunting of his reach, by having Europe tell him, ‘You’re the bringer of Peace, now go sit in the corner.” Catch Jude Cowell’s excellent analysis here http://starsoverwashington.blogspot.com/2009/10/obamas-potential-peaciness-to-be.html and here by Dana Gerhardt http://mooncircles.com/blog/2009/10/obamas-peace-prize/

See the latest ‘What You’re Asking’ http://askjulie.wordpress.com/2009/10/10/what-youre-asking-asteroids-and-social-skills/