Tag Archives: astrology

The Fabric of the Spirit

19 Thursday Feb 2009

Posted by in astrology, Chiron, Midheaven, Neptune, Sun

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the whole concept was too forced, too much trying to be artful. not enough about the fabric. i don’t want to be influenced by showmanship. i don’t want to be tricky or mysterious. i want to make cloth. i want to make things useful and touchable and real. i want to be true to the storyline and let it make sense for me… to help me undo the confusion that has built up in me over the last few years about what i am doing.

Jude Hill, from ‘undoing pretense’ at Spirit Cloth http://spiritcloth.typepad.com/

If we replace the words ‘fabric’ and ‘make cloth’ with ‘Soul’s intent’ and ‘live,’ then we have a graceful description of the individual effort to actualize the life, to make spirit conscious and allow it to direct our choices and actions, and all of it done seamlessly, so to speak. The final phrase speaks of the desire to move out of confusion, a state which is the antithesis of connecting the actions to spirit, and the earliest words talk of the initial attempts to create that are artificial, trying too much for an effect that reflects standards that are not one’s own; both are the experience of every Soul who looks too much outside the Self for praise, feedback, encouragement, motivation.

Where do we find the spirit in the chart? Everywhere, of course, with each aspect and placement representing the Beingness as seen from a particular angle, through a particular lens. Is any planet or planetary placement more divinely connected than another? No, though there are those who tend to see placements as more or less spiritually inclined, more or less material or physical–but if God is in all things, seen and unseen, then material needs are intertwined with spiritual ones, and we see no difference, when we look from the viewpoint of the Soul.

We can get a glimpse of the Soul’s intent through every planet and point, but there are a few that traditionally give their message more directly: the Sun, Neptune, Chiron, the Midheaven. The Sun embodies the Soul’s Purpose in incarnating, it’s sign a description of the affinity it holds most prominently in this lifetime. When we study the Sun, we must be aware that all the signs have a presence in each chart, and thus that the entire spectrum of energies and attitudes is available to each of us; it’s a mistake to say, “That’s not in him,” or “She would never,” for there is always the chance of a situation that calls the forbidden, exiled, or ignored energy forward.

Neptune represents our connection to the cosmic, and its placement and aspects describe our place within the Collective, as does the Midheaven; what we make of this concerning the spirit, though, may never really show on the outside–and it’s important to remember that those who wear their Neptune on the outside aren’t necessarily more spiritual than those who hold it on the inside. Among the circumstances of Neptune, the Midheaven, and the Sun, we can often sort out the spiritual life storyline, akin to what’s sought in the quote above, always keeping in mind that anything we see can exist on the inside (within the spirit), on the outside (in the role or function), or both.

And what of Chiron? This is at once a direct pipeline to the tenderest, most vulnerable spot in the individual, and the most absolutely unique skill and talents of the individual, and the uniqueness of the manifestation of each is such that this placement is almost impossible to define completely from outside the life; only a perspective from within the individual’s consciousness can hope to define Chiron’s role and parse it out from within the camouflage provided by other energies. Chiron among all the energies is the only one that can be best defined in detail by the person who owns it.

We work to fuse the parts of the horoscope, seamlessly, integrating them into a picture that is complete and successfully explains all that is within; are we able to? Probably not; we are too complex to have our essence picked apart, labeled, and reassembled in some semblance of completeness. But as long as we have the desire to be as true to ourselves as we are in our most natural state, true to the inclinations of the spirit, and with a recognition that the material that surrounds us may be equally of the spirit, then we have a chance to create something unique to ourselves, a life that will not be forced according to fashion or pretense, and will not fall to confusion, but will be seeded with the spirit truest to who and what we are.

Jude Cowell provides outstanding New Moon coverage here http://judecowell.wordpress.com/2009/02/19/new-moon-6pis35-feb-24-2009/

Visit Dog and Sunflower Press, read an excerpt from the upcoming JUNO IN THE NATAL CHART, and buy INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP or CHIRON IN THE NATAL CHART using our new PayPal buttons! http://dogandsunflower.wordpress.com Thanks!

And a special Thank You to Lainie for introducing me to Spirit Cloth; visit her at Red Thread Studio, link at right.

Eclipse, February 2009

07 Saturday Feb 2009

Posted by in aspects and placements, astrology, Chiron, current events in the sky, Earth, eclipse, Moon, Sun, Venus

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february-lunar-eclipse-2009The second part of the Aquarius/ Leo Eclipse set occurs on February 9th at 6:49 AM at 21 Leo 00 (I want to note an unsatifying amount of confusion I’ve found over just when this occurs, and the exact degree reading, and I suspect the actual eclipse moment is slightly later, but for our purposes, this will do–see comments for more on this–and note that witty reader max calls this ‘The Drunken Eclipse,’ with good symbolic reason, see comments), and brings forward an intriguing pattern: the Moon/ Earth conjunction is semi-sextile Saturn, which makes it quincunx the Sun, notably conjunct Chiron at this time; the Sun/ Chiron conjunction has its own semi-sextile, to Uranus, which of course is quincunx the Moon/ Earth combo. So we have a kind of net drawn across the Eclipse, two anchors in the form of  a pair of what could be characterized as opposites, forces that have recently been in long-term opposition. This may suggest that the Saturn/ Uranus struggle, both personally and society-wide, will lay a gentle web of insistence across the Eclipse energy, each with its own view. Saturn says, I can bring even more stability, and a sense of authority and permanence, to those who vibe to the blending of Earth and Moon, to those who equate emotional sustenance and security with the material; from those who are enveloped in the unity of Sun/ Chiron, Saturn in Virgo requires adjustment and an accounting of the details–‘If you want to feel safe, pin down the identity and put boundaries on the Soul Purpose! (and maybe, just a little, fear that you are a crippled Soul!)’

The Sun/ Chiron combo, quite naturally, implies one of two approaches, for those who will vibe to this side of the equation: at a Soul level, one will feel a fusion of the identity and life Purpose with either the most unique gifts and deepest healing energies the Soul possesses, or one will experience the ultimate individual primal wound, and will, at least for a time, be convinced that the Soul itself is marred, with a resultant difficulty with identity consolidation and expression. This energy, in either form, receives the Saturn quincunx (or threat, as we might think of it), but also reaches out by semi-sextile to Uranus in Pisces, which offers the Sun/ Chiron the awareness of its own uniqueness within the Collective–and for many, this will be all the security they require.

Uranus quincunxes the Moon/ Earth, as well, and makes its own ‘threat’: those who find emotional security in the material, in the physical nurturing and sustenance of all (and this is important to understand, that the Moon/ Earth is not an inferior vibe to the Sun/ Chiron–please don’t make that mistake) may be shaken by rebellion, by the urge to disrupt, by the demands of the group, by a need to innovate, but will find their security in the rules and boundaries and traditions represented by Saturn–and this will be all that they require.

There is also a single, other aspect to the eclipse set, a sesquiquadrate from Venus to the Moon/ Earth. Venus is not necessarily loud or flashy (in fact, she shies away from such display), but she is insistent, and this aspect suggests this quality will come forward, framed by the exclamation, ‘I desire!’ (Venus in Aries) On either side of the Eclipse equation, the desire nature will come forward; the only question is, What form will it take? If our sympathies are seated with Earth/ Moon, it may likely be a longing, an emotionally charged wish, aimed at adjustment of the material situation or circumstance; this isn’t greed, or materiality, it’s a plea for whatever we believe in the physical world will soothe and nurture. If we side with Sun/ Chiron, we will more likely want for the healing of a relationship, or even of the Soul to its own assets (nothing is more tragic than a Soul at war with its own talent).

Other aspects in effect at the time of the Eclipse, and so displaying a possible hand in things, include Venus sextile Jupiter, Juno, and Mars (exaggerating all the effects of the above Venus influence, and throwing in questions of Self-empowerment, for good measure); Mercury sesquiquadrate Ceres, suggesting communications from whatever we regard as ‘authorities’ will likely chafe; Juno and Jupiter conjunct the North Node, perhaps making each of us put too much importance on sorting out our ‘destiny’ at this moment, and thus taking ourselves far too seriously, Vesta creating a T-square with the Nodes, suggesting that a true clash is in the air over what we truly find sacred on the life path, and finally Venus at the Juno/ Pallas midpoint, giving us the idea (perhaps wrongly) that our Venus-influenced decisions are both vital to our empowerment and wise.

NASA Eclipse website: http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse.html

Beth Turnage talks about the eclipse effect through the Houses here: http://www.astrologyexplored.com/the-astrology-of-eclipses-january-26-2009-the-ring-of-fire/

Another view of the eclipses (scroll down for February’s) http://www.astrologycom.com/eclipse.html#lunar

Mars Through Aquarius: I Think I Want

05 Thursday Feb 2009

Posted by in Aquarius, aspects and placements, astrology, Mars

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I don’t get–

I don’t get furious.

No!

I get cool.

I get angry!

But not furious!

Yeah!

True.

‘Rappin’ ‘Bout My ‘Tude’ from Pieces of Intelligence: The Existential Poetry of Donald H. Rumsfeld, compiled and edited by Hart Seely, taken from interviews and press conferences given by the former Secretary of Defense

This is Mars in Aquarius: cool. angry. furious. and perhaps in denial.

Mars moving through Aquarius is an energy we should be especially conscious of, for two reasons: first, with the force of the ego and ‘I am’ in the sign of Higher Knowledge, academic thought forms, and the intellectual approach, we may be prone to confuse our forward energies with our contemplative and reasoning ones, bringing our progress to a halt, Hamlet style, with endless mulling of the possibilities; and second, we may use our higher reasoning functions simply and directly to justify what we want for ourselves, no matter the implications. This latter possibility holds a number of pitfalls as Mars travels Aquarius and unites with other energies that will only reinforce Willfulness, dressing it up in any number of justifications and rationalizations. There’s always the chance that this transit manifests as ‘Me vs. the Group,’ but even in this form it still follows the frustrations and inclinations of Mars and what he meets along the way.

On the 16th Mars conjuncts both Jupiter and the North Node, suggesting a kind of fated exaggeration applied to whatever form we’ve given Mars through Aquarius. This is why we must define our attitude, why we must find a way for the action urge to embrace intellectual understanding even as we act–because we must avoid the trap of perceiving ourselves to have accomplished when all we’ve done is think about our situation, and this is especially tempting with the conjunction of the 16th, as we can easily apply big thought forms to our future, and feel like that’s enough to make things happen.

As in the verse above, Mars transiting the Water Bearer’s sign may confuse us: “I get cool. I get angry!” We may separate our energies in such a way that we think about being angry but muster no firepower–this can put us in a bad position, too cool in our assessment of things, and so unable to act in our own interests in a timely manner. On the 18th Mars meets Juno, and how much animus we can bring forward to empower ourselves becomes a vital question–we don’ t want that energy sitting to the side like Rodin’s ‘Thinker,’ immobile, stuck.

By the 28th-1st of March, Mercury catches up with Mars, and all this thinking may burst out, communicated more forcefully than we intend. It may feel like we can finally say what we mean–but speaking out likely doesn’t relieve the stress, as Mars chafes at sending all its force through the intellect. Mars finally catches up with Chiron March 4th-5th and we may be in a Self-designed stew, wanting more than ever to act (as Mars will, eventually, realize that all this thinking isn’t natural for it!) but now hampered by fear of hurt. Some, however, will rally the Martian Will and energy in service of healing, and here’s where we triumph; if you’ve used the early part of Mars’ travels in Aquarius to think deeply about how, where, and most importantly, why the ego wants what it wants–Aquarian intellect and understanding can be at the service of the ego in a tremendously productive way, discerning our wants and impulses with unusual clarity.

March 7th Mars hits Neptune and we want to have our ducks in a row before this occurs; if we do, we can use this combo to go after our ideals, and work toward our dreams. If not, we will lose the benefit of all that thinkin’ time that came before. Maybe it’s the difference between, as in the verse, fury, which is expressed blindly, and anger, which can be honed and aimed, laser-like, and used in service of our goals and dreams.

Did It Happen To You?

05 Thursday Feb 2009

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

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Just something I noticed yesterday, and I must preface this with the caveat that not every communication I received falls in this category; but I did hear from a scattering of individuals who all had something I’ll define as a theme in common: they were busy ‘showing me.’ These were people I don’t hear from often, the rarity of their communications part of what tipped me off to the trend. Did this happen to you? Did you hear from someone whose message was passive-aggressive,  filled with angry engagement that you don’t (or perhaps no longer) feel? The tone of these notes/ messages was ultimately sad, as these individuals somehow feel that something is owed them psychically, emotionally, and yet that’s not appropriate to the existing relationship (and in my case, it never was appropriate, a condition that these people do not seem to fathom). It was the psychic equivalent to Bill Gates’ mosquito releasing stunt: irritating as he tried to make a point, but not really of significance.

Now, don’t get me wrong, my mailbox wasn’t stuffed with hate mail–far from it, but there were enough out-of-the-way communications (some of them wearing very pretty words and images) that it made me take a look at conditions. My first thought was the Moon; it was moving through Gemini, so no surprise that people felt motivated to speak out, and in easy aspect to many energies (specifically the gathering in Aquarius–and that’s a lot of air, spurring us to think, whether we want to or not). Jupiter squared Vesta, and this may be key to the tone: these individuals may have been challenged to measure their own beliefs against what they truly find sacred–and when we come up short, the tendency is to rationalize and justify, for the ego (Mars–more about him in a moment) to jump forward. Mercury moved into semi-sextile with Neptune yesterday, and this says that communications can be guided by ideals or by delusion and fantasy–you decide. But I think the real trigger may have been Mars–as it moved from Capricorn (restraint, reality) to Aquarius, we may have seen the brakes come off the aggressive and assertive energies, with a tendency now to intellectualize and rationalize (Aquarius) one’s desire to lash out (or just to speak out–as I said, not all communications will fall into the ‘show you’ category). So, if this happened to you, I would say take it less as a true communication and more as a statement, an instance where someone is showing how they believe (Jupiter) you should be engaged with them, in defiance of the real life situation.

Today much the same is in effect, with one important difference: the Moon goes Void today at 9:45 AM PST today (the 5th) and remains so until 8:05 PM PST. This suggests that, with the same conditions in effect, we could have two radically different outcomes: messages received today may be of the same character, but they may either pack no punch (where even the individual speaking doesn’t believe what they’re saying), or they could spark a completely unanticipated response within you, leading you somewhere you never expected to go.

CHIRON IN THE NATAL CHART is available directly from me, or from Dog and Sunflower Press (which is me, too!) and so is THE ASTROLOGY OF INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP–email juliedemboski@hotmail.com or dogandsunflower@hotmail.com to order–Thanks!

Here’s some great truth-telling going on about male/ female relationships, excerpted from an upcoming work by Jessica Shepherd http://moonkissd.com/2007/12/12/use-your-venus-ladies-not-your-mars/ and here http://blogs.astrology.com/venus_beyond/2009/02/chiron-neptune-node-shake-the-disease.html

Take note of more Mercurial happenings here with Jude Cowell http://judecowell.wordpress.com/2009/02/05/inauguration-2009s-mercury-return-feb-15/

And have a great Thursday!

Eclipse, January 2009

03 Tuesday Feb 2009

Posted by in aspects and placements, astrology, current events in the sky, Dark of the Moon, eclipse, forecast, future events in the sky

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solar-eclipse-january-20092The next annular Solar Eclipse occurs January 25th at 11:59:44 PM PST at 6 Aquarius 30 (note that the eclipse starts slightly after the actual New Moon). Keeping orbs very tight (approx. 1-1.5 degrees) we have three aspects: a conjunction of the Sun and Moon to Jupiter; a square to Vesta; and a trine to Pallas. The character of the Eclipse is big, exaggerated, and if it aspects natal placements, I would anticipate that the time through to the next eclipse set (in July-August ’09) will carry a similar tone on a personal level of ‘bigness,’ relative to the energies aspected. For instance, if it hits your Venus by close orb (especially if the aspect is ‘hard,’ a conjunction, semi-square, square, sesquiquadrate, or opposition–even a semi-sextile can irritate) you may see months of overblown importance of love and/ or money, or secondarily an exaggeration of the subjects of the Houses Venus rules natally.

As it is, all of us may find ourselves wrestling (yes, I think the sheer largeness and push of the energy will cause upset) with Aquarian ideals; it may be a matter of each of us feeling the ‘New Age’ is here in some respect, and going gung-ho with our personal agendas. These could center on a fresh (for us) approach to academics (as in attempting to bring Ivory tower principles to everyday existence), inventiveness and innovation applied to life circumstances, rebellion from what is (with its own particular danger of pointlessness and potential for destruction), and a strong desire to push one’s own specific brand of ‘group think’ on others. What’s the result? Likely real difficulties and clashes due to our tendency to fail to respect what’s sacred to others, what may be considered their ‘home turf,’ and I wouldn’t be terribly surprised to see a rash (so to speak!) of infidelities of one kind or another, all indicated by the Eclipse’s square to Vesta.

None of this sounds like good news, but we can take a different tack, choose a different reaction, via the Eclipse’s trine to Pallas. This offers us a source of wise information (Pallas in Gemini), a network that will support good choices, as well as venues through which to develop and exercise our skills. The implication is that, if we concentrate on what we can do, what we can offer that speaks of our most meaningful and useful traits and talents, then we can for the most part avoid the brouhaha that may follow those who carry the banner of a cause, no matter how just, as they will definitely be inclined to overlook the rights of others.

Dane Rudhyar describes this degree in An Astrological Mandala as ‘A Child is seen being born out of an egg.’ He refers of course to the ancient symbol of the Cosmic Egg, out of which the Universe was said to have been born, and out of which a new one is said to be symbolically emerging. This suggests a number of possibilities, including that the philosophies that come forward at this time are free of past prejudices, biases, and traditions, very Aquarian in that sense; and yet, as a symbol of global ‘newness,’ this degree also implies a loss of both localness (and thus relevance to the everyday life of each of us) and the care and maturity that comes with accumulated knowledge and experience. So, for the coming few months through to the next Eclipse set, we may find ourselves and/ or those around us inclined to trade what we know for what we hope is better, with a likely mixed result, and the best outcomes promised to those who serve at a practical and useful level.

Minor aspects of this Eclipse include a pair of semi-squares to Venus and Uranus, and a sesquiquadrate to Saturn, all of which reinforce the difficulty with boundaries and Self-control, the values anomalies and challenges to both relationships and finances that can be expected with the above-described mentality ascendant, and a drive toward the Aquarian that is at once refreshing and unnerving.

Try image interpretation for this Eclipse set: http://starsoverwashington.blogspot.com/2009/01/jan-26-solar-eclipse-leads-to-lunar.html And add this enlightening take on the Solar Eclipse to follow in July: http://starsoverwashington.blogspot.com/2009/01/solar-eclipse-29-cancer-72209.html

Will post the second half of the Eclipse material later–have a great Wednesday! By the way, Dark of the Moon begins late night the 22nd PST–no matter what you are doing for the three days preceding the New Moon, take a meditative approach, and don’t try to launch any new ventures.

More eclipse info available here  http://celestialspace.wordpress.com/2009/01/16/new-moonsolar-eclipse-in-aquarius-on-january-25th26th-2009oc/

Water, Part 2

02 Monday Feb 2009

Posted by in astrology, Horary

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Below is the original posting, with chart (and I apologize for how fuzzy it is–the old style clarity and ability to blow-up the chart does not seem to be available on WordPress any longer); what follows the original material is my assessment of the chart, and real-world progress in the querents’ case. I’ll also answer each of you who so kindly offered your take on the chart, within the comments section.

Dear Reader,

I’m going to ask for your help with this one; since I’m close to the querents, it’s tough for me to take an objective view.

Let’s pretend it’s the Old West, and Water is a precious commodity. One day, our intrepid heroes (the querents–1st House) wake up to find that somehow tens of thousands of gallons of water have, supposedly, run through their system (while they were out-of-town for many weeks), and they’re left with a whopping bill (over $700 for one month, for a single-family residence–I should note that no one was in the house, and even when the entire family of four are present, water consumption is less than one-third of what they were charged for this month). Inspection proves that there is no haphazardly running tap, no breech in the lines, and the meter is not currently registering any activity, so a leak is not the cause. That leaves only two alternatives: fraud on the part of the water company, or water rustlers. Now, if you’re not from the Western US, or another part of the world where ranching and farming depend on underground water supplies, you may find the theft of water hard to believe. The final scene of ‘There Will Be Blood,’ where Daniel Day-Lewis talks about long long straws dipping in to other people’s distant milkshakes, aptly describes the kind of water commandeering that has been going on since well pumps, or perhaps since the first simple diversion of an underground stream, first occurred. Water rights are almost a sacred thing in the desert areas where I grew up, so theft in this case did seem to me a possibility (think of how much water it takes to fill an in-ground pool or hot tub). On the other hand, fraud by a co-operative utility that is progressively finding more and more of their assets cut into by residents resorting to solar panels, generators, simple downsizing on use due to high prices, installation of independent wells, and a diminishing population in the area, not to mention some very poor decisions in the buying and selling of their primary commodity (electricity), in their settlement with union employees, and in their decision to build a new headquarters for tens of millions against the wishes of their shareholders (the public), have put this utility in a bad way financially–all of this makes systematic fraud a distinct possibility, as well.

Below is the chart; I’d love to hear what you think. And many thanks to those who can take the time to give an opinion.

water-rustlers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Part 2

I follow some pretty cut-and-dried horary rules, based on March and McEvers’ excellent ‘The Only Way to . . .’ series, so when I saw the Void Moon, I was done; the problem, though, was what do I tell the client? I use two phrases to describe the outcome of a question posed during the Void Moon: ‘Nothing will come of it,’ or ‘There’s nothing to worry about,’ and I had no idea which would prevail–would ‘nothing’ indicate that, no matter what they did, the bill would stand as it was? Or was there indeed, nothing to worry about, implying that things would be resolved in the client’s favor? You can see my dilemma!

Currently, the querents are vigorously pursuing a reasonable adjustment, using past water use patterns and billing, as well as the evidence of mutiple parties’ inspections of the house and grounds, with no evidence of excess water anywhere, and an apparently functioning meter (which has been thoroughly vetted by the utility) but just this morning one of the querents told me that she spoke with the utility rep, who called her ‘irrational’ because she did not accept his explanation that the 100,000 gallon flow-through (yes! one hundred thousand!) just started and stopped spontaneously, leaving no evidence behind! The governing board of the utility meets this week, and the matter will be raised; meanwhile, the querents are contemplating a class-action suit, as during this morning’s conversation, the client said that the utility rep admitted to her that they had handled 17 similar complaints just last week–and in such a relatively small place, that’s a significant number, possibly signalling malfeasance, rather than mistake.

‘What You’re Asking’: Retrogrades, Rapists, and Marrying Yourself

28 Wednesday Jan 2009

Posted by in aspects and placements, Eros, natal placement, Psyche, relationship astrology, Retrogrades

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Since the vast majority of recent searches have something to do with the current eclipse cycle, there wasn’t nearly the variety of queries from which to choose as I usually find, but of course, I did find some interesting questions worth addressing.

What is the meaning of natal Chiron retrograde?

There are a great many astrologers who put much interpretive stock in a planet or asteroid’s retrograde status, but I’m not one of them. I respect their reasoning; if it works in their interpretive picture, who am I to say otherwise? For myself, I’ve come to believe that, with retrogradation as an apparent, rather than a physical, phenomenon, it does have a meaning within our symbolic system, it’s just that, rather than giving the state of retrogradation its own meaning, I see the meaning as coming from the planet or point’s aspect picture to the other bodies, and particularly to the Sun. Each of the bodies that retrogrades does so in relation to the Sun, and so the meaning, for me, is held in the aspect picture, in the relationship, rather than in a simple direct or retrograde assessment. For instance, Uranus is always retrograde when it is opposed the Sun; this, then, has its own meaning, and keeps the focus on the relationship between the two bodies. Uranus will never ever ever be direct when opposing the Sun–and the parsing out of Uranian energies to Soul energies will reflect this dissonance, this oppositional stance–we don’t need to label Uranus as anything but what it is essentially, in that sign and House; understanding comes of the way it works, of its attitude, as it does for each of us in learning about ourselves, in our relationships to one another and the world that surrounds us.

The one exception I make to this is in Secondary Progression. I think its most useful function is to alert us to the fundamental change in energy that a body undergoes on changing direction. When a planet that has been direct all one’s life goes retrograde by Secondary Progression, the internal form of the energy seems to be drawn back in upon itself; these periods almost always insist on a long, slow mulling of the forms the energy takes in the life, and, eventually, modifications that bring it forward once more. The opposite is also true: when a planet goes direct by Secondary Progression we typically see leaps forward in either the understanding of or in dealing with the energy.

What does the natal chart of a rapist look like?

I’ve never had a client who was a rapist (that I know of!), so I have no first hand knowledge, but my interest in this was piqued about ten years ago, when my daughter Alex first became actively interested in boys and dating, but would on occasion comment, “I don’t like that guy; he’s got a rapist vibe.” Well of course she was joking and exaggerating, but conveying an essential truth at the same time: to her senses, this individual would not recognize another person’s autonomy, would not respect their boundaries, physical, emotional, spiritual, or mental, and so was not a good person with whom to interact. She felt that, eventually, someone like that would ‘rape’ all they contacted, one way or another.

I began, then, to think of rape in terms that perhaps would show some or all of these characteristics in the personality, and thus in the chart. We know that rape is not a crime of sex or desire but a crime of aggression and violence. Some possibilities (and naturally, many will have some of these placements and they will not be rapists–or, they may be the kind of rapists society condones, those who harm mentally or emotionally, and thus are hard to recognize or pin down, or whose aggressive tendencies are funneled into professions where it’s very difficult to pick the healthy person from the rapist, until they are put under pressure–and we’re including those who rape the spirit, as well–the military, the clergy, the prosecutorial, the protective, or any line of work that puts others at one’s mercy or under one’s authority, even parents–so nearly everyone, in one role or another): a sociopathic unconcern with the feelings or welfare of others is a main feature (Venus, Moon, and/ or the Sun wounded by Chiron, Pluto, or Saturn); aggression that may have a ‘back door’ into many life areas, such as a lot of placements in Aries or Scorpio, a strong Pluto, and almost any ego or Self-related energy that is somehow trapped, possibly by interception, posited in the 12th, or with few or no aspects–you may be wondering why I don’t list Mars, and the fact is that it’s such a fundamental expression of ego and action that it tends to be able to find its way ‘out’ no matter what! Classics include Mars/ Pluto contacts, but I find that they must be involved in some other precipitating factors before they are actually volatile, and if either or both are configured with Saturn they can be harnessed for good, with 50/50 chances of positive expression in cases where, for example, they are configured with Jupiter (big exaggeration OR society provides the standards and restraints). Neptune is also often a strong factor, either by matching their own behavior to unrealistic ideals and expectations (which are often imposed upon others–‘Carrie”s mother is a perfect example!) or through a twisted use of the Neptunian charm, ability to obscure, to delude, to present an illusory image to others. Of course there are as many possibilities as there are people; it all comes down to choices about how we use the energies that we have. See the works of Caroline Myss for more on the ways that we can suffer (and inflict) an energy of rape without ever laying a hand on another. THE GIFT OF FEAR by Gavin de Becker is essential reading for all women in our society, and gives excellent descriptions that will help your instincts overcome your programming.

What is the meaning of Psyche and Eros conjunct?

First, you know I use Arcturus as the planet Psyche, not the designated asteroid, based on Michael Munkasey’s work, and I do this because it works. You don’t say whether this is a synastric aspect between charts or in a single natal chart, so, synastry first: since Eros and Psyche were happily married, this could be one interpretive suggestion, though beware jealous and possessive mothers-in-law, catty sisters, and hot oil lamps. If this is in a natal chart, it could suggest a high degree of Self-satisfaction and a feeling of Self-completion, good for confidence but unlikely to support positive relationship interaction, simply because one may lack a driving need for another–look at the state of Venus and Mars, the state of the 7th of all others, as well as the overall Sun picture, to determine the possible impact.

What is the meaning of quincunx Ceres?

There is no meaning to this phrase, and here’s why: aspects are relative, and bodies gain their meaning in connection to points or bodies, so this is like saying, “A cookie is better.” Better than what? There is an implied comparative here, and without it, the phrase on its own is meaningless. We can’t even say, ‘in aspect Ceres acts like this’ because she will act differently with different energies–quincunx a partner’s Mars, perhaps, she may come across as motherly, and if she doesn’t adjust (quincunx) she’ll quash any potential romance; quincunx one’s own Pluto, one may be drawn to gardening, nature conservancy, baking, basket weaving, or negotiating quite early in life. So, like everything else, context is all–sit back, have a cookie, and don’t worry about it.

A Trick of Memory

27 Tuesday Jan 2009

Posted by in astrology, Mercury retrograde, relationship astrology

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Recently a good question was asked by April in the comments section on another page, wondering about the return to conscious consideration of a friend from her past during the Mercury retrograde. April had mixed feelings about whether to contact her, and wanted to know what the impulse might mean, in light of the way the Mercury retro period spurs us to re-visit events, efforts, and contacts; and when those elements come from what feels like a distant past, stirring up uncomfortable emotions, we rightly question their deeper meaning.

As I said to April, these impulses to contact those from our past, or the actual re-appearance by those with whom we’ve previously been involved, seem consistently to bring with them conflicting emotions, and present us with a choice: do we want to step back into a relationship that makes us on some level distinctly ill at ease, beginning mid-stream, so to speak, with issues already present between the parties, or do we want to ignore the past, and the way it has become reinvested with life?

It seems that the person and situation presented, whether from one’s own memory or by the appearance of the individual, carries with it a kind of challenge, one that makes us uncomfortable because of the way we handled the situation with this person in the past. We harbor guilt, or shame, or resentment, or in some way felt misunderstood or helpless, and are still carrying the psychic shadow of this harm to our spirit; it is still there, and we have carried it and layered it over with time and new experiences and relationships and haven’t realized or acknowledged that the wound is still there, still present and sensitive beneath its many covers.

So when it comes to the surface, no matter the source, we must at the very least re-observe the wound; we must inspect it for what it really is, what we really were at the time, and see the true responsibilities of all parties involved. This is how the retrograde serves us: it brings us this matter at precisely the right time–we are now matured, wiser, more experienced, in the very way we needed to be to bring this issue to conclusion in the past–but at the time we didn’t have the emotional and spiritual resources that would allow us to understand the situation in its true light, and to see what our real part in it was; and this is always something that would not rightly shame, or sadden, or wound us at all. Instead, in the now, we see how the past, and this relationship, mislead us into believing that there was something wrong in who we were, that we were inadequate; and the gift of the now, during the retrograde, is to see that we were not inadequate at all, that we only needed to discover our own Self-worth, and to measure it correctly.

The retrograde period will come to an end this weekend, and with it the chance to clear the ghosts from our memories. So let go of the feelings of shame, inadequacy, upset at less-than-optimum responses, guilt, and anger. Forgive the involvement of the other person; see, without distractions or blinders, exactly who they are–this is an assessment, not a judgment, so we lay no blame at their feet. And then we forgive the person we were then; we see that we were injured, that there were things we had yet to learn or process, that perhaps we had not experienced or accepted the love that would have given us the proper tools for response. And perhaps most important, we must see that if we truly forgive ourselves, there’s no need to renew this contact at all; the wound heals, the issue resolves itself, and we lose the impetus to meet the circumstance again. The pull is gone and, at least momentarily, we know and love precisely who we are.

Another ‘What You’re Asking’: 12th House, Trines and Squares, and Metrosexuals Who Can’t Reach the Top Shelf

20 Tuesday Jan 2009

Posted by in 12th House, aspects and placements, astrology, Mercury, natal placement, North Node

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Hello from sunny (but cold!) Seattle, with another installment of ‘What You’re Asking,’ the astrology ‘q and a’ gleaned from some of the many search terms that lead seekers to this site. Let’s get started!

What do I do with a 12th House stellium?

I feel your pain, I really do–the 12th is hard enough to understand without having a gaggle of energies hiding out there from birth. The approach to the 12th, whether one has something posited within or not, is found in the sign on the cusp; the methods used are keyed to the 12th and can be active or passive, but must in any case marry a 12th House form with some facet or attitude of the cusp sign. For instance, Capricorn on the 12th, with Jupiter in Capricorn within, might offer us a way in to the subconscious and to our connection to the divine/ the Collective through disciplined (Cap) practice of meditation (12th)–then we access Jupiter via the matters of the House it rules, in this case likely the 11th, which might bring in goals, friends, group membership, dreams and wishes (of the life or material kind). By practicing the spiritual (12th) discipline (Cap) of meditation (12th) we will help to funnel those trapped Jupiter energies that need to expand, learn, teach, and venture out by attempting those things in 11th House forms, so perhaps teaching a class on meditation and reaching out, in accessing dreams and wishes through the subconscious, or perhaps through the dream life (another 12th House area). There are many many ways potential combinations can play out, so it takes some study and maybe trial-and-error, to find what works best for you.

When there is a stellium here, the logistics may seem insurmountable. Since the point of the 12th is to give us a window both into our own subconscious, and to link us to the Collective in a way that holds no boundaries, we can best hope to reach a stellium by concentrating on an active manifestation of the 12th. This would involve something that is quite conscious, not the passive system of meditation or dream journals, synchronicities or symbolisms, if applicable coupled with attention to the planet ruled by the posited body, that will serve when one has only one or no planets posited there; instead we would observe our involvement with large institutions, perhaps even seeking out a role within them (hospitals, prisons, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, large conglomerates, international organizations) or in the volunteerism that puts a Collective good before individual interests. We try these things in the tone or style of the cusp sign; so, for example, Virgo here might call us to do some kind of detail work, inventory or accounting (and Pisces on the 6th suggests we might fit nicely into the everyday world of one of those 12th House institutions)–or, with Aquarius on the cusp, we might pursue a form of teaching or study, union or group leadership, innovation in how these institutions function, or in the invention of ‘new, better’ ways of doing things connected to these subjects.

How then, you ask, do we actually get a handle on the stellium? Here we are, volunteering, or getting our degree in prison dynamics, or running a sleep institute, and we’re still not sure how that cluster of, for example, Sun, Mercury, Venus, and Saturn all fit in. The next step is in defining what parts of the life these features rule (by looking at the subjects of the Houses they rule), and then considering what it’s like to keep the identity and Soul Purpose, the communication function, the aesthetic, relationship, and financial values, and the ambitions and fears, all under wraps, with their only outlets those Houses they ‘own,’ or through aspect relationships, where they can as easily mess things up as express due to the unconscious nature of their placements (I didn’t say this would be tidy or easy!)

So, the short answer to your question of what to do with a 12th House stellium is to dig it out however you can, and to do so as consciously as possible; the long answer, where we plot all the tentacles of the stellium as they reach out into the psyche and the daily activities, can take a lifetime.

How do I move forward with a Scorpio North Node?

One very effective way is to adopt the positive qualities of the North Node’s sign when planning goals and looking to the future. With Scorpio, this asks us to open ourselves to what others may prefer to leave hidden, to seek ‘the Truth,’ to be willing to deal with some form of the used, the damaged, and to assist transformation and re-birth. An effective attitude might be to think of oneself as a spiritual midwife of sorts, showing how to bring new life from the ancient and primal within. See Donna Van Toen’s excellent book, THE ASTROLOGER’S NODE BOOK http://www.amazon.com/Astrologers-Node-Book-Donna-Toen/dp/0877285217/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232465425&sr=1-1 for details for all signs.

What is tertiary progression?

Simply put, it’s a day-for-month symbolic method of natal chart progression, where each ephemeris day from birth on represents one month in the life. Can be an interesting timing mechanism, as elaborated on by Richard Houck in THE ASTROLOGY OF DEATH http://www.amazon.com/Astrology-Death-Richard-Houck/dp/0964161257/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232465634&sr=1-1  Don’t let the title put you off–this is a fascinating examination of timing methods, particularly about what ‘sets off’ a natal point or eclipse pattern.

What’s a trine, what’s a square?

A trine is an aspect degree as measured in the flat chart of 120 degrees, and generally represents an ease of exchange between the two energies. This can facillitate positive expression, or act to enhance a laziness or out-of-control quality that can make a trine any ‘easy downfall’ aspect. For instance, a trine between Venus and Jupiter can make for an expansive love nature, extreme generosity, easy projection of willingness to partner, a love of learning or teaching, and so on, but it can also make for a spendthrift, exaggeration of the importance of relationship, or for a major capacity for indiscretion, to name a few.

The square is a similarly determined 90 degree aspect that suggests conflict between two energies. It can be very helpful because it insists one deal with the disparities of expression, but can also show a basic dissonance that can be very hard to overcome. So, a square between Mercury and Mars can make for aggressive speech and thoughts that require one pull back and learn to moderate assertion, but can also create a volcanic temper that may be hard pressed to find another outlet for the Martian urge.

Does Mercury in the 8th House mean death?

No.

I have Mercury in the 8th natally and it hasn’t killed me yet. So if you mean, does it indicate death eventually, then, I think we can safely say that of any placement! And if you mean, does transiting Mercury in the 8th mean death, then ‘no’ to that too, as no one would live more than a year if that were the case! Also out are progressed, directed, and Solar Arc Merc as death indicators in the 8th.

metrosexuality little arms

I’m truly speechless at this–I have no idea how this query led to my site, though I suspect it had to do with aspect ‘arms’ that are sometimes mentioned. All I can say is, good luck with whatever you’re looking for!

A few notes: if you’re wondering why sometimes a site will disappear from the blogroll, it’s because I review periodically each one listed–some I’m a regular visitor to, some not so often–and if it’s been a significant amount of time since updating occurred, or if the content has veered sharply from astrology, then I may remove them, sometimes only temporarily, as I see the blogroll as a list of recommendations that can serve a wide variety of tastes and accomplishment levels, and don’t want to leave up links that will feel like dead ends, either by lack of activity or by divergence from subject. As to listings you might expect that are not here, there could be many reasons (though I don’t ‘trade’ links with anyone). It could be that the site is primarily promotional for the astrologer’s services, and so not of informational interest; it could be that I’ve never visited the site, that the site just isn’t to my taste, or that I find the material irrelevant, ego-filled, or incompetent. The links I do list I feel have something unique and of value to at least some of my readers; and I base this solely on my own judgment, with no requirement that they link to me. Hope that answers any questions!

Remember that when you’re searching, long phrases or questions will be cut off, so keep it short and to the point.

Here’s a site for Stargazers who have questions about the current night sky: http://hubblesite.org/explore_astronomy/tonights_sky/

And have a great inauguration Tuesday (here in the states) or regular Tuesday (everywhere else!)

The Test

15 Thursday Jan 2009

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

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This is the test: how will we respond when confronted with something crushing, to our hopes, to the plans and goals of someone we love, to the life circumstances presented? How will we deal with a worst-case-scenario that we always thought would somehow be avoided? And we must understand something right at the start: what’s being tested is the standard of our own attitudes and beliefs, the relationship we have internally with the Universe; it’s not a test imposed from the outside, though the externals embody challenges particular to each of us as individuals. Who are we, and where do we go, in a spiritual sense, when trials come? This is the test.

Everyone appears to be grappling with something like this now, something that shows quite clearly how closely our spiritual ideas and ideals align with (or diverge from) our practice of such in the material world. Those who believe the spiritual and the physical do not reflect each other are having the worst time right now, as they confidently reject the concept of our earthly existence as a manifestation of both spirituality and karmic challenge. And please don’t misunderstand; I’m not saying that those who appear ‘lucky,’ have money, or accomplish much are somehow ‘doing better,’ spiritually speaking, than the rest of us–for who can know with certainty the real challenges being faced by any individual other than ourselves? For those who seem blessed, the test may come in a form such as, When I have great luck, how do I treat others? When I enjoy prosperity, what do I do with it, and how do I spend my intangibles, like time and love? When I accomplish, do I appreciate the roles others have played in my success? And those who enjoy abundantly in the material world may be in the midst of a response that could lead them to a hard fall, a big loss, a tragedy, in any area–for, since all energy is in spiritual terms interchangeable, the difficulties faced may play out in any arena, and carry their own special meaning for the individual–and the rest of us may have little awareness of the reality of things for anyone else.

Astrologically, I see a handful of likely culprits that may describe hurdles we’re facing; of course, one will be more or less responsive, depending on how such aspects hook into the natal chart. For some it will be a medley, for others only one aspect will be the focus of the challenge; and how we respond is as unique and individual as each Being. As well, major transits to natal planets at this time may carry the individual key to the current challenge.

Some of the aspects considered have been in effect for a while, others are just forming, but in any case the circumstances have been shaping up in their overt manifestations for roughly two to three months, so I believe a majority probably take the Saturn opposition to Uranus as background. This is likely a contest of wills, with each side firmly convinced that their approach is the ‘right’ one. That alone should be the clue that flexibility and empathy are the keys to unlocking the stalemate, no matter the subjects or justifications. For those whose upsets came rather abruptly (even though one can look back and trace a vapor trail of potential as the two factors made their way toward each other) I would suggest that Saturn quincunx Neptune may be expressive of the challenge: fear v. delusion, the tried and true v. the unknown, the solid v. the intangible, tight boundaries v. none at all. Too, the Saturn/ Neptune quincunx may be adding to the already existing situation, providing a sense of ‘reality v. unreality’ to the proceedings. And for some, the shift of Pluto into Capricorn may hold the key, with its challenges that ask, is our world, and what we do in it, truly relevant, or must it undergo extreme and irrevocable change?

Sun conjunct Juno is another candidate, bringing classic identity and empowerment struggles to the fore. Do I do it for me, or do I do it because ‘they’ told me to, and if I do, what does that make me? Choices here are dependent on how thoroughly we know our own Soul identity and purpose for both effectiveness and meaning, while the Jupiter/ Pallas square pits our own internal wisdom against the social order; the conflict is on a larger scale, or at least against a wider backdrop, with our choice affected by how conscious we are of the social standard, and how dependent we are on society’s judgement to feel comfortable in our own skin.

Points at which we may get feedback that will let us know how well we’ve handled things (many revolve around Mercury as messenger): Jan. 19th Venus semi-square Pluto= values, finances, and relationships surrender to ‘the Truth; Jan. 20th-23rd Venus conjunct Uranus= generally may indicate our response to the events of the 19th, if we’re ‘keyed’ to Venus; those awaiting news or revelation must get through the retrograde period first, then Mercury turns around and reveals what was ‘cooking’: Feb. 20th-23rd Mercury conjunct the North Node= it’s a destiny-shaping message; will we listen? Feb. 22nd-24th Mercury conjunct Jupiter= the social order gives us feedback, or the repercussions of our struggle are bigger than we anticipated; Feb. 25th-27th Mercury conjunct Juno= we learn who holds the real power, and we find the definition of andextent of our own strength in the process; Feb. 28th-Mar. 3 Mercury conjunct Mars= if the message requires action, this is when we’ll take it; Mar. 3rd-4th Mercury conjunct Chiron= we hear how to heal; again, do we listen? We also have a ‘weak point’ March 4-6th when Mercury conjuncts Neptune and we are in danger of succumbing to illusion or fantasy, inner generated or offered from without, and we have a possible ‘payoff point’ on March 4th when Venus sextiles Pallas, highlighting the wise course in relationships, values support, and finances.