$7.95 Canada: $5.95 U.S. Display Through Sept. 25

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Display through Sept. 25
A Child’s Map of the Astrology Wheel
by Tim Brown
With all the complexities that the astrology wheel offers us, Tim Brown has found
great delight in drawing a simpler, more childlike perspective in this illustration for
young and old alike. As an artist living in Los Angeles, Tim has engaged in many cre-
ative projects, including drawing a children’s book for Dom DeLuise and designing
personalized paper-doll sets for the likes of Ellen DeGeneres, Kathy Najimy, Jennifer
Aniston, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and many others (la-de-da!). Of course, one of Tim’s
favorite jobs over the past seven years has been creating astrology cartoons for TMA.
Combining art and astrology seems the perfect union, the perfect laugh, a spiritual
relief. To contact Tim for artwork info (a paper-doll set of your wife, sister, mother,
or daughter makes a great gift), e-mail him at: crackerparade@earthlink.net; to view
samples of other artwork, go to: www.timmystudios.com
© 2004 Tim Brown – all rights reserved

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4 www.mountainastrologer.com
a Letter from
* the Publisher
TMA Announcements
NEW TMA ARTICLE INDEX ONLINE SOON!
Dear Readers: We are updating our TMA Article Index through early
Welcome to 2005, and greetings to our readers all 2005 and will make it downloadable for readers on
around the world! our Web site. We plan to have the index posted no
As I write this just before going to press in mid later than March 2005 — sooner, if possible. It will be
December, Pluto has just finished transiting over The organized by subject, author, and issue date.
Mountain Astrologer’s chart-ruling, 10th-house Saturn
TMA WINTER SUBSCRIPTION SALE
(TMA was “born” with Aquarius rising, on 11/24/1987, If you are not already a TMA subscriber, this is
12:05 pm MST, Nederland, Colorado). This transit was a good time to join the ranks: From January 11
very quiet until the third and final pass, when I was through March 31, we are offering subscriptions
suddenly able to intuit what changes were brewing. at the lowest prices in years. Just order from www.
I had wondered about what upheavals Pluto might mountainastrologer.com or mail/fax in the order form
bring when Saturn, and then Venus and Uranus (in on page 110 (a photocopy is allowed, but phone
2005-06) are visited by the planet of transformation orders do not qualify); you will get a $5 discount
off our regular subscription rates, which are already
(to put it mildly).
a savings over store prices.
Here is what I believe is coming this year. First,
some new columns and a bit of restructuring. Second, a WIN A FREE LIFETIME SUBSCRIPTION
resurrection, in electronic form, of many of the classic, On March 31, we will give away two lifetime
out-of-print TMA articles from the 1990s, with a practi- subscriptions, drawn from the new orders received
cal plan for making these classic articles available again during the sale mentioned above (see page 110).
at reasonable cost to those who are interested. (We
have back issues in stock for 2001–2004, but most issues ANOTHER WINNER
before that are sold out.) And third, more emphasis Congratulations to Isabelle Haddow from Canada,
winner of our most recent drawing for a free 3-year
on our Web site. As oil prices rise and the energy cri-
subscription extension. All subscribers are automati-
sis deepens in the next few years, the cost of paper, cally entered in this drawing, and a new winner is
printing, and shipping is likely to skyrocket. (You’ll see selected every two months.
many print publications relying more on the Internet
by neccessity.) It may be that Pluto’s role here is to free BOOK REVIEWS
TMA from the Saturnian limitations inherent in physi- ...will return in our next issue.
cality (paper and ink, postage weight, etc.). In upcom-
ing issues, we will keep you informed of how these SUBSCRIBER ALERT
Unless you have paid for first-class mail delivery,
projects are developing.\ please do not call or e-mail the subscription
TMA’s mission, as I see it, is to reflect the astrologi- department until the first day of the issue month
cal community back to itself as completely as possible, to report that your magazine has not arrived. For
to help educate a new generation of astrologers, and example, you’re welcome to contact us on April 1
to provide a physical record of astrological thought if your April/May issue has not arrived. In our
and practice at the turn of the millennium, for future experience, most magazines arrive well before the
researchers to peruse — all that while providing some issue month. To help the situation, we mail TMA as
early as possible, and we post the first two weeks of
degree of astrological guidance to the public.
the upcoming Forecast Calendar on our Web site,
In that spirit, here is another great issue of TMA,
www.mountainastrologer.com, as a service to any
including an interview with one of our favorite astrol- readers who do not receive TMA in a timely manner
ogers, Liz Greene, whom most of you know (from because of postal delivery problems.
devouring her many books). If you ate way too much
during the holiday season and need to balance out the ADDRESS CHANGES
excess Taurus energy in your life, enjoy munching on You can also avoid a delayed or missing issue by
these high-fiber articles. giving us your address changes as soon as possible.
— Please call us toll-free at (800) 287-4828, or e-mail
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confirm that your new address was received.
of the Mercury Direct section in this issue.
Feb./Mar. 2005 * The Mountain Astrologer 5

Issue #119 • Feb/Mar 2005
Feature Articles
26 Modern Perspectives from 51 The Ninth House

Ancient Symbolism: by Dana Gerhardt
Cancer the Crab The 9th house is a happy house! It rules
by Deborah Houlding exotic faraway places and adventures of
It’s never too late to go the mind (higher learning and spiritual
back to the basics! This nourishment). Here is where we set out on
experienced astrologer is a grand quest for Truth and the meaning of
graciously working with our existence.
TMA to adapt her Sun-sign profiles for our
pages. We start with the sign of Cancer 57 Neptune: Where More than
— its personality traits, essential dignities, Two Worlds Touch
and traditional rulerships, as demonstrated
by Jodie Forrest
by compelling modern examples.
The Neptunian reality says that we are all
one. Not everybody knows this, though.
31 Hard Aspects between Jodie Forrest teaches us how to protect
Venus and Uranus ourselves from those who don’t see this
by Robin Antepara truth — and she does this by spellbinding
According to this author, hard aspects us with stories.
between Venus and Uranus can indicate the
capacity for “selfless love” and partnerships 67 Remedial Measures
that reflect great disparity in age, education, in Vedic Astrology
or cultural background. Examples include
by Gary Gomes
Princess Di and Katharine Hepburn,
who were both involved in star-crossed One of the richest offerings in the treasure
relationships. chest of Vedic astrology is the variety of
remedial measures for planetary affliction.
This article gives just a sampling of what
39 A Tale of Two Doctors: Part 2 we can do to make the best of our natal
Interview with Liz Greene chart.
by Darrelyn Gunzburg
The doyenne of psychological astrology 82 Saturn and the Shadow
talks about growing up in a European by Donna Lee
household in the States, the benefits of
Any part of ourselves — whether
studying the history of astrology and
unacceptable or even desirable — that
amassing “bits of paper” (diplomas),
we disown is banished to Shadow Land.
writing books as a learning experience,
Understanding our Saturn placement helps
living in Oxford, and teaching at Bath Spa
us to reclaim the Shadow and reunite all of
University College.
our qualities into a whole Self.
Forecast Section
PLANETARY CURRENTS SECTION
PLANET TRACKS: 91 Where’s That Moon?
9 ; The American Mars 92 Feb/Mar Forecast Calendar

by Dharmaruci by Jeff Jawer
In the U.S. Sibly chart, the God of War in Gemini 100 Feb/Mar Declination Graph
is being spotlighted both by progression and by
the transit of Pluto, revealing the “dark twin” 101 New and Full Moon Reports
of U.S. military involvement and pointing to a • Aquarius New Moon
re-assessment of its place in the world. Major • Virgo Full Moon
upheaval lies ahead, but the author finds some
cause for optimism. • Pisces New Moon
• Libra Full Moon
14 Newsmaker Chart: Tiger Woods by Stephanie Austin
by Pat Taglilatelo
105 Astro*Carto*Graphy Maps
16 Venus–Neptune Conjunction in Aquarius

by Marcia Starck
TMA Departments
18 When Transits Echo Natal Aspects
by Donna Cunningham 2 Artist’s Showcase
featuring Tim Brown
20 The Future of the United States 5 Publisher's Letter

and Announcements
by Maya del Mar
8 Letters to the Editor
22 Ask ASTRO-COACH 80 Astrology News and
by Nicki Michaels Conference Calendar
by Gloria Star
86 Poems
by Michael Poitras
88 TMA Professional Directory

In our Mercury Direct section 106 Classified Ads
(stapled in the center of this issue of TMA)
107 Cartoons:
What the Zodiac Signs
; The Stonewall Chart: Bring to a Potluck
An Astrological View of Gay Spirit by Tim Brown
by Joe Perez
; Software Reviews: Astracadabra 2004 and

Cover art and article
Digital Time Capsule 2D, Professional Version illustrations (except where
by Hank Friedman otherwise noted)
by M. Tara Sanders

Letters of human consciousness, by means of
a global suffer-and-protest pattern, will
ultimately serve the increasing need for
MOUNTAIN
ASTROLOGER
THE
to the political and socioeconomic rebalanc-

ing, especially after these fateful septiles Volume 18, No. 2
Editor
become the productive Neptune–Pluto P.O. Box 970, Cedar Ridge, CA 95924
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Neptune will have completed its dis- Publisher TEM TARRIKTAR
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ters. Letters may be edited for content or possible that the political pursuit of Web & Book Editor MARY PLUMB
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Vedic Astrology Editor LINDA JOHNSEN
global warming and lead to univer- Special Projects KATE SHOLLY
Dear TMA: sal development of safe/green/natural Art Director M. TARA SANDERS
I was delighted to see Tem Tarrik- energy sources and the compassionate Advertising Manager JUDY SCHWEIN
tar’s article, “The Neptune–Pluto Cycle sharing of water? Circulation Manager JUDITH COOPER
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and the Next Seven Years” (TMA, These Neptune–Pluto septiles refer Store Distribution CAROL SPRINGER
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to Planet Earth, and eight years later humanity as a whole, without enslav- ADDRESS CHANGES: Since we mail early, we need four
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I rewrote and expanded the original ing or destroying it in the process. mail, or e-mail address changes. We will deduct one issue
essay for publication in the Feb./April Mahatma Gandhi said that an eye for from your subscription if we need to replace your magazine
because you did not notify us of your new address.
2002 issue of Considerations magazine. an eye makes the whole world blind,
WRITERS: Thinking of writing for us? Writers’ guidelines
Thus, I was happy to see fresh astrolog- and the Dalai Lama has said that war are available that spell out our requirements for article
ical attention being paid to the mean- is obsolete in this day and age. Rac- queries (see them online at www.mountainastrologer.com).
We are not responsible for returning material unless accom-
ing of the Neptune–Pluto septiles, and ism, violence, and genocide are totally panied by a SASE.
in this case, by the publisher of The negative expressions of Love — which
ADVERTISING: Advertising your product or service in
Mountain Astrologer. I liked how Tem is essentially a principle of redemption, TMA is by far the best way to gain visibility in the world
of astrology. Request our advertising brochure for prices,
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commentary on ten future charts whose dominance, and control issues are also brochure by calling us at (800) 948-8048.
planetary patterns blended with the deep emotional blockages surrounding NOTE: The opinions and philosophies expressed by the
outer septile itself. Possession as a principle of stewardship writers published in The Mountain Astrologer are not nec-
essarily a reflection of the opinions and philosophies of the
The first series of seven Neptune– and detachment regarding the right use Publisher or the staff. Diversity is welcomed in the spirit
of catalyzing discussion. TMA’s role is to be a resource and
Pluto septiles from 1937 to 1940 in- of money and resources. We are all in to provide a forum for the global astrological community.
volved the signs Virgo/Cancer and was the same boat, planet Earth herself. We In addition, readers should exercise good judgment
when purchasing a product or service advertised in these
synchronous with the beginnings of must eliminate the fearful and deadly pages, as we do not investigate each product or service.
WWII, whereas this prevailing second dis-ease of warfare as a means of work-
© 2005 The Mountain Astrologer - all rights reserved
series of 20 septiles from 2001 to 2011 ing out our problems, and we need to Manufactured & printed in the United States (Wisconsin),
involves the signs Aquarius/Sagittarius heal the collective physical, emotional, using recycled paper and soy-based inks.
through 2007, and Aquarius/Capricorn mental, and spiritual bodies of our The Mountain Astrologer (ISSN 1079-1345) (Feb./Mar.
in 2008–11. Today’s world is much human brothers and sisters on Earth. I 2005, Vol. 18, No. 2) is published 6 times per year (bi-
monthly) by The Mountain Astrologer, 436 Colfax Ave.,
more inclusive and interdependent, but feel that this is the true message of the Grass Valley, CA 95945-6840. PERIODICALS postage
this so-called War on Terror is dreadful Neptune–Pluto septiles, and it is our paid at Grass Valley, California and additional mailing
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theless, the concurrent collectivization continued on page 84
The American Mars
by Dharmaruci
I
n 1891, Neptune conjoined Pluto at Therefore, since the time of its matter — after a witch hunt by the neo-
8° Gemini, marking the beginning transformation by the Neptune and conservatives (who are now in power)
of a new 500-year era whose nature Pluto transits, the American Mars can — could also be seen as the country
may become clearer to us in another be seen as a tool of U.S. imperialism. turning on itself, losing faith in itself,
century or so. This conjunction was These transits, as conjunctions, repre- and finding imaginary demons within its
just four degrees from the U.S. (Sibly) sent the beginning of a whole new cycle boundaries. After September 11, 2001,
Descendant at 12° Gemini (see Chart 1, that still has quite a while to run. the U.S. at last identified a new demonic
next page) — perhaps indicating the opponent in the Islamic jihadists and is
pervasive influence the United States The Faces of Mars now fighting them through its War on
would have on other countries (Descen- The U.S. Mars is in Gemini. This Terror. And the paramilitary organisa-
dant). Astrologically, what has come to sign can be understood in terms of tions within the U.S. have all but disap-
be called the American Century began “light twin” and “dark twin,” and an peared from view.
in the 1890s as first Neptune and then aware individual will make some sort of The U.S. Mars is also square to
Pluto crossed the U.S. Descendant. attempt to bring the two together. The natal 9th-house Neptune at 22°25'
A few years after this, Neptune and U.S., however, is notable for dividing Virgo, which was also activated by the
Pluto passed over the U.S. 7th-house the world into good and evil, with the 1898–1904 transits. Neptune, we could
Mars at 21°23' Gemini, heralding the U.S. naturally on the side of “good” — say, spiritualises and intensifies the ini-
arrival of the U.S. as a world military and “evil” being somewhere else, “out tial division of the world into good and
power. Until that time, America had there.” Mars is also in the 7th house, a evil; thus, the U.S. considers itself to
had a tradition of isolationism going typical place for projecting evil onto the be on a God-given mission to save the
back to George Washington’s warning, Other. (The U.S. Descendant in Gemini world from evil. And there is frequently
in his Farewell Address, against getting also describes this phenomenon; the an apparent redemptive aspect to Amer-
embroiled in foreign quarrels. Despite Descendant and 7th-house Mars reflect ica’s reasons for engaging in war: WWII
the persistence of this attitude, the many of the same American charac- was fought to save Europe from Hitler
Neptune and Pluto transits neverthe- teristics, so they should be considered (and Stalin); the Korean and Vietnam
less suggest a fundamental change in together.) Most countries tend to demon- wars were to save those countries (and
the U.S. attitude toward foreign military ise their opponents in time of war, but the “Free World”) from Communism;
involvement from the start of the 20th the U.S. seems to have a psychological and the Gulf War, to save Kuwait from
century. need for a demonic opponent on an Saddam Hussein. I think that, to some
This change seems to have hap- ongoing basis. For many years, Com- extent, Neptune really was redemp-
pened bang on cue: Neptune conjoined munism provided this outlet. After the tive in those cases. But clearly, other
the U.S. Mars in 1898, the same year collapse of the USSR, there was no motives come into play that are often
as the Spanish-American War, which obvious enemy, and the U.S. appeared obvious to outsiders but evidently not
resulted in the U.S. gaining its first over- to turn on itself for a while, with the rise to most Americans (tricky Gemini and
seas colonies (Puerto Rico, Guam, and of paramilitary organisations within the even trickier Neptune). A classic recent
the Philippines) — just before Pluto con- country that were opposed to an alleged example: People were led to believe, as
joined the U.S. Mars in 1904. The U.S. government conspiracy to control the grounds for the war on Iraq, that there
had acquired imperial ambitions, and population. This movement resulted in was a connection between Saddam
during the next 25 years, it intervened in violent events such as the Oklahoma Hussein and 9/11, even though many
Latin America, both militarily and com- City bombing. The impeachment of Bill people knew that this was not true. That
mercially.1 Clinton in 1998 over a relatively minor was just one instance within the layers of
see a similar situation arising over water when the transiting Sun and Uranus
shortages as these kick in over the next in Aquarius conjoined the U.S. Moon,
century. Canada has huge reserves of hundreds of thousands of people dem-
fresh water. Will the Canadians, too, onstrated in New York City against
deception leading up to the Iraq War — be suspected of harbouring weapons of the coming war in Iraq — despite the
what Senator Edward Kennedy called a mass destruction? best efforts of the police to block the
“fraud dreamt up in Texas.” Uranus is at 9° Gemini in the U.S. demonstration. This was just one pro-
The United Kingdom (where I live) chart, conjunct the Descendant; this test among many at that time. And, of
has a different character from that of the seems to reflect the notion that Amer- course, Michael Moore’s anti-Bush film,
U.S.; it has neither the ongoing need for ica is bringing “freedom” to the world. Fahrenheit 9/11, has been hugely suc-
a demonic opponent nor the urge to be George W. Bush uses this term like a cessful in the U.S. In modern democra-
the world’s Redeemer. But Tony Blair, mantra to describe U.S. action in Iraq. cies, we take such freedoms for granted,
like the U.S., has Mars in Gemini (in his Uranus has its tyrannical side, so the but historically, there have not been
case, on the Ascendant). Since becom- U.S. frequently ends up in the paradoxi- many governments — or governmen-
ing Prime Minister in 1997, he has been cal situation of attempting to impose tal systems — that would have tolerated
in the throes of a series of major Nep- “freedom” (i.e., their own system of such levels of criticism.
tune transits: to his Capricorn MC, his government) on other countries. Some-
Aquarius Moon, and currently to his Tau- times, this has good results (e.g., Japan The Pluto–Mars Cycle
rus Sun (chart not shown). So, much at the end of WWII), and sometimes it Both Neptune and Pluto conjoined
to the bemusement — and anger — of is blind and inappropriate — as in Iraq, the U.S. Mars a little more than 100
many Britons, Tony Blair has been able which has no tradition of democracy years ago, but the subsequent transits of
to throw himself behind the war efforts of and, according to both common sense Pluto to the U.S. Mars have the clearest
an American government that ostensibly and astrology, seems likely to end up as correspondence in terms of wars. This is
comes from the opposite end of the polit- a fundamentalist Islamic state. The chart the particular meaning of Mars that I am
ical spectrum. Many Britons refer to the for the handover of power in Iraq (see examining here. Opposite is a table of
conflict in Iraq as “Blair’s War.” Chart 2, below) has a Jupiter–Pluto Pluto transits to the U.S. Mars and the
Neptune, of course, is also about square, which could reflect the fun- corresponding wars.
oil, so the U.S. natal Mars squaring damentalism of both the current U.S. As can be seen from the table, there
Neptune suggests that American wars, administration and the Islamic jihadists. was only one major aspect — the trine
in the current age, will often have a lot It is worth remembering that there — when a war didn’t happen, though
to do with oil. But because Neptune is are some remarkable freedoms in the perhaps a case could be made for
involved and because the aspect is a U.S. (which has the Moon in Aquarius, including the Iran hostage crisis which
square, this will not be obvious. Nep- as well as Uranus on the Descendant). began in late 1979. Clearly, the U.S.
tune also represents water, so we may On February 15, 2003, for example, Mars is very sensitive to Pluto transits.
Chart 1: Chart 2:
U.S. Sibly Handover of
chart Power in Iraq
Placidus houses,
True Node
Vietnam is also known as the war
Pluto Transit Date War (Date) where the U.S. was forced, for the first
time, to face its own brutality. A defin-
Conjunction 1904–06 Start of U.S. imperialism
ing moment was the My Lai massacre,
(after Spanish-American War in 1898)
which occurred on March 16, 1968,
Sextile 1951–52 Korean War (1950–53) when transiting Pluto was retrograde
Square 1967–68 Vietnam War (1961–75) at 21°25' Virgo, two minutes from an
exact square to natal Mars. Need we
Trine 1979–80 say more? A classic function of Pluto is
Quincunx 1991–92 Gulf War (1990–91) to reveal one’s shadow side, the side
that is not compatible with the idealised
Opposition 2004 Iraq War (2003– )
image that people — or countries —
may hold of themselves. The exactness
And the relevant war often starts in the The Vietnam War occurred under of the square suggests that this particular
immediate run-up to the transit. So, the square of Pluto to Mars, a much less function of Pluto was indeed part of the
what are these transits about? favourable aspect with sharper lessons meaning of that war.
Let’s look at the three biggest con- to teach. Again, the U.S. was trying to
flicts: the Korean, Vietnam, and Iraq stop the communist north of a country The Crucible of Iraq
wars, which correspond to the sextile, from conquering the non-communist And so we come to the Iraq War
square, and opposition, respectively, south. This war was unwinnable; Amer- under the current Pluto opposition to
of Pluto to the U.S. Mars.2 We are dis- ica learned that, in modern times, if a the U.S. Mars. In this war, all previ-
cussing a cycle here, as Pluto moves out large part of the population of a foreign ous lessons seem to have been forgot-
from the conjunction of 1904. With the country opposes you, the war becomes ten, and none of the ostensible reasons
current opposition, Pluto has reached very expensive, and a final victory can- for going to war hold water. As ghastly
the halfway point, farthest away from not be secured. The European powers as Saddam Hussein was, he did not
the conjunction. had figured this out earlier in the 20th pose a significant security threat and
I think we can see the U.S. Pluto– century as they dismantled their foreign did not have weapons of mass destruc-
Mars cycle in terms of the country learn- empires. tion; moreover, large parts of the Iraqi
ing (or not learning) the lessons of
empire from a military point of view.
With the Korean and Vietnam wars, the
U.S. wanted to stop the spread of Com-
munism and to promote its own demo-
cratic system, for better or worse. In the
Korean War, the northern communists
had overrun virtually the whole of the
south; very quickly, America managed
not just to reverse this, but to overrun
North Korea as well. Then the Chi-
nese swiftly reversed almost all of these
American gains, and the war turned into
a long slog. This war occurred under
a sextile of Pluto to Mars, and it did
have the favourable nature and learn-
ing potential of the sextile: The U.S. was
able to achieve its original aim of liber-
ating South Korea from its conquerors,
but America had to learn that there were
limitations to what it could do in relation
to the big communist powers. Perhaps
America also learned something about
its own tendency to demonise an oppo-
nent, since these were also the years
of the McCarthy anti-Communist witch
hunts which, in many respects, had a
devastating effect on American life. One
could characterise this as the inward
face of the Pluto–Mars transit.

This principle can be applied to a series
of Pluto transits: Each successive tran-
Both the Vietnam
sit reveals the true character more fully.
and Iraq wars occurred In the case of the U.S. Pluto–Mars tran-
population (plus plenty of insurgents under hard transits sits, it could be argued that they have
from outside the country) are opposed of Pluto to the revealed raw American imperialism.
to the U.S. presence. This war, there- With the current Pluto–Mars opposition
fore, looks to be unwinnable as well,
U.S. Mars.
and the Iraq War, the naked self-interest
and with Pluto at its furthest point from is plain to see. The series of waning
natal Mars, the U.S. seems to have Pluto transits to Mars will therefore pro-
reached a nadir in terms of its honesty, oil supplies coming our way in just a few vide an opportunity to build on this pos-
intelligence, motives, and tactics for the years, which will lead to a world very sibly enhanced self-knowledge. With
war and its aftermath. This is not to say different from the one we live in now. any luck, we will see the beginnings of a
that removing Saddam wasn’t a good (Pluto squared the U.S. Neptune and new psychological maturity as America
thing for Iraq: It might prove to be, in the OPEC Sun in Virgo in 2004, sug- starts to bring the light and dark twins
the long term, a manifestation of Ameri- gesting that the current war is a harbin- together: to see the arrogance of turning
ca’s redemptive Neptune again. But that ger of this future oil crisis.) Intelligence, its own political system into a God-given
wasn’t why the U.S. (and one or two moderation, and restraint on the part Truth, to see its own greed and drive
lesser players) went to war with Iraq. of the major powers will be needed to for power, and to see that, as human
From very early on, this war was negotiate these difficult waters. These beings, Americans are no better than
compared by some to Vietnam. Such are not qualities that we are likely to see their enemies. If this happens, it can be
comments were made well before the from the current U.S. administration. traced back to the humiliation of 9/11,
situation had become so intractable, The trouble with an energy crisis is that when Pluto was opposite the U.S. Gem-
and they now seem prescient, showing it raises survival issues, which in turn ini Descendant (Pluto is also now at the
an awareness of the lessons of the past. bring about right-wing, military govern- start of a return trajectory from the U.S.
And the astrology is similar: Both wars ments. Americans behave as though the Ascendant to the Descendant). Since
occurred under hard transits of Pluto to oil supply is limitless, but they may be then, we have witnessed an intensifi-
natal Mars. America got its fingers burnt aware on a deeper level that the sup- cation of America’s tendency to divide
in Vietnam, and for a long time it did ply is dwindling; this could be the main the world into good and evil; however,
seem to have learned from that. Now, (albeit unconscious) reason behind the characteristics that are about to change
under the leadership of a different gen- re-election of President Bush: survival. under a Pluto transit sometimes seem
eration, the U.S. appears to have forgot- At the moment, it seems probable that to reach a new intensity in their death
ten the lessons but is, hopefully, in the the U.S. will move into the oil crisis in a throes. This may be what we are seeing
process of relearning them. messianic, unilateral, highly aggressive with the Bush administration.
The torture of Iraqi prisoners by way. (In 2010, there will be a cardinal
American soldiers at Abu Ghraib prison t-square involving Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Progressed Mars
first became known to the world on Uranus, and Pluto aspecting the U.S. The U.S. progressed Mars also has
April 29, 2004. As with the My Lai mas- Midheaven at 1° Libra.) a significant part to play in this dynamic.
sacre, Pluto was retrograde and very We should not rule out, however, At the attack on Pearl Harbor, pro-
close to an exact hard aspect to Mars the possibility that the U.S. will learn gressed Mars was one degree from the
— this time, within half a degree (chart from the experience of the Iraq War, in U.S. MC, and as the Vietnam War drew
not shown). So, in this war, just as in time for the 2008 election and the com- to a close, progressed Mars squared the
Vietnam, the brutish face of the U.S. is ing oil crisis. Learn what? That there are U.S. Sun. Progressed Mars is still in the
being held up to public scrutiny. In ret- limits to its power (see the section on U.S. 10th house in Libra and, in July
rospect, this sort of occurrence seems progressed Mars, below), that it needs 2006, will go retrograde (for 80 years)
psychologically inevitable, given the allies, and that “insurgents” and ter- for the first time in U.S. history — just as
current U.S. government’s extreme rorists can make the acquisition of oil Pluto is starting its long journey back to
demonisation of Saddam and the “ter- through military conquest a very difficult conjoin natal Mars.
rorists.” It may be too early to say what and expensive process. Mars’s retrograde motion suggests
long-term effect this will have. Some do not consider Pluto to be the U.S. getting even more bogged
Now that the ideologically driven a planet, but rather an object from the down in Iraq or suffering a terminal
George W. Bush has been re-elected, Kuiper belt made from primordial rock change of military fortunes there. (I pre-
America is unlikely to learn much from and without the complexity of a true dict that the U.S. will leave Iraq to the
its experience — until 2008, at least. planet. This description corresponds well jihadists in late 2007 or early 2008, as
This is quite worrisome, since analy- to its astrological function, which is to Jupiter moves from squaring Pluto, in
sis of the charts of the major powers, strip one down to expose the basic reali- the chart for the handover of power in
OPEC, and the First Oil Strike in the ties; out of this process (hopefully), a 2004, to conjoining natal Pluto three
U.S. indicates a major crisis over finite more authentic character can be reborn. years after that.)
The wider, long-term meaning of
the progression may well have to do
with America finally realising that it can-
not attempt to rule the world alone any-
more. The youthful military confidence
and braggadocio that have gone virtually
unchecked for a century may gradually
give way to a more considered, realistic,
multilateral attitude, based on an under-
standing of U.S. limitations, economic
as well as military. I make such Satur-
nian predictions because the U.S. has
natal Saturn (ruler of the 2nd house of
wealth) at 15° Libra in the 10th house:
Progressed Mars will retrograde back to
conjoin this Saturn for 25 years starting
in 2006, while progressed Saturn itself
began a 135-year retrograde motion
(again, for the first time) in 1997. So, the
Pluto–Mars transits and the progressions
of Mars and Saturn taken together all
seem to point to a reversal of American
military fortunes in the short term and
a re-assessment of its place in the world
over the next 25 years or so. I find this a
cause for optimism.
The U.S. will also be undergoing
major upheavals during this time period
(along with the other major powers) as
the transiting Neptune–Chiron conjunc-
tion conjoins the U.S. Moon (2010), the
Uranus–Pluto square hits its MC (2009–
11) and then its Sun–Saturn square
(2014–15), and Neptune in Pisces
squares its Ascendant (2016–18). Then
the U.S. will experience Neptune oppo-
site natal Neptune (2021–22), its Pluto
return (2022) and Uranus return (2027),
and Uranus conjunct its Descendant
(2028–29). But that is another story!
Chart Data and Sources

(in order of reference)
U.S. “Sibly” chart, July 4, 1776; 5:10 p.m.
LMT; Philadelphia, PA (39°N57', 75°W10');
Nicholas Campion, Book of World Horo-
scopes (BWH), The Wessex Astrologer Ltd.,
2004, Chart 370.
Tony Blair, May 6, 1953; 6:10 a.m. GDT;
Edinburgh, Scotland (55°N57', 03°W13'); AA:
Caroline Gerard quotes birth certificate.
Handover of Power in Iraq, June 28, 2004;
10:26 a.m. BAT; Baghdad, Iraq (33°N21',
44°E25'); BBC News.
OPEC, September 14, 1960; 9:00 a.m. GMT;
Baghdad, Iraq (33°N21', 44°E25'); Campion,
BWH, Chart 422.
continued on page 86

V planetary currents V
“Mary Reilly”
Newsmaker Chart:
TIGER WOODS
sponsored by AstroDatabank
Text provided by Pat Taglilatelo
(AstroDatabank Editor) and
adapted from the Web site:
http://www.astrodatabank.com
Equal houses,
Tiger Woods True Node
December 30, 1975; 10:50 p.m. PST (+8:00)
Long Beach, California (33°N46', 118°W11')
Rodden Rating: AA
Source: Birth certificate
Source Notes: Birth certificate in hand,
Lois M. Rodden
Biography:
Eldrick “Tiger” Woods is an Amer- In 1997, he
ican golfer, perhaps the best young signed prod-
golfer in history. On April 13, 1997, uct endorse-
his record-setting score of 270 at the ments worth
Masters tournament catapulted him to $60 million
fame; he was the youngest winner in over five years,
the 61-year history of that competition with both Nike and
and the first person of mixed race to Titleist. His coach for
achieve such glory. He followed this vic- many years was Butch
tory with several more. In 1999, he won Harmon (born August 28,
the World Cup for both individual and 1943 in Detroit, Michigan).
team performance. With his eight-stroke Woods is known as a fine man who moves into a zone of intense concentra-
victory at the British Open on July was raised with love, rules, respect, con- tion. Earl Woods wrote a book about his
24, 2000, Woods became the young- fidence, and pride in his heritage (which famous son, aptly titled Training a Tiger,
est player to complete a Grand Slam, includes one-fourth white, one-fourth published in June 1997.
winning all four major championships: Chinese, one-fourth Thai, one-eighth Tiger Woods is a Buddhist who
the Masters, the U.S. Open, the British African-American, and one-eighth confirms that he meditates — but not
Open, and the PGA Championship. No Native American). His parents raised as much as he used to. Although his
one has succeeded in this sport more their only child to play a productive role world has become a glittering succession
quickly or decisively than he has. in society. His father, Earl Woods, a of private jets, chauffeured limos, and
Before Woods’s 1996 professional retired military man, gave Tiger his first luxury hotels, friends say that he is still
debut, he was the youngest player (at golf club at the age of three and taught the same easygoing, video-game-loving
the age of 15) to win the U.S. Junior him to concentrate. When Tiger prac- young man. Before his 25th birthday,
Amateur title — and the first to win ticed as a kid, his dad would shout, Tiger broke up with his then-girlfriend
three of them. He moved on to the pro wave things, run around, and do what- Joanna Jogoda, and his dad remarked
circuit on August 28, 1996. In Decem- ever he could to distract him. Thus, the that he would probably not marry
ber 1996 and again in 2000, he was young Woods learned to focus. Now, before the age of 30. Tiger had other
named Sportsman of the Year by Sports as a professional on the green, he will things on his mind that year, includ-
Illustrated magazine, becoming the first smile and wave at people, but when ing his game. In October 2001, he pub-
athlete to be accorded that honor twice. he turns his attention to his game, he lished a book entitled How I Play Golf.
Showing that he enjoys a good time, What Do You Think?
he dyed his hair blond on a short-lived Tiger Woods is a young golf phe-
whim while he was partying at a resort nomenon, the likes of which the sport
with his pal, basketball star Michael Jor- has never seen before. Like other suc-
dan, over the New Year’s holiday. cessful athletes that Gauquelin studied,
Software: AstroDatabank, Io Edition, Kepler, JigSaw, Käla, Parashara’s Light, Solar Fire, Solar Writer,
On April 14, 2002, at Georgia’s Woods has Mars in the 9th house near
AstrologySoftwareShop.com
Toll free: 877-275-0987
Report Writers: Natal, Compatibility, Forecast, Vocational, Spiritual, AstroCartography, Child, Tarot
Augusta National Golf Club, the golfing the Midheaven.
great captured his third Masters crown
— his second in two consecutive years 1. What can we tell about Woods’s
(2001 and ’02) — joining the ranks of style of athleticism from his particular
Jack Nicklaus (who won in 1965 and Mars — retrograde in Gemini and
’66) and Nick Faldo (’89 and ’90) as the opposite his Moon?
only players to win back-to-back Masters
tournaments. Woods shot a 12-under- 2. Where else in this chart do you see
par 276 for the tournament and col- his drive to win, his focus, discipline,
lected $1,008,000. In July of that year, and his early rise to fame and fortune?
Tiger met Elin Nordegren, a gorgeous
blonde Swedish model and nanny. 3. Just after Tiger Woods won his first
On November 25, 2003, they became Masters tournament, he immediately
engaged at a game reserve in South turned to his dad for an emotion-filled
...All you need to make the best choice

Africa, and they were married on Octo- hug. His father, Earl, has been the young
ber 5, 2004 — before his 30th birthday man’s disciplinarian, teacher, friend,
— at the Sandy Lane Beach resort in coach, and ardent supporter. Astrolo-
Saint James Parish, Barbados. The cou- gers have differing views about which
ple said “I do” at 5:40 p.m. local time, parent is represented by the 4th house
according to a Caribbean Broadcasting and which is described by the 10th. In
Corporation reporter quoted on CNN. this chart, which house best portrays
In 2004, Woods lost his #1 world his dad? What other astrological factors
ranking to Vijay Singh, but he contin- point to their close relationship?
ues to astound his fans. By late 2004,
Woods had accumulated more than You are welcome to participate in
$53,000,000 in prize money alone. He the debate at http://www.astrodatabank.
won his first-ever championship match com/NM/WoodsTiger.htm.
in Japan on November 21, 2004, bring- You will find a detailed biography
ing the number of countries where he plus answers to all these questions at
ASTRODATABANK
has won a title up to ten. Still a young this address, and you can add your own
man, he has many more matches to win comments.
and records to break over the next few
decades. © 2005 AstroDatabank — all rights reserved
TimePassages, Win*Star
New on Planet Tracks Online!
TMA Editor Mary Plumb gave a thought-provoking keynote

address concerning the 2004 presidential election at the NCGR
Regional Conference in Ashland, Oregon on November 4, 2004
(the day of the Venus–Jupiter conjunction in Libra). Her remarks
have been adapted into an article that is now posted
in the Planet Tracks section of our Web site.
Go to: www.mountainastrologer.com
and click on the “Planet Tracks” button.

earth medicine V planetary currents V
Venus–Neptune Conjunction
in Aquarius
by Marcia Starck
Note: This column does not purport to the dark side of Venus is the horoscope This symbol could indicate a move-
give medical advice; rather, it suggests of former U.S. President Bill Clinton ment by certain groups — spearheaded
various herbs, supplements, and other (chart not shown), as seen in his affair by Congressman Dennis Kucinich of
tools that can help to keep the body in with Monica Lewinsky. On his Ascen- Ohio — that have been trying to cre-
balance during planetary transits. dant at 5°30' Libra, Mars and Neptune ate a national Department of Peace.
are rising at 6+° Libra, with Venus at In fact, the state of New Mexico has
O
11° Libra. Manifesting Venus–Neptune, drawn up a bill proposing a state Office
n February 14, Valentine’s and then lying about it, almost led to his of Peace, with sponsorship by both the
Day, Venus conjoins Neptune removal from office. state House and Senate for possible
in Aquarius — a wonderful symbolic Venus–Neptune in Aquarius tends funding in their January 2005 session.
transit to commemorate the day of love to bring out humanitarian concerns Also, both Arizona and California have
and romance. The last time Venus con- and symbolizes the drive for world begun work on similar bills to present
joined Neptune in Aquarius was Decem- peace that has been so prevalent these to their respective legislatures.
ber 30, 2003, nine months after the past two years. The Sabian symbol for Looking at the horoscope cast for
United States began its preemptive war this conjunction, in the 16th degree of Washington, D.C. at the moment of the
in Iraq. Aquarius, reads: “A big businessman conjunction, we see the Moon at 15°
Since Venus’s transit of the Sun on at his desk; the ability to organize the Taurus exactly square Venus and Nep-
June 8, 2004, astrologers have been many aspects of an enterprise involv- tune (see Chart, below). The Moon
paying more attention to Venus, while ing a large group of human beings.”1 is in the 8th house of investments, so
gaining a deeper understanding of her one wonders whether this represents
shadow side. When she is dancing in problems with investments in other
the light, Venus is full of love, romance, countries. The Sun and Mercury are
artistic beauty, and balance. When conjunct at 27° Aquarius in the 6th
she manifests her dark side, she can house, sextile both Pluto and the
become fearful, jealous, unwilling North Node and in a grand trine
to open her heart, and even vin- with the Midheaven (MC) and
dictive. the South Node. This Sun–
In conjunction with Nep- Mercury conjunction is on
tune, Venus moves grace- the U.S. (Sibly) Moon (chart
fully with her higher octave on page 20), which could
when she shows her strong Venus–Neptune indicate more energy in for-
compassion, mystical quali- Conjunction eign aid packages.
ties, and superior artistic abili- Feb. 14, 2005 How is this conjunction
ties. Her dark side comes out affecting our own charts?
when she is under the illusions What house does it fall in?
of Neptune: seeing others as And what aspects does it
she would like them to be and make, particularly to our natal
unconscious of how she displays Venus and Neptune? Are there
her affections. A good example of areas where we might employ
more understanding and compas-
sion or manifest our creative energies
Chart uses Placidus houses and the True Node. in new ways?
Venus rules the throat and thyroid a strong alkaline effect, especially when
gland; it also rules the kidneys and this mixture is consumed in the morn-
bladder. Hard natal aspects between ing. These herbs should be simmered in
Venus and Neptune may indicate hot water: 2 tablespoons of each herb to
erratic functioning of the thyroid; they about 3–4 cups of water.
may also signify blood sugar problems Valentine’s Day has always been a
or a tendency to overindulge in alcohol time for music and poetry events. This
or recreational drugs. Neptune governs Venus–Neptune conjunction should
the immune system, so Neptunian sub- inspire our creative juices to flow freely.
stances such as poisons and toxins Appropriate ways to celebrate this cos-
(including alcohol and drugs) lower the mic encounter would include rituals
Marcia Starck is known internation-
functioning of the immune system. focusing on compassion and love for
ally for her work in Medical Astrology
This may be a good time to cut back humanity, as well as gestures involving and women’s medicine ways and ritu-
on sugars — after the chocolate hearts donations of food and clothing to those als. She has lectured throughout the
are finished, of course! For people with who are homeless and hungry. United States, Canada, and Europe.
serious immune disorders, the herb Her personal consultations incorpo-
chaparral is a strong blood purifier. It Chart Data and Sources rate astrology with nutrition, herbol-
can be mixed with red clover, which ogy, and other healing techniques. She
Bill Clinton, August 19, 1946; 8:51 a.m. also does general astrological counsel-
is a mild blood purifier. Herbs such as CST; Hope, AR (33°N40', 93°W35'); A: Birth ing, with an emphasis on the psycho-
alfalfa mixed with nettles and borage time noted by his mother in a letter to Shelley logical and spiritual areas of life, as
can help to alkalinize the body and Ackerman. well as Astro*Carto*Graphy. Marcia
provide extra minerals. The more has written ten books, including Medi-
alkaline the body is, the stronger the Reference cal Astrology and Healing for the 21st
immune system will be. This combina- Century. Her newest book, The Turn-
1. Dane Rudhyar, An Astrological Mandala: The
ing Wheel, is a collection of seasonal
tion of herbs would also be helpful for Cycle of Transformations and Its 360 Symbolic
poems. These books can be ordered
those who have problems with their Phases, Vintage Books, 1973.
at Earth Medicine Books (www.Earth
kidneys or bladder. Alfalfa leaves con- MedicineWays.com); (505) 983-8779;
tain most of the amino acids and have © 2005 Marcia Starck – all rights reserved e-mail: earthmed@aol.com
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Chart
Essential Elements of
Interpretation Part Eleven:

A Promise Fulfilled:
When Transits Echo Natal Aspects
by Donna Cunningham
E
ach natal aspect contains a host since the last such aspect. If you have The energies of the outer planets
of promises, since even the most worked hard in the areas of life repre- are not as accessible to our conscious-
difficult of combinations has gifts sented by that natal aspect, the tran- ness, nor are they easy to express;
to bestow once we learn to use the ener- sit may very well be a time when your instead, they require a great deal of
gies of the two planets well. Through- efforts reach fruition — provided, of maturity to handle well. This sort of
out our lives, transits to a natal aspect course, that you have been both diligent meandering through life and having
represent windows of time when we are and wise. Sometimes, we work much a variety of experiences seems to be
challenged to make changes in how we harder than we need to, when not only a necessary part of growth and evolu-
are using that aspect. If we are wise, we our methods but even our game plans tion — as though the life journey were
gradually learn to let go of self-defeating are flawed. If so, it may be time to eval- a long pilgrimage through a wilderness.
ways of expressing the energies of those uate your priorities and redirect your It’s easy to lose our way with the outer
planets and, instead, to capitalize on efforts toward more appropriate ends, planets; where these planets are located
their strengths. so you won’t wear yourself out. in our charts, we often do so repeatedly
Never is that more true than dur- The so-called Midlife Cycle of the — learning much from our mistakes
ing the periods when the natal aspect is late thirties to mid forties is a crucible for as we stumble and fall on our faces. It
echoed by the transit — that is, when much change and growth, because the is usually at midlife, when all the natal
one of the planets involved natally is the astrological picture at midlife includes a aspects to an outer planet are also set
transiting planet as well. For instance, series of outer-planet aspects by transit off by transit, that we bottom out on the
suppose that Saturn is square Mars in to their own natal positions. Transiting less-productive uses of these energies
the birth chart, and now transiting Sat- Uranus makes an opposition to its natal and are impelled, if we are blessed with
urn is opposite natal Mars. The aspect position in the chart, transiting Neptune sufficient maturity, to work toward more
isn’t the same, but the planets in the squares natal Neptune, and transiting uplifting expressions.
picture (Mars and Saturn) are. Saturn Pluto squares natal Pluto. In the process, For example, suppose you have
forms hard aspects (such as squares or the transiting outer planets trigger all the a Venus–Neptune conjunction in your
oppositions) to its natal position about aspects that the outer planets form in the birth chart. The slogan for that combina-
every seven years, during its 29.46-year birth chart, giving us the chance to learn tion might be: “Someday my prince will
orbit around the Sun; so, at seven-year how to use those aspects better and to come — but first I have to kiss a lot of
intervals, Saturn will echo all of the fulfill more of their innate potential. (The frogs.” (Of course, there are many ways
major difficult aspects it makes in your exact ages when these aspects occur to express that particular combination,
birth chart. (It also forms trines to its vary from generation to generation, but this is a fairly common pattern.)
natal position twice during that orbit, because the orbits of these three planets During earlier transits to that conjunc-
providing opportunities when Saturn’s around the Sun are not as regular as the tion, over the years, frogs of countless
better qualities can be developed with orbits of the inner planets.) varieties are likely to have appeared
somewhat less stress.) — looking for all the world like princes.
In those recurring intervals, you will Unfortunately, your heartfelt efforts to
be challenged anew to master the les- The energies of the turn the current frog into the prince
sons of Saturn and to make substantive outer planets are not you know he could be are doomed to
progress through self-discipline, hard failure after wrenching failure. Reluc-
as accessible to our
work, and a more mature perspective tantly, you’re forced to conclude that
on your old limitations. You may wish consciousness, nor are this particular frog will remain a frog
to consider how you’ve been using your they easy to express. until he croaks. Still, you may persist in
Saturn energies in the seven years or so the notion that, if you could just some-
how succeed in morphing yourself into ever, for such individuals, a transiting
a princess, your prince would surely Over the years, square of Pluto to natal Sun is highly
appear. energizing. It echoes the natal trine
frogs of countless
A likely window for changing this between the two planets, yet represents
persistent pattern is during the Midlife varieties are likely to a golden opportunity to make much,
Cycle, when transiting Neptune squares have appeared — much more of the potential of that trine.
natal Neptune, because in the case looking for all the world Circumstances shift, new demands are
of this particular conjunction, transit- experienced, and although the result-
like princes.
ing Neptune will square natal Venus as ing challenges may make the person
well. One of the numerous ways that doubt those taken-for-granted gifts, the
this transit can manifest itself is that the in powerful or wealthy circumstances. end result is likely to be a new and more
frog of a lifetime arrives — clad in such This self-esteem problem may have powerful way of expressing innate abili-
elegant, princely attire that you are cer- alternated with a sneaking sense of ties. Through the pressure of the transit-
tain your soul mate has finally come pride at not being as corrupt as “those ing hard angle, the natal promise can be
along. If he is not in fact a prince, the awful power-mongers with all that filthy fulfilled.
experience of trying one last time to kiss money” — a pride that may have cre- When working with clients, I watch
someone into princeliness may repre- ated persistently self-sabotaging financial very carefully for transits that echo natal
sent the bottoming-out of an old co- patterns, such as remaining underpaid. aspects, for they are among the most
dependent pattern of relating through Under the transiting trine, catalytic meaningful transits of all. In our session,
rescuing. Under this transit, the roman- events, opportunities, healing work, or we then spend considerable time grap-
tic haze that has always clouded your new self-awareness may well create a pling with that natal aspect and the life
ability to see potential partners clearly major shift, both in self-confidence and patterns — both self-defeating and self-
may lift. Sadder but wiser, you now in financial dealings. The resulting fulfilling — that they represent. If you
begin to look more realistically at new greater prosperity could give rise to a yourself are in the process of an echo-
prospects. Relationships will never be benign spiral over the two years or lon- ing transit, analyze that natal aspect
the same, and that’s a good thing! Until ger that the transit is in effect: As the thoroughly to see how you are currently
now, that same romantic haze has kept sense of self-worth grows, the workplace using it, for the transit can be a true gift
you from recognizing the occasional true may reflect that growth with additional that allows you to bring that natal aspect
prince who does come your way (per- well-deserved raises, which in turn grant to a new level. Unlike the often over-
haps because you can’t get past his frog- new confidence. whelming transits that represent entirely
like spots and raspy voice). Now you In contrast, suppose someone new influences — that is, combining
may recognize him — and learn how to has a natal trine between Pluto and planets that do not aspect one another
relate to him in a healthy way. the Sun. Depending on the signs and natally — an echoing transit is like an
One way to evaluate the intervals houses involved, the mantle of author- old favorite song sung in a whole new
when natal aspects are echoed is to con- ity or power often sits very naturally on key. The melody is hauntingly familiar,
sider the type of angle (e.g., square, the shoulders of such individuals. This yet in this brand-new arrangement of
trine, or quincunx) formed by the natal may not be worldly power. If the 12th the song, you discover exciting possibili-
aspect and compare it to the type of house is involved, it might be spiritual ties that never existed before.
transiting angle. The transiting angle power where the person’s mere pres-
does help us to revise how we have ence can be healing and comforting to
© 2005 Donna Cunningham –
worked with the planetary energies in those who suffer, helping the downtrod- all rights reserved
the natal angle. Especially when these den to reclaim their own power. Like-
energies are used consciously through wise, if the 4th house is involved, this
Donna Cunningham, MSW, a long-time
an in-depth analysis of the meanings of person might be the family matriarch or
TMA contributor, is now publishing new
the current and natal planetary place- patriarch around whom the whole fam- works in e-book format. Currently avail-
ments, the transit represents a fruitful ily network revolves. able are The Outer Planets and Inner Life:
time to upgrade how we express those The problem with trines is that we Volume 1 — The Career Path of the Excep-
energies. For instance, suppose some- don’t always make of them all that we tional Soul; two astrological/metaphysical
might — it’s so easy just to coast. How- novels; and a book about flower remedies.
one has natal Pluto square the Sun,
Coming soon is a revised and expanded
involving the career or money houses version of An Astrological Guide to Self-
(the 2nd, 6th, or 10th), and now, tran- Awareness, her classic text for beginning
siting Pluto is trine the natal Sun. This is Under this transit, to intermediate students. To see samples
an opportunity to address the problems the romantic haze that has of Donna’s work, visit http://www.moonm
avenpublications.com. Donna is also teach-
that this square may have highlighted always clouded your ability ing a course in Chart Synthesis at the Acad-
for much of the individual’s life. to see potential partners emy of Astro-Psychology. For information
Perhaps that individual has always on Donna’s services, call (503) 291-7891,
been visited by self-doubt, or even self- clearly may lift. or visit her Web site: http://www.DonnaCu
loathing, when confronted with those nninghamMSW.com

The Traveling Astrologer

The Future of the United States
by Maya del Mar
W
e have very profound struc- Uranus squaring Pluto lasts unusually Progressions into a
tural problems in the U.S. long this century: It starts in July 2011 New Dimension
The 2004 presidential elec- and finishes in April 2015. The universe The U.S. was conceived in a caul-
tion has increased scrutiny of one of is giving us ample time to do our revolu- dron of pioneering activity, so it is no
them: our dysfunctional electoral sys- tionary work. wonder that six of its ten major plan-
tem. Pluto — transiting the U.S. chart In the meantime, the nation is ets are in action-oriented cardinal signs.
and reflected in the persona of George experiencing many transits, progres- (The four cardinal signs — Aries, Can-
W. Bush — is exposing the dark under- sions, and eclipses that will help us to cer, Libra, and Capricorn — initiate the
belly of our nation and will continue to prepare for major change. Right now, seasons.) Also, the Sibly Midheaven
do so for many years. In this article, I transiting Uranus in Pisces is squaring (MC) and IC are cardinal, and so are
want to look ahead briefly and then re- the U.S. (Sibly) Uranus in Gemini (see Chiron, Transpluto, and Juno. Added to
examine where we are as a country. Chart, below). This is the final Ura- this national need for activity is Mars, the
A preview tells us that we will nus square in the cycle that began in aggressive principle, in the 7th house,
undergo increasing changes during the the mid 1940s, when Uranus in Gemini where it takes charge of our nation’s
next ten years. In 2008–2011, three of conjoined the U.S. Uranus. The waning relationships in an assertive manner.
the five powerful outermost planets will square is a breakthrough to a new free- At the 2004 election, the U.S.
be traveling in cardinal signs, the ini- dom, and it occurs from March 2005 began a new experience; the progressed
tiators of action, which make up the through January 2006. This freedom Sun moved into Pisces for the first time
dominant mode in the U.S. chart. Most is connected with the growth of U.S. in our history and will remain in that
important are Pluto (with a 250-year power in 1943–44, preceding the deci- sign for 30 years. Pisces is a deep, mys-
cycle), moving into Capricorn in Jan- sive victory of the U.S. and its allies in terious, magical, mystical, creative sign
uary 2008, and Uranus (with an 84- World War II. that is naturally tuned into spirit. It is
year cycle), moving into Aries in May the last sign of the zodiac — preparing
2010. This will bring challenges (Aries) to move on, ready to surrender excess
to the establishment (Capricorn). Pluto baggage and go with the flow. This can
and Uranus together stand for free- be a challenging time. People with
dom. They conjoined in the 1960s the progressed Sun in Pisces often
to plant the seeds of revolu- have to sacrifice part of their
tion. The establishment fought ego, and they sometimes rebel
change and has continued to against that sacrifice.
fight it — when they haven’t Surrender, change, cre-
co-opted it. This is to be ativity, magic, and spirituality
expected; the status quo U.S. (Sibly) Chart will definitely be part of our
wants to maintain itself. national experience during
Placidus houses
With this shift into car- True Node the next 30 years. For a
dinal signs, the first square nation run so strictly by the
of that Uranus–Pluto cycle clock and by the balance
commences. This is like the sheet, this experience will not
First Quarter Moon, when the be easy. An establishment that
urge to sprout those seeds is so has become too rigid is threat-
great that we are able to mani- ened by change. Where it cannot
fest them into the collective. Noth- bend, it will break — or perhaps be
ing can stop the ultimate success of this inundated as the great waters of Pisces
dynamic breakthrough. The process of wash over it.
Progressed Mars is currently sta- this case, to the wider world — and it
tionary at 19° Libra, ready to turn ret- Pluto strips everything works to unify.
rograde by 2006. Stationary planets down to its essence, Neptune and Mars square, or chal-
act powerfully, so Warrior Mars has lenge, one another in the U.S. chart.
been especially dominant for the last
warts and all. There is They can get along well when Mars
few years (no kidding!) and will con- no hiding from Pluto. takes its lead from Neptune and uses its
tinue to be for the next few years. The abundant energy in a creative and ideal-
October 13, 2004 solar eclipse in Libra You know by now that the U.S. istic manner. However, when Mars tries
was very close to the U.S. progressed is undergoing a harsh Pluto transit. to use Neptune’s magic touch for self-
Mars, and the April 8, 2005 total solar Pluto has a long cycle (250 years), so serving goals, it is continually undercut
eclipse in Aries will be almost exactly we don’t experience Pluto touching us and sabotaged; for example, the chemi-
opposite it. This means that the aggres- every day — but we know it when we cals and toxins (Neptune) that we have
sive Mars energy of the U.S. is making do. Pluto is now at 21° Sagittarius and used so recklessly, at home and at war,
a major shift of direction during 2005. moving forward quickly (for Pluto). are coming back to haunt us. The U.S.
Progressed Mars is preparing to reverse Guess what? The U.S. natal Mars (here needs to learn to direct its Mars energy
course after it gets set on its retrograde we go again) is at 22° Gemini, looking in service to the world. That’s exactly
path (which will last about 80 years). Pluto in the face right now. Power con- what Neptune in Virgo in the 9th house
The U.S. progressed Moon is in fronts warrior energy. What happens? is all about.
Cancer. It conjoins the U.S. natal Sun Conflict, for sure. Under the influence of Pluto, we
in January 2005 and begins a new 28- Pluto strips everything down to need to look at what we’re doing wrong,
year cycle. This has the birth dynamic its essence, warts and all. There is no so we can change it. This is Pluto’s big
of a New Moon. Cancer is a nurtur- hiding from Pluto. We see the naked service; it cleans out the closet. Transit-
ing sign, and those who thwart the nur- aggression of much of the U.S. in glar- ing Pluto is now stressing both Mars and
turing qualities of the U.S. deny its ing light. Nothing graceful about it. Neptune in the U.S. chart. Since these
very nature. Five months later, in June Pluto exactly opposed the U.S. natal planets are square, whenever a transit
2005, the progressed Cancer Moon will Mars beginning in January 2004. That affects one, it will also affect the other.
have moved into position to square was when Ron Suskind released his Thus, Mars and Neptune must learn to
the U.S. progressed Mars. The Moon book about Paul O’Neill, former Trea- work together. And 2005 is the year for
brings strong emotions to wherever the sury Secretary under George W. Bush. the nation to figure out how to improve
nation’s energy is focused, so it will be O’Neill was shocked by Bush’s indif- this combination. Pluto, now traveling in
hard to hold impulses in check. This ference to any but his own concerns in the 1st (the most personal) house of the
comes hard on the heels of the two government, and among the revelations U.S. chart for the first time, affords us
Mars-oriented eclipses, which will open in this book is that Bush was planning the unique opportunity to become truly
new doors for Mars. the Iraq invasion at least from the time conscious of the dark underside of our
The progressions of the U.S. Moon he took office. Pluto will oppose the nation.
and Mars indicate an increase in emo- U.S. Mars for the last time in September Transiting Pluto first squared the
tional conflict, and war, during 2005, 2005. This will be a stressful autumn for U.S. Neptune in the spring of 2004,
at least through June. With progressed the U.S. Just after the Pluto hit, transit- when the Abu Ghraib prison torture
Mars in retrograde and the progressed ing Mars turns retrograde for a couple story broke. This is a blatant example
Moon in Cancer, it is likely that the U.S. of months. All in all, Mars’s aggressive of a Mars–Neptune combination gone
will become even more isolationist. impulses will be undergoing some kind awry, and the story is not over; there’s
of major overhaul in 2005. more to dig up. Pluto squared Neptune
2005 Transits Bring Reform The U.S. Neptune at 23° Virgo is again in December 2004, just as it was
Pluto may not be the big guy, and also being revamped at the merciless finishing its opposition to Mars. When
he may not even be a planet, but when hands of Pluto. As I explained in greater we include the U.S. progressed Nep-
Pluto transits over any sensitive point, detail in my previous column (Dec. tune, Pluto will continue to square Nep-
he packs a very big punch. For the past 2004/Jan. 2005), Neptune in the U.S. tune through September 2007. During
four years, he’s been plowing through 9th house refers to our propaganda, our this entire time, we are learning about
the 1st house of the nation’s identity, media, and our foreign relations. Nep- our mistakes — especially, one might
and we have been thrown for a loop. tune provides an open channel — in say, the ones we’ve made in our chosen
Pluto is the reformer, the renovator, role as “missionaries.”
the recycler. But before he can trans-
form a situation, he must destroy what
Transiting Pluto is Saturn and the
is there. And there’s the rub. Who wants now stressing both U.S. Government
their lives, their loves, or their nation Mars and Neptune Saturn speaks to governmental
destroyed? This process is no fun, and in the U.S. chart. authority. The U.S. Saturn is in a very
we fight it. But once we’re clear, Pluto authoritative place indeed: the 10th
usually brings us something better. continued on page 79

Ask Astro-Coach
by Nicki Michaels
The sole purpose of Ask ASTRO- and Mars flanking Pluto, all in Leo in one another to create their own unique
COACH is to demonstrate how an the 5th house of creativity and self- place within the family system. It is said
astrological perspective supports better expression, suggesting that your artistic of the first- and second-born in a
informed decisions by providing deeper capabilities and the pride you both take family that “you can almost guarantee
understanding of real-life situations. It in standing out from the crowd — and they’re going to be the opposite.”4 Also,
is not meant to replace your own good from each other. since you and your brother are differ-
judgment, nor the services of a licensed These placements make me won- ent genders, you’re not identical twins,
professional such as a psychologist, der how much you each contribute to and therefore you are no more related
attorney, physician, or financial advisor. the other’s way of being. How much of genetically than any other brother and
who you choose to be is a reaction to sister would be, with only about 25% of
Q: My brother was born a minute him? What healthier strategy could you, your genes in common,5 rather than the
later than I by C-section. We have the self-described workaholic, use to dis- 100% genetic match of identical twins.
never gotten along and are currently tinguish yourself from your brother? If Beyond all of the above, there’s the
estranged, except when he needs you slowed down a bit, would your twin question of free will. Why does one per-
money. We seem to be total oppo- brother naturally begin to exert himself son make the most out of what she has,
sites in all ways, and I was wonder- more productively? while another just makes do? This is
ing why. In school, he was in special The 6th-house conjunction of the one of the enduring mysteries of life that
classes, while I was in regular; in Moon, Neptune, and Saturn in Libra astrology alone cannot answer.
work situations, I’ve always been a may indicate an underlying insecurity
workaholic, while he is lazy; I’m an that is heightened by the square of those Q: This has been one crazy year. I
optimist, while he’s a pessimist; I planets to 4th-house Uranus. The con- was laid off from an 18-year career
travel a lot — he’s been on an air- flicting desires to both fit in and stand with the same company when my
plane only recently. The only way out take their toll through inner conflict. wife of 18 years (a Virgo, I might
we’re similar is that he is a good This insecurity is also suggested by the add) decided to file for divorce.
artist (draws), and I work in clay. 6th-house Sun–Mercury conjunction All this news was completely out
What gives? in Virgo, square to Jupiter, which can of left field. Now, we are trying to
— The Good Girl Twin indicate a strong desire to excel, perhaps reconcile. Why so many changes,
excessively, in order to play a mean- and when will it end? Seems like I
A: The situation you describe dem- ingful part in the world, or it can be need some good news. A friend of
onstrates the complexity of the rela- the mark of a person who continually mine told me Uranus in Pisces has
tionship between astrology, genetics, spins his wheels, getting nowhere fast, something to do with the changes
environmental factors, and free will. as in your brother’s case. As you have I am going through. Could you
All of these play a part in determining noticed, identical birth charts do not please shed some light on this?
how a person ultimately lives his or her mean identical people. — In the Dark
life. Let’s look at your virtually identical Additional factors also play a part.
birth charts.1 (See Chart 1, opposite.) Twin pregnancies often place more A: It’s true that Uranus is in the midst
The most prominent planet in these stress on the fetuses, as demonstrated of its seven-year transit through Pisces,6
charts, based on angularity,2 is Uranus by your mother’s C-section. Perhaps the sign of your South Node, Sun,
near the IC. How ironic that the planet this stress affected your brother, as the Moon, and IC (see Chart 2). During
representing unique individuality is so second-born, differently than you. Next, 2004 (your crazy year) and this year
prominent in the chart of twins, reveal- girl and boy babies are not treated the too, Uranus is trundling back and forth
ing that you and your brother actually same,3 and even birth order can be a over your South Node while opposing
prefer to be as different from each other factor. Studies have shown that children natal Pluto and the North Node,7 set-
as possible. This is augmented by Venus in a family differentiate themselves from ting up unexpected circumstances that
seemingly come out of nowhere like perspective, owning your part of the best to get out from under Saturn’s
a lightning bolt. Major transits to the problems. Even so, expect a long and line, or is there still more for me
South Node often involve loss and intense personal transformation, what- to experience with it? I spent many
have a “fated” quality to them. During ever the outcome. years resisting and wrestling with
these periods, we are reminded to take While there’s surely more to come Saturn, until I came to a place of
nothing for granted and to be grateful in your Uranus-and-Pluto saga, the regarding this placement as a bless-
for all we do have. To compensate and good news is that you will ultimately ing, in the sense that it requires
to grow from these experiences, access gain by boldly confronting the chal- me to be current with just about
your 9th-house Virgo North Node (con- lenges you face: It’s the alchemy of turn- everything in my life. Sometimes,
junct Pluto) for inspiration — philosoph- ing dross into gold. If you do the hard though, it feels like a relentless
ical insights that support transformation work now, illumination (coupled with grinding that lifts some when I am
in practical ways. deeper understanding) will emerge by away from here (or could it be my
To complicate matters, transiting mid 2006 at your Progressed Full Moon imagination)?
Pluto squared the natal Moon through- (August 27, 2006).10 These insights will — Saturn Impaired
out 2004, challenging established pat- be put to good use later, as Uranus ulti-
terns and relationships, especially your mately conjoins your Moon, IC, and A: Moving away from your Moon–
marriage. During the same period and Sun before changing signs.11 Saturn lines is a delightful idea. Get out
through 2006, Pluto squares the natal Trust that you won’t lose what is from under the oppression, and live a
Midheaven and the IC (the security meant to be yours. Ask yourself, “What’s little! You needn’t worry that you’ll for-
axis), stirring up problematic underly- easy about letting go?” and allow the get the hard-learned Moon–Saturn les-
ing themes, both in your career (Mid- answer to propel you into a new, excit- sons; the wisdom you earn through the
heaven) and your home life (IC).8 ing, and promising phase of your life. trials of Saturn stays with you for life,
These slow-moving transits take and the prominence of Moon–Saturn in
many years to complete and offer the Q: My question is in regard to your natal chart remains strong wher-
possibility for deep growth and per- Saturn’s ongoing influence in my ever you go. (See Chart 3, on p. 24.)
sonal evolution, if we’re willing to do life. My Virgo Moon is almost It’s not surprising that you’ve strug-
the work.9 Uranus and Pluto challenge exactly conjunct Saturn. In relation- gled with your formidable Moon–Saturn
you to reclaim your passion and to be ship to Astro*Carto*Graphy, I lived conjunction throughout much of your
ruthlessly truthful with yourself, about at my birth location, just a little life. Its proximity to your South Node
your career and your marriage. Exam- east of my Saturn line, for 18 years. heightens its significance in terms of
ine what’s best for you, even if it means Then, I lived out from under it for personal growth and challenges. Moon–
leaving your marriage behind. If you many years, but have spent the last Saturn in Virgo does demand that you
decide that you do wish to reconcile, 23 years directly under it. In what focus on what’s important and stay on
review the relationship from your wife’s way does this affect my life? Is it track, while at the same time not losing
Chart 1: Chart 2:
The Good Girl Twin In the Dark
All charts use

Placidus houses and the Mean Node.

AstroCoach tion cycle, and the progressed Moon is
moving toward your Midheaven, 12 — all
saying, “Leave the past behind.” Allow
Thanks to Astro Numeric Service for
providing the Astro*Carto*Graphy
maps for this column.
sight of the bigger picture (9th house). transiting Neptune’s square to natal Mer-
This is made more challenging by the cury to enliven your imagination about Chart Data and Sources
close Moon–Mars square, which can the new life you’re about to create. This Birth data are confidential, but the sources are
create inner turmoil that must be man- year’s supportive transits of Saturn and as follows: Chart 1 is from hospital records;
aged, perhaps through a regular prac- Jupiter will enable you to successfully Charts 2 and 3 are from birth certificate.
tice such as meditation. Mars opposite complete this transition.13
Uranus underlines the need to control Within the United States, I’d rec- References and Notes
the agitation to keep your energy well ommend moving anywhere in the east- 1. The twin brother’s Ascendant is 5°12' Taurus;
focused and more mellow. ern part of the country that’s within his Midheaven is 17°48' Capricorn.
Now, in your 50s, you’ve had one quarter inch of your Venus/Sun/ 2. The angular houses are the 1st, 4th, 7th,
plenty of opportunity to develop the and 10th. These are considered power points
Mercury–Midheaven lines on your
in a chart because they mark the rising, set-
wisdom that your Moon–Saturn con- Astro*Carto*Graphy map and no ting, noon, and midnight points of the Sun in
junction promises — wisdom that devel- farther than a quarter inch from the its daily cycle.
ops through trial and error over many Uranus–Descendant line.14 That gives 3. Read an excerpt from A Field Guide to Boys
years. You’ve learned Saturn’s lessons, you numerous places to choose from. and Girls, by Susan Gilbert, at http://www.har
and you are even grateful for them. Anywhere near those supportive lines percollins.com
Your next lesson is about moving on. (the closer the better), your contribu- 4. A quote from The Birth Order Book: Why
I encourage you to lighten up and tions will be recognized, you’ll shine You Are the Way You Are, by Dr. Kevin Leman,
get on your way. Saturnine types such in the community, and you’ll feel that http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/Psycho
logy/birtho.htm
as yourself are often serious as chil- your ideas are understood and appre-
dren and then learn how to have fun in 5. From an online article, “Twins: Development
ciated. Your leadership capabilities will
and Language,” by Caroline Bowen, Ph.D.
their later years. Since your own experi- come forth, and you should feel com- (http://members.tripod.com/Caroline_Bowen
ence confirms that life’s a little brighter fortable in the role of a leader. Living /mbc.htm)
away from Saturn’s shadow, trust your near these planetary lines would be 6. Uranus first entered the sign of Pisces on
perceptions and move somewhere that very different from your Saturn–Moon March 10, 2003, retrograded back into Aquar-
offers more. experience and would support hav- ius on September 14, 2003, and re-entered
The timing is certainly right. Your ing a zestful and connected social life. Pisces on December 30, 2003, where it will stay
until May 27, 2010, when it moves into the sign
progressed Sun opposes natal Uranus Please, ask yourself, “What am I wait- of Aries until it retrogrades back into Pisces on
this year, you’re approaching the Last ing for?” and then call the moving August 13, 2010. Uranus leaves Pisces for the
Quarter square of your progressed luna- company! final time on March 11, 2011.
Catch New Clients!
Chart 3:
Saturn Impaired
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7. Uranus conjoins the South Node from Nicki Michaels’s initial curiosity about astrol-
March 3, 2004 through December 22, 2005 ogy was sparked when she was 18 by her Aunt
and opposes Pluto from March 21, 2004 Fran, who herself had studied astrology and We Want Your Questions!
through January 16, 2006. All transits include thought Nicki’s chart showed that she might Has life got you perplexed?
2-degree orbs. have a talent for it. Nicki began her studies sev- Send your most
8. Transiting Pluto squared the natal Moon eral years later, leading to a 30-year astrological compelling question to
from February 13, 2002 through November career. This column is dedicated to Fran Ran-
dall with gratitude. The powerful combination
Ask ASTRO-COACH.
22, 2004; and squares the Midheaven/IC axis
from January 18, 2004 through November 7, of astrology and life coaching is what differen- For submission guidelines, visit
2006. tiates Nicki from other astrologers and creates www.AskAstroCoach.com
amazing possibilities for her clients. For infor-
9. Transiting Uranus conjoins the natal Moon
mation on Nicki’s coaching and astrology ser- and click on
from April 23, 2007 through February 17, 2009, Ask ASTRO-COACH!
vices, visit www.AskAstroCoach.com and click
the natal IC from April 23, 2008 through Feb-
on the “Coaching/Astrology” button, or call
ruary 18, 2010, and the natal Sun from March
(415) 821-7070.
28, 2009 through January 19, 2011.
10. Learn more about the progressed lunation
cycle in “A Brief Overview of Dane Rudhyar’s
Approach to Cycles,” (TMA, 2/98), by Nicki Introductory offer for NEW advertisers
Michaels, at http://www.beyondsunsigns.com/
pages/861718/index.htm; and in Dane Rudh-
in TMA’s popular
yar, The Lunation Cycle: A Key to the Under-
standing of Personality, Aurora Press, 1986.
11. See footnote 9.
Professional Directory
12. The progressed Sun opposes natal Uranus of Astrology Consultants, Educators,
on September 2, 2005 (and is effective for the and Web Sites
following two years); the progressed Moon con-
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and the Last Quarter square phase begins on
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© 2005 Nicki Michaels – all rights reserved

by Deborah Houlding
Personality Traits
As the sign of the Crab, the psychological traits of Cancer are characterised by
the image of a creature with a tough, hardened shell protecting a soft and vulnerable
centre. Cancer is ruled by the Moon and belongs to the element of water. Unlike most
signs, which share their planetary rulers, Cancer claims exclusive rights to the Moon;
both sign and planetary ruler are termed “cold and moist” in nature. Understanding the
essence of that phrase reveals a lot about
the complex sensitivity lying beneath the
Cancerian’s thick, crustaceous shell.
In ancient astrology, the condition
of “moistness” was viewed as the
capacity to release emotions and
connect with other beings. Moisture
blurs the boundaries that define us as
distinct individuals, allowing empathy,
sympathy, and a shared experience of
personal or collective events. The act of
sharing emotions represents an important
aspect of forming bonds and unions,
so moisture is also a creative condition
which forms the basis of love, fertility,
and reproduction. When we become
too emotional, the natural reaction is to
release the “excess of water” through the
shedding of tears.
Painting, "Moon Child" © 2002 by Lisa Iris - all rights reserved
Hence, water as an element relates chaotic and disorganised application of
to the emotions and the world of feel- Cancerians are known methods (often the cause of associated
ings. It is a passive, absorbing element for their remarkable sloppiness and untidiness in the home
— receptive and keenly perceptive. The and dress), and a moodiness that is hard
energy of water is fluid, unshaped, lack- psychic sensitivity for others to relate to or fully under-
ing consistency in definition and struc- and receptiveness stand. Cancer generally has an aversion
ture but remarkable in its ability to seep to emotional to discipline, aptly symbolised by a crea-
into inaccessible places and change its ture that lacks an internal skeletal struc-
form — sometimes appearing as vapor- impressions. ture, but the Cancerian way of dealing
ous as steam, sometimes as cold and with that is simply to avoid issues; there
solid as ice. The use of the word cold sword; awareness of the complex psy- is little inclination toward rebellious acts
when applied to this element could chological factors that underlie appar- or direct and open confrontations.
never imply that there is insensitivity ently simple acts makes it difficult for The symbolism of the celestial
to feelings or detachment from emo- Cancerians to apply their will and fos- crab also gives an insight into the way
tions, but that the energy is passive, not ter their own self-interests unfettered by that Cancerians move through life and
active. As a general rule, water “types” feelings of guilt and torn sympathies. respond to problems. Cancer is one of
are not quickly stirred to heated debate This hesitancy and the vulnerability the few constellations that rises back-
or dynamic, self-assertive action. Their to emotional impacts on self and oth- wards in the zodiac. The Sun’s entry
inclination is to wait, reflect, and absorb, ers have given the sign a reputation for into Cancer occurs at the summer sol-
reacting to circumstances and remaining weakness and a lack of ability to apply stice — a term derived from the appear-
responsive to the needs of others and direct action to direct problems. ance of the Sun “standing still” as it
the changing demands of life’s events. In addition, Cancer dislikes the approaches this point. The crab itself,
In the water signs of Scorpio and glare of publicity and is rarely comfort- of course, is known for its sideways
Pisces, we see a different expression of able at the centre of attention. Tradi- gait. So, the movement associated with
this energy. Scorpio symbolises the still- tional descriptions of the sign depict Cancer is a strange one, with a sense
ness of the murky depths, areas so deep it as “dark” and nocturnal, lacking in of hesitancy, a sideways approach to
and dark that no movement occurs with- vibrancy. The astronomical foundation things, and an element of moving for-
out the disturbance of long-accumulated for this is that the constellation Cancer ward whilst not looking squarely at what
sediment. Pisces, associated with the lies in a particularly dark and dimly lit lies ahead. Despite the intuitive gift that
linear flow of the river, suggests a more region of the sky. It has few distinguish- this sign possesses, Cancer is not known
direct response to collective movements, able stars and is notable mainly for a for quick action or immediate response.
trends, and ideals. Lacking the hard- nebulous, cloud-like cluster that ancient Cancerians tend to vacillate before
ened shell of the other water types, astronomers regarded as an area where deciding on a course of action, and
Pisces signifies a sensitive energy that energies were dissipated. The connec- once that course is chosen, the logic that
is easily impressed by its immediate tion with the element of water and the lies beneath it is often convoluted. Deci-
environment. But Cancer, taking its rulership by the Moon reinforce the sions are based upon reasoning that is
habitation on the shore of the ocean ancient foundation of this reputation. neither obvious nor apparent to other
and governed by the Moon, responds to The water element relates to the phleg- people, but there is a great skill for lat-
the cyclic, rhythmic rise and fall of life’s matic humour, which seeks to retain its eral thinking, for originating solutions
ebb and flow. This sign is known for its energies and inclines toward lethargy, to problems from angles that others
moodiness, so Cancerians can be up while association with the Moon adds to have not discovered. When combined
one day and down the next, responding the sense of inconstancy and irrational with Cancer’s natural artistic flair and
to the joys and pains of the world in a responses — or behaviour that seems strongly developed imagination, this can
pattern that can seem to bear little rela- strange when evaluated solely by the offer advantages in careers such as mar-
tion to their experience of events. rational faculties. keting, where the creative exploration of
Since Cancer finds its strength in The more negative traits associated unconventional approaches can be seen
instinctive, emotional responses, Can- with this sign, then, are physical weak- as a real talent.
cerians are known for their remarkable ness, lethargy bordering on laziness, a The backwards gaze of the con-
psychic sensitivity, absorption of mem- stellation is also symbolic of the Can-
ories, and receptiveness to emotional cerian interest in the past, a trait that is
impressions. This is widely accepted Cancer dislikes the emphasised by the Moon’s rulership of
as one of the most psychic signs of the glare of publicity and the sign. This manifests on a personal
zodiac, and there is usually a marked and social level, and Cancerians often
interest in the occult, a vivid recollection
is rarely comfortable have a keen interest in past cultures and
of powerful dreams, and strong sym- at the centre traditions, as well as a high respect for
bolic appreciation. But such an acute of attention. personal history, genealogy, ancestral
sensitivity to the physical and uncon- origins, nationalism, and a desire to pre-
scious environment is a double-edged serve and protect family customs. Ruled
and skill in making profits … His is a
shrewd nature, and he is ready to fight
Cancer Cancer is a
for his profits.”1
cardinal sign that It is within the area of business rela-
does not give its tionships that the Cancerian is best able
by the Moon, Cancer relates to tribal to apply the protection of the tough
instincts and ethnic origins and often
ground away upper casing and let the head rule the
exhibits a clan-like attitude toward com- easily. heart. Cancerians make good inves-
munity and family structure. Canceri- tors and business managers; what they
ans make very caring parents, but they lack in “pizzazz” they more than make
sometimes suffer from overprotective- comforts, offering tasty and nourish- up for in persistence and tenacity. Can-
ness and “clinginess” in domestic rela- ing food, and providing a secure and cerians are often underrated because of
tionships, becoming too dependent on pleasant family environment. Theirs is the softness of their emotional natures,
the need to preserve a tight-knit fam- a gentle, relaxing, and delicate energy; but remember that, as the sign of the
ily unit and failing to recognise when they need warmth, intimacy, and emo- solstice, Cancer is a cardinal sign that
it is appropriate to loosen the bonds. tional closeness and would not be suited does not give its ground away easily.
Of course, the function of the Moon is to partners who value emotional inde- The hesitancy of Cancer natives to act
to nurture and protect the young, so pendence or are inclined toward sexual, on first impulse makes them resistant
maternal and paternal instincts run very spiritual, or even intellectual freedom. to glib, superficial deals; instead, they
strongly through this sign. Although Cancer is not inherently will circle around all options, vacillat-
Cardinal signs are noted for being a materialistic sign, the image of a vise- ing to and fro, before finally settling on
changeable, and Cancerians are cer- like grip in their great pinching claws, the one that feels right for them. When
tainly changeable in their day-to-day refusing to let go of what they see as they do invest financially, it is with cau-
views, emotions, and opinions. But they rightly theirs, does apply to their mate- tion and shrewdness. When they feel
find change in their environment and rial interests as well as their emotional that their real interests — emotional or
basic life structure difficult to handle and investments. The word crabby — usu- material — are at stake, they will fight to
have a deep need for security in per- ally meaning cross or moody but also the bitter end. The irony is the motiva-
sonal relationships. They like to hold on taken to mean “tight with money” — tion that powers them: the need to safe-
tightly to what is near and dear to them. originates from the reputation of this guard their family and loved ones. They
They make great partners for people sign, in a trait that was recognised in have no real interest in acquiring wealth
who appreciate a caring and committed the earliest texts. Manilius, writing in the purely for their own use, but as a legacy
mate, and they enjoy the role of being 1st century C.E., remarks of those born of security that they can pass on to
domestic provider — catering to homely under this sign: “Of a grasping spirit … those whom they care about.
Dignified Planets Traditional Rulerships

Planets Dignified in Cancer: Direction: North
The Moon by sign Anatomy: Breast and chest
Jupiter by exaltation Illnesses: Cancer is susceptible to illnesses concerning the breast, stom-
Mars daytime and night- ach, and chest. In decumbiture charts (those concerning illness), this
time triplicity ruler; sign can indicate bad coughs, weak stomachs, and digestive problems.
however, Mars is not Overall, Cancer is considered a sign of poor constitution.
well placed in Cancer, Places: The sea, rivers, and places near ponds or waters — brooks,
the sign of its fall. springs, wells, wash-houses, seashores, marshy land, etc. In houses, it
Planets Debilitated in Cancer: represents cellars, cisterns, bathrooms, and places near water.
Saturn by detriment Countries and cities: Include Scotland, Holland, Tunisia, Algeria, Istan-
Mars by fall bul, Venice, Milan, Amsterdam, York, Wittenberg (in Germany), Cadiz
(in Spain).
Typical Features Colours: Pale, discreet, and subtle colours; grey, beige, silver, white.
Stones and metals: Stones and metals fall under the rulership of planets,
Small stature, round face, pale not signs, but through its association with the Moon, Cancer has affinity
complexion, small eyes, heavy with pearls, silver, and crystals.
breasts (or top half of body larger
than the lower half). All general Traditional Definitions
descriptions are moderated by the
Fruitful: Unless afflicted, Cancer shows a propensity for children or easy
location of the Moon and other
pregnancy.
dominant chart factors.
Mute or slow of voice: Cancer is not known for verbal dexterity.
Cancer is a complex sign, capa- Cancerian, Diana had a natural dislike sion and suffering limitation of personal
ble of offering very different personas, of being forced into the spotlight. There liberty in pursuit of ideals — yet still man-
depending on the angle from which were times when she was comfortable aging to keep the faith and arise victori-
you view them. Cancerians are slow to with it, but at other times her need to ous. Of course, other factors tie into this,
form intimate relationships, yet unless withdraw into her shell and find a pri- such as the exalted and angular Jupiter,
a close emotional contact exists, they vate place to be alone with her moods ruler of his Sagittarius Ascendant. Jupi-
are unlikely to expose the soft under- was overwhelming. ter, exalted in Cancer, was unmistakably
belly that borders their vulnerable cen- Diana was not a natural “fighter,” apparent in Mandela’s 1994 inaugural
tre. Instead, they will maintain a sense but she demonstrated remarkable speech, when he reminded his country-
of detachment, and what you will see tenacity in refusing to give in. Canceri- men that it was their God-given duty to
from the outside is a hardened, impen- ans make powerful adversaries when step out of the dark and be “brilliant, gor-
etrable shell that gives no hint of where they are operating from a position of geous, talented, and fabulous.”2
their true values lie. defence. When water types attack, they Cancer is a sign that has strong ties
do so through manipulation, and Diana to ethnic cultures, traditions, and issues
Famous Cancerians was always great at persuading people of nationalism. Unable to entirely dis-
to see things her way or to work behind connect from the pain and suffering
Princess Diana the scenes on her behalf. The Sun of others, Mandela was moved by the
Princess Diana displayed typical trine Neptune in Scorpio in the 10th spirit of his people. Nothing brings out
Cancerian traits. Strongly ruled by pow- house shows that Diana was connected the fighting spirit of a Cancerian like the
erful emotions, her erratic moods and with deep secrets and was attracted to need to protect and secure the position
apparently irrational behaviour didn’t exploring mysteries and conspiracies, of others. His chart again illustrates that
go down well in stoic royal circles. But involving herself in these at a personal the Cancerian’s strength is not found in
the public loved her for her sincere com- level. The Sun’s conjunction with ret- attack but in the determination to never
passion and strong sense of empathy rograde Mercury in Cancer shows her give in. Through this capacity, Mandela
with others less fortunate than herself. dislike of public speaking. Cancer is tra- has taken a place in the world’s history
Those close to her have remarked ditionally termed a “mute” sign because as a potent symbol of resistance and
on how quickly she could change from it often indicates a poor ability to persistence.
being open and generous to cold and express oneself with verbal eloquence.
unfeeling. Once Diana sensed a reason George W. Bush
to withdraw her trust, she placed a Nelson Mandela George W. Bush’s Cancer Sun is
shield around her emotions without Nelson Mandela’s 8th-house Can- afflicted by its square to his Libra Moon
explanation. cer Sun is receiving the trine of the Moon and its location in the 12th house, which
The Midheaven ruler, Venus, dig- from the 12th house (see Chart 2). This is ruled by the Moon (see Chart 3, next
nified in Taurus, added to her popular is a clear signature of someone who leads page). This suggests that Bush strug-
appeal (see Chart 1, below), but as a a very difficult life, dealing with oppres- gles to understand his own emotional
Chart 1: Chart 2:
Princess Diana Nelson Mandela
All charts use

Placidus houses and the True Node.

trates a theme of having to deal with © 2005 Deborah Houlding –
subversive social issues where the prob- all rights reserved
Cancer lems or opponents are not easy to iden-
tify. It also reveals an ongoing danger of
manipulated facts coming to light and
responses, or at least he feels uneasy causing professional damage.
about expressing them. Cancerians
often seem to be living out family dra- Editor’s Note: From time to time,
mas, and Bush had to create his own The Mountain Astrologer plans to feature
adaptations of this author’s Sun-sign pro-
identity beneath the legacy of a world-
files, which are posted on her Web site:
leading father, not to mention the politi- www.skyscript.co.uk
cal problems of maintaining a graceful
persona whilst headlines recount tales Chart Data and Sources Deborah Houlding has been an active
of wayward daughters. Of course, this Diana, Princess of Wales, July 1, 1961; 7:45 researcher and astrological practitioner for more
is a recurring theme in the Bush family, p.m. GMD; Sandringham, England (52°N50', than 20 years. Past editor of The Traditional
since George himself has admitted to a 00°E30'); A: from memory; Charles Harvey Astrologer magazine and author of The Houses:
period of unsettled behaviour and alco- quotes data from her mother. Temples of the Sky (Ascella, London, 1998),
hol abuse. As U.S. President, Bush is Nelson Mandela, July 18, 1918; 2:54 p.m. she currently runs the Skyscript astrology Web
EET; Umtata, South Africa (31°S35', 28°E47'); site at http://www.skyscript.co.uk. Deborah
driven by issues of nationalism, patrio- has been teaching astrology around the world
DD: various unverified birth times; according
tism, and conservatism, and his political through seminars, workshops, and correspon-
to AstroDatabank, Noel Tyl “rectified the after-
agendas are strongly focused on “tradi- noon time with extremely taxing detail to 2:54 dence courses since 1990. She is the principal of
tional family values.” p.m.,” and South African astrologer Rod Suskin the U.K.–based School of Traditional Astrology
(STA), which teaches horary astrology. Readers
The chart as a whole shows a has provided a “veritable catalogue of reinforce-
may e-mail Deborah at deb@skyscript.co.uk,
great deal of ruthlessness, manipula- ment for the time.”
or refer to http://www.skyscript.co.uk/deb for
tive abilities, and an inclination to oper- George W. Bush, July 6, 1946; 7:26 a.m. details of her courses, consultations, and talks.
ate behind the scenes. Mercury rising in EDT; New Haven, CT (41°N18', 72°W56');
conjunction with Pluto gives the poten-
AA: birth certificate. d
Lisa Iris, whose artwork appears on page 26,
tial for powerful political communica- is known worldwide. Her vision is pervaded by
References
tion, but Cancer is not a sign of verbal a passion for art history and mythology. Her
dexterity. Although Bush is a trained 1. Marcus Manilius, Astronomica (c. 10 C.E.), interest in astrology was nurtured since child-
trans. G. P. Goold, published by Harvard hood. Lisa writes, “My dream is to show people
orator, he has still managed to attract Heinemann, Loeb Classical Library, 1997, the treasure in their own lives.” Gift items of this
considerable attention for the gaffes in 4.165 (Loeb p. 235). piece and other zodiacal images are available
his speeches. Like most Cancerians, he 2. Mandela was quoting Marianne Williamson, at www.cafeshops.com/whitewolfgifts. Zodiacal
needs time to reflect and does not have A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles prints are available at www.whitewolfgallery.big
a natural talent for thinking on his feet. of “A Course in Miracles,” Perennial Currents, step.com. Please visit Lisa at www.lisairis.com.
Politically, Bush’s 12th-house Sun illus- 1992, p. 165. She’d love to hear from you.
Chart 3:
George W. Bush
A Higher Love?
Hard Aspects between
Venus and Uranus
by Robin Antepara
W hat happens when Venus, Goddess of Love,

combines with Uranus, a planet associated
with revolution, lightning-fast change, and quirky indi-
viduality? One outcome is that the Venusian need for
intimacy gets blasted out of the water.
A study of this planetary combination, especially
the hard aspects, reveals a need for space and sporadic
detachment in the realm of intimate relationships. As an
astrologer living abroad for the past 20 years, I have had
many opportunities to observe the pairing of these two
antithetical energies in the charts of clients and friends in
international marriages: 58 percent of people in commit-
ted mixed-culture relationships in my files have Venus in
hard aspect to Uranus (22 out of 38 charts).1
And this makes sense. If Uranian contact with the
planet of love creates a need for space, what better way
to accomplish this than by marrying someone from a dif-
ferent culture? The frames of reference in such unions
are so disparate that there is far less common ground
than in more conventional couplings.2 People with
Venus–Uranus have the comfort of companionship with-
out too much closeness — a kind of virtual intimacy that
allows them to be in relation but without the emotional
identification that is part and parcel of intimate bonds.

is revealed in the uniquely autobio-
Venus–Uranus graphical nature of the story. While

Soderbergh has admitted that he most
identified with Graham (not surprising,
given that Graham is the “filmmaker”),
As I started to examine this phe- he has also said that each of the three
nomenon more carefully, I found cor- main characters (Graham, Graham’s
roboration from many places: celebrities best friend, and Ann, his friend’s wife)
and public figures in international represent different aspects of himself.
unions, as well as Venus–Uranus pair- This is another expression of Uranian
ings in which space was created in other detachment: the innate ability to take a
ways — by vast differences in age, for step back and view oneself from afar,
example, or by disparities in education involved with any of the girls, mind you; which in this case involved Soderbergh
or class. In this article, I’ll explore some his own rules permit him only observer splitting himself into three.
of the guises taken by Venus–Uranus by status. Graham’s avocation, both the Other variations of Venus–Uranus
looking at the charts of famous people making and viewing of the tapes, is a detachment occur in the chart of Katha-
with this aspect. sorry substitute for intimacy — some- rine Hepburn, who had Venus in Aries
Let’s start with Academy Award– thing he’s avoided since the breakup squaring Uranus in Capricorn (see
winning director Steven Soderbergh with his college sweetheart. Chart 2). Although married briefly at
(Erin Brockovich, Traffic) who has The structure of sex, lies, and vid- the beginning of her career, she rarely
Venus in Sagittarius squaring Uranus eotape provides an encapsulation of lived with her husband. The union
in Virgo (see Chart 1, below). Soder- the Venus–Uranus dynamic: The realm quickly dissolved as Hepburn’s career
bergh’s first film was sex, lies, and video- of relationships (Venus) can be painful. took off. The love of her life was Spen-
tape, a fictionalized account of his early To create distance, Graham employs a cer Tracy, an actor with whom she made
twenties. The film focuses on the main video camera (Uranian technology) as a nine films and shared a 27-year relation-
character Graham, a drifter who has sort of intermediary. In this way, he can ship that was never given the conven-
returned to his hometown to confront vicariously experience the intensity of tional imprimatur of a marriage license.
painful memories of a failed relation- relationship without risk or vulnerability. Many thought that this was due to
ship that involved a betrayal by his best Graham’s nomadic existence is Tracy’s Catholicism: The actor was mar-
friend. conspicuously Uranian. He lives out of ried, and the Church forbade divorce.
Graham has a rather unconven- his car and washes up at filling stations. However, even if Tracy had divorced his
tional hobby: videotaping girls talk- In this, we witness Graham’s extreme wife, he and Hepburn never would have
ing about their sex lives, a pastime that quest for freedom and his inability (or tied the knot. If they had, the marriage
occasionally includes the subjects dis- refusal) to commit to anything or any- probably wouldn’t have lasted — it
robing for the camera. He never gets body. Another facet of Venus–Uranus would have been too close; there would
Chart 1: Chart 2:
Steven Soderbergh Katharine Hepburn
All charts use

Placidus houses and the Mean Node.
have been no escape hatch. Indeed, the “I was living in a fairy In her memoir, Hepburn
need for an emotional escape hatch is a story,” wrote Bayley in his described the family’s reac-
classic manifestation of Venus–Uranus. best-selling book, Elegy for tion to her brother’s death.
It is the back door that permits a speedy Iris, “the kind with sinister After the initial shock and
exit (if only mentally: “well, he could overtones and not always a the funeral, neither the sui-
always go back to his wife …”) and pre- happy ending — in which a cide nor her brother were
vents the relationship from becoming young man loves a beauti- ever mentioned again.
too claustrophobic for the free-spirited ful maiden who returns his “[My mother] never said
Uranian soul. love but is always disap- ‘I’m going to the cem-
pearing into some unknown etery’,” Hepburn wrote.
and mysterious world, about “Neither did Dad … They
which she will reveal noth- simply did not believe in
ing.”3 Here, the Venus– moaning about anything
Uranus insistence on space was facili- … they moved on into life.”4
tated by Murdoch’s commitment to her The Hepburn family’s refusal to
art — and all the psychic energy that linger on the intense emotions accom-
commitment entailed. panying the tragedy was true not only
in the case of Katharine’s brother but
Venus–Uranus: for all the suicides. In fact, as the years
One Door to a Larger World passed, the family was loath to acknowl-
Another space-making mechanism Although Venus denotes relation- edge that these deaths had ever taken
for Hepburn was her career. Acting was ship, it would be a mistake to think that place.5 Here, we see detachment from
the real love of her life; it provided both the influence of Uranus is confined to extremely intense feelings: grief over the
distraction and insulation from the emo- the realm of interpersonal relations. loss of beloved family members, bewil-
tional entanglements of intimate human Hard aspects between Venus and Ura- derment and confusion over what moti-
relations. We see a reflection of how the nus often indicate a detachment from vated the suicides, even possible guilt
artistic process can create distance in intense emotions in general. In Katha- over what the family’s role in them
the chart of British novelist Iris Murdoch, rine Hepburn’s case, the template of might have been. All this was swept
whose Venus in Virgo opposes Uranus Uranian detachment was set in ado- aside, banished from consciousness.
in Pisces (see Chart 3). Murdoch’s lescence when her older brother Tom Small wonder, then, that Hep-
“life of secret creation,” according to hanged himself; Katharine was the first burn learned to distance herself from
her husband, John Bayley, kept her pre- to find him. This event was part of a her deepest feelings. When it was clear
occupied with “anything and everything tragic family history: Hepburn’s maternal that Tracy would never divorce his wife,
except me” and created a “sympathy in grandfather and, later, two uncles on Hepburn said fine, she’d never wanted
apartness” in their marriage. her father’s side also committed suicide. to marry anyway. When she was fired
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several times in the beginning of her
career, she didn’t cling to hurt and rejec-
tion. “There I was. Fired again,” she
wrote. “And very badly thrown. Get
busy — get busy.”6 Get busy: With Mer-
cury closely opposing her Ascendant,
perpetual motion and busyness helped
to provide the detachment that Venus–
Uranus craved.
In the final analysis, the only out-
let for Hepburn’s intense feelings was
her career. This is a bit ironic, since her
career also discouraged her from invest-
ing too much emotional energy in her
relationships. But that is just the point:
Acting was safe; those were other peo-
ple’s feelings she was portraying on
screen, not her own. Perhaps part of
Hepburn’s greatness as an actor lay in
the fact that those feelings were very
much her own — feelings that had been
exiled from her daily life.
In the sphere of the everyday work-
ing world, one might think that this level
of detachment could spell a fear of inti-
macy. But that is too simple. What we’re
seeing with Venus–Uranus is not so
much a fear of intimacy as a transper-
sonalizing of what otherwise would have
been purely individualistic urges. Ura-
nus, with its tendency toward emotional
detachment and its eye on the bigger
social picture, transforms the solely per-
sonal concerns of Venus into something
much larger.
One could say that Venus–Uranus
is an antidote to the unbridled emotional-
ism of the Me Generation, which exalts
the personal above all else. Of course,
both sides — the absolute detachment of
Venus–Uranus and the self-indulgence
of the Me Generation — are unhealthy
extremes. But given the lopsided nature
of our consumer-oriented culture, it
might be that Venus–Uranus provides a
needed balance. In any case, the Ura-
nian accent on the social is in sync with
Hepburn’s feelings about that very self-
oriented activity of the 20th century:
psychoanalysis — something she termed
“wild self-indulgence.”
To be sure, the antipathy for intro-
spection suggested by such a statement
can have its shadow side, but this same
detachment can open the door to larger
worlds. Far from creating merely a fear
of intimacy, in highly evolved cases the
transpersonalizing energy of Uranus can
lead to the quest for a higher love, an
Aquarian “love affair” with humanity
that makes mundane intimacy pale in
comparison.
Toward a Higher Love

Princess Diana is a case in point. It
may seem odd at first to link her with
the detachment of Venus–Uranus.
Diana was the archetypal Cancer, some-
one always crying out for intimacy and
throwing quite a few tantrums when
Prince Charles rendezvoused with
Camilla. Diana’s well-publicized eating
disorders were further evidence that
those very personal Cancerian needs
were not being met. How could one
possibly associate the Venus–Uranus
dynamic with her?
But right at the center of her chart
is Venus in Taurus at the focal point
of a t-square — in the 5th house of
romance, no less — with Uranus in
Leo opposite the Moon (see Chart 4,
p. 36). This is all the more poignant
because the Moon, the ruler of that
very sensitive and needy Cancer Sun,
is in freedom-loving Aquarius. Distance
was built into her intimate relationships
from the beginning. It’s no surprise that
“fate” paired her with a man twelve
years her senior and worlds apart in
education (Diana’s formal schooling
stopped when she was only 16).7
In fact, Diana had considerable
needs for space (including a Sagittar-
ius Ascendant) that ran counter to the
yearnings of her Cancer Sun. In the first
years of her marriage, Diana did not
own this facet of her being, choosing
instead to project her needs for inde-
pendence onto others. It was Charles
who was pulling away, Charles who was
unfaithful. Years later, when she was
able to form a significant bond, it wasn’t
with a fellow Brit or even a Westerner,
but with someone from a culture pro-
foundly different from her own: Middle
Eastern–born Dodi Fayed. In him Diana
had finally found the safe intimacy she’d
been seeking all along.
Even before she achieved this, her
Cancer Sun was not forgotten. Princess
Di manifested the purest expression of
both the Cancerian need for closeness
and the Aquarian need to be socially
significant through her humanitarian
work with AIDS patients, the homeless,
nian influence in Merton’s chart is the ultimately learned was that no amount
Venus–Uranus networks of rulerships, where Uranus

disposits every planet, including Venus.8
of rebellion could satisfy the Aquar-
ian urge for liberation. “It would take
Like Hepburn, Merton learned early me five or six years to discover what a
on what it was like to lose a loved one — frightful captivity I had got myself into,”
and victims of land mines, and how to distance him- he wrote of those “lost” years.9
to name a few. Here is self from the pain of loss. At age 23, after a number of spiri-
the higher love inherent in When he was six his mother tual experiences and awakenings, he
both Aquarian and Uranian died, and his father passed converted to Catholicism; then, at 26,
placements. away ten years later. From he denounced secular life and entered
We see this same then on, Merton was shut- a Trappist monastery. He called his
Aquarian impulse in Kath- tled back and forth between monastic existence, which was devoid of
arine Hepburn’s parents, relatives, residences, and the intimate relations of family life, “the
both of whom were social countries. (His parents had four walls of my new freedom.”10
crusaders: Her father was been expatriates in Europe.) Merton described the Aquarian–
a surgeon and a pioneer in Then, while he was still a Uranian impulse for a universal love in
the fight against venereal student, his closest caretaker his book, New Seeds of Contemplation:
disease; her mother, a suf- passed away. “A man cannot enter into the deepest
fragist and an early advocate of birth At that point, Merton embarked center of himself and pass through that
control. It was as though Hepburn, in on a profligate existence: Cut loose center into God, unless he is able to pass
her detachment from her own feelings, from any parental restricting factor, the entirely out of himself and empty him-
was saying: See? These social issues young man was now free to indulge his self and give himself to other people in
are the most important things, not my every whim and desire. He the purity of a selfless love”
petty, personal concerns. was in and out of relation- [italics mine]. Passing out of
The Venus–Uranus quest for a ships, the details of which oneself, emptying oneself:
higher love can be seen in clearer relief he refused to recount in his Here is the influence of
in the chart of Catholic contempla- famous memoir, The Seven Uranus — the lightning bolt
tive Thomas Merton. Although Merton Storey Mountain, suggest- of electricity that jolts one
didn’t have an aspect between these ing that they were too sor- onto a higher level of aware-
two planets, his chart is permeated with did. With all that Aquarian ness.11
both Uranian and Aquarian energies: and Uranian energy, it was Selfless love, finally, is
He had five planets in Aquarius, includ- no wonder: He was thrash- what Venus–Uranus contacts
ing the Sun and Aquarius-ruling Uranus ing about, trying desperately are all about; this love shies
(see Chart 5, below). Most important to free himself from earthly away from exclusive emo-
for understanding the breadth of Ura- constrictions. What Merton tional involvement with the
Chart 4: Chart 5:
Princess Diana Thomas Merton
one perfect partner and, instead, seeks become rather contemptuous of people
out an intimacy with all of humanity. Selfless love, still struggling to get their own impulses
finally, is what and feelings under control.
********* We see an example of this in Soder-
Venus–Uranus bergh’s movie, sex, lies, and videotape.
Before closing, I’d like to offer Toward the end of the film, Graham
contacts are
two caveats: Don’t think that someone the filmmaker is confronted about his
with hard aspects between Venus and all about. bizarre hobby. “Why are you doing this?
Uranus doesn’t have “personal” feel- Are you going to answer me?” demands
ings; that is not the case. Merton keenly to cry. Tracy had died two decades ear- Ann, one of Graham’s former subjects,
experienced sorrow after the death of lier, but Hepburn’s feelings about him who grabs the camera and points it at
his parents; for Hepburn, deep feel- were still raw and astonishingly close to him. Graham resists but Ann refuses to
ings manifested in the love and loyalty the surface. Back on the first floor, Hep- back down. Still aiming the camera his
she felt for her family, her grief over her burn summoned her assistant to talk way, she says: “I just want to ask you
brother, and her abiding affection for to the visitor, at which point she pulled a few questions. Like why do you tape
Spencer Tracy. herself together and offered him lunch.12 women talking about sex, huh? Why do
We see a touching vignette of the The deep feelings were still there, all you do that — can you tell me why?”
depth of Hepburn’s feelings in an anec- right. Among the gifts of Venus–Uranus “I don’t like the turning the tables
dote told by a journalist who inter- is the ability to take a step back and feel thing,” he says lamely, cowering in the
viewed the actress at her home when those intense emotions as if from a dis- corner.13
she was in her eighties. Toward the end tance. Not many people do. And not
of the interview, Hepburn was giving Now for the second caveat: Despite many people like having their feel-
the writer a tour of her house. As they the good points of this planetary combo, ings met with seeming indifference. It’s
walked downstairs, the writer spied a we must beware. The emotional detach- natural to have emotional needs and
picture of Spencer Tracy and mentioned ment that can result from Venus–Uranus reactions. The greatest mystics and
that Tracy had been his mother’s favor- can be used as a weapon when handled theologians, while preaching transcen-
ite actor. At this, the great actress, nor- in the wrong way. Individuals who are dence, all agree that the foibles result-
mally so steely and matter of fact, began utterly detached from their emotions can ing from those illusory emotions are
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Iris Murdoch, July 15, 1919; 8:00 p.m. GMD; 6. Hepburn, Me, p. 166.
Dublin, Ireland (53°N20', 06°W15'); A: from
Venus–Uranus memory, quoted from Jim Eshelman.
7. Andrew Morton, Diana: Her True Story in
Her Own Words, Simon and Schuster, 1998,
Diana, Princess of Wales, July 1, 1961; 7:45 pp. 183, 295.
p.m. GMD; Sandringham, England (52°N50', 8. Venus is in Sagittarius, which is disposited by
00°E30'); A: from memory; Charles Harvey Jupiter; Jupiter is in Aquarius and disposited by
essential to human beings and part of quotes data from her mother. Uranus, which is also in Aquarius and thus the
what makes our lives on this Earth so Thomas Merton, January 31, 1915; 9:00 a.m. final dispositor of the chart.
precious. The extreme detachment that GMT; Prads, France (44°N13', 06°E27'); AA: 9. Thomas Merton, The Seven Storey Moun-
birth record in hand from Steinbrecher. tain, Harvest Books, 1998, p. 94.
can result from Venus–Uranus can be
off-putting for those on the receiving 10. Ibid., quoted from back cover.
References and Notes
end and ultimately dehumanizing for 11. Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contempla-
the owner. Perhaps the optimal expres- 1. The subjects in this informal study were (a) tion, A New Directions Book, 1961, p. 64.
married, or (b) in committed relationships of one
sion of this planetary combination is a 12. Philip Hoare, “Portrait of a Lady,” in The
year or longer, or (c) involved in two or more
serene detachment from one’s emo- Independent (London), July 1, 2003.
relationships with people from foreign countries.
tional impulses, linked with compassion Of the 22 people with Venus–Uranus contacts, 13. Steven Soderbergh (director), sex, lies, and
for those who have not yet mastered 16 had squares or oppositions, four had trines videotape, Samuel Goldwyn Home Entertain-
or sextiles, and two had quincunxes. ment video, 1990.
their own.
2. The dynamic of distance in intimacy is rela-
tive to the cultures involved. An American mar- © 2005 Robin Antepara –
Chart Data and Sources
ried to a Canadian or Briton will experience less all rights reserved
Steven Soderbergh, January 14, 1963; (no cultural dissonance than, say, an American mar-
time given; noon EST is used); Atlanta, GA ried to a Japanese.
(33°N45', 84°W23'); X: date without time; Robin Antepara, M.A., is a practic-
3. John Bayley, Elegy for Iris, Picador USA,
from Steven Soderbergh: Interviews, edited by ing astrologer with more than 20 years
1999, pp. 44–45.
Anthony Kaufman, University Press of Missis- of experience. She is currently working
sippi, 2002, cited from the chronology. 4. Katharine Hepburn, Me: Stories of My Life, on a Ph.D. in Psychology and is inter-
Random House, 1991, pp. 63–65. ested in the intersection of astrology and
Katharine Hepburn, May 12, 1907; 5:47
p.m. EST; Hartford, CT (41°N46', 72°W41'); 5. “Remembering Kate/The Hepburns,” Peo- archetypal psychology. She is available
AA: quoted from birth certificate on file in ple magazine, commemorative issue, 2003, for consultations and can be reached at:
Hartford. pp. 6–7. robina@gol.com
A Tale of Two Doctors:
Part Two
An Interview with
Liz Greene
by Darrelyn Gunzburg
L iz Greene was Patrick Curry’s

first astrology teacher in the mid
1970s. Both of them gained their Ph.D.s
early in their lives and, after making con-
tact, veered off on different pathways.
Now in 2004, their paths have crossed
once more, only this time they are peers,
co-teaching the Psychology module for
the MA course at Bath Spa University
College. What are their different styles of
astrology, and how did they reach them?
What is their philosophy regarding astrol-
ogy? Where do they see astrology heading
Photo by Darrelyn Gunzburg
in the next decade?

We complete this two-part interview
with Dr. Liz Greene, one of the extraordi-
nary astrologers of the 20th century and
into the 21st. Her early books, Saturn
(1976), Relating (1978), and The Astrol-
ogy of Fate (1984), almost single-handedly ical and psychological states. Liz can be
shaped modern psychological astrology reached through the Astrodienst Web site:
and began a significant and substantial astro.com
legacy of work which continues to explore I interviewed Liz at her home in Bath
the astrological perspectives of mytholog- on June 29, 2004.

Liz Greene
My brother and I
Wagner and Strauss — so I grew up in
were deemed “dangerous”

a European culture. On one wall of my
parents’ house, where my grandparents
because we had too
lived for a time, there was a picture of
many talents.
the Queen, and on another, there was
Darrelyn Gunzburg: Liz, looking a picture of the Emperor Franz-Josef,
backwards at your life, what initially because my grandfather always felt
steered you into the pathway that had a head full of “things” for which I that the worst thing that ever happened
you’ve taken? had neither name nor language, and to Austria was that they got rid of the
then it just became a question of find- Hapsburgs. So, the energy in the house
Liz Greene: I don’t really know. Cer- ing languages that made sense of it all was not terribly American.
tainly, the impetus didn’t come from my and would allow me to communicate. My father always regretted leaving
family, because they weren’t involved By the time I was eleven or twelve, I England. He came from a large fam-
in these sorts of areas, although both was convinced that people reincarnated. ily, and they were extremely poor. His
my parents were well read, and there I was sure that there were such things older brother went off to fight in the First
were always a lot of books in the house. as ghosts or resonances of some kind, World War and got killed. My father
I think some of it came from needing and I always felt that there was another, wanted to be an architect; he managed
to understand why I perceived things hidden side of life that people weren’t to get a scholarship to London Univer-
as I did. The library that my parents noticing. I painted — that was another sity, but his parents said, no, we need
had was extremely valuable, because outlet — and I found a lot of magic in you to work, and they wouldn’t let him
I stumbled onto Freud when I was nature; I still do. Writers and novelists go. He was enraged, so he just packed
twelve. I just pulled The Interpretation have been working with this material his bags and emigrated and never saw
of Dreams off the shelf and read it, and for as long as people have been writ- them again. The climate after the War
I can remember thinking, “I’m right! ing novels, so it isn’t actually New Age was pretty horrible. There were no
I’m not crazy after all.” I am a vivid at all. Shakespeare always fascinated jobs. My father was exceedingly bit-
dreamer, and somehow I always knew me. I love plays, and Shakespeare is ter because his favourite brother had
dreams were important. The revelation full of fate and the way that people con- been killed, and I think the whole thing
of this unconscious side of people and jure their fate. Greek tragedy always just poisoned him. He wanted a new
their inability to see that their behav- appealed to me. So, those ideas were life and felt he couldn’t get it by stay-
iour and their motives were actually available from places other than New ing in London because the family were
affecting how they interacted, without Age sources. I got a lot of it from litera- in London. I think he had the idea that
their realising it, was something I seem ture and from theatre. somehow a great new life would be
to have always known, but for which waiting for him in America, but it didn’t
I couldn’t really get a hearing. So, a DG: In terms of religion, in what work out that way. But by that time,
lot of how I came upon this pathway kind of household were you raised? he’d married my mother, so there he
was finding books that affirmed per- remained. He met my mother in Amer-
ceptions that I wasn’t getting validated LG: There was no heavy leaning on ica. They were both involved in political
from school or from teachers or from me to be religious in any orthodox circles. They were both highly passion-
my immediate environment. That drove sense. Both my parents believed in ate Democrats and great admirers of
me inside, and it drove me to look for God; they had the ethical and moral [Franklin D.] Roosevelt, and I think they
understanding through what other peo- framework but without a strict doctrinal met at some kind of political gathering.
ple wrote, and that inevitably opened framework, so I was given a lot of free- But my father never became American-
up the area of psychology and mysti- dom on that one. ised. He had his kippers in the morning
cal and supernatural phenomena, all of My father was English. He was and his Guinness in the evening. He
which fascinated me when I was quite born in London, and he named me was a deeply introverted and inarticulate
young. I can’t remember a time when it after the [current British] Queen, for my man, but we understood each other. We
didn’t, so this became an obvious way sins. [laughs] I was born in the United weren’t close in the conventional sense,
to go later. States and, when I moved to England, I but on another level I think we were
I was fortunate in that my parents didn’t have a British passport, but when extremely close.
had books on mythology and fairy tales, I applied for one, I got one instantly. My mother was frightened of the
and my mother used to read these to My mother’s parents were from Vienna. metaphysical arena. She didn’t ever
me when I was quite small. Whatever Both my parents brought with them the stop me from reading books about it,
my parents might have done wrong, values, images, cooking styles, and lan- but she was a highly extroverted per-
they gave me that great gift, for which guages from their own backgrounds. My son, and the inner world scared her, so
I shall always be grateful. So, I already grandparents spoke German, but I have she just didn’t want to talk about it. My
had a sense of “the story,” and I used to a problem with the German language: father never said anything about meta-
write stories as far back as I can remem- I find it too harsh. However, I got my physical matters, and I only found out
ber. But other than that, I think I just love of music from them — my love of much, much later, before he died, that
he had been fascinated by those things a regional accent, and the new lower it around. But initially, my aspirations
all his life. So, possibly I got some- class are the well-spoken Oxford Eng- were in the visual arts.
thing from him by osmosis, because he lish. The hierarchy is deeply rooted
certainly never spoke about it. There here. Growing up in America you don’t DG: On one level, it’s almost like the
wasn’t any resistance from my parents, get that; you grow up believing that blocking of your father’s desire to
but there certainly was from my school- whatever you can make of yourself is do architecture expressed itself after
ing. I have only one sibling, Richard what you’re going to become, and for all – consciously or unconsciously –
Leigh, a writer, who is also involved in that I’m especially thankful. through your studying scenic and
the metaphysical realm. We were both I also got a good education. I costume design.
“cuckoo’s eggs,” as Bernadette [Brady] started off with English Literature as
puts it. Both Rich and I were given a my major, but that was under duress LG: Everybody’s got talents of some
really hard time at school. I don’t know — it was my parents’ choice. My choice kind. The sad thing is that many people
what American schooling is like now, would have been to go to art school. I just never find them. They don’t know
so I can only comment on what it was had a mediocre talent as a painter, but where to look, or they’re not given the
like then. The school administration was a mediocre talent looks like a big tal- encouragement. If you receive encour-
quite obsessed with the idea of “normal- ent in a small town. [laughs] Anyway, agement from your parents, then you
ity,” and that meant extroversion: You I thought I wanted to be an artist, and will find your talents and pursue them.
go out and join the team, and you play I probably would have done well in But I think talents are hereditary. I
hockey and football. He and I both went a branch of design of some kind, but think an ability for design or garden-
right off the graph with our IQ scores. that was not permitted. Also, I had won ing or cooking or relating or painting
We were both introverted and rather scholarships which were awarded on the or music can be seen in birth charts as
strange, and as I preferred to read books basis of my choosing English Literature signatures coming down through fami-
or paint paintings or grow plants rather as a major. After a month, I couldn’t lies: All the women in the family have
than play hockey (this was seen as “anti- stand it, so I moved over to the Theatre Moon–Uranus, or all the men in the
social”), we got labelled as “TMA” — Arts department, and my new major family have Mars trine Neptune, or
not The Mountain Astrologer, but Too was Scenic and Costume Design, with whatever. Those are talents. They’re
Many Aptitudes. We were deemed “dan- a minor in Psychology. That I loved! the signature of an aptitude or an abil-
gerous” because we had too many tal- Then, after a while, the psychology ity which, if it’s developed, could be
ents in too many areas. So, there were became more interesting, so I flipped made into something.
a lot of attempts to “fix” us so we would
be normal, happy, American children.
Fortunately, it was pre-Ritalin days, or
no doubt we would have been medi-
cated. Both of us were tough enough to
tell the school psychologists and guid-
ance counselors where to get off, so we
stubbornly remained what we were.
This was McCarthy’s America we were
growing up in as children. Not a nice
climate.
DG: Not nice at all. Can you see any-

thing positive that came from it,
apart from the toughness and the
strength to say no?
LG: The one thing that I feel I got

from growing up in America, which I
wouldn’t have got had I grown up in
England, was the absence of a class sys-
tem. I’m extremely grateful for not hav-
ing been burdened psychologically with
the enormously powerful British social
hierarchy, because I’ve seen it scar peo-
ple here so badly. All that’s happened
in recent times is that the class system
has inverted itself, so that the new
upper class are the working class with

DG: Have you seen that reflected in LG: I hated it. I would love to do
your father’s chart and in yours? another Ph.D. now, and I probably will.
I’d love to do it at Bath Spa, because
LG: Up to a point, yes. I’m sure I did I think it would be so much fun. But
ALPHEE'S get an ability for drawing or design from getting my doctorate back then was
AIR ALPHEE'S
SOFTWARE him, so I can’t lay claim to it as “mine.” unpleasant. The subject did interest me.
AIR SOFTWARE We get these things as free gifts. If you
can develop them, that’s wonderful. If
My thesis was on “Hysteria, Self-
Hypnosis, and Religious Miracle Cures,”
17 Different Astrology you can’t, even if it’s very mediocre tal-

ent, at least you can enjoy it as a hobby.
and that still interests me — how people
go through extraordinary healing experi-
Programs to make you a I’m sure that I got some of my interest in
visual design from him.
ences from diseases that were ques-
tionable to start with and attribute the
COMPLETE ASTROLOGER! cure to a particular religion or prayer
DG: I remember you saying to me, or saint’s relic. Yet, healing of this kind
years ago, that you got your Ph.D. seems to occur in every religion, so it
Software found so you could say some of the things obviously can’t be one particular reli-
no where else! you wanted to say without being gion’s name for God. So, what’s the
questioned. dynamic? That was what I was trying to
The A.I. does the work explore in my thesis, but I couldn’t do
for you! LG: Well, by that time I’d already got it in a way that really moved into the
into astrology, and taking a doctor- imaginal realm. I had to be rigorously

State-of-the-Ar t Softwar e
ate was a highly calculated, deliber- clinical with it, which was irritating.
loaded with unique innovations to ate, cynical choice: “I’m fed up with
access any astrological information people treating me like a lunatic. If I
imaginable, simply & quickly. DG: Just going back a step, how did
have these letters after my name, they’ll you get more involved with astrol-
Nostradamus II
think twice.” Of course, I had to muzzle ogy, since I assume at that time
Father Time II
myself and produce work in a language there were no formal courses or
that was acceptable to the university. teaching?
Right Decision II
The difference now is that you can do
Millennium 5.0
an MA or a doctorate at Bath Spa and LG: Well, there were courses in Eng-
study what you love, and admit that you land — the Faculty of Astrological
New Updated
SPECIALTY PROGRAMS love it. But in those days, you couldn’t Studies was already up and running at
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do that. So, it was a calculated choice. that time. There were astrologers teach-
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DG: Are you saying you didn’t lated individuals; there were no real
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by Dane Rudhyar and Marc Edmund passed through Isabel’s doors. How- ing, and along came these students,
Jones, as well as British astrologers like ard Sasportas went to her classes, and about a dozen of them. They said, “We
Alan Leo, Charles Carter, and Marga- so did Darby Costello. We never met heard you were a teacher. Could you
ret Hone. But the places you could go each other there, because we attended come and teach us?” Jupiter was tran-
to learn astrology were more like initia- at different times. But we all passed siting right on my Sun–Midheaven, and
tion schools than the astrology schools through Isabel Hickey’s portals. I remember thinking at the time, “Don’t
we have now. There was something With hindsight, I’m incredibly grate- be an idiot. You don’t know anything.”
very secret and clannish and doctri- ful for how things turned out. If I had I also have a deep ambivalence about
nal about them, and they always came had the sort of nature that was look- getting up in front of a group. It always
with a religious package. You had to ing for a guru, I would have become a paralyses me with terror. But something
be a Rosicrucian or a Theosophist. I Theosophical astrologer and a clone of else inside said, “Just shut up and do
was in Boston at the time, and some- Isabel, and I would never have devel- it,” so I shut up and did it. I found that
one took me to see Isabel Hickey, who oped my own observations and exper- it was great fun, because I discovered
was running a small class there. Isabel imentation in the way I did. I didn’t what I knew from the questions people
was a foaming-at-the-mouth Theoso- know of any other teachers, so I started asked me. A lot of astrology students are
phist, deeply steeped in Theosophical exploring on my own and went on like always waiting for the day when they’re
teaching, so her astrology came with that until it was far too late to find a going to be ready to do charts or when
that package. She demanded that her teacher. they feel they know enough to teach.
students take up those beliefs, which I started teaching astrology when There is no such day. I think we always
may be one of the reasons I didn’t I was 19 years old. I’d never thought know a great deal more than we realise,
last very long. We did not hit it off, of doing such a thing. I’d only been and it takes somebody else asking,
and in the end, I didn’t wind up learn- studying for a couple of years when a “What does this mean?” Then you have
ing any astrology from her. Instead, class appeared whose teacher had van- to dig inside, and suddenly you draw on
she made me so angry that I went and ished over the horizon. They had some- things that you’ve noticed but haven’t
bought every book I could find and how heard that I was an astrologer, put together before. The mechanism of
taught myself. She was a great spur for but I didn’t see myself as “an astrolo- learning is often stimulated by some-
me. Anger is often an extremely good ger.” I was stumbling along, trying to one else thinking you have something to
way to get moving. A lot of people make sense of the astrology I was learn- teach them.

Liz Greene
gent America which tends to be located him. It’s not as though he was a dic-
in sophisticated cities — with a vast tator who took over against every-
country in between. This second Amer- one’s wishes. People elect their leaders.
ica sometimes manages to get a foot- Everyone here whinges about Tony
hold, which it did in the early ’60s under Blair. Well, we elected him, for heaven’s
DG: So, when did you decide to Kennedy. I think it’s a pity that Bill Clin- sake. Some of us knew better, but most
leave the States? ton was so vilified, because he was actu- didn’t. He won by a landslide. I moved
ally a good president. It’s not of interest to Switzerland just before the general
LG: I always wanted to leave. When I to me where a politician puts his geni- election, partly because I knew what
was a child, I knew I wanted to leave. tal equipment; it doesn’t have anything was coming. Everyone believed Blair
I grew up in a European household, to do with how well he does his job. was the new Messiah, who could walk
and I was not happy in the culture of But the U.S. was founded by Puritans, on water. I thought, “Give them half a
the world outside. I felt I would fit bet- and there’s something in the collective Neptune transit in Aquarius, and they’ll
ter in Europe, where introverts are not psyche which keeps reverting back to work it out.” Blair was the Great Hope
deemed to be socially maladjusted and those values. Even if they temporarily — everyone was convinced they were
intellectuals are not deemed to be dan- go into eclipse, the Puritans are always going to have a wonderful, equal soci-
gerous. As far back as I can remem- waiting for their chance, and they went ety. Well, it isn’t equal now any more
ber, I knew America wasn’t my place. for Clinton. You have to fight all the than it was when he was elected, and in
What I’m seeing in America now is a ris- time to break free of them. fact it’s become a great deal worse. No
ing up of what I met in the ’50s. It’s Joe matter how well-meaning people are,
McCarthy all over again, but with differ- DG: Are you able to suggest a solu- it takes a most unusual and extraordi-
ent scapegoats. The current administration, astrological or otherwise? nary individual not to be corrupted by
tion is simply turning the clock back. power, and Tony Blair is not particularly
Sometimes, I feel there are two LG: I don’t know what could help now, extraordinary.
Americas. There’s the Puritan Amer- except to get George Bush out. But I don’t have any solutions for these
ica which is always lurking underneath, he is an elected president. Of course kinds of problems. Perhaps, if a bit more
waiting for its chance, and there’s the there’s an argument that he isn’t, but alertness, consciousness, and individ-
liberal, tolerant, open-minded, intelli- more or less half the country voted for ual responsibility were demonstrated at
the next U.S. and British elections, then “I’ll do a cover for them.” So I did a something to supplement my income.
some of the damage might be undone. pen-and-ink drawing and sent that off, But it had to be something that wouldn’t
I don’t know whether the available can- and lo and behold, they put it on the kill my soul. One day, I turned the radio
didates have the capacity to undo the cover. I was extremely fortunate to have on and out blasted “Roll Away the
damage. Really fine leaders don’t come met Donald and Betty Weiser. The next Stone,” which was Leon Russell’s first
along every generation. And predicting book I sent to them was Relating, and big hit. This was followed by some pat-
election results is not my area of astrol- since then Weiser have published virtu- ter about Shelter Records and Denny
ogy, anyway. ally all my books, except the volumes Cordell. My ears pricked up, and I
published by the CPA Press [Centre for thought: “Hello, they went and did
DG: Did you write Saturn at your Psychological Astrology] — although it, just as I suggested. I’ll ring Denny
Saturn return? now they’re called Red Wheel/Weiser Cordell and ask him to give me a job.”
and are under different management. And that’s what I did. It was the start of
LG: No, it got published at my Saturn a wonderful two years of rock ’n’ roll,
return, right on the button, but I started DG: It fascinated me when you told which I needed to get out of my system.
writing it 18 months earlier. Every- me that you had worked in the My love of the theatre was, I suppose,
thing I write is much more rewarding if music industry for Shelter Records, the same thing that got me into the
I’m struggling with it or not knowledge- organizing the European tour for record industry. It was a magic world
able enough about it. Then, if I teach or the blues singer and guitarist Fred- at that time — artists were expected to
write about that subject, it forces me to die King. Where did that fit in? have talent and were not created by
do research and learn, and there’s more a publicity machine. I used to do the
energy and satisfaction in that than writ- LG: Nothing fits in! [smiles] In the early charts for prospective artists that Denny
ing about something I already know a ’70s, I was working as a professional was thinking of signing on the label. I
lot about. I wrote Saturn in an effort to astrologer and also practicing psycho- also did charts for the staff, when prob-
try to understand the planet better. therapy. One of my astrological clients lems arose between them.
I’ve never in my life done a goals- was an English record producer called
by-objective effort, except for my doc- Denny Cordell, who had produced DG: What an insightful man!
torate. Writing Saturn was more like, Procul Harum and Joe Cocker and had
“I think I’ll try this, it looks interesting.” just finished the infamous “Mad Dogs LG: Oh, Denny was marvellous, quite
And then there was a book. I thought: and Englishmen” tour. Denny had met an extraordinary man. It was through
“Well, what do you do with a book? I a singer called Leon Russell and wanted him that I got to Europe for the first time.
know: I’ll go to my library, and I’ll look to know about the viability of the two of I came to London on a company busi-
at all the astrology books I really like them setting up a record label in Cali- ness trip and thought, “I’ve come home.”
and see who’s published them. The fornia. I did their synastry and encour- Then, I began working out a way of
chances are that somebody who’s pub- aged them to go ahead, and then I heard getting over here permanently. I tried
lished the kind of astrology books I’ve nothing from them for a couple of years. to convince Denny to open a London
enjoyed reading might be interested in During that time, I was not happy work- office, but he wasn’t prepared to do it at
this one.” The publisher turned out to ing as a psychotherapist — I was too that point, so in the end I just emigrated.
be Samuel Weiser Inc., so I sent them young and I felt trapped by the work — I continued to see Denny every couple of
the manuscript with a letter that said, and I couldn’t really make a living as years, on and off, until he died.
“Would you be interested in this?” I was an astrologer. I am completely unsuited All these different things — study-
a bit like the Fool at the beginning of the to doing “proper” nine-to-five office ing set and costume design at university
Tarot cycle, blithely ready to walk over work, so I was in a quandary. I wanted and working for summer stock theatres,
the edge of the cliff. Then, I thought, to work as an astrologer, but I needed doing the academic bit, doing the record
��
��
��
��
��
��
��
��
��
��
��
��

��

Liz Greene
come to this conclusion? What’s the
Astrologers are usually
philosophy I’m bringing to it?” We
very intuitive, but intuition

know so little about our own art. A lot
of astrologers say that exams can’t test
alone is not enough.
whether you’re a good astrologer. Per-
business bit — I’m so glad that I tried haps not. But they can test whether you
all these things, because they’ve been know that you’re a good astrologer,
such wonderful experiences from which chotherapeutic work. I finished my ana- and they can test areas where you actu-
I’ve learned so much. They’re differ- lytic training in 1983, and then for many ally have to use your brain. Intuition
ent dimensions of life which I think are years I practiced as an analyst as well as alone is not enough. The Faculty course
extraordinarily enriching. In no way working as an astrologer. is a superb course, and I think their
have I ever regretted following that I got my Diploma from the Faculty Diploma is of real value. It’s worth mak-
extremely circuitous path, without any of Astrological Studies before I wrote ing the effort to get it, if for no other
clear idea of where I was going at all Saturn. I did that as soon as I came to reason than that it makes you aware of
except to do the next thing that seemed England. I’m very assiduous about get- what you don’t know. It forces you to
interesting. The connecting thread has ting bits of paper, because they’re so think. Best of all, it forces you to frame
always been my love of astrology, but very handy. Also, I wanted to fill in the what you think you know in a language
otherwise there is no order or logic in it. gaps in my knowledge. I had to do a lot that someone else can understand.
of refurbishing and relearning before I
DG: And after that? took the Faculty exam. DG: What drew you to Bath Spa after
living in Switzerland for so long? I
LG: I’d been reading Jung all the way DG: So, there really is value in doing mean, I know you were thinking of
through my education, although I exams, because you realise what moving back to England anyway.
couldn’t bring him into my university you don’t know and you can then
work — he was not deemed “scientific” fill in the gaps? LG: It was ... I wanted to say “chance,”
enough. When I moved to England, the but we both know there’s no such thing
first thing I did was to train at the Centre LG: I do feel that it’s a mistake not as chance. But it looked like chance.
for Transpersonal Psychology with Ian to subject oneself to testing of some I wanted to come back to England,
Gordon Brown and Barbara Somers. kind. Even though I said I hated doing and then it was a question of where.
This was excellent, but in the end I felt the Ph.D., I don’t regret having done I had been living in London for many
that I was not getting enough emphasis it. Apart from the value of the bit of years, and then I moved to a village
on the clinical side of psychotherapeu- paper, it forced me to think in ways that outside Oxford, which was a ghastly
tic work. Both sides of the psychological were unfamiliar and uncomfortable, mistake — partly because of the vil-
spectrum have always seemed to me to which is not a bad thing. This is why I lage but also because Oxford is a diffi-
have half the truth. Transpersonal psy- think the course at Bath Spa is so valu- cult place. It’s a beautiful city, but its life
chology and good old nitty-gritty child- able. Astrologers are usually extremely is divided. There’s the university, and
hood dustbin stuff are both part of us, intuitive. They have a feeling for sym- there are the car factories — and little in
and I was missing the clinical side. My bols — that’s why they go into astrol- between. They call the division “town
university education was minimal in ogy, that’s why they love it, that’s why and gown.” The academic mentality at
terms of psychotherapeutic training. So, they’re good at it. But it’s easy to be Oxford is extremely narrow and closed.
I decided to do a Jungian training. I felt sloppy in your thinking and make a lot They can’t cope with a psychoanalyst,
that this would properly qualify me, and of assumptions. We don’t ask enough never mind an astrologer, and I experi-
I would get a good basis for depth psy- questions of ourselves: “How did I enced incredible rudeness from Oxford
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dons — really gross rudeness, in terms explore the history of the ideas behind
of their reactions to anything other than the astrology which we work with now.
their own little world. On the other side I find this incredibly exciting. It gives ��
of Oxford, it was, “Let’s go home and me an excuse to go back and be a stu-
have a couple of pints of lager and dent again. I have to do a lot of work to
watch East Enders [a TV soap about prepare for these classes. I can’t waffle,
the everyday lives of predominantly because the students are sharp and chal-
working-class families living in a ficti- lenge me, so it’s making me develop
tious borough of London’s East End].” my thinking. Doing charts and teach-
Oxford was clearly the wrong place ing astrology involve learning, too, but
for me. I already had a pied-à-terre in in a different way. The Bath Spa course
London, but I didn’t want to live there gets me into learning about things that
again, because it’s so congested. I need I wouldn’t otherwise be able to justify
to look out the window and see some- spending time learning about. It’s so
thing beautiful. I can’t look out the win- much fun. It also appeals to my sense of
dow and see the brick wall of somebody mischief. Here we are in the middle of a ��
else’s block of flats. In the end, it had to university, and look at what we’re doing! ��
be somewhere outside London, some- I find it a hoot, because the astrological ��
where beautiful but where I could get on community has always had a chip on ��
a train and come into London fairly eas- its collective shoulder about academics.
ily. The obvious choice was Bath, made Most astrologers are on the run from aca-
all the more attractive because I love demia. These are the great gods of the
Roman archaeology and Roman his- establishment, and we’re either defensive ��
tory. If the Romans were here, it must and reject them entirely or we’re plead-
be okay. So, I decided on Bath before ing, “Please take me seriously, I’m really ��
the university course had even begun. not crazy,” and subjecting ourselves to a
By the time I actually moved, the lot of abuse. That’s one of the reasons I
Sophia Project was fully up and run- got my bits of paper. If an academic says,
ning. But I didn’t really know much “What a load of rubbish!” I can reply,
about it at first. Then Nick [Campion] “Well, actually, if I want the opinion of
and Patrick [Curry] asked if I would like an academically trained mind which can ��
��
��
to give a class, as a kind of trial run. I assess this material objectively, I’ll ask ��
��
like the format within which I’m work- myself.” And now, thanks to the Sophia ��
ing now at Bath Spa. I’m a part-time Project, we can all do that. The course is ��
��
lecturer, so I don’t have to deal with healing a lot of the feelings of inferiority ��
any administration. I’m not a good in the astrological community. ��
��
��
administrator. When it comes to run- The course is also training us to
��
ning the CPA, Juliet [Sharman-Burke] communicate in a language that other ��
does all the administrative work, bless academics understand. The academic ��
��
her — if it wasn’t for her, the CPA world is not merely a monolith of intol- ��
wouldn’t exist. But I have the pleasure erance. There are some extremely inter- ��
of being able to teach. esting and intelligent people who would ��
like to know more, but because we can’t ��

��
DG: What do you feel you are gain- articulate astrology in language other
��
��
ing from being at Bath Spa? than our own jargon, they don’t grasp ��
what we’re on about. Yet, if ideas from ��
LG: I have to learn new things and the astrological world can be communi- ��
��
stretch my brain. Instead of “how to” cated in a language academics can un-
astrology (“Today we’re going to do a derstand, they’re extremely interested. ��
��
seminar on Jupiter. Jupiter in the first This has been our failing, not theirs. This ��
house means …”), I have to learn about is why the Methodology Module is so ��
what Marsilio Ficino thought about Jupi- valuable at Bath Spa. Even though ev- ��
��
ter and why, or how the Greco-Roman eryone hates it and jumps up and down ��
astrologers understood the difference kicking and screaming, we’re learning ��
��
between soul and body, or why Thrasyl- how to communicate with people who ��
lus, the Roman astrologer who edited are coming from a different mind-set ��
Plato’s works, doctored the dialogues and discovering how to meet them half- ��
��
and rearranged them as he did. I have to way. That is immensely valuable.
DG: There is a bit of a divide in the astrological commu-
nity about university courses in astrology, isn’t there?
��
LG: There is. Many astrologers can’t see the point and resent
�� all this sudden emphasis on academic work. They say, “It
�� doesn’t make you a good astrologer.” There is some truth
�� in that. Being “a good astrologer,” whatever that means,
requires many skills, many of which cannot be taught in a
�� university. But there is sometimes a kind of laziness in our
thinking and in our ability to articulate what we know in ordi-
�� nary English. We don’t know enough about the history of our
�� subject or the different philosophies that have helped to shape
it. We don’t understand, from an objective perspective, the
particular philosophy that any individual astrologer espouses,
and we don’t know enough about allied areas like the arts and
literature. There’s a kind of fundamentalism in many astrolo-
gers: “Keep astrology pure, we don’t need to know anything
else.” But we can’t separate astrology from anything else. It’s
a universal language, and therefore it deals in universals.
How are you going to translate the language if your percep-
tions are so narrow that they’re locked in a little box? You can
have an intuition or a feeling about a planetary placement,
but how are you going to explain this to the client if you can’t
even put sentences together properly? I am totally in favour
of rigorous mental training. I think we need it, as a commu-
nity. It has something to do with being able to observe your
own thinking processes — and understanding and formulating
how you came to that conclusion. There’s so much that we
need to know, and we never stop learning. But we also have
to know how to learn. We have to use our minds in a certain
way in order to learn. It’s an active process, not passive, and
not enough astrologers make the effort to do that.
Astrology is such a beautiful language, but it’s easy to get
lazy with it, both in thinking and in communicating. You get
around a bunch of astrologers, and someone says, “How are
you today?” and someone else replies, “Oh, Saturn’s on my
Moon.” We all think we know what that means, but each per-
son might mean something quite different by it. Psychologists
get lazy with their jargon, too. They lose the ability to com-
municate to a person who’s not versed in that jargon. Also, I
really can’t bear the massacre of the English language. Lan-
guage is a remarkable thing, and to be able to use language
well is a wonderful gift. It’s like anything else: The more you
respect it, the more you can create with it. When I look at
the truly awful grammar and spelling and impoverishment
of vocabulary amongst many astrologers, it saddens me. It’s
almost as though the language is being lost. It’s true that the
media are dumbing us down, and astrology is in danger of
being dumbed down as well. Our concentration spans are
getting smaller and smaller. We want “sound bites” instead of
extended discussion and debate. We will read a novel if it’s
92 pages, but not if it’s 600.
DG: Unless it’s J. K. Rowling.
LG: [nods] Unless it’s J. K.

Rowling [author of the Harry
Potter series] or The Lord of the
Rings — and even The Lord of the Rings is proving too dif-
ficult for some. But how many astrologers will read Proust or
Mann? Okay, maybe these particular authors are not every-
��
body’s cup of tea, but we sadly neglect the wealth of literature ��
we have available to enhance our understanding of human
nature. I sometimes read the feedback that comes to the ��
Astrodienst Web site guestbook, and the spelling is often atro-
cious. Some astrologers can’t even spell Jupiter. They don’t ��
even write coherent sentences. They write something that ��
looks like a text message. This really upsets me. Our level of
literacy needs to be high. Otherwise, we cannot understand, ��
let alone communicate, the wealth of riches in our symbology.
Bath Spa is a place where people have to sit down and write
�
��
��
proper papers about astrology, with sentences and full stops
and commas in the right places, and correct footnotes, and
sources properly credited and listed, and things like ibid. and
op. cit. You might well ask, “What good does it do an astrolo-
ger to know what op. cit. means?” It doesn’t do any good, on
the literal level. But, like learning Latin, it exercises the mus-
cles between your ears.
��
DG: So, Liz, how do you see astrology being shaped by
��
this academic training and expressing itself over the ��
next decade? ��
LG: In a few years’ time, the way people express astrology ��
is going to be quite different. It’s already mobilising the Brit- ��
ish astrological community in extremely positive ways. In this
country, the nasty backbiting, petty spite, and professional ��
envy that have riddled the astrology schools here — and in ��
every other country — are beginning to be put aside in favour ��
of a larger goal. We have realised that we are actually a com-
munity and that the development of our understanding and ��
communication skills as astrologers is more important than ��
our petty infighting. Something quite remarkable is starting to
happen: We are creating unity whilst still respecting diversity. ��
That alone is worth its weight in gold. ��
��
DG: Liz, thank you so much for making the time avail- ��
able for this interview. We wish you all the best for
a successful, enjoyable, and fruitful time at Bath Spa, ��
whichever way you shape it – or it shapes you. ��
��
For details of the Master’s Degree in Cultural Astronomy and Astrology ��
at Bath Spa University College, go to www.bathspa.ac.uk/sophia/ or
��
e-mail the administrator, Alice Ekrek: a.ekrek@bathspa.ac.uk
��
© 2005 Darrelyn Gunzburg –
all rights reserved
Darrelyn Gunzburg, Dip. FAA (1988),

is a consulting astrologer and co-principal
of Astro Logos, a school dedicated to the
education and qualification of practising
astrologers (www.AstroLogos.co.uk). Her
book, Life after Grief: An Astrological
Guide to Dealing with Loss, was recently
published by the Wessex Astrologer: www.
wessexastrologer.com ��

The
Ninth
House
I like to think of the 9th house as a

happy place. Here’s where we don lederhosen,
toss a knapsack on our back, and stride gaily
through the wide world, singing as we go,
“Valderee, Valderah, Valderee, Valderah-
ha-ha-ha-ha-ha.” Here, we feel adventurous
and free. The 9th holds our personal Alps,
where the spirit soars, the mind expands, and
life acquires new meaning. The 9th takes us
to uncharted territories and gifts us with new
perspectives. It rules travel to faraway places,
higher education, religion, philosophy, mysti-
cism, divination, and publishing — endeavors
that increase our understanding and broaden
the scope of our lives. When there is a 9th-
house emphasis by transit, progression, or
solar return, we might get justifiably excited:
A new adventure is on the way! Rarely do we
worry about planets in this happy house.
Part Nine of a series

lution. In the 8th, structures are razed
to the ground, monsters crawl up from
The Ninth House the basement, our identities are stripped
and laid bare. Something we’ve held
onto dies. At such moments, we raise
The year my Aunt Nancy had five The 9th house our eyes and seek a higher power’s
planets in the 9th house of her solar grace. We want to connect with some-
return, she read voraciously — about
encourages our thing greater than ourselves. Would we
past lives, auras, and astral travel. She quest for meaning look for the gods if our tummies were
listened to radio talk shows about medi- in life. full and life were constantly joyful?
ums, the spirit world, and UFOs. She The 9th rules the literature of spirit
pondered the meaning of life, the les- — the metaphors, symbols, and myths
sons of her three marriages. She soared that bind a culture, its moral codes,
on the airways of her mind. Clearly, she its shared ideals and visions. No other
was experiencing her 9th house. That’s When there are significant plan- house speaks so eloquently of the dig-
because she had no choice: Shortly after ets in the 9th house, natally or by tran- nity and intelligence of the human spirit.
her birthday, she was hit by a car. She sit, we should get curious about what’s The 9th is a decidedly human house.
spent most of that year lying flat on her motivating those planets. Perhaps it’s What other species builds temples or
back in bed. a simple urge for adventure, a desire universities or courts of law? Perhaps
My friend with the 9th-house Sun to cruise around the world, find one’s what most distinguishes humankind
says his happiest memories are of the guru, expand one’s future with a univer- from the animals is our capacity for
two times he hit the road, without plan, sity degree. Or perhaps the individual abstract thought. We look for under-
letting serendipity chart his course. The has paid a “world-upside-down” tuition lying patterns, the overarching laws
first time, Dave traveled with a hitch- fee, had her passport stamped by crisis. of Nature. We try to master our fates,
hiker’s thumb and backpack. Four- The days after President Bush’s re- predicting and planning for the future
teen years later, he took to the road in election, I was stunned to hear so many — based on our experience of the past
a customized van, complete with Nin- of my “blue state” friends threatening or what we can divine from porten-
tendo and a mini-refrigerator. What to move to Canada, New Zealand, tous symbols. Animals live in the pres-
launched his two adventures? Was it the south of France. Would they leave ent. Through language and imagery,
9th-house wanderlust? No. He’d been everything behind because of an elec- we humans travel in time, building on
stunned by the two great setbacks tion? As the weeks progressed, most of the foundations of past lessons, drawing
of his life. The first came when Sat- them calmed down. I came to under- new futures out of imagination’s pocket.
urn conjoined his Sun; Dave’s wife stand their initial reaction as a knee-jerk Yet, we pay a heavy price for this
left him — for a woman. The second 9th-house response. When the hammer gift. Knowledge of time also brings
came fourteen years later, when Saturn falls, we take out the map and look for a awareness of the inevitability of death.
opposed his Sun; he was fired from the new frontier. There’s nothing like a dis- And this knowing throws us into an anx-
company he had helped to build for tant horizon to repair a shattered soul. ious, insecure, even terrified condition.
the past ten years. Both times, his solar Whenever we reach a personal limit — Fear is an unexpected by-product of
identity cracked — 9th-house wan- after a divorce, a career gone bad, our awareness of time. As my dog lies
dering was how he put himself back when life doesn’t turn out as we hoped peacefully on the couch, I worry about
together again. it would — to the 9th house we’ll go. the future, about paying my bills, about
Expatriates often have significant We’ll take a trip. We’ll return to school. dying someday, about watching a loved
placements in their natal 9th. Astrology We’ll seek advice from a 9th-house per- one die. My dog is blissfully ignorant of
concurs that such individuals might find son: an astrologer, a lawyer, or a priest. the daily news. But as I watch the pic-
their fortunes far from home. Foreign- We’ll pray for God’s blessings. As we go tures from Iraq (or Albuquerque, for
born clients with 9th-house planets often through the outer 9th-house motions, that matter), I wonder, Why such suf-
do seem free-spirited, broad-minded, inwardly we’re reaching, stretching, and fering? What does it all mean? Against
and adventurous. André emigrated from struggling to acquire a new perspective the suffering and impermanence of life,
France in his early twenties and never on our world. we seek a more enduring grace. Our
went back home. With a 9th-house The 9th encourages our quest for 9th-house ideas feed our spirit. Our reli-
Moon, he loves travel, philosophy, meaning in life. But generally we don’t gious and cultural institutions promise
politics, and women. He has an incred- go there until life falls apart. Few of us that something good will survive after
ible joie de vivre. But the year a crisis retire gaily to our dens to pen our per- our last breath. We’re comforted by the
threatened to return him to his home- sonal philosophies. Something upends belief that, when we do die, we will pass
land, he told me several horrific child- us and starts our questioning. There into something rather than nothing. By
hood stories. André left France because is an astrological connection between making sense of death, the 9th gives
he needed to put thousands of miles the 9th house and crisis. The 9th fol- new meaning to our existence. That’s
between himself and his family. lows the 8th house of death and disso- why I consider this a happy house.
This is where we refill our cups — with that cheating means having physical sex
dignity, hope, and joy. with someone; everything else is harm-
less fun. But she believes that cheating is
When Beliefs Collide anything you do in secret with another
We seek truth in the 9th house, woman, including hopping onto por-
but what we get there are beliefs — an We seek truth nographic Web sites or sending sala-
entirely different matter. Its opposite, the in the 9th house, cious e-mails to online partners. When
3rd house, is built on facts. The 9th is but what we she discovers that he’s been indulging
knit with theories and opinions. While his sexual fantasies in cyberspace, she
its ideals can open up new worlds, they
get there learns that what “I think” is not what
can also shut our borders and lock us are beliefs. “we think.” Another way to look at it is:
into conflict. The 9th rules higher mind, The 9th house is the third house from
but this can be any belief that guides the relationship 7th. The 3rd house
us. It becomes our personal religion, describes the mental environment of the
and religions can cause more wars than chart is garbage. Quickly you move on 1st-house self. The 9th house describes
peace. Discussing belief systems with to what your client really wants to talk the mental environment of the 7th-
clients is tricky work. Their beliefs will about: “My husband is an ass.” There house relationship. When there is a dis-
come up in almost every reading. But are no transits to relationship planets or turbance in this environment, a conflict
you can’t predict them in advance, nor houses in her natal chart. Why is mar- between one partner’s ideals and anoth-
can you pry troublesome ones loose riage on her mind? What’s going on in er’s, the solar return will reflect this with
with any ease. her solar return 9th house? Why is her planets in the 9th.
Let’s say you have a client with the solar return 7th empty? Conflicting values are among the
Sun, Mars, and Uranus in the 9th house Along with houses 7 and 8, the 9th most difficult relationship problems to
of her solar return. She’s going to be house is in the relationship quadrant of resolve. It’s hard enough discussing
(Sun), act (Mars), and change (Uranus) the horoscope. As Howard Sasportas 9th-house subjects with friends. Steve
in 9th-house ways. You start with outer writes, “The 1st house is ‘I am’ while the has Uranus and Pluto in the 9th house.
options. “Are you doing any traveling opposite house, the 7th, is ‘We are.’ The We’ve had countless debates. Like
this year?” “No.” “Are you going back 2nd is ‘I have’ and its opposite, the 8th, many with difficult planets here, Steve
to school?” “Nuh-uh.” “Are you doing is ‘We have.’ Correspondingly, the 3rd had a 9th-house monkey to get off his
any teaching or publishing?” Your cli- is ‘I think’ and the 9th is ‘We think.’”1 back. Raised in a strict Christian house-
ent shakes her head. A little desperate When a husband and wife dis- hold, he traveled a straight and narrow
now, you ask, “Are you involved in a cover they think — or more precisely path, living cleanly to keep in God’s
lawsuit? Joining a monastery? Immersed — believe differently, they have a 9th- good graces. In his early twenties, his
in philosophy?” Your client is wonder- house problem. I don’t necessarily mean progressed Moon entered the 9th house.
ing why her friend recommended you. that she’s a Catholic and he’s a Bud- Not surprisingly, he was studying at a
You’re wondering why her solar return dhist. Let’s say her husband believes university. But he was troubled. He was

how you can help her shift to one more
workable. Water signs will need you to
The Ninth House speak to their feelings. Earth signs will
want you to speak in practical, tangible
terms. Fire signs want to be inspired. Air
living at home and had no girlfriend, Conflicting values signs will enjoy the play of ideas. Some-
no sense of the future, and none of the are among the times the best assistance you can offer is
rewards he expected the Christian life simply identifying what feels like “truth”
to bring. He became bitter and suspi-
most difficult
as a belief. Let’s say your client or friend
cious, not just of Christianity, but of any relationship is in a relationship with an unfaithful
religion. By the time I met him, he was problems to resolve. husband. She’s miserable. It’s slowly
fond of quoting Marx: “Religion is the killing her, but she can’t bring herself to
opiate of the masses.” leave. After some discussion, the under-
I reminded him of the lines that lying belief comes out: “I’m afraid that
come before that famous sentence. again entered Steve’s 9th house, he Brian is my last chance. If I leave him,
Marx actually said, “Religion is the sigh sent me an e-mail from faraway India. I’ll never find love again.”
of the oppressed creature, the heart of His 9th-house horizons had expanded. To help someone dismantle a lim-
the heartless world, and the soul of the He was traveling with a quantum phys- iting belief, questions work better than
soulless condition. It is the opiate of the ics professor who was introducing him lectures. That’s because the transfor-
masses.” Prayers are not the only opiate, to a new religion. “I now know God is mation must happen inside that person
I pointed out, so are political manifestos, consciousness,” Steve wrote, “existing rather than come from you. Questions
all philosophy, art, and literature — the everywhere in everything!” help to till the mental soil so a new
many ways we brace ourselves against The 9th is a cadent house. In thought can take root. But empathy is
the incomprehensible sufferings of life. cadent houses we adapt to changing cir- important. “I can see how you’d feel
My friend wrapped himself in existential- cumstances. We are acted upon by the that way and how scary it would be to
ist despair: “Okay, so if we just make it world and we must adjust. No matter live alone for the rest of your life.” Until
all up, then what’s the point? If there is how certain our beliefs are at any time, your friend or client feels heard, she
no God, no ‘something else,’ it’s all a lie, we should remember they’re not fixed. won’t relax enough to shift her thinking.
and life is just plain meaningless.” There Do you still believe what you believed Hold her truth respectfully in the space
was both anger and triumph in his voice. when you were twelve years old? 24? between you. Then ask another ques-
It was hopeless getting him to see the 42? If your client is stuck with a limiting tion: “How do you know for sure that
irony of his own religion, that his nihil- belief, she’s calling because she needs you’ll never meet someone new? What
ism was how he’d written meaning into a door opened in her 9th. The sign on evidence tells you this is true?” Usually,
his life. Our debate fizzled because nei- her 9th-house cusp won’t tell you what there’s no rational evidence for such
ther of us was willing to change. Several she should or does believe. But it can beliefs. Of course, it’s every astrolo-
years later, when the progressed Moon tell you how she holds her beliefs and ger’s dream to find a lovely Venus–Sun
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progression in such a person’s future. phone number. “No,” Braha cautioned,
You’d like to say you know for sure that “you should do it in person. These are
she’ll find true love next June. But you powerful ceremonies. But if the priest
can’t prove futures with astrology. You gets interrupted, it won’t take. Check the
can only make an educated guess. And Yellow Pages and find a local temple.”
if that person doesn’t believe that love To help someone I arrived at a temple in the hills
is possible, her Venus–Sun progression dismantle a limiting above Malibu on a Monday, the Moon’s
might arrive as a box of chocolates or a belief, questions day. It was an auspicious waxing Moon.
delightful shopping spree. I had the items I’d been instructed to
“I know that women my age don’t work better than bring: two coconuts, two pounds of rice,
often find romance. And good men are lectures. 25 sticks of wood, a pack of camphor, a
always hard to find.” One of the advan- pack of incense, a pound of ghee, some
tages of being an astrologer is that you assorted fruit, a bouquet of flowers, and
know plenty of real-life examples to dis- a check for $101 made out to the tem-
prove such dismal logic. “Just last week, Surrender to the Mystery ple. I was given a receipt and told to
I talked with a woman who met her soul As a writer, my own confidence hand it to one of the two priests sitting
mate at age 62. She had no idea that’s routinely wavers. When inspiration dis- by Shiva’s shrine.
what would happen when she divorced appears, my belief becomes: “I’m just There was just one priest. When
at 55. What would change for you if no good and should give it up.” During I produced my receipt, he scowled,
you believed that new love was pos- one such season, I did what I encour- then hollered in a foreign tongue, per-
sible? How would you act? What would age my clients to do. I called an astrolo- haps calling the other priest who was
you do?” “Well I guess I wouldn’t feel ger, James Braha, a Vedic practitioner. nowhere to be found. I was told to sit
so weak. Maybe I’d lose some weight. He said my Vedic chart confirmed that near the fire pit. Grumpy, the priest
I’d start doing some of the things I’ve writing was my destiny; no bad plan- unpacked my rice and other items and
always wanted to do, like taking that ets were standing in the way. Nonethe- poured them into a silver bowl. He
metal sculpting class and seeing if I less, I was stuck. “Perhaps it’s the lack of instructed me in placing the fruit and
could get my poetry published.” You confidence in your 12th-house Moon,” flowers. He started the fire, then, in
hear a new strength in her voice and Braha suggested. The Vedic remedy? A somewhat broken English, confessed
reflect that back to her. Spend some time Hindu ceremony known as a navagraha he had a headache from praying in
in the spaciousness of this new belief. (or nine planets) yagya. the morning sun. Braha had said noth-
You can’t force people to change their I had heard of this ceremony. You ing about a headache ruining the cere-
thinking. But you can pluck a thread pay some money, a priest in India chants mony, but I was beginning to wonder.
loose from their personal religion — and for a while, and your problems disap- The priest lit the fire and began
hope that, after the conversation, their pear — groovy! Here was foreign travel chanting. Then he looked at me expec-
perceived limitations will continue to and religious ritual rolled into one, and tantly. I was supposed to do some-
unravel. I could do it all with a credit card and a thing? Yes, I was supposed to repeat
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the strange Sanskrit words. I took a deep breath. Real Hindu
devotees were coming and going all around us. I felt like an
idiot tourist, then made a split-second decision to abandon
myself to the experience. Over the next hour, I chanted with
passion, threw incense and ghee into the fire at the appointed
moments (unfortunately, I had brought oil-treated kindling
sticks that flamed up so vigorously they nearly singed the
priest’s brows). I circled the fire pit nine times, bowed up and
down nine times. Then the dreaded event occurred: The other
priest arrived and interrupted us!
Did it matter? Lost in the ceremony, I had almost forgot-
ten why I was there, until the priest, friendlier now, instructed
me to ask the planets for what I wanted. I closed my eyes,
tried to formulate the words carefully. Suddenly I felt such a
powerful inrush of energy, I was almost knocked off my feet. It
was brief, but it was strong.
What happened after the ceremony surprised me. No
shafts of light poured from the heavens, no divine voice thun-
dered in my head. I did not run to my computer and start typ-
ing. But by the end of that day, a new conviction had quietly
stolen in, to replace my lack of confidence. I had a different
perspective on my work. I hadn’t reached this in any logical
way. I’d leapt somewhere, but how? Perhaps it’s just this
mystery that makes the 9th house so appealing — how your
world can change with just an idea, a prayer, or a strange
ritual. What is this power that we petition here? Why has
every civilization made offerings to it? How has this power
poured into us as new concepts, moral guidance, art that
endures for centuries? Certainly our 9th-house beliefs can trap
us and draw a curtain down on growth. They can also take
us so far beyond ourselves that we conceive ourselves anew.
That’s why humankind is so devoted to the 9th, connecting
with God, searching for answers, believing in miracles. There
is much in this house to ponder. And definitely much to love.
Reference
1. Howard Sasportas, The Twelve Houses, The Aquarian Press, 1985, p. 85.
© 2005 Dana Gerhardt – all rights reserved
Dana Gerhardt, M.A., is a practicing astrologer in Ashland, Oregon.

For appointments, call (541) 535-7631. Dana also offers “Moonprints,” a
personalized report by mail that looks deeply into your birth Moonscape
and the current positions of your lunar nature (see ad this issue). Also
available is “Twelve Moons,” a monthly workshop in Sun–Moon cycles.
For more information, e-mail: dana@mooncircles.com
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Where More than Two Worlds Touch
by Jodie Forrest
Once upon a time, a certain Swami Imagine that some of his students
was giving a series of lectures in a rough were having a Neptune transit or a
section of a large American city. The gist major progression involving Neptune.
of the Swami’s teachings was that we They became filled with bliss at hear-
are all one, that the entire physical world ing about how they were all one with
and everything and everyone in it are the everything, and their consciousness
incarnate face and body of the Divine. expanded. A few of them began think-
He urged his listeners to meditate, to go ing, “Hey, why should we lock our
within and experience the level where we cars? Now we know this great truth
are all one, where we are all equal before that we’re all one; we’re all God. Why
God, and where there is a mysterious, would one part of God steal from
numinous, and indescribable union of another part of God? We’re all God,
all creation. Then he would add, “By the so it’s perfectly safe.” So, they left
way, we’re meeting in a bad part of town, their cars unlocked one night before
so please use caution. Lock your cars they went in to hear the Swami, and
before you come in to hear me speak.” their cars were vandalized.

circles, we might have people living
Neptune mainly in a Mars reality, and most of the

time they don’t see that their Mars circle
Neptune represents
the urge for union
is encased in that larger Neptune real-
ity. From our position within that larger with something vaster
The next lecture night, the stu- Neptunian circle, we can see the Mars than the self, whether
dents who’d been robbed confronted circle people, but they usually can’t see
the Swami and asked, “Why are you us very well. They have Mars blinders
it’s Mommy
teaching us that we’re all God? We were on. For them, it’s a dog-eat-dog, stress- or the Divine.
walking the talk that you taught us and ful, challenging world. Their conscious-
we left our cars unlocked, and we got ness is primarily geared to scanning for
robbed! How can what you’re teaching predators or prey, worrying about vic- maneuvered among the other drivers
us be true?” tory or defeat, establishing hierarchies, on that highway.
“It is true,” said the Swami and proving themselves. Another cir- Think of these circles as a Neptu-
patiently. “It’s also true that not every- cle might hold people living mostly in nian version of a video game or a com-
one knows he’s God. And it’s quite all a Mercury reality. Again, we can see puter game, sort of like metaphysical
right to protect yourselves from people them, but they usually can’t perceive us bumper cars (see Diagram, opposite).
who don’t know that yet.” clearly. They’re very focused on their Here we are, trying to navigate in our
In a weird kind of way, isn’t that thinking functions and the world of large and inclusive Neptunian circle, but
the most grounded Neptunian story ideas: As Descartes said, “I think, there- uh-oh, here comes someone who’s in
you’ve ever heard? The most realistic fore I am.” Yet another circle might hold a Mars-only reality right now; we’d bet-
one? Not everyone gets the Swami’s people living mostly in a Venus reality. ter get our deflector shields up! Or, here
truth. Not everyone operates within the The entire warp and weft of their Venu- comes someone in a Mercury reality;
Neptunian paradigm where we are all sian cosmos is relationships: whom better sit up straight and pay attention
one. Do you sense the vastness and the they relate to, used to relate to, want to and make only verifiable statements.
inclusiveness of the Swami’s Neptunian relate to, regret relating to, and who’s in Smile and prepare to be charmed; here
paradigm? I’m not wise enough to say competition with them for the object of comes someone in a Venusian reality.
whether it’s the truth. But it is a truth their affection. Do you feel a bit of the Wherever Neptune is active in your
that’s definitely large enough to allow Mars circle creeping in, when we speak chart, natally or by transit or progres-
for the existence and beliefs of people of competition? That’s entirely possi- sion, it’s wise both to acknowledge the
who do not acknowledge it as a truth. ble. All of these circles, these realities, high Neptunian truth that we are all
Our world is populated by beings who coexist and often overlap, rather like one, all equal and all equally God, and
don’t live in this Neptunian reality, and the science-fiction theory of parallel uni- to adjust your behavior to protect your-
their ignorance of it can make them verses all happening at the same time. self from people who don’t see that
dangerous, so we need to protect our- None of us is stuck in any of these truth. It can also be wise to protect your-
selves from them. Not that we need to circles. Consciousness learns and grows self from the parts of you that don’t see
hurt or kill them. Rather, we need to be and makes mistakes and learns some that truth.
mindful of the behavior of those who more; it forgets part of what it learned In this world, not all of us see the
do not see the larger Neptunian reality and remembers it again and gets tired larger and all-inclusive Neptunian real-
that we see. They are operating with and has good days and bad days. ity, and not all of us see it all of the
blinders on, so we should be cautious Sometimes, we might be in any one time. The wisest response to Neptune
when we’re around these people. or more of these smaller circles and involves being able to move fluidly
Let’s put it another way. Imagine a sometimes, within the biggest one, the back and forth among these worlds.
huge circle. Within it is the Neptunian Neptunian one. Neptunian areas of your chart, natally
truth: We are all one, and all of cre- Suppose you were driving down or by transit and progression, are
ation is part of God. Now imagine a lot the road, and you knew that some of where you will get gentle reminders of
of smaller circles contained in that big the other drivers had their left eye cov- Neptunian truth — and where you can
Neptunian circle, floating around within ered, and others had their right eye get hurt if you yourself don’t see that
it. For example, in one of those small covered, and still others had their ears truth or if you don’t protect yourself
plugged, and meanwhile your own from those who don’t see it.
Not everyone senses were perfect. You wouldn’t as-
sume that the other drivers’ impaired Neptunian Motifs
operates within senses were correct and that your good Neptune is associated with sev-
the Neptunian ones were wrong. You wouldn’t nec- eral themes in astrology. Let’s examine
paradigm where essarily know where the other drivers’ its various meanings and play our new
blind sides were and what their im- game of Neptunian bumper cars with
we are all one. paired senses might make them do, so them, for some more insights into why
you’d be very careful about how you they’ve been linked to this planet.
First of all, as we’ve said, Neptune it.” We know there are truths that we
represents that ultimate reality where we When we try to feel, that we sense, although we cannot
are all one. It represents unity with all of necessarily “prove” them in a laboratory.
creation, merging into the Whole with
merge with a person Neptune represents those nonlinear
a capital W. This is the reality of the or a substance, instead realities.
mystic: that there is a unity beyond the of with the larger Not surprisingly, since Neptune is
ego’s, body’s, and mind’s sense of sep- associated with nonlinear reality, in this
arateness. Mystics tell us that the reality Neptunian circle, reality it is also associated with illusion,
of our ultimate unity has to be expe- we can get hurt. delusion, deception of self and others,
rienced, that it cannot be explained. and disillusionment. It’s also correlated
They say it can’t be analyzed and mea- with addiction, renunciation, suffering,
sured and reduced to a series of calculus you as an atheist will still need to expe- martyrdom, victimization, and salvation.
equations or a formal creed. It is an inef- rience a kind of union with something Let’s examine one more image
fable mystery, but no less real for being vaster than yourself, some mysterious before we start addressing these mean-
mysterious, for not being provable by inner reality that you can’t define. ings of Neptune, because the image
linear means. Whether or not you call it the Divine will help us to discuss them. Maybe this
But what if you’re an atheist? You doesn’t matter. image comes from a lunar–Plutonian
still have Neptune somewhere in your In the movie Contact, there is a kind of circle. Some astro-psychological
chart, and you still experience transits scene where the mystic asks the scien- lines of thought connect Neptune to a
and progressions involving Neptune. tist, “Did you love your father?” And time in human developmental history
In Neptunian areas of your chart, then, she says, “Yes.” And he says, “Prove when each and every one of us was, in
“Neptunian Bumper Cars,” or the Planetary Perceptual Realities
Plutonian Reality
Lunar Reality the shadow, the Underworld,
feelings, needs, subjectivity, moods, psychological wounds, painful
tenderness; highly impressionable; “acts of god,” force majeure;
Solar Reality emotional responsivity vs. engagement vs.
leadership, being self-referential emotional self-indulgence meaninglessness
(“it’s all about me”); personal
power, presence, charisma;
healthy ego vs. egotism
Uranian Reality
freedom, nonconformity, rebellion,
exceptions, breakthroughs,
underdogs; individuality vs.
Jupiterian Reality gratuitous eccentricity Martial Reality
optimism, opportunity, ideals, threats, defense, fight or flight,
humor, larger perspectives; sex, boundaries, challenges,
healthy self-esteem competition; healthy
vs. inflation assertiveness vs. bullying
Venusian Reality
relationship, aesthetics,
attraction, beauty, affiliation; Mercurial Reality
Saturnian Reality graciousness vs.
obligations, limits, practicalities, alertness, logic, reason,
glibness concepts, communication;
strategies, rules, status;
wisdom vs. life-limiting aversion Neptunian Reality adaptability vs.
to any kind of risk unity of all existence, merging with expediency
all existence; mystery, mysticism,
numinousness; consciousness vs.
helplessness or codependency

in the trash compactor, and it starts to
Neptune make weird noises, and Han Solo says,

“I got a ba-a-ad feeling about this”
Wherever we are
under a Neptunian
— just before the walls start to close
in. That’s what it can feel like when influence is where
a sense, one with a larger whole. Is there someone in one of these smaller plan- we need to be just
a time in our lives when we are merged etary circles rams into you because you
with something or someone? When we are not being mindful of them. It feels as awake as we can
are “one” with something larger than like being jolted out of your pleasant, possibly be.
ourselves? Yes: When we were in the womb-like reality. Like birth pains. Carl
womb, we were merged with our moth- Jung said there was no coming into
ers. This is why some astrologers have consciousness without pain. Perhaps experiencing a transit of Neptune to
correlated dysfunctional responses to there’s no coming into consciousness of conjoin her Moon in the 7th house.
Neptune with a drive to return to the how the Neptunian world interacts with What’s the lesson? What is she being
womb. (For an excellent in-depth treat- this one without pain, either. asked to learn? By the end of Neptune’s
ment of this topic, please read Liz Neptune represents the urge for transit to Mary’s 7th-house Moon, she
Greene’s The Astrological Neptune union with something vaster than the could attain a deeper sense of the Nep-
and the Quest for Redemption, Samuel self, whether it’s Mommy or the Divine. tunian reality that there is a mysterious
Weiser, 1996.) Wherever you have a strong Neptunian level where we are all one and that she is
If this idea sounds far-fetched, con- influence, whether it’s natally or by tran- more than what could be quantified in a
sider that your ego does not sense that sit or progression, you have a drive to laboratory. She will need to get that truth
it is separate from your mother until experience union with something greater through her feelings, to feel that truth —
well after you’re born. Some psycholo- than yourself, to lose the boundaries of subjectively, irrationally — because it’s
gists say we need to be 18–24 months your small separate ego and merge with her Moon that’s being conjoined by the
old before we realize that we are not something larger. You need to sense a transit, and the Moon means feelings,
the same being as our mothers. In the union with, or at least an awareness of, emotional needs, and the heart. Mary’s
womb, your needs for nourishment are an inner, transcendent, or nonlinear real- heart is being given the opportunity to
met automatically. Your body is float- ity. You can do this through some sort feel that truth. Where in her life will the
ing — not hot, not cold, not hungry, of meditative path that lets you begin to opportunity arise for her to do so? In
and not thirsty. It’s dark. After a while, experience the Neptunian truth that we one, some, or all of her relationships,
your senses of touch and hearing work. are more than our bodies, minds, egos, because the transit is happening to her
Sometime before birth, you might start and psyches. That’s a wise path, as long Moon in her 7th house of relationships.
to feel a bit cramped in there. If your as you remember to protect yourself Imagine that there are two basic
mother is upset a great deal of the time from people who do not see that Nep- ways that Mary could deal with this
or does drugs, you could certainly feel tunian reality. transit: well or poorly. First, let’s say
those things. But otherwise, there you So, should you meditate all the time that she deals with it easily and well.
are, floating, without worry or care, and ignore any non-Neptunian truths? She makes a new friend named Carol
without sensory overload, part of this No. Not unless you live in a monastery who’s a very serious practicing Bud-
larger whole, just Be-ing. Sound and that’s your schedule and those are dhist. Mary can tell that Carol is going
Neptunian to you? your responsibilities. Constant medi- to be a good friend, a lifelong friend —
The beginning of the birth process tation can be a flight from this world a 7th-house friend. Something about
is probably pretty scary for babies. That and from your responsibilities in it. It’s Carol’s energy and her connection to
nice safe reality starts to close in on another way of saying, “The large Nep- Mary opens up Mary’s heart — speaks
them and squeeze them. The first Star tunian circle is all that exists and all that to her 7th-house Moon.
Wars movie has a scene where Han matters, and I will shut my senses to Have you ever tried to analyze
Solo and Luke Skywalker and Chew- all these other smaller circles and the exactly, precisely why you like some-
bacca and Princess Leia are all hiding people in them, no matter how much one? “We’re within half a standard devi-
it might hurt me or them.” Would you ation of each other intellectually, we’re
drive down the road saying, “My car both vegetarians, we both recycle, we
and my perfect senses are all that truly voted for the same people last election,
Constant meditation exist, and I can ignore the other drivers our parents were at roughly the same
can be a flight from with their impaired senses; they are not socioeconomic level, and we were both
this world and worthy of my notice”? Think how many middle children.”
accidents you would directly and indi- That’s not why we feel drawn to
from your rectly cause if you did that! someone. Especially with a 7th-house
responsibilities. Let’s take a hypothetical example Moon, that’s not why. With a 7th-house
and develop it in some detail. Suppose Moon, it’s more like, “I feel safe around
you have a client named Mary who’s Carol; she’s really gentle.” Mary might
start there — that’s a fairly linear and answer period after the lecture. It’s his gets her in touch with her inner reality,
demonstrable reason for liking Carol presence, his warmth and consciousness on the Neptunian level where she is
— but if she keeps going, she might and tranquility. It’s how he seems to feel merged with something larger than
add, “Carol and I both love Susan Sed- (Moon) and how he makes others feel her ego-self. Or maybe Mary goes into
don Boulet’s visionary paintings, and (Moon). Mary wants to know how the therapy and gets a better perspective on
we both have cats, and we both need a Rinpoche got that way. She joins a Bud- her issues with her mother — the Moon
lot of time alone, so she’s never clingy, dhist study group with Carol. She takes can say a lot about our mother issues.
and we both spent an unbelievable por- some Buddhist meditation classes. She Maybe she finally forgives her mother,
tion of our teenage years flopped on our ends up “taking refuge,” which is more while learning to set boundaries so
bedroom floors listening to Jethro Tull’s or less like becoming a Buddhist, and it’s that she doesn’t get hurt by her mother
music. Yeah! That Carol is okay.” Those good for her. Little by little, Mary’s heart again. There are any number of ways
are heart reasons for liking someone, (her 7th-house Moon) starts losing some that Mary could allow her heart or her
not linear ones. of its sense of separateness. Little by little, subjective side to open enough to start
Let’s say that your client Mary her Moon circle starts to glimpse a larger glimpsing the Neptunian reality outside
watches her new friend Carol calmly circle, the Neptunian one. of the existing confines of her Moon
handling some sticky interpersonal situ- That’s only one example of circle that were in place when the transit
ations better than Mary thinks that she responding well to Neptune, and it began, while not letting herself get hurt
herself would have handled them. Carol wouldn’t have to be through meeting a by people who don’t have that Neptu-
is quiet about her Buddhism, but Mary Buddhist friend and learning about Bud- nian world view.
likes her and knows it’s important to her, dhism. Any sincere and healthy way for Now let’s assume that Mary doesn’t
so she starts asking Carol a lot of ques- Mary to realize and experience that she do so well with the transit: She falls
tions. Mary gets so interested that she is more than her body, mind, and ego madly in love with a man who doesn’t
goes with Carol to hear a Tibetan Bud- would also do. Maybe she makes friends know, as the Swami would say, that he
dhist Rinpoche speak. The Rinpoche is with a painter instead and starts taking is God. Suppose that this man is living in
so calm and clear and present and lov- a painting class and ends up doing an unhealthy Pluto–Uranus–Mars reality.
ing that it blows Mary away. It touches visionary paintings of her own. She’s Unbeknownst to Mary and her 7th-
her heart. It isn’t the wisdom of the not Susan Seddon Boulet, but she’s house Moon, this man is a drug-dealing
Rinpoche’s lecture or the question-and- very happy while she’s painting, and it child pornographer. He’s soft-spoken,

astrologer, and she’s in tears. Just when brisk Anglo-Saxon words. The impact
Neptune she thought she finally understood all

the vast mysteries of relating and felt
turns the lock, the briefcase pops open,
and all these horrible photos fall out,
like the Primal Woman to his Primal followed by a nearly empty baggie of
Man and was mentally planning the white powder, a mirror, and a pack of
he looks Mary right in the eye, he’s per- wedding, something terrible happened. razor blades.
ceptive, he listens wonderfully, he makes As chance or Mary’s guardian angels Uh-oh. How does Mary feel —
her feel like the most interesting person would have it, she and this man have besides shocked, hurt, and outraged?
on Earth. He’s magnetic, charming, just virtually identical briefcases. They’ve Disillusioned? Yes. Disappointed? You
mysterious enough to be fascinating — joked about it as one more proof that bet. Deceived and deluded? Right.
let’s throw in very handsome — and they were meant for each other. Let’s Kicked out of the Neptunian womb?
before Mary knows it, she’s hooked. say this guy is running late for work one Absolutely. When we fail to recognize
Remember what’s happening to her morning after another night of Elemen- someone who doesn’t know that he is
Moon, to her heart, because of the Nep- tal Passion That Has Changed Mary’s God, and we get hurt by that person, we
tune transit. She wants to feel one with Life Forever (with some brandy mixed feel all of those things.
something larger than herself, larger in), and on his way out the door, he We could spend a long time debat-
than the boundaries of whatever smaller grabs Mary’s briefcase instead of his. ing why this happened, but from the
circle her Moon was living in most of the How cute, Mary thinks when she’s in Neptunian point of view, one factor
time when the transit of Neptune began. her own office. We took each other’s is that Mary didn’t recognize that this
She wants to merge with the Divine, briefcases. And how interesting that man didn’t know he was part of God.
with Cosmic Forces. When she’s around he’s got a combination lock on his. She Another factor is that Mary didn’t know
this guy, she feels one with Passion and knew he was a fashion photographer, well enough that she herself was part of
Romance and Eros and the Life Force. but she didn’t realize how hush-hush the Divine, part of some larger whole,
She feels like Catherine with Heathcliff, a career it could be. She starts to put and that there were healthier ways to
like Cleopatra with Antony, like the his briefcase down, but in the process, feel that sense of union that the tran-
Earth Goddess with the Sky God. she “accidentally” knocks her hot cof- sit was making her crave. Instead, she
And then, not long into this torrid fee into her lap, which makes her jump thought she had achieved that feeling
affair, Mary comes in to see you, her up and drop his briefcase and say a few of ultimate union by merging with this
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man, and she didn’t recognize his own could have encouraged her to do
version of a Pluto–Uranus–Mars circle An understanding that work within, rather than trying to
— they don’t all look like that. of Neptune might merge with a person. Learning from
a person — such as Mary’s Buddhist
Neptune’s Wake-Up Call offer insights into friend or her artist friend in the exam-
When we try to merge with a per- how to deal with ple of her dealing well with the transit
son or a substance, instead of with the suffering without — is different from trying to merge with
numinous, with this larger Neptunian cir- a person who’s temporarily represent-
cle, we can get hurt. Getting our blinders bitterness or despair. ing that larger Neptunian reality.
ripped off doesn’t feel good. It bursts the Remember that Neptune is asso-
bubble of euphoria, the illusion of one- ciated with addiction. Mary might also
ness. It kicks us out of the womb. This tion. Meditation is a process that has have responded poorly to the transit by
is why Neptune is associated with disil- two parts. Part One is putting your getting addicted to the drugs this man
lusionment, disappointment, deception, waking personality on hold, calming it was selling. Addiction numbs and blurs
and delusion. All of that happens when down, taking its attention away from the ego and makes it fuzzy around the
we’ve been looking for the Divine or the other bumper cars and the road out edges. Addiction can make you feel
the numinous in the wrong place. Usu- there, maybe with a mantra or a yoga like part of something larger than the
ally, we’ve been deceiving and deluding pose or by pushing paint around on a self, because the boundaries of the self
ourselves or colluding in someone else’s canvas. Part Two is turning your atten- have been blurred by the substance.
deception of us. tion inward, so you can start to sense While you are under the influence of
I said a moment ago that there were a deeper level of awareness within. anything to which you’re addicted, you
healthier ways to achieve that feeling Meditation calms the mind so it can may experience euphoria, a lessening of
of union with something larger than the become aware of itself as a busy, chat- needs, or a blunting of painful stimuli,
self, to get a glimpse of the reality within tering intellect floating above a vast sea rather like the action of an anaesthetic.
this largest Neptunian circle. Let’s talk of consciousness. The Buddhists say Sound like the womb?
about that again for a minute. that meditation will help you to no lon- Not everyone who’s responding less
One of the Buddha’s disciples is ger be overpowered by your emotions, than ideally to Neptune gets addicted to
supposed to have asked him, “Are you which is not the same as no longer feel- a substance. They might get addicted to
God?” And the Buddha said, “No, I ing them. sleep, or exercise, or shopping, or soap
am not God.” The disciple asked, “Are This sounds nice, but what if your operas. You can also blur the boundar-
you an avatar? Are you an angel?” client grimaces when you mention ies of your own ego by codependency,
And the Buddha replied, “I am neither meditation? Then honor your client’s by overidentification with someone else.
of these.” The disciple asked, “Are world view and call it “getting cen- You become addicted to that person. I
you some sort of higher being who’s tered” instead. Or call it calming down, do not exist except in my relationship
assumed human form?” The Buddha or biofeedback, or affirmations, or to Jack or Jill. Jack and I are one, or
said, “No, I’m just as human as you relaxation training, or active imagina- Jill and I are one. My guru (who has 90
are.” The disciple asked, “Well, what tion, or going for a walk — anything Lamborghinis and sleeps with all his dis-
are you, then?” And the Buddha that will calm the person, quiet the ciples) and I are one. As long as I feel a
answered, “I am awake.” thoughts, and create an opportunity for state of fusion there, I’m okay. I’m even
Wherever we are under a Neptu- the attention to turn inward. Encourage euphoric. But if anything threatens
nian influence is where we need to be such a practice on a frequent or regular that sense of fusion with Jack or Jill or
just as awake as we can possibly be. basis for the duration of your clients’ the guru or the Visa card or the gym, I
That’s how we need to perceive reality Neptunian times, if it’s a transit or pro- might experience tremendous anxiety,
— the big Neptunian circle and all the gression, or permanently, if the power- as if my life were under threat. I’ll die if I
other smaller ones inside it, too. In some ful Neptunian influence is natal. get kicked out of that womb. This small
ways, this Neptunian bumper-car model Hopefully, Mary came in to see circle where I feel fusion with this per-
of reality is a description of what the you, her astrologer, before she met son or substance or behavior is the only
mystics would call the ultimate reality. the drug-dealing child pornographer. reality there is, and I’ll die if I leave it.
And how we see it, the way we wake up Forewarned is forearmed, as the say- That’s the prevalent feeling with fusion
to it, is to get into what a psychologist ing goes. If Mary had come to see you or addiction.
would call an altered state of conscious- before she met this guy, you could It’s no accident that Alcoholics
ness or awareness where we experience have talked to her about her current Anonymous asks recovering alcoholics
ourselves as part of a larger whole. To Neptunian issues. You could have told to admit they have no power over alco-
the mystic, that is awareness. That is her about the Swami and the bumper hol and to turn their lives over to a
being awake. But to the rest of us, it’s cars, reminded her that she would feel higher power — whatever they may call
an “altered state.” a desire for mystical unity and merging that power. The addiction has been a
So, how do we wake up to that into a larger subjective reality in her low-level substitute for a sense of union
Neptunian reality? One way is medita- heart and in her relationships. You with all life, with something vaster than
taken advantage of, victimized, or even she stays with the drug dealer, marries
Neptune martyred by a distorted relationship with

the client. If that happens, the would-
him, and they have a baby before she
finds out about him? (Neptune tran-
be rescuer and savior of the victimized, sits can last three years or so.) Suppose
martyred client has become the victim the baby is born with very serious and
the self, with a higher power. Addiction instead. expensive medical problems, stemming
blurs the edges of your circle, so it can In such circumstances, either the partly from the father’s substance abuse
provide the illusion that you’re feeling counselor or the client or both of them and from Mary’s, too. The baby’s par-
union, that you’re living in that largest could be under a Neptunian influence. ents failed to see the larger Neptunian
circle. The counselor loses a sense of boundar- unity; they haven’t realized that drugs
ies with the client and — if the counselor will not help them to merge with a sub-
Rescue Me overly identifies with the largest Neptu- jective reality larger than themselves.
Also correlated with Neptune are nian circle — may feel like a personal The baby will suffer from the parents’
the notions of victimization, martyrdom, representative of the Divine. Remember failure to recognize and act upon those
salvation, and suffering. Talking about that the Buddha did not say, “I am God” truths — and the baby just arrived on
victimization can get very complicated. or “I am a higher being, with superhu- the planet.
We shouldn’t blame the victim. Also, the man powers.” What the Buddha said Who or what is to blame for the
roles of victim, martyr, and savior can was, “I am awake.” If we get a kind of baby’s suffering? That’s a huge ques-
sometimes switch from one to another. spiritual inflation and start acting like tion, a metaphysical question. Some
For example, in counseling skills train- God the Savior, we can become disillu- people would answer by quoting the
ing, prospective counselors are often sioned and bump into our own human- first major tenet of Buddhism: Suffer-
warned to maintain good professional ness and everyone else’s pretty fast. ing is an inescapable part of human life.
boundaries and to avoid getting caught We can do a quick flip from savior into But why would a newborn baby have
up in trying to “rescue” a client inappro- martyr or victim. And because all these what appears to be more than his share
priately. If the counselor tries to be the circles are interconnected, we can also of hardship? Is it the baby’s karma? Is it
savior of a poor suffering victimized victimize other people along the way. original sin? Is it the parents’ fault? Or
client, beyond what is appropriate, then Let’s apply these ideas to our the fault of the society we live in? None
sooner or later the counselor might feel example with our client Mary. What if of us is wise enough to answer these
questions. As they relate to Neptune, and merging with that person in an
where there is a victim there is suffering, unhealthy way.
and unfortunately this sometimes seems Empathy and It’s both nourishing and healing
to happen at random to an innocent flexibility are to be in contact with your inner world,
party. The original cause of the suffering and creativity is one method of doing
both Neptunian;
is a mystery. I think what’s more impor- this. Creativity is a vast topic, but the
tant is that an understanding of Neptune compassion is also creative act generally starts with a non-
might offer insights into how to deal with a Neptunian trait. linear or Neptunian sense of the novel
suffering without bitterness, despair, and you want to write or the image you
visiting the hurt on someone else. A per- want to paint. You can’t measure these
son who was an abused child, for exam- things in a laboratory. You can’t even
ple, could find ways to deal with that your own small circle (flexibility) long say that they always begin in some-
painful legacy other than by abusing his enough to sense someone else’s needs one’s mind (the Mercury circle!). They
or her own children in turn. (empathy) and meet them, as long as begin in someone’s inner world, or cre-
you’re not letting yourself be damaged ative unconscious. Artists and dancers
The Resilience of Neptune in the process. The resilient people and writers have all told me that inspi-
Recently, I read a book by Polly in Young-Eisendrath’s studies had all ration for their art has come from their
Young-Eisendrath called The Resilient developed a desire to help others with dreams or daydreams or something that
Spirit: Transforming Suffering into suffering, and they found great satisfac- popped into their head when they were
Insight and Renewal. Young-Eisendrath tion in doing so. Their own pain had doing the dishes — not just when they
is a Jungian analyst, a professor of awakened their compassion. The roots were actively thinking about their work.
psychiatry, and a serious student of of the word compassion literally mean A musician hearing songs in her head is
Buddhism, and she does research on “to suffer with” someone. Compassion not hallucinating. She is tuned into her
resilience. “Resilience,” in this sense, is is a Neptunian trait. You can step out- inner world; in a sense, she is “channel-
the study of how and why some peo- side the boundaries of your own circle, ing” music. In terms of discussing the
ple don’t just survive adversity but feel what another person is feeling, and resilient, I would add to the usual defi-
thrive after experiencing it. The book is want to help the person, without losing nition of creativity the ability to see a
a long reflection on why some people the boundaries of your own identity creative outcome to a situation, to think
come through utterly horrific life events
without being crushed — but instead
develop character strength, wisdom,
and compassion — while other people
allow a far smaller amount of suffering
to embitter them for life. We could say
that the embittered people stay in vic-
tim consciousness, which is a less-than-
healthy Neptunian state.
The Resilient Spirit is a fascinating,
moving, and thought-provoking book.
Young-Eisendrath and other research-
ers (Leavelle Cox and Heinz Kohut)
postulate that the following characteris-
tics might help someone to be resilient:
empathy, flexibility, creativity, humor,
and wisdom. She defines empathy as
“the ability and wish to feel and under-
stand the needs of others”; flexibility,
“the ability to compromise and to delay
meeting one’s own desires in order to
meet the needs of others”; creativity,
“the potential for creative develop-
ment”; humor, “being able to laugh
good-naturedly at one’s previous
mistakes or fanaticisms”; and wisdom,
“coming to grips with the meaning of
one’s life and one’s limitations.”1
Empathy and flexibility are both
Neptunian. You can step outside of
That’s how the resilient see this
Neptune Being present with

what is happening
game of Neptunian bumper cars that
we’re all playing. If we too can iden-
tify the other bumper cars and what
and becoming aware realities drive them, have empathy
outside of the box. “When life hands of the larger context and compassion for them, maintain a
you a lemon, make lemonade.” sense of humor about them, navigate
make up the essence
Humor can be very Neptunian. among them creatively, and derive our
When your worldview is rooted in this of Neptune. own sense of meaning from the whole
largest circle, the antics of people who game, we’ll do well with our own natal
see only the overlapping Venus–Mars Neptune and Neptunian events. Easier
circles can be quite funny. I once heard ing your reactions to it, and becoming said than done? You bet. Let me close
Ram Dass say that it was interesting to aware of the larger context make up the by quoting a friend, who says, “Grace
walk down the main street of a college essence of Neptune. means that God grades us on the
town and notice how many people were Young-Eisendrath quotes another curve.”
mentally sorting all the passersby into researcher, Aaron Antonovsky, who
the sexually attractive, those who were says that resilient people share what References
in competition with them for the sexu- he calls a “sense of coherence.” 1. Polly Young-Eisendrath, The Resilient Spirit:
ally attractive, and the irrelevant. Your Antonovsky says that “the sense of Transforming Suffering in Insight and Renewal,
own antics before you shifted your view- coherence is brought about by some Addison-Wesley, 1996, pp. 70–71.
point to the Neptunian circle can be context or relationship that allows a 2. Ibid., pp. 87–88.
funny, too. A Calvin and Hobbes car- person in crisis or pain” to do three
toon on my refrigerator says, “I’m not in things: First, to make sense of what is © 2005 Jodie Forrest – all rights reserved
denial, I’m just very selective about the happening; in other words, the person
reality I accept.” All the posturing and steps back and sees the largest Nep- For 21 years, Jodie Forrest has maintained
shortsightedness within the smaller cir- tunian circle and all the bumper cars a busy practice as an astrological counselor,
cles can be hilarious — and hopefully within it. Second, the context or rela- teacher, writer, editor,
provoke your compassion, which takes tionship allows the person “to believe and publisher (Seven
us back to empathy. Paws Press). With her
that one can meet the demands of the
husband, Steven For-
Wisdom is more complicated. event” — in other words, not to stay in rest, she co-authored
Again, Young-Eisendrath defines it as the mindset of a victim. When we are Skymates: Love, Sex
finding meaning in your life and your in victim consciousness, we have not and Evolutionary As-
limitations. It has to do with your world- seen that larger circle, and our bound- trology and the text for
view. The worldview of the resilient two synastry reports,
aries aren’t working well. We are not
“The Single Sky” and
seems to involve accepting one’s suf- protecting ourselves (even if it’s just “The Sky We Share.”
fering rather than railing against it and with our inner attitude) from people Jodie wrote a Nordic–
crying, “Why me?” The resilient have who don’t see the larger circle. Third, Celtic historical fan-
somehow learned to observe their reac- the context or relationship allows the tasy trilogy whose first book is The Rhymer
tions to suffering rather than getting person “to believe that things are gen- and the Ravens. Seven Paws Press will publish
the Forrests’ book, Skymates, Volume Two:
caught up in them — to be aware of erally meaningful in life.”2 Item number The Composite Chart, in January 2005. Jodie
those reactions and to put the suffering three is important — it means not get- can be reached at the Forrests’ Web site,
itself into some larger context. Being ting stuck in a negative Plutonian reality www.sevenpawspress.com, or by e-mail: jodiefor
present with what is happening, observ- of despair and meaninglessness. rest@mindspring.com
2005 Astro-Calendar Review

As a service to our readers, TMA has
compiled a review of more than a dozen
2005 astrological calendars.
This useful information has been

posted on our Web site:
Remedial Measures
in Vedic Astrology
by Gary Gomes
R emedial measures for planetary affliction, now little known in the

West, were in existence in Hellenistic, medieval Western, and
Arabic astrology. However, Western methods of planetary healing and
propitiation, whether ancient or modern rituals, pale in comparison to
the complexity and variety of remedies (also called upayes) available
in Jyotish. Hinduism has major celebrations and rituals that occur, for
example, when Jupiter and Saturn change signs. These ceremonies are
also performed with the idea that the planet being worshipped will prove
beneficial to the worshippers and to the world at large.
Not everyone has access to a Hindu temple. What if I am not a
Hindu and feel uncomfortable in such a setting? Some of these rituals
occur once every two-and-a-half years or every thirteen months. What
if I have a problem now? In such cases, there are literally hundreds of
remedies that can be employed to ease the suffering implied in a Vedic
chart or to gain a spouse or to increase happiness, spirituality, wealth,
and so forth. A talented astrologer can even look at your chart and give
you an idea of (1) what type of remedial measure will work best for you
and (2) whether or not your horoscope indicates the success of the pro-
posed remedial measure, based upon your chart factors.

overcome hardships indicated by the
Most remedial birth chart. The presence of benefics
Remedial Measures measures require (usually Jupiter and/or Venus) in the
angles of the chart (the 1st, 4th, 7th,
some intellectual and 10th houses) is usually enough to
In this article, I will discuss a wide or physical effort. compensate for the most intense diffi-
variety of remedial measures that Nobody gets a culties in a chart.
are available to the individual: gem- Are the difficult patterns necessarily
stones, rituals, offerings, worship, man- free ride! lessons? Would it delay a person’s spiri-
tras, behavioral changes, and other tual progress to attempt to alter the neg-
approaches; I will provide a reasonable people can afford to spend thousands of ative patterns in a chart?
explanation for why these may work dollars for flawless gems — nor should The vast majority of astrologers
and also discuss the karmic implica- they. Affordability is an important issue do not possess the prescience to see
tions of performing these acts. It is very in any analysis of remedial measures. the consequences of actions into future
important for the astrologer and the cli- Some authorities believe that poor births. An awareness of a problem can
ent to realize that this world is the place luck is caused by the curse of a Brah- lead to one of two possible courses of
where things can change. We are not min, traditionally the highest and most action. The first is to do nothing. We
imprisoned by our previous actions knowledgeable caste in India. There are leave the problem alone, and sometimes
that brought about this reincarnation; detailed listings of “curses” in astrologi- the problem gets corrected by time, but
rather, this is another opportunity to cal classics such as the Brihat Parashara the situation can deteriorate even fur-
“get it right” here on the Earth plane. Hora Shastra (often referred to simply ther. The second possible course is to
The planets, in their roles as “seizers” as Parashara, the name of its author) take action and address the problem.
(the Indian term for planet, graha, liter- and Saravali; however, when one exam- This can be direct action in the world
ally means “that which seizes or grabs”), ines these books, one finds that the sec- or action through occult or spiritual
can encourage behavior that will keep tion on curses is limited to discussions means. Direct action can mean taking
us tied to our karma, or they can point of the individual not being able to have out a loan to pay a debt, seeking mar-
the way to material progress and spiri- children! In Indian culture, children are riage counseling to address a marital
tual evolution. important for many different societal, dilemma, learning a new skill to address
economic, and spiritual reasons, so this a skills deficiency, or changing the diet
Curse or Karma may explain why the absence of chil- to address a health issue. When peo-
The use of remedial measures in dren is deemed a curse. Children keep ple engage in these activities, they are
Jyotish is actually a point of contro- a society going and provide support to engaging the energy of specific planets.
versy among astrologers. Some believe a family; bearing a child also allows one For example, when people seek help
that an individual who engages in any more soul the chance to attain spiritual from the government through its aggres-
form of remedial measure is subvert- advancement. Some sections of Para- sive action or authority, they are call-
ing the lessons the individual is sup- shara discuss “inauspicious” births; these ing on the Sun. When they are seeking
posed to learn in this lifetime. (Indeed, seem to be ones that would cause ill- guidance or assistance in times of cri-
the title that some astrologers aspire nesses, poverty, poor relationships, and sis, they are requesting the help of Jupi-
to is Daivayna — one who knows the other problems that most individuals ter and Venus. When they are using
will of God.) Others believe that we are encounter. The issue of a curse is not diplomacy, Saturn and Mercury come
put on this Earth again to learn, experi- really mentioned in the remainder of into play. When people use radiation to
ment, and evolve; this includes taking the text. Too much emphasis on curses, cure an illness, Rahu (the North Node)
chances and experiencing new things to my mind, brings one uncomfortably is the planet called upon; when they
and attempting to address the problems close to the fortune-tellers throughout work with nontraditional or metaphysi-
with which we were born. Gemstone the world who alert their clients to fam- cal cures, they seek the aid of Ketu (the
use is a particularly controversial issue, ily curses that can be lifted only by the South Node). Mars is called upon for
because there is only limited reference fortune-teller — usually for an exorbitant surgery or any kind of aggressive action.
to gems in most early Vedic astrology fee. Sadly, similar practices exist in India. The planets and their spirits are around
source texts, and some of these refer- Most importantly, though, combi- us at all times; they are present every-
ences seem to indicate that gems are nations in the natal chart itself and cer- where as active intelligences ready to
to be used only to offset negative plan- tain rituals can help the individual to help those who sincerely request such
etary transits. The use of gems appears assistance.
to be mentioned in several Hindu holy The multitude of remedies can be
books, and the use of gems as a reme-
Saturn transits
fairly mind-boggling. Besides those
dial instrument is fairly standard among can cause a rise mentioned in Parashara, there are hun-
Vedic astrologers. Gemstones can be in status as well dreds noted in Hindu religious texts like
very expensive. Although we live in an the Puranas (there are at least 50 major
age of comparative affluence, not many
as problems.
Puranic texts), Tantric texts, and other
astrological classics, like Uttara Kalam- although correctness should be pursued tend to have more power and focus
rita, Chandra Kala Nadi, and the Lal whenever possible. One of my favorite when repeated to oneself in this manner,
Kitab. The sheer number of remedial stories involves a spiritual seeker, chant- thus lessening any self-consciousness the
measures cited implies that they were ing on an island, who was overheard individual may have regarding proper
intended for use; however, the inci- by a passing priest. The priest noticed pronunciation.
dence of instruction in these techniques, that the spiritual seeker was pronounc- Karma is not the idea that we will
as compared to chart interpretation, ing his mantra quite badly, so the priest pay for our sins; it is a doctrine of reap-
has been minimal. Many of these rem- got into a rowboat and rowed out to the ing what we sow — or neglect to sow.
edies are regarded as secret. There also seeker to correct the pronunciation. The The use of remedial measures is, in
seems to be a hierarchy of acceptability: spiritual seeker was genuinely grateful to essence, asking for help in correcting
Vedic rituals, such as those contained the priest, thanking him profusely. The our previous imbalances. Most remedial
in old astrology books like Parashara, priest then got back into his boat, con- measures require some intellectual or
are considered highest; Puranic reme- gratulating himself on his generous act, physical effort. Nobody gets a free ride!
dies are the next most appropriate; and when he suddenly heard a tapping on
Tantric remedies are sometimes viewed the water. He looked behind him to see Speed and Efficacy
as too easy, too dangerous, or produc- the seeker running on top of the water of Remedial Measures
tive of negative long-term results. This and yelling, “Excuse me! What was that The dispute about remedial mea-
all depends, of course, upon one’s spiri- pronunciation again?” sures often overlooks one of the less
tual teacher. Some insist that remedial The point of the story is not, of widely propagated aspects of remedies
measures cannot work unless they are course, that pronunciation does not in the Vedic system: the level of bless-
performed by a Brahmin priest from matter, but that this particular seeker ings shown in the chart. The astrolo-
India with the blessing of a Guru; oth- was extremely advanced because of his ger must determine the extent of luck in
ers would allow only a trained Brahmin intensity and devotion. This is important the chart to ascertain how much effort
to perform the ritual; and still others use to remember, especially when we put up will be needed for remedial measures
only someone who has been trained in blocks to any spiritual practice. Unless and also which techniques will be most
proper Sanskrit pronunciation. one is directed by a spiritual teacher to effective. Paradoxically (or perhaps
Correctness is not as important as say a mantra aloud, it is usually advis- not), remedies work most easily for indi-
sincerity and effort in these endeavors, able to repeat mantras silently. They viduals who have an extremely strong
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cess from these as well. Mars’s influence figure our lives most dramatically. This
on the 9th indicates personal effort and occurs when Saturn is in the sign behind
Remedial Measures karma yoga (penance through work) as the natal Moon, passes over the natal
a way of getting relief from difficult plan- Moon, and then passes over the sec-
etary periods. Mars, Saturn, and Rahu ond house from the natal Moon. Sat-
5th or 9th house! Those with a weaker are also the planets that cause the worst urn can also cause damage when it
5th or 9th house usually have to sweat difficulties. Individuals who have a well- passes over the fourth house from the
and struggle to get the simplest reme- disposed Venus, Jupiter, Mercury, or natal Moon, especially in matters con-
dial measures to work. I once knew a waxing Moon in the 9th house (all other nected with home life, the mother, and
man who had Venus in its own sign in factors being equal) usually need far less domestic happiness. This is called the
the 9th house. He had the wealth and help than those who have the more neg- Kantaka Sani. There is another damag-
resources to spend nearly $70,000 on ative planets in the same house, unless ing transit of Saturn: the transit through
Vedic rituals. The placement of Venus in a malefic planet’s transit or its dasha1 is the eighth house from the Moon, called
the 9th would actually steer him in that occurring. the Ashtami Sani. Naturally, these tran-
direction. The rituals worked extremely sits are less harmful when the house is
well for him, of course, but he was Saturn Periods strong.
already assured of success in worship and the Sade Sati Usually, Saturn transits must simply
by that placement. The effect of Saturn in a Vedic chart be endured, but there are a few reme-
Most of us who seek the assis- produces a great deal of fear and anxi- dial measures that seem to work very
tance of rituals are not quite so blessed. ety. (I have come to wonder, over the well for Saturn. The first of these is the
Our lives are often in disarray when past ten years, whether Saturn’s influ- repetition of specific mantras, some of
we request an astrologer’s help. Many ence causes us to give up easily, so we which are mentioned in K. T. Shubha-
who consult with an astrologer will often succumb to the pressure that Saturn karan’s text, Nakshatras (Sagar Publica-
have limited financial resources. What often exerts.) The effect of Saturn in a tions, 1993).
factors should the astrologer look for in chart hurts us by taking things away, by Another good remedial measure for
charts to determine whether these indi- causing delays, and even by destroying Saturn is to obtain the following:
viduals are less likely to be able to afford things in our life, bringing poverty, con-
gemstones or expensive rituals and finement, injury, debility, shame, humili- 5 lbs. of black dahl (lentils)
more likely to benefit from less elaborate ating circumstances, or illness. Saturn 1 pint of mustard seed oil (mustard
remedial measures? major planetary periods are not neces- seed–flavored oil is acceptable)
Look for the influence of Saturn, sarily damaging throughout, however, some new black cloth
Mars, or Rahu on the 9th house or its and Saturn transits can cause a rise in some iron nails
ruler. Saturn will delay the effects of status as well as problems. The most
any remedial measures. Rahu will gen- feared transit of Saturn is called Sade Mix these in a bag with a Saturn mantra
erate an extreme interest in “occult” or Sati, or the seven-and-a-half years of written on paper 108 times, such as
Tantric remedial measures — and suc- Saturn, which can destroy and recon- OM PRAM PREEM PROUM SA SHANI YA
NAMAHA. (It is not necessary that the rized the mantra, he found the item that
mantra be written in the Sanskrit alpha- Many individuals he had misplaced — exactly where he
bet — the English alphabet will do.) The thought he had put it originally! Since
best time to prepare the package is on
are quite unaware Rahu is the planet of illusion, it caused
a Saturday afternoon one hour before of how damaging him to think he had lost something he
sunset during a waxing Moon phase. Rahu periods or had never lost and almost caused him to
Put the materials into a plastic bag and abandon his faith. The recitation of the
place it into a river about an hour before
transits can be. appropriate mantra helped him to find
sunset.2 This is a do-it-yourself sacrifice the article and to restore his faith.
to Saturn, a form of worship for getting glass spheres supposed to capture neg-
Saturn on your side. ative energy), Drishti yantras (Drishti Measures for Softening
To fight Saturn directly and win, means “look,” and these items protect Mars Affliction
worship of the monkey god Hanuman against jealousy), and other such “pro- Mars affliction (Kuja Dosha) occurs
is recommended. This can be accom- tections” are extremely effective against when Mars is in the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 7th,
plished by reciting mantras to Hanuman the afflictions caused by the nodes. 8th, or 12th house from the rising sign;
or even having a statue of Hanuman in I will share one very potent tech- the placement of Mars in any of these
the home. nique, taught to me by a South Indian houses is supposed to cause difficulty in
Two other remedial measures for priest, for dealing with intense bad luck, marriage. The difficulty can range any-
Saturn (contained in several texts on which is usually the domain of Rahu: where from perpetual problems with the
Saturn that I have reviewed) give simple Take some brandy (no particular spouse, including abuse, to the early
ways to offset the negative effects of Sat- quality is recommended) and place it death of the partner. This can usually
urn. The first is very simple: Put a horse- in a glass bottle with puffed rice (puffed be countered if the individual marries
shoe, with its ends up, over your door. rice cereal can be used) or uncooked someone with a similar type of Kuja
This works very well. Another technique rice. Put the jar in a thick bag and bring Dosha (or blemish of Mars) in his or her
used in some poor villages in India is to it to a four-corners intersection at mid- chart. There are also cancellations of
wear a peacock feather. I believe that night on a New Moon evening. Smash this condition; for instance, it ceases to
this technique is effective because the the jar and turn around and walk away. be an influence for anyone older than
peacock is the mount of Subramanya, Do not look behind you when you walk 28 years of age.
Shiva’s invincible son, and he is consid- away. This dissipates bad luck and A couple of procedures can be con-
ered strong enough to fight off Saturn. keeps malicious energies away. The ducted to avert the negative afflictions
For some, taking on Saturn directly brandy and rice being broken attracts of Mars. One Vedic astrologer I know
is not to their taste. However, I have demonic energies when they are most had a chart that indicated that his first
seen rituals for Hanuman produce powerful, but the broken glass damages marriage would result in the destruc-
extraordinarily positive results during them for a full month. Keep in mind tion of his wife. On his marriage day,
adverse Saturn transits; keeping pictures that, when the Moon is at its darkest, he arranged for two weddings — at
of Hanuman around or saying Hanu- this is the time when those energies are the first, he married a rock! He then
man mantras can only help people at most present. Smashing the bottle dis- arranged for the rock to be disposed
such times. It is unlikely that one will rupts and cripples the bad patterns and of and subsequently wed his human
experience a smooth ride during a diffi- leaves them behind. Looking back just spouse.
cult Saturn transit unless several specific encourages them to return to your life.3 Mars affliction, it is said, can some-
conditions are met (descriptions of these Mantras to Rahu also work well, times be softened by obtaining a piece
are beyond the scope of this article). and a very simple mantra to the god- of copper blessed by a priest, then
dess Durga can be extraordinarily help- throwing the copper into running water
Rahu Problems ful. Durga was formed by the gods to or burying it. Other acts involve offering
Many individuals are quite unaware defeat demons — or at least control red dahl (lentils) to images of Kartikeya,
of how damaging Rahu periods or tran- them. Certain mantras, such as those to Skanda, Subramanya, and Mars. A very
sits can be. Rahu, especially in its transit Durga, are exceptionally good for calm- effective approach for minimizing the
over an angle, can cause intense dissat- ing oneself down, as Rahu causes panic negative effects of Mars is to engage in
isfaction or unhappiness. Either Rahu or and uncertainty. yoga, martial arts, aggressive exercise,
Ketu can cause susceptibility to gossip, Recently, a Buddhist monk of my or even meditation on a regular basis.
black magic, poisons, disease, or sud- acquaintance reported losing an item Any activity in which aggressive energy
den bursts of anger or jealousy. Rahu of great importance to him. The loss of can be softened somewhat through dis-
(as well as Ketu) can also generate afflic- the item caused him to panic (a typi- ciplined action is a positive manifesta-
tion from psychic forces and ghosts. cal Rahu response), and he questioned tion of Mars energy.
Happily, Rahu is also amenable to rela- whether he should be a monk at all Mars is the planet that seems to
tively simple solutions. (another typical Rahu response). When respond least to occult practices, possi-
Any kind of protective item, such as he recited certain mantras to Rahu, his bly because Mars, as the planet of logic,
mirrors, witches’ balls (these are blown mind became calm. After he memo- argument, and war, is more resistant
The Use
of Gemstones Rings or pendants
Remedial Measures One of the most commonly used are acceptable ways
remedial measures is the prescription
of gemstones. For those astrologers of wearing the
to persuasion. Activity is important to who prescribe gemstones, the following stones.
Mars, so the planet responds well to schools of thought can be identified.
energetic disciplines. experience, strengthening a weak planet
1. Prescribe a gemstone for the lord causes more problems than it corrects.
The Lal Kitab of the current planetary period. The So, this technique must be approached
The Lal Kitab is an Indian text pri- idea behind this practice is to go with carefully because it can set off an entire
marily devoted to palmistry, but it also the energy of the current ruling planet. chain of events, which must be exam-
contains an astonishing variety of reme- Although this has a certain merit to it, ined, especially if the planet is a neg-
dial measures. The book (available in I have noticed that it does not seem to ative planet or the ruler of a malefic
translation for prices from $9 to $30) be particularly effective if the planet house. The primary idea is to recom-
gives extremely detailed instructions rules a difficult house (the 6th, 8th, or mend stones that rule good houses,
about which items are sacred to the 12th) and can sometimes increase the such as the 4th, 5th, 9th, 10th, and
planets, even to combinations of plan- negative energy of a particularly dif- 1st houses. Natural benefics and natu-
ets. The techniques are easy to under- ficult planet. The prescription can be ral malefics can be strengthened this
stand and follow. used, but probably only if the planet way; the theory is that strengthening
rules good houses — and even then, the planet will increase the strength of
exercise some caution, for the reasons the houses it rules. A variation on this is
Natural benefics explained below. buying a gem to strengthen the sign of
and natural the natal Moon.
2. Strengthen the weak planets in the
malefics can be chart. Again, this is based upon the con- 3. Strengthening already strong plan-
strengthened. cept that weak planets cause problems, ets is a good technique because it
and this is essentially true, but in my “accentuates the positives” already
existing in the chart. The most gen-
eral approach I have seen is to obtain a
gemstone for the strongest planet in the
POWERFUL NATURAL GEMSTONES chart. Recommendations for strength-
For Astrology, Ayurveda & Healing ening Saturn, Rahu, Venus, and Jupiter
are handed out equally in this system.
A more specific variation of this school
emphasizes the selection of a stone to
strengthen an already strong natural
benefic, if it rules good houses and if
it is well placed in the chart. The only
Wearing the proper gems can help alleviate the negative influences of the exception to this is that one can wear a
planets and improve your relationships, prosperity, health and happiness. gem for the lord of the 1st, whether that
planet is benefic or malefic (the 1st lord
Jay Boyle is a gifted and intuitive GIA graduate gemologist with 24 years
is considered the protector of the chart
experience. He travels worldwide, often directly to the mines, to personally
and will never harm the individual).
select vibrant, potent, natural gemstones of extraordinary quality.
Even though this is allowed, benefic
Jay has provided beautiful, brilliant, astrological gemstones to thousands planets are viewed as being safer.
of satisfied customers. (See the “Testimonials” section of our website.) The logic of this system is based upon
· Gems can be sent to you to see and experience before you buy increasing the overall positive energy
of the chart and doing as little harm to
· Extensive selection of superior quality gems to choose from the gem wearer as possible. If a planet
· Most competitive prices is already strong for the individual, it
is likely that the person has established
· Satisfaction guaranteed
a good relationship with that planet
FREE Gemstone Recommendation By Vedic Astrologer through several incarnations.
JAY BOYLE COMPANY The system that I currently use is

800-559-5090 · www.AstrologicalGem.com the method identified under item 3
above, although I will sometimes make
exceptions in order to boost some ele- some of the negative elements of Mars As a general rule of thumb, unless
ment in a chart for a short period of time. to show up as well, such as increased one is absolutely certain of the efficacy
Those who use method 2 can also get anger and arguments. Strengthen- of the gemstone for the individual, the
good results, but they should be aware ing Saturn through a blue sapphire astrologer should recommend a substi-
that the placement of a planet in a diffi- can provide increased seriousness, tute stone first. Sometimes the substi-
cult house (like the 12th) will also accen- patience, and status, but if Saturn is tute will give the individual the needed
tuate the energy of that house somewhat, poorly placed in the chart, this can boost. Sometimes it will expose diffi-
and natural malefics are naturally malefic also cause severe economic distress. culties on a small scale that the astrolo-
— they carry some difficulties with Table 1 lists the gems for the ger could not foresee and that would be
them. So, if one increases Mars’s energy planets and some alternate stones worse with a more powerful gemstone.
through a red coral, one should expect (Upratnas). The substitute stone can let you know
Table 1: Planets and Gems

The Sun: Ruby. Substitute: Red Spinel, Jupiter: Yellow Sapphire. Substitute: Rahu: Hessonite Garnet. Substitute:
Garnet. Yellow Topaz, Citrine. Hessonite Zircon, Onyx.
This a favorable planet for the rising signs of This planet is generally positive for Aries, There are no real rules for favorable ris-
Aries, Leo, Scorpio, Sagittarius, and Pisces. Cancer, Leo, Scorpio, Sagittarius, and Pisces ing signs for Rahu or Ketu, but Rahu can
Caution should be used in prescribing the rising signs. Since Jupiter is such a strong nat- produce good results for Aquarius rising
gemstone if the individual shows signs of ural benefic, it is easy to overlook the harm (which it is said to co-rule). Parashara
excessive egotism, high blood pressure, it can sometimes do, but when it is badly also says Rahu is exalted in Taurus, but
heart problems, or bone disorders. placed in a chart, it can lead to overindul- some authorities say Rahu is exalted
gence, dogmatism, and excess. The stones in Scorpio; still others say Gemini and
The Moon: Pearl. Substitute: Mother of for Jupiter can sometimes be worn for Taurus Virgo favor Rahu. Generally, gems for
Pearl or Moonstone. rising, to improve the individual’s financial the lunar nodes are best prescribed dur-
standing, or during the Jupiter mahadasha ing their major planetary period, but I
This is a favorable planet for Aries, Can-
(major planetary period), but it is not nor- prefer to prescribe the gem for the ruler
cer, Scorpio, and Pisces rising signs. These
mally recommended for that sign otherwise. of the sign in which Rahu is placed. It
gemstones can sometimes be prescribed
Jupiter stones increase optimism when worn is all right to prescribe a stone for Rahu,
for Sagittarius rising, even though the
by those with the Ascendants listed above. though, if the person seems delusional
Moon rules the 8th house for this sign.
or grandiose in his or her thinking, espe-
Generally, this is a benefic planet, but care
Venus: Diamond. Substitute: White Sap- cially during the Rahu mahadasha, or if
should be taken in prescribing a gemstone
phire, Clear Zircon (sometimes Opal the individual desires fame. The stone
for the Moon, especially if it is placed in
and Turquoise are mentioned). will serve to “ground” and promote their
the 6th or 12th house, which makes the
This planet is generally positive for Tau- careers a bit, but I would not wear it for
person prone to worry or anxiety.
rus, Gemini, Virgo, Libra, Capricorn, and a prolonged period of time.
Mars: Red Coral. Substitute: Red Jasper, Aquarius rising signs. As with Jupiter, the
chart must be examined carefully to ensure Ketu: Cat’s Eye Chrysoberyl. Substitute:
Carnelian, any opaque red stone.
that a Venus stone is the best solution to the Tiger’s Eye, Alexandrite, sometimes
This planet is generally positive for Aries, Turquoise.
problem arising for the individual. Venus
Scorpio, Leo, Cancer, Pisces, and Sagit-
stones are particularly good for increas- As with Rahu, there is considerable con-
tarius rising signs. Stones for this planet
ing personal happiness, when used for the fusion about where Ketu is most wel-
can be recommended without reservation
above Ascendants. come. Scorpio (Ketu’s exaltation sign,
only if Aries or Scorpio is the rising sign. If
according to Parashara), Sagittarius,
the individual really wants independence,
Saturn: Blue Sapphire. Substitute: Ame- and Pisces are pretty consistently men-
logic, or improved relations with a brother,
thyst, Lapis Lazuli, any clear blue stone. tioned, but some texts also cite Aries,
I would recommend starting out with Car-
This planet is considered positive for the Leo, and Cancer as good signs for Ketu’s
nelian or Red Jasper instead of Coral.
following rising signs: Capricorn, Aquar- placement. Again, prescribing a stone
ius, Taurus, Gemini, Virgo, Libra (it is the for Ketu should be done with a spe-
Mercury: Emerald. Substitute: Green Tour- cific goal in mind. Ketu is a superlative
maline, Peridot, Green Jade, Moldavite, best planet for Taurus and Libra, unless
afflicted). Again, although Saturn is an planet for long-term investing (it can see
any clear, flawless green stone. the future), and it is somewhat good for
exceptionally good planet for certain rising
Generally, this planet is moderately friendly spiritual development. It can also expose
signs, I would unconditionally recommend
for Gemini, Virgo, Taurus, Libra, Capricorn, one to thieves, diseases, and self-doubt,
stones only for Capricorn and Aquarius
and Aquarius rising signs. Basically, Mer- so these elements can never be ignored
rising. In certain cases, such as poor self-
cury is a benefic planet by itself but carries when prescribing gemstones for Ketu.
control or lack of discipline or patience, I
the energy of any other planet(s) it conjoins,
would recommend wearing Amethyst or
so its house placement and its companion
Lapis, but only for the above rising signs;
planet(s) should be examined when pre-
these seem to help quite a bit.
scribing a gemstone.

Remedial Measures
Sun
Moon
whether the individual can handle the Mars
more powerful gemstone, and finally, it
saves the individual money in the initial
investment, while doing some good.
One very safe way to get the ben-
efit of a gemstone you’re not certain
is right for you is to purchase it and
give it to somebody whose chart could Venus
definitely benefit from such a stone. Mercury Jupiter
Another way is to donate such a gem
to charity.
Rings or pendants are acceptable
ways of wearing the stones. Tradition-
ally, the back of the ring or pendant is
exposed so the stone touches the indi-
vidual’s skin. Pay a great deal of atten-
tion to when the ring is purchased. It
should be purchased on the day of the
week ruled by the planet, and the stone Ketu Rahu
should also be set, if at all possible, at
Saturn
a date and time chosen by the astrolo-
ger. If this��
is not possible, then the first
wearing of the stone should be done at
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Table 2: Planetary Days of the Week When Jupiter is
Planet Day Finger*
badly placed in a
Sun Sunday ring finger of right hand (set in gold)
chart, it can lead
Moon Monday ring finger (set in silver)
to overindulgence,
Mercury Wednesday middle finger or small finger (set in
dogmatism, and excess.
silver)
etary mantras can be provided by the
Venus Friday middle finger (set in silver, platinum, astrologer, but many mantras for the
white gold, or gold) planets are readily available in refer-
Mars Tuesday first or ring finger of right hand (set in ence books.
silver or copper)
1. Arise in the morning; shower and
Jupiter Thursday first finger of right hand (set in gold) clean yourself.
Saturn Saturday middle finger (set in gold)
2. Place the yantra in a bowl of milk
Rahu middle or little finger (set in gold) and water.
Ketu ring finger (set in silver) 3. Light some incense and a light (prefer-
*Either hand is acceptable unless otherwise noted. ably an oil light, like a ghee lamp).
4. Meditate on the qualities of the plan-
an auspicious time determined by the those most commonly given. Some spe- ets for a few minutes, or say the
astrologer; this will increase the potency cial combinations of metals are recom- appropriate mantra for each planet
of the gem prescription. mended in certain cases. 108 times. (These mantras can
Table 2 lists the planetary days of Assuming that gems are beyond be found in James Braha’s book,
the week and the fingers on which the the individual’s budget, one can always Ancient Hindu Astrology for the
respective gemstones can be worn. recommend the purchase of planetary Modern Western Astrologer,
Some astrologers prescribe that the yantras (diagrams specifically con- Hermetician Press, 1986.)
gemstone for the Moon should always structed to capture the planet’s energy);
be worn on the left hand. Others say these are copper plates inscribed with After the mantra is recited, pat the yan-
that wearing any stone on the right images of the planet, with the special tras dry and either carry them with you
hand affects the wearer on a conscious number combinations assigned to that or leave them at home in a clean place
level; on the left hand, the wearer is planet beneath. The yantras must be (like an altar). This ritual should be done
influenced on the subconscious level. energized and worshipped in order to once every couple of months during the
The metal settings shown above are show any effect, however. The plan- waxing Moon.

Temple Worship reasonably priced. (See below for
One can visit a Hindu temple to contact information.) Large-scale rit-
Remedial Measures have prayers said or just to absorb the uals are also offered through Biswa
energy of the place. It is a wonderful Kalyan (in Canada), TM-Jyotish, and
experience. The planets respond very others. Some of these can be a bit
well to temple worship. Table 3 lists expensive, but they also take several
Table 3: the deities that should be sought for days to complete and include the
Deities for Planetary Rituals rituals at a Hindu temple. purchase of gems; quite a few priests
Some temples do have Nava- conduct these rituals, so the level of
To propitiate: Have prayers said to: graha shrines (referred to at left) that effort is reflected in the price.
Sun the Navagraha (nine- stand out in the middle of the floor;
planet) shrine (provided this is the only part of the temple’s Timing Is Everything:
there is one) or Vishnu shrines that visitors are allowed to The Importance of Muhurtha
touch. If you like, you can have a rit- There are so many facets to the
Moon Shiva or Parvati
ual done to an individual planet. The development of remedial measures in
Mars Hanuman, Kartikeya, individual ceremonies range anywhere India that one can easily forget one of
Skanda, or Ayyapan in price from $15 to several hundred the simplest and least costly remedies
Mercury Vishnu, Garuda, dollars, so I would start small. My for afflictions to a Vedic chart: choos-
or Durga experience at such temples is that the ing a favorable time to change areas
Jupiter Ganesha or Shiva people there are very helpful and will- of endeavor in a person’s life, such
ing to explain what you have to do. as marriage, start of employment or
Venus Lakshmi
If you are not close to a tem- school, or the christening of a child.
Saturn Vishnu, Shiva, ple, you can buy statues from a local Again, I must stress that, to a certain
or Kali/Durga store or from the Internet at little cost extent, the person’s major planetary
Rahu Durga and install your own shrine at home. period will still show its effects, but the
Also, Ammachi offers distance pujas important life event will be “well-born”
Ketu Ganesha
(rituals), and so does Ben Collins at and will promise fulfillment at the
Yagna.net; both services are quite appropriate time in life.
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Some nakshatras are more favorable than others for
certain events, and of course, some planetary combina-
tions will be more conducive to a smooth flow of events.
Still, electional astrology (muhurtha) in India is quite com-
plicated — more so, in my humble opinion, than natal
astrology — since there is an enormous variety of rules and
exceptions to rules. Yet, the most powerful determinant of
the successful timing of an event is a 24-minute span of
time called a nadika, said to have been taught by Sukra-
charya (the planet Venus), who is also a Guru who serves
the Rakshasas, or demons.4 Although this is a bit beyond
the scope of this article, the advantage of nadika is that a
favorable election time can be found on virtually any day
of the week. Further exploration of nadika should be a top
priority.
Other Possibilities:
Music and Mantra
A relatively under-explored dimension in Vedic astrol-
ogy in the West is the use of music to propitiate the plan-
ets. Astrology and music both have a divine origin. They
are based upon cosmic vibrations.5 There is a well-known
system of sounds that correspond to the planets, signs, and
nakshatras, yet there are ragas (modes and tempos used
to develop improvisational themes) that also correspond
to the planets, signs, and nakshatras, which are said to
make the planets respond positively. Likewise, a selection
of music that does not address the needs of one’s chart
will inhibit growth, intelligence, effort, and abundance. A
full explanation of these ragas is technically complicated.
Indian music uses a tuning system quite unlike equal-
temperament Western music. Interestingly, Indian tuning
is somewhat similar, but not iden-
tical, to ancient Pythagorean tun-
ing. I will not attempt to explain If one wishes
such complex musical patterns; the karma to
however, this system of correspon- stay away, one
dences represents a tantalizing
source of healing sounds that can must change
be constructed to alleviate the suf- his or her
fering caused by difficult planetary behavior —
placements.
permanently.
Conclusion
It can readily be discerned from even a cursory exami-
nation of this article that the potential in Jyotish for remedial
measures for afflicted charts is extraordinarily vast — and I
have not even discussed some of the more conservative rec-
ommended remedies, such as seeking out a Guru, or the
more radical methods, such as using Christ, God the Father,
the Holy Mother, and saints and angels as planetary helpers
(traditional Western and Middle Eastern thought recognizes
certain angels as planetary intelligences). So, there is a long
litany of areas beyond these that can be approached for aid.
But I would say that the two most important things to rec-
ognize in remedial measures are these: First, one will never
run out of remedial options if one looks diligently. Second,
the responsibility for follow-through in this area involves
5. See K. K. Pathak, Remedial Astrology, Nish-
kam Peet Prakashan, Publisher (New Delhi),
Remedial Measures 1999.
© 2005 Gary Gomes –

self-discipline; if one wishes the karma References and Notes all rights reserved
to stay away, one must change his or 1. According to Vedic astrology, life goes
her behavior — permanently. It is really through certain planetary cycles, determined Gary Gomes is Vice President of the
the only road that sustains the individ- by the Moon’s position (the nakshatra it occu- Council of Vedic Astrology and a Swami
pies) at the time of one’s birth. These cycles are of the Temple of Kriya Yoga. Certified
ual’s pursuit of happiness and spiritual to instruct Vedic Astrology by the Ameri-
called dashas; the major cycle is the mahadasha,
growth. governed by a particular planet, but there are can College of Vedic Astrology, he also
sub-periods of other planets. teaches in the ACVA Online College
***** program. Gary has an international cli-
2. Some people may wonder whether this entele, writes for publications on six
harms the river by polluting it. Keep in mind continents, and speaks at international
For readers who are interested, here that the quantities we are discussing here are astrology symposia. He has been hon-
are some Internet links to organizations very small — about 7 lbs. maximum — and ored by the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan of
that perform planetary rituals. (This list is lesser quantities can be used. Also, a paper bag New Delhi, India. Gary can be reached
definitely not exhaustive.) (though much messier) can be substituted for for consultations at New England Council
the plastic bag. of Vedic Astrology/Crystal Expectations,
www.ammachi.org 854 Brock Avenue, New Bedford, MA
3. If you are concerned about the possible
www.puja.net effects of this ritual on the environment, you can 02744; phone: (508) 990-7898 or (508)
leave the bag out overnight but retrieve it when 994-5725; e-mail: crystalx@verizon.net
www.yajna.com the Moon’s disk starts to show in the sky.
www.maharishi-jyotish.com/ 4. I first encountered the nadika in a book by
English/maharishi_yagyas_ the late R. Santhanam called Essentials of Vedic
English.htm Astrology, Sagar Publication (India), 1995. The
nadikas are also discussed in Ernst Wilhelm’s
www.jyotish-remedies.com
new book, Classical Muhurtha, Käla Occult
www.nehti.org/index0.html Publishers, 2003.
The Traveling Astrologer change the mode of governing in the
continued from page 21 As Saturn transits United States.
The mood has recently felt very
house of taking charge. Saturn can the U.S. Mercury dark in this country. That is what Pluto
sometimes be difficult there, because and Pluto, it is does: takes us to the depths of the ter-
one always has to be right — or else showing us the reality rible darkness so that we are forced to
risk being toppled from the throne. Self- confront it. We face death, and at that
of our national
righteousness can be a terrible handicap. moment, we can begin our catharsis.
Saturn has a 30-year cycle. It consciousness. There is light ahead. The years we are
entered Cancer, the most important experiencing right now allow us to see
sign for the U.S., in June 2003. It is that polarity, our thinking about energy the old ugliness and, thereby, begin to
now traveling through the U.S. 8th is most important now. To survive, we forge new and better ways of living.
house of energy transformation and must change our mode of grabbing and This rebuilding takes time, though. We
across the U.S. Mercury, which repre- wasting energy. Can we figure out con- must have patience with the process,
sents the national consciousness. Saturn sistently sustainable ways of working hold the light, and continue to work for
also opposes the U.S. Pluto in Capri- with the Earth’s resources? Saturn asks the good.
corn in the 2nd house of resources. Sat- us to do this — at a governmental level.
urn is the bookkeeper. It represents the Saturn continues through this crucial Chart Data and Source
law and boundaries. It shows us where space from September 2004 through U.S. “Sibly” chart, July 4, 1776; 5:10 p.m.
we must tend to business, and it may June 2005. Reshaping the U.S. govern- LMT; Philadelphia, PA (39°N57', 75°W10');
reward us when we do — but it surely ment is a major project during this nine- Nicholas Campion, Book of World Horoscopes,
punishes us when we don’t. With Sat- The Wessex Astrologer Ltd., 2004, Chart 370.
month period. It is essential that we, the
urn, we face stone-cold reality. There is people, offer our input to this process.
no escape. It is the Law. With the U.S. Saturn in Libra in the © 2005 Maya del Mar – all rights reserved
As Saturn transits the U.S. Mercury 10th house, this nation has the poten-
and Pluto, it is showing us the reality of tial to take the lead in establishing an Maya del Mar has been practicing astrology
our national consciousness; how we per- equitable and harmonious way of life. for 30 years in lovely Marin County, California.
ceive ourselves and our power does not Saturn returns to its home base in Libra She publishes a monthly magazine on the Web,
Daykeeper Journal, where she details astrologi-
jibe with how we are seen by the rest of in the U.S. chart during 2011, as the cal currents by the month, week, and day. Maya
the world. What do we do about this? nation is feeling the impact of Uranus’s can be contacted through the Journal at www.
How do we re-form our consciousness revolutionary spirit in its new sign of daykeeperjournal.com
so that we can be more aware of what is Aries. The turbulent times of 2011–2015
happening? will provide the energy with which Sat-
The 2nd house and the 8th are urn begins its new cycle. We will then Please check out Maya’s Web site:
energy houses; with Saturn transiting have a tremendous opportunity to www.daykeeperjournal.com
BECOME AN
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or visit www.metaphysical.ca/forecaster

Astrology If you have news or events of interest to the
News
astrological community that you would like
to share with TMA readers, please send your
information directly to Gloria Star, P.O. Box 311,
Clinton, CT 06413; fax (860) 664-4295; or e-mail:
by Gloria Star Gloria@GloriaStar.com
Astronomy Magazine It is apparent from the article that Bakich made a slip-
Demeans Astrology shod attempt to become acquainted with astrology. He
The December 2004 issue of Astronomy Magazine (vol. learned enough to include some jargon, but he seems to
32, no. 12) published an “exposé” in a cover article written have barely scratched the surface — at best. There was no
by Michael E. Bakich: “Astrology: Fact or Fiction?” which bibliography, so his references are not substantiated — nor
identifies astrology as “religious and magical.” The author are his credentials, since the magazine refers to him only as
begins by outlining the early history of astrology and astron- an Associate Editor.
omy (once the same study) and goes on to “prove” that, I’ll give the author credit for this: He is clever and defi-
although astronomy has grown into a science, astrology is nitely lives under the sign of the Skeptic. (Perhaps we could
no more than fiction. Bakich states, “The more we know suggest this name to astronomers if they discover another
about astronomy, the more we question astrology.” He constellation?)
then advances a series of arguments based upon what he
considers to be more scientific, such as employing a zodiac Astrological Programming
that relates strictly to the constellations. He maintains that on British Television
astrologers are not charting the factual evidence — where A new regulator for the communications industries was
the Sun actually is in relationship to the stars. It is apparent recently formed in the United Kingdom. The Office of Com-
that Bakich is intent upon using the current limited scientific munications (Ofcom) released a discussion document in
model to disprove astrology. 2004 that explores how paranormal subjects are shown
For Bakich, precession is everything! In one laughable on television. The proposed wording that is most troubling
section, he quotes the song “Age of Aquarius” from the to astrologers appears in Section 5: “Harm and Offence.”
musical, Hair, carefully noting that we are approaching the Because this wording could establish astrology as poten-
Age of Aquarius “because of precession,” not because of tially dangerous, the Astrological Association of Great Brit-
the reasons stated in the song. Sorry, but even though I ain (AA) formulated a careful response and submitted it to
like to sing the song, I have never used it as a guide to the Ofcom before their October 2004 deadline. It is hoped that
dawning of an Age or the focus of my astrological study! the alternate wording suggested by the AA will be adopted
As you might expect, he includes the old astronomer’s by the British authorities. To stay up to date regarding this
argument that there is no influence or significance from the matter, log onto the AA Web site: www.AstrologicalAssociati
positions of the Sun, Moon, or planets at birth. This con- on.com
clusion may be derived from the magnetic field theory that
Bakich seems to believe is the basis of astrology: “… the In Brief
building exerts about 10 times more gravitational pull than Retail Astrology? In October 2004, New Yorkers
all eight planets combined — 500,000 times more than the had a unique opportunity to meet with astrologers at four
nearest star beyond the Sun.” Lord & Taylor stores — in a promotion for Estée Lauder’s
Bakich’s references to astrologers are consistently new Erté-designed zodiac compacts. Thanks to TMA reader
demeaning. His piece has a section called “Astrologer’s Lib- Peter Standaart for sending along this information.
erties” in which he lists a series of “facts” about how astrol- Free! ONLINE College of Astrology announces
ogy is supposed to work. He illustrates a few scattershot more free lectures, which will occur two weekends per
points that use astrological terminology. His so-called facts month in January, February, and March 2005; each lec-
leave much to be desired — especially when he tries to ture will feature a different topic and teacher. To find out
explain how the geometry of astrology works, including the more, log onto the ONLINE College Web site at http://
question of orbs. The last two sentences in this section sum- www.astrocollege.com
marize his apparent frustration with his little-understood In Memoriam: Joyce Jillson died on October 1,
research: “If you’d like solid answers, you’re out of luck. 2004 as a result of kidney failure. She was once the Official
There aren’t any!” Astrologer for 20th Century Fox Studios and, most recently,
the author of a daily astrology column that appeared in Eminent medical astrologer Dr. Margaret Millard
nearly 200 newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times. died on November 13, 2004 in Orono, Maine. This produc-
She began her career as a singer and actress; after starring tive and highly informative writer published several books
in the 1960s television series Peyton Place, she pursued the and articles on medical astrology and had long served as a
serious study of astrology. She was 58 years old. member of the NCGR Board. Dr. Millard was 88.
Barry Strevens, a Jyotish astrologer from Wells, Eng-
land, was tragically killed in a train crash on November 6, © 2005 Gloria Star – all rights reserved
2004. He was well known in the international community
of Vedic astrologers and is survived by his wife, Jacqui, and Gloria Star is a professional astrologer, author, and teacher who cur-
two sons. Barry was 55. rently resides in the shoreline township of Clinton, Connecticut.
SEMI-ANNUAL CONFERENCE CALENDAR

February 19 & 20, 2005: Classical Astrol- June 30 – July 3, 2005: 3rd Annual Conference:
ogy Congress: “Return to the Sources,” orga- “An Astrologer’s Retreat,” sponsored by the Organi-
nized by the Dutch astrology group Anima zation for Professional Astrology (OPA), The Inn at
Astrologiae in Aachen, Germany. For info: tel. Sunrise Springs, Santa Fe, New Mexico. For info:
31-183-649405; e-mail: oshofman@xs4all.nl Contact Bob Mulligan, tel. 239-261-2840; e-mail:
bobmulliga@aol.com; URL: http://www.professional-
March 5–7, 2005: Northern New Jersey astrology.org/
Astrology Conference: NCGR and the Uni-
versity of Geocosmic Studies present “Tradi- July 2 & 3, 2005: 9th Astrologers’ Meeting,
tional Techniques and Modern Innovations,” “Gente de Astrología-GeA 2005,” Buenos Aires,
Beaver Brook Country Club, Clinton Town- Argentina. Lectures should be submitted before
ship, New Jersey. For info: Contact Joanne March 1, 2005. See Web site for more details.
Castro, tel. 908-418-0365; fax: 973-744- For info: e-mail: info@gente-de-astrologia.com.ar;
1314; e-mail: jocat413@msn.com; URL: http: URL: http://www.gente-de-astrologia.com.ar
//www.nnjac.com
August 17–21, 2005: International Society for
April 29 – May 1, 2005: Midwest Astrology Astrological Research (ISAR) Biennial Conference:
Conference, Independence, Ohio. For info: “Connecting with the Universal Design: Honoring
tel. 330-652-4971 or 703-354-4076; e-mail: Diversity of Astrological Paths,” Indian Lakes Resort,
macastrology@yahoo.com; URL: http://www. Bloomingdale, Illinois. For info: tel. 800-982-1788;
midwestastrology.com/ 248-626-3034; fax: 410-366-4727; URL: http://
www.isarastrology.com
May 26–28, 2005: International Society
of Business Astrologers (ISBA) Congress, August 22–26, 2005: Summer School, Faculty
Amsterdam, The Netherlands. For info: of Astrological Studies (FAS), Oxford, England. For
tel. 45-38287376; e-mail: info@businessas info: e-mail: summerschool@astrology.org.uk; URL:
trologers.com; URL: http://www.business http://www.astrology.org.uk
astrologers.com/
September 30 – October 4, 2005: 37th Annual
May 27–30, 2005: 21st Annual Northwest Conference: “Many Tongues, One Language,” orga-
Astrological Conference (NORWAC), Double- nized by the Astrological Association of Great Britain,
tree Suites Hotel, Seattle, Washington. For York, United Kingdom. For info: tel. 44(0)-20-8880-
info: tel. 206-545-2912; e-mail: laurag@astro 4848; e-mail: office@astrologicalassocation.com;
logyetal.com URL: http://www.astrologicalassociation.com/

Saturn
and the
Shadow
by Donna Lee
It
is a well-known fact that realize we possess or that we don’t repressed, suppressed, or otherwise
anything standing in the wish to possess. Therefore, we see denied contents of consciousness,
light casts a dark shadow, the beloved in another, when it is Jung theorized that the conscious self
and according to the renowned psy- really our own best selves we see but (or ego) has its roots in, and grows
chologist Carl Jung, the Shadow also are unable to acknowledge as our- up from, the vast unconscious realm.
exists in the human psyche. He pos- selves. Or, more commonly, we see This makes sense because humans
tulated that the focused illumination our archenemy, our diabolical inner begin life in a state of relative uncon-
of consciousness within the psyche, twin, projected outward. The less sciousness. Jung also believed that
the conscious self, casts a psychic conscious we are of the repressed the unconscious is not only a store-
shadow that contains repressed parts of our psyches, the stronger house for all the negative impulses
aspects of the conscious person- and more intense are our projections. we do not wish to acknowledge, but
ality. Jung believed this hidden Usually, we are completely unaware is also the source of all our life ener-
shadow material to be nothing more of projecting these hidden qualities gies, whether we consider these
than natural instincts and creative onto others, nor do we feel that the good or bad, helpful or harmful,
impulses that have been rejected, qualities we see in others are qualities acceptable or repulsive. According
denied, and driven into the uncon- that reside in ourselves. Projection is to the teachings of Jung’s analyti-
scious, where they become distorted also a major factor in relationships cal psychology, the unconscious has
and are then feared by the conscious between countries and different cul- two layers — the personal uncon-
self. It is possible, although very diffi- tures — we accuse the other of being scious, which includes the Shadow,
cult, to become aware of the Shadow inferior or having evil intent, when it and the collective unconscious, the
by experiencing it directly, and slowly is our disowned national Shadow we universal realm from which arche-
reintegrating its energies and poten- are experiencing. types, myths, and religious impulses
tials into everyday consciousness. There is much more going on spring, regardless of our cultural or
What makes the reintegration in the human unconscious than ethnic background. In Jung’s view,
of the Shadow so challenging is the the Shadow’s repressed emotions. the unconscious represents a state of
human tendency to project onto Unlike Freud, who believed that the wholeness and inner riches that he
others the very traits that we don’t unconscious was the end result of called “the Self.”
Enter Saturn have difficulty with their stewardship They are also uncomfortable with others’
The astrological Saturn is a complex of the material realm. It is common for uncontrolled emotions or with emotional
archetype that is generally experienced them to struggle in their younger years outbursts of any kind, thinking them
as limitation, frustration, delays, fear, and to gain the bare necessities of life, but undignified. However, to their great pain,
hard work, as we try to fulfill our desires in this early hardship provides great impe- they often attract people who display
the physical world. Saturn also represents tus toward becoming financially stable such traits. These natives most likely feel
the seemingly fated duties that appear in or even fabulously wealthy — the clas- incapable of expressing their own emo-
our lives, forcing us to discipline ourselves sic “rags-to-riches” story. They tend to tions openly because they never learned
and take responsibility for our actions. envy those who have great riches and to how. They may try to compensate for
However negative Saturn appears, we think of those more fortunate as greedy their deeply felt lack of love by gather-
can use its experiences of pain and restric- villains, pure and simple, while these ing material things, but unfortunately,
tion to become conscious of our innate very same traits lie buried deep in their things cannot replace love. These people
wholeness — the Self. own souls. They must be careful about often gain great emotional peace as they
Many astrologers connect the func- how they achieve their wealth and sta- age and their emotions deepen. In old
tion of Saturn with Jung’s conception of tus and how they handle them once they age, they can find the love they crave,
the Shadow. As Saturn pertains to the do, always employing the utmost hon- or they’re finally able to give it to them-
Shadow, its sign, house position, and esty in all their endeavors. The riches of selves.
aspects can tell us a good deal about the Earth — in the form of money, secu-
behaviors and qualities that have been rity, and power — will most likely come \
repressed and discarded from our con- to these natives later in life, after a long,
scious personalities — perhaps we uncon- arduous struggle to gain them. With Saturn, as with the Shadow,
sciously despise them or don’t feel worthy People with Saturn in the air we must be patient as we become aware
to own them. Since it often takes us a signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius) may of things about ourselves that seem
lifetime to integrate our Shadow traits, lack formal education in their youth, unacceptable. All parts of ourselves long
we usually get closer to that goal in our and they don’t acquire an education for our acceptance and therefore dog
later years. The phase of life that we most until they’re much older. These are the our heels in the form of others who dis-
identify with Saturn is old age (after the people who go to school late in life to play these despised traits. It is widely
second Saturn return, around age 60). get a GED or a college diploma. Often, acknowledged that we would not react so
What follows are some of the poten- there is some kind of tragedy surround- intensely to these negative (or positive)
tial manifestations of the Shadow, as ing their early educational experiences traits in others if they did not resonate
symbolized by Saturn in the elements — perhaps they were labeled inferior by strongly within us. As I always tell myself,
(fire, earth, air, and water) and how school authorities, or had to forgo their there are six billion people in the world,
these repressed qualities may be inte- education to get a job in order to help so the types of people I consistently
grated as we mature. the family. These people tend to project attract into my life cannot be a matter of
People with Saturn in the fire their undeveloped intellectual potentials chance. We can look to Saturn’s place-
signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius) uncon- onto others who are highly educated ment in our charts, by sign, house, and
sciously want to be the center of atten- or very intelligent; they feel as though aspect, for information about these dis-
tion but believe that this tendency is these traits don’t belong to them. They owned and projected personal elements,
somehow gauche when they see it in may frequently meet people they see as and we can reclaim them little by little,
others. These people often find them- know-it-alls (who trigger feelings of intel- until we own all that belongs to us.
selves being upstaged by some show-off, lectual inferiority), or they draw to them-
which irks them no end. They tend not to selves those whose superior intelligence © 2005 Donna Lee – all rights reserved
reach their greatest fulfillment until they they greatly admire. However, people
can contact and release their creative with this placement often have an aura For more than 30 years, Donna Lee has stud-
potentials, whether these be artistic, intel- of being highly intelligent, regardless of ied astrology, as well as all things paranormal,
lectual, or within the realm of loving rela- their educational background. psychological, and metaphysical, including
tionships. These natives often feel that People with Saturn in the water Greek mythology, dream analysis, Atlantis,
their lives lack love and that they have signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces) tend to reincarnation, millennial prophecies, numer-
little ability to express themselves freely. be emotionally subdued. They probably ology, and the work of Carl Jung. Donna
paraphrased some of Jung’s basic ideas in
Subconsciously, they may feel that they grew up in homes where their caretak- five-minute recordings for a metaphysical 900-
don’t deserve the love they crave. In later ers abused them emotionally, sexually, number hotline that she started with Tony Pica
life, their creativity and capacity for love and/or physically. Being very sensitive in 1994. She has also contributed fillers to Dell
often blossom. At this time, they can find to begin with, these natives internalize Horoscope magazine. Donna is single and lives
the perfect romance, or become lucky in their environment and become emotion- in Jamaica, New York. In her neighborhood,
the risks they take, or start to develop a ally cold because of the lack of love they she is known as “The Cyber Queen” — she
has Uranus (computers/“Cyber Culture”) in Leo
creative pursuit or hobby that gives them have experienced. As a result, they do (the sign of royalty) in the 1st house. You can
much pleasure. not feel comfortable talking about things contact her at (718) 291-0478, or e-mail: mystic
People with Saturn in the earth that hurt them or expressing strong emo- source@hotmail.com; write the word ASTROL-
signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn) often tions to people they care deeply about. OGY in the subject area.

Letters to the Editor Dear TMA:
The interview with Ken Bowser
on doing nothing that was not practical
and well planned. Since he was a sup-
continued from page 8 (Oct./Nov. 2004) has explained a fatal porter of the war in Iraq, it is unlikely
flaw in the order of the universe, and he could be a Capricorn. If he were,
it lit up my cerebral sky like the Perseid his desire for money would outrank his
Dear TMA: meteor showers. Thank you. Like a interest in public service, and he would
I have been a subscriber for diamond cleaned of ancient dust and have stayed with a company like Halli-
many years, and I enjoy your maga- grime, my astrology sparkles with new- burton. Clearly, Cheney is much more
zine immensely. The articles are always found clarity and efficacy. Simply put, a Ronald Reagan type of Aquarian than
clear, interesting, timely, well written, I can believe it more now. My question a left-wing rebel like Norman Mailer or
and very useful to me. is: Can I just switch over to sidereal Vanessa Redgrave. The latter’s radical
I especially like Dana Gerhardt’s astrology from tropical? I began selling behavior is clearly related to her Sun
work and Tem’s articles. I just reread (gasp) computerized charts this year, square Uranus and Mars, rather than
Greg Bogart’s article on the Jupiter– supplemented by a personal reading. being simply an Aquarian.
Saturn conjunction in the April/May Thank you for your commitment. However, I commend TMA for pub-
2000 issue of TMA. The accuracy of — Michael Poitras lishing this article, because it does throw
his forward-looking vision in my own (born-again Virgo) more light on the differences between
life and the modern world has been Texada, British Columbia tropical and sidereal systems and
revealed with stunning clarity in the encourages astrologers to look at some-
past four years. Dear TMA: thing they may have largely ignored. It
I thought that the Virgo/Pisces issue The interview of Kenneth Bowser is helpful to know whether one is using
(Aug./Sept. 2004) was one of your best. by Colleen Mauro (Oct./Nov. 2004) the wrong system or not. I hope sidere-
Even though I do not practice Vedic was remarkable for being unconvinc- alists will see the light.
astrology, I really appreciate the Vedic ing. As one of the “tropicalists” men- — Galen Halimar
articles by Linda Johnsen and others, tioned in the article, I was reading for (Capricorn with Aquarius rising)
because they expand my horizons and information that would encourage me to Galen@AstrologyHoroscopes.com
thinking processes with their wonderful see where I have been wrong all these
non-Western point of view. These arti- years. Instead, the citation of Vice Presi- Dear TMA:
cles add an energy to my astrological dent Dick Cheney as a prime example In the early 17th century, the
awareness that I value greatly. of where sidereal beats out tropical natal great astronomer, Johannes Kepler,
I was prompted to write this letter astrology convinced me that tropical published a work entitled Harmonice
because of the fabulous interview with charts are in fact superior. Mundi (Latin for “The Harmony of the
Kenneth Bowser, by Colleen Mauro, Cheney is well known for his sharp World”), where he revealed how the
in the Oct./Nov. 2004 issue's Mercury mental acuity, organization, atten- planets give rise to music.
Direct section. I don’t know much about tion to detail, and a life predominantly Kepler’s idea of harmony was three-
sidereal astrology, but this interview devoted to public service. The first fold. In geometry, music, and astron-
presented the most dynamic and com- three characteristics are related to his omy, he showed that the same, certain
prehensive history of astrology I have Virgo Ascendant. The last characteris- ratios were to be found. In geometry,
ever read. My interest was immediately tic, public service, is a typical Aquarian the harmonic ratios arose in the con-
engaged. I would really love to read feature. Aquarians know what they are structible, regular polygons. In music,
Vedic articles describing the charts of doing, so they tend to be impatient they were the intervals of the musical
public figures, such as Dick Cheney and with people who do not understand scale. In astronomy, they were the ratios
George W. Bush. Ken Bowser's mention them. They are typically intellectual between the aphelion and perihelion
of looking at Cheney as a sidereal Cap- and relate to others on a mental, rather velocities of the planets known to exist
ricorn, rather than a tropical Aquarian, than an emotional, level. Aquarians are at the time (the inner six, from Mercury
really piqued my interest. Since sidereal typically not what Bowser suggests — to Saturn).
astrology began as a way to evaluate liberal, bohemian, counter-culture ori- The musical pitch for each planet
the life of the ruler and the state of the ented, or rebels. To be fair, Bowser did is directly proportional to the planet’s
kingdom, I think it would be a valuable mention egalitarian and humanitarian, angular velocity. The lowest pitch, a
way to consider the increasingly impor- and these words do apply to Cheney low G-note, is set at the lowest speed
tant sociopolitical and economic issues and most other Aquarians. that any of the planets attains, the
that we all face as citizens of a global The sidereal chart for Cheney shows speed of Saturn at aphelion. The high-
economy. him to be a Capricorn with Leo rising, a est note is reached by Mercury at peri-
Thank you so much for your dedi- totally different person. Now, with a Leo helion. As a planet orbits the Sun, the
cated hard work. Your magazine gets Ascendant, he would naturally seek the pitch will change. As a planet moves
better and better with each passing year. spotlight, whereas he prefers to remain toward aphelion, the pitch will fall. As
— Janice Mutch in the background supporting the presi- it moves toward perihelion, the pitch
Indianapolis, Indiana dent. As a Capricorn, he would insist will rise. The range of pitch varies for
each planet, from that of Venus (being ital tuner that indicates the actual fre- and re-assess my complicity in the pro-
less than a semitone) to that of Mercury quencies and also to transpose them so nounced pathos of modern life. On this
(being more than an octave and a half). they fall within the range of a guitar. “Plutonian odyssey,” this reader was
The overall range of pitch from Saturn I have written a computer pro- left with the hope that this overly con-
to Mercury is spread out over seven gram that works with Kepler 6.0 ephem- sumptive culture may, one day soon,
octaves. The motions of the planets eris software, to compute and play the consume commercial desire itself. Jes-
together make a six-part musical chord. sounds for any given moment in time. sica mentions Pluto in the 2nd house
However, only at very special moments I will make it available to anyone who as having immense possibility. Per-
will the pitches of all the planets fit thinks it might be useful. haps, the creative among us can envi-
together perfectly into our musical scale — Christopher Arthur sion and then inspire a more altruistic
(since the acceleration of the planets is http://harmony.sourceforge.net and meaningful existence for us all.
continuous). — Melissa Hafez
Listening to the planets becomes Dear TMA: Berkeley, California
possible with a computer ephemeris and My astrological knowledge ends koolbuda@earthlink.net
a musical instrument that allows fine with convivial exchanges of Sun-sign
tuning of the notes. First, the frequen- identification. During the last few years, A clarification from TMA on the his-
cies of the notes are computed with the I’ve taken to listening to the Visionary tory of composite charts: The method
formula Activist Radio Show, with Caroline was discovered by Frau Liselotte Raab.
angular velocity Casey, for her witty and entertaining She introduced it in an article published
of planet astrological metaphors concerning our in March 1958 in the Geman journal
Frequency = 98.12 x
angular velocity of current political predicament. Then I Auskunftsbogen, No. 81. Composites
Saturn at aphelion happened upon Jessica Murray’s in- were introduced into England by Terry
depth analysis (TMA, Oct./Nov. 2004) Piercey in 1969, in a lecture at the
where the number 98.12 is roughly the of the relationship between Pluto, Astrological Lodge of the Theosophical
pitch of a low G-note given in Hertz. greed, and the lively and meaningless Society. The technique was introduced
Second, the instrument is tuned to the pursuit of planetary destruction (which into the U.S. by Ken Gillman in a series
notes. For example, to tune a guitar to she explores in all of its truly ugly ram- of lectures and articles published in Kos-
the pitches, it is necessary to have a dig- ifications). I was forced to recognize mos in 1970 and 1971.

continued from page 13 Awareness
First Oil Strike, August 28, 1859 NS; 4:00 p.m. The wave crashes
LMT; Titusville, PA (41°N38', 79°W40'); Campion,
BWH, Chart 421. silently
birthed at dawn
References and Notes in some spiral armed
1. Source for U.S. history: Hugh Brogan, The Pen-
guin History of the United States of America, Pen- galaxy
guin, 1991. the submariner Uranus
2. It is necessary to look briefly at what seems to be flagship of change
a rather large omission: World Wars I and II. They
did not occur under Pluto–Mars transits; this suggests surfaces.
that, from the American point of view, they were of a
different nature from the wars that came later in the
century. The U.S. as a whole was very reluctant to
get involved in either war. It entered WWI as late as @
1917, and the eventual catalyst was economic: Ger-
man submarines began destroying large amounts of
U.S. shipping and damaging its economy. As usual
with American wars, the defining transit occurred in
Astrology
1914–15, a year or two before U.S. involvement:
Pluto in Cancer squared the U.S. MC at 1° Libra. Throwing the entrails of the sky
This transit plausibly indicates that the war had to like bones
do with the U.S. starting to claim its place as a sig-
nificant power on the world stage. As for WWII, there upon a liver carpet
was a clear objective threat that required a response passing the torch of stars,
when Japan attacked the U.S. fleet at Pearl Har-
bor on December 7, 1941. Three days later, Hitler discerning the ebb of fate.
declared war on the U.S., which drew America into
the European war as well. This time, the defining
transit occurred in 1938–39, when transiting Nep-
tune conjoined natal Neptune at 22° Virgo and
@
squared natal Mars at 21° Gemini. This suggests
America’s redemptive Neptune as the driving force
behind the country’s involvement in WWII. Obvi-
ously, much more astrological exploration around
Old Saw Bones Saturn
the world wars is possible, but my point is that they
were different from the wars that came later — or
Trowelling ground up mollusks
from the Spanish-American war of 1898. cements the shells of civilization
hierarchy upon hierarchy
© 2005 Dharmaruci –
all rights reserved
structure upon structure
he builds.
Dharmaruci was involved
in running Buddhist cen- What if the ancients
tres in London during the
1980s and ’90s. As Pluto are really from the future
conjoined his IC in 1998, mitigating disaster
he became thoroughly dis-
enchanted with organized as the ferryman
religion and moved to silently draws near.
Glastonbury, U.K., where
he now lives with his fam-
ily. Dharmaruci learned as- © 2005 Michael Poitras – all rights reserved
trology mainly through the
Pluto transits over the last 13 years. He currently
does shamanic healing work and astrology readings Michael Poitras has been courting astrology since the 1980s
at home and at festivals, and he runs the occasional and writing poetry since pens were feathers. He lives on the
sweat lodge. In February 2004, as Uranus began broody island of Texada, British Columbia, Canada, and can be
squaring his Gemini MC, he surprised himself by contacted via e-mail at: soar@onelink.ca
starting to write astrology articles. He can be con-
tacted via e-mail: Dharmaruci71@hotmail.com
Prof. Directory ads:
Intentionally Blank
Intentionally Blank

Intentionally Blank
Where’s That Moon?
y
uar
PACIFIC TIME
febr GREENWICH MEAN TIME
rch
ma
PACIFIC TIME GREENWICH MEAN TIME
PHASES OF THE MOON (START-POINTS)

Pacific Time Greenwich Mean Time
LQ
BL
NW
CR
FQ
GB
FL
DS
LQ
BL
NW
CR
FQ
GB
FL
DS
NW=New CR=Crescent FQ=First Quarter GB=Gibbous FL=Full DS=Disseminating LQ=Last Quarter BL=Balsamic

WEEKLY FORECAST CALENDAR
Forecast Calendar for Feb/Mar 2005
by Jeff Jawer
All times given are in Pacific Standard Time. For Eastern Time, add 3 hours;
Central Time, add 2 hours; Mountain Time, add 1 hour; Greenwich Mean Time, add 8 hours.
February 1—6
Overview: Jupiter changes direction this week, and Venus of this sign is reinforced the next morning (Sunday, Feb. 6), when
and Mars change signs. The planet of expansion turns retrograde Mars follows the Moon into Capricorn. Traditionally, the sensitivity
in Libra on February 1, remaining in reverse gear until early June of the Moon is hobbled here, as instinct gives way to duty. Obliga-
— a period when truth, especially about relationships, comes tions loom large, perhaps even bringing on feelings of guilt. The nur-
from within. Lovely Venus entering Aquarius on February 2 sig- turing nature of the Moon is hardened by the weight of responsibil-
nals a shift from formalism (Capricorn) to a more experimental ity. One advantage, however, is that the potential for good planning
and open-minded attitude in relationships, values, and styles. On and organization can yield tangible results. Dream time is over, and
February 6, Mars enters the practical earth sign of Capricorn just it’s time to go to work, at least for a little while. Mars is exalted in
after Venus leaves it. This “mismatch” of the two lover planets Capricorn, the well-defined order of this sign providing a clear path
complicates connections and strains cooperation; in Capricorn, of action for the committed warrior. Execution is usually skillful, ef-
active Mars prefers order and control, while receptive Venus in fort focused, and the level of efficiency raised. Yet, this competitive
Aquarius has a strong need for freedom. But, with a Sun–Neptune planet in the sign of conquest can also curtail the spirit of coopera-
conjunction on February 3, we might not even notice. That’s tion, as we tend to battle for dominance. One countering force is a
because nebulous Neptune tends to blur boundaries, making semi-square between Mars and Neptune (00°12' Capricorn – 15°12'
differences less critical and reality more fluid. Aquarius) late Sunday afternoon. The warrior’s sword may not be
Jupiter’s retrograde station at 18°52' Libra on Tuesday quite so sharp then; the warrior may be distracted and disarmed by
(Feb. 1) is a significant but subtle event that suggests a turn in- uncharacteristic compassion, flights of fancy, or the fatigue of recent
ward in search of the truth. The planet’s principles of growth struggles.
and expansion tend to be less obvious now and often appear
as a result of inner reflection rather than external risk-taking.
The Moon in Scorpio forms a Last Quarter square to the Sun
in Aquarius tonight at 11:27 p.m., injecting emotional inten- Geocentric Aspects,
sity into a world of intellect and idealism. Aquarius’s highest Ingresses, and Stations
hopes encounter Scorpio’s deepest fears, challenging visions of
the future with ghosts from the past. However, this aspect can Pacific Standard Greenwich Mean
also mark a time of responsibility and a willingness to invest
all of one’s resources to reach a goal.
Venus’s entry into Aquarius on Wednesday (Feb. 2) at
7:43 a.m. brings a taste for the new and unusual into our lives.
Attraction to different kinds of people and pleasures can shake
up our social lives — mixing and matching unlikely groups and
individuals. The Aquarian love of freedom stretches relation-
ships, pushing against old limits and expectations, in the pur-
suit of fresh air and new perspectives.
The Moon enters Sagittarius at 4:21 a.m. on Thursday (Feb.
3), fueling the Venus-in-Aquarius need for novelty; we tend to
look toward the possibilities of the future and away from the
realities of the present. A yearning for experiences that widen
our horizons makes commitment feel heavy and concentration
seem narrow. Dealing with details, then, can feel more tedious
than usual. The Sun’s conjunction with Neptune (15°04' Aquar-
ius) at 11:29 a.m. is another symbol of escapism, the desire to
live in a world more perfect than this one. Inspiration, though,
is its gift, lightening the heart with hope and dreams, filling the
mind with faith and imagination. We can easily be distracted
by our own visions or by the promises of others — some real,
some illusory.
On Friday (Feb. 4), the mind is squeezed into a narrower
view that should wring out useless fantasies: Mercury semi-
squares Pluto (8°50' Aquarius – 23°50' Sagittarius), a tense
45° aspect of profound communication, with little interest in
vague possibilities. Critical thinking can fill in the missing de-
tails that help dreams become reality, but overly critical think-
ing can crush those dreams.
This serious tone continues on Saturday (Feb. 5) as the
Moon enters Capricorn at 6:32 a.m. The no-nonsense nature
92
Week of February 7—13
Overview: This week’s energy is keyed to the New Moon between Mars and Jupiter favors enthusiasm about workable
in Aquarius on February 8. This annual event initiates a cycle plans. The tone is a little different on Tuesday (Feb. 8), with
of invention, idealism, and individuality. Conjunctions of Mer- a conjunction of Mercury and Neptune at 15°15' Aquarius.
cury and Neptune to the New Moon send mixed messages; the This energy is well suited for imagination and sensitive con-
former signifies facts and the latter, fantasy. A harmonious trine versations, but minds may tend to wander now. At 2:29 p.m.,
from Jupiter in Libra brings a spirit of cooperation and political though, the New Moon in Aquarius heralds a fresh lunar cycle.
awareness; a helpful sextile from Pluto adds passion to the other- This sign signifies freedom and the potential of retaining our
wise cool Aquarian mix. A quincunx (150° angle of adjustment) individuality while being part of a team. The large Aquarian
between the Sun and Saturn is exact on February 10. Serious view recognizes broad social patterns and group dynamics.
Saturn in self-protective Cancer represents resistance to the new A Mercury–Mars semi-square late tonight sharpens the focus,
Aquarian ideas being generated now. The fear of experimenta- quickens the mind, and could provoke harsh words.
tion needs to be addressed within oneself and with others, if this At 5:59 a.m. on Wednesday (Feb. 9), the Moon enters Pi-
inventive lunation is to bear fruit. A Mercury–Jupiter trine on the sces. Emotions grow stronger, logic recedes, and ideas turn into
same day, however, encourages rational discourse and commu- experiences as the boundaries between self and others begin
nication. Exact sextiles to Pluto from the Sun (on February 12) to fade. Compassion comes in handy today as a Venus–Pluto
and Mercury (on the 13th) are good for purging what’s no longer semi-square (8°57' Aquarius – 23°57' Sagittarius) puts pressure
needed, thus enhancing efficiency and productivity. on relationships by raising issues of power, desire, and con-
Expect a buoyant Monday (Feb. 7) as the Sun trines Jupi- trol. Trust is hard to muster with Venus–Pluto hard aspects, so
ter (18°49' Aquarius–Libra): the most joyful of aspects between be careful to avoid hurt feelings. There are two very different
the most joyful of planets. Optimism is fed by big ideas freely types of aspects on Thursday (Feb. 10): a Sun–Saturn quincunx
shared among friends, family, and colleagues. The Moon entering (21°47' Aquarius–Cancer) and a Mercury–Jupiter trine (18°45'
airy Aquarius at 6:26 a.m. is another uplifting influence, valuing Aquarius–Libra). The former is edgy and unsettled, a misalign-
what could be over what must be done, the dominant theme of ment of past (Saturn in Cancer) and future (Sun in Aquarius)
the Moon’s previous sign (Capricorn). A creative quintile (72°) that requires frequent adjustments. The latter aspect, though,
favorably aligns Mercury of the lower mind with Jupiter of the
higher mind, so that facts and principles work well together.
This trine in intelligent air signs is excellent for communicat-
ing, teaching, and learning. Travel — of the mind or body — is
Geocentric Aspects, also favored now.
Ingresses, and Stations The Moon enters Aries on Friday (Feb. 11) at 7:21 a.m.
Pacific Standard Greenwich Mean This fiery first sign of the zodiac promotes spontaneity and in-
dependence. Emotions are close to the surface and can quickly
change. If anger erupts, it may cool down fairly quickly, since
Aries doesn’t hold a grudge. Knowing how to let go is impor-
tant, because a Mercury–Saturn quincunx in the evening tends
to complicate communication. The brilliant ideas of Mercury
in Aquarius can fall on deaf ears when Saturn-in-Cancer emo-
tions clam up and resist new information. Gentle persuasion
and flexibility are likely to produce better results than trying to
force the issue.
A slow-moving quintile between Uranus and Pluto (6°01'
Pisces – 24°01' Sagittarius) peaks on Saturday (Feb. 12). This
might not be an obvious influence, since its effects spread
out at least two weeks on either side; however, this creative
combination of two great planets of change suggests powerful
forces of invention at work. As this aspect comes on the heels
of the New Moon in Uranus’s home sign of Aquarius, we can
expect breakthroughs on both the collective and individual
levels. Intractable problems (Pluto) can now be seen in a new
light that shatters restrictions and opens up new possibilities.
A Sun–Pluto sextile this morning sheds more light on the mys-
terious planet of the Underworld, allowing us to bring issues
out from the shadows so they can be dealt with consciously.
This powerful pairing can turn a loss into a gain or recover
an object or plan that’s been given up for dead. On Sunday
(Feb. 13), the Mercury–Pluto sextile helps us to look below
the surface and describe underlying patterns. At 12:18 p.m.,
the Moon enters Taurus, a very comfy sign for the planet of
security. Today, pleasure rolls out at a leisurely pace, and self-
acceptance simplifies life. There is a stubborn side to Taurus,
however, that can make it hard to adapt to unexpected events
or to engage on a complex emotional level.
93
Overview: The Sun enters Pisces on February 18; this is include signs of reason in the midst of chaos and a loosening
the major planetary event of the week. The shift from Aquarius of the stranglehold of fear.
to Pisces is an intriguing one, as the last two signs of the zodiac At 5:32 a.m. on Friday (Feb. 18), the Sun enters Pisces, the
tend to be idealistic and share an interest in collective issues. sign of no boundaries, where identities and egos dissolve into
The difference is that Aquarius, the air sign, is governed by in- universal spirit — or individual despair. Faith, not fact, rules now;
tellect: able to visualize a better world but often lacking a sense this is particularly important today since Mercury and Jupiter make
of what it feels like to live in it. Pisces, though, is a water sign an exact sesquiquadrate (3°26' Pisces – 18°26' Libra). Data is
that emotionally connects with everyone and everything. What skewed, statements exaggerated, and details blurred in waves of
Aquarius knows in its mind, Pisces experiences in its body and belief, hope, or salesmanship. The mass of information and mis-
soul — a total immersion. Mercury enters Pisces this week, too, information is difficult to decipher, requiring intuition to make
on February 16. The mental planet in this watery sign has a any sense of it. At 9:13 a.m., the Moon enters Cancer, its home
tendency to focus on the big picture, sometimes overlooking sign. This reflects a gathering of the waters, a channeling of the
essential details. But Mercury conjoins electric Uranus on Feb- vast Piscean ocean into discernible currents of individual need
ruary 19, which is likely to shock the mind with unexpected and purpose. Although facts may still be unclear, personal inter-
ideas and surprising messages. A First Quarter square between ests are likely to become more obvious. A Venus–Saturn quin-
the Moon in Taurus and the Sun in Aquarius on February 15 cunx (21°14' Aquarius–Cancer) starts off Saturday (Feb. 19) with
marks a turning point in the monthly lunar cycle, as practical some trepidation. Knowing what to do doesn’t come naturally
concerns cross paths with idealistic visions. One treat this week but can be earned by adjusting to awkward situations. Mercury
is the Venus–Jupiter trine, exact on February 17. This most fa- conjuncts Uranus and sesquiquadrates Saturn tonight, blowing
vorable aspect between astrology’s two traditional benefics is minds or shutting them down in unpredictable ways. Mental
a perfect gift for Valentine’s Day. tension is likely to extend into much of the following day. Then
Monday (Feb. 14) is an interesting mix of sharp and fuzzy. the Moon ends the week by entering Leo on Sunday (Feb. 20) at
The sharpness comes from a Mercury–Sun conjunction at 25°51' 9:54 p.m., leaving Cancer’s sensitivity behind, to embark on the
Aquarius. This bright couple is especially smart in the high-IQ bold, creative journey of the days ahead.
sign of Aquarius. The alignment of the mind’s eye (Mercury)
and I (the Sun) can provide clarity of expression, a direct link
between self and speech. However, we may also overly iden-
tify with our ideas, making it difficult for us to hear diverg-
ing opinions. The soft side of the day comes from a Venus–
Geocentric Aspects,
Neptune conjunction (15°30' Aquarius) that’s sweet, compas- Ingresses, and Stations
sionate, and romantic. We may not be especially discerning Pacific Standard Greenwich Mean
about relationships or the value of objects, but it’s love that
rules now. Today’s combination of mental acuity (Sun–Mercury)
and emotional availability (Venus–Neptune) should make for
some memorable encounters. A Mars–Uranus sextile (6°12'
Capricorn–Pisces) on Tuesday (Feb. 15) adds originality and an
ability to invent fresh approaches to old problems. This is also
a great aspect for blowing off steam in a nondestructive man-
ner. The Moon makes a First Quarter square to the Sun at 4:17
p.m. At this point in the lunar cycle, we need to either make
a commitment or change the plan initiated at the New Moon.
The Aquarius Sun’s vision of a brighter future encounters the
Taurus Moon’s need to eat right now. These two fixed signs
are concerned with values, so here’s a chance to see where in-
tellectual values and material ones intersect. At 9:18 p.m., the
Moon moves into Gemini, a more flexible environment where
change comes more easily.
On Wednesday (Feb. 16), Mercury enters Pisces at 9:46
a.m.; this is not a comfortable place for Mercury, the planet
of facts and details. Pisces’s boundless emotional environ-
ment doesn’t translate into ordinary language, so communi-
cation can be confused and thinking can be muddled. This
literal planet functions best in this nonliteral sign by learning
to see and speak in symbols, metaphors, and poetry. Venus
in Aquarius trines Jupiter in Libra on Thursday (Feb. 17), a
delightful connection between the most delightful of planets.
A generous view of others reduces anxiety and encourages
the pleasure of conversation. There is, however, a long-lasting
sesquiquadrate (a 135° angle of tension) peaking between Saturn
and Uranus now. The jostling between Saturn’s need for or-
der and Uranus’s call for freedom may shake foundations and
challenge authority. Positive expressions of this aspect, though,
94
Overview: Chiron moves into Aquarius on February 21 af- goes well with the Moon-in-Leo need for drama and attention.
ter more than three years in Capricorn. This body of healing and A tempering influence, however, is a serious sextile between
teaching in the sign of collective issues may spur a new aware- Venus and Pluto (24°13' Aquarius–Sagittarius). This aspect
ness of cultural wounds that helps us find answers to social and is normally easy and free-flowing, but nothing is light when
political problems. Increased sensitivity to matters beyond the Pluto is part of the story. This pair brings depth to relation-
personal also comes from Venus’s entry into Pisces on February ships, pushing past the superficial to address more complex
26. The love and relationship planet in the last sign of the zodiac issues of desire, fear, and jealousy. The harmonious angle,
can stir compassion and remind us of the connectedness of all though, suggests a possible resolution to partnership matters
beings. The contrast between specific issues and universal con- — and financial ones, too. A Mercury–Mars sextile (11°26'
cerns is brought to the foreground as well, with the Full Moon Pisces–Capricorn) on Tuesday (Feb. 22) sharpens minds, stim-
in Virgo on February 23. The need to address practical matters ulates lively conversation, and aligns words with actions that
now (Moon in Virgo) faces off against a desire to address spiri- are likely to produce tangible results.
tual matters (Sun in Pisces). The conjunction of Uranus with the The Moon enters Virgo on Wednesday (Feb. 23) at 9:44
Sun at the time of the lunation, though, brings unexpected ele- a.m. on its way to an opposition to the Sun at 8:54 p.m. (the
ments that could raise more questions than we can answer. Yet, Full Moon). Tension may build throughout the day, with Virgo
the gift of Uranus is a “Eureka!” experience that provokes a para- emphasizing the need to master details, stick to a schedule,
digm shift to overcome apparent contradictions. and demonstrate competence. But the looming presence of a
Monday (Feb. 21) is a very active day astrologically, starting Sun–Uranus conjunction (exact on Thursday) puts a definite
with Chiron’s entry into Aquarius at 9:47 a.m., a long-term shift buzz in the air. If the destabilizing influence of Uranus is not
that may invite medical breakthroughs as well as a new aware- met with flexibility, nerves may be frayed and plans derailed.
ness of how social issues affect individual health. The Sun– Virgo’s desire for precision can be shaken, unless we’re able to
Jupiter sesquiquadrate (3°15' Pisces – 18°15' Libra) this morn- focus on adapting rather than controlling. Staying calm in the
ing is an expansive connection that could lead us to overreach or midst of an unstable environment allows us to move from big-
promise more than we can deliver. The tendency to exaggerate picture concerns (Pisces) to present issues (Virgo), rather than
feeling torn between the two. Uranus’s presence at the Full
Moon adds an explosive element that can disrupt one’s daily
routine and stir up unexpected emotional responses. However,
liberation is the high side of this planet — breaking through old
Geocentric Aspects, barriers with acts of originality and spontaneity.
Ingresses, and Stations The Sun’s conjunction to Uranus at 6°45' Pisces is one
Pacific Standard Greenwich Mean of three solar aspects on Thursday (Feb. 24). The Sun sesqui-
quadrates Saturn in Cancer in the morning, a somewhat heavy
pattern that can increase pressure or create self-doubt. But that
is followed by a Sun–Pluto quintile, suggesting the possibil-
ity of creative solutions to intractable problems. The Sun–
Uranus conjunction at 10:33 p.m. is another pointer to a fresh
outlook, allowing us to shed excess pride in the interest of
personal freedom. Today’s Venus–Mars semi-square (27°55'
Aquarius – 12°55' Capricorn) could add some social tension
but also encourages risk-taking in relationships and the pur-
suit of pleasure.
Friday (Feb. 25) is largely event-free until the Moon en-
ters Libra at 7:59 p.m. However, we can expect the effects of
Thursday’s hyperactive Full Moon to remain strong. The lunar
shift to Libra encourages us to turn the page and move on — to
whatever’s next. This cardinal air sign is open to new perspec-
tives and opinions, even if they oppose one’s current stance.
Assimilating yesterday’s shocks (and discoveries) should be-
come easier with the Moon in this open-minded sign. Then,
on Saturday (Feb. 26), Venus enters Pisces at 7:07 a.m., bring-
ing the planet of love into her sign of exaltation where com-
passion, spirituality, and idealism can raise relationships to a
higher level. Yet, a lack of clarity about one’s self-worth might
lead to overestimating others.
The only notable aspect on Sunday (Feb. 27) is a trine be-
tween Mercury and Saturn (20°51' Pisces–Cancer). This is a
positive pattern for mature thinking that engenders construc-
tive conversations. With both planets harmoniously aligned in
water signs, even the most sensitive matters can be examined
and discussed rationally. Good judgments about people and
material values are also favored now.
95
Week of February 28 — March 6
Overview: The major events this week are a high-energy time of decision in the monthly lunar cycle. The Moon in “Let’s
square between Mars and Jupiter on March 3, the Last Quar- go for it” Sagittarius challenges the Sun in “Let it be” Pisces. Shall
ter square of the Sun and Moon on the same day, and Mercu- we push forward — or trust faith?
ry’s entry into Aries on March 4. Whenever Mars and Jupiter A Venus–Uranus conjunction (7°10' Pisces) at 12:44 a.m. on
hook up, we can expect increased activity. This tense square Friday (March 4) brings restless feelings, odd attractions, and a taste
between them contrasts Mars’s ambition and need to dominate for new people. A shakeup of a relationship is possible; variety is
(Capricorn) with Jupiter’s desire to share (Libra). Those capable needed to sustain a high level of interest. Exploring an alternative
of negotiating these cross-currents should be highly productive style is another way to express this inventive yet unstable aspect.
now. The Last Quarter square from the Moon in Sagittarius to But emotions may be called to order at 2:12 p.m. when the Moon
the Sun in Pisces is less stressful than most 90° aspects, since enters Capricorn. This earth sign is serious about goals and responsi-
both signs are ruled by Jupiter. The difference is that fiery Sag- bilities. Yes, we can still play, although rules and organization may
ittarius represents the adventurous side of the planet, and wa- be part of the game. The combination of Venus–Uranus instability
tery Pisces expresses its compassion. The fire element comes and Capricorn’s desire for order can make for some tense moments
into play with Mercury’s ingress into Aries, leaving behind the — we either repress freedom out of fear or avoid duty out of bore-
mental diffusion of Pisces and bolting forward with new ideas dom. At 5:34 p.m., the forces of the new and different pick up an
and frank speech. ally when Mercury enters Aries. Fresh perspectives allow us to for-
At 4:21 a.m. on Monday (Feb. 28), the Moon enters Scor- get about the past, encouraging original thinking and impulsive
pio. Two days of Libran politeness give way to Scorpionic pas- speech. Gentler words can be expected on Saturday (March 5), as
sion. We may encounter uncomfortable emotions now, as we Mercury forms a harmonious sextile with Chiron (00°53' Aries–
peel away the layers of relationships and look at what’s go- Aquarius) at 6:17 a.m., followed by a semi-square to Neptune later
ing on underneath. There’s nothing wrong with having strong in the morning. Words take on healing power, conversations soften,
feelings (even negative ones), if we’re willing to learn from and differences are dissolved. The Moon enters Aquarius at 3:49
them rather than hiding them in shame. A Venus–Jupiter ses- p.m. on Sunday (March 6), fostering a mood of cooperation by il-
quiquadrate (2°45' Pisces – 17°45' Libra) adds more social luminating our common interests.
sensitivity, so be gentle with judgments of self and others. Mi-
nor critical comments can expand in the ears of the listener,
even when no offense is intended. The appetite for pleasure
grows, perhaps with a desire to explore new tastes and expe-
riences. Overestimating the value of a person or thing is typi-
Geocentric Aspects,
cal of Venus–Jupiter hard aspects, but the energy-measuring Ingresses, and Stations
Moon in Scorpio will probably keep that in check. On Tues- Pacific Standard Greenwich Mean
day (March 1) at 11:37 a.m., Scorpio’s ruling planet, Pluto, is
squared by Mercury — an aspect that intensifies communica-
tion. Distrust and manipulation are possible; secrets may be
exposed — or buried even deeper. We may not like what we
see, but the point is to change our patterns of perception by
stripping away outmoded ideas.
Energy starts to rise on Wednesday (March 2) when the
Moon enters Sagittarius at 10:29 a.m. This outgoing fire sign
encourages optimism and forward thinking. The atmosphere is
more easygoing; humor tends to displace suspicion, and hope
overcomes fear. There can be a tendency to overlook details
with the Moon in Sag, as we seek to escape the boredom of or-
dinary reality. Some of this buoyancy, however, is toned down
by a Venus–Saturn sesquiquadrate. This 135° angle creates
friction between pleasure and duty. Relationships, too, may
suffer from a perceived lack of love or appreciation. The play-
ful nature of the Moon in Sagittarius can be curtailed by self-
doubt or distrust. Venus–Saturn is about earning rewards and
recognition, as well as building trust, through hard work, com-
mitment, and patience. Thursday (March 3) is a very busy day,
with a Mars–Jupiter square (17°32' Capricorn–Libra). When
these two planets get together, there’s a dramatic expansion
of energy, but this challenging square can make us feel that
there’s more to do than we can possibly get done in one day.
Or we may be so charged up that we have to find outlets for
release. Going too far is common now, whether it’s physical
(running back-to-back marathons), philosophical (imposing your
beliefs on others), or emotional (exploding with anger). Hard
aspects with Jupiter can power us to leap over obstacles but
also require some tempering to avoid extremes. At 9:37 a.m.,
the Moon forms a Last Quarter square to the Sun, indicating a
96
Week of March 7—13
Overview: Mars opposes Saturn on March 7, a challenging or is sloppy in any way, Mars–Saturn may respond quickly in
aspect that often puts obstacles in our way. However, when we a limiting or punishing way. Loose behavior will have conse-
focus our efforts, this can be a highly productive time. The key quences. Yet, if the daring vision of Sun–Jupiter is worth pur-
event of the week is the New Moon in Pisces on March 10. This suing, Mars and Saturn can provide the commitment to begin
is often a magical moment, a time when spirit rules and imagina- turning that vision into reality. What’s required is transitioning
tion flows. While these elements are still present, Pluto’s square from a big idea to a well-defined plan of action. On Tuesday
to this Sun–Moon conjunction adds a dark tone of danger or dis- (March 8), the Moon enters Pisces at 4:32 p.m. This lunar po-
trust. Piscean dreams may be tested by doubts; the pressure of sition sometimes engenders feelings of fatigue, as defenses are
necessity can squeeze out fantasy, but the hope that remains can down. Coming after the pressure of Mars–Saturn on Monday
be turned into reality. A trine from Saturn to the New Moon adds and just before the New Moon on Thursday, this is a good time
another dose of practicality. The Mars–Uranus semi-square earlier to get some rest. Avoid adding events to your schedule, except
that day puts a charge in the air that sparks feelings of restlessness. those that help to restore your energy.
This electric combination fires the spirit, encouraging risk-taking Wednesday (March 9) is light on aspects, with only a pair
on an otherwise sensitive Moon-in-Pisces day. A slow-moving of bi-septiles (102°50') from Mercury to Saturn and Pluto that
aspect peaks on March 13, as Jupiter trines Neptune. This creative can evoke some dark thoughts. Mercury is also at the Saturn/
aspect between Pisces’s two ruling planets offers vision and hope, Pluto midpoint, which reinforces the impression that thought
both individually and collectively. The effects are subtle, however, and communication are likely to be heavy. Research and se-
and can appear weeks before or after this date. rious conversations, though, may dig up hidden information.
There are two very different events on Monday (March 7): Thursday (March 10) is a very busy day astrologically, includ-
The Sun quincunxes Jupiter (17°09' Pisces–Libra) and Mars oping a Mars–Uranus semi-square, the New Moon in Pisces at
poses Saturn (20°35' Capricorn–Cancer). The first aspect is open, 1:12 a.m., the Sun trine Saturn, and the Moon shifting into
expansive, and sometimes careless, but the second is tight and Aries at 6:03 p.m. This could be a wild ride, with Piscean dreams
disciplined. The combination can be problematic or brilliant, of peace shattered by the clatter of Mars–Uranus and pulled
but it’s not likely to be easy. If Sun–Jupiter promises too much down to Earth (or below) by Pluto’s square to the New Moon.
Intense feelings are the common element, but these can soar
with hope and dive with fear, only to rise again. An emotional
roller coaster is not a ride that most of us enjoy, so practice
a bit of detachment to smooth things out. Saturn in Cancer’s
Geocentric Aspects, trine to the New Moon in Pisces can symbolize the self-trust
Ingresses, and Stations and maturity needed to stay the course. No matter where the
Pacific Standard Greenwich Mean waters flow, when we have faith in ourselves, we can chan-
nel them creatively. The Moon’s entry into Aries can either fan
the flames of panic, turn inspiration into action, or help us to
forget the recent past.
Tender feelings and misjudgments can make Friday (March
11) a day to be careful in relationships. That’s because a Venus–
Chiron semi-square (16°17' Pisces – 1°17' Aquarius) in the
morning may stir memories of old hurts. The lesson, though,
is not to reminisce about the pain but to grow more aware of
its origins and break its hold on us. A Venus–Jupiter quincunx
represents the difference between what we expect and what we
get. Clarity is hard to come by in matters of the heart and the
wallet. The next planetary event isn’t until Saturday (March
12) at 10:05 p.m. when the Moon enters Taurus. After running
around all day with the Moon in Aries, we may find the rela-
tive tranquility of the sign of the Bull a welcome relief. Taurus
loves pleasure, so feed your senses — but do it slowly. Delight
should be savored, and there’s no need to hurry.
Sunday (March 13) marks the peak of the slow-moving trine
between Jupiter and Neptune (exact at 16°27' Libra–Aquarius).
Their current cycle began with a conjunction back in January
1997. Today’s trine is the second in a series of three. The first
was in late November 2004; the third one will be in mid Au-
gust. Although the effects of this trine may not be obvious, this
is a good time to reach inside yourself (Jupiter is retrograde)
to find inspiration. The images that emerge now reveal a pic-
ture of where you are on the quest that began more than seven
years ago. Even if the memories of those days are blurry, you
can draw upon what you’re seeing now as a guide to a more
spiritually rewarding and fulfilling future.
97
Overview: This last week of winter looks to be very busy. urday (March 19), the Sun sextiles Mars in Capricorn. This har-
Spring (or autumn in the Southern Hemisphere) begins with the monious aspect aligns our will with action and provides plenty
Sun’s entry into Aries on March 20. The turning of the seasons of physical energy. Creative impulses find healthy outlets, and
also marks the beginning of a new astrological year. Slough- aggression is balanced with awareness. This is a productive
ing off the fog of Pisces, we’re ready to march forward into the time for work or play. Mercury turns retrograde (at 14°06' Ar-
clear skies of Aries. A close opposition between Aries’s rul- ies) in the afternoon, beginning a period of backward motion
ing planet, Mars, and the Moon at the moment of the equinox that will continue until April 11. Generally, the concerns during
stirs martial feelings that can lead to war or, hopefully, new a Mercury retrograde period are about misunderstandings and
initiatives in our personal lives. Purging is a theme on March missed details, sloppy thinking and careless communication.
14 with a Sun–Pluto square. Power struggles may be part of Yet, this is also a time for us to re-examine recent ideas and re-
the process of overthrowing old tyrants, including one’s ego. establish connections that have been broken or neglected. At
A First Quarter square of the Moon in Gemini and the Sun 4:34 a.m. on Sunday (March 20), the Sun enters Aries. Happy
in Pisces on March 17 is normally a gentle event. However, Astrological New Year! This marks a day when we’re apt to take
Mars’s close quincunx to the Moon could make the situation steps in new directions, paying less attention to the needs of
edgy. Then, Mercury in Aries turns retrograde on March 19. others or social consequences and following our own instincts.
Impulsive speech and thought could produce undesirable sur- With Mercury retro in Aries at this time, false moves are more
prises, so slowing things down is recommended. Shortly after likely; be prepared to retrace your steps if you encounter ob-
the equinox on March 20, Mars enters Aquarius, where its pio- stacles that won’t yield to force or reason. Putting yourself first
neering spirit finds an innovative environment. is appropriate now; this is not an act of selfishness, but one of
Monday (March 14) is characterized by two rather different self-interest that can eventually serve others as well. At 5:17
aspects. A Sun–Pluto square (24°28' Pisces–Sagittarius) pres- a.m., the Moon enters Leo, adding its fire to that of Aries, thus
sures us to make some changes that our pride tends to resist. encouraging brave hearts into bold action. But with Mars, the
Attempts to dominate others will not be as beneficial as looking ruler of Aries, entering Aquarius at 10:02 a.m., intelligent ac-
inside ourselves and recognizing what needs to go, if we are to tion (rather than blind impulse) will probably prevail.
fulfill our deepest desires. As usual, the most repressive tyranny
comes from within. A Venus–Saturn trine (20°26' Pisces–Cancer)
in the afternoon offers some hope that trust and reason may
prevail in spite of Pluto’s dark powers. Good judgment helps
to temper fears now, as do supportive relationships. If you’re
ARIES EQUINOX
Geocentric Aspects,
feeling off your game, don’t be shy about asking someone for Ingresses,
Marchand Stations
20, 2005
a hand; it’s easier to make hard choices when we don’t feel Washington, D.C.
Pacific Standard Greenwich Mean
isolated and alone. At 5:44 a.m. on Tuesday (March 15), the
Moon enters Gemini. This transition from Taurus brings much-
needed flexibility. The negative side of the Moon in Gemini,
though, is an unwillingness to tackle tough issues or face dif-
ficult emotions.
There are no major aspects on Wednesday (March 16),
but Thursday (March 17) is a very busy day. At 11:19 a.m.,
the First Quarter square of the Moon and Sun puts Gemini’s
intellect in the path of Pisces’s emotions. Articulating feelings
is both a gift and a challenge now. Does turning inspiration
into words kill it, or give it new life? Will faith flounder when
it encounters ambivalence? There are no simple answers now.
The trick is to keep several balls (ideals and ideas) in the air at
the same time. The best decision may be not to choose a single
path but to remain open to several avenues to advance your
goals. At 4:44 p.m., the Moon returns to its home sign of Can-
cer. Gemini’s ideas may descend into the body and emotions,
testing concepts internally to see if they feel right. Although
the Moon is comfortable in Cancer, we can also grow too self-
protective there, especially when we overidentify with our old
wounds. But this is a cardinal sign, so its purpose is not retreat
but forward movement with a plan. Emotional issues could be
stirred by the Venus–Pluto square (24°29' Pisces–Sagittarius)
that peaks at 10:12 p.m. We may encounter financial setbacks
or fears of loss in relationships, maybe even jealousy. However, Placidus houses, True Node
the lesson is not to linger in negativity but to recognize which
partnerships and values are important now. The stakes of the
game are higher, and we may choose to ante up or drop out. Promises are like the Full Moon: If they are
Friday (March 18) is another aspect-free day, but it’s just not kept at once, they diminish day by day.
a short lull before the next wave of planetary activity. On Sat-
— German proverb
98
Overview: Two planets changing direction, a Full Moon, and and compassion can be their rewards. The sympathetic tone
Venus’s entry into Aries are the major events of this week. Saturn continues on Tuesday (March 22), with a Sun–Chiron sextile
stations direct on March 21 after turning retrograde last November. (1°56' Aries–Aquarius). The heart is tender, but we can access
This planet’s principles of organization and structure should become knowledge about healing that helps us to address our wounds.
more readily available with its forward motion. On March 26, Pluto Venus’s entry into Aries at 8:25 a.m. sings another tune, though,
turns retrograde. This is an extremely subtle astrological effect, since one about immediate gratification and even selfishness. We may
the Lord of the Underworld’s actions tend to be a bit shadowy most lack patience when it comes to love and approval — making
of the time. However, this inward turn could be associated with a snap judgments and requiring instant recognition from others.
more personal connection to power, as well as facing the shadow Venus is not at home in Aries, so relationships may be shaken
inside rather than projecting it out onto the world. Venus goes into by impulsive actions and a lack of commitment. At 5:10 p.m.,
Aries on March 22, breathing new life into relationships. To keep the the Moon enters Virgo, which can help us to let go of the Moon-
flame of love alive, or to meet someone new, try freshening up your in-Leo drama. Virgo is more interested in making things work
appearance or your attitude. The Moon in Libra opposes the Sun in — albeit in sometimes very narrow terms — than in demanding
Aries on March 25. This Full Moon is supported by Venus conjunct attention. A willingness to examine our emotions with clinical
the Sun and by Mars and Chiron trine the Moon. So, instead of the detachment can help to unravel knots of unconscious response,
usual clash between self-interest (Aries) and concern for others (Li- even clearing the way for the new delights of Venus in Aries.
bra), planetary bridges are making it easier now for independence Mars conjoins Chiron on Wednesday morning (March 23),
and cooperation to co-exist. an aspect that helps us to confront chronic issues. Instead of
Saturn turns direct at 20°24' Cancer on Monday (March 21), simply complaining or ignoring them, we’re motivated to take
which tends to bring reality into the foreground. However, a semi- action, even if we’re unsure of the outcome. We may inadver-
square between the Sun and Neptune at 9:37 p.m. favors fantasy. tently put our fingers on a sore spot, and even if this seems cruel,
With this aspect, we may feel concerned — and vulnerable — about the point is simply to identify the root cause. A Venus–Neptune
our importance, even making promises that we can’t keep. Yet, if so- semi-square (1°45' Aries – 16°45' Aquarius) later in the day
lar will and Neptunian surrender work together, imagination, faith, underscores the sensitivity that’s in the air now. Uncertainty
about self-worth can magnify minor criticism, even comments
that are constructive. We can use this vulnerability positively
if we don’t shrink from our doubts and fears but adopt a thera-
peutic approach to relationships. There are no major aspects
Geocentric Aspects, on Thursday (March 24), so expect these feelings to reverber-
Ingresses, and Stations ate for at least another day.
Pacific Standard Greenwich Mean Gentle cooperation is the main theme of Friday (March
25), as Venus and Mars form an easygoing sextile. The two
“lover” planets combine in a graceful dance that supports co-
operation without restriction. The signs they occupy — Aries
and Aquarius — both appreciate freedom, yet the healthy as-
pect between these planets makes working and playing with
others a delight. At 3:00 a.m., the Moon enters Libra, giving
further support for harmony and compromise. Awareness of
the needs of others is a positive effect of this lunar placement,
although denial of one’s own needs can lead to confusion. The
Full Moon at 12:59 p.m. highlights the contrast between com-
promise (Libra) and independent action (Aries). But with both
signs’ ruling planets (Venus and Mars) harmoniously aspecting
the lunation, the divide between them is reduced. Instead, we
may be able to move from me to us with ease, adding dyna-
mism to relationships through a deeper understanding of these
seemingly contradictory perspectives.
Pluto turns retrograde at 24°31' Sagittarius on Saturday
(March 26), which may push issues of power and control into
the shadows. If we hide these issues, though, whatever accom-
modations we make now may turn out to be unsatisfactory in
the future. Pluto retro isn’t about denying our shadows, but
rather getting a chance to re-examine them and, ideally, in-
tegrate them into our relationships in a constructive manner.
On Sunday (March 27), the Moon enters Scorpio at 10:29
a.m. This is traditionally a difficult placement for the Moon,
as we descend into areas of shame or desire that are not easily
shared with others. The purpose of the Moon here, though,
is to go beyond Libra’s interest in looking good to encounter
motivations that aren’t necessarily “nice” but are nevertheless
quite real.
99
March 28—31
Overview: The conjunction of Mercury and Venus on March Venus conjoins the Sun at 10°31' Aries at 7:30 p.m. on
29 is one of the week’s highlights. The union of these two fast- Wednesday (March 30). This connection between the planet of
moving personal planets can open our eyes to new visions of love and the planet of the heart can stir romantic feelings and
love, partnership, and pleasure. Since Mercury is retrograde, new forms of pleasure. But the meaning of this aspect is self-
this is likely to adjust old thinking about these issues so they acceptance. The ability to appreciate oneself is a gift of inesti-
can be seen differently now. Mercury also conjuncts the Sun mable value. Thinking highly of yourself might be considered
on the 29th, and Venus conjuncts the Sun on March 30. The egotistical by some, yet it’s helpful to highlight your strengths.
close connections between these three bodies in the pioneering Real confidence, in fact, doesn’t engender selfishness; it encour-
sign of Aries stimulate original ideas and open channels for self- ages generosity. Just after midnight on Thursday (March 31),
expression that can enliven relationships. A sextile between Mercury and Mars form a friendly sextile (7°39' Aries–Aquarius).
Mercury and Mars on March 31 combines intellect and initia- This aspect sharpens the mind, helping us to recognize the es-
tive. With Mercury in Mars’s home sign of Aries, information sential points and ignore the tangential ones. Words flow eas-
should be transformed into action quickly. ily now, which could produce quips that seem funny to you
There are no significant aspects on Monday (March 28), so but might come across as unkind to others. So, the first thought
we can expect the influence of the Moon in Scorpio to domi- that springs to mind might be brilliant, yet it doesn’t necessar-
nate the day. Distrust and a focus on the negative are potential ily need to be voiced aloud.
downsides of this lunar position, but this also gives us the op-
portunity to examine underlying fears and motivations that are © 2005 Jeff Jawer – all rights reserved
usually obscured. Mercury conjuncts the Sun and Venus on
Tuesday (March 29). This alignment of intellect, will, and love
offers brilliant clarity, especially when it comes to relationships. Jeff Jawer has been a professional astrologer since 1973
At 3:56 p.m., the Moon enters Sagittarius, shifting the mood from and holds a B.A. in “The History and Science of Astrology”
Scorpio’s dark depths to this fire sign’s brilliant heights. Future from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Jeff is a co-
possibilities can burn away past mistakes, allowing bygones to founder of StarIQ.com, AFAN, and UAC. His articles have
been published in five books and in leading astrology journals
be bygones. Sagittarius also promotes forthright communication
worldwide. Jeff is a frequent lecturer at astrology conferences
and tends to bring secrets out into the open. Speaking freely is
and maintains an international counseling practice. He can
helpful, as long as the secrets revealed are your own — and your be reached by e-mail at jjawer@stariq.com
honesty is tempered with discretion.
Graphic Ephemeris of Declination – Feb & Mar 2005

Out of Bounds
23°27' —
Diagram generated by Janus 3.0

100
Aquarius New Moon – February 8
by Stephanie Austin
The charts for the lunations in this issue are all set on — where we still hide, hedge, and kowtow. We are all dif-
the natural wheel with 0° Aries rising. All references to ferent, but we are all a necessary part of the whole. Healing
Sabian symbols are from Dane Rudhyar, An Astrological happens when we come out of the closet and connect with
Mandala: The Cycle of Transformations and Its 360 Sym- other black sheep, other progressive thinkers and doers.
bolic Phases, Vintage Books, 1973. With Venus, Neptune, Mercury, and Juno also in
Almost everyone is familiar with power places — loca- Aquarius, the call to break rank and find new affinities is
tions where we access other levels of consciousness more amplified. Jupiter in Libra trines the New Moon, Mercury,
easily. In astrology, there are power times — periods when and Neptune, making it even easier for us to form new part-
we can shift our perceptions and embark in new directions nerships and coalitions. Saturn in Cancer squares Jupiter
with less effort and less trepidation. New Moons are power and quincunxes the New Moon, compelling us to question
times. Wishing does make it so. The longings of our heart old stereotypes and to respect feelings as well as ideologies.
reveal the blueprint of our soul. Use the power time of the Where this New Moon falls in your chart is where you must
New Moon to tune into, clarify, and affirm your deepest challenge the status quo and march to the beat of your own
desires. Check out New Moon Astrology by Jan Spiller for heart.
guidelines about how to make the most of each New Moon. The Sabian symbol for this New Moon points out the
What is your wish list for the New Moon in Aquarius? consequences of allowing ourselves to be detoured from our
Aquarius is the sign of the future, of going beyond the norm, destiny. For 21° Aquarius: “A disappointed and disillusioned
of freedom from convention and constraint. It is written into woman courageously faces a seemingly empty life.” Where
the U.S. Constitution: the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit did we go wrong? When did we stop listening to our feelings
of happiness. This was (and still is, for many) a rather radi- and yearnings? What price have we paid? This New Moon
cal idea — the right to wish, the right to follow our heart’s invites us to remember what really matters and to go for it.
desires. This was the original American Dream. Not necessar- “I’d rather be a failure at something I enjoy than be a
ily a dream of material abundance (or being a superpower) success at something I hate.” (George Burns)
but the freedom to follow our dreams and our destiny.
Aquarius is the sign of the rebel and the revolution-
ary, the weird and the wacky, the activist and the avant-
garde, the inventor and the iconoclast. Everyone has the
sign of Aquarius somewhere in the chart. The more affinity
you have with Aquarius and its ruling planet, Uranus, the
more of a visionary and nonconformist you need to be.
It’s not an easy task. Aquarians pay a price for being
ahead of their time — ridicule and worse, persecu-
tion or isolation. The mythological figure of Pro-
metheus illustrates the challenge of Aquarius. Out
of love and pity for the human race, Prometheus
defied Zeus and gave the gift of fire to all mortals;
fire symbolizes the ability to kindle our own cre-
ativity. Prometheus is severely punished for this
selfless act but is released when Chiron offers to
take his place.
Chiron, the archetype of the Wounded Healer,
is about to enter Aquarius for the first time in 50
years and will remain there until 2011. His six-year
transit through the eleventh sign signals a time of heal-
ing for the black sheep, mavericks, and oddballs of the
world. We can make the journey from outcast to cata-
lyst, from being against the old order to being for the new.
The Water Bearer dispenses universal ideas and the bap-
tism of collective consciousness — the realization of con-
nection, community, and collaboration. Chiron transiting
through Aquarius draws off the bandages from our wounds February 8, 2005 — 2:29 p.m. PST
of alienation and shows us where we have not individuated February 8, 2005 — 10:29 p.m. GMT
101
Virgo Full Moon – February 23—24
by Stephanie Austin
Full Moons always illuminate what was initiated at the With Uranus opposite the Moon in Virgo, we’re more
last New Moon. With Uranus, the ruling planet of Aquarius, keenly aware of the real nature of spirit and matter — that
closely conjunct the Sun in Pisces, we continue to feel the they are one and the same. Virgo analyzes the parts; Pisces
pressure to break free from archaic thinking and program- perceives the whole. Just as we are aware of being a con-
ming. Uranus is the wild card, the God of Chaos, the energy stituent of our family, country, and solar system, so our cells,
of electricity and lightning. Things may appear suddenly tissues, and organs are conscious participants in the vari-
with Uranus around, but when we take a closer look, we see ous systems of our body. The high voltage of this Full Moon
that the storm clouds have been brewing for a while. requires us to pay special attention to our diet and find ways
Ouranos was the Hellenic god of Heaven itself, of infi- to ground the rarefied signals that Uranus is transmitting this
nite potentials. Traveling through Pisces, Uranus cleaves week. Our bodies are being rewired so they can hold higher
through old concepts like an arctic icebreaker, transporting vibrations and access larger dimensions of reality. During
us into a more fluid awareness and experience of life. Ura- periods of accelerated growth, extra nutrients are necessary
nus orbits far beyond Saturn, past the bounds of physical for building new structures. This makes eating whole foods
reality, showing us what is beneath and beyond the reach rather than processed products more important than ever. If
of our ordinary senses. Uranus in Pisces opens our third we tune into our bodies and feel the effects of what we are
eye, increasing our ability to perceive energy and other ingesting, we can discern what’s healthy and what’s harmful.
dimensions of consciousness. As Uranus makes his passage Virgo figures things out; Pisces just knows. That knowing
through Pisces (from March 2003 to March 2011), the lines — often discounted in our linear, logically oriented culture —
between the realms of God and Humanity are blurred. Sci- comes in most clearly when we are in a quiet, receptive state.
ence fiction turns out to be fact, and the unseen becomes Mercury is 7° away from Uranus, turning the volume up on
visible, as new technologies and new pathways of percep- imagination and intuition. Uranus, the higher octave of Mer-
tion become available. cury, brings gestalts, downloads, flashes of insight that often
revolutionize our way of thinking. Huge breakthroughs in
consciousness can occur around this Full Moon, if we ask for
them and make time for them to come through. Use whatever
helps you to tune into your intuition — music, meditation,
journaling, a walk on the beach or in the woods.
Juno, the Roman goddess of marriage, very closely
conjuncts the Sun and Uranus, suggesting that our con-
cepts of partnership are ready for a change. In early
mythology, Juno was a powerful deity in her own
right; according to later versions, she was tricked
into marrying Jupiter (Zeus). Their marital battles
denote the struggles of the earlier matriarchal cul-
tures against patriarchal domination. In Pisces,
Juno entreats us to restore the balance between
masculine and feminine.
The Sabian symbol for the Sun at 6° Pisces
suggests that this will be a time for demonstrating
our convictions and our power: “A parade of army
officers in full dress; the dedication of human beings
to the service of their community …” The image for
the Moon at 6° Virgo reminds us to stay centered with
whatever is happening and enjoy the ride: “A merry-
go-round … the awareness of the cyclicity and the
ups and downs of the emotional life.” All in all, this Full
Moon illuminates the importance of integrating the vari-
ous levels of our being — analysis and intuition, masculine
and feminine, physical and spiritual. Listen to the wisdom
around and within you, and remember: “Your body is the
February 23, 2005 — 8:54 p.m. PST harp of your soul, and it is yours to bring forth sweet music
February 24, 2005 — 4:54 a.m. GMT from it or confused sounds.”(Kahlil Gibran)
102
Pisces New Moon – March 10
by Stephanie Austin
This is the end of the zodiacal year, the close of another as part of a grand galactic experiment? Are we born sinners,
round. By the time we come to Pisces, the final stage in an or are we Divinity playing hide and seek with itself? Is the
archetypal cycle of twelve, we’ve walked a mile in every- primary purpose of life to discover what to do — or what to
one’s moccasins. Hey, we’ve been moccasins. We’ve been be? Sagittarius’s domain is the territory of social, cultural,
and are everything. Identities and boundaries get very fuzzy and religious conditioning; Pisces’s terrain is that of spiritu-
at this stage, and they’re supposed to. A New Moon in Pisces ality and the direct perception of truth. What were we told
reminds us that we are on an infinite journey, ever leaving, to believe? And what do we know in our hearts? This square
ever returning. Where have we been? And who are we? nudges us to look deeper.
We are a raindrop. We are the ocean. We are the par- Venus, Juno, and Uranus are also in Pisces, urging
ticles and waves that blink in and out of existence. This is us to spend more time in “the Zone,” in the flow — in art,
the enigma of Pisces. Paradox. Mysticism. Madness. The nature, dreams, meditation, and contemplation. The Sun
longing for Home and the realization that we never left. and Moon trine Saturn in Cancer, making it easier to notice
The glyph for Pisces, two yoked fishes swimming in oppo- synchronicities and recognize new patterns and pathways.
site directions, symbolizes the imperative to integrate two Saturn’s square to Jupiter in Libra, its opposition to Mars
dimensions — the finite and the infinite. Neptune, which in Capricorn, and its square to the nodes advise us to resist
rules Pisces, was the mythic God of the Sea; he is associated conforming to what others believe or want us to believe.
with the swells of emotion and the vast mysteries of the col- The Sabian symbol for 20° Pisces is reassuring: “A table
lective unconscious. set for an evening meal; an indication that in the end and at
In the modern Western world, this is largely misunder- the appointed time the individual’s needs will be met among
stood territory. We’re trained to trust logic and reason, not those to whom he is linked by a spiritual (or biological) web
dreams or feelings. We’re rewarded for achieving material of energies.” Give yourself some retreat time around this
gain rather than developing our imagination or our compas- New Moon, and remember: “Every day is a gift from God.
sion. It’s no coincidence that those who struggle with addic- What we do with it is our gift to God.” (Mother Teresa)
tions are often idealistic, artistic souls who have a strong
connection to the twelfth sign, the 12th house, or its natural
ruler, Neptune. Eventually, we realize that spiritual longings
cannot be sated by food, drugs, sex, or the right deodorant.
So, what will satisfy our deepest desires? This New
Moon calls us to remember our soul’s yearnings. Why did
we incarnate? What have we come to give? The Invis-
ible Garment by Connie Kaplan affirms that each of us
signed a prenatal contract, which can be delineated
by the degrees of our natal planets and their accom-
panying spiritual principles. Kaplan writes that the
spiritual principle for the 19th degree of any sign
is Service: “Service is a state of consciousness, a
state of being, not an action or state of doing. How
much love can one being express? How much light
can one being carry? How much truth can one
being speak?” Since this New Moon is very close
to the 20th degree, we might reflect on that princi-
ple also: “Gratitude — the deep understanding that
life is a gift, not a burden or assignment.” This con-
tradicts much of our social and religious upbringing,
which maintains that we have experienced a fall from
Grace and must toil to be redeemed and released from the
physical world. Even if we were not personally raised with this
belief, it permeates our collective unconscious.
At 24° Sagittarius, Pluto, the Lord of the Underworld
and of unconscious realms, squares this New Moon, chal-
lenging us to investigate our most fundamental beliefs. Were March 10, 2005 — 1:12 a.m. PST
we cast out of the Garden, or did we choose to come here March 10, 2005 — 9:12 a.m. GMT
103
Libra Full Moon – March 25
by Stephanie Austin
This Full Moon peaks just a few days after the spring Three planets change direction within a week of this
equinox. We’re ready for new growth, new life. The Sun Full Moon, forcing us to keep checking our spiritual compass
in Aries calls for assertion, action, and adventure. Mercury, and tracking our instincts. Mercury begins his first retrograde
Venus, and the North Node are also in Aries, adding to the phase of 2005 on March 19. This extends his time in Aries
Ram’s impulse to charge ahead. The first sign of the zodiac from the usual month to 68 days, giving us extra time to
learns by taking risks and exploring new territory. The first delve into new ideas and information. When the Messenger
card in the Tarot reiterates Aries’s theme of innocence and is retrograde, he urges us to double-check our facts and fig-
courage: The Fool steps into the unknown, unencumbered ures and make sure that where we are heading is where we
by the past and striding boldly toward the future. really want to go.
With the Moon, Jupiter, and the South Node in Libra, Saturn stations direct on March 21, marking the end of
we must consider how our actions affect others. What’s the economic slowdown and restructuring phase initiated
fair? What would bring more beauty and balance to all con- by his station retrograde on November 7, 2004. Objectives
cerned? Where the Sun at 6° Aries falls in your natal chart have changed. Boundaries have been redrawn, duties re-
indicates where you are ready to start something new. assigned. We’re leaner and wiser about the costs and conse-
Where the Moon at 6° Libra activates your chart shows quences of our choices. Now is the time to move ahead with
where you need to incorporate opposing views and desires. creating new forms and agreements.
Mars, the ruler of Aries, has recently moved into pro- Pluto takes his yearly turn retrograde on March 26, put-
gressive Aquarius and says: Be a warrior for social change. ting pressure on us to look in the basement, under the rug,
Join forces with like-minded souls. Healing happens as Mars and in front of our noses for what’s outdated, what’s ham-
conjuncts Chiron, providing opportunities to bridge differ- pering us, and what’s rotting. For most of us, there is at
ences and discover common ground. Chiron in Aquarius least one elephant in the room, and this is the time to begin
advises: Share your vision. Be the catalyst you came here to dealing with it. Pluto will be retrograde until September 2,
be. Don’t hide or hold back. You are ready, and the world is exposing the personal assumptions and cultural beliefs
ready for you. that are holding us back in our evolution. The Lord of
Death and Rebirth gives us essentially two choices: We can
make changes either willingly or unwillingly, consciously or
unconsciously — but change we will.
The Sabian symbols illustrate the need for focused
intent. For 6° Aries: “A square, with one of its sides
brightly illumined … a one-sided urge for inner stabil-
ity.” And for 6° Libra: “A man watches his ideals tak-
ing a concrete form before his inner vision; the need
to visualize clearly one’s dreams or ideals in order to
make them truly effectual.” This Full Moon reminds
us that anything is possible if we know what we
want. Use the power of this time to rekindle your
deepest passions. “In the martial arts there are con-
sidered to be three levels of mastery. The first is
the mastery of the physical. The second is the mas-
tery of the energy that moves the physical. And the
third is the mastery of the intention that moves the
energy that moves the physical body.”(Stuart Heller)
© 2005 Stephanie Austin – all rights reserved
Stephanie Austin, M.A., is a full-time astrological counselor spe-

cializing in life purpose, career, and transitions readings. Stephanie
also teaches astrology for personal and professional development, pri-
vately and at John F. Kennedy University. Her background includes
a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, a master’s in Consciousness Stud-
ies, and deep interests in meditation, nature, and healing. For infor-
March 25, 2005 — 12:59 p.m. PST mation on readings, forecasts, and tutorials, visit her Web site at
March 25, 2005 — 8:59 p.m. GMT www.EcoAstrology.com
104
Map reprinted with permission of Astro Numeric Service
Map reprinted with permission of Astro Numeric Service
105
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February/March 2005
FEATURES:
The Stonewall Chart:

An Astrological View
of Gay Spirit
by Joe Perez . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Software Review:
Astracadabra and
Digital Time Capsule 2D
by Hank Friedman . . . . . . . . . . . 11
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2 Mercury Direct
� ��
The Stonewall Chart
An Astrological View of Gay Spirit
by Joe Perez
Editor’s Note: This article contains excerpts from The evolutionary school of astrology as-
the author’s forthcoming book, a compilation of serts that souls reincarnate; it looks at the
writings called Soulfully Gay: Some Thoughts birth chart as an indicator of the soul’s karma
on Spirituality. and dharma.1 In other words, astrology is a
tool for looking at the leftover spiritual les-
A ccording to a Harris Poll conducted in

2003, 31 percent of the public believes
in astrology. If so many people believe that
astrology can predict personality, it’s worth
sons from past lives and the soul’s ongoing
work in this lifetime. Evolutionary astrology
doesn’t claim that people choose to be gay
but, rather, that our souls have chosen ho-
mosexuality (along with our other personality
asking whether homosexuality is a fate writ- traits and characteristics). Why would a soul
ten in the stars. choose to be gay? Quite simply because our
Webster’s dictionary says that astrology is souls have spiritual lessons to learn that can’t
“the divination of the supposed influences of be learned any other way.
the stars and planets on human affairs and ter- Dan Keusal is a professional evolution-
restrial events by their positions and aspects.” ary astrologer and counselor in private prac-
Today, many astrologers claim only that the tice in Seattle, Washington. Before I became an
movements of celestial bodies describe or astrologer, I went to Dan for an astrology read-
symbolize the events of human life and do not ing, and I confessed to being a skeptic. I told
say that they “influence” us or cause things to him that most of what I knew about astrology
happen to us. came from occasionally reading newspaper
Few astrologers believe that sex or sexual horoscopes for amusement.
orientation can be predicted on the basis of a “I agree with you. That kind of astrol-
birth chart alone. However, a generation ago, ogy is pretty silly,” Dan said. “You pick up the
some claimed that homosexuality was evi- newspaper today, and all 30 million Libras in
dence of a poor response to a hard aspect to the world are supposedly going to have the
Venus, a prominent positioning of Uranus, or same experience.”
some other “malefic influence.” Dan explained the principles of evolution-
Many astrologers believe that there is no ary astrology; then he said he would tell me
one “gay signature” in a birth chart but that a story that could help me to understand my
there are a variety of astrological factors that birth chart. But first, he wanted to be respect-
can indicate a predisposition toward homo- ful of my spiritual beliefs, so he asked if I was
sexuality. There has never been a comprehen- comfortable imagining that my soul may have
sive study of homosexuality in birth charts, so had past lives. I said I didn’t know what to think
there’s no hard evidence regarding exactly about reincarnation, but I was open to that
what this signature might be. Even though sex- possibility. Then he offered me this story:
ual orientation may not be predictable from the
birth chart, some schools of astrology main- I want you to imagine that it’s Septem-
tain that the chart can help us to understand ber 3, 1969. It’s about six in the evening,
the universal spiritual lessons we are here to about two hours before you’ll be born. You’re
learn through our homosexuality. up on the cosmic diving board with God.
Feb/Mar 2005 3
The Stonewall Chart
Moses Lake, Washington, is rolling beneath In the history of spirituality, there are two
you, about to become part of your biography. main currents for defining the goal of life. The
God turns to you and says, “Joe, I want ascending current sees life as directed toward
you to know that I love you ... And I’ve got an otherworldly reality and exalted state of
some pretty clear ideas, as you’re getting consciousness. The descending current views
ready to go down and incarnate as Joe Perez
life as directed toward this Earth, this body,
— ideas about the next steps your soul needs
to take in its growth ... That is to say, what and the details of ordinary existence. Spirit
kind of people, experiences, dilemmas, and describes our ascending impulse, whereas
events will keep you more engaged, more soul describes our impulse to descend.
alive. And which choices you could make Today, it is commonly believed that spirit
that will take you off track. What’s more, you and soul are strictly individual and personal
have the freedom to choose which of these realities. Other philosophies suggest that
possibilities come to pass.” spirit and soul are also found in things, places,
Then God says, “There’s something else. and communities; those are the philosophies
Once you’re born, you’ll forget everything that will guide this inquiry into the spirit and
I’m about to tell you. That’s not so bad ... soul of contemporary gay life.
This wisdom will show up in this life as your
The night sky offers a poetic view of our
intuition. For instance, if you were a nun in
a past life, maybe you learned about service, spirit and soul. Astrology is the applied poet-
prayer, and denial, but this time you’re going ics of the night sky, a way of interpreting the
down with a healthy libido that you can’t sky’s symbolism that transcends the theories
quite deny anymore.“ and prejudices of any one person or even the
dominant cultural myths. Astrology is rooted
With that, the chart reading began. in nature itself and grounded in ancient tra-
Later, I walked out of the astrologer’s ditions from many cultures, such as Baby-
office. Dan’s style of astrology is evolutionary, lon, India, Egypt, Greece, Rome, China, and
not traditional, so he ventured no predictions Mesoamerica.
about my sexual orientation. As a gay man and a writer with a strong
I didn’t “believe” in astrology going into interest in queer spirituality, I have wondered
that reading, and in a sense, I still don’t. The what astrology has to say about the spirit and
astrology reading required no blind leap of soul of the gay community. How does astrol-
faith, because it simply worked. It accurately ogy shed light on our collective ethos, group
described the central questions that I’ve been personality, or communal character?
wrestling with on my spiritual journey. Most of To answer this question, you need to start
all, it inspired me to face life’s challenges with with a birth chart. Finding a chart for the gay
renewed vitality and hope. community was not difficult. One event is
I agree with something that gay astrolo- widely heralded as the defining moment of
ger Ed Steinbrecher once said: “I don’t believe the modern gay liberation movement in the
in astrology. I use astrology and find it works. United States. That event is the uprising at
The same way I don’t believe in electricity, but the Stonewall Inn tavern in New York City on
if there’s juice in the wires and I flip a switch, June 28, 1969. At that time, bars were virtu-
something happens.” ally the only public gathering places for gays
and lesbians, and it was common for police to
The Stonewall Chart raid the bars and haul their patrons off to jail.
Not only were the clientele subject to bogus
“In our spirituality, we reach for conscious-
ness, awareness, and the highest values; in charges of indecency, but their names were
our soulfulness, we endure the most plea- often published in newspapers as a result. On
surable and the most exhausting of human that particular night, patrons at the Stonewall
experiences and emotions. These two direc- Inn fought back; according to one legend, a
tions make up the fundamental pulse of drag queen started swinging at a policeman
human life ...” who had prodded him with a nightstick. To
— Thomas Moore, Care of the Soul this day, Gay Pride parades are held each
year in cities throughout the world at the end
4 Mercury Direct
The Stonewall Uprising
Placidus houses
True Node
of June, to mark this historic event. In June

2004, the queer community celebrated the
35th anniversary of Stonewall.
When casting a chart for an event, there
is always room for argument over details such
as the critical time of birth. Fortunately, in
the case of the Stonewall uprising, there is
a clear record of an approximate time: The
New York Times of June 29, 1969, reported
that the “rampage” began “shortly after 3
a.m.” Dermod Moore selected 3:10 a.m. for
the Stonewall chart in his essay, “Reflections
on Ganymede,” published in the April 1999
issue of Apollon: The Journal of Psychologi-
cal Astrology. In light of the New York Times
reporting, Moore’s precedent, and my own
astrological analysis, I have set 3:10 a.m.
as the moment of inception of the Stonewall
uprising (see Chart, right). onyms for mercurial, including these: active,
bubbleheaded, buoyant, capricious, change-
The Mask and the Social Role able, effervescent, erratic, expansive, fickle,
In spiritual astrology, the sort of astrology flaky, flighty, flip, fluctuating, gay, impulsive,
that I practice, planets are correlated to func- inconstant, irrepressible, light-hearted, lively,
tions of the psyche or collective character, resilient, spirited, sprightly, ticklish, unpre-
and the twelve signs of the zodiac are linked dictable, unstable, volatile. Picture the man-
to archetypal strategies for spiritual devel- nerisms of the character Jack on TV’s Will &
opment. The Ascendant and the Midheaven, Grace: He is what you would call mercurial.
respectively, describe the mask and the social It seems that the association between
role of the gay community. In the Stonewall “gay” and “mercurial” is so close, the two
chart, Gemini is rising in the sky; Mercury, words are actually synonyms! Mercury is not
ruler of Gemini, is in the 1st house. Aquarius only given prominence by virtue of its location
is on the Midheaven; Uranus, ruler of Aquar- in the 1st house, but also because that planet
ius, is in Libra in the 5th house. Venus, ruler of is the ruler of the Ascendant. It is, therefore,
Libra, is in Taurus in the 12th house. the chart ruler, a focalizing planet whose
The Stonewall chart suggests that the energy permeates everything else in the
mask (or surface personality) of the gay chart. It is interesting to note in this connec-
community is described by the sign of the tion that, according to The Astrology Ency-
Twins, an instance of the archetypal Double. clopedia: “Traditionally, most planets and
The Twins depict paired sameness. In Gay signs were designated as either masculine or
Soul, Jungian psychologist Mitch Walker tells feminine. Mercury was the only planet in pre-
us that the archetype of the Same includes modern astrology that was said to be neutral
homoerotic dimensions: “an image of reflect- or androgynous. In contemporary astrology,
ing selfness, but a paradox of similarities and Uranus has also come to be regarded as an
differences together in an erotically yearning, androgynous planet.”3
intense way that’s hard for us to talk about, Astrology indicates that the social role
especially if we’re raised in male/female ways (Midheaven) of the gay community is de-
of thinking.”2 scribed by the sign of Aquarius, symbol of
The 1st house, like the Ascendant, de- the outsider, rebel, or exile. Aquarius is also
scribes personality and style. With Mercury, said to be the traditional ruler of homosexu-
Gemini’s ruler, in this place in the Stonewall ality.4 The status of homosexuals as outsiders
chart, the queer image becomes dramatically can be a source of alienation, but it can also
“mercurial.” Roget’s Thesaurus lists 22 syn- be a boon to both gays and society at large.
Feb/Mar 2005 5
The Stonewall Chart
Gays can aid society’s self-understanding by ated with the water signs Cancer, Scorpio, and
witnessing to an alternative way of being and Pisces. I call the Moon, Pluto, and Neptune the
challenging erroneous assumptions about “water planets” (or “soul planets”) and note
gender roles and sexuality. that they represent the soul in all its emotion-
The Stonewall chart tells us not only that ality, depth, and sacredness; they show our
gays of the Stonewall era will not fit into con- capacity to endure both the pleasures and the
ventional society, but also exactly how we will agonies of life.
individuate. The position of Uranus, ruler of Now, let’s look at the planets describing
Aquarius, in the 5th house suggests that we gay spirit and gay soul. By examining the
will be different by virtue of how we seek joy signs that rule the fate and opportunities of
and pleasure — including the territories of the gay movement, we can understand its
love, romance, and the raising of children. path to growth and development; by examin-
Furthermore, by marching to the beat ing the houses, we can see which spheres of
of our own drummer, gays will be motivated life dominate our outlook; and by studying the
by Libran aims (Uranus is in Libra): seeking planetary rulers, we can probe the applying
beauty and harmony by initiating relationships subtexts and motivations for the actions and
between equal partners. In an even wider per- identity of the gay movement.
spective, our social role will be to bring into
conventional society certain aspects of sensu- Gay Spirit
ality and self-directed pleasuring (Venus, ruler Mars represents the energy, desire, power,
of Libra, is in Taurus) that have hitherto been enthusiasm, and libido of the gay community.
largely repressed and unconscious in our cul- At the time the Stonewall riots began, Mars
ture (Venus is in the12th house, the location of was retrograde in Sagittarius in the 7th house;
the collective unconscious). Jupiter, ruler of Sagittarius, was in Virgo in the
The two planets with the most promi- 5th house.
nence in the Stonewall chart, Mercury and The power and libido of the gay commu-
Uranus, are also the only two planets char- nity come into being with a significant chal-
acterized as androgynous. This androgyny lenge. Mars retrograde suggests that the gay
should be understood to infuse all other plan- community is learning to reclaim power that it
ets and may color our interpretation of them. has renounced or that has been wrested away
James Broughton, the artist, filmmaker, and through oppression. Gay power and libido are
writer, says in Gay Soul: “Androgyny is … the most fully expressed in the 7th house, the
mystery of the total self … The most androg- sphere of life associated with enduring, long-
ynous men, whatever their sexual prefer- term relationships between equal partners such
ence, embody the sturdiest gay spirit. What as spouses. In our will to form relationships, we
could give all men liberation and depth would are expressing desires springing from the 5th
be realization that their souls include all the house (joy, playfulness, romance, and love).
reaches of human possibility.”5 Mars is linked mythologically to the God
In mythology, there is a close relationship of War. Where Mars appears in a birth chart, a
between “spirit” and “fire.” I see the spirit of battle must be fought before spirit can be fully
the gay community as described primarily by initiated. Mars indicates the location of the
the planets that rule the fire signs Aries, Leo, battle and the optimal weapons of warfare.
and Sagittarius. For this reason, I call Mars, When the patrons of the Stonewall Inn fought
the Sun, and Jupiter the “fire planets” (or back against the police, they started a battle
“spirit planets”) and note that they represent that encompasses nothing less than the right
the spirit in its passion, enthusiasm, and desire of all gay people to initiate our own relation-
for scaling the heights of all values and possi- ships and marriages.
bilities. The optimal weapons in this fight are
Among the four elements of astrology, Sagittarian: that is, we must seek to expand
water has the closest connection to the soul. the consciousness of society in the area of
Therefore, I see the soul of the gay community marriage and relationships. Our communi-
as described primarily by the planets associ- ty’s most critical battle is to transform ideas
6 Mercury Direct
of relationship in the territory of philosophy, all. Gays come into the world with a sexual
religion, and belief systems. orientation that does not lend itself to the con-
The Sun describes the spirit of the gay ventional means of sexual reproduction. Gays
community in the fullness of its vitality. At the are learning to trust the mysteries of life not by
birth of the gay community, the Sun was in begetting children, but by being more childlike
Cancer in the 2nd house; the Moon, ruler of ourselves. Indeed, the 5th house is connected
Cancer, was in Sagittarius in the 7th house. not only with children but, literally, with “gai-
Astrologically speaking, the vitality of the gay ety” — finding joy in creative self-expression,
community is fully expressed only when we love affairs, and frivolous romance.
realize healthy self-esteem (pride). The Sun is With Jupiter in Virgo, the first step down
in the house of money. From a spiritual per- the road to self-acceptance could very well be a
spective, the central task of the 2nd house is humbling one. We may judge ourselves harshly
the formation of a sense of self-worth — in for not living up to conventional standards.
other words, Gay Pride. To recognize our full- From a spiritual point of view, we are learn-
est value, we must fulfill desires springing ing to trust that our own romantic and creative
from the 7th house — that is, we must suc- yearnings are perfect exactly as they are.
cessfully establish nurturing, stable, and lov-
ing intimate, long-term relationships (Moon in Gay Soul
the 7th house). The Moon describes the attachments and
The Stonewall chart suggests that the spirit emotional needs of the gay community. In the
of the gay community comes into being with Stonewall chart, the Moon is in Sagittarius in
serious questions about our own worth. This the 7th house; Jupiter, ruler of Sagittarius, is
challenge is connected to our relationships in Virgo in the 5th house. The emotional needs
with authority (Sun sextile Saturn) and the pri- and yearnings of the gay community are
mal wound of alienation from community (Sun directed primarily toward long-term, enduring
square Chiron in the 11th house). This hard relationships and partnerships. The 7th house
aspect to Chiron indicates that heterosexism of marriage is the critical territory, therefore,
and homophobia pose a challenge to the gay for sparking both gay spirit and gay soul.
community’s sense of pride.6 Our response to Emotional comfort and satisfaction for
that challenge is depicted by Cancer, sign of gays depend upon demanding our right to
the hard-shelled crab. Cancer seeks to shed have relationships with whomever we choose
its hardened emotional defenses (the crab’s (Mars) and entering into nurturing, safe, and
shell) by attaining inner emotional security, stable partnerships. The critical resource for
so it can feel comfortable giving and receiving achieving this aim is represented by Jupiter,
love. The crab’s shell is like the closet in which ruler of Sagittarius: trust and belief in the truth
we have been hiding, a protective psychologi- of our own intuitive knowledge regarding love
cal defense mechanism that restricts the for- and romance.
mation of healthy self-esteem. By shedding Pluto describes the deepest and dark-
the shell, or coming out of the closet, gays are est dimensions of the gay community’s soul.
learning how to reveal our heart and soul in an As the Stonewall uprising began, Pluto was in
unwelcoming and sometimes hostile world. Virgo in the 5th house; Mercury, ruler of Virgo,
Jupiter describes the gay community’s was in the 1st house. The Stonewall chart
capacity for expanding consciousness by suggests that the soul of the gay community
trusting in the meaningfulness of life. At the is profoundly linked to attachments, wounds,
inception of the gay liberation movement, and shadows in the 5th house. As previously
Jupiter was in Virgo in the 5th house. The noted, one way to interpret this is that the
Stonewall chart says that the gay commu- gay community’s deepest wound (Pluto) is
nity’s capacity for trust is most fully needed in the area of sexual fecundity.7 According to
(and tested) in the 5th house, the house of the Astrology Encyclopedia mentioned ear-
children. As we learn to have faith in the ulti- lier, certain astrological markers tradition-
mate meaningfulness of everything that hap- ally associated with barrenness can indicate
pens, we grow closer to Spirit, the Source of sterility when they are placed on the cusp of
Feb/Mar 2005 7
The Stonewall Chart
the 5th house. Virgo is one of the three signs of the most profound and moving memorials
(along with Gemini and Leo), and it is on the erected in the 20th century.
5th-house cusp in the Stonewall chart. In the symbolism of the Stonewall chart,
Gay soul is deeply attached to an abun- suffering and gay spirituality are profoundly
dant procreative impulse, but not necessar- connected. Both Venus and Saturn make their
ily of the heterosexual kind (the begetting of homes in the 12th house, traditionally known
children). Gay soul is driven to direct our pro- as the house of sorrow from self-undoing. This
creative energy into acts of full creative self- house is linked to disease, poverty, and every
expression: art, acting, music, writing, enter- sort of misfortune. With Aries on the 12th-
taining, playful merrymaking, or passionate house cusp, there is a connection between
love affairs. Virgo on the 5th-house cusp can reclaiming gay spirit (Mars) and creating the
be taken as not only a sign of barrenness, but opportunity for the growth of our capacity for
also a description of the spiritual aim of our compassion through diseases such as AIDS.
creative endeavors: the perfection of joy. Neptune is a symbol of the divine or
Mercury in the 1st house suggests that full the holy. Experiences of a Scorpionic nature
self-expression for gays requires great cour- may be especially suitable for teaching the
age, to realize the union of our desires and our gay community about the sacred dimen-
actions. It is also worth noting that, with Leo sions of life; this includes learning about the
on the cusp of the 4th house — the territory divine through sacred sexuality and other Tan-
of heritage and deep family roots — honoring tric mysteries. Yet, there is a great potential
gay history and ancestors can be a vital part shadow: If we make poor and irresponsible
of our creative self-expression. The original choices, then sex and drug addictions — dis-
definition of “gay” was “merriness and high- torted attempts to embrace the divine myster-
spiritedness”; however, the Stonewall chart ies — are a definite possibility.
indicates that gaiety is not a birthright for ho- With Venus in the 12th house, we see a link
mosexuals, but our task and our mission. between Venus, mysticism, and our impulse to
With Pluto in the 5th house, we face the love. According to the Stonewall chart, gay
risk of becoming stuck in an immature form love, self-pleasuring, and same-sex attraction
of the pleasure principle: the promiscuity and (Venus in Taurus) have been repressed in the
debauchery of the eternal adolescent. And collective unconscious. When gays express
there’s also the dark possibility of severe psy- sexuality within the context of a loving relation-
chological repression and attempts to restrict ship as part of a social order of service to oth-
our pleasures, thus we become so bogged ers (Neptune in Scorpio in the 6th house), the
down in harsh self-judgment that we deny our connection between sex and mystical or spiri-
own gay erotic impulses. tual experience is significantly heightened.
Neptune describes the capacity of gays
to dissolve the ego by surrendering to the The Sabian Symbol
profound mysteries that surround us. As we The Sabian symbols are psychically
learn to transcend the ego, consciousness en- derived esoteric symbols that are tradition-
ters the realm of spirit. When the gay move- ally associated with the meanings of specific
ment began, Neptune was in Scorpio in the degrees of the zodiac.8 In the Stonewall chart,
6th house. the Sun at 7° Cancer is represented by this
The capacity of gays for transcending Sabian symbol:
the ego can be fully realized by fulfilling our “In a moonlit fairy glade two little elves
duty and performing concrete, selfless acts are dancing. Man’s recognition of the elusive
of service for others. In the history of the play of underlying forces in nature. Coopera-
gay movement, the most striking example of tion with the invisible. Unusual good luck.” 9
this selflessness may be the compassionate It seems noteworthy that the Sabian sym-
response of millions of gays to the massive bol linked to the core identity and spirit of the
death and suffering resulting from the AIDS gay movement is an instance of the arche-
epidemic. Gays were a powerful force behind typal Double: a pair of dancing elves. Thus,
the creation of the AIDS Memorial Quilt, one this archetype appears in the Stonewall chart
8 Mercury Direct
in three very prominent locations: the sign • Holding on to memories of the departed and
on the Ascendant (Gemini), the sign of the honoring the histories that give us our roots
chart’s planetary ruler (Mercury in Gem- • Bringing forth Venusian energies from the
ini), and the Sabian symbol for the Sun. The collective unconscious, especially same-sex
image of the two dancing elves is linked with love and sensuality
“unusual good luck,” says Dane Rudhyar, but • Connecting our sexual expressions with lov-
this luck is recognizable only when human ing relationships and intimacy
beings are moving in harmony with the under- • Facing and reclaiming our shadows around
lying, invisible forces of nature or evolution. sexuality, death, and the taboo surrounding
homosexuality.
Goals of Gay Spirituality
The Stonewall chart reveals numerous Spirituality and soulful expression are
themes that, taken together, announce the two sides of the coin of life, so it’s possible
particular character of the gay community’s to achieve happiness and personal growth
spiritual work: regardless of whether life tosses us heads or
• Fighting for the right to form intimate rela- tails. In fact, there are so many possible ways
tionships and marriages of growing that it’s helpful to have a single,
• Reclaiming our libido and expressing our overarching goal in mind — a vision of our
romantic drives in committed and enduring destiny — to guide and inspire us not only as
partnerships individuals, but also as a united lesbian, gay,
• Expanding the ideas, religions, and philoso- and queer community.
phies of our societies in the area of relation-
ships The Destiny of the Gay Movement
• Healing shame, homophobia, and hetero- For many astrologers, the South Node of
sexism in our lives and our societies the Moon represents the soul’s evolutionary
• Building a healthy sense of self-esteem and
past (karma), and the North Node, the soul’s
pride future direction. In this view, the North Node
forms a specific picture of our highest and
• Overcoming a victimizing sense of alien-
final spiritual destiny. In the Stonewall chart,
ation and separateness from society
the North Node (defining the overarching goal
• Coming out of the closet by shedding of the gay community) is in Pisces — the sign
unnecessary emotional defenses of the Mystic — in the house of friendship.
• Believing in the meaningfulness of life Pisces is connected with the archetypes
despite a lack of fecundity in our same-sex of the mystic and the poet. The ultimate aim
expressions for the gay movement is to form a community
• Learning to relax and enjoy our gaiety, play- of friends based on spiritual self-awareness,
fulness, and childlike energy which supports and affirms individuality and
• Fully accepting that our own erotic desires diversity. Moreover, we are seeking our own
are perfect exactly as they are personal freedom, and by doing so, we find
• Initiating nurturing, stable, and life-affirming that we share a common spiritual destiny with
intimate relationships each other. The 11th house is linked to friend-
• Trusting our innate intuitive knowledge ship, social activism, and forming communi-
regarding love and romance ties of like-minded individuals.
Through the processes of building rela-
• Channeling our procreative energies into
tionships and a sense of kinship, we are also
art, playfulness, and passionate love affairs
coming to understand the nature of divinity (Pis-
• Examining shadows of unhealthy self-denial ces). Specifically, we are learning to see the
or sensual debauchery
sacred reflected in our friendships and in the
• Performing altruistic, compassionate acts of entire lesbian and gay community. The Stone-
service to others in need wall chart suggests nothing less than this:
• Embracing suffering and pain as a part of The queer colors of the divine itself are being
life and memorializing our grief
Feb/Mar 2005 9
The Stonewall Chart
revealed to us through the rainbow-hued diver- by our individual nature. Evolutionary astrologers
sity of our loves, sexuality, and connectedness. generally hold that the birth chart reveals karma and
dharma; however, some astrologers regard these as
poetic or metaphorical truths rather than literal meta-
Conclusion physical realities.
In this essay about gay spirit and gay
2. Mitch Walker, “Coming Out Inside,” from Gay
soul, I have presented many ideas about who Soul: Finding the Heart of Gay Spirit and Nature with
gay people are and why we’re here. Certainly, Sixteen Writers, Healers, Teachers, and Visionaries, by
some aspects of this interpretation are subjec- Mark Thompson, HarperCollins, 1995.
tive, for they reflect the methodologies I have 3. James R. Lewis, The Astrology Encyclopedia, Vis-
been taught and reveal only the messages that ible Ink Press, 1994, p. 20.
I am able to see at this time, given my current 4. The likeliest explanation of the link between
state of consciousness and knowledge of as- Aquarius and homosexuality is that the original Greek
trology. However, I believe that any competent symbol for the sign was a handsome youth holding
astrologer trained in the methods of spiritual a water jar to heaven. In Greek myth, that youth is
astrology would likely come to an interpreta- Ganymede, a handsome mortal boy who was seized
by Zeus and taken up to Mount Olympus to become
tion that shared the same essential themes.
his servant and lover.
In closing, I want to stress that these are
5. James Broughton, “Gaiety of Soul,” in Gay Soul, by
not merely my own pet theories, nor just a
Mark Thompson, p. 258.
collection of the best insights from queer spir-
itual gurus or religious leaders. This is not an 6. Homophobia is the fear or hatred of homosexuality or
homosexuals. Heterosexism is the belief in the superior-
“invented mythology.” Rather, this is a poem ity of heterosexuality over homosexuality or the pre-
or vision of gayness discovered in nature sumption that all persons are heterosexual by nature.
itself, readily apparent for all to witness and
7. I have spoken of wounds in connection with both
interpret. The existence of such a vision lends Chiron and Pluto, so I would like to distinguish between
support to a vision of astrology as a window them here. Pluto is linked to the mythology of Hades,
onto the soul of a developing world — and the Greek God of the Underworld; it represents the power
gay movement itself as an unfolding stage in of the unconscious or shadow to produce inner trans-
the evolution of Spirit or World Soul toward formation toward the maximum expansion of con-
sciousness. In contrast, Chiron is linked to the myth
greater degrees of liberation. of the Wounded Healer and describes a self-inflicted
The basis of this reading is not only a New wound whose healing integrates the mind-body split.
Age fad or fashionable intellectual currents. In the Stonewall chart, Pluto describes the gay soul’s
This vision of the gay movement is based on wound around sexual fecundity; Chiron describes inter-
spiritual astrology, a tradition derived from a nalized homophobia.
multitude of both Eastern and Western cultures 8. Not all astrologers use Sabian symbols, because
over thousands of years. My vision of gay spirit their meaning is highly symbolic and often difficult to
and gay soul in the era of Stonewall is a read- interpret. However, those who do, such as Dane Rudh-
yar, explain that the symbol for a degree is an arche-
ing of the poetry of gayness itself, as it was
typal “quality” that describes the collective energy or
written in the night sky some 35 years ago. significance of the energies associated with a particular
moment. Rudhyar explains that each degree represents
References and Notes a modality or type of individual selfhood on the planet
Earth, a characteristic that can only be perceived and
1. In Indian philosophies, karma is the force generated
studied in terms of a symbolical representation.
by a person’s actions and is believed to transmigrate
from one lifetime to another. Dharma is a duty that 9. Dane Rudhyar, The Astrology of Personality, Aurora
is fulfilled by obeying the ethical standards dictated Press, 1991, p. 283.
© 2005 Joe Perez – all rights reserved
Joe Perez is a Seattle-based writer whose biweekly column, “Soulfully Gay,” is syndicated among lesbian, gay,
bisexual, and transgender newspapers and on the Internet at www.joe-perez.com. He has studied comparative
religion and philosophy at Harvard University and the Divinity School at the University of Chicago. He was
raised Roman Catholic, but today his approach to spirituality is catholic in the truest sense of the word: open to
truth, goodness, and beauty wherever they are found. Joe can be reached by e-mail at jperez@gmail.com
10 Mercury Direct
Advances in
Astrology Software
by Hank Friedman
Astracadabra 2004
push of a button, instantly see any chart (of
by Neville Lang the moment, for a client or family member,
published and distributed etc.) and view pages of additional informa-
worldwide by tion about the chart. Astracadabra can even
Esoteric Technologies Pty Ltd display a continually updating chart of the
P.O. Box 501107, Malabar, FL moment (i.e., astro-clock) for your present
32950-1107 U.S.A. location — or even better, a bi-wheel with
(321) 728-2277 the current transits around your birth chart.
www.esotech.com.au If you turn off your Pocket PC with this set-
Price: $100 ting on, as soon as you turn it back on, it will
show the bi-wheel again. Astracadabra is
Astracadabra 2004 is a pioneering new unique because it provides a wealth of mod-
astrology program for Pocket PCs. To run it, ern Western, Vedic, and Classical Western
you will need a Pocket PC (not a Palm PDA) charts and tables. (Note: The 2004 version
that has the Microsoft Pocket PC 2002 and shows only round chart wheels.)
a Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 (or later) Astracadabra features the accuracy of
operating system. It requires a minimum of the Swiss Ephemeris (the highest precision
64 Mb RAM memory and a CPU using Intel’s available) and comes complete with the
StrongARM or XScale processors (or the full ACS PC Atlas data (the latest version
equivalent). To really enjoy Astracadabra, I with more than 250,000 cities and towns),
recommend that your Pocket PC run at 300 which provides automatic entry of coordi-
MHz — preferably faster. nates, time zones, and time changes. It will
The “2004” in the name of the program also synchronize with Solar Fire (if you own
points to the author’s intent to continue devel- that program), automatically copying chart
oping newer versions with more features over files from your base computer to the Pocket
the next several years. Even this version, PC and vice versa, so that both will have the
which I will call Astracadabra for the rest of most up-to-date chart files. (Of course, you
this review, offers a more diverse range of fea- don’t have to own Solar Fire to run Astraca-
tures than other astrology programs that I’ve dabra.) The Astracadabra software offers a
seen for Pocket PCs. choice of 31 house systems, both the tropi-
Pocket PCs, by the way, are pocket-sized cal zodiac and the sidereal zodiac (with 9
computers that use a Windows-based operat- ayanamshas), and the Draconic and SVP
ing system and allow you to run many pro- “zodiacs.” Besides calculating the regu-
grams simultaneously. In general, they differ lar astrological points, it can also calcu-
from Palm-based pocket computers by being late and display the four major asteroids
faster and having larger, sharper screens; they (Ceres, Pallas Athene, Vesta, and Juno), the
can also run software with more capabilities. comet Chiron, the Uranian points, the Black
I cannot emphasize enough how valu- Moon Lilith, the Part of Fortune (day/night
able Pocket PCs are for astrologers. You can or fixed), the Vertex and Antivertex, and the
keep one with you all the time and, at the Equatorial Ascendant and Descendant.
Feb/Mar 2005 11
Astrology Software
Astracadabra shows chart culation options selected, the

wheels in color or in black & Julian date, the chart angles
white, with or without aspect (including Vertex), all of the
lines. (See Figure 1, Chart house cusps, and the longitude,
Wheel with Aspect Lines, right). latitude, right ascension, decli-
You can select which aspects to nation, and daily motion for all
display and define two sets of of the planets. The screen also
orbs for each aspect (Natal/ indicates whether planets are
Transit orbs and Progressed combust, moving slowly, or sta-
orbs). You can also turn as- tionary — which is exception-
pects to the angles on or off. ally useful. If you are looking
One really nice feature, given at a bi-wheel (e.g., progressed
the small screen of Pocket PCs, to natal) when you select the
is that you can view a single Chart Details screen, all of
aspect (e.g., only quintiles) or these details are shown for both
any set of aspects, making it outer and inner charts.
Figure 1
much easier to notice specific You can also view an as-
types of aspects. pects grid, complete with as-
Program options include the Parallax- pect glyphs, degrees and minutes of apply-
corrected Moon, Geocentric Latitude, True ing or separating orbs, and, for bi-wheels,
or Mean Node, as well as five types of Pro- such as progressed-to-natal or synastry, an
gressed Angle methods (e.g., Solar Arc, Nai- aspect grid of the interaspects between the
bod Arc, and Mean Quotidian), and either outer and inner charts. Finally, Astracadabra
Standard (Q2) or Bija (Q1) progressed days. offers a very nice Sorted Aspect table, listing
You can customize the Essential Dignities ta- the aspects from tightest to widest orb.
ble by selecting Ptolemaic, Lilly or Dorothean Astracadabra’s main Classical Astrology
Triplicities, and Ptolemaic or Egyptian Terms. feature is its Essential Dignities table. Here
You have a choice of glyphs for Uranus, Pluto, you can see, for each planet, the Ruler, Ex-
and Capricorn. Finally, you can specify a de- altation, Triplicity, Term, Face, and Detriment
fault location for calculating new charts. lords and its dignity score, with peregrine
Astracadabra’s Western astrological fea- planets noted.
tures include the ability to calculate solar re- The Vedic functions of Astracadabra in-
turn charts and bi-wheels with the transits, clude a Chart Details screen that shows both
secondary or tertiary or minor progressions, the Nakshatra and Pada for each of the plan-
solar arc directions, or (for chart compari- ets (besides all the information mentioned
sons) a second person’s chart above for Western charts). An-
around the birth chart, showing other screen displays a com-
the interaspect lines between plete Dasha table to three lev-
the two charts. (See Figure 2, els (dasha, bhukti, and antara),
Astracadabra’s Bi-wheel.) The and a third screen shows a ta-
“Base Date” feature allows ble of the positions of all the
you to quickly select a differ- planets (plus Ascendant and
ent location for any of the pro- Midheaven) for ten divisional
gressed or return charts, as well charts (D-3 to D-12), with a
as a different date and time. (To triangle pointing out debilitated
see progressed charts as single planets for each varga.
wheels, you have to re-enter Astracadabra is a power-
their data as a new chart.) house Pocket PC program that
Among the excellent data offers superb precision and the
tables in Astracadabra is the widest range of features avail-
Chart Details screen; for West- able for pocket computers. It is
ern charts, this shows the cal- especially useful for Western
Figure 2
12 Mercury Direct
astrologers and allows you to explore both of the program’s animation features. You can
Classical and Vedic astrology, too. I look for- watch transiting, progressed, or directed plan-
ward with great anticipation to the program’s ets move around a birth chart or a composite
continuing evolution. chart in beautiful color, controlling the speed
of movement, step size (an hour, a day, etc.),
time and place, and the direction (forward or
Digital Time Capsule 2D, backward in time) by pressing specific keys
or clicking on the onscreen buttons.
Professional Version The software’s use of “hotkeys” (specific
by Doug Kellogg, Loren Carpenter, keystrokes such as Alt-I or Control-P) allows
and Dusty Park you to quickly and easily control almost every
http://www.astrology3d.com aspect of the program. As you become more
Price: $150 (includes two years proficient in employing these shortcuts, you
of free upgrades) will be able to effectively view charts in many
different ways, change aspect orbs and transit
And now for something completely differ- speeds on the fly, and switch effortlessly from
ent! After reviewing astrology programs that one person’s chart to another’s. It will be almost
focus primarily on an array of techniques and like conducting an astrological orchestra.
a variety of printouts, it is refreshing to explore For example, you can display only one
an astrology program of another ilk — a virtual transiting planet, or show transiting midpoints,
ride through the cosmos. or even watch the transiting or progressed
Digital Time Capsule (DTC) runs on Win- Ascendant and Midheaven move around a
dows 98, 2000, or XP; the computer should natal chart. You can also view aspects or mid-
have a 1.5 GHz processor (or higher) and a points between one person’s natal chart and
fast video card (e.g., at least an Nvidia Geo- another’s progressed chart just as easily.
Force 2 or Radeon 9000). Note: The video You can learn how to use DTC by reading
card performance is crucial. DTC also offers the manual; looking at the pop-up Tool Tips
a less graphical mode for slower video cards. that appear when you place your cursor over
It requires an active Internet connection, both a button, bar, chart, or table; and by pressing
to access the online time-change atlas when the F1 key, which gives you a list of the hot-
entering charts and to see any of the interpre- keys and their effects.
tive text (available by subscription only). DTC The main screen of DTC shows colored
can import and export charts from the univer- bars on the left side, a chart wheel in the cen-
sal Quick*Charts format, so astrologers won’t ter, a table of planetary positions (for both
have to enter all of their charts again. natal and transiting planets) on the lower right,
DTC is the evolution of the program and hexagonal control areas on the right and
written by Doug Kellogg in the 1970s called elsewhere. (See Figure 3, DTC’s Main Screen,
AstroStar I & II and sold by Astrolabe. The next page.)
animated version was first programmed in The colored bars indicate the strength of a
1994 on SGI Indigo computers running Unix variety of themes for a natal or predictive chart:
because PCs did not then have the graphics confidence & vitality (yellow), action & forced
power to do the animation and calculations action (red), harmony, fluency & communica-
at the same time. The graphics of DTC were tion (light blue), and spirituality (indigo); plus
programmed by Loren Carpenter, senior sci- two pairs of bars (one superimposed upon the
entist at Pixar and a two-time Oscar winner other, indicating hard and easy) for love & rela-
who is credited with creating the world’s first tionships (red and pink) and career & money
fractal landscapes for Lucasfilm movies like (green). Clicking on any of the bars causes the
Star Wars. types of aspect lines measured for that bar to
Digital Time Capsule 2D is, first and fore- toggle on and off. For example, as I click on
most, a visual program. It is geared to being the red (action) bar, it turns all of the hard
watched and navigated, almost like a flight aspects on and off (squares, semi-squares,
simulator. The authors have pioneered many sesquiquadrates, and oppositions).
Feb/Mar 2005 13
Astrology Software
DTC is astrologically quite sophisticated

in terms of the many options the user can
select: 11 house systems (including Azimuth),
harmonic charts (first to 127th), nine coordi-
nate systems (including Heliocentric, Altitude,
and R.A.), five types of directions (including
1/2 Solar Arcs, Vertical Arcs, and Ascendant
Arcs), and five types of progressions (includ-
ing converse). You can animate transiting mid-
points, see transits to natal midpoints, view
interaspect lines to and from single planets,
and calculate Davison charts as well as mul-
tiple composite charts. You can also hide any
of the screen elements (e.g., natal or transiting
planets, bars, a person’s name) and edit the
Figure 3: DTC’s Main Screen colors of the planets, aspect lines, etc.
At any point while you are watching an
animation, you can save the onscreen image
as a graphic file to view later or to send to
As planets move through the birth chart someone via e-mail. In DTC, you can open
(with the transiting planets displayed adja- any number of birth charts at once (such as
cent to the natal planets, slightly closer to those previously saved to a file) and toggle
the center of the wheel), you can watch the between them using the t key. DTC can also
interaspect lines appear and disappear; this be set to run as an astro-clock, showing the
causes the corresponding colored bars to continually updating real-time movements of
rise and fall, thus enabling you to assess the planets around a birth chart.
which themes are strong or weak at any given One very powerful feature of DTC is its
moment. The strongest theme is also empha- ability to save and reload projects. Projects
sized by an animated display — background are essentially sets of charts (such as natal,
images of atoms or concentric rings having event, transit-to-natal bi-wheels) that you
the same color as the highest bar (these can create during a session; you build the sets
be turned off). by retrieving charts from files and entering
During the animation, you can watch the new charts. You can then save all of the open
phase of the transiting (or progressed) Moon charts as a project anytime during a session.
actually change, and you can also see inter- When you reload a project, every chart that
aspects grow stronger, because DTC increases was open when you last saved the project will
the brightness of each aspect line as it ap- reopen automatically.
proaches exactness — and optionally shifts Perhaps an example of a project is in or-
from a dashed line to a solid line when the as- der here. You could create a project for yourself
pect is exact. If you would rather have all of the and your partner, with both of your natal charts,
aspect lines appear equally bright, you can just your composite chart, and three bi-wheels:
press a key to turn off this feature. transits around your chart, transits around your
Besides being able to animate transit-, partner’s chart, and transits around the com-
progressed-, or directed-to-natal bi-wheels, posite chart. By saving this set of charts as a
DTC can also display any predictive wheel project, any time you want to assess planetary
by itself (e.g., a secondary progressed chart); influences on your relationship, you can simply
you can then animate the wheel and watch reload this project. What a great feature!
it change over time. You can relocate charts, DTC also allows you to save and reload
use precession-corrected transits, create anti- styles. Styles are screen settings that you cre-
scia charts, or switch to the sidereal zodiac ate by selecting the desired colors, objects
(using the default Lahiri or a user-customized displayed, etc. You can have different styles
ayanamsha). for various types of work and reload them
14 Mercury Direct
when needed. For example, sometimes you
might want a white background and custom-
ized colors for the planets; at other times, you
might wish to use a dark background and turn
off most of the screen elements.
Another wonderful feature is the ability to
set “bookmarks.” You can save any chart or
set of charts, together with a specific person’s
chart, to retrieve in the future. For example,
you can bookmark charts of important dates
in your life; whenever you open your chart
again, all of these additional charts will be
instantly available, too.
One of my favorite features, Macros,
allows you to move the planets forward to
any of 29 specific events, such as the next Figure 4: The Transit Graph
(or most recent) solar or lunar return, solar or
lunar ingresses, solar or lunar demi-returns,
a variety of Sun–Moon natal and progressed
angles, lunations, and more. You can also ward in time, or change its rate of movement
move charts to any specific date and time. or the span of time displayed onscreen (from
(Astrologers who are comfortable with reverse one month to 500 years) by pressing keys as
Polish notation and programming can inspect you watch the screen. You can also change
the macros that come with DTC, design their the harmonic from 1 to 127, turn some of the
own, and contact the authors via e-mail for planets on or off, change aspect orbs, move
assistance.) to a different date, and more. (See Figure 4,
Another feature is the visually stunning The Transit Graph, above.)
animated Transit Graph. Like most other Digital Time Capsule 2D, Professional
graphic ephemerides, you can see the transit- Version, is very entertaining and also an
ing (or progressed or directed) planets cross- amazingly powerful astrological tool. It will
ing the natal planets, whose positions are take some time to learn to use it optimally, but
depicted as horizontal lines at their place in the effort will be completely worthwhile. DTC
the zodiac. What makes this version unique is enables you to interact with the animated dis-
its truly beautiful use of color and its wonder- plays with incredible ease and agility — and to
ful interactive design. As you watch the plan- navigate time while seeing how the changing
ets move in the Transit Graph, you can pause planetary energies affect you. This program is
the animation, have it move backward or for- a sumptuous feast for your eyes and mind!
© 2005 Hank Friedman – all rights reserved
Hank Friedman is renowned in the San Francisco Bay Area for his astrological and transformative coun-
seling work with individuals and couples. His in-depth astrology readings synthesize Western and Vedic
approaches. He helps astrology software companies to debug their programs and add new features. Hank
is the author of Astrology on Your Personal Computer and reviews astrology software, both online and in
periodicals. He has helped to supply thousands of astrologers with the best software for their needs; he
represents all major astrology software companies and receives the same commission from each. Contact
Hank via e-mail: stars@soulhealing.com; call toll-free: (888) 777-7366; Web site: www.soulhealing.com
Feb/Mar 2005 15
Mercury Direct is included in all copies of
The Mountain Astrologer magazine.
For information on how to subscribe to TMA,
please call (800) 287-4828,
e-mail: Subs@mountainastrologer.com
or use our secure Web order form at:

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© 2004 Tim Brown – all rights reserved

HUMAN DESIGN ��������������

Living Design Workshops

505-955-1772 Santa Fe, New Mexico

Feb./Mar. 2005 * The Mountain Astrologer 5

26 Modern Perspectives from 51 The Ninth House

9 ; The American Mars 92 Feb/Mar Forecast Calendar

16 Venus–Neptune Conjunction in Aquarius

20 The Future of the United States 5 Publisher's Letter

88 TMA Professional Directory

; Software Reviews: Astracadabra 2004 and

Feb./Mar. 2005 * The Mountain Astrologer 7

to the political and socioeconomic rebalanc-

Feb./Mar. 2005 * The Mountain Astrologer 11

Chart Data and Sources

Feb./Mar. 2005 * The Mountain Astrologer 13

...All you need to make the best choice

New on Planet Tracks Online!

TMA Editor Mary Plumb gave a thought-provoking keynote

Feb./Mar. 2005 * The Mountain Astrologer 15

Feb./Mar. 2005 * The Mountain Astrologer 17

Interpretation Part Eleven:

Feb./Mar. 2005 * The Mountain Astrologer 19

The Traveling Astrologer

Feb./Mar. 2005 * The Mountain Astrologer 21

All charts use

Feb./Mar. 2005 * The Mountain Astrologer 23

Catch New Clients!

Call Judy at (800) 948-8048 for information.

Feb./Mar. 2005 * The Mountain Astrologer 25

Painting, "Moon Child" © 2002 by Lisa Iris - all rights reserved

Dignified Planets Traditional Rulerships

All charts use

Feb./Mar. 2005 * The Mountain Astrologer 29

W hat happens when Venus, Goddess of Love,

Feb./Mar. 2005 * The Mountain Astrologer 31

Venus–Uranus graphical nature of the story. While

All charts use

Toward a Higher Love

Venus–Uranus networks of rulerships, where Uranus

Feb./Mar. 2005 * The Mountain Astrologer 37

L iz Greene was Patrick Curry’s

in the next decade?

Feb./Mar. 2005 * The Mountain Astrologer 39

were deemed “dangerous”

DG: Not nice at all. Can you see any-

LG: The one thing that I feel I got

Feb./Mar. 2005 * The Mountain Astrologer 41

17 Different Astrology you can’t, even if it’s very mediocre tal-

www.alphee.com � � ��� ���� �������

Feb./Mar. 2005 * The Mountain Astrologer 43

������������ �������� � ���������������������

Feb./Mar. 2005 * The Mountain Astrologer 45

very intuitive, but intuition

THE MOUNTAIN ASTROLOGER

June/July 2005 Issue

Reach 50,000 Readers!

like to know more, but because we can’t ���������������������������

DG: Unless it’s J. K. Rowling.

LG: [nods] Unless it’s J. K.

Darrelyn Gunzburg, Dip. FAA (1988),

Feb./Mar. 2005 * The Mountain Astrologer 49

HUMAN DESIGN ��

www.alphee.com � � ��

��

like to know more, but because we can’t ��

Steffan Vanel ��

over the Internet ��