Astro Revelations

Astro Elements and Psychological functions

2010-04-17T12:00:00.007+01:00

I'm currently in the garden, the grass having being recently cut offers up the sharp scents of spring, the sun in it's fiery domain has warmed me enough that ill type this blog from the welcoming arms of the lawn, with a fresh cup of tea by my side and the chirping of some birtds echoing on the breeze I cant help but ponder the bigger questions.

One which comes to mind it the ongoing debate: if there is a direct connection between the astrological elements and Jung's four types or psychological functions and if so could a natal chart (or honorary casting) be utilised to highlight the individuals or situations dominant and inferior element correlated with the four Jungian functions.

This seems to be an ongoing point of agitation for many astrologers, especially thought who seek to synthesize the two theories. While it is clear that the two systems of understanding are in fact related they may, for many reasons be open to direct correlations.

Points of contention
If we cast an eye to one of Jungs books: “Psychological Types” (My current copy was published by Princeton University Press and translated by Gerhard Adler, pages 510-511, 531-532 are especially noted for this topic) we can see that Jung clearly related the four classical temperaments and astrological elements with the concept of four psychological types. However he never went into much detail, neglecting to state which element and type related to one another.

From this there has arose a fast amount of differing theories, one of my favourites actually is in which the four classical temperaments of Choleric, Melancholic, Sanguine, Phlegmatic are named the four quadrants of the astrological chart, instead of being marked with the elements.
However we can quickly find ourselves with the teachings of Aristotle: On generations and corruption, like wise with pseudo Oscellus: On the nature of the universe and Plato: Tiameus, all associating the four classical temperaments (or humours) with the four elements.

Choleric (Fire)
Sanguine (Air)
Phlegmatic (Water)
Melancholic (Earth)

Aristotle in his wisdom even placed Earth in opposition (in its astrological aspect and not the philosophical or psychological context) to fire and Air in opposition of Water. This would be exactly in line with Jung's placing of Intuition in opposition to Sensing and the placing of Thinking in opposition to Feeling.

The elemental Numbers
There are several methods and techniques offered up by astrologers past and present on how to count the elements found within the chart.

This can be a little confusing but it may help to remember that in a chart the elemental placement of the planets and luminaries (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto) are each in need of being “counted”.

In counting the elements, one of the more popular methods is:

Give two points for the elements that the Sun and Moon are located in.
Give one point for each for the elements that Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto are located in.

An elemental overview:

Fire - Aries, Leo, Sagittarius

Earth - Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn

Air - Gemini, Libra, Aquarius

Water - Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces

If we take todays major alignments:

Sun – Aries
Moon – Gemini
Mercury – Taurus
Venus – Taurus
Mars – Leo
Jupiter – Pisces
Saturn – Virgo
Uranus – Pisces
Neptune – Aquarius
Pluto – Capricorn

Fire (Intuitive) - 3 points

Earth (Sensing) - 4 points

Air (Thinking) - 3 points

Water (Feeling) - 2 points

In counting the four elements and comparing them with Jung's functions we discover the following:

As a Sensing Earth Jung Theory would have the inferior function in Fire, however in todays alignments its in Water.

So although the quick counting of the elements is a nifty short cut that sometimes works quite well, it isn't a stead fast rule of interpretation.

There are many reasons as to why a quick correlation between the two systems is a lot more complex and difficult than simply counting up the planetary elements.

Yes its true that there are many times (including my own natal chart: Cancer/Water) where looking at the zodiacial element of the Sun sign can point out the primary psychological type and if not can be highlighted as a secondary type or auxiliary function. Although due to the lack of reliability I tend to avoid using the elemental markers as a primary trend of interpretation.

Some thoughts to ponder:

*Elements are not necessarily confined to their Zodiacal placements. The moon for example regardless of the Sign, when in a conjunction with the Ascendant creates the element of Water in the chart.

*While Jung did relate the four classical temperaments and astrological elements with the four functions, he however never did explain which function went with which element. There is an endless array of reasons as to why he chose to neglect this aspect of the work however it would appear, at least on the surface, that while Jung did think the two concepts were similar in form and understanding he did not consider them to be the same.

*Many (myself numbered among them) have never being convinced that any of various type indicator tests accurately measure Jung's four types, and if so for how long would they remain constant. In this the ever changing ebb and wane of Self such a report risks telling us more about who the person tested we would like to be, rather than who we actually is.

While the counting and analysis of the chart elements may offer up a skillful tool of interpretation if you neglect looking at the chart to identify the more dominant zodiacal elements and how they can manifest themselves you risk neglecting and overlooking many productive and practical points of understanding.

As an astrologer I find it intriguing as to why there is such a need to constantly prove something works and link it with the more orthodox and socially embraced theories of personal placement and understanding. Lets focus on what works and aids rather then which is proven and relies on the crutch of another system or theory. To think in such a way is to forget that all things are theories and that nothing is unshakeable.

Right now for myself and those I read for, what works is the utilisation of type indicator tests to help knit together and guide the complex themes and aspects of a chart for interpretation. After all at a core and basic level astrology is about enabling people to gain a better understanding of who they are, and where they are going so that they can live healthier more fulfilling lives.

In order to honour that ideal it is best never to reject any potential tool of empowerment of bridge of understanding - illumination i never the less illumination.

Special thanks to Dr, Z for the rants and points of discourse that lead to this post :)

Deacons – 36 Cosmic whispers

2010-04-08T11:33:00.004+01:00

The sphere of the earth is surrounded by a 360 degree array, which when divided by twelve possess the markers and placement of the Zodiac. While the debate of a 13th sign rages on in this post/rant I want to focus on the lesser known Deacons and how they can be useful not only from a synergetic and elemental point of view but one of self developments and a fostered alliance with the living cosmos.

While the primary solar sign is composed of 30 degrees, like the name suggests the Deacon has ten, they can present sub alignments of other planetary forces as well as sub elements.

Take for example Taurus – Ruled by Venus and harboured in the Earthen Element but with the understanding of the deacons it has three other sub planets as well as sub elements – presenting not only a far more harmonic platform of creation but whispers at the immense intricate cosmic weave and ever blossoming co-creation.

Using Taurus as the example:

Taurus – Venus/Earth

Sub elements/Planets/Deacons

Mercury in Taurus Moon in Taurus Saturn in Taurus

Known that Saturn is of the Earth, a 3rd deacon Taurus would be Earth-Earth, which despite being near the cusp can still project the element in it's more refined aspect.

When I first came across deacons in the work of the Golden Dawn I was at first surprised that elements weren't totally balance in each sign, something that was corrected when I stood back and saw that a primary sign was an aspect of that elemental projection. Which when they were unified the elements were balanced – perhaps a list might explain better then I am :)

Fire Signs - Fire of Fire

mars in aries

sun in aries

venus in aries

saturn in leo

jupiter in leo

mars in leo

mercury in saggittarius

moon in saggitarius

saturn in saggitarius

Water Signs - Water of Water

venus in cancer

mercury in cancer
moon in cancer

mars in scorpio

sun in scorpio

venus in scorpio

saturn in pisces

jupiter in pisces

mars in pisces

Air Signs - Air of Air

moon in libra

saturn in libra

jupiter in libra

venus in aquarius

mercury in aquarius

moon in aquarius

jupiter in gemini

mars in gemini

sun in gemini

Earth Signs - Earth of Earth

jupiter in capricorn

mars in capricorn

sun in capricorn

mercury in taurus

moon in taurus

saturn in taurus

sun in virgo

venus in virgo

mercury in virgo

Each Deacon has an astrological alignment and image.

Aries

first deacon:March 21 to March 31
Cassiopeia: A beautiful woman seated on a throne next to a king whose crown is made of stars.Initiative

second deacon:April 1 to April 10
The Sea MonsterLeadership

third deacon:April 11 to April 19
Perseuswith winged feet, helm crowned and a victor's sword, foresight

Taurus

first deacon:April 20 to April 30
Orion. The heavenly huntsman,girded by a belt of stars with his sword bound therin, one foot aloft to crush his enemies, affability

second deacon:May 1 to May 11
EridanusA long winding river that symbolizes eternal justice, organization

third deacon:May 12 to May 20
Aurigathe shepherd protecting the flock, determination

Gemini

first deacon:May 22 to May 31
Lepus the Harethe weaker creature can outwit the stronger, conscientiousness

second deacon:June 1 to June 11
SiriusThe great dog's name derives from "victorious prince", serenity

third deacon:June 12 to June 20
Canis Miinorthe small dog stands for the triumph of reason, knowledge

Cancer

first deacon:June 21 to July 2
The Little Bearsymbolizes the goals and ideals of man, philanthropy

second deacon:July 3 to July 12
Ursa MajorThe big dipper symbolizes assembly and discretion, methodical

third deacon:July 13 to July 22
Argo the heavenly shipdecision and determination,adaptability

Leo

first deacon:July 23 to August 2
Hydra, the serpentinfluence which can only be purufied by fire, illumination

second deacon:August 3 to August 13
Crater, the cup or chaliceemotional overflowing, intellect

third deacon:August 14 to August 22
Corvus the Ravendestroyer of the enemy, defender of the fallen, experimantation

Virgo

first deacon:August 23 to September 2
ComaThe mother who brings succor, alertness

second deacon:September 3 to September 13
Centaurus, the centaurthe dual nature of man, dignity

third deacon:September 14 to September 22
Bootes the gleanerthe gathering of the harvest, discrimination

Libra

first deacon:September 23 to October 3
Crucisatonement , potential

second deacon:October 4 to October 13
Lupus the wolfslain and symbolizing repentance, endurance

third deacon:October 14 to October 23
Corona Borealisachievement, persistance

Scorpio

first deacon:October 24 to November 1
The Serpentintegrity, spiritual power

second deacon:November 2 to November 11
Cerebusloyalty, esoteric knowledge

third deacon:November 12 toNovember 22
Herculesrighteousness, destroyer of evil

Sagittarius

first deacon:November 23to December 1
Lyra the harphonesty; heavenly music, harmony

second deacon:December 2 to December 11
Arathroughness, the figure of revenge disbursing punishment

third deacon:December 12 to December 21
Draco the dragonintuition, triumph of good over evil

Capricorn

first deacon:December 22 to December 31
Sagitta the arrowprecision, destroying what lies in the path

second deacon:January1 to January 10
Aquila the eaglejustice, going to rest

third deacon:January 11 to January 19
The Dolphinsympathy; spiritual development

Aquarius

first deacon:January 20 to January 31
Austrinus the fishcourage, fertility

second deacon:February 1 to February 9
Pegasusfrankness, bearer of good things

third deacon:February 10 to Febraury 18
The Swaninsight, sacredand beautiful bearer of burdens

Pisces

first deacon:February 19 to March 1
The Bridlereliance; overcoming restrictions of the physical body

second deacon:March 2 to March 11
Cepheus the Monarchwith one foot resting on the pole star - service and imagination

third deacon:March 12 to March 20
Andromedathe woman freed from her chains, action

While time currently limits me from going into much more depth on the topic (for now...) such elemental alignment and imagery can be useful tools of self development and creation.

Eg. As a first deacon Cancarian I work well with Venus. After taking special care to notice where Venus is in my chart I can now interpret it's effect on my Solar sign a little differently, knowing not only its elemental force on my Solar sign but that it offers up more cross associations and effects – being ruled by the moon I am a sensitive man, easily effected by the tides around me, something which can be alleviated by the ascended Venusian flow as well as made all the more intense depending what these two planetary powers are aspected as.

Ways in which to utilise Deacons:

*Study the relationship between the elements of your Solar sign.
*How they are connected with other elements within your chart.
*Meditate on the imagery provided, path working can offer up far more personal associations.
*Utilise the Deacons as a way to understand the greater and lesser influences of a planet, not only the one which rules your solar aspect but how it is connected the deacon planets.
*Work along the notified synastry of those around you, understanding the sub elements as well as primary houses might not only add far more depth to the image but casts far more vivid the colour in which we use to understand those around us.

Astro Witches Ladder

2010-03-29T22:48:00.007+01:00

As I understand it a witches ladder is a type of charm used to bind power and intention within knots, giving a physical embodiment to a spiritual, mental and emotional concept in order to channel its presence into the world.

Used with the inate charm that is held within the tieing of a knot it is both simple in form and deeply adaptable, limited only by the imagination and passions of those that use them.

A few months back while going through an intense period of insomnia I decided to make one in order to aid me in the journey in piercing the veil of dreams. I eventually settled on building it around the planetary array, in both form and sequence.

To the ancients the order was:
Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn.

In order to challenge and overcome the period of insomnia I reworked these energetic and archetypal projections into the following, the order much like the one used in my astro sigils:

(Found here: http://astrorevelations.blogspot.com/2009/09/personal-astrological-sigil.html)

composed themselves into a personally known intention.

Sun, Mercury, Moon, Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, Venus

I spent time searching out items for the charm, letting them come to me when they were willing, finding some in plain sight while others came on the wind or at a cross roads at dusk... each calling out in a intrinsically sacred way among the mundane hush and demands of life carrying with them a sense of meaning and association with the charm at hand. For this charm it took around nine days for them all to make their way to me.

In the end I ended up with:

Sun: A medal, with a equal armed cross which I associated with the seasons and the balance of the world.

Mercury: A jasper tooth, being assertive and piercing with the need to communicate the intent to the world.

Moon: Silver bell, to usher away and negativities

Jupiter: A shell, to be one with the ebb and flow of all creation, swaying in the reeds of the great river, dreaming in the arms of the eternal one.

Mars: A dry bone, leaving an end to the war that rages in the night time struggle.

Saturn: A Ravens feather, a bird liked and honoured within my family home, linked with the Saturn's karma and held an extra special significance for me as a family issue at the time was one of of the main instigators of nighttime woes.

Venus: A green Averntine stone, its shape is that of the sun sigil linking the end to the start and is a marker of a nurturing and gentle induction of peaceful dreams, allowing them to be warm and illuminating at night rather then conflictive enough to keep me awake.

I used both a black and brown cord to knit and join them, bringing both the force of the wise crone and the earthen grounding force of the earth.

I braided them at night, a both lost and found in the tiredness of the day and asked that they carry me to a gentle sleep – they did, and while that time has now past there still a beautiful reminder of both dream working as well as how well the astrological powers lend themselves to personal workings and success over challenges.

2010-01-25T19:50:00.003Z

A kaviana/ prayer stick would be best described as an elemental channel, it touches upon the gifts of the earth in many of its forms to raise be unified as a prayer in repetition that exists as long as the kaviana rests intact.

I have again omitted the ritualistic aspect of its creation, this is to respect the origin of its magic as well as to inspire those that may wish to create one to tap into there own flow of creativity and construct it within the folds of there own light.

It uses like most tools the symbolic energies of nature channelled though our own understanding of it, it is relatively easy to construct and quite adaptable to most causes.

A branch from an appropriate tree.Feathers freely given from a bird of choice.Cords or colour that aid the need.Tokens that symbolically project the desire.

Traditionally the spirts of the household are summoned, the ancestors fed and the Gods thanked, a explanation of the need is then given, plainly and direct - and thus it begins.

Some of the items used are said to be provided by nature itself, and thus one must stir themselves to commune with the forces of the living world, I do this with intentionally going for long walks in search of some aspects of the tools, for the wood and feathers I often with intention light a candle (and leave it in a safe place) and go about my walk in woodland areas - always without fail I have come across a branch that speaks out to me, and on later research is one that offers up the exact associations of what I was looking for - the same goes for the feather.

The cords are chosen with intention and I often use the chakra vibrations as a gardge of which to use.

The tokens are of a different form, they are talismans and tokens you come across that aid the desire and supplicate it to a higher form - for the explanation the ones I used (as we were dealing with a possible psychic intrusion) was that of a small key (to bard the sphere) a tooth (to aid defence) and a I-Ching coin (to aid the intuitive growth and thus limit future chaos within that domain).

Within the confounds of a ritual format the tools are gathered and unified - letting the effort behind it come to fruition, reminding and blessing the prayer stick as you go - first is to cleanse the wood, I often at this stage inscribe the wood with an intention/ appropriate prayer.

Then there's the binding of the feathers, cording of the wood itself and attachment of the tokens.Once complete, consecrated and empowered it is left in a place of sanctuary (I used the grove of some enchanting oak trees on a beautiful hilltop).

Tradition holds that each time the wind kisses the feathers they sing out the prayer, echoing the intention to the four corners of the world.Although not expressed very well or explained to a high degree the resulting picture may be of more aid in understanding its dynamics.

Creating a Maranus

2010-01-25T19:14:00.005Z

With my primary solar aspect in a water sign as well as that of my moon I often work well with the element – especially in terms of charms and amulets.

This post is a redevelopment of an earlier work shared else where. Like most things here it is simplistic in form but with a bit of patience, focus and a lot of trust it can be a channel and vessel for something far greater.

Although with no direct translation Maranus would be best translated as “Voice of the Sea” it is another simplistic yet surprisingly adaptable talisman that on my own journey has found its power and place many times.In its most rudimentary form it is two shells, filled and sealed together – creating a vessel for the manifestation of the will, focused and bound in a primal physical form allowing the desire to go forth within the corporeal reality and bring about the desired effect.

The pictures inclosed in this post are from one (I made several that time) with the intention of aiding a further warding of the threshold of my home against a disruptive force, it was not malignant in nature merely chaotic – and with some other slight alterations to my lifestyle and ritual habits, I can warmly announce that the situation not only ended within a day, but the causing factor is no longer even in play.

A reminder of the potential power, of not the Talisman (even when in its Amulet form) but the results brought forth by focusing the mind and trusting in the innate ability of the self.

The process as usual in the foundational magic’s (I feel the title of “low” seems to diminish there potential place in the Arts, limiting our use and progression through there use) works on both the innate associations of objects as well as personally personified ones.

I have taken away most of the ritual enchantments and mantras as they are of a personal lineage and I am somewhat uncomfortable sharing them so openly (despite being ever so merry on cookies and tea) but have left the structure enforced enough to allow others to develop on it in a personal way.

The item’s used were:

Pestle and Mortar, to char and mix as well as to focus and empower.

Herbs of Choice, those with protectively imbued qualities.

Crystal chips, Incidentally I choose Amethyst for its ability to transmute lower energies to higher vibrational ones.

Pen (Blue, as it is correspond numeriologicaly to the house)

Virgin Paper

The matching shells,

Paint, red for power and effect.

Brush.

Candle, blessed and inscribed.

Matches.

Fire proof container.

After meditating on the process and the opening rite of Announcement and Purpose has being attended to, light the candle, place herbs and crystal chips into the mortar, and gentle churn, announcing again the purpose and process in play.Write or sigil the intention on the paper, fold it thrice and offer it to the flame, allow it to burn safely.

When the paper has burnt add the ashes to the herbs and continue to grind until you are satisfied with the mix and that the intention has being placed strongly enough into them.Allow to stand and mix among its own energies for a while as you take the shell and paint an appropriate symbol on it (I choose that of Ashina – Keeper of the household. Colour Red symbolic of Mars the bringing of force).

Return to the churning of the herbs as you let the paint dry.When this has come to pass you fill the shells with some of the mortars mix and seal it with the wax of the candle, ensuring it is bound on all sides and strong enough to set fully into a solid whole.You then leave it on your alter or place of power to set within itself.I later buried the others near the footsteps of the home, to bring it into a deeper physical alignment with the intention.

It is done. Simple, relaxed and within the reach of the arty-crafty senses of most people :)

Oein

Making a Brough - "Bro-gh"

2009-12-26T19:15:00.006Z

Before the dawn of a new year, mostly likely drawn in with joyous cheer and far too many glasses of wine I thought it best to capitalise on these moments of sobriety and type up a very over due blog post.

In my own spiritual practice I spend a lot of time and energy focusing on the practical applications and tools of everyday use. While the ceremonial rites and formal gatherings have there place and power it is within the mundane world which I truly feels the source of magic rests.

I really do hope to stay open to the more progressive arts but in my experiences I have always felt more in the awakening dawn and the dance of the silver moonlight, the stirring the still waters on a misty eve as well as the uplifting rush of a simple act made magical with intention and a sprinkle of preparation.

Although I started this blog for astrological musing I think that in all fairness it would be best to widen the scope of the topics within it, as although I do chart my life by the stars they are not the only points of reference I use.

A recent blog comment reminded me of why I choose to name the blog as I did, the title astro-revelations drips of an arrogant sense of superior insight that although has a resonance with my stubborn nature and all to often flawed internalised chatter, it is in itself a passing on of what has either being revealed to me in the kindness of others, the musing of a late morning spent sleeping in or the sheer hard work of magic woven in times of need.

I'm adding this post to my blog out of enjoyment of the tool used as well as the economic savviness in which it costs very little but time and heart felt intentions.

How to make a brough.

A brough is used among many things (though I have noticed not overly common) for the cleansing of energies, election of wards, weaving of spells and the spreading of incense.While the one I use has changed slowly over over the years and is far more crafted then this one, here is how to make a basic no frills brough minus a personal ritual of dedication and blessing.

You will need

*An intention

For the purpose of this post I'm using intention of spreading harmony and positivity.

*Cord of an appropriate colour

I've chosen pink for association.

*Feather(s)

I originally went for a short walk while playing with the thought of making this post, I happened to come across a swans feather which with the intentions of positivity and blessing I found to be a perfect match in symbolism.

*Crystal

I've chosen a clear quartz, for it's amplification properties.

*Wood for the handle.

I picked up a small sprig of elder wood, which although I stripped and cleaned I omitted inscribing (which personally if your making a brough I find to be a wonderful addition to intention and even basic aesthetic attraction).

How to

Gather, clean and dry feather(s), tie the stem of the feather to the wood, leaving enough string to include crystal, trim stem of feather and bless.

Simple, workable and with the right mind set and intention it can be deeply magikal.

Psychic Indictors within the natal chart

2009-11-09T22:46:00.009Z

Recently over a good cuppa and a slice of homemade bread (I woo myself sometimes I tell ya!) I was asked about psychic indicators in the natal chart and from a traditional point of view; how they manifest there deeper aspects through the lives of those that possess them.

I'm typing this post to help formulate a better reply then the one I originally hacked out among crumbs of lost bread (really... it was that good!) and using as references:

“Astrology, a cosmic science “ by Hickey, Isabel, CRCS Publications, 1992
“A spiritual approach to astrology” by Loftus, Myrna,CRCS Publications, 1983
“The Astrologers handbook” by Sakoian, Frances & Acker, Louis, Harper & Row, 1973
“Signs of tomorrow' by Rosemary Harrington, self published, 1997
“Alan Okens complete astrology”Oken, Alan, Bantam Books, 1988
“Horoscopes symbols” Robert Hand, Schiffer Publishing, 1981

I must stress though that I, like most others with a passion for astrology see the signs and symbols as potentials and not confirmations of manifestation. The light of the stars only guide us on, they do not command or demand as in truth they only provide the stage, it is us with our willing feet that decide if, or if not, to dance upon it.

To make the references far more manageable within the chart they are usually divided into the following sections:

Spiritual tendencies – providing the widest arena of aspect that suggest an un-chanelled spirituality.
Healing abilities – indicates healing abilities or the ability to guide healing energy.
Mystic aspects – suggestive aspects of higher clairvoyance and visionary ability/
Psychic indicators – provides the platform for psychic development and manifestation.
Intuitive points – points of intuitive sensitivity and awareness.

For the point of the post I'm going to focus on the “psychic” indicators. While reading you should expect many of the now infamous Americanised references and understandings of the positions, they seem far too imbued in the human consciousness to be over come by the rants of this young fool. Thought i must admit I tried my hand at more then a few :)

Uranus Sextile Pluto: Opportunity to elevate consciousness through spiritual aspirations; very intuitive with psychic potential.

Uranus Trine Pluto: In other lifetimes have worked toward tapping their unconscious minds and elevating their consciousness; very intuitive with psychic potential.

Neptune Conjunct Pluto: Very great sensitivity to the inner worlds; uncanny ability to see attainment. Advancement along spiritual lines can be greatly accelerated in company of other like-minded people.

Sun in Aquarius: Sign of spiritual rebirth

Sun in Sagittarius: Has the ability to see the future by their understanding of current trends of thought, and their insights border on prophecy. Keyword is perception, another word for insight or intuition as it applies here.

Neptune in Aquarius: interest in psychic phenomena, spiritual revelation and altered forms of consciousness; assumes an eclectic, adventurous, intuitive and original tone. Connection to subconscious wisdom is fueled by an energy that is inspirational and visionary; hard to overemphasize the creative potential of self-development, spiritual interests, mysticism, and psychic phenomena.

Pluto in 12th House: Pluto here in its highest form means the willingness to be a channel to help those who are limited and afflicted.

Moon Sextile Uranus: Potential for keen intuition; in advanced types, would give potential for great healing power.

Moon Trine Uranus: Keen intuition; in advanced types, would give great healing power.

Sun Sextile Uranus: Potential for strong magnetic healing force; potential to be a strongly intuitive person.

Sun Trine Uranus: Strong magnetic healing force; strongly intuitive person.

Sun Sextile Neptune: Potential to be extremely sensitive to inner currents and to be, by nature, a mystic; in medical field has potential to give healing powers.

Sun Trine Neptune: extremely sensitive to inner currents and is by nature a mystic.; in medical field would give healing powers. “When Neptune is harmoniously linked to the luminaries in the chart of a person who can respond to its higher rays, it can bestow gifts of a clairvoyant and clairaudient nature.”

Venus Sextile Neptune: Potential for strong sixth sense, which is the intuition.

Venus Trine Neptune: Sixth sense strong..Intuition is sixth sense.

Neptune Sextile Pluto: There is the opportunity to use your psychic abilities for the benefit of humanity; Can develop clairvoyance & prophetic ability. Have precognitive dreams. Strong psychic healing powers; desire for justice for all people. Abhor violence or anything that might degrade or oppress another person or animal.

Neptune Trine Pluto: Ability to use your psychic abilities for the benefit of humanity; Can develop clairvoyance & prophetic ability. Have precognitive dreams. Strong psychic healing powers; desire for justice for all people. Abhor violence or anything that might degrade or oppress another person or animal.

Moon Conjunct Neptune: Mystical, intuitive type; very psychic nature. “When Neptune is harmoniously linked to the luminaries in the chart of a person who can respond to its higher rays, it can bestow gifts of a clairvoyant and clairaudient nature.” Pg 558, Alan Oken’s Complete Astrology

Sun Conjunct Neptune: Psychically sensitive; mystically inclined; not an easy person to understand for they do not understand themselves. Alan Oken: “When Neptune is harmoniously linked to the luminaries in the chart of a person who can respond to its higher rays, it can bestow gifts of a clairvoyant and clairaudient nature.” Pg 558, Alan Oken’s Complete Astrology

Sun Sextile Neptune: Potential to be extremely sensitive to inner currents and to be, by nature, a mystic; in medical field has potential to give healing powers.

Sun Trine Neptune: extremely sensitive to inner currents and is by nature a mystic. In medical field would give healing powers. “When Neptune is harmoniously linked to the luminaries in the chart of a person who can respond to its higher rays, it can bestow gifts of a clairvoyant and clairaudient nature.”

Mercury Sextile Neptune: Potential for aptitude for psychic and mystical fields; Potential to benefit from dreams and visions; Potential for ability to contact higher planes of consciousness in sleep and in meditation and bring instruction through to the conscious mind.

Mercury Trine Neptune: Aptitude for psychic and mystical fields; can benefit from dreams and visions; has ability to contact higher planes of consciousness in sleep and in meditation and bring instruction through to the conscious mind.

Venus Conjunct Neptune: Psychically sensitive; mystical and spiritual tendencies in chart of an advanced soul.

Jupiter Conjunct Neptune: May have a strong mystical streak and will always be closely connected with spirituality and religion.

Neptune Sextile Pluto: There is the opportunity to use your psychic abilities for the benefit of humanity; Can develop clairvoyance & prophetic ability. Have precognitive dreams. Strong psychic healing powers; desire for justice for all people. Abhor violence or anything that might degrade or oppress another person or animal.

Moon in Pisces: Needs other characteristics in chart to be reliable.
Visionary, mystical if unafflicted.

Moon in 9th House: Dreams and visions can be of great significance if not heavily afflicted; receptivity toward the superconscious realms.

Sun in Sagittarius: has the ability to see the future by their understanding of current trends of thought, and their insights border on prophecy. Keyword is perception, another word for intuition.

Mercury in Pisces: psychic and visionary type of mind; highly intuitive and telepathic on the unconscious level.

Neptune in 1st House: : Psychic sensitivity very strong; visionary, artistic, hypersensitive; psychic sensitivity could bring confusion until person seeks spiritual evolvement.,
Neptune in the 9th House: Makes a person mystical, and if well aspected, can have spiritual visions; makes the intangible extremely nebulous when it is already nebulous enough; Intuitive

Moon Conjunct Neptune: Mystical, intuitive type; very psychic nature. “When Neptune is harmoniously linked to the luminaries in the chart of a person who can respond to its higher rays, it can bestow gifts of a clairvoyant and clairaudient nature.” Pg 558, Alan Oken’s Complete Astrology

Moon Sextile Neptune: Potential to develop keen psychic sensitivity.

Moon Trine Neptune: Keen psychic sensitivity; so psychic they are susceptible to emotional atmosphere around them and they react strongly.

Sun Conjunct Neptune: Psychically sensitive; mystically inclined; not an easy person to understand for they do not understand themselves. Alan Oken: “When Neptune is harmoniously linked to the luminaries in the chart of a person who can respond to its higher rays, it can bestow gifts of a clairvoyant and clairaudient nature.” Pg 558, Alan Oken’s Complete Astrology

Mercury Conjunct Neptune: Highly intuitive and receives psychic impressions from others which they find confusing until they learn to discern exactly what the vibration represents. i.e. sorrow, fear.

Mercury Sextile Neptune: Potential for aptitude for psychic and mystical fields; Potential to benefit from dreams and visions; Potential for ability to contact higher planes of consciousness in sleep and in meditation and bring instruction through to the conscious mind.

Mercury Trine Neptune: Aptitude for psychic and mystical fields; can benefit from dreams and visions; has ability to contact higher planes of consciousness in sleep and in meditation and bring instruction through to the conscious mind.

Venus Conjunct Neptune: Psychically sensitive; mystical and spiritual tendencies in chart of an advanced soul.

Mars Sextile Neptune: An opportunity and the potential to work with psychic forces and be in no danger from any adverse influences. Earned increment in the spiritual “bankbook” from other lives.

Mars Trine Neptune: Can work with psychic forces and be in no danger from any adverse influences. Earned increment in the spiritual bankbook from other lives.

Jupiter Sextile Neptune: The potential to be and use intuitive and psychic abilities, and to learn to follow inner leading; Potential to be mystical; drawn to religious and philosophical groups.

Jupiter Trine Neptune: Intuitive and psychic and should follow inner leading; Can be mystical and drawn to religious and philosophical groups.

Neptune Sextile Pluto: There is the opportunity to use your psychic abilities for the benefit of humanity; Can develop clairvoyance & prophetic ability. Have precognitive dreams. Strong psychic healing powers; desire for justice for all people. Abhor violence or anything that might degrade or oppress another person or animal.

Ascendant Conjunct Neptune: Psychic and intuitive

Ascendant Sextile Neptune: Psychic and intuitive

Ascendant Trine Neptune: Psychic and intuitive

Moon in Cancer: Strong psychic ability. Cancer is a psychic sign if this aspect is used in balance with the 8th sign.

Venus in Pisces: Extremely psychic

Uranus in Pisces: Psychic, intuitive, extremely sensitive.. When well aspected to Neptune, will be indicative of advanced soul who has come to serve the planet in some philosophical or religious way. Brings into incarnation the spiritually intuitive who are able to grasp first hand knowledge of spiritual truths; can make person spiritual psychic.

So while you might now harbour the desire to tear your way through your natal chart (I've being there many a time) or that of a loved one, remind yourself that although there are signs of suggestion and those that resist none are beyond the effect of the will and if you are open to such things there is little but time and practice to make even the most insensitive of those among us, blossom.

Oein

28 mansions of the moon

2009-11-06T21:20:00.005Z

28 mansions of the moon

"And in these twenty eight Mansions do lie hid many secrets of the wisdom of the antients, by the which they wrought wonders on all things which are under the circle of the Moon; and they attributed to every Mansion his resemblances, images, and seals, and his president intelligences, and worked by the virtue of them after different manners." ("The Magus" by Francis Barrett)

In modern astrology we all too often ignore the moon beyond it’s natal chart position, but to the ancients the moon in its 28 motions was a tool of magic, a keeper of wisdom and a guide through out life. The same can be said with those that practice the old arts in modern days, the quarters of the moon (each 7 days long – full, waning, dark, waxing) usually get reference and observance, but what about the days in which they present themselves, each mansion being a separate marker and whisper of magick, mystery and miracle.

These mansions can also be seen (controversially may I add) as subdivisions of the zodiac, equal in size and duration, which start at 0º Aries and last 12º51´26´´ each.

The monthly transit of the Moon through each of these mansions generates a different influence :

The Moon in the 1st mansion - it causes discords, and journies; (0 Aries to 12 Aries 51)
The Moon in the 2nd mansion - it conduces to the finding of treasures, and to the retaining [of] captives; (12 Aries 51 to 25 Aries 42)
The Moon in the 3rd mansion - it is profitable to sailors, huntsmen, and alchymists; (25 Aries 42 to 8 Taurus 34)
The Moon in the 4th mansion - it causes the destruction and hindrances of buildings, fountains, wells, gold mines, the flight of creeping things, and begets discord. (8 Taurus 34 to 21 Taurus 25)

The Moon in the 5th mansion - it confirms edifices, it gives health and good-will; (21 Taurus 25 to 4 Gemini 17)
The Moon in the 6th mansion - it conduces to hunting, and besieging of towns, and revenge of princes, it destroys harvests and fruits and hinders the operation of the physician; (4 Gemini 17 to 17 Gemini 8)
The Moon in the 7th mansion - it confers gain and friendship, its profitable to lovers, it scares flies, destroys magistracies; (17 Gemini 8 to 0 Cancer)
The Moon in the 8th mansion - it causes love, friendship, and society of fellow travellers, it drives away mice ands afflicts captives, confirming their imprisonment; (0 Cancer to 12 Cancer 51)
The Moon in the 9th mansion - it hinders harvests and travelers, and puts discord between men; (12 Cancer 51 to 25 Cancer 42)
The Moon in the 10th mansion - it strengthens buildings, yields love, benevolence and help against enemies; (25 Cancer 42 to 8 Leo 34)
The Moon in the 11th mansion - it is good for voyages, and gain by merchandise, and for redemption of captives; (8 Leo 34 to 21 Leo 25)
The Moon in the 12th mansion - it gives prosperity to harvests, and plantations, but hinders seamen, and is good for the bettering of servants, captives and companions; (21 Leo 25 to 4 Virgo 17)
The Moon in the 13th mansion - it is prevalent for benevolence, gain, voyages, harvests, and freedom of captives; (17 to 17 Virgo 8)
The Moon in the 14th mansion - it causes the love of married folks, it cures the sick, is profitable to sailors, but hinders journies by land; and in these the second quarter of Heaven is completed; (17 Virgo 8 to 0 Libra)
The Moon in the 15th mansion - its profitable for the extracting of treasures, for digging of pits, it assists divorce, discord, and the destruction of houses and enemies, and hinders travelers; (0 Libra to 12 Libra 5)
The Moon in the 16th mansion - it hinders journies and wedlock, harvests and merchandise, it prevails for redemption of captives; (12 Libra 51 to 25 Libra 42)
The Moon in the 17th mansion - it betters a bad fortune, makes love durable, strengthens buildings, and helps seamen; (25 Libra 42 to 8 Scorpio 34)
The Moon in the 18th mansion - it causes discord, sedition, conspiracy against princes and mighty ones, and revenge from enemies, but it frees captives and helps edifices; (8 Scorpio 34 to 21 Scorpio 25)
The Moon in the 19th mansion - it helps in the besieging of cities and taking of towns, and in the driving of men from their places, and for the destruction of seamen, and perdition of captives; (21 Scorpio 25 to 4 Sagittarius 17)
The Moon in the 20th mansion - it helps for the taming of wild beasts, for the strengthening of prisons, it destroys the wealth of societies, it compels a man to come to a certain place; (4 Sagittarius 17 to 17 Sagittarius 8)
The Moon in the 21st mansion - it is good for harvests, gain, buildings and travellers, and causes divorce; and in this is the third quarter of Heaven is completed; (17 Sagittarius 8 to 0 Capricorn)
The Moon in the 22nd mansion - it promotes the flight of servants and captives, that they may escape, and helps the curing of diseases; (0 Capricorn to 12 Capricorn 51)
The Moon in the 23rd mansion - it is for divorce, liberty of captives and the health of the sick; (12 Capricorn 51 to 25 Capricorn 42)
The Moon in the 24th mansion - it is prevalent for the benevolence of married people, for the victory of soldiers, it hurts the execution of government, and prevents it being exercised; (25 Capricorn 42 to 8 Aquarius 34)
The Moon in the 25th mansion - it favors besieging and revenge, it destroys enemies, causes divorce, confirms prisons and buildings, hastens messengers, it conduces to spells against copulation, and so binds every member of man, that it cannot perform its duty; (8 Aquarius 34 to 21 Aquarius 25)
The Moon in the 26th mansion - it causes union, health of captives, destroys buildings and prisons; (21 Aquarius 25 to 4 Pisces 17)
The Moon in the 27th mansion - it increases harvests, revenues, gain, and heals infirmities, but hinders buildings, prolongs prisons, causes danger to seamen, and helps to infer mischiefs on whom you shall please; (4 Pisces 17 to 17 Pisces 8)
The Moon in the 28th mansion - it increases harvests and merchandise, it secures travellers through dangerous places; it makes for the joy of married couples, but it strengths prisons, and causes loss of treasures; (17 Pisces 8 to 0 Aries)

Angels of the moon

Each mansion is said to have a ruling power, intelligence and resonance – a presence that is usually granted the title of Angel.

The 28 angels of the moon are: Geniel, Enediel, Anixiel, Azariel, Gabriel, Dirachiel, Scheliel, Amnediel, Barbiel, Ardefiel, Neciel, Abdizuel, Jazeriel, Ergediel, Atliel, Azeruel, Adriel, Egibiel, Amutiel, Kyriel, Bethnael, Geliel, Requiel, Abrinael, Agiel, Tagriel, Atheniel, Amnixiel.

Symbols of the 28 mansions

Along with there traditional meaning/effect/association and angels the mansions have symbols of alliance and seals utilised in the ways of interpretation as well as magick.

In the first, for the destruction of some one, they made, in an iron ring, the image of a black man, in a garment of hair, and girdled round, casting a small lance with his right hand: they sealed this in black wax, and perfumed it with liquid storax, and wished some evil to come.

In the second, against the wrath of the prince, and for reconciliation with him, they sealed, in white wax and mastich, the image of a king crowned, and perfumed it with lignum aloes.

In the third, they made an image in a silver ring, whose table was square; the figure of which was a woman, well clothed, sitting in a chair, her right hand being lifted up on her head; they sealed it, and perfumed it with musk, camphire, and calamus aromaticus. They affirmed that this gives happy fortune, and every good thing.

In the fourth, for revenge, separation, enmity, and ill-will, they sealed, in red wax, the image of a soldier sitting on a horse, holding a serpent in his right hand: they perfumed it with red myrrh and storax.

In the fifth, for the favour of kings and officers, and good entertainment, they sealed, in silver, the head of a man, and perfumed it with red sanders.

In the sixth, to procure love between two, they sealed, in white wax, two images, embracing one another, and perfumed them with lignum aloes and amber.

In the seventh, to obtain every good thing, they scaled, in silver, the image of a man, well clothed, holding up his hands to Heaven, as it were, praying and supplicating, and perfumed it with good odours.

In the eighth, for victory in war, they made a seal in tin, being an image of an eagle, having the face of a man, and perfumed it with brimstone.

In the ninth, to cause infirmities, they made a seal of lead, being the image of a man wanting his privy parts, covering his eyes with his hands; and they perfumed it with rosin of the pine.

In the tenth, to facilitate child bearing, and to cure the sick, they made a seal of gold, being the head of a lion, and perfumed it with amber.

In the eleventh, for fear, reverence, and worship, they made a seal of a plate of gold, being the image of a man riding on a lion, holding the ear thereof in his left hand, and in his right holding forth a bracelet of gold; and they perfumed it with good odours and saffron.

In the twelfth, for the separation of lovers, they made a seal of black lead, being the image of a dragon fighting with a man; and they perfumed it with the hairs of a lion, and assafœtida.

In the thirteenth, for the agreement of married people, and for dissolving of all the charms against copulation, they made a seal of the images of both (of the man in red wax, and the woman in white), and caused them to embrace one another; perfuming it with lignum aloes and amber.

In the fourteenth, for divorce and separation of the man from the woman, they made a seal of red copper, being the image of a dog. biting his tail; and they perfumed it with the hair of a black dog and a black cat.

In the fifteenth, to obtain friendship and good will, they made the image of a man sitting, and inditing letters, and perfumed it with frankincense and nutmegs.

In the sixteenth, for gaining much merchandising, they made a seal of silver, being the image of a man, sitting on a chair, holding a balance in his hand; and they perfumed it with well smelling spices.

In the seventeenth, against thieves and robbers, they sealed with an iron seal the image of an ape, and perfumed it with the air of an ape.

In the eighteenth, against fevers and pains of the belly, they made a seal of copper, being the image of a snake with his tail above his head; and they perfumed it with hartshorn; and said this same seal put to flight serpents, and all venomous creatures, from the place where it is buried.

In the nineteenth, for facilitating birth, and provoking the menstrues, they made a seal of copper, being the image of a woman holding her hands upon her face; and they perfumed it with liquid storax.

In the twentieth, for hunting, they made a seal of tin, being the image of Sagittary, half a man and half a horse; and they perfumed it with the head of a wolf.

In the twenty-first, for the destruction of some body, they made the image of a man, with a double countenance before and behind; and they perfumed it with brimstone and jet, and put it in a box of brass, and with it brimstone and jet, and the hair of him whom they would hurt.

In the twenty-second, for the security of runaways, they made a seal of iron, being the image of a man, with wings on his feet, bearing a helmet on his head; and they perfumed it with argent vive.

In the twenty-third, for destruction and wasting, they made a seal of iron, being the image of a cat, having a dog's head; and they perfumed it with dog's hair taken from the head, and buried it in the place where they intended the hurt.

In the twenty-fourth, for multiplying herds of cattle, they took the horn of a ram, bull, or goat, or of that sort of cattle they would increase, and sealed in it, burning, with an iron seal, the image of a woman giving suck to her son; and they hanged it on the neck of that cattle who was the leader of the flock, or they sealed it in his horn.

In the twenty-fifth, for the preservation of trees and harvest, they sealed, in the wood of a fig tree, the image of a man planting and they perfumed it with the flowers of the fig tree, and hung it on the tree.

In the twenty-sixth, for love and favour, they sealed, in white wax and mastich, the figure of a woman washing and combing her hair; and they perfumed it with good odours.

In the twenty-seventh, to destroy fountains, pits, medicinal waters, and baths, they made, of red earth, the image of a man winged, holding in his hand an empty vessel, and perforated; and the image being burnt, they put in the vessel assafœtida and liquid storax, and they buried it in the pond or fountain which they would destroy.

In the twenty-eighth, for getting fish together, they made a seal of copper, being the image of a fish; and they perfumed it with the skin of a sea fish, and cast it into the water where they would have the fish gathered.

Working with the 28 mansions of the moon

List of ways to work with the mansions are:

Over the years out of interest I’ve worked with the mansions – usually with great success! Here are some of the ways I’ve weaved there presence into my life – you might want to try some, or find ways of your own to stir their well worth presence:

Meditate on the angels name.
Discover the current ruling mansion.
Discover the ruling mansion of your birth.
Celebrate your ruling mansion each time it rises.

Contemplate how a negitve association or power can be channelled for the benifit of all.
Discover the ruling mansion of your zodiac aspect.
Create the seal of your mansion.

here's hoping you enjoy :)

Working with Astological sigils

2009-11-03T23:24:00.004Z

This weekend I spent the Samhain feast amongst the warmth of some new friends and the glow of some unusually kind heart's. The scene was set the feast was had enjoyed and I had myself one or two unusual experiences within the inner planes – which although wonderful and much prized later got me thinking.

The inward eye may always see but what exactly does it be looking at most of the time? And how can someone as ranty and symbol obsessed as myself channel beyond the superficial clutter to that deeper resonance of truth.

So as I clambered onto the train today, begrudgingly carrying weak tea in one hand and a newly purchased copy of one of Valerie worths master pieces in the other all ready to enjoy the journey home when I remembered back to when I first started scrying – and the advice that made its way to me.

Tradition holds that planetary symbols can be used to test the intentions of the spirit/ entity/ accuracy of a personal revelations.

It's a technique I used to use when I first started scrying (awh, they were the days!) and attempting to interpret charts. Although like all things it isn't perfect with challenges and flaws of its own (which you'll hopefully, like myself, quickly come accustomed too after you start using them) but was once a very mighty tool among my small arsenal of trikes of the trade. For a reason unknown I hadn't used it in some time – but I now plan to change all that :)

An example of this would be the other night, with Samhain in full swing and the arms of the dusk held me as I snuggled up in a camping bag on a deliciously soft sofa, during which the movement and trotting of those unnamed were heard coursing up and down outside the house.

Sleep had me in that lulled sense of space that only a warm fire and perhaps a dream or two of a young jude law can conjour up but I managed to drew with my mind the Sigil of Tested Imagination – that of the Planet Mercury while vibrating it's Hebrew corresponding letter of Beth. The noise continued and according to the voices shared over a very enjoyed brekkie was heard by others in the house – which on the very basic level of a craved realism (the father would be as proud!) is proof enough for me :)

However those of you other there who want a more elegant array planetary gestures for testing spirits and intuitions should give Planetary Magick by Melitta Denning and Osborn Phillips a look into.

These are some of the Sigils and Letters of the planets:

The theory and practice is that if you suspect that one of these factors may be influencing your vision, chart interpretation or scrying session you can project an image of the corresponding Hebrew letter into the scene.

It will cause the scene/thoughts to darken or diminish, or even disappear if the scene is in fact the sort of projection you suspect it to be.

There is of course a wariness of introducing extraneous powers into a vision/thought-form in this way as it could very well cause more problems than it might solve and is in no way a replacement for common sense of a good banishing. (Just had to say that)

Here's hoping you enjoy and find some use:)

Personal Astrological Sigil

2009-09-01T13:37:00.010+01:00

This is a short post on Natal Sigils -

In essence a sigil is simply a sign or image that has being imbued with magickal properties. The purpose of a Natal sigil is to direct the subconscious mind, aligned with astrological aspects to accomplish the desires or needs of your conscious mind, as well as draw forth a deeper connection with the soul self as represented through the Natal chart.

It is said that our subconscious mind requires symbolism created or maintained by the conscious mind to motivate it to accomplish desires as well as forge a deeper link with the higher self.

Of course, there are many different theories on Sigils and their uses, and beyond that many more different ways to create them - below is one of my favourites:

A basic natal sigil works by applying assigned astrological principles, that utilises the natal charts planetary positions, through a numerological procession and forged into a image.

Procession used in example:

Sun
Moon
Mercury
Venus
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn

Imitation Chart placements:

Completed Sigil:

I have personally used the above sigil pattern in forms of honorary and elective astrology, as well as horoscopic placements to empower a working on a specific day, or having it tied to an event etc.

With a bit of simple adjusting you can alter the flow so that not only does it represent the positions of the natal planets (or selected day, moment of ritual) but an accumulation of planetary associations and virtues.

Example: For an increase of intuition the assignment could be Sun (illumination) – Moon (Intuition) – Jupiter (expanding) and so fort.

I am a fan of the amuletic approach (with slight artistic adjustments, as I enjoy a curved and more natural look then those of sharp angles) and often burn the sigil into wood, carve into taper candles, twirl into blessing water, weave with incense, or as in the example picture below design with modelling clay (which I added corresponding essential oils too) the applications it seems are as unlimited as the imagination of the person who uses it.

How would you use yours?

Astrological Scrying Oil

2009-08-15T21:36:00.013+01:00

Although definitions differ and it is a topic of great expanse on a basic level Scrying is a practice that involves psychically receiving messages, intuitions and subconscious flows via an object or physical medium. It is usually for the purpose of obtaining spiritual and personal revelations, but also at times can be utilised for acts of divination.

Among my favourite methods stands strongly the practice of hudromacny, which uses water and sometimes oil, as the medium in which through an altered state of consciousness; images, visions and at times a communion of spirits can come to pass.

Below is a personal blend I have being working on for some time, in which I have used the prevalent psychic indications, Mercurian influences and Lunaristic properties of my own natal chart, along side the zodiac and elemental qualities of herbs as a way to construct both a potent blend of association as well as an astrologically charged medium to scry with.

The main focus was to gather together the primary seven planets in my Birth Chart (and possibly settle my understanding at the forces in play, so if in the future I wanted to make a blend for someone else I could). I still have many points of practice to work out, but in it's own way the blend can be seen as a herbal reflection of my birth chart, and thus my life, aiding a deeper and more in-tune platform for scrying.

How it currently stands

Sun: Cancer
Moon: Scorpio
Mercury: Cancer
Venus: Taurus
Mars: Cancer
Jupiter: Aquarius
Saturn: Scorpio

Having meddled with the thought of utilising the Decans, Houses and Node points of associations for quite a long time, I eventually decided against it. Not only would it risk the blending becoming far too complicated, there is little reason to make it an arduous task when as an expression of interest and adaptability is would seem to be never the less effective.

Gathering the ingredient took some time, which not only from a personal point of view felt like I was giving more energy and force to the experiment, I also wanted to gather them when my Natal points were in especially auspicious placements.

Herbs used (traditional association)

Sun: Bay
Moon: Jasmine
Mercury: Lavender
Venus: Willow
Mars: Dragons Blood
Jupiter: Clove
Saturn: Cypress

Times of gathering were

Taurus, Cancer, Scorpio and Aquarius.

I used a combination of Solar and Lunar rulerships for the herbs. For example, during the Solar rule of Taurus I gathered the willow (I used the root, to symbolise origins and depth) during the period in which the moon was also in Taurus.

Although the time chosen was the void moon, and such works by tradition are traditionally relaxed, seeing as it belongs to the crone and the dark moon – I felt it was a perfect time for the more receptive impulses, rather then the projective one's of a full moon.

Taurus
Willow root: Cut with a copper blade – symbolising Venus.

Cancer
Bay: Moonstone chips left in “payment” to the tree.
Lavender: The herb was chosen above the others as it represented Scorpio, the 8th house of transition.
Dragons Blood: Seeing as I don't grow the plant myself I purchased some resin and brewed it, storing in a crystal decanter.

Scorpio
Jasmine: Cut with a silver knife – symbolising the moon.
Cypress: Stored with a chunk of lead – symbolising Saturn.

Aquarius
Clove: I decided to boil a large amount of cloves in water pressed with the sigil of Aquarius.

Although I contemplated waiting until Monday, day of the moon, psychicism and the internal flows I decided to use today – not only for the reasons that I have Saturn in my 12th house, but with a Leo Sun sextile to a Gemini Moon, the associations of communication were ones that really called to me.

After mixing them in a pestle and mortar, brewing on a open flame and allowing to cool with the additives of three of my eyelashes (for sake of symbolism of vision and sight) I finally bottled.

I added a Peacock feather bound with a red cord to further symbolise the energy, fire and illumination as well as a deepening of the association of sight and vision.

Haven't yet to use it, I am still never the less somewhat pleased with the results :)

So, what would you brew?

Oein

2009-08-04T01:04:00.006+01:00

Astro Tasseomancy

Below is a brief rant on a reading I did today, be warned I am somewhat tired so this post will be far more disjointed then usual :)

ill ignore a long recourse into the vast majority of actual symbols and polarities that came up but I was pleasantly surprised by the force and clarity of the reading – so much so I'm sharing it with anyone that cares to read :)

In regards to my health over the last while I have being somewhat off form – so with todays Moon in Capricorn, the earthly sign of corporeal manifestation being in a sharp conjunction with Lilith the guise of a silent knowing, I felt it was an especially beneficial time to do a reading in search of insight, recollection and the deeper reflections such a configuration can bring.

I decided to use Tesseomancy, the art of tea leaf reading as my main guide – not that drawing up a chart, or spreading the cards was out of the question; but sometimes a different hands on approach seems appropriate, and if anything precisely what's needed.

Playing upon the associations of my current state of health, the present emotional and horoscopial array, the prevalent astrological health positions of my natal chart, as well as the goal of seeking “practical steps to recovery” I mixed up a blend.

After a bit of pondering, and recording the blends ingredients I eventually named it Mishli Berno, meaning “The way forward”.

Misli Berno
Equal parts of:
Green tea
Jasmine
Dandelion root
Vervain
Set with a freshly blessed Aventrine crystal.

Brewing the tea I had a real sense of fixation on the goal, pouring my thoughts and ideas, intentions and feelings into the brew as it stirred in the pot. I left it astir for nine or so minutes, which is the traditional time assigned for readings in gaining practical steps forward as well as being the numerical association of the Moon, the main astrological instigator of the reading.

The resulting tea was light, aromatic and quite sweet to the taste (A pleasant and welcomed surprise!)

With limited time and the days waning physical energy I decided not to scry on the surface or study the steam for its own omens, instead I opted to use the Nelros saucer design as the medium of the tea. The set's among my favourite and although it's a bit tricky to track down these days it's certainly worth the effort for those wanting a quick reading (ah go on!).

The resulting spin of the cup:

Crescent moon/ Boomerang – Leo
Letters E. N. - Libra
Face/Smile – Sagittarius
Angel with curled wings – Aquarius
Number seven/ Shoe – Taurus/Gemini
Gathering of tea on the Fire aspect of the Pentagram

Starting with the current sun sign of Leo I interpreted the tea leaves in it's section as the dual manifestation of a boomerang and a crescent moon. This indicates and reminds me that the health issue is a recurring one, but also one in a state of natural flux – the first symbol is one of will, of the psychosomatic principles in play while the second reflects that, although my will indeed had it's part to play in the current affairs; it is also one of divine order. Allowing the opportunity to grown, evolve and come to a deeper (albeit a shallow one) understanding of the power of intention and repression, as well as the beauty of compassion.

Libra the Airy domain of justice and equilibrium carries with it the letters of E.N. - which reflects for myself an offer of healing from a friend, who is heavily and authentically involved with a system that bears those letters prominently. Giving much thought to the idea that although I have much anxiety in regards to that particular field of study it is never the less still worth further consideration.

Sagittarius is aligned with a clear distinctive smile. Seeing as it was the first symbol that originally took form it is highly indicative of the eventual outcome – one of happiness. Which is not only reassuring, it in itself makes me smile :) Hopefully, as I suspect, when applied to linear time (by the solar rise of Saggi.) much of the current strands of chaos will have found renewed order.

Aquarius offered up the image of an angel with curled wings, not only in confirmation of Libra's insight but a protective reminder that in these fresh experiences and times of trial, that I am very much protected and cared for. The water bearer is one of emotional release and seemingly eccentric behaviour – with a calling to resurge away from the apathy of the moment and become more empowered by my own voice of being, rather then the silence of my physical situation.

The Taurus/Gemini divide brings with it the Numerical personality of seven, which when employed intuitively to my situation calls for more in-depth working on my Chakras. On a very basic level seven is the number of remembrance and a new manifested form, born out of the transition of the five and the gestation of the six. What I feel to be a clear indication of success through more advanced work and developing technique of the LBRP, Middle Pillar and so forth.

The secondary form of this sign is the shoe. Both symbols are quite clear to my eyes, perhaps somewhat reflective of being on the cusp of two signs – so that it can easily, without much focus, embody two separate concepts at the one time. The shoe reminds me of an array of ideas I have being pondering over – such as the developing understanding that “grounding” isn't an act in itself, but a process. One that can take quite a lot of time, in grounding and neutralising the generated and stored thought-forms, ideas and energy matrix within the body and Aura. To ground is to initiate or reinforce the process, but the actual grounding is a continual and ever changing process in itself.

I have also, time and energy allowing being on many nature walks, and have returned home with a deeper sense of renewal – such a configuration I feel encourages to continue this practice, and if possible increase – which will also help to offset some of the more physical consequences of therapy and an increasingly sedentary lifestyle.

The cluster of tea on the Pentagrams elemental aspect of fire is an association calling for more action, attention and spirit in challenging this situation – burning away the gathering apathy to release the form renewed.

To prevent boring you all any further, by decending into the lenghty discriptions of the main symbols, as well as unpenned secondary ones and there associated Zodiac signs being applied to my natal and present chart etc this is what, in shirt I feel are the readings highlights.

The situation is one of dual creation, of both a life lesson and the repressed emotional state of some of my own darker instincts. There is a definite indication to re-examine the offer of healing from another, even if it is something I would otherwise not of chosen – the signs are clear that although I possess a degree of anxiety over the subject I am never the less cared for beyond any overly negative consequences.

The rise of Sagittarius will bring with it much joy, so if I continue to work on my body energetically as well as caring for it through the physical practicalities such as exercise and a continued connection with nature then there is little resistance to the return of health.

Unusually, although there are far more symbols seen and interpreted none indicated ay direct negative influence, but more indicative of voids of force – making the situation all the more willing for change. All in all a very empowering and refreshing reading.

Please excuse the poorly formulated and expressed post – the day has being long, my body weary and my mind just about ready for bed :)

Until next time!

Celtic Astrology

2009-07-15T15:40:00.010+01:00

In modern Astrology the Celtic Zodiac is a thing of great debate, from the origins of it's form, the tools of its practitioners and the reasonings of it's regents of power – all have at one time or another found themselves either exposed to great question or simply overlooked.

Although the Celtic lunar based zodiac is thought to have been the one used by the Druids it was not until "Tree Zodiac" was, according to some, rediscovered by Robert Graves in his famous book, The White Goddess [1949]. Others, however, accuse Graves of being at best gravely mistaken and at worst contriving the Zodiac.

As I understand it ,uch of what Robert Graves put forward as the Tree Calendar and Tree Zodiac relies on modern interpretations derived from the book Ogygia, seu rerum hibernicarum chronologia [1685], a chronological account of Irish events, by the seventeenth century bard Roderick O'Flaherty [1629 - 1718].

O'Flaherty had claimed that his information was gained from a Duald MacFirbis [1585-1670], the great Irish scholar, clan bard of the O'Briens. Modern scholars, however, have placed seriously doubts upon these interpretations, and as the Bardic schools were essentially Christian, it is very unlikely that they preserved Druidic knowledge long into the Christian era.

It is also worth noting that according to the 'Camden's Britannia' the word Ogygia comes from Latin. It is quoted in Plutarch as the Roman's name for Ireland.

The most modern derivative of Graves lunar zodiac which is most commonly cited on the net comes from the work of Helena Peterson in her Handbook of Celtic Astrology [1995].
Joseph Monard, a Celtic scholar has described her work in the following terms: "Her lunar zodiac only makes the ancient Druids look like senile lunatics." and the zodiac as "phony." [According to my version of Celtic Astrology: A modern Hoax [2002] Centre Universitaire de Recherche en Astrologie].

It is certainly notable that the astrological system as outlined includes Uranus, Neptune and Pluto which were almost certainly unknown to the Druids and would thus have no place among their interpretations or system of analysis. It also appears ignorant of the ancient Celtic names of several planets and Gods.

Also the zodiac starts on December 24th whereas the Coligny Calendar shows us that the Celtic year started in October/November with the doorway of samhain.

However, the Graves and Patterson models are but two of several competing attempts at a Druidic Zodiac.

Others which I feel are worth a mention are:

Friedrich Hageneder's Tree-signs;
Carol Carnac's Celtic Astrology;
Edgar Bliss's Gaulish Astrology;
Kaledon Naddair's Shamanistic Calendar.

These approaches offer wildly different Tree Zodiacs, some 13-sign lunar, some decanated solar with 36 divisions. Whilst the Hageneder approach is also based on Ogygia, the others possess little in the way of exposition of how precisely each author determined that this was the zodiac used by the Celts and their Druids.

It is best to remember that the idea and thought that there was a comprehensive Celtic astrology is in little doubt. Classical writers, such as Strabo, Caesar, Diodorus Siculus, Cicero and Pliny, comment on the Druidic knowledge and experience of astrology. There was even a school of thought amongst some of the Classical Greek astrologers based in Athens that their astrology had been borrowed from the Celts.

For example, Caesar in the Conquest of Gaul [Conquest of Gaul, VI.18] writes:

"The Gauls claim all to be descended from Father Dis [a god of death, darkness and the underworld], declaring that this is the tradition preserved by the Druids. For this reason they measure periods of time not by days but by nights; and in celebrating birthdays, the first of the month, and new year’s day, they go on the principle that the day begins at night."

Caesar was not exactly known for his pro-Druidic sympathies. However, his comments do preserve some idea of the difference and complexity of real Druidic astrology.

Unfortunately for us, the Druids left us nothing about their side of the story. They left absolutely no written records to the effect of their teachings. Irish and Welsh written literature does not begin until about the 6th century AD so all known knowledge of them arise from culturally external perceptions of by the whispers of the ancestral lines.

By the 6th century when records came about the standard appears to be a variation of Western Astrology, based on a Babylonian/Greek model of interpertation – having entirely replaced the native system.

Aside from the references of the Classical authors, there is some other evidence that remains for the existence of Celtic astrology, especially the Coligny Calendar.

This is probably the best preserved example of a Celtic calendar. It embodies a number of engraved copper-alloy fragments were discovered in 1897 in ancient woodlands fifteen miles north-east of Bourg-en-Bresse, in France.

They were pieces of a single, large bronze tablet, which originally would have measured some 1.5 x 1 metres. The French archaeologist J. Monard has dated the fragments to the 1st century AD.

Several points of interest can be noted from the Coligny Calendar:

The calendar took into account the problem of the lunar month not being an exact fraction of the solar year by inserting an extra month on a regular cycle. This method of intercalation meant that most years contained twelve months, and approximately every third year contained thirteen months. This extra month was called Mid Samonios, and was intercalated between Cutios and Giamonios in the calendar.

The Celtic month started at the full-moon, rather than the new-moon. Each month alternately contained 29 or 30 days, making a Celtic year 354 days in length.

The month was divided into two parts, a 'light' half, and a 'dark' half, each approximately of two week's duration; the division marked by the word Atenoux 'returning night' on the Coligny fragments. This indicates that the new-moon also played a part in the Celtic calendar. This also bears-out the impression we get from the traditional Celtic folk-stories which maintain that the normal period of Celtic timekeeping was the fortnight.

By extrapolation, the calendar also confirms that the Gallic druids maintained a thirty-year cycle of timekeeping, comprising five cycles of 62 lunations and one cycle of 61 lunations, during which period, eleven intercalary months would be added.

The months of the Celtic calendar were as follows:

Celtic names -Modern months-Meaning*

Samonios-October-November-Seed-fall
Dumannios-November-December-Darkest depths
Riuros-December-January-Cold-time
Anagantios-January-February-Stay-home time
Ogronios-February-March-Ice time
Cutios-March-April-Windy time
Giamonios-April-May -Shoots-show
Simivisonios-May-June-Bright time
Equos-June-July-Horse-time
Elembiuos-July/August-Claim-time
Edrinios-August/September -Arbitration-time
Cantlos-September/October -Song-time

*Translations based on the work of Caitlin Matthews in The Celtic Tradition. (Which if you have not read, is most certainly worth the time!).

Two major Celtic religious festivals, Beltain and Lughnasadh, were marked on the Coligny calendar by small sigils. Each year started with the month of Samonios, during which period the festival of Samhain was celebrated.

Many terms of astrological reference or importance have survived into modern times. The Gaelic language has many words and concepts that stand witness to the thoughts and understandings of the past.

In old Irish itself there were at least six words for an astrologer.

Rollagedagh [one who gains knowledge from the stars].
Fisatóir [one who gains knowledge from the heavens].
Eastrolach [one who gains knowledge from the moon].
Fathach [one steeped in prophecy].
N éladoir [one who divinates from the sky, or clouds].
Réalt-eolach [one versed in astrology].

It must be said though that although the modern take on Celtic Astrology is just that. Modern. It is not without it's own virtues, style and insights. Age is not always a virtue that installs wisdom and truth as such things need to be earned, and while Celtic Astrology is still very much a reborn source of divination, it is well on the way to earned its standing

References:
Caitlin Matthews in The Celtic Tradition.
Robert Graves, The White Goddess.
Dr Sheperd Simpson, Celtic Zodiac.
Ogygia, seu rerum hibernicarum chronologia.
Joseph Monard, Celtic Astrology.

Karmic Astrology - whispers in the winds of time

2009-02-23T01:47:00.004Z

Today a neighbour not four doors away was laid to rest, I did not know him well but the words of his family struck a deep cord with me, and left me thinking much about my own mortality, life and ultimate passage from this realm of being to the next.

I hope that when the tides of life come to wash away my footprints in the sands of time, that I have being as lucky to leave a trail as half as beautiful as the one he had left entwined in the hearts of his family and friends.

The burial itself was later then most, at eight in the evening when the sun has set and the arms of night had curled around the city, with cloudy breath and frost touched toes I walked to the church, the path was lit with amber street lamps that shone like candles in the chill of night, and as I sat on the wooden chair hearing the words of sorrow for a life lost and tales of joy for a life truly lived, I just couldn't help but ponder how the celestial bodies watch over us in life, and when the earth comes to reclaim its lost children they would shine all the brighter for the future stardust that would course through the veins of eternity.

This has led me allot to the idea of this blog: Karmic Astrology.

Karmic astrology is a branch of astrology based on the concept of the cycle of rebirths and the law of cause and effect. And from such ideals comes the belief that the horoscope can help us recognise the effects of past actions in the present life and how our present may in return affect future lives as well as the future of our present lives.

It is probably one of the closest branches of Astrology linked to religion and spiritual teaching and his highly subjective to the experiences of those that follow such a path of self understanding.

There are a few generally valid guidelines for interpretation:

- A particular emphasis on the importance of the fourth, eighth and twelfth houses which are associated with the water element.

- The eighth house is thought to reveal past Karma, the fourth house present Karma and the twelfth future Karma.

- The planet Pluto, ruler of the eighth house together with the sign of Scorpio, are also thought to reveal the nature of past Karma.

- The Imum Coli (cusp of the fourth house) is thought to reveal the nature of the tasks an individual will have to face in the present life.

- There is also a great significance granted to the Moon and Saturn (which is often known as the "lord of karma")

Finally, the Moons Nodes also play an important role.

-The Moon's South Node:
Represents our karmic ancestry and we are probably familiar with the themes indicated by the South Node.

-The North Node:
Shows our karmic aim in the present life, something which is likely to cause feelings of anxiety because we cannot always rely on past experiences to help us progress there.

Merit Karma

This is the reward for all the things you got right in your past lives, all the lessons you learned, all the insights you put into practice. It is money in your Karmic piggy bank, it often manifests as a talent in the present life.

Chart Indicators:Easy aspects or specific planetary placements, especially linked to the Second House.

Recompense Karma

Recompense Karma is a reward or recognition for all things that you got right in the past, or for the sacrifice you made to help others. If for example, you put your ambitions or a relationship on hold to care for someone who needed your help, then that person could well come back as a good friend who helps you out in the present incarnation.

Chart Indicators:Helpful planetary placements and smooth, harmonious aspects and interaspects.

Redemptive Karma

Some people incarnate to help others or to do something for the world. Other people take on tasks that will help to clear collective karma.

Chart Indicators:People with strong redemptive karma often have an emphasis on the planet Neptune or the twelfth house. Clearing collective karma is often shown in a twelfth house placement of the north node.

Retributive Karma

Karma that boomerangs. The classic "eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth" doctrine that says, for instance if someone chopped another persons hand in a former life, they are likely to have a paralysed hand in the present life, or lose the use of their hand in some way. In other words, what you have done comes back to you.

Chart Indicators:Extremely challenging aspects and planetary placements, emphasis on the sixth to twelfth axis.

Attitudinal Karma

Attitudinal karma has usually been present during several lives. An intransigent attitude, ingrained behaviour, or an intractable or habitual emotional stance results in some form of dis-ease, often at the physical level, during the present incarnation. So believing there would "never be enough" could manifest as an addiction. Arterial or heart problems could develop from "hard-heartedness" or a broken heart. Having an attachment to an ideal may also create karma.

Chart Indicators:Reflected in fixed planetary aspects and the sixth house.

Organic Karma

Organic karma is rather like attitidinal karma. It reflects injuries or conditions from previous lives .Overindulgence for instance could manifest as obesity or liver problems in the present. If you died by too much blood-letting, you could now suffer from anemia. A past life back injury could underlie a chronic back problem, tuberculosis could result in present life lung disease.

Chart Indicators:The sixth house

Karmic Treadmill

Destructive patterns that have not been outgrown are like the karmic treadmill. The same old things go around and around. Alcoholism is one example, relationships can provide many other examples.

Chart Indicators:Difficult aspects and a preponderance of planets in a fixed sign.

Work Karma

How you were employed in the past can have repercussions in the present, and some people incarnate to continue their previous work (vocational Karma) Someone may have been a healer or a doctor and bring with them into the present life the urge to heal. A former monk or nun would feel that they have a religious vocation in the present life, a musician the urge to continue with music.The karma of work arises from several different life causes.

Previous lack of integrity, for instance would manifest as someone who is cheated in this life, is cheated by someone. Having been a factory owner who's inadequate safety measures were responsible for many deaths could underlie an urge to be a safety or fire officer in the present life.Positive work karma could indicate skills to be drawn on in the present life. Technological karma stems from having had to make ethical decisions, about the use or misuse, of technical -or fighting against the introduction of new technology. It can relate to all periods but may go back in time as far as Atlantis or, more recently, to the Industrial and Technological Revolutions and their effects on people's lives.

Chart Indicators:Sixth and Tenth houses. Technological Uranus, especially in the Sixth and Tenth houses are particularly relevant to vocations.

Symbolic Karma

Not all karma is immediately obvious, symbolic karma can take some unravelling. The present life condition symbolizes what was done in the past. A witch ducker in a previous life might be incarnated as a bed wetter, for example.

Chart Indicators:Aspects to the appropriate planets and placements of planets in signs and houses delineate this karma.

Communication Karma

How and what you choose to communicate can lead to karma. Gossiping over the fence, spreading scandal or untruth of all kinds, slandering or criticising people, difficulty in communicating thoughts, feelings, and beliefs can create situations in this life. Included in communication karma are ideology hypocrisy, and mockery.

Attachment to a belief no matter how worthy, can create ideological karma. Imposing beliefs on other people can also create this karma. The beliefs may be religious, philosophical, or purely secular. But the karma has to be met in the current life.Having said or done things a certain way, while believing something different, gives rise to the karma hypocrisy, so does the "anything for a quiet life" approach. Hypocrisy rises from a lack of spiritual conviction and inner truth, or betrayal of truth.

A life arises when that inner foundation has to be regained.Mocking other peoples afflictions, thoughts and beliefs, or actions gives rise to the karma of mockery, it is based on not valuing that another persons beliefs. One such example is when you debase or make fun of someone else so that you can feel superior. The person who mocks often finds him or herself living out in the present life the circumstances he or she despised so much in a past life.

Chart Indicators:Aspects to Mercury and it's house placement point to the source. The ninth house has to do with ideology. The third house with gossip, and the twelfth with slander.

Sins of Omission and Commission

What you do not do can be as karmically significant as what you do. If you have always behaved in a certain way, or consistently refused to take action or learn a lesson, then the karma comes around and around, again and again until you get the message.

Chart Indicators:Difficult fixed aspects or an emphasis on sextiles. Relationship

Karma Relationship

Karma has many aspects. A couple may be brought together by true love, but this is not always so. Some people will not let go of someone they "love" and have come back with that person until they can do so. The lesson can be painful especially when the other person doesn't recognize the "love."

Retribution can be part of relationship karma, as can be recompense and reparation. It operates in families, groups, and work situations.

Chart Indicators:Fifth seventh and eighth houses and aspects to Venus.

Pacts and Promises

The pacts and promises you made in a past life can strongly affect the present. They may involve another person or be personal. If you promised to always be there for someone, you might have to deal with the resulting relationship karma. If you once made a vow to celibacy it could strongly affect your sexual life in the present incarnation and a vow of poverty could seriously affect your material wealth in the present.

Chart Indicators:This depends on the vow for example celibacy, Saturn in the eighth house, difficult mars or Venus aspects, poverty Saturn in the second or eighth house, or in Taurus or in aspect to Jupiter. Relationship promises involve personal planetary interaspects with Saturn and Neptune.

Karma in Suspension

As not all karma can be dealt with at once, some of it remains in suspension to be dealt with at some other time- which may or may not occur during the present life.

Chart Indicators:Wide connections between planets may indicate karma in suspension, especially if they will "catch up" and come into close orb at some point during your life.

Karma in the Making

What goes on in the present time creates future karma. Remembering that each of your thoughts, deeds, actions and beliefs creates what you will be is away to bring positive karma into your next life.

Chart Indicators:Cardinal squares and one -way interaspects between charts

Karma of aggression

Chart indicators: square's in cardinal signs ( Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn ), with Mars and it's superior octave, Pluto.

This type of karma shows that the person in the past lifes had a bad use of energy like: instinctive behaviour, aggression, violent impulses, domination and manipulation tenderise used in tiranic ways ( bad leaders ), egocentrism, irrational motivations that led to scandal, wrong canalization of energy, cruelty etc.

Mars in the chart show's how the person manifested this type of karma and it's possible to repeat it worsens in the actual life( still showed by the squares and Mars ). Pluto in the chart shows how this karma can be burned and to use the energy in good way, fighting yourself to beat the instincts and the aggressive impulses, learning the lesson of peace, calm, meditation and love.

Usually this karma gives in the actual life negative events like: frequently occurring accidents, injuries and burns ; being victim of violent and cruel persons; fast and violent breaking of relationships; sexual problems, painful health disorders etc..If a person has square's, T-Square's or Mystic Square's in cardinal sign's this type of karma is enabled.

Karma of possessive attachment.

Chart indicators: squares in fixed signs ( Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius ), with Venus and it's superior octave, Neptune. This type of karma shows that the person in the past lifes had been excessive attached to money, persons and possessions.

Most of the time this karma show's that in past life's, the materialism and satisfying owns desire's was something important, the person was to attached to something that led making the loved ones unhappy because of selfishness.Venus in the chart show's how the person manifested this type of karma and it's possible to repeat it worsen in the actual life( still showed by the squares and Venus ).

Neptune in the chart shows how this karma can be burned and to learn the lessons of detachment, acceptation, compassion, spirituality and to love without asking in return.

Usually this karma gives in the actual life negative events like: losing someone you love, poorness, losing objects you are attached, being victim of selfish persons, lots of personal illusions, long health disorders etcIf a person has square's, T-Square's or Mystic Square's in fixed sign's this type of karma is enabled.Karma of ignorance:hart indicators: squares in mutable signs ( Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces ), with Mercury and it's superior octave, Uranus.

This type of karma shows that the person in the past lives had been to ignorant, to rebellious, he/she wanted to be free and have no duties doing all what he likes even if he/she breaks the freedom of others.

They refused duties, they lie often, sometimes breaks laws by ignoring the consequences and usually this karma is manifested in the most forms in cruel teasing ( laughing on Someones mystakes or physical defects ) or bieng to chaotic and influencial.

Mercury in the chart show's how the person manifested this type of karma and it's possible to repeat it worsen in the actual life( still showed by the squares and mercury ). Uranus in the chart shows how this karma can be burned and to learn how to be disciplined, responsible on duties, practical and to learn the lesson of respect.

Usually this karma gives in the actual life negative events like: errors, bad luck, loosing exams on school, high-school and university, bad luck on social life and career, speech and nervous disorder, being victim of cruel teasing, being victim of lies, bad friends etc.If a person has square's, T-Square's or Mystic Square's in mutable sign's this type of karma is enabled.

While this is not of my own personal perception and allignment when it comes to astrology and its study I still never the less find it a most fascinating topic - worthy of study, review and for some implementation.

References: The wildly witty MsSaturn and the wonderfully gifted Borx.

Lunar phrases - The lady of many faces.

2009-02-14T18:24:00.005Z

The cycle of the aspects formed by the Moon to the Sun from a geocentric perspective is known as the lunation cycle. It lasts on average 29 days, 12 hours, 44½ minutes, a unit of time called the synodic month which because the Sun is also moving in direct motion through the tropical zodiac takes over two days longer than the sidereal month, which is the measure of the time the Moon takes to orbit the earth.

The lunation cycle is divided into eight units called 'phases', each covering 45º of the geocentrically viewed cycle of the Moon's application to and separation from the Sun. Astrologers have studied the effects of the natal and progressed lunar phases.

In the natal figure, for every Sun sign there are three possible Moon signs for each lunar phase.The lessons of each phase and the soli-lunar aspects within apply equally to natal phases and to those of the progressed Moon to radical Sun, and radical Moon to progressed Sun.

New Moon

The New Moon phase lasts from the Moon's exact conjunction with the Sun until its separation by 45º from the Sun, forming a separating semisquare. It emphasises instinct and oblivion of the past. Individuals born under the New Moon phase are impulsive, instinctive, and inclined to self-dramatise and self-project, rendering them very noticeable to others.

They are more inclined to follow their instincts than analyse their behaviour or apply forethought; and have a strong inclination to impose their personal vision on the world.Under the progressed New Moon, individuals reorientate themselves inwardly and experience a major change in life that may be more apparent with hindsight but that is typified by a free, open response to a new guiding power.

In this phase, a conjunction of Sun and Moon is characterised by intensity, concord between the emotions and ego needs, and a highly subjective outlook, with little awareness of the results of their actions.

A semisextile can indicate a latent, raw talent that is frustratingly imperfect, leaving the personal ego dissatisfied, but with potential through persistent endeavour to render the talent effective.

A semisquare brings slight difficulties and mental irritations that frustratingly restrict the individual from full self-projection.

Crescent

The Crescent phase lasts from 45º until the separating square at 90º from the Sun. It is characterised by exertion and breaking away.

Those born under the Crescent phase are likely to be closely emotionally connected to their families, but inwardly moved to break with their family values or tradition, both materially and philosophically, struggling to establish their own values and criteria and means for self-worth, and to self-assertively challenge the established order and influence the collective direction.

The focal point of their restlessness or avenue for expression of this drive will be shown by the placement of the Moon and by the house on whose cusp Cancer is found in the nativity.

Under the progressed Crescent Moon, the new direction adopted subjectively under the New Moon is at first exposed to resistance by the external world, followed later by opportunities to develop it in more substantial form.In this phase, a semisquare causes irritation and discomfort, often relating to personal communication or educational objectives, motivating the individual to seek to self-develop to a more contented, tranquil condition.

A sextile brings opportunities for advancement from restrictive situations into more productive ones, through their own choices taken.

A quintile shows a perfected talent whose activation transforms the individual's situation, as though helped by a higher force.

A square shows an energetic struggle to take action to achieve a step forward toward some goal.

First Quarter

The First Quarter phase lasts from 90º to the separating sesquisquare at 135º separation. It is characterised by energy and forward motion with courage and action.

Those born under the First Quarter phase are good at learning to relate to others objectively, responding to crises and concretising new ideas that represent their own beliefs. They have a a pressing will to act; eagerness to experience life; executive and organisational abilities; and an attraction to liberating change. They are inclined to enlarge and expand their scope in the world and philosophy of life.

Under the progressed First Quarter, the capacity for the establishment of the new life direction in reality and renouncement of the past becomes the driving force over which the individual must take control, especially after the turning point of the square, committing courageously and confidently to the challenges of integrating the new life direction.

In this phase, a square between Sun and Moon produces an energetic urge to take action that will lead to the manifestation of their beliefs in the outside world, but a risk of conflict with others arising from insufficient objectivity, and sometimes a requirement for higher education.

A trine motivates to growth through education, philosophy or religion, and brings expansion in these areas relatively easily at the possible expense of it being far-reaching, while showing easily outwardly expressed earned talent, which may require disciplined application to overcome its inherent laziness.

A sesquisquare shows well-developed self-awareness that is difficult to express outwardly, leading to feelings of solitude in belief, but bringing identification with those of similar beliefs, and aptitude for teaching objective awareness of higher truths.

Gibbous

The Gibbous phase lasts from 135º separation to the opposition at 180º. It is characterised by discrimination, and learning to perceive and contribute to value.

Those born under the Gibbous phase are accepting duty and responsibility; seeking areas of value in the outside world in which to involve themselves; rendering their behaviour answerable to a specific purpose or reason; and eliminating from their lives whatever does nothing to support this system of values.

The placement of Saturn and the house on whose cusp Capricorn falls will indicate the focus of their value and sense of responsibility. They are relatively introspective and questioning, and concerned with expressing their intellectual talents

Under the progressed Gibbous Moon, productivity is great, and the individual struggles to persevere commitedly to the commitments established in the previous phase, while retaining flexibility in the face of everyday realities.

In this phase, a sesquisquare shows lonely self-awareness and earned power requiring disciplined application if it is to be harnessed constructively as opposed to destructively.

A biquintile indicates a unique talent requiring self-discipline to be expressed productively, rather than simply being held within introvertedly, leading to disillusion.

A quincunx shows the need to take an important decision, make adjustments, and dedicate oneself to the realisation of a seemingly karmic personal or social goal which otherwise tends to seem always to be elusive.

An opposition indicates the attainment of success through acting responsibly (in an area of life indicated by the house placement of Saturn) on awareness of others (the nature of the work for whom will be shown by the house on whose cusp Capricorn is found); but with the requirement for dedication and compromise in order to resolve opposing influences and attain fulfilment as opposed to separation.

Full Moon

The Full Moon phase lasts from the opposition to the applying sesquisquare at 225º. It is characterised by fulfilment and the perception of opposite poles.Those born under the Full Moon phase have open, clear minds, seeking personal fulfilment mediated by inner illumination, and demanding of themselves thought and understanding prior to action.

They are considerate of others and learning self-expression to a partner or to a greater cause than themselves, seeking the perfection of an ideal relationship and an existence integrated with the colllective and defined through what lies outside themselves.

Under the progressed Full Moon, the efforts made to establish the new direction begun at the progressed New Moon are reflected in a clear light, which may manifest as deep fulfilment or disturbance and defeat, depending on the success or failure of meeting the challenges along the way; and objective consciousness of the progress of the cycle so far should be cultivated in order to prepare the way for the ensuing search for meaning.

In this phase, an opposition between Sun and Moon brings a requirement for applied awareness of the needs of whoever or whatever is being related to, in order to reconcile opposing views, using the mind to consider all options before acting and to communicate.

A quincunx requires mental adjustment to a spiritual attitude in order to attain fulfilment or concord that appears otherwise to be karmically elusive.

A biquintile brings creative potential whose expression is impeded by its obsessive or potentially hallucinatory quality.

A sesquisquare brings a talent or mental awareness that is difficult to communicate, requiring effort to be presented into a form readily understood by others on a verbal and emotional level.

Disseminating

The Disseminating phase lasts from 225º to the applying square at 270º. It is characterised by love, and giving something of value.

Those born under the Disseminating phase have a need to share and an aptitude for the dissemination of a cause or the distribution of information, whether through writing, broadcasting, or any other means.

These people assimilate and evaluate their ideas, perceptions and insights then promote the conclusions to others. The placement of the Moon will indicate what has to be disseminated; and the houses on whose cusps Taurus and Libra are found will hold clues to the outcome.

Under the progressed Disseminating phase, there is a need to connect with others and demonstrate one's recently developed capabilities and awarenesses to wider society, which may include reforming drives, and the development of a practicable life philosophy and ideology in the light of understandings integrated from what has been observed previously within the cycle.

In this phase, a sesquisquare between Sun and Moon brings mental awareness that is strongly and deeply felt, as though its origins lie in an unearthly source or past time, yet whose ease of verbal expression is relatively limited until the individual is motivated by the love of an activity pursued to develop that awareness further.

A trine brings easy, seemingly perfected talent for the expression of a duty, love or value, something learned as though from a past incarnation.

A square shows the expenditure of great effort in a particular direction to attain success that requires the surmounting of obstacles.

Last Quarter

The Last Quarter phase proceeds from 270º to the applying semisquare at 315º. It is characterised by rebellion, and breaking free from external expectations into individuality.

Those born under the Last Quarter phase experience a crisis characterised by mental awareness of their due destiny of difference, in their desire to forge a socially unusual individuality and liberate themselves from the expectations of others.

They are motivated by integrity and commitment to a progressive ideal they feel responsible for embodying and demonstrating publicly.

Under the progressed Last Quarter, meaning is gathered from the consciousness developed over the cycle; and the individual is inclined to dispose of obsolete areas of life and thinking that do not harmonise with this awareness.

In this phase, a square between Sun and Moon brings conflicts requiring a new kind of action in response; as though in a newly enlightened state the individual, dissatisfied with bygone ways, suddenly and unexpectedly seems finally to initiate new paths that respond to the stored up internal need for changes and depart completely with the modes of the past.

A quintile brings a special new talent that requires to be combined with the roots of the old, and may manifest in artistic areas and in the handling of people and society, the attracting of their assistance, and their awakening to new modes of thought.

A sextile shows a relatively easy opportunity for change and reorientation of the ways of old, often mediated by other individuals encountered.

A semisquare brings slight, irritating problems in everyday affairs, requiring control guided by the individual's awareness of them, since the smooth functioning of such matters is needed for the achievement of longer-term and more far-reaching goals.

Balsamic

The Balsamic phase completes the cycle, from 315º back to the conjunction at 360º. It is characterised by commitment and the development of a new level of consciousness.Those born under the

Balsamic phase are complex, pioneering in their involvements, and poorly integrated into mainstream reality, needing to make a major adjustment to their lives, and perceiving a different meaning of life from that perceived by most people.

They experience deep, intense relationships, but are inclined to forget whatever lies in the past once it is over, training their eyes on the future, into which they have the capacity for exceptional insight, if they are open to channeling intuitions from higher sources.

They bring to the world something that lives beyond their death, and feel compulsively drawn to social action and the communication of visions.

Under the progressed Balsamic phase, individuals are inclined to withdraw into relative introspection and separate from their followers, tuning into new needs arising from the summation of the consciousness brought by the outgoing cycle, needs whose fulfilment will be sought in the cycle to follow.

In this phase, a semisquare between Sun and Moon brings minor frustrations and irritations, often projected onto others but arising from within, that build up, stifle the individual, and block major achievement until they are wilfully forced aside or employed constructively.

A semisextile brings co-operation between ego and emotions that can give rise to a latent workable talent, often exposed only after a process of internal transformation, and requiring channeling in a productive direction, which may depend on more energising aspects or transits being tied into the configuration.

A conjunction brings complete concord between the ego and emotions, with a unified direction to efforts that favours the attainment of prominence in fields indicated by the sign placement.

The moon, our closest planetary power beyond our own earth can be a tool of great personal insight as well as guidance for once the relationship to our own chart and lunar positions is known we are far more equipped to transcend the present conflict to a greater assimilation of higher goals, making it more then just a lady of the night but a ethereal light in the darkness of our own ignorance.

References: Philip GravesBernice Grebner, Leyla Rael Rudhyar, Haydn Paul

Channelling a Sun - Moon square aspect

2009-02-14T02:31:00.003Z

For those that have a Sun square Moon it can be quite the stressing astrological aspect to possess but one that also thankfully possess an extraordinary potential for prompting evolution.The square aspect (or as it is sometimes known as; quadrature) between two planets shows us the existence of a strong internal conflict between the energies of the involved elements.

Any square to the Sun in a person chart is easily interpreted as a very weakening aspect for the persons sense of self because the person primary of source of energy (projected and assigned as the sun) is blocked or is not in resonance with the other planet energy.

This alignment presents itself with a resistance to self communication and expressions The Sun-Moon square is even more weakening than any other square because of the direct connection between those two elements.

With the Sun as our inner self, the consciousness, which is seen as the primary resource of our corporeal energy and the Moon represented by the subconscious in direct opposition to one another's flow the result is that the person with this aspect tends to be permanent unhappy and nothing that is doing bring her peace and happiness.

There is most often a sense of being trapped and bound in a situation that seems without exit or release: when they decided to do something in a willed Solar manner, knowing that this action is the best possible way to progress there is still a inner emotionally in-tune voice that resists this.

The same is also applicable if the person, utilising there Moon based intuitions is feeling something from the emotional point of view, the mental aspect of that person most often at first denies or delays realisation of it.

This situation may lead to destructive reactions and delayed actions...the person may project his internal conflict to the outside world and with the resistance to the emotional and mental cooperation they are most likely to present themselves as a rebel without a cause.

There is also a tendency to think that this internal problem may be caused and of blame to the external factors of friends, children, co-workers etc – which not only gives length to the conflict but guarantees that without review that the situation will remain unresolved. Like myself when

I first started this journey you may feel overly happy and secured that in your chart you don't have this aspect – but alas we may all never the less experience its lesson for a duration of a year through the medium of our solar return.

If you are among those that have the challenge of a Sun-Moon square in a SR chart then it is best to deal with this internal conflict as soon as it is known, or at the very lest make motions and preparations for engaging the challenge and transmuting it to something warmly in your favour.

I'm currently awaiting my own Solar Return with this aspect in is, so hopefully these words of received guidance will be more then just words but a remembrance that regardless of the flow of light the inner illumination is both a sun and lunar reflection onto itself.

The solution seems to consist of becoming increasingly more conscious about your self and about this inner conflict.

First thing to do is to accept it and becoming aware of which is an internal issue and what is a external conflict.

Any reflection of sorrow or stress is within us and not in itself of the outside world but more a by-product of our egos encounter of it. Therefore if we are to overcome such things we need to release any blame on others and remember that the domain of such emotions depends entirely on ourselves.Secondly; focus and concentration is a vital tool of ascending above this challange.

It is most often advised that we set our targets and priorities, making our decisions and not allowing ourselves to waste any more time on this process.

With any done action there is no way that they can be undone, so in assuming the responsibility of our actions and resisting the long and endless debate of "Would I of, Should I of, could I of" you ease the lunar and solar conflict and allow the true will to rise through the fluidity of motion.

This is of course not to say that debate and review is not important (as it it) but only when it is about growth and adjustment and not the self torture of endless second guesses.

And finally by starting to use the positive side of this aspect we can not only prevent it from being a burden but turn it into a beacon of future light.

The main strategy for this is to use any internal anger and lack of satisfaction on improving your situation (both spiritual and material).

The secret is to focus it on the productive area of your life and to apply with a sense of control.
Setting targets before starting something and not allowing yourself to divert from them until they accomplish the goal may be a frustrating idea – but in encountering such an aspect is one that unless encounters rare situations should be for the better part kept to.

Initially by denying the initial battle and conflict of Lunar and Solar energies we can win the war.
This ensures that the self can be allowed to grow to a more empowered state, which at a later stage will be far more established onto itself and secure in the engaging of this aspect – by turning a bane into a beauty we can not only tap into a deep sense of power and energy but can end a sense of conflict that undermines a potentially deeply rewarding life.

Health and Astrological indicators.

2009-02-14T02:21:00.005Z

This week I've being shaking off the lingering tail of a cold, and here prompt on my bed, amongst fallen tissue soldiers, victims in the battle of a man against his germs (yes darn it, it's dramatic! lol) I started to think about how astrological aspects can indicate more long term illnesses and personal weaknesses in immunity.

Within a natal chart there is allot of information that can tell us of a persons predisposition to certain health problems, through my own review I've confirmed a lot of them for myself over the years (which of course you are more then welcomed to debate for yourself) but there's still many that I cant help but question due to the planetary relationship and elemental constitution.

Before I start into a new rant on the planets and the illnesses associated with them, it may be best to keep in mind that although the aspects may be in the natal chart it does not means that are in effect.

At some point in time, the transits or progressions will trigger the aspects for the expected health problem to occur, or at the very least stir the symptoms.

Of course after saying that it is also possible that these illnesses may never occur, or individuals die from other illnesses or accidents before they can be initiated – some people through diligence and precaution may even successfully challenge the planetary influence sufficiently enough on the internal plane to avoid it's lesson from being manifested physically.

I suspect and find plausible that there are other indicators that also determine how serious an effect an illness will have on an individual, mostly depending on the degree on the ascendant and the longitude of the planets and the signs in detriment or debility.

While looking at a chart in search of health it is suggested that one looks first at the riling planet.

That's is of course to say look at the planet that rules the sign on the ascendant. If you are looking at a Taurus ascendant, look at what is happening to Venus etc

While this is being held in mind look for the Aspects.

Squares = Difficult and strongest effect.
Oppositions = Difficult but open to early engagement.
Conjunctions = Effect is noticeable but changeable.
Minor aspects = Most changeable, except semisextile (30 degree's) which continually portray a difficult effect.

It is also important to take into consideration the combination of planets that are involved in an aspect to the ruling planet. Each will have some deeper correspondence with the health problems.

Here's a rundown of some of the traditional health problems most associated with such aspects:

Pluto: (That which consumes)
Contagious disease
Polio
Paralysis
Severe disability

Uranus: (That which is strange)
Genetic disorders
Lupus
Albino
Irregular chromosomes
Brain damage
Cerebral Palsy
Seizures
Epilepsy
Deformities

Neptune: (That which wastes)
Glandular imbalance
Cancer
Lethargy
Leukaemia

Jupiter: (That which is excess)
Blood disorders
Varicose veins
Phlebitis
Circulation
Diabetes
Obesity
Enlarged heart

Saturn: (That which diminishes)
Skin conditions
Asthma
Arthritis
Allergies
Bone diseases
Gauntness
Hearing
Dwarfism

Mars:(That which inflames)
Inflamatory disease
Scarlet fever
Rheumatic fever
Yellow fever
Encephalitis

Venus:(That which is stillness)
Kidney disease
Throat ailments

Mercury: (That which keeps silent)
Respiratory ailments
Lung problems

Moon:(That which flows)
Hydrocephelus
Edema
Lymphatic ailments
Poor constitution

Sun:(That which sees)
Blindness
Heart ailments

**When dealing with the aspects:

Moon = Cold
Mercury = Minor injuries / digestive problem
Venus = Virus / sore throat / injury by glass / laryngitis
Mars = Fever / Headache
Jupiter = Swelling and infection / abscess
Saturn = Asthma attack / weight loss / stress / backache
Uranus = Nervousness
Neptune = Loss of energy / sleepiness / dizziness
Pluto = Contagious diseases.

To note though that the Moons aspect depends on the phase that aspects your natal Sun.

If it's not a Moon phase it doesn't have an effect. For an example, if the first quarter Moon is at 27 degrees of Virgo it will square my Sun and you'll be highly susceptible to getting a cold. If the first quarter Moon is at 1 degrees of Virgo, when the Moon moves past 27 degrees it will have little or no effect.

I hope this has illuminated the determining of susceptibility to various illnesses. As when the arena of illness is located and the planetary power is drawn to attention much can be done to correct the situation and aid healing by channelling the aspect through it's more dignified setting.

Mercury Direct - Fresh winds in the sails

2009-02-02T15:02:00.002Z

Yesterday Mercury the celestial power of communication moved back to its forward progression. If like myself and countless others you've been plagued with frustrated misunderstandings, communication problems, computer issues, or transport or travel difficulties (people of the passport office you shall see me AGAIN shortly!) thankfully now everything will be in the process of adjusting back to a flow of normality.

**Enter chorus of joyful angels singing**

Mercury rules the mind, thought and all forms of communication; as the immortal wing-footed messenger of the gods he also rules transport, transmission and travel. Mercury is also a relatively small planet who spins around the sun in a tight orbit and stands as the passing medium between the earth and that of the sun. Mercury represents the speed of thought and the mental gifts: that of analysis, reason, logic, knowledge, learning, education and even intelligence itself.

Mercury is the power that restlessly chatters behind Gemini's reputation for witty, lively, amusing conversation as well as there passion for the technological age. In today's world where communication, transport, travel and swiftness are so important, Mercury is a god with greater influence and recognition than he had in ancient times.

Although a patron of the technological age Mercury still presides over none-technical forms of communication like conversation, gossip, speeches, all forms of writing, comics, people watching and has sway in documentaries and even movies. It is said that even the ways we 'speak,' personally and culturally, are within his domain.Where the sign Mercury was visiting at the moment of our births reveals our personal style of communication, the ways in which we think and learn.

For example, if you have Mercury in Scorpio you would be an intense communicator who gets to the heart of the matter with sometimes brutal and unbridled directness.

While a Mercury in Cancer might try to communicate all the shifting emotions and thoughts that course through their mind by being somewhat intimate and revealing allot of there emotional sensitivity in order to create a sense of empathy.

If you were born with Mercury retrograde your style of communication is often quite different from those around you, which is often interpreted as eccentricity but also gives you the benefit having an startlingly unusual array of interesting ideas along side the challenge of having those ideas understood and appreciated by others around you.

Mercury makes this transit three times a year, for three weeks at a time. To the ancients it was because of his swift fast pace and huge responsibilities and demand that a regular period of rest and rejuvenation was in order. Whenever possible, we should try to adjust to work with his rhythms, as such cosmic currents set to serve us well.

The retrograde Mercury is a change in course; it seeks to make the demands of reassessment, review and reappraisal. In order to get our attention and therefore promote our positive action, Mercury is said to disrupt communications which force us to notice things that were done haphazardly or undisciplined and to set them right.

If you've experienced communication issues with loved ones or co-workers the Mercury retrograde is a time of review that revealed where you need to correct matters or at the very least acknowledge problems.

If you haven't had time to reflect on how Mercury has revealed what need to be addressed, now with the fresh transition is the perfect time to do so.With Mercury again available to get communication going clearly and effectively; he lends all his quickness and clarity to fix any areas that were affected. If these times are used properly, in which we at first during the retrograde slow down and notice problems, then afterwards correct the problems, communications year 'round go more smoothly.

The problem is that in the modern world of ours we hate to stop moving forward - all the time. To plan for a Mercury Retrograde, schedule time with as little important communications and travel as possible; and then afterwards make necessary readjustments.

This careful use of Mercury will put you into touch with the natural astrological rhythms - the Music of the Spheres and make such knowledge of a fresh direct a welcomed continual initiation into being a more whole'istic person.

The Synastry of physical attraction

2009-02-02T08:46:00.003Z

Synastry is the art of relationship Astrology. It is a somewhat fascinating and illuminating study of how individuals interact with one another, how the factors of there natal chart find conflict and companionship.

Many of us are familiar with the study of Sun Sign Compatibility and often ask akin to "Does a Cancerian get along with a Leo?" and while these comparisons have some value, they are very general and often just based on a elemental correspondence between the signs.

For a more accurate and overall impression of compatibility between two people many other factors are involved in the evaluation.

Although Synastry itself is a very complex system, we can all (with a little effort) turn to some especially useful methods of studying relationships that will help shed light on our interactions.

With the upcoming Valentines in mind below are some of the traditional pointers of physical compatibility.

When somebody's Mars falls in your 5th house, heart-pounding reactions and strong romantic/sexual desires and crushes can be activated. You want each other, although the attraction may not last long unless there are other stable aspects and positions in your synastry.

When somebody's Mars falls in your 8th house, that person inspires deep sexual urges and physical desires in you.

A conjunction of someone's Mars to any angle (that is, the Ascendant, Descendant, Midheaven-10th cusp, or IC - 4th cusp) in your natal chart will pull out gut reactions and intensity of desire--although the feelings can go either way.

Mars-Sun conjunctions, squares, and oppositions usually inspire a need to make the relationship physical and generate a sort of "buzz" of energy between the two people involved. Trines generate some physical attraction, but of a more pleasant kind.

Venus-Mars conjunctions and squares can inspire quite a bit of fuss and sexual interest, while Venus-Mars sextiles and trines offer a more pleasing, less in-your-face attraction.

Venus-Pluto conjunctions, squares, and oppositions are one of the most potent cross-aspects for sexual and emotional attraction. Although both people are generally attracted to each other, it is the Venus person who is the most enthralled and even obsessed with Pluto—Venus is consumed with the attraction. Ultimately, it is the Pluto person who has the upper hand in terms of whether the relationship is going to endure.

Moon-Mars aspects can generate strong feelings that are often both physical and emotional at once, with the Mars person involved taking most of the initiative in the relationship, which can be very attractive to the Moon person (at least at the outset of the relationship).

Venus-Uranus conjunctions and squares can generate so much interest to the point of enthrallment, and often result in sexual activity between people before they know each other well.

This can be a confusing and destabilizing contact in the long term, but these aspects generally inspire initial attraction. When these relationships last, the Uranus person is often seen as inconstant by the Venus person and there can be many ups and downs.

Mars-Pluto conjunctions and squares are often powerful indicators of initial attraction and sexual intrigue. Trines don't necessarily draw people together, but once together, they are some of the most powerfully sexual aspects between two charts.

Ascendant-Ascendant conjunctions, sextiles, and trines, while not as strong as the indicators above, give a pleasing sense of physical harmony.

When someone's 8th house planet or ruler of their 8th house forms a strong aspect with one or more of your planets, you are likely to ignite passion in that person.

The asteroid Eros also plays a role in sexual attraction as well. Most potent are Eros-Venus, Eros-Ascendant, Eros-Psyche, and Eros-Mars links. Conjunctions, oppositions, and trines are often seen as best.

A couples guide for surviving Valentines day

2009-02-02T08:00:00.003Z

Today after drifting pass a battle like march of waving Valentine balloons I had myself a bit of thinking (yes, I too can have my moments) that with all the fuss of Valentines day and the fierce spirit of expensive romantic restaurant meals and hallmark cards in love full bloom, that we can all, all to often allow the focus of intrigue and Eros to blind us to the daily supplication and maintenance of what we already possess.

So much so that I did a little bit of tinkering about the astro chart in an attempt to tap into the essence of the day and to stir some thought on what may help to maintain a sense of unity and harmony with the other half in the year to come -

Here are the points that came to me – they may be worth the ponder!

Venus in Aries and the first house;
Have realistic expectations for your relationship.

The teaching of this aspect is direct in its intention for people to realise that their relationship will be different than they had planned and thought it would be. Unrealistic expectations can ruin and undermine the hopes and aspirations of what is really just a normal stage of getting to know each other better.

While at first those dreamy eyes of your beloved may excuse the fact that they are regularly late to go out to dinner, or deny the annoyance of having to watch a game of footie or soapy and those magical kisses can dismiss a messy house that later makes you want to kick down a door and attack the place with a vacuum (ok, ok I've being there! lol) but when we remember ahead of time that we will have growing pains throughout a relationship it will help when us to notice these little things bothering you and therefore more enabled to overcome them. The Moon in

Libra enters the seventh house;
Commit to lifelong relationship:

Although this seems to inspire a sense of horror in most people to making this decision can help us when we faced with disappointing times in your relationship or allow us to remove ourselves from something we do not feel is worth it.

A strong union is not build only on happiness (although there will be much of that... thankfully), it is built on a commitment to one another. All unions are going to go through a change physically and emotionally and we ourselves will also change in their eyes. Making a commitment to the other to help them through the sicknesses, financial stresses, disagreements and unforeseen issues can end up doing far more then just strengthening a loving bond as you tackle them together.

Saturn in opposition to Uranus;
Realize you were made differently;

Such a fundamental idea is easy to see from our physical differences. From our very features to the clothes that we wear, however, in a relationship we can get mixed up into thinking we should each want to snuggle, kiss, socialize, spend money and look at situations the same which can lead to great frustration, confusion and agitation.

In understanding and remembering that we we are different and that we are therefore to some degree made to think and act differently, when we encounter a differences of opinions a friendly lets just agree to disagree attitude can be all that is needed to lighten the air.

Jupiter and Mars are aligned in Aquarius in the twelfth house;
Have a plan to resolve conflict.

It is important when faced with a conflict to have a workable tool designed to help us through
our issues. Even though I only go dancing occasionally (thankfully... and much to the horror of those who have to endure my near seizure like dance on the dance floor) I believe it it to be a great example.

While dancing most dance as a team, (just like in a union) using each other’s rhythm to flow with the music. The same is true in compromising. Both throw out ideas and motions and both use it to move to new actions rather then continue to replay the same old rigid routine of self construction. When we come to a workable compromise, we both win, no matter who came up with the idea. We don’t win by challenging each other; we win by working off each other’s strengths. Either both win in a union or you both lose.

Mercury aligned with Pluto;
Spend quality time together:

This is the basic logic of Mercury that is often overthrown by Pluto but as we live in a busy hectic world in where we are kept busy with work, tv, the Internet, blog reading, spending time with friends and family, our hobbies, chores, commitments... along with so many other things to occupy our time. How many of us had best friends that are now past acquaintances because we didn't stay in touch?

The same can come to pass in relationships; while of course there's no expectations to be joined at the hip (and in truth he'd probably of muffled me by now) but spending some quality time together, heading out for dinner, a movie, a drive, going for a romantic walk, kiss and cook together, or just simply do something that will lighten the communal load.

When we refuse to let other less important things get in the way of the relationship, and if we come to feel they are more important than perhaps we should re-evaluate what is really important to ourselves and our loved one.

I believe the old saying is still true: we don’t realize what we have until it’s gone. Relationships are a great and rewarding gift to be shared with those that we love, but it is also one of the hardest things we will ever experience. Staying together takes work, and as it should – as a loved one should never be overlooked or taken for granted.We can mistake love as a magical thing; it simply happens because it’s love.

Yet we have been told over and over again by speakers and on plaques: “Love is kind, patient, doesn’t envy and doesn’t seek its own way.” which certainly sounds like there is allot for us to consider in our own behaviour for the success of the union.

A sign of the times...

2009-01-27T03:06:00.004Z

For the last few weeks now it seems that my own personal horoscopes has been setting me up for some disappointment. Although it has successfully promised success at work and in my personal life, and extolled the virtues of patience and humility while these blessings come to fruition. If the early stargazers knew anything about the variations of Cancarian they would realize that patience in the promise of reward is not an attribute that characterizes our often stubborn, type-A personalities.

I'm making my way though Gay Astrology by Michael Yawney (I thought it best that after such a earlier rant and large amount of quotation of older sources that it was about time that I explored more modern takes on Gay astrology as well as review the given theories) and I must admit that in a partial defiance of all I said that I have never felt more closely defined by my primary sun sign of Cancer.

Sometime ago I noticed that gay men seem to be more adherent to the principles and practices of astrology than others, something that has always intrigued me. For all around our world, our country, our family, even with our government we seem to be guided by social and interpersonal influences to a predetermined particular religion or path; but the zodiac is all encompassing and quite arbitrary. It requires no initiation to be an Capricorn, no special ceremony to declare ourselves a Sagittarius, it’s as simple as the range of dates your birth falls on and yet as complicated as the way the stars aligned at that special time to determine what course our fate would travel and our personality would develop.

So do we gays love the inclusiveness, the idea that our star sign, like our sexuality, was gifted at birth, another trait out of our control? Or the fact that its most often used system of belief not only fails to dominies our sexual behaviour, but also doesn’t bother to overtly state or even consider that we are to be accepted?

In my earlier collage days a strong willed Taurus house mate could tell a Leo before they ever share their sign with him, his resentment for these late summer birthday celebrators runs so deep. I myself too on occasion sometimes shudder when I discover a boy I’m interested in shares the sun sign of certain exes. I may even, like many others out there think better of allowing the relationship to continue without some serious review.

Debating as we all do in the trusting of a greater force or the denial of there possibility, for trusting in something does not mean one remains blind to the pondering's that it is all our minds, and in saying that the debating of the credibility, despite years of example of the stars really dictate our fate is something I find grounding – like a spinning compass the stars direct, but we alone choose the path, and as a astrologer and follower of the ways of astrology it is all to easy to forget that people are more then the titles we give them.

In slow accordance to exploring the book I still hadn’t recompiled a list of my best lovers and cross-referenced with their particular sign (as although I have a deep seated passion for Astrology, when it comes to my personal life I have decided that I would rather explore openly the possibilities of others as individuals rather then begin my own process of preempting there motions, I've being there once and to be honest it's quite addictive and while it can provide a very informative and reliable platform for information allowing a passion to consume is rarely in benefit of the art itself) but from what I can remember I wasn't at all surprised of the similarities emerging.

For now I recall it was a nasty Sagittarius that took my virginity, a slippery Pisces who first captured my imagination, the forward Taurus who first took my breath away in bed, and the proud Leo who first stole my heart. Each as different as his sign, and I still can’t help but wonder what each says about my sexual appetite.

Like always (for some things may never change) I still don’t think Gay Astrology or any of the books on astrology can answer this in definitively for me, for what astrology teach us is about ourselves, our love lives, our passion, our essence in perpetual motion and that the stars are constantly changing.

One night Mars may rise in Venus’s house and the next he’s going down on Uranus. Our many loves and lovers may be born under the house of Saturn or the banner of fall, but it is up to us to listen to own inner astrologer and chart our course for what makes us feel ecstatic.

While listening to and interpellating the flow of a sign is of great importance in making yourself aware of the possibilities ahead, they do not always limit or define the situation – as they are simply not meant to, and while horoscopes and natal charts have being in recent times moved to the entertainment section, there link with the deeply mysterious and wildly divine divinational process remains constant and a willing bedfellow for anyone willing to explore there place in the living world.

“What’s your sign?” is a pick-up line that is in recent times seeing a sort of resurgence, well at least in the life of my friends. And although we may not always be happy with the response, it is best to try to keep an open mind, just like that the way stars may change, the planets realign and you can find yourself in heavenly bliss.

It may fade when the stars disappear with the sun, but as long as the universe continues to shift and adjust, our possibilities for love and lust remain as endless as the skies above. And that’s something you could never say about a fortune cookie.

Horoscopes - the week ahead

2009-01-26T23:11:00.006Z

Aries - March 21 to April 20 - "I am"With Aries in the 4th house and Venus, the planet of love and romance, not due to return to your sign until early next month, it is best not try and push or force things too soon. Your focus needs to be on finding the right balance between work and play, so that you can have it all. Don't worry about the how or the when, just make sure that when it comes, you're ready. Kindness beings its own reward.

Taurus - April 21 to May 21 - "I possess"With Taurus and Vesta in the 8th house, you can be assured that passion and the setting of romantic goals will come into a greater focus. Later this week Jupiter also makes it's visit to your domain, making the seeds sown at this time one's that will carry far more auspicious potential the usual. With such a combination you should be far more open to embrace the concept of positive change.

Gemini - May 22 to June 21 - "I think" You begin the week with Mercury in a retrograde motion in your financial sector, causing some communication breakdowns, but more importantly giving the past a voice in order for your future to be heard. On Wednesday, Mercury leaves that aspect, and on ending his retrograde phase ignites the flow of financial progression and stability. Fulfil the choices you have made by action on them.

Cancer - June 22 to July 22 - "I feel"The new solar year beginning on Monday will be one that's destined to open up a whole new future, with life's Wheel of Fortune finally turning your way. At the same time the doors to the past will for now remain open, allowing you to pick and choose what you want, with second chances and new opportunities both there for the taking. The question do you truly know what you want...

Leo - July 23 to Aug 23 - "I shine"Not only do you have Mars, planet of drive, urging you to move beyond the wounds of the past, you also have Saturn is in retrograde motion in your relationship sector, stirring doubts and anxieties of where you are and where you wish to be. Let this be a lesson well learned, as no words or actions will ever convince you of anything other then what you want to believe. You are enough.

Virgo - Aug 24 to Sept 22 - "I critique"This week with Virgo and Pisces in opposition it reveals just how many different layers and varied opportunities there are on the professional front, giving you an early indication of the positive year that awaits ahead Take responsibility for past mistakes, knowing that it's by looking back and seeing what you could have done differently, that you'll learn not to make the same mistakes again.

Libra - Sept 23 to Oct 23 - "I choose"With Libra in the 12th house you are more then overdue a fresh start, and the current stillness is the dawn about to break. Something has been worrying you for several days and it's about time it gets sorted out. As your aspects move back into a familiar pattern you will get the chance to discuss the matter with people you trust. Be honest with them, and with yourself. Travel calls but adventure answers.

Scorpio - Oct 24 to Nov 22 - "I desire"With Scorpio Rising and Pluto in Sagittarius it reveals a need to cleanse, revise, and expand your beliefs about the nature of life. Dogmatism, zealous and one-sided convictions need to be shed in order for you to fulfil your deeper desires. You need to believe enough in yourself in order to succeed otherwise you will never grow beyond the doubts sowed by those that know little about you.

Sagittarius - Nov 23 to Dec 21 - "I aspire"With the Moon in Sagittarius there is a greater sense of sensitivity and a focus on your own reactions, habits, and emotions that influence the conduct of your private life and family relationships. Astrological aspects suggest that you are resisting the change you have called for, denying your very own sense of freedom by accepting things as they are. Fight for you.

Capricorn - Dec 22 to Jan 20 - "I build"With fiery Mars in the more orderly sign of Capricorn, this position will subdue and control how you are approaching life. Mostly you won't come across as particularly enthusiastic; rather, more of a low-key but determined force. Right now your emotions and personal biases are apt enough to cloud your objectivity, so a realistic guide of self reflection may be of great benefit.

Aquarius - Jan 21 to Feb 18 - "I know"With the sun moving into Aquarius now is your time to shine, the renewed energy and enthusiasm will be a great for the days ahead. But be careful not to take on more then you can handle, as you may find yourself burning the candle at both ends. Be sure to put some of your energy into soul-searching – for now more then ever its the seeding of an important future harvest.

Pisces - Feb 19 to March 20 -"I care"Putting aside the lingering effects and confronted memory of the Venus's force of wayward want within your family unit, the abode of Pisces is somewhat quiet. This may be in direct reflection of not truly communicating and discussing the problems, issues and complaints that are in earnest need of rectification. Speak your mind and lay your worries to rest, as its about time!

January's Astrological guide to keeping the New Year Resolutions

2009-01-20T02:22:00.009Z

It's being twenty days since many of us have made declarations and promises to reform an old habit, change life style, get fit, grow, quit smoking... and the list go on. But how many of us have actually kept these very same promises we held so dare to ourselves at the dawn of the new year.

That's the very same question I asked myself as I chomped down on my first chocolate bar this morning, after throwing all thought of such a thing to the winds of change and affirming that this year, the year of 2009 would be a good healthy one, one with fruit and salads, long walks and blissful morning runs...

Now while I won’t pretend to know the answers, I can share five of my own goal setting astrologically in-tune tips (what a tongue twister!) on how to keep New Years resolutions... or at least, like my own experience, prolong the dedication to the goal and guide the ship back on course if by chance the captain happened to fall victim to a deliciously inviting, drool worthy, heaven in a wrapped... ok ill stop there, but by god that chocolate was worth it :)

Venus conjuncts Uranus on January 23, 2009

Such an aspects made between Venus and Uranus emphasise the spheres of social and intimate relationships, with the energy and intention focused towards exploring the external world through an extroverted personality, reflecting that while it is healthy to ask the big questions about where your life is going, what your truly doing and where you really are, to ask them too often often results in ending up in a twirl of directionless (its a word now!) despair. This reminds us to take the pressure off from constantly changing the goals and chosen path of achievement, as while small adjustments are to be expected a constant rehash of the initial plan will only erode any sense of progression once you meet a conflict. Stick to the essence of the goal and there is far more of a living possibility of success.

Venus opposes Saturn on January 24, 2009

With Venus opposition to Saturn, we are most often inclined to regard our experiences as being almost useless and without aid to our current situation. With this aspect in play, we will be challenged by our distractions, a process that will continue until you realize how important our success or failure really is to us. We must be wary of underestimating our self-worth. Reminding ourself that we can match our competitors, and do not need to give then more control over our lives than we deserve.

In order to succeed we must stop hiding the truth from ourselves, after all there were legitimate reasons for such resolutions – and most likely that hasn't changed, but by drawing to a direct focus the emotional intention and the cold resistance to change we can at the very least be far more prepared for our own self disillusioning acts.

Annular Solar Eclipse on January 26, 2009 in the 13th degree of sidereal Capricorn.

This degree is symbolized as “A tripod with flames of fire blazing froth from a braziere”, it is the degree of Aspiration and Higher goals. Practical and productive actions will be needed to be taken in order to find fulfilment of the wish. Although this is a sign of war or struggles it is quiet adapt for such a situation – as we often fight and war with such change. One way in order to overcome this is to apply Capricornian strengths, such as a logical practical plan, like a chart, created as a physical reminder of the mental aspiration.

Such a alignment suggest that to keep New Years resolutions it wouldn't help to write our goals in enough detail for everyone to understand and agree with what's meant. An example would be, if my goal was to buy a house, I would need to put some flesh on the bones by saying my goal is to buy a three bedroom house, with garden, near my place of work, for no more than three times your salary. Allowing the idea to be far more intense, observational and focused.

Mercury conjuncts mars on January 27, 2009

A Mercury conjunct Mars indicates that at this time our minds will be far more restless and eager to gain new information, and may feel that the progression we make will somehow not be final. Our creative ideas at this time will be more intensely imaginative, something that could be exploit energetically but it also has a warning itself suggesting that too much imagination and macrocosmic view will only increase a sense of apathy and anxiety – instead if we break down the main goal into smaller more manageable goals we are far more equipped to achieve them.

Jupiter sesquiquadrates Saturn on January 31, 2009

This is a sign of guidance stemming from others, and the reminder that much light can be born from darkness, which makes quite allot of sense when applied to a new year resolution – going it alone may have it's glory but as the song goes with a little help from my friends...”
Here's an unusual game to stir the insight of those around you. Start a conversation with a friend, family member or someone who's guidance you trust in.

Explain your New Years resolution to then. If we used the new home resolution (not one of mine by the way... one mortgage is enough thank you!) Tell them what it's like in the house, the decorations, the layout, get them to ask you questions about how you got there e.g. how did you get the initial viewing, who spotted it first etc.

This is where you will be put on the spot and have to come up with plausible answers. Aim to "keep it real" with your answers, as it's probably best not to rely on winning the lottery to fund the plans, as after all this is a resolution in a achievable goal. Keep this conversation going as long as possible, with as much detail as you both can muster.

This might sound like complete madness, telling fantastic fibs and wild rants about how we can achieved our New Years resolution. The truth is that the questions we ask forge links in our minds, creating a map that make it easier for us to achieve your long term goals.

I hope this stirs you as half as much as it has me, as this is one year that has all the markings of those that echo on for many years to come!

Pleiades – the Ancients homosexual constellation.

2009-01-17T21:04:00.007Z

Since ancient Rome (and perhaps earlier) the constellation of the Pleiades was known to the western astrological traditions for its association with male homosexuality, symbolised by the “seven sisters” it's link to the modern age, although a weak echo of its once strong song, it still survives along side the stereotypical interpretations and associations of effeminate males – thankfully though it's range of meaning and inspired virtues are far from a slur on the gay soul, suggesting a evolutionary growth and union of the internal being to a more unified and balanced personality, beyond a sinplistic embodiment of male assertiveness but a more holistic and truthful balance of polarity.

Astronomically, the Pleiades is located in a corner of the zodiac sign of the Venusian ruled Taurus and consists of several hundred stars about 500 light years from Earth. Most often with an unaided eye six stars are usually visible, at especially auspicious times the seventh Pleiadian star can also be seen, more than a dozen may be seen using field glasses, and several dozen more than that with even a basic telescope (making the Pleiades a favourite object of observation for amateur astronomers) as well as love lorn astronomers of the gone by ages.

Mythologically, since the days of ancient Greece the myths surrounding the Pleiades always speak of the Seven Sisters (a questionable name that has never the less helped preserve its lineage as being a gay constellation) who were divine sisters, caught amongst the adventures with various gods and goddesses whom in there voyage to true individuality and rebellion of social expectations took flight in the form of doves, a symbol of love, and eventually settled among the stars.
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According to tradition they would stand though out the ages as a reminder to those that would follow in there steps of revolution, promising that all burdens endured would lead to a greater brightness that would withstand the darkness of mans own ignorance, as well as become a part of the divine onlookers that searched the earth from the heavens for those that shone with the illumination and cause that they themselves once stood for.

Historically, by the time the ancient Romans were compiling the known astrological literature of the world, the Pleiades were firmly linked to homosexuality. Unusually as a civilization, the Romans did little to advance or develop the study of astrology on their own, but what they did do to a large extent was to codify and organize earlier astrological traditions from Greece, Egypt and perhaps others that are now lost to us.
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Modern research into the astrology of the ancients is still in its early stages and while it will always remain somewhat clouded by the passage of time, and the natural adaption of those that followed it and held it alive through the ages, it has not yet being discovered how or why the ancient astrologers connected in essence; homosexuality to the Pleiades.

But given the known lack of imagination amongst Roman astrologers, it is likely they borrowed the association between the Pleiades and homosexuality from an earlier civilization.
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For instance the ancient Greek culture, which the Romans greatly admired, to a degree valued and accepted homosexual relationships alongside heterosexual ones, and what we do know about early Roman astrology is much of the interpretations of which the Romans compiled had been derived from the earlier ancient Greek society.

Sadly in true imperial Roman style, the Roman astrologers failed to preserve any attribution about where the references to the Pleiades came from.
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Instead the Romans simply spelled out what the then current thinking was about the constellation, which historically is nothing less then a shame as although it has maintained the connection, it has lead to the origins of such a link to be lost among the ebbing sands of time.

Here is an example of Pleiades astrological lore from the Roman astrology of 1900 years ago as found in the "Astronomica", Manilius, 1st century AD. (Edited and translated by G. P. Goold, 1977 by President and Fellows of Harvard College):
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"The Pleiades, sisters who vie with each other's radiance. Beneath their influence devotees of Bacchus (god of wine and ecstasy) and Venus (goddess of love) are born into the kindly light, and people whose insouciance runs free at feasts and banquets and who strive to provoke sweet mirth with biting wit.

"They will always take pains over personal adornment and an elegant appearance they will set their locks in waves of curls or confine their tresses with bands, building them into a thick topknot, and they will transform the appearance of the head by adding hair to it; they will smooth their hairy limbs with the porous pumice, loathing their manhood and craving for sleekness of arm.

"They adopt feminine dress, footwear donned not for wear but for show, and an affected effeminate gait. They are ashamed of their sex; in their hearts dwells a senseless passion for display, and they boast of their malady, which they call a virtue. To give their love is never enough, they will also want their love to be seen".

Admittedly it is easy to accept that the ancient Roman astrologers were not advocates of Gay Liberation (although Roman society was remarkably tolerant of homosexual behaviour. Several Roman emperors were gay or bisexual, and one, Emperor Trajan, had his "paedogogium", a travelling harem of young men which accompanied him on his journeys throughout the empire) but it is never the less interesting that while the ancients did not ascribe homosexuality to the Pleiades as the constellation's prime attribute, they do quite often (and in fact most often) stipulate that it is a secondary attribute.
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(The primary attributes were commonly said to be successful journeys, particularly for sailors, success in agriculture, and success through use of intelligence. Negative omens for the constellation included blindness and wantonness.)

Unusually though the references I was able to find from ancient Rome seemed to imply a homosexual association with the Pleiades are for men only. This may of course be due to the record keeping and an unusually ignorance of the very existence of lesbians, even among the ancients. So far at the moment I am unaware of such similar correlation between the Pleiades themselves and women amongst the Roman astrological writings, however, this said there are extant fragments from the ancient Greek lesbian poet, Sappho, making references to the Pleiades, which may shine allot of light on the possibility of it being a constellation of Homosexality itself beyond that of male generalisations.
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Δέδυκε μεν ἀ σελάννακαὶ Πληΐαδεσ, μέσαι δὲνύκτεσ πάρα δ᾽ ἔρχετ᾽ ὤρα,ἔγω δὲ μόνα κατεύδω. [transcription]

The moon has set, and the Pleiades; it is midnight, the time is going by and I recline alone.
The sinking moon has left the sky, The Pleiades have also gone. Midnight comes--and goes, the hours flyAnd solitary still, I lie.
The Moon has left the sky,Lost is the Pleiads' light;It is midnight,And time slips by, But on my couch alone I lie.
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Translation by J. A. Symonds, 1883.

This singularly beautiful fragment is quoted by Hephaestion from the "Hymn to Aphrodite", it was the first portion of the Poems of Sappho to be printed in 1554 and seeing as it deals with the female homosexual impulses of love and desired union it offers up much food for thought in relation to the possibility of the Pleiads having associations with the gay female form.

The guidelines to astrology set by the ancient Romans were (more or less) the reference point for western astrology for the next thousand years following the fall of Rome. It is ture that during the Middle Ages, and indeed until very recently these references to homosexuality were anything but complimentary, but at least the homosexual presence was being noted, however negatively.

Since modern Western astrology traces its roots back directly to the Roman codification of the earlier astrological studies, one might leap to the conclusion that the association of the Pleiades with homosexuality was preserved assuredly to the present times.
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Alas, that's not quite what happened, although not for any specific reasons of anti-homosexual intellectualism (although that was common enough in astrology up to and including the twentieth century see my earlier rant on that issue two posts down), but instead it is mainly because of an unrelated development in the evolution of western astrology, in which the Pleiadian connection began to wain.

Over the past 200 years or so in Western astrology, study of the so-called fixed stars has fallen from use because of technical advances in astronomy. Fixed stars (and this includes non-zodiac constellations) were, up to the late 1700s, an important part of interpreting a natal chart.
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But better telescopes began an era of discovery of new outer planets, starting with Uranus in the late 1700s, and western astrologers have dwelt significantly on the new planetary bodies the astronomers have been locating ever since.

The Pleiades constellation is simply another (minor) grouping of fixed stars which has been swept aside by western astrologers as heavies such as Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, the asteroids, Chiron (the centaurs), and the trans-Neptunian planetary bodies have grabbed the attention of most modern astrologers. Modern thinking (and I in part subscribe to this thinking) is that these newly-discovered planetary bodies are far more interesting and useful to our current evolution and situations than the fixed stars ever were.
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Still, realizing that we may have lost something by forgetting our past, a few modern astrologers are starting to research the forgotten ancient astrological methodologies to see if any are still relevant. Some of the ancient astrological techniques likely will be worth dusting off and re-incorporating into our modern study. But frankly, I have my doubts that the Pleiades connection to homosexuality will even make the cut, and for this I can think of two main reasons.

First, as I expound at length elsewhere in this blog (again see two posts down for my rant) no astrological configuration of any sort can be called a "homosexual signature," notwithstanding the repeated failed attempts by many astrologers to try and find one.
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The second (and surely the most certain) reason why Pleiades may never regain its once and former association with homosexuality, is that when it comes to an appreciation and development of ancient studies there seems to be a strong vein of apathy among astrologers as well as those of a homosexual persuasion.

Astrology once the science of divination and the study of stars, has become nothing more then fortune telling, instead of being a tool for development and foresight it remains in its secondary role of guidance – although that in itself is an authentic lineage and indeed has its place a total dedication to this narrow perception is limiting us to never fully utilising and appreciating the ancients in all there variety and humanity.
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Gay flag association:

It may also be interesting to note that a few years ago I noticed that the seven sisters are a somewhat mimic of and symbolic to the seven virtues of the gay pride flag, along side the qualities of true individuality they are easily held within a harmonic spiritual embrace of both the community and its potential future growth.

According to the early work of Diodorus Siculus in his records, Library of History, the Pleiades were the daughters of the Titan Atlas and the nymph Pleione, and each are said to hold a coloured candle for there greatest virtue:
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Electra – red for strength
Alcyone – orange for courage
Asterope – yellow for faith
Celaeno – green for mercy
Maia – blue for generosity
Taygete – violet for Hope

Merope – Justice had only on occasion a candle, some say this was because Merope, who was ashamed of her love for the mortal Sisyphus (Σίσυφος) often hide her true face from the eyes of the outside world.
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It doesn't take much imagination as to why through the synchronistic name associations, the rainbow colour array and the all to often familiar behaviour has in part allowed the Pleiades to linger on as a constellation that in part reflects the homosexual spirit through the ages... and long may it continue!

Week ahead

2009-01-16T02:30:00.015Z

I'm thinking that it is about time that I introduce these on the blog :)

Aries - March 21 to April 20 - "I am"

Current astrological alignments suggest that someone's been playing with your emotions and your not happy about it. There will come a time when the tables can be turned and a sense of order restored, but for now it may be best if you just pretend you are not bothered in the slightest. For there are times in life that you win, by simply not playing the game.

Taurus - April 21 to May 21 - "I possess"

By nature you may be very outspoken, but with Taurus in the 12th house this week it is probably best to watch what you say about others, because if you come on too strong you could end up in bad order as far as some important people are concerned. With Venus the planet of your Domain in Pisces, expect to be far more sensitive then usual and awash with the dreams of yesteryear.

Gemini - May 22 to June 21 - "I think"

This week with your ruling planet Mercury still held within retrograde some upheaval is to be expected, so take it in your stride and don't worry what the outcome might be - as experience tells you that it is rarely as bad as you may fear. Now is the time for reconnecting at home and laying the past to rest, when it comes to old wounds try your best to bury the hatchet – just not in them.

Cancer - June 22 to July 22 - "I feel"

As your Dominion, the Moon moving into Libra a restored sense of balance will arise but don't take such times for granted for much work still needs to be done in order to get you to where you wish to be. Travel is in the stars offering up not only the opportunity to get away from the hassle of life but to get closer to who you truly are. It's perfectly fine to dream quietly, as long as you live loud.

Leo - July 23 to Aug 23 - "I shine"

This week your quirky sense of humour is likely to cause some trouble, make sure if you are joking around that others know you are not being serious. If they take what you say at face value you could end up with allot of chaos. The strands of a loving romance will develop right now if you accept people for who they are and allow them to blossom at there own pace. Have faith in love.

Virgo - Aug 24 to Sept 22 - "I critique"

A retrograde Saturn in Virgo and the 4th house means that health matters are under changeable stars at the moment, you will need to be at your best physically over the next few days, so get plenty of rest and don't take risks with your well being. Financial matters will enter a time of strain, nothing you cant handle but it teaches a lesson in planning and budgeting that you need to learn.

Libra - Sept 23 to Oct 23 - "I choose"

With the intuitive Moon in your domain you are reminded that challenges are merely opportunities in disguise. You may have a craving to get away from it all but now more then ever you are needed exactly where you are. You do not go unnoticed for those who are single will find now is more then ever an opportunity to find a loving embrace. You need to clear out the old before the new can grow.

Scorpio - Oct 24 to Nov 22 - "I desire"

This week you will be required to step in and keep warring factions apart. Alas you won't get the thanks you, in fact you run the risk of both sides turning against you, but if you stand aside the results could be bloody. It's best to act and know you've tried. You may need to remind others and also yourself that regardless of experience you opinion holds both merit, insight and great value.

Sagittarius - Nov 23 to Dec 21 - "I aspire"

Someone you have grown used to is about to go off on a journey, but there is no need to be sad about it. Not only will they be back soon but while they're away a new friendship will blossom. Time can often provide a healing balm for the errors of the past, so with patience and a bit of self faith this week could be a week of renewing forgiveness. Let your courageous heart speak its mind.

Capricorn - Dec 22 to Jan 20 - "I build"

You know that good things are coming, so whatever the reason it is taking so long you are advised not to let your impatience get the better of you. It will happen when it is meant to happen, so calm down, sit back and enjoy the show. A deepening awareness of the opinions of others will push you a bit of track, reminding yourself what's truly important will bring you back in line with your dreams.

Aquarius - Jan 21 to Feb 18 - "I know"

With Neptune in Aquarius and the 9th house it is best to avoid extremes this week, even if people you work alongside try to convince you that it's okay to push the boundaries. If it all goes wrong guess who is most likely to pay the price? Think and act positive, even if you at first don't feel it, as such motions will set the seeds of a brighter future. A old friend seeks you out with.

Pisces - Feb 19 to March 20 -"I care"

With Venus in Pisces you may be feeling especially sensitive this week, take such an opportunity to clear out the old, especially those sentimental things that link you to a past no longer wanted. Your hard work pays off as this week will bring you an amazing opportunity for growth and self reward. Someone will make you feel proud and despite recently uncovered secrets, you deserve to be.

Gay Astrology?

2009-01-16T01:09:00.013Z

I was recently asked wherever astrologers believe homosexuality could be represented within an individuals natal chart?, and found it to be a very interesting question that got me thinking; especially in relation to our ideals of gender, generalisations and an active search for cause and indicators of such a a path of sexual orientation - I feel that it is about time that I at least cast a casual eye on the subject itself.

(In reflection this is anything but casual, a bit long, winding and badly edited so I suggest that if you are up for it you grab yourself a nice cuppa)

In beginning this blog entry I feel that I could simply change the title to homophobic astrology as it seems it would better represent some of the works on modern astrology, that are sadly by and large either very homophobic or incredibly under informed on the reality of being gay.

It may be best to start with stating that I have always been sceptical in regards to this aspect of astrology, even though there are indeed may interesting points for an opposition to that opinion I have never being able to make peace with the ideals of a solid predestination in a sexual regard – as this seems to be quite rigid, hollow and not held within a state of reflection of the primary and secondary variations of an individuals chart nor the individual evolution of a person in both mind and body.

Personally without getting too much off the point I define homosexuality generically as the inherent state of being primarily sexually attracted to one's own sex. Of course homosexuality and being gay itself is far more than just a sexual orientation but sadly our current reductive Virgoan society demands that individuals sexually polarise and identify themselves as either homosexual or heterosexual, instead of being somewhere in between or beyond a fixative label of orientation.

When I first began my path with astrology and being gay myself I undoubtedly like many other gay neophyte astrologers out there researched the topic, immediately I was struck by a number of problems:

The inadequacy of material available in astrology on same sex relationships or indeed on any aspect of homosexuality in astrological literature. What material that has been available, I have found to be superficial, moralistic, highly negative in tone, frequently flippant and often plain inaccurate.

To my knowledge the earliest study of homosexuality in an individuals natal chart was compiled by Karl Heimsoth in Germany in 1928. Sadly it is clear from his work that he assumed (as many astrologers and most of the general public still do) that homosexuality was a neurosis and astrologically linked it with Uranus hard aspects to the inner planets. Unfortunately as the researcher J Lee Lehman has pointed out the case studies he used were in fact not even homosexual.
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(Heimsoth selected people he suspected of being gay, on “evidence” such as speech and walk. It is interesting to note that one person he selected was Edward the 8th later Duke of Windsor).

What little astrologers have written to date about homosexuality merely to my eyes underlines the still widely held notion that homosexuality is a neurosis, a departure from the "norm" and hence can be detected in the astrological chart.

But none of them have ever as far as I am aware backed this up with sound empirical evidence. The following quotes taken from an article by Peter Clamp which can also be found in some current astrological texts (that are currently widely available) are among some that I believe will support my view:

Derek and Julia Parker state that aspects between the Sun/Moon and Uranus "…are often present in the charts of homosexuals of both sexes." They suggest however "…that students do their own research; the situation is usually not so clear cut".

The reader may be as confused as I am by these contradictory statements. The first statement is fatuous or at the very least founded on some very strained interpretations as believe it or not (as my good friends Mark, Paul and Sandra will gladly testify) such aspects between the Sun/Moon and Uranus are "often" present in the charts of heterosexuals as well!

Moreover, if aspects between Uranus and Sun/Moon are often present in the charts of homosexuals, then the situation I would suggest is clear-cut. I suspect that the Parkers do not really know and are simply hedging their bets. Narrowing something as complex as sexual orientation to a single aspect in a chart seems dangerous, especially when dealing with a living evolving holistic discipline like astrology, so if one believes the truism that a person's sexuality is reflected in the whole chart and is an expression of the whole personality, how often would "often" be?

Francis Sakoian and Louis S Acker in The Astrologers Handbook (which is a very popular paperback published by Penguin Books since way back in 1974) has associate the hard aspects of Venus/Neptune and Mars/Neptune with homosexual expression.

Regarding Venus square Neptune they state quite seriously that:
"…in extreme cases there are secret sexual debaucheries. Natives may be homosexuals."
Without picking too much at the casually typed words of others (hec, who among us haven't said anything easily interpreted in the contrary essence it was meant with) I couldn't help but notice the proximity of the words "debaucheries" and "homosexuals", a clear implication that homosexuality is a definite moral negative.

With Venus opposition Neptune the situation is worse: "There is danger of practicing or being the victim of subtle sexual seduction. This can in some cases manifest itself in homosexual tendencies."

This implies that people with this aspect may be lured into sex against their will. Moreover linking "subtle sexual seduction" with "homosexual" reinforces subliminally, the totally unfounded prejudice that homosexuals are sexual predators preying on the innocent. Mars square Neptune elicits the following statement: "This aspect like Venus square Uranus or Neptune could indicate sexual deviation."

But the authors also caution that this is only if other factors in the chart confirm this such as 5th House involvement. I would have thought this caveat would also apply to Venus/Uranus and Venus/Neptune aspects.

Perhaps one day these authors will enlighten us and tell us what these confirmatory factors are. I suspect like Derek and Julia Parker that they do not really know. Seemingly it is always the hard aspects that are associated with non-mainstream sex as if God is voicing moral disapproval through the hard aspects in the chart.

This is symptomatic of an ultra-simplistic and utterly naive view of the astrological chart, where numerous "easy" aspects means you are "good' and numerous "hard" aspects means you are "bad". Most astrologers know that a grand trine can be a binding curse as well as a blessing whilst a difficult T square can be the spur to great achievement. One could equally argue that so called "easy" aspects such as Venus trine Uranus and Mars trine Uranus indicates someone who is at ease with unconventional sex and has no problem with it. In some respects easy aspects can be as troublesome as hard ones as they lack the tension required for accomplishment and/or resolution.

In a later book Arroyo's, Relationships and Life Cycles, the situation in which astrological elements seem to support homophobia does not seem to of improved:

"There's often a certain coldness (about Venus/Uranus aspects), Uranus is always somewhat impersonal, and that, hitting Venus, gives a kind of impersonal tinge to their attitude toward emotional and sexual behaviour. You're apt to find this manifestation of this interchange quite often, especially in women who go through lots of partners or who have gotten into homosexuality, although, again, the vast majority with Venus/Uranus aspects are not practicing homosexuals."

Here Arroyo, like some other psychological astrologers, links coldness, impersonality and promiscuity with being homosexual with not a shred of evidence for this connection, reinforcing the hoary, unsubstantiated old cliches and myths about gay and lesbian people, and pandering to the homophobic collective shadow. He seems to be in need of taking his own advice and stick to the key meaning of planetary aspects. In its widest sense, any major aspect between Venus and Uranus in my view signifies an unconventional attitude to relationships and relating in general; the need for personal freedom and personal space (Uranus) has to be blended somehow with the desire to unite and share with another (Venus). This key issue prevails in all kinds of relationships, same sex or otherwise.

I feel that the modern astrologers needs to focus on the freedom/closeness dilemma, which is at the core of Venus/Uranus aspects and discussing this with the client if it is causing significant problems in her or his relationships. I believe it is the quality of a client's relationships that is the really important issue for astrologers; beyond support and nurturing of this lineage of personal pride the mode of physical expression is and should be irrelevant.

Arroyo also manages to link hard Venus/Pluto aspects with "sexual problems". He states that: "Homosexual or bisexual inclinations are not uncommon; and even in those who don't act out all their urges, there is often an intense emotional resentment towards either the person's own sex or towards those of the opposite sex."

He does add that this resentment is also found in those whose sexual behaviour is exclusively heterosexual. But again as with Venus/Uranus aspects he is subtly demonising gay and lesbian people; the impression is being given that homosexuality is inherently unhealthy. The core issue regarding Venus/Pluto aspects in my view is that the need to relate is connected with the need to survive; there is a great fear of abandonment and loneliness.

The consequent feelings of extreme vulnerability produce a compensatory desire to control every aspect of relating. Inevitably the object of control gets free eventually and the fearful expectations are realised. This scenario is repeated until the individual gets wise to the situation.

The person eventually has to stand alone and must start the often painful process of forming a relationship with herself or himself whilst learning to let go of the "other".

This very familiar scenario transcends gender and sexual orientation and there is no justification, apart from perhaps a covert need to reinforce an intolerant, heterosexist position and one's own fragile sense of normalcy, to bring in homosexuality.

It must also be stated though to his credit that Arroyo does add: "… not all gay people have Mars/Uranus aspects motivating them. There are other factors too." while I am unsure if this is to discredit the entire homophobia alignments the "other factors" seems more then open to abuse and far from being above reproach.

Another writer John Townley has looked at the traditional associations of Uranus with sexual perversion and like Charles Carter has yet to find any real link between sexual perversion and the natal aspects of Uranus or indeed of any other planet.

In his review of Townley's book, F. Richard Nolle suggested that astrologers should "…revise their opinions of the importance of natal Uranus in sexual deviation, or perhaps society may be overdue for a reevaluation of what really constitutes abnormal sexual experience."

Unfortunately in many astrological and analytical circles we are all still waiting.

Wim van Dam's book Astrology and Homosexuality draws similar conclusions to both John Townley and Richard Nolle. He was unable to find in his research any significant correlation between any planetary aspect such as Venus/Uranus and homosexuality. He found that all existing theories on the astrological indicators of homosexuality fail to fit all or even the majority of cases.

In frustration it seems he resorted to the Hindu "namvamsa" chart, which seems to be based on the 9th Harmonic (40 degree aspects) and claims to have discovered some significant results. With gay men, van Dam found difficult aspects between the Moon and Saturn either in the natal or namvamsa chart to be very common, in fact he claims in ¾ of cases.

He also uses conjunctions between the 9th harmonic chart and the natal 12th harmonic chart with regard to the Moon, Saturn and the "debilitating": house cusps 6 and 12. But the number of charts he uses is only 10, too small to be taken seriously in the statistical sense. 2 of these charts are easily ruled out of court; in chart 5 the orb between the 9th harmonic Saturn and natal Moon is too wide (even when I was trying to support the argument) whilst in chart 12 the natal Moon and natal Saturn are sextile, which hardly constitutes an afflicted Moon. Richard Nolle rightly comments that difficult Moon/Saturn aspects may be found equally regularly in heterosexual charts.

Even Van Dam admits that no one signature will ever fit all cases. My feeling is that if there is a homosexual astrological signature, it should be apparent in the conventional 12th harmonic natal chart. Linking the 9th harmonic chart with the 12th harmonic natal chart admits of too much special pleading for me as well as doubling the chances that hard Moon/Saturn aspects can occur.

Additionally, if there is a homosexual signature in the chart, it has to follow that there must also be a heterosexual signature against which it can be compared.

Betty Lundsted, in her book, Astrological Insights Into Personality, has little doubt that homosexuality can be diagnosed from the chart. And she seems to have little doubt that homosexuality is neurotic too. She associates the hard aspects between the Moon and Venus with female homosexuality but presents no real evidence to back her assertion.

With the Moon/Venus conjunction, she states: "…if the rest of the chart agrees, this aspect may indicate a homosexual female. Often the lady she falls in love with is fifteen to twenty years older than she, since she may be looking for a mother substitute. She has difficulty considering the idea that she may be tied to Mother in some kind of incestuous manner." She continues thus: "If a woman is homosexual and the rest of the chart doesn't look like she has reason to be, this aspect is one that will help to find the key to why she is the way she is."

There are a number of misconceptions put forward here. Betty Lunsted clearly belongs to the "nurture" school where homosexuals are supposedly and independently "made" by their environment. She seems to be referring to some kind of homosexual Oedipal Complex; this idea has been widely accepted in analytical circles, though there has never been any real evidence for it. It merely accorded with the accepted prejudices of the times and therefore no one has really questioned it until recently.

When she talks about the Moon square Venus aspect the stereotyping becomes quite farcical.
"…she may function on a homosexual level; everyone is so busy diagnosing her 'homosexual problem' that they never look into the underlying cause - a fear of motherhood, a rejection of the biological role."

This idea is just hearsay and without foundation. There is this mythical quite prejudicial perception that not only do homosexual men and women lead a freer and less onerous lifestyle compared with married people, they are deliberately avoiding having children by being gay or lesbian.

However the number of lesbian women and gay men who are having children or want to have children is steadily increasing in the more "liberal" countries of the world. Moreover the reason why they have not had children before is obvious; it is because of numerous social prohibitions such as discriminative legislation, negative moralising from established religions, physical intimidation and social ostracism. So much for the freer less onerous lifestyle.

After all this Betty Lunsted does add a face-saving footnote which really only makes matters worse:
"Not all homosexual women are avoiding motherhood. Determining homosexual behavior is at least as complicated as determining heterosexual behavior. The subject is too vast to be discussed with any clarity here."

Having just stated that the underlying reason why women become homosexual is the avoidance of motherhood, Lundsted now says this is not always true. I would add this is rarely the case. Some heterosexual women do not want to have children but they are not stigmatised and pathologised purely because of their sexual orientation! Female and male homosexuals just "are".

I feel astrologers and psychologists should stop trying to treat them as people who are "imbalanced" and ipso facto can be "balanced" through chart analysis. They are little better than those who try to "cure" lesbians and gays through some form of reparative therapy. The only "choice" homosexual people have had in practice is whether to come out in a hostile world half of whom would still like to see you dead or hide behind a heterosexual front.

The view that homosexuality is a "problem" is the result of very narrow political, social and cultural ideas about sex; the Christian religions view sex as purely procreative denying its wholesome perfectly natural recreative component. And people still like to think it is a choice despite mounting scientific evidence to the contrary to maintain their persecutory and judgmental stance and avoid confronting their own sexual shadow. Rather than own the devil within they collectively project the devil without.

People who have a problem with homosexuality from my experience have a problem with sex in general and the whole Plutonian side of life, but rather than openly acknowledge it, prefer to take the easy option and project their repressed instinctual "shadows" on to lesbian and gay people. Homophobia is symptomatic of the general community's fear and pathologisation of sex itself, a fear which is conveniently projected on to a scapegoated sexual minority.

Moreover, if homosexuality is as vast and as complex as Betty Lunsted suggests (and she's right about that) I really question her authority in including any references to it in her book. And if determining homosexual behaviour is as complicated as determining heterosexual behaviour I find it hard to understand why she can still maintain that she can ascertain homosexuality from the astrological chart.

This of course presupposes that heterosexuality too can be ascertained from the chart, which the majority of readers would regard as completely nonsensical. One can therefore imagine how lesbian and gay people feel about the whole patronising business.

Betty Lundsted's book is still in print (and a copy rests on my shelf if anyone wants to borrow it) She may have changed her position in the meantime. But I wish she and other psychological astrologers would come out and say so.

Since the early 1980s there has been a deafening silence from astrologers on this whole issue and I suspect it may be the silence of indifference, ignorance or embarrassment.

Thus far we have had the following planetary aspects (hard ones of course!) linked with homosexuality by the following noted astrologers:

Sun/Uranus - Derek and Julia ParkerMoon/Venus - Betty Lunsted

Moon/Uranus - Derek and Julia Parker

Venus/Mars - Betty Lunsted

Venus/Saturn - Liz Greene

Venus/Uranus - Frances Sakoian & Louis Acker, Stephen Arroyo (maybe)

Venus/Neptune - Francis Sakoian & Louis Acker

Venus/Pluto - Stephen Arroyo

Mars/Uranus - Stephen Arroyo

Mars/Neptune - Stephen Arroyo, Francis Sakoian & Louis Acker

Mars/Pluto - Stephen Arroyo

It is quite evident that astrologers do not agree at all as to what planetary aspect or aspects are associated with homosexuality. In my journey of acquaintanceship with astrology, I have heard nearly every zodiac sign linked to homosexuality bar Leo. (Though I await it!).

I think it is time astrologers stopped theorising about homosexual signatures in the natal chart because it is quite clear from their own highly conflicting unfounded and muddled evidence, there are none. Writers like Stephen Arroyo have hinted at other factors in the chart which need to be looked at in relation to homosexuality but neither he nor anyone else has ever spelt them out to my knowledge. The reason is that either they do not know or they are just not that interested.

J Lee Lehman is one of the very few astrologers who have statistically tested existing theories on homosexual signatures. She found that none of the theories were valid. Moreover she thinks that the main reason why none of these theories stood up was the invalid premise on which these theories were based, that homosexuality is pathological and abnormal. This makes a lot of sense to me.

Looking for astrological signatures presupposes that homosexuality is abnormal and it is significant after thousands of years that no astrological consensus has ever been reached on what chart signature or signatures can be linked with it. I suggest astrologers give up this futile and demeaning research and start treating their lesbian and gay clients like everyone else, which is the underlying message of this whole article.

I would have to agree with the position Marion March and Joan McEvers adopt in their book, The Only Way To Learn About Tomorrow. They express great scepticism about homosexual signatures in the chart. They quote recent estimates that 1/6 of the population is bisexual or homosexual and logically conclude that they cannot all have the same astrological signature anymore than the heterosexual majority.

Astrologers seem to be in accord with the view that neither race, religion, nor gender can be detected from the astrological chart and I firmly believe sexual orientation should be added to the list.

March and McEvers, like most astrologers, continue to view homosexuality as behavioural, as psychologically problematic caused by poor parenting. They do however commendably "correct" themselves in their following book on relationships, The Only Way To Learn About Relationships. Here they refer to recent scientific studies that strongly suggest that homosexuality is rooted in biology. Indeed the scientists involved in the research have stated unequivocally that they would not be spending all their time and money researching the "gay" gene unless it was implicitly understood that homosexuals are born not made.

Liz Greene in her book Relating stated way back in 1978 that the topic has been "exhaustively explored". Contrary to Liz Greene, I find that the subject of "Homosexuality" has been exhaustively ignored by astrologers and Jungian analysts (which was the point of view the book was written from) who seem to treat it as irrelevant, a minor aberration of human behaviour not worth worrying about.

In fact we have had to wait until 1989 for the 1st serious monograph on homosexuality to be written from a Jungian perspective and even then other Jungian analysts questioned the need for it.

"While amongst Freudian and Adlerian psychoanalysts, homophobia most frequently takes the form of pathologisation and condemnation, amongst Jungians, it typically takes the form of neglect.".

It is only in the last 10 years that some Jungian analysts have started to take it seriously in their considerations of the human psyche after pressure from feminists, lesbians and gays sympathetic to Jung's work.

Carl Jung himself rarely mentions homosexuality in his Collected Works and his followers seemed to have unquestioningly followed suit. When they do deign to comment on homosexuality, they tend to emphasise what they perceive as the negative rather than the positive aspects.

Liz Greene's use of the word "exhaustive" in 1978 is significant in that it implies that for her, everything has already been said on the subject, which is hardly the case even in the more enlightened open 1990s. The first ever collection of essays on same-sex love from a Jungian perspective only came out in 1993, which hardly constitutes an exhaustive flood [32]. Liz Greene comments that astrology has "…its arsenal of preconceptions and misconceptions about sexuality".

It is unfortunate that in my view like other psychological astrologers she has added to them herself with regard to homosexuality.

I bear in mind that books like Liz Greene's Relating were written over 20 years ago when gay liberation and gay affirmative psychotherapy was in its infancy. She is one of the very few intrepid astrologers who have attempted to write at any length about the astrology of homosexuality, which is why I will be commenting on what she has written at some length. She initially tries hard to adopt a non-judgmental, tolerant stance, questioning the whole concept of sexual normality.

Tolerance however is very different from acceptance. Tolerance to me implies a superior/inferior position and whilst she strives hard to be fair in an intellectual sense, I detect a distinct unease about the subject in Chapter 6 of her book, Relating, entitled
"The Sex Life of the Psyche". She rightly states that nobody can judge whether different forms of sexual expression are normal or abnormal. Additionally, like Marion March and Joan McEvers, she thinks there is no clear way of telling whether one is homosexual from the natal chart.

The tone initially is seemingly tolerant, fair and balanced, the appearance liberal and non-homophobic.

But after this, I believe she shows a darker side and her writing reveals far more about her own relationship to homosexuality than about homosexuality and its relationship to astrology in general. After cloaking herself with the language of tolerance and saying that homosexuality is not a sickness, she appears to contradict herself.

She states that homosexuality often (there's that precise word "often" again) involves a complete repression of unconscious figures, a state of mind that does not sound too healthy to me; in fact it sounds downright pathological. Her discomfort with the subject I feel is further exposed when she comments on Freud's concept of latent homosexuality.

"…it is also a pity that Freud's concept of 'latent homosexuality' should still be an old bogeyman for many individuals who feel that expressing the transsexual side of their natures will somehow make them homosexual. If anything, the opposite is likely to be true; for what we call homosexuality is often the result of a complete repression of unconscious figures which - like any other component of the unconscious - will become antagonistic and overwhelm consciousness if they are treated with arrogance or contempt by the ego."

Ironically, Freud himself unlike most of his followers was in some ways fairly relaxed in his attitude towards same-sex relationships and this may be reflected in his concept of latent homosexuality. But Liz Greene seems to be unsettled by the very idea that "heterosexual" people may also have occasional sexual feelings towards people of the same sex, ignoring Kinsey's concept of a sexual continuum between homosexuality and heterosexuality.

She dismisses Freud's view and labels homosexuals in the process as walking hotbeds of unconscious repression to reinforce her argument and maintain heterosexual normalcy. What unconscious figures are being repressed she does not say; I assume she is referring to the Soul Image, the animus/anima concept, the unconscious masculine/feminine images which are supposed to be present in all of us.

Erin Sullivan in her insightful book Dynasty - The Astrology of Family Dynamics hammers home the point that "astrology is not gender-biased", that " masculine and feminine do not necessarily always refer to men and women.".

Astrology itself unlike the various psychologies has no problem with homosexuality; whether one is in a straight or same-sex relationship the same planetary and sign dynamics apply. The astrological chart does not discriminate, only astrologers do.

I suggest that Jungians are challenged to enlarge their concept of anima/animus to include the homosexual, transsexual and bisexual experiences of life instead of rigidly adhering to a restrictive, non-inclusive, heterosexist model. Again astrology shows the way. The energies represented by the planets go beyond gender, beyond masculinity and femininity and are dynamic in their own right.

I cannot see anything particularly dynamic about a stereotypical union between an uncommunicative knuckle dragging man who spends all his time down at the pub with his mates (perhaps he is "animus" possessed!) and his neglected wife who stays at home all the time.

But this scenario is stereotypical and cliched just as mincing queens with vanity-ridden animas lisping their way around the gay bars is. The human psyche is in my experience "…Byzantine in its complexity" and we should try to grapple with this complexity and explore it instead of abrogating our responsibility and saying it is all too difficult. Homosexuality, far from "neutering" the fundamental masculine/ feminine, eros/logos polarity actually broadens and enriches it and frees all of us from bondage to narrow and inhibiting stereotypes.

Homophobia is in reality a form of self-hatred, a conscious or unconscious hatred of one's primeval instincts masquerading in a projected form of hatred for a sexual minority. Coming to terms with our own homophobia means we are all free to be ourselves with our unique blends of feminine/masculine and it is astrology, above Jungian Psychology, above all other psychological systems that clarifies this through the natal chart.

Partly through Jung's influence, Liz Greene seems to be perpetuating homosexual stereotyping and adding to rather than detracting from astrological misconceptions about sexuality. The closer I look at Chapter 6 "The Sex Life of the Psyche" from her book Relating the more concerned I get as it seems to portray such a hackneyed, distorted view and indeed out-moded view of the supposed homosexual psyche and experience and the astrological aspects that she associates with it. She quotes random opinions on homosexuality to show confusion about the subject.

They would be forgivable if they were at least witty; instead she merely trots out jokes such as "all interior decorators are homosexual" that were worn out even in the 1970s.

On the one hand, Greene suggests that homosexuality is "chosen". Then in the next paragraph she admits that homosexuals perhaps "…are truly 'born' with their propensity."

The 1978 Concise Oxford Dictionary definition of homosexuality as a propensity for the same sex, I would suggest, is incomplete. From my experience, being gay is far more than just a propensity, an inclination, something you can put on and take off like a shirt; it is an integral part of one's very being. One does not choose a lifestyle that runs counter to the mainstream, risking real social ostracism, endemic queer bashing, exploding bombs, soul murder by some psychoanalysts and potential familial estrangement unless this is so.

The only choice homosexuals have had up to now was whether to hide their sexual orientation, openly live it braving the inevitable hostility or self-destruct. Many do in fact self-destruct in adolescence, which is one of the major causes of the high youth suicide rate. The coming out of young homosexuals is often traumatic as families infected by collective homophobia are frequently hostile.

If homosexuality is chosen, then logically heterosexuality is chosen too, as according to Liz Greene we have a choice in the matter. I cannot think of any heterosexual person of my acquaintance who has consciously chosen to be so, for them it is just instinctive and ingrained; they don't even think about it. I make the radical suggestion that the same could also apply to homosexuals. And recent scientific evidence increasingly supports the biological view.

If one is confused as Liz Greene appears to be as to whether homosexuality is genetic, behavioural or an indeterminate mixture of both, then I fail to understand how she can attempt to speak about the subject with any clarity or conviction particularly in its relationship to astrology.

Liz Greene has done a great deal in broadening and deepening astrological chart interpretation through her extensive experience as a Jungian analyst. But any psychological system is inevitably circumscribed by the peculiar characteristics of their originators and Jungian psychology is no exception. Carl Jung was a heterosexual man whose model of the human psyche is understandably heterosexually based and biased. He wrote very little about homosexuality to the extent where in comparison with his total output, he virtually ignored it. This is not necessarily a criticism of Jung; unlike some of his followers he quite correctly seemed reluctant to discourse on something he had little personal experience of. And so I get concerned when psychological astrologers like Liz Greene use the Jungian model of the human psyche in conjunction with astrology to deny homosexuals the right to be treated as psychologically equal to the rest of the population.

To illustrate my argument I will examine what Greene says about Venus/Saturn aspects in her book Relating. When she talks about hard Venus/Saturn aspects in men's charts she reveals to me quite clearly that she regards homosexuality as pathological. She says that with difficult Venus/Saturn aspects in a male chart: "All kinds of by-products may ensue, ranging from coldness, lack of feeling and withdrawal to eventual homosexuality."

The clear message here is that coldness, lack of feeling and withdrawal is associated with the homosexual state; male homosexuality for her seems to be about repression of feelings especially towards women. My perspective on Venus/Saturn aspects is that deep feelings are definitely there but there is a lid on them. There is a fear about openly expressing them, about showing love and affection and a caution about emotional commitment in all relationships, opposite sex or otherwise.

This caution is underpinned by a need for certainty, definition and security. To drag in homosexuality into this equation and imply that it is the ultimate result of denial of feelings is to completely misunderstand and misrepresent homosexuality.

Greene is doing exactly what Stephen Arroyo has done; comment on something negative such as violence and repressed emotion and then drag in homosexuality in the same sentence for no sound reason at all. I have found hard Venus/Saturn aspects affect all relationships not just those of the opposite sex variety. This is a classic example of the dangers in assigning different planetary energies to one or other gender and making sexist assumptions based on that.

If one regards the Venusian energy as the ability to relate, unite, join and harmonise, this ability is inhibited and restricted when combined in a hard aspect with Saturn. There is caution, fear and vulnerability around the whole relating business and a man or a woman with this aspect would have problems freely relating to anyone regardless of gender. But to conclude that this fear of relating in a man's chart leads to eventual homosexuality is to my mind a ludicrous argument.

Liz Greene's commentary on Venus/Saturn aspects is a classic example of how some analysts and astrologers can continue to wittingly or unwittingly pathologise homosexuality in covert and subtle ways whilst still publicly waving their liberal banners. Clearly for Liz Greene homosexuality is still very much a " problem" because it is based on the repression of feelings and the alleged inability to relate to the opposite sex. Of course it depends what you mean by relating to the opposite sex.

I contend that men do not have to sex with women the whole time or any of the time in order to "relate" to them and vice versa. In my experience, many gay men generally relate to women very positively; they feel comfortable with them talking about feelings and emotions. And from my experience our most important relationship experiences are just as often asexual.

In short, Liz Greene has done little in her book Relating to correct the negative image that homosexuality has in astrology, and in fact has continued to perpetuate negative homosexual myths and stereotypes. Whilst she warns against being judgmental, she simultaneously denies homosexuals the right to be treated equally with heterosexuals in a psychological sense. Jungian psychology reflects the personality of its originator; it is heterosexually biased and fails to recognise and incorporate the reality and the validity of the homosexual experience.

The current fierce resistance to the androgynous view of the psyche amongst the majority of its followers is testimony to that. Liz Greene's book "Relating" psychologically discriminates against homosexuals and from my point of view has done more harm than good in raising people's levels of acceptance towards sexual minorities. I find it hard to conceive that she would write this chapter on "The Sex Life of the Psyche" in exactly the same manner now as she did in 1978. She may or may not have modified or altered her position in the meantime but I have not heard or seen anything to that effect. I presume she stands by what she has written.

But the fact is that Relating is still in print, still very popular, yet still disseminating what I believe are grave misconceptions about homosexuality. The only comment she appears to have made on homosexuality in the chart since 1979 has been in The Inner Planets - Seminars In Psychological Astrology Volume 4]. And it is significant that she only comments on it when prompted by a member of her seminar audience.

When she discusses Venus/Moon aspects, she states that the same psycho-astrological dynamics apply to homosexual as well as heterosexual relationships. One planetary energy is consciously "owned" whilst the other is projected on to the partner in the relationship. The theme is the same for everyone, balancing the need for security with the desire for erotic fulfilment.
Greene appears to have shifted to a more androgynous view of the human psyche than before, implicitly accepting that homosexual relationships operate on the same fundamental logos/eros polarity as heterosexual ones which is quite a different position to that which she adopted in Relating.

Yet Relating continues to be printed unaltered, and in my opinion, continues to badly misinform readers about homosexuality and its relationship to astrology. Above all, it subliminally reinforces the widely held view that homosexuality is inherently inferior to heterosexuality and continues to help to create a climate where gay and lesbian people are treated as second class citizens.

No wonder her main character of "Victor" resisted analysis. In fact many gay and lesbian people including me have resisted analysis until recently because of the entrenched homophobia in analytical circles (I was astonished to read that until 2002 there were still no "out" gay psychoanalysts in Ireland).

People may well ask why it has taken so long for someone like me, on a blog like this to question what has been written by astrologers in the last 20 years.

The answer I feel is partly "internalised homophobia".

When one has been bombarded throughout life with highly destructive remarks from the collective about one's sexual identity, there is a tendency to unconsciously take some of it on board. I have worked hard on my own internalised homophobia and now see things very, very differently.

What Liz Greene wrote on homosexuality in Relating during the 1970s was, believe it or not, a considerable advance on anything written before that by astrologers. But in the context of the nineties and naughties it is no longer tenable and has become objectionable because of its heterosexist bias and unconscious homophobia.

The same comment can also be made about the very questionable comments on homosexuality and its supposed astrological significators by Stephen Arroyo, Betty Lundsted and others.

In conclusion I would suggest that searching for a homosexual signature in the natal chart is a complete waste of time and quite irrelevant. This search in itself seems implicitly homophobic. There is absolutely no consensus of opinion amongst astrologers about it. The multitude of astrological signatures that have been suggested are just hearsay and are not backed up by any serious empirical evidence.

There is no evidence or authentic tradition that the hard aspects (square, opposition and sometimes conjunction ) between Mars/Venus and the outer planets are more likely to be linked to homosexuality than heterosexuality.

The fact that astrologers have suggested this link in the past speaks volumes about the prevalent ill-informed prejudices against gay and lesbian people.

Moreover, the search for an astrological signature for homosexuality presupposes that it is abnormal in some way. The fact that this search has been spectacularly unsuccessful speaks for itself. Sexual orientation like race, religion and gender cannot be detected in the chart; the chart does not judge whether a person is normal or abnormal and neither should we.

The same dynamics exist in homosexual relationships as well as heterosexual ones. The planetary energies are ultimately beyond gender and belong to us all.

Mercury Retrograde - The Muted Messenger.

2009-01-07T00:07:00.011Z

On the 11th of January the planet Mercury, the Ruler of communication goes into retrograde for about three weeks – it's a time when Mercury appears to reverse its course and voyage through the cosmos (but in reality it is only a visual illusion created by earths orbit).

A Mercury retrograde is an event that usually stirs a strong ominous sense within those that search the sky for omens and precognitions, though it may strike mortal fear into the hearts of some, others find it nothing more then a great opportunity to recall themselves from the ways of the world and lay low for a few weeks – on a personal level the last time there was a Mercury retrograde I experienced many a lost E-mail, letter, train ticket, misinterpreted voice mail and after a long night out a front door key (which annoyingly enough lead me on to finding myself stuck in a bathroom window; so one torn jeans, two lost shirt buttons and partially flushed shoe later I resolved myself to accepting that next time round it would probably be best to approach a retrograde Mercury with a plan, rather then with a hopeful spirt that I'd survive it without having to burn another one of my favourite pair of shoes!

(Though I must say I also laughed into the face of traditional common sense and bought a new computer, the world kept spinning on its axis though and myself and Blinky are still getting on just fine!)

With Mercury being both a namesake for a god-form messenger/ herald, a fun loving trickster and a psychological projection of the mediumistic ego it's no surprise then that when planet Mercury goes Retrograde, it can cause disruption, misunderstanding, poor communication, carelessness and the odd bit of personal Chaos.

Hopefully though with having a few tricks of our own this will be one transit that can be travelled through with minimum disruption:

Expect resistence
It's common during Mercury Retrograde for something that would normally take five or ten minutes to take a late-night-bed-craving hour to finish - all due to a simple oversight or slight malfunction. Part of getting through this time is accepting that things will be more difficult than usual and will require some extra effort to complete. By accepting and preparing for this extra work, you will save yourself a great deal of frustration.

Size matters (uh, er!)
It's a lot easier to overlook the small tiny things, but important details like logging out of your email account, keeping receipts, reminding yourself to collect the nephew at school, not forgetting about said nephew and almost wander home from the park alone (ok ok I had a bad day) need to be paid closer attention too, so focus on the little things because that's where Mercury retrograde seems to stir most!

Roll with the punches
Though it might feel like you're the universe's punching bag for the month, don't take it personally. If you begin talking to friends about what's been going on with you, you're sure to hear stories from them that bear all the hallmarks of Mercury's interference. We all too often take the burden of the world on ourselves, forgetting there is an entire planet involved. Sometimes it's really not about ourselves, times like this sharing is not only a way of caring but a way to release, renew and rejuvenate.

Lay low and turn inward
Unless it's a matter of necessity, its usually counselled that its best to avoid programming a new phone or buying a new computer while Mercury is in Retrograde. You may even want to avoid making big decisions, like asking the man you fancy the pants and all other clothing garments off out on a date, (only to find out his not only married, but with a little bit too much of an intense Gnome collecting hobby).

What Mercury Retrograde is best for is introspection and self review. Instead of making big decisions, think about them, explore, debate, ponder. Allow yourself this time to get past the hurdles and limits of resistance, as once Mercury goes direct you can move forward with your plans with a far more thought out and practical path of progression.

Laugh it off
As exasperating as Mercury Retrograde can be, there is an element of humour to it all. It can sometimes be refreshing to find the universe messing with our mail, our minds and our old time worn methods, as it can reminds us of our own fallibility and rigidness of though - the missed details and errors can be very revealing of our own slapstick buffoonery, that if we are open to it can still encourages us on and make us smile like a vodka sloshed chav, but if we let it!

A Review of Mercury Retrograde
Within the fold of the greater reality retrograde periods are not particularly uncommon. In fact each astrological planet retrogrades (except the Sun and Moon) and although it is a powerful astrological influence, Mercury is quite a small planet that travels at a relatively fast speed through the zodiac.

Despite being the closest planet in our solar system to the Sun, it is not always in the same sign as the Sun. This time, Mercury turns retrograde in Aquarius (the original; unorthodox and ecclectic), while the Sun is in Capricorn (ambition; loyalty, stern focus), but heads back into Capricorn just after the Sun strides into Aquarius.

Fated Events
As a rule, retrograde planets presage a period of seemingly inevitable or fated events that relate to their sphere of influence. They present us with a series of events over which we seem to have little or no conscious control, relating especially to the sign in which the retrogradation occurs. For example, Mercury retrograde in Aquarius presents us with quite a different sets of finer circumstances from those generated when it retrogrades into Capricorn.

A retrograde period is best seen as a cycle, beginning when the planet begins to slow to a halt before travelling backwards through the zodiac and ending when the planet returns to the point where it first paused. However, during the cycle, the planet's energy is most powerful (and more likely to generate critical events of universal importance) when the planet makes a station: appearing motionless in the sky.

These stationary periods occur near the beginning of the cycle (when the planet first halts as it prepares to move backwards) and midway through the cycle when the retrograde planet slows to a stop before moving forward again. The "direct station" (when the planet halts before moving forward again) is the most powerful and can be used for maximum benefit.

Many astrologers consider that the "Mercury Shadow" begins some three weeks before the actual retro station (when Mercury passes the point of direct station for the first time). This has some justification, but I am more inclined to think that the really noticeable peculiarities begin when Mercury slows significantly, a few days before the retro station. This period of "Mercury Shadow" extends to the Return date, some three weeks after the direct station. Bear this in mind, because experience shows that the effects of the retro period are still marked during the "shadow" phase. Some of the most characteristic annoyances often occur just after Mercury makes the direct station, while he is crawling forward before picking up speed.

What does Mercury affect?
In general, Mercury rules thinking and perception, processing and disseminating information and all means of communication, commerce, education and transportation. By extension, Mercury rules people who work in these areas, especially people who work with their minds or their wits: writers and orators, commentators and critics, gossips and spin doctors, teachers, travellers, tricksters and thieves.

Mercury retrograde gives rise to personal misunderstandings; flawed, disrupted, or delayed communications, negotiations and trade; glitches and breakdowns with phones, computers, cars, buses, and trains. And all of these problems usually arise because some crucial piece of information, or component, has gone astray or awry.

It is therefore not wise to make important decisions while Mercury is retrograde, since it is very likely that these decisions will be clouded by misinformation, poor communication and careless thinking. Mercury is all about mental clarity and the power of the mind, so when Mercury is retrograde these intellectual characteristics tend to be less acute than usual, as the critical faculties are dimmed. Make sure you pay attention to the small print!

Keys to the Kingdom
The key issue here is one of focus. Mercury's retro phase tends to bring unforeseen changes and blockages, but the aggravation and frustration that many of us experience during these periods is often due to our own inability to roll with the punches. Is this due to our ego-fixation? Mercury sets out to restructure our thinking processes and for many of us this is painful and frustrating. Moreover, these experiences reveal flaws in our internal organisation as well as our external planning, which can make us feel foolish and inadequate.

Mercury retrograde, like any cosmic aspect, affects people differently, depending on where it hits their personal charts. Some people actually prosper under a retro Mercury, especially if Mercury is retrograde but otherwise well-aspected in their birth charts It is also a time when matters begun under a previous retro period will come to fruition, or completion as the case may be. Firm decisions that have been previously made when Mercury is travelling normally through the zodiac may be implemented or finalised while Mercury is retrograde without too much worry, for experience shows that this can be done without undue problems arising.

Mercury Retrograde in Aquarius
When Mercury is retrograde, everyone's thinking is more introspective and we tend to think about issues and concerns which relate to the sign involved. With Mercury retrograde in Aquarius people with this sign prominent in their charts will be especially prone to such introspection. There is little choice but to reconsider our personal views and opinions about life. We receive, however, an opportunity to gain insight into our own ego.

Mercury retro in Aquarius generates an undue focus on originality and independence, love of intellectual freedom and the inclination to repudiate social conventions. Idealistic concepts however, will be under pressure during this Fixed Sign phase, as people will be inclined to be very stubborn and opinionated, while at the same time attempting to pressure others into sharing their attitudes. Unusual or unorthodox ideas will have difficulty melding with traditional positions, as people with new ideas will be unlikely to consider the feelings and opinions of the so-called "old wave", who will vigorously resist proposed changes.

The Full Moon in Cancer cusp of Leo occurs on January 11th, just hours before Mercury turns retrograde. This is a very emotional Full Moon, with much potential for conflict (head versus heart; family versus career etc) and breaks in communication (Mercury being stationary prior to turning).

This position can indicate nerve-related ailments and muscle cramping.
Mercury remains in Aquarius until January 21st, when he rolls back to Capricorn, creating havoc with political and administrative concerns, government, career and public positions, along with the desire to rise in life! He returns to Aquarius on February 14th, but read on for more on
Mercury's stay in Capricorn.

Mercury Retrograde in Capricorn
At 05:37 hrs UT on January 21, Mercury slips back into Capricorn, the sign of the Sea-Goat. Mercury retro in Capricorn suggests trouble through trying to turn knowledge and ideas to some practical advantage, and disruptions or communication breakdown in organisations, businesses and administration. People's imagination tends to be restricted to pragmatic and material considerations, with too much trumpeting of traditional ideas, or those that do not conflict with or threaten their own.

People suffer from a lack of humour, as they try to push through their own agendas and attempt to gain status by driving the right car and generally scoring points.

Mercury thankfully turns direct again at 27° 45' Capricorn on February 1, returning to Aquarius on February 14th – bring on the freedom :)

Angelic Zodiac – Wings to the heavens

2009-01-05T21:39:00.007Z

At the world at large there seems to be an ever evolving array of theories and debates on how astrology works and what, beneath the glamour of words and the guise of the planets is the essence that manifests the predictions and flows of the moment.

Modern man has disputes them ad infinitum, bringing to bear the issues of free will, destiny and fate; and may very well continue too – if anything I hope so, for the fresh ideas stirred from the dried soil of past thrown mud, reaches to us from the echoes of the past and wills us on towards the light of a new Aeon of understanding and truth.

One very interesting theory I came across a few years ago is the correlation between angels and astrology, after reading a book written by (and if you haven't read it, I would recommend it for the variation of thought alone!) Terah Cox: "Birth Angels: Fulfilling Your Life Purpose and Potential with the 72 Angels of the Tree of Life", that was given to me by a kind friend of mine as a belated birthday present I became aware of some of these correlations and for a while hungered for more.

They are particularly interesting since you may know that astrology is it is not an abstract theory, an intellectual exercise or some mathematics of the universe, but a living, growing and evolving science, witnessing the breath of the very cosmos. This is why, it is so important to be reminded that astrology should be more then horoscopes and predictions, but an legitimate connection to the higher energies and a practical tool of spiritual being accessible in the process of striving for a fulfilling and meaningful life.

At the basic level, the universe is all objective. Think at Newton's rules for the physical world. As we advance in understanding towards more subtle levels of science, the universe becomes more and more subjective. In quantum physics, the scientist is part of the experiment. At that level, there isn't anymore a fixed reality to be measured or studied – only explored.

In astrology, if we are looking for ways and means of reaching a more subtle level of understanding, we may find the angelic correlation to astrology quite useful and at the very least another resource of discovery and interpretation.

Within the tradition of the Zodiac Angels there are in total seventy-two Angels or as some would rather seem them as aspects of Divine Energies or archetypal projections of the internal ego, that are in a correlation with specific astrology elements such as zodiac degrees, signs, planets or units of time.

In a mundane sense we often refer to these Angels as Guardian Angels, Divine Messenger, Emissaries of Light, Bestowers of Grace or Bringers of Miracles. The Angels are the inhabitants of the Nine Angelic Choirs of the tree of Life.

This is how this in short this system is more or less applied:

Each angel governs over a five degree span in the zodiac, corresponding to the time when the transiting Sun travels through that area. The Angel ruling the fire degree zodiac area of the natal Sun is called the Incarnation Angel and has the strongest influence on our lives, especially on our physical/existential nature.

The Angel corresponding the natal Sun is called the Heart Angel and has influence on our emotional nature.

Next, there is the Intellect Angel influencing our mental processes, intellect. This kind of Angel is associated with 20 minutes intervals of time of each day, starting at midnight.

So, all seventy-two Angels have a correspondence with 20 minutes within each day itself (seventy-two x twenty = one thousand four hundred and forty minutes, which equals 24 hours).

Obviously to me, the intervals starting at midnight is highly questionable, since the midnight is a conventional moment, depending on the time zone and daylight saving time. Therefore, I presume that they actually start at LMT midnight, which is the moment when the Sun is conjunct the local IC (Immum Coeli), 4th house cusp.

These three Angels, the Incarnation Angel, the Heart Angel and the Intellect Angel, represent our Birth Angels, which have most influence and connection with us. An Angel is strongest during its days and times of dominion; therefore it is especially effective to work with them during those periods.

It may help us maximize particular qualities and functions in our physical/existential nature (Incarnation Days), our emotional nature (Heart Days) or our intellectual nature (Intellect Days).

Though this model of thought we can become more connected to the Angelic presences or psychologically projected qualities, homing our egos and perceptions until we become reflections of those “Angelic” ideals themselves.

In addition to these angelic - astrological connections, there are sign and planets of correlation, such as: Vehuiah whom is associated with Aries/Uranus, Jeliel with Aries/Saturn and so on.

Personally I find that this is a very important field of study, which can enhance greatly our practice of astrology, by opening a direct path from the astrological chart to the spiritual worlds/ archetypal ideals in a more accessible way them the primal seven represented by the traditional astrology in the guise of the planetary powers.

An example: Mercury is currently transiting the area of the zodiac governed by the Angel Anauel, this establishes communication between inner and outer worlds, helps to bring wisdom and spiritual values to the individual as well as to the global community and abolishes old beliefs that divide and alienate.

The table below displays the traditional five degree Angel correlations, as well as some keywords for each Angel.

0° to 5° Aries - VEHUIAH - Will and New Beginnings

5° to 10° Aries - JELIEL - Love and Wisdom

10° to 15° Aries - SITAEL - Construction of the Universe/Worlds

15° to 20° Aries - ELEMIAH - Divine Power

20° to 25° Aries - MAHASIAH - Rectification

25° to 30° Aries - LELAHEL - Light of Understanding

0° to 5° Taurus - ACHAIAH - Patience

5° to 10° Taurus - CAHETEL - Divine Blessings

10° to 15° Taurus - HAZIEL - Divine Mercy and Forgiveness

15° to 20° Taurus - ALADIAH - Divine Grace

20° to 25° Taurus - LAUVIAH - Victory

25° to 30° Taurus - HAHAIAH - Refuge, Shelter

0° to 5° Gemini - YEZALEL - Fidelity, Loyalty and Allegiance

5° to 10° Gemini - MEBAHEL - Truth, Liberty and Justice

10° to 15° Gemini - HARIEL - Purification

15° to 20° Gemini - HAKAMIAH - Loyalty

20° to 25° Gemini - LAVIAH - Revelation

25° to 30° Gemini - CALIEL - Justice

0° to 5° Cancer - LEUVIAH - Expansive Intelligence/Fruition

5° to 10° Cancer - PAHALIAH - Redemption

10° to 15° Cancer - NELCHAEL - Ardent Desire to Learn

15° to 20° Cancer - YEIAYEL - Fame, Renown

20° to 25° Cancer - MELAHEL - Healing Capacity

25° to 30° Cancer - HAHEUIAH - Protection

0° to 5° Leo - NITH-HAIAH - Spiritual Wisdom and Magic

5° to 10° Leo - HAAIAH - Political Science and Ambition

10° to 15° Leo - YERATEL - Propagation of Light

15° to 20° Leo - SEHEIAH - Longevity

20° to 25° Leo - REIYEL - Liberation

25° to 30° Leo - OMAEL - Fertility, Multiplicity

0° to 5° Virgo - LECABEL - Intellectual Talent

5° to 10° Virgo - VASARIAH - Clemency and Equilibrium

10° to 15° Virgo - YEHUIAH - Subordination to Higher Order

15° to 20° Virgo - LEHAHIAH - Obedience

20° to 25° Virgo - CHEVAKIAH - Reconciliation

25° to 30° Virgo - MENADEL - Inner/Outer Work

0° to 5° Libra - ANIEL - Breaking the Circle

5° to 10° Libra - HAAMIAH - Ritual and Ceremony

10° to 15° Libra - REHAEL - Filial Submission

15° to 20° Libra - YEIAZEL - Divine Consolation and Comfort

20° to 25° Libra - HAHAHEL - Mission

25° to 30° Libra - MIKHAEL - Political Authority and Order

0° to 5° Scorpio - VEULIAH - Prosperity

5° to 10° Scorpio - YELAHIAH - Karmic Warrior

10° to 15° Scorpio - SEHALIAH - Motivation and Wilfulness

15° to 20° Scorpio - ARIEL - Perceiver and Revealer

20° to 25° Scorpio - ASALIAH - Contemplation

25° to 30° Scorpio - MIHAEL - Fertility, Fruitfulness

0° to 5° Sagittarius - VEHUEL - Elevation, Grandeur

5° to 10° Sagittarius - DANIEL - Eloquence

10° to 15° Sagittarius - HAHASIAH - Universal Medicine

15° to 20° Sagittarius - IMAMIAH - Expiation of Errors

20° to 25° Sagittarius - NANAEL - Spiritual Communication

25° to 30° Sagittarius - NITHAEL - Rejuvenation and Eternal Youth

0° to 5° Capricorn - MEBAHIAH - Intellectual Lucidity
5° to 10° Capricorn - POYEL - Fortune and Support

10° to 15° Capricorn - NEMAMIAH - Discernment

15° to 20° Capricorn - YEIALEL - Mental Force

20° to 25° Capricorn - HARAHEL - Intellectual Richness

25° to 30° Capricorn - MITZRAEL - Internal Reparation

0° to 5° Aquarius - UMABEL - Affinity and Friendship

5° to 10° Aquarius - IAH-HEL - Desire to Know

10° to 15° Aquarius - ANAUEL - Perception of Unity

15° to 20° Aquarius - MEHIEL - Vivification

20° to 25° Aquarius - DAMABIAH - Fountain of Wisdom

25° to 30° Aquarius - MANAKEL - Knowledge of Good and Evil

0° to 5° Pisces - EYAEL - Transformation to the Sublime
5° to 10° Pisces - HABUHIAH - Healing

10° to 15° Pisces - ROCHEL - Restitution

15° to 20° Pisces - JABAMIAH - Alchemy/Transformation

20° to 25° Pisces - HAIYAEL - Divine Warrior/Weaponry

25° to 30° Pisces - MUMIAH - Endings and Rebirth

To love for the sake of being loved is human, but to love for the sake of loving is angelic.

~Alphonse De Lamartine

Leo full moon – The fire of new hope.

2009-01-04T23:58:00.002Z

The upcoming full moon on the 11th will rest in the cusp of Leo, that is to say that the moon will be at its zenith within the domain of its own power and rulership while at the aspect of Leo – the astrological alliance also comes in tune with a initiating Mercury retrograde and a solar eclipse that comes to pass later in the month, these cosmic motions brings forth a full array of illumination, shadow and the stirring of a deeper sense of being.

Within Astrology the Moon represents the emotional self, the inner identity, instincts, habits, automatic reactions and our sense of personal heritage and history.

It may be interesting to note that most people feel their Moon Sign energy very strongly - some even to the point of identifying with their Moon Sign (once known) more than with their Sun Sign, which is best represented as a primary projected personality shared externally but not always held in true resonance with the deeper self.

In astrology the qualities of a Leo moon are that of; sensitivity, private feelings, the feminine self, overcoming passive, reactive, receptivity greeting a time of action, introverted and enduring courage – all which are characteristics of the water/ fire aspect of the zodiac, but holding in mind that it is a Leo moon it can be easily ascertained that it also promotes a sense of well being, a homeward bound hunger, a refocus on the family, the maternal instincts and a sense of brooding (one which according to tradition also promotes the possibilities of conception) and a need to re-calibrate the financial self.

There may be a refocus on the maternal bonds and relationship with ones own mother, the revaluation of the family flow, a identification of where your exist within the family unit, a drawing out of frustrations and chaos within the familiar bonds, a stirring of needs to maintain the homestead – which often results in allot more DIY as well as a need to become far more social and climb the interpersonal popularity ladder.

The Leo full moon is always met by the grounding force of the Earthen Capricorn sun, a combination of fire and earth that most often promotes a renewal of growth best approached and encountered after the harsh weather of winter and the lengthening days – all promoting a sense of fresh growth by purging away the unneeded and wasteful while initiating the Airy/mental energies of fresh thoughts, ideas and plans; a process that sets in motions greater changes on both a physical level as well as an internal emotional one.

It is at such a time best to be direct, decisive, avoiding impulsive behaviour and promote patience. Most people at this time attract intense experiences and often find it is best to take advantage of opportunities as they arise. Though more then capable of acting forcefully, a wait and see approach is most often opted for.

The full Leo moon comes to pass in tune with the Mercury retrograde – allowing the upcoming time of communization frustration to be overcome by resistance to self doubt and encouraging a dedication to the higher goal and a flawless determination to succeed.

Although we live in dramatic times, worthy of any epic narrative, each of us have indeed a starring role to play. The Leo full moon casts a vibe of celebrating the unique and individual self, while also encouraging us to see this aspect of the journey as a part of the timeless human drama. It calls us to question what gifts we have that long to be shared – and why we may not be doing so? The Leo full moon is a culmination, where we are often granted an opportunity to see where we fit in with the greater plan of being.

The illumination of the self is often stirred at the time of the Leo full moon, reminding us that our innate life mission, as well as inner treasures are not only worth sharing - but deserve to be.

Reviewing January - The Gate Keeper.

2009-01-04T13:56:00.002Z

Happy New Year!

On the dawn of a new year as the light caresses the horizon of a new celestial adventure; I am drawn to remember that in numerology, 2009 is represented as a 11.

To my understanding eleven is the number of both division and unity – the balanced equilibrium of both individuality maintained within a synod of one – a year that denotes that we shall be divided for the sake of union.

The year of the eleven also suggests that this will be a beautiful year of spirituality and self-empowerment, a time filled with opportunities and karmatic stirring's to release old worn-out attitudes and negative behaviours – willing us on to spread our corporeal wings and reach new found heights - to become the 'bigger and better' person whom we can deny only ourselves in being.

This is a year that promotes the thinking more about re-connecting with others, and becoming one with ourselves, embracing our dark side as well as our light, by committing ourselves to resolving the conflict within and by taking responsibility for the state of the world, both in our own back gardens and the greater playing fields of life.

In 2009, some of us will experience a drastic change in our personality, some will feel the craving and desires to act on generosity, sharing kindness and compassion while others will return to a more primal sense of being with an opportunity to face unresolved aggression and assertiveness in a world filled with uncertainties and shaken foundation... all are ways to gain a greater inner peace and a calm the hunger of belonging.

It is a year of both self-discovery and self-sacrifice, to simultaneously experience a death and a rebirth in our renewal of hope and faith – the true alchemy of being Human.

The new year dawns with a new moon in the responsible Capricorn – this should aid in bringing us a satisfied feeling, for in part we have reclaimed the focus on providing for others during the last few weeks, and we can now create a more stable and secure environment for ourselves.

There may be a stirring need for seclusion, keeping thoughts private and out of the limelight, to rest, renew and rejuvenate. Less time will be spent on relationships and communications as we will best utilise such a time to recharge the self with a time of peace and quite.

On Friday (the 1st of the January) Mercury entered the freedom loving Aquarius and will remain there for the next few weeks – this should help us to find refreshing new ways to combat and overcome roadblocks and resistances within our lives, expect to spend allot of time analysing relationships while reaching out for new friends and companions to escape the boredom and repetition of the moment. Others of course may reach further then most and carve for themselves a totally new relationship – one based more on the mind then the innate sexuality and physicality of being.

Yesterday (Saturday the 3rd of January) Venus entered the domain of the dreamy Pisces, this warms of getting stuck and procrastinating in the ideals of a dream (as it lacks the utilisation of force) so it may be best to refocus on hard practical work then the chasing of a dream – a Venusian Pisces beings the wisdom that there is enough time for dreaming, but it may be best to begin how we would like to continue – strong foundations make for a sturdy development.

The adventurous Jupiter makes his yearly transit into Aquarius tomorrow (5th of January) and gives us plenty of food for thought as well as the courage to experiment with our new strategies and plans. We may feel more daring (or possibly careless) and just take brave steps into the unknown, helping us to cross paths with hidden opportunities, but also to enrich our self-confidence. The wisdom of Jupiter reinforces the need for a proactive approach and assimilation of desires, so it may be best if we to succeed that we write down a plan of action and the steps needed to reach the goal – this limits the Mercurian Pisces effect while maintaining the integrity and authentic flow of pro evolutionary self choice, and fulfilling this choice by acting on it.

A luminous full moon in intuitive Cancer may reveal special knowledge or signs that confirms our motivation and direction. On the Eleventh of January, a chatty Mercury goes retrograde for a few weeks, and we may experience confusion with our course, or possibly doubting our objective.
At this time fax machines and computers have a greater tendency to find fault, messages and voice-mails may get delayed, or even possibly lost, and this whirlwind of scattered energy can also create allot of misunderstandings. Double check all forms of communication, and be sure to priorities thoughts and ideas, and take notes to stay on track.

A confident Sun enters Aquarius on nineteenth of January, empowering our ability to stretch ourselves beyond any previous limitations. We continue to make our advances in life, one day at a time, without allowing any outside influences to get in our way. Solitude, or distancing ourselves from others is also very possible at this time – as a need for self individuality is a common hunger experienced by such a celestial combination. These vibrations seem to be truly focused on each of our paths to stir a sense of individuality. If relationships are sensitive or shaky, an emotional shutdown is at this time very likely.

During this month's Mercury retrograde, confusion gets a bit more tipsy as he lands in Capricorn on twenty first of January. We could be worrying more than usual, which will have us to nervous to take the plunge to move forward.

We must do our homework and find proven facts to keep our heads clear and focused. Lazy Venus opposes Saturn on twentieth forth of January, and if we don't do our research to work through uncertainties, expect to suffer some sort of consequence.

A new moon rises on the twenty sixth in quirky Aquarius, at the same time a powerful Solar Eclipse will be energising our intentions for the next six months, this brings forth the reminder to make sure to focus the thoughts on things of a positive and loving nature, this will not only aid the generation and self maintenance of many ideas but it will also activate many sparkling thoughts of a personal and financial nature moulding them into a working plan of action!

First Blog - The journey

2008-12-30T14:27:00.000Z

Hello reader and welcome to my blog's very first post.

Be warned this blog is I must admit one that I am not expecting grandness, nor the deep tides of revelation from, nor the triumphs of wisdom or the decree of true understanding, but what I do want is the mundane and practical honesty of what simply is - having a passion and hunger for the astrological field, the divinational arts and the quest for a deeper unity I want to share the thoughts that rise at times through me, those given by others and at least try to share the wonderful awe that is inspired when I stand, bare foot beneath the midnight starry sky, and glimpse upon a world so vast that I am both a minute and irrelevant glimmer of stardust and yet a miraculous miracle of creation.

Right now I am writing this in transit, in a crowded train that sets from Galway to the Eireann capital Dublin, currently we are trailing the coastline ready to turn east to the city – the mild hinterland, the grand open ocean and the vast greenery, stirs despite the bumps and throttles that accompanies a train journey, a silent sense of stillness – so much so I am drawn to finally start a blog, a directive I had placed upon myself at the turn of the year – it may of taken the year to get here, but it is better now then never....

I want this blog to stand as a way of record for my own thoughts, notions and explorations of astrology so how better to start then with a question.

Recently a friend asked me was I worried about the ongoing Uranus/ Saturn opposition, I was at first somewhat startled by the view – as although she herself is a working professional, and perhaps far more knowledgeable in the arena of that stars then I may ever be, I must admit that I had never grown to view such a combination as a truly negative alignment.

Her worried filed words I sense were a reflection of her life, these past few months have being difficult ones, with both trials and tears, with movement and shifts within her sense of foundation that she had neither expected nor prepared for – it dares to be the cleansing and declaration of the innocent self, by the painful trial of past karmas and soulful growth, a stirring none of us crave but all, sooner or later, greet and share our lives with.

To my eyes it is much like the flow of a long lost lover, and it has its part within each our our lives, so from such an understanding I feel it is best viewed as an opportunity to return to the essence that rests beneath the mortal guise and summon forth the true intentions, directions and soul calling.With such a combination of opposition it is fair to say that we will tend to project inner tensions to external vibrations and most likely project them onto others around us, especially through the links of our social and intimate relationships.

These tensions are said to arise as a result of the clash of the Saturn and Uranus energy patterns that rest and move within us, and provide us with the platform for personal change and transmutation, for until we reach such a state we will continue to remain operating within the folds of there restrictive flux.

For all involved the cleansing action is somewhat like the feeling of being torn between two polarised directions, the past-future, the order to the chaos, the orthodox and the unorthodox, stability will desire change that can shake the foundations of our very being (and much like the economy and its down turn) will offer a return to that which is more important beyond the superficial and materialistic guises we partake of.

In varying degrees it seems that we are all finding it difficult to decide on life directions, paths, and progressions - in the anxiety and fear of becoming biased towards one pole to the repeated exclusion of the other, we to some degree repress or ignored the planetary qualities of such polar opposites, this has lead to a cultivation of a sense of procrastination and stillness – although these seem like negative qualities they also ensure we allow ourselves to calm down, to clear our minds and reassure ourselves of what we truly want and prepare us the way forward, but at the price of needing to maintain both options, we have gain neither beyond the deadlock of a beaten chance.

It also seems to be giving people a harder edge in their personalities, which I believe is partly a result of trying to maintain a fixed inner centre against the other inner planetary attractions, fighting for our own control against the motions of the cosmos, allowing the will of the self to dominate the natural flow of creation may for a time create a sense of hollow security but sooner or later the tides must change and a more realistic and practical way of progression found.

Personally I feel it it is more within the flow of the moments that the Uranian energies will be less expressed than the Saturnian ones, this will allow for some degree of re-balancing to happen which will be most adaptable and easily engaged through personal creativity and allowing ourselves to be more free and less tightly bound in our expectations of things we have little control over.

I believe such a potent combination will stir the dissolution of limiting self-images within many, and an promote an inner growth of freedom granted to others. All too often we attempt to direct the lives of other for them, out of care or simply knowing better – but the Uranus/ Saturn opposition reminds us that karmatic change and growth can only be influenced, as ultimately others must be allowed to make there own choices – or we dominate our own growth in a castrating effect of an empty sacrifice.

The Uranian characteristics also seem to be emerging in the growth of involvement within social reforming groups, where we are attempting to release the aspect of our nature in an active manner through questioning the Establishment for the sake of a greater good.

What my friend, like many others are wary of is a bias towards Uranus, that leads to losing the awareness of the essential Saturn values in life. I personally feel that such a battle of mythological enemies will sow the seeds of fresh life among the battle fields of a long coming conflict – for to continue as we are, unchallenged in both macro and microcosmic states is foolhardy and robbing us of self illumination, hence the need for cleansing and reaffirmation of our true goals, which due to our human flaws can only be done most efficiently is life when it makes us do so – by giving us few chances but those of engaging and overcoming our current challenges.

Once done, both personal and economic peace may again be restored and the transmutation of the Uranus and Saturn qualities will allow our greater positive aspects to illuminate through the darkness of the self ignorance of our greater forms and purpose.