I’m eating my hat

03 Monday Nov 2008

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. . . or am I? Adventurer Steve Fossett’s remains have been positively identified, according to published reports http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27523123/?gt1=43001 (See my previous speculation about the missing maverick as to why I might now have to reverse myself). But, stubborn as I am, something in me just doesn’t accept this at face value. With the announcement of positive id today from bones found in the recently located wreckage, we see Mercury, purveryor of all communications and information, at the midpoint of Juno/ Ceres= powerful women (again!) calling the shots, perhaps between them controlling the information flow; Mercury sextile Pluto= the announcement meant to destroy gossip and speculation (which is certainly where my own theories lie!); and Mercury opposed Vesta= we’d better take that announcement as sacred, and back off!

The Grand Square currently active (Uranus, Venus, Pallas, and Saturn) suggests nothing to me so much as a closed circuit of wealth contained, and containing, group think, repressing, insisting on ‘guiding,’ springing definitive knowledge of ‘the bones’ on us, to put the story, and Mr. Fossett’s memory, to rest–and yet, only those within that closed circuit, that Grand Square, know what’s what in this case. Pay no attention to that astrologer behind the curtain–she’s just implying, implying, she’s got nothin’!

Okay, powerhouse ladies Ceres and Juno, you win, for now; no more speculation, no more theories of a death faked, a life escaped. But I’ll keep my eye on things, just the same!

Monday Poll Round-Up, and Identity Shifts: If Barack Obama Wins . . . .

03 Monday Nov 2008

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

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We either see change as fundamental to life, and therefore as having purpose, or we see it as threatening, and so consistently negative. Though I’ve warned of over-simplification of the concepts (particularly the Uranus/ Saturn opposition) that are accompanying the US Presidential election, there is a strong argument to support Uranus as fundamental change that Saturnian forces must deal with; and if that translates to an Obama win, then we have to ask ourselves: What fundamental changes will we feel at a personal level? And definite changes for two specific groups come to mind.

These shifts apply to a basic world view, as innate in what we know as gravity is to living upon the Earth. The first group, white men, will be faced with a symbolic loss of power. The power structure will for the first time in this country look profoundly different than what we are all used to, and for white men, this will be the first time they’ve looked at those at the very top of the pyramid, at the ultimate pinnacle of influence, and not seen themselves. Now, I’m not judging this, or saying that white men will all perceive this change in the same way, and I’m not saying that they think or act as a group, since individuality within all classifications and ways of grouping humans trumps a simple external likeness; but I am saying that in a patriarchal society built on the mostly unspoken presumption of supremacy of the white male as most ‘qualified’ to lead and arbitrate the social order, white men have always enjoyed the kinds of privilege allocated those at the top of the heap. They are more likely to be seen as serious and stable, and therefore a ‘better’ employee, they are in many instances paid more than minorities or women for the same jobs, and, since they ‘look’ just like the power that came before them, they’re more likely to be promoted and mentored by the white men who preceded them. Yes, these are all generalizations, and yes, there are many exceptions–but they typically prove the rule.

So for them, this election may skew the world view in such a way that they may not recognize the landscape as their own. I think this will be true beyond any racism or position of dominance; things just won’t look the same, which is true for all of us, but for the white male, it represents a command to loosen the psychic grip on the reins of power.

The other group affected by this at a profound level will, of course, be Black men and women. Justified pride in looking to the pinnacle of power and seeing one of their own is almost beyond expression for me; I can’t pretend to know the depths of feeling connected to this, but I can know that it will represent a fundamental change for them, too. On the one hand, it will be a peak moment of Collective experience in terms of a group that has been historically underserved, denied opportunity, and has suffered horrific prejudices and injustices, finally seeing a new dawn for themselves within the power structure. This will be undeniably sweet for many in the older generations, especially for the 109 year old daughter of a slave, Amanda Jones, who voted this week for Barack. And for the younger generations, a Black man ascending to the Presidency has to act as a beacon that shows them the truth of the idea that nothing is out of their reach. On the other hand, it makes a demand of the worldview, too: one cannot continue to define oneself as underserved or trodden upon to quite the same extent when one looks at ‘The Man’ (can you tell when I was young?!) and sees distinct cultural, racial, and experiential similarities–suddenly (Uranus) the social landscape changes, quite specifically for different groups (Uranus again) and our disparities may parse out more and more in cultural, educational, and economic spheres, and less and less (I hope) in racial ones. A scant few, married to a victim mentality, may stay with a victim mentality, just as there will be whites who will embarass themselves by railing against the country’s chosen leader, simply because of skin color (but there’s always a chance it’s out of a sense of intellectual inferiority, very Age of Aquarius!)–but there are always some who will be vessels of intolerance, and they come in all shapes, sizes, and colors.

The social landscape I speak of is Jupiter; right now it’s still in Capricorn, ruled by Saturn, but the trine it forms with Saturn does not perfect again; each energy goes its own way, Jupiter moves into Aquarius in early January 2009, and Saturn retrogrades December 31st, while Uranus goes direct late November. And what does all this suggest in terms of change in the social sphere? Inevitable, progressive change, the Saturnian grip loosening, forward thinking energies gaining; maybe this is finally, as the long-ago song suggested, the dawning of the age of Aquarius.

But I’m not entirely convinced that Obama will win, despite the polls. I’m feeling we’re in for some real upheaval, and I can’t put my finger on that nature of it. I’ve wondered if a natural event might not supersede the results of the election, not on the day but shortly thereafter; and I’ve wondered if this election might not turn into another contested catastrophe a la 2000, but with a different flair–or maybe Bush as a lame duck will try to institute changes that will bring everyone under pressure and up in arms (maybe literally–a draft?) At least, we don’t have long to wait to find out what happens.

We had only one poll this week. I actually put up two but Polldaddy has issues (!) so until they’re resolved we must be satisfied with having asked just one question: “How do you think Pluto’s move into Capricorn will affect you?” Overall, more people were positive about anticipated changes, or were neutral, feeling it was hubbub over nothing (55% total) than were concerned. A troubling few answered as if they are sure they will be victims of Pluto–but they should remember, as one of the options said, Pluto can’t do anything to us that we don’t agree to.

And have a great Monday!

Monday Poll Roundup, the Wisdom of Bumper Stickers, and Expanding the Mind, No Matter What

27 Monday Oct 2008

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So let’s see what we can surmise from answers to the polls featured here this week. The first question (this poll is now closed) was “Does knowing about aspect possibilities ahead of time help you deal with the energies?” This was pretty straightforward: 79% yes, 21% no, with nobody seeing it as irrelevant–not too surprising at an astrology site!–though I am concerned about that 21% who answered no, as the essence of astrology is understanding what isn’t apparent on the surface–and this answer suggests that these people are suffering a disconnect between the information offered and the ability to apply it in their own life–and that, of course, is the goal of astrology. In my experience, that disconnect usually (but not always) indicates that there is some distortion in how we’re seeing the circumstances of our life–if there weren’t, application would be clear (even if it’s not easy!)

All the rest of the questions are still open, but at last peek, the second question, “Have your chickens come home to roost?” referring to the Mercury direction, showed a startling 21% of you noticed no effect at all, with 43% dining on their spoils and a sad (or angry!) 36% feeling that the Universe was requiring them to clean the coop. Hooray for the 43%  of happy diners–they’re obviously doing something very right! The unhappy 36%, though, aren’t necessarily doing anything wrong-instead I suspect they’re being offered an opportunity to weed out some Mercury-related elements of the life that aren’t serving their best interests. And to those who felt no effect–either they’re not terribly attuned to Mercury, or they’ve missed the signals, and will get a surprise that something developed right under their noses and without their knowledge, with the likely reveal coming at the Superior Conjunction of the Sun and Mercury (25-26 November).

“About What Venus subject are you most trepidatious right now?” A full 52% answered money–upcoming posts will address this subject as much as possible. 29% said love–also a topic I’ll make an effort to concentrate on (or see my book ‘THE ASTROLOGY OF INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP’). 10% of you said Art was the Venusian subject most on your mind–check out Neptune for hints as to where and in what way you could be aided in your quest to create. And the final 10% are split evenly between Beauty and Other–Hmmm.

As to the question of anticipating whether Saturn-Uranus or Neptune will exert the biggest impact on you, more than a third (35%) are betting that Neptune is deluding, deceiving, or confusing them. I was not happy to hear this–M. Scott Peck defines confusion as one of the hallmarks of the influence of evil, and I think he might be right, if we define evil as any influence not seated in a Loving intent (and thus working against the best interests of the individual, likely by seeking to prevent the individual from accessing his or her own resources–and that can be anything positive–in order that those resources can be available to someone else). There is a lot of hope, with 26% believing that Neptune is acting as inspiration of one kind or another, and 22% see the stronger influence for them personally in the Saturn-Uranus opposition, with this implying a pretty clear cut (and thus more easily resolved) dilemma. 9% of you are focused on Pluto–understandable, as this can be a formidable energy, requiring all one’s attention when active in the chart–but a puzzling 9% are focused on other matters–and I wonder, what influence could be superseding these powerhouses in the individual’s life?

And finally, a whopping 57% of you do not identify with your Sun sign, feeling that there’s much more to who you are–and all I can say is, Yes! I love it when readers want to grasp the nuances and tackle the complexities–it makes for very interesting individuals! But, those who do identify with their Sun (a full 29%) strike me as individuals who aspire to purity in the best sense–who respond to the clarity and definition offered by identification with the Sun. And 14% were playful (and honest!), answering that they identify with the Sun sign, but only when they like the description! Now there’s a group that’s flexible, and willing to roll the dice!

Now here’s a thought to mull over, bumper sticker wisdom if I’ve ever seen it (don’t discount the power of such a simple thing, though–sometimes it reaches right to the heart of what we must address). The question is, ‘What are you pretending not to know?’ I’d love to hear from each of you, gentle readers, about what this might bring to mind. I’m still mulling it over, as this turned out to be a powerful question for me, but will share when I’ve worked it all out.

Here is a really eloquent example of what it means to expand one’s worldview and one’s thinking, without the permanent Self-pity, anger, or depression that might overcome and destroy those of us who hold a lesser consciousness: http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2008/10/i_think_im_musing_my_mind.html

A fine explanation of Diwali (perhaps familiar to fans of ‘The Office’ if not through other means) here: http://blogs.astrology.com/vedic_astrology/2008/10/happy-diwali.html#more

You may want to check out this lovely essay that delves into the spiritual significance of autumn http://laurenlesko.com/398

And now for something completely sweet (literally!): http://buttersugarflour.com/

Happy Monday!

Seeking Advice During Mercury Retrograde

06 Monday Oct 2008

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

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Just a reminder that, in these tough times when so many of us are looking for effective guidance, we must remember that most basic of admonitions: seek advice from those who really know. Sometimes we lose the logical connection during a Mercury retrograde; we forget that the proof is in the ‘life pudding,’ so to speak. Does it make sense to ask for relationship advice from someone who can’t sustain one? or to ask financial advice from someone who can’t make a living? how about health advice from someone who is not able to resolve their own health issues in a timely way? No, it doesn’t make sense at all; but we can easily forget this in the midst of Mercury retrograde, when we feel a lot of pressure to decide, get things done/ going, to make up our minds; this might be an especially pressing issue for those experiencing a hard transit from Mars right now. If we use our intuition in seeking advice, we’ll do well–as long as it’s truly our intuition speaking, and not our agitated and frustrated mental faculties as they struggle against the retrograde tide.

Are we requiring perfection of those who offer guidance, formally or informally? Not at all; nor should we–learning comes through experience. But to seek, say, financial advice from those struggling to make ends meet makes no sense–if one can’t do ‘it,’ whatever it is, for themselves, then how can they advise others? It’s the same in any area–would you call an electrician to handle a plumbing problem? You see my point. (This also implies that the individual has some asset they could and probably should exploit, that’s being ignored in favor of something else, likely something that is feeding the ego, and little else).

What about those who offer advice but are not truly up to the task? I have a theory about what people choose to do in life: they either choose to do something they’re really good at, or they choose to do the very thing they actually need done for them. I realized this when I met a nurse who desperately desired nurture from the Universe; and she wasn’t a very good nurse!

This doesn’t mean that we avoid learning new functions, or that we only undertake what we are already competent with; it does mean that we don’t ‘practice’ on others until we are very clear about ourselves.

 

WWSFD? + Update

01 Wednesday Oct 2008

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One can’t help but be curious about how the wealthy of the world handle the kind of financial meltdown that’s happening right now. I previously mentioned missing billionaire adventurer Steve Fossett once before here on the blog https://juliedemboski.wordpress.com/?s=steve+fossett and now an array of identification and some torn clothing have been found by a hiker near Mammoth Lakes, California http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26976119/?GT1=43001 I should add that I was living nearby the spot from which he took off the day of his disappearance (from Barron Hilton’s ranch in Yerington, Nevada) and I lived previously in Mammoth Mountain, where the items were found, and the distance is considerable; when we factor in how quickly contact was lost with Fossett, and where his last known position was, the finding of these items, in this spot in the mountains, only adds to my incredulity. And let me just say, I’ve from the get-go found this case to be fishy fishy fishy; so I finally took a look at Mr. Fossett’s natal chart (22 April 1944, 1:58 AM CWT, Jackson TN USA) and transits on the day of disappearance (3 September 2007). First a little background on Mr. Fossett, and then I’ll share with you some of the more interesting transits and progressions active on the day he vanished.

Fossett made his billions (yes, with a ‘b’!) in options and futures trading; in other words, he did very well at a confidence game involving persuading others to pay for abstracts, some of which have not even happened/ been produced yet! Now that takes nerve. Married risk-avoider and homebody Peggy Viehland in 1968. Became a compulsive achiever in individual, high-level sporting accomplishments; holds many records, including being the first to circumnavigate the globe in a hot air balloon (which took 13 days, 12 hours, 5 minutes, for the curious!) Is also an accomplished mountain climber, summiting on 6 of 7 continents, has completed the Iditarod (an extremely rough long-distance dog-sled race in Alaska), the Boston Marathon, multiple ‘Iron Man’ triathlons, and swam the English Channel (I wonder how the French feel about that name?) So, this is someone who has a remarkable amount of stamina, persistence, is in consistently great shape, and has a knack for planning and preparing.

Now some of the more interesting transits of the day; see if they spell anything out for you. T Juno at the Moon/ Sun midpoint; chart ruler Saturn sextile by Solar Arc from the 7th natal Vesta in the 5th (risks and gambles); SA Juno sextile N Venus; SA Pluto opposed N Juno (do you see it yet?) T Ceres conjunct Pallas in the 4th; T South Node just past conjunction to N Chiron in the 7th; T Saturn at 00 Virgo (under stress in a new sign, one that encourages detail work, records to be examined, that demands concrete results); T Venus exactly conjunct N Jupiter (uniting the rulers of the 4th, 9th, and 11th). T Moon was in Gemini, at some point that day passing over natal Uranus in the 4th, which rules intercepted 1st and 1st House Neptune. And it’s important to note that in November of 2007, just over two months after Fossett’s disappearance, his wife Peggy petitioned the court to declare him dead, and this was fulfilled on 15 February this year; I cannot, even for the sake of financial expediency, which this woman almost certainly was not in need of, imagine going to court so quickly to declare my partner in life definitively gone.

Does this suggest anything to you, gentle reader? I don’t mean in any way to disrespect the pain any of those involved may have suffered; and the truth is, I have no idea what may have happened here. But the transits bring a couple of cheeky (and possibly offensive) alternatives to mind. Do you note the same theme of female power here that I do? The most prominent possibility that occurs to me is that Fossett faked his death with the full knowledge of his wife; if I were to judge by the transits alone, I would say she masterminded it, even insisted on it! Why he might have found this necessary is, I think, contained in Saturn as both chart ruler and at its transiting place of 00 Virgo, but the why is impossible to judge without a much broader knowledge of Fossett’s personal and financial situation–and somehow I think all the bases there are thoroughly covered, in the sense that outsiders get nary a peek. What Would Steve Fossett Do? about the ongoing financial crisis–I guess we’ll never know.

UPDATE: Will I have to eat my words concerning the fate of Steve Fossett? http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26976119/?GT1=43001 Not yet, at least; no body was found in the crash. It’s still too tidy for me: high impact crash in the remote Sierra, carefully strewn identification and cash, and a single piece of torn clothing–it’s more like bad set decoration than evidence. If and when Fossett is found, I will apologize for my hubris, and then I’ll pose that other question: with all the energy of female strength and control active in Fossett’s chart the day of his disappearance, must we then consider foul play? Time will tell.

FIVE MINUTES LATER: Now where did this magically come from? http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26566178/ It says in essence that Fossett’s plane was seen heading east (toward the ranch, and away from the direction of Mammoth) shortly before he was expected back, and that it was flying under one hundred feet, which implies imminent landing. All I can do at this point is comment concerning the whole matter; I’d like to paraphrase the immortal Judge Judy in making my case: If it doesn’t make sense, it’s probably a lie. The question now seems to be, what is a lie (or a mistake, or misinformation), and what reflects reality?

I’ll keep watching this story–check back for updates.

An Open Letter on Juno and Marriage

12 Friday Sep 2008

Posted by in aspects and placements, astrology, Juno, relationship astrology

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Dear Seeker,

I noticed you searched yesterday for the term ‘Juno conjunct Jupiter marriage.’ I have no idea who you are, so I hope you won’t feel intruded upon that I’m addressing this directly; after all, the only thing you were doing was looking for answers.

I admit, I felt a little start when I saw the phrase; the first thing that went through my mind was, ‘This person may have big trouble!’ I know, it’s not a very diplomatic thought! But the concept of an expansion or magnification of the Juno nature within a relationship is not necessarily a pretty one. ‘Why?’ you ask, ‘Isn’t Juno a marriage indicator, and contact is a positive sign that two people are meant to be together?’ And my answer to that would have to be, No.

Briefly, here’s why: Juno/ Hera and Zeus/ Jupiter enjoyed a three hundred year honeymoon, but the second they returned home to Mt. Olympus the fur started to fly (literally: Zeus had a taste for ladies-as-animals). The after-honeymoon relationship consisted of Zeus doing whatever he wanted, and Juno angry, vengeful, and punishing over his transgressions. His lack of respect for the marital relationship in general, and his goddess wife in particular, is the core of the potential downfall of a strong Juno connection.

So, much would depend upon the sign, situation, and aspects of this conjunction–is it between the charts, or within one partner’s chart? If it’s interchart, which partner has the Juno, which the Jupiter? Is this a man and woman, or two men or women? It’s important to ask the right questions, as Juno functions differently in the chart of a woman than it does in the chart of a man. In a woman’s chart Juno is about Self-empowerment, specifcally that enjoyed through relationship, while in a man’s chart Juno suggests what kind of person and behaviors he will see as ‘wifely’ or appropriate to a mate or other partner.

Now, one possible exception to the more negative scenarios would be that this shows a true uniting of Juno and her husband (Jupiter). With positive contacts with other planets and points, and with no stressful attitudes related to the Juno of either chart, there’s some chance that Juno in one chart conjunct Jupiter in the partner’s chart would be a very good, even a prime instance, when Juno does indeed promise marital bliss (or at least, it might keep the relationship in a perpetual honeymoon period, which is probably the very best thing we can hope for with an interactive Juno).

So, Seeker, if you should happen to wander back here, and would like to know the skinny on your situation from my point of view, please leave the horoscopic particulars in the comments section, and I’ll take a look and offer what I can.

And if I don’t hear from you, I wish you the very best of luck and happiness.

Julie, your Astrologer-in-Waiting

See my book JUNO IN THE NATAL CHART, which includes relationship synastry, here: http://dogandsunflower.wordpress.com

The Happy Couple: Palin and McCain

11 Thursday Sep 2008

Posted by in aspects and placements, astrology, election 2008, relationship astrology

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Though there’s been plenty of excellent analysis of Republican Presidential and Vice Presidential nominees McCain and Palin (especially at Jude Cowell’s sites ‘Jude’s Threshold’ http://judecowell.wordpress.com/ and ‘Stars Over Washington’ http://starsoverwashington.blogspot.com/  she can also point you toward some other great material), I wanted to take a look at these two running mates as partners, applying many of the same principles we look at in any co-operative venture. A multitude of pertinent and lucid points of contact between the charts have been noted by other astrologers; I decided to concentrate specifically on asteroid contacts, both to other asteroids and to planets and points, and what these might suggest about the interaction of these two self-described ‘mavericks.’ Rather than assessing the implications for their political beliefs, I was looking for just how they might see each other, and how this might drive the relationship.

I used a biwheel and put John McCain (29 August 1936, 9:00 AM EST, Coco Solo Air Base, Panama) in the center, since we have a reliable birth time for him, and thus reliable angles, and also because as Presidential nominee and the ostensible chooser (as distinct from the ‘decider’ we’ve come to know and loathe) of the running mate, McCain logically would be dominant, making his angles more prominent to the duo. I used the data for Sarah Palin as presented by Jude Cowell, with the prospective (but still speculative, to my knowledge) morning birth time (11 February 1964, 7:06:26 AM PST, Sandpoint Idaho USA).

The first thing that jumps out is the busy 11th (what McCain has to give the world): McC’s Juno in Leo conjunct P’s Leo Earth, McC’s Sun conj. P’s Uranus, and McC’s Neptune conj. P’s Pluto, these latter in Virgo. With Juno in a man’s chart signifying what he identifies as ‘wifely’ behavior, or as appropriate to any person with whom he might partner, we find his ideals of Leonine ‘glory’ (certainly observed in Cindy McCain’s shellacked, trophy status) met in Palin’s Material Purpose–the circumstances with which Palin surrounds herself may in some way represent an ‘ideal woman’ to McCain, and these are likely connected to a willingness to ‘shine,’ to assert the Self’s goals shamelessly, but to appear ‘down to earth’ in doing so, and to be front-and-center with the personal agenda–certainly qualities that likely got Palin noticed in the first place. His 11th also holds his own Sun in Virgo conj. her Uranus, a contact that suggests he can identify with her individuality, and the Neptune to Pluto contact says he may not see her ‘darker side’ clearly, while she could end up trashing his ideals–of course, from another perspective, she could ‘clear the way’ for institution of his ideals (or dangerous fantasies)–unfortunately, we don’t get to vote on this particular manifestation! 

Much has been made of their Neptune connections, but the one that intrigued me is her Neptune conj. his Ceres. With this we see that she may not comprehend totally the role he expects her to play, namely that of a powerful authority figure (a goddess, even!) who can stand up to Hades and can control the political ‘seasons’–a tall order indeed. His Ceres is also conj. her Pallas, so he may certainly see her as having the wisdom to handle the job; but alarm bells should be going off in him, if his intuition were up and running, at the conjunction of his Piscean Earth to her Aquarian Saturn/ Piscean Chiron conjunction. This promises suppression and hurt to his material circumstances, and his Piscean Saturn quincunx Palin’s Leo Earth says that what he requires of her will take adjustment to her (perhaps ‘show-off-y’) material situation. These latter contacts should have warned them off each other, but were clearly overridden by other aspects (or sheer, unbridled ambition, your choice).

McCain’s Vesta is conjunct Palin’s North Node, and the near Nodal reversal has been noted by many commentators; I think the biggest effect may be that McCain may tend to see Palin’s life direction and intents as sacred–this is not the first contact that suggests an unwillingness on McCain’s part to recognize her motives and goals. His Juno is trine her Ceres, supporting her overreaching and controlling inclinations as appropriate and positive (!) McCain’s Chiron is quincunx his own Ceres and square his Saturn, implying that he may be more likely than most to trust a female who asserts her authority without hesitation, as he is ill at ease with his own internal anima–after all, he may think, would she tell others what to do if she didn’t have a right? And McCain’s Chiron is sextile her Earth and trine her Sun, suggesting that his own wounds may make him susceptible to her sense of authority. This Chiron is likely his Kryptonite, and Palin in many ways holds it in the palm of her hand.

The final aspect I’d like to discuss is her Venus at 00 Aries. This is a problematic placement simply by virtue of the newness of the energy in the sign; a ‘raw’ Venus in Aries is, for a woman, trying to find her stance as a female in a sign that is animus controlled and that emphasizes a ‘me first’ attitude, not a total contrast to Venusian vanity but with a solitary, rather than partner-linked, focus. Her Venus squares McCain’s Nodal axis, his Vesta, and opposes his Venus and Mercury. This mix sounds like a recipe for values that will be firmly at odds, some consolation to those of us who feared she was a radical reflection of his true intents.

Do we even need to mention the Moon to Moon conjunction, with its obvious emotional empathy, or Palin’s possible Midheaven conjunct McCain’s Jupiter, suggesting she may see him as a fame and career booster rocket? No, we probably don’t need to point this out; even without a chart, certain things are there for all to see. And the way that her Venus, ruled by Mars, is conjunct her Sun, and his Mars, ruler of his 7th of partners, is widely opposed her Sun, implying a sympathy that may confuse the values/ identity issue for McCain–he’ll be so sure she shares much of his Purpose and intent, right up to the moment he realizes how radically different they truly are at core.

And check out this view of Palin et al  http://www.uranias9thhouse.com/blog/ or this very intriguing prediction here http://astrologymundo.wordpress.com/  and see Palin’s past and destiny examined http://northnodeastrology.blogspot.com/2008/09/sarah-palins-astrology-chart-north-node.html

More on Mars/ Neptune: What Drives Creative Action?

03 Wednesday Sep 2008

Posted by in aspects and placements, astrology, Mars, Moon, Neptune, Vesta

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As promised, we’ll now look further into what makes Mars/ Neptune a driving force within the natal horoscope. One thing we must understand is that, as with any aspect, just having it in the chart doesn’t guarantee a particular outcome, event, or level of manifestation; and this prompts us to look for what factors may distinguish the chart where the creative impulse to action is extraordinary from the chart where it manifests in a more moderate way, likely overwhelmed by some other factor.

It’s easy to see Mars/ Neptune when it reaches a high level of manifestation in the life of an artist; a perfect case in point is artist, visionary, and writer William Blake (28 November 1757, 7:45 PM LMT, London England). A trained engraver, Blake left his native London only once in his entire life. One of eight siblings, Blake’s family was steeped in mysticism and to a lesser extent, politics, and this permeates his creations–and they must be called ‘creations,’ as his illustrations, engravings, poetry, and prose present an otherworldly perception that reflects his Mars/ Neptune conjunction in Leo, succinctly defined as acting for the glory of God and the Self as creative forces. A Placidus House chart puts Neptune in the 1st and Mars in the 2nd, and we see this as, after a seven year apprenticeship, Blake opened his own engraving and printing shop in the hope of generating income (2nd) to sustain the publications of his personal visions (1st), but he was never able to create a steady flow of income. Perhaps it was the darkness and chaos of his vision (Mars/ Neptune trine Pluto in Fire), or the way he would not compromise his vision or action (Mars/ Neptune opposed Vesta and Saturn), that lead to an inevitable suppression of popularity. The vision and the action to reveal the Cosmic vision (Neptune) were sacred to Blake, and choices based on this might have made Blake feel oppressed or otherwise disregarded (Vesta/ Saturn). He chose to communicate through words and images–Mercury in Water squares Vesta, perpetually stirring conflict between the need to communicate and commune and the need to respect and revere that which he saw as sacred. We have a clue in Mercury’s Water placement as to the driving force behind the impetus to communicate: emotion, and find a 29 degree Cancer Ascendant and a 12th House Cancer Moon sesquiquadrate Mercury as highly descriptive of the ’emotional engine’ behind Blake’s work.

It may be more interesting, though, to inspect the charts of those who were highly creative in fields other than the Arts, and it’s illuminating to note how this aspect manifests repeatedly through families; the state of the aspect picture is often directly indicative of the impact (or lack of it) of the individual along the outlines of accomplishments in the family vein. We see the Mars/ Neptune aspect in significant numbers of family members in the industrialist/ Fiat Agnellis and the shoe manufacturing Ferragamos, but I thought the Bonaparte family offered a good example of the way an aspect that can power greatness (of a kind) in one family member can be less than stellar (that’s an astrology joke!) in another.

Napoleon I (15 August 1769, 11:30 AM LMT, Ajaccio Corsica), who set out to conquer Europe and very nearly succeeded (and who believed himself to be the reincarnation of Alexander the Great), had Mars conjunct Neptune in Virgo in the 10th of public reputation and career (and we musn’t forget that the public nature of the 10th can translate career as ‘one’s impact on the world’). The conjunction shares the 10th with Pallas, the Sun, and Ceres, all in Leo. Our attention then jumps to the Moon at 29 degrees of Capricorn, with Saturn ruling the 3rd and the Moon ruling the 9th–this man had the emotional imperative to conquer something! Conjunction ruler Mercury in Leo and Moon ruler Saturn in Cancer (thus placing the Moon and Saturn in Mutual Reception) oppose the Moon, and here is the fuel for the creative engine, the accomplishments manifesting in the 10th arena. We should also note the exact conjunction of the South Node and Vesta–whether this stems from a former life as Alexander or not, this man felt his past was sacred, and perhaps felt a compulsive desire to duplicate it; clearly he identified with it, as SN/ Vesta sextiles the Sun/ Ceres exact conjunction exactly!

His son, Napoleon II (20 March 1811, 9:00 AM LMT, Paris France), known as the ‘KIng of Rome,’ also has a Mars/ Neptune conjunction, also conjunct Vesta, in the 6th of everyday duties–so he likely found the life of a ruler a sacred one, but was only moderately fired up about it (another astology joke!) with placement in the Mutable Fire of Sagittarius. Napoleon II’s Moon is also of note: at 00 Aquarius, widely sextile Nars/ Neptune, and involved in an out of sign Grand Trine with Jupiter and Earth. He clearly had the desire to affect the world, but his chart lacks the assertive outward impetus of his father’s.

The aspect skips a generation and surfaces once again in the chart of Napoleon IV (16 March 1856, 3:30 AM LMT, Paris France). He has a Libran Mars in the 8th of other people’s resources and interests quincunx Piscean Neptune in the 2nd, where it is also conjunct the Sun and Pisces’ ancient ruler, Jupiter. Here the Cancer Moon is exactly trine the Pisces Sun; this can make for a very emotionally satisfied individual–so we can surmise that emotional need was unlikely to be fuel for this Mars/ Neptune. Almost all the chart energies (exceptions: South Node/ Mars conjunction, Earth, and Moon) are below the horizon, making for a nature that processes experiences and the world largely internally; but, with Mars above the horizon, we may see someone who must show himself to be personally assertive, whether he truly has interest in this or not. This is exactly what we see in his demise: Napoleon IV literally acted out the Warrior, meeting his death fighting the Zulus at the Battle of Ulundi, and bringing to an end the hopes of those who still wished to restore a Bonaparte to rule in France.

What might we tentatively conclude from this brief study? We could guess that the state of the Moon, as well as the significant presence of Vesta, could be instrumental in utilizing a Mars/ Neptune contact to the fullest. It’s a starting point that may emphasize the necessity for emotional involvement and a sense of awe/ the sacred in successfully realizing life potentials.

Julie Demboski's ASTROLOGY

Addressing the Individual Experience Within the Universal Truth

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