14 Jun 2007

Aspect Patterns: The Ear/Eye

If you're reading this because you're interested in Aspect Patterns, see my book Aspect Patterns in Colour and the Astrological Psychology Association website, where you can enrol on a course and learn about aspect patterns under the guidance of a fully qualified tutor.

I’ve been tagged again by Barbara, a super-efficient Virgo who writes an interesting and lively blog from her home in France. This tag or meme asks me to write 8 random things about myself. The challenge for me is not only to find 8 things, but to put them into the context of astrological psychology so that this meme is relevant for my blog’s theme.

Stay with me.

For starters here is an extract from my book The Cosmic Egg Timer. Here I write about an aspect pattern called the “Ear” or “Eye”.

“This small triangular pattern both looks and acts like a tiny radar dish. It is highly sensitive to picking up and storing all manner of information from the surrounding environment. It gathers this in, working most of the time on auto-pilot, stashing it away for future use as and when the occasion demands. . . . The Ear/Eye works effectively as an information gatherer. The green semi-sextiles continuously absorb facts, clues, hints, words, visual impressions and anything else of interest from the surroundings. These are then stored in the blue sextile aspect, and can be accessed when the need arises. . . .The Ear/Eye is not particularly discriminating. It gathers in all manner of information which is likely to be random and unrelated. . .”


Aha! There’s that word “random”. And I’m using the random gatherings of the 3 planets in the Ear/Eye pattern in my own chart to help me list my 8 random things about myself. The planets involved are Sun and Saturn with Venus at the apex of the triangle.


1) I decided I wanted to be a teacher at age 13 and became a qualified teacher when I was 22. My Sun in Virgo is a very good tool for the teaching profession. In my chart, the Sun is physically in the 2nd House, but is stressed before the 3rd House cusp. This means it’s far more interested in 3rd House matters (which include teaching and communicating) so psychologically it behaves as a 3rd House planet.

2) I make a pretty good job of proof reading. That includes books on astrological psychology which I’m involved in publishing, publicity material for Astrological Psychology Institute (UK) and our magazine “Conjunction”. Here comes my Virgo Sun again, psychologically attuned to all 3rd House matters and super nit-picky at noticing errors and typo’s!

3) I like classic/vintage things from the past: art nouveau, art deco, 1920’s and 30’s fashions and music, classic cars and classic black and white films. Saturn is the planet I associate with things old, vintage, and from the past. Here, Saturn displays a nodding acknowledgement towards Venus, which is about taste and quality.
4) More Saturn. It’s in the 12th House. I love visiting Cistercian monasteries and learning about the way the monks lived under the strict rule of St. Benedict. Most of all, I love the simplicity of the empty clear light spaces in Cistercian abbeys and their amazing acoustics.

5) Now on to Venus for the final 4 things. Venus represents quality and taste and artistic expression. Music. I love it. All sorts. Classical to rock. Raunchy to refined.

6) Dancing. Venus in Leo was much in evidence in my childhood when I took to the stage at the tender age of 4, tapping, singing and leaping entrechats in a variety of lovely and often sparkly costumes. This went on right through my teens and into my early twenties.

7) Singing. I’ve done it on stage alone and with others. In the privacy of my car. In a choir singing great choral works (a big “oh yes!” to singing Verdi’s Requiem, guaranteed to send shivers up and down my spine).

8) Last one - this time about real physical taste and discrimination. Aspartame. Artificial sweetener. Vile stuff. Quite poisonous to my palate. I won’t touch any food or drink than contains it. That’s my discriminating Venus at work!

Now I have to confess that having been tagged, I should in turn tag 8 others. Trouble is, I don’t know 8 other bloggers well enough pass this tag on to, and would end up repeating the names of some of the people Barbara tagged along with me. SO. . . . my challenge to you, if you’re reading this and you’re into astrology, is to select an aspect pattern with its pinning planets, or a planet or two from your own chart, and see if you can relate these to 8 random real life things about yourself.

The Cosmic Egg Timer plus Aspect Pattern Astrology, Aspect Patterns in Colour and The Planets  are all available from the APA on-line Book Shop.

9 Jun 2007

Tracey Emin: from The Bed to the Venice Bienniale



Tracey Emin, the "bad girl" of BritArt, has joined the "establishment". As one of the YBA's (Young British Artists) who found fame and notoriety after her controversial unmade bed won the Turner Prize in 1999, she claims now to have matured and is a member of the Royal Academy. Her work is being exhibited at the prestigious Venice Bienniale, an international art festival, which beings tomorrow (10th June).

Emin's chart is set for noon as her time of birth is not available. Born on 3.7.1963 in London, she is fast approaching age 44, bringing the Low Point of the 8th House and the whole chart/life, closer. This seems to resonate with the very personal and emotional works that are a part of her exhibition. Named the Abortion Watercolours, they have never been seen in public before.

Emin's chart has a slightly crazy, disjointed appearance. Although its orientation is unlikely to be correct, the image gives an impression of wide-spaced stepping out and a balancing act constantly in operation. With 2 red aspects, 3 green and 4 blue it does not offer a comfortable balance of colour for an artist who needs to work hard in order to perfect and refine. Her motivation, as indicated by the chart shaping, is to be restless, tangential, seeking/searching and following ever-new goals. Put this alongside the one complete Learning triangle that she has and an ongoing learning of how to express her creativity is a strong possibility. The media she works in is diverse and tangential - neons, embroideries, sculptures, drawings.


Her Cancerian Sun is strong by Sign at 10 degrees and reminds me of the homing/nesting needs of a Cancer Sun. Does the cosy, homely feel of her infamous tent, lit from the inside and embroidered with the names of all the men she had slept with, reflect something of this need for a home or base?
( Photo - artwork images)


Although I'm not particularly keen on her work, some of it I do like (yes,I like the tent; no I don't like the bed, which I've seen).
There is one piece in particular. In 2005 her bronze sculpture of a small bird on a pole was installed outside Liverpool Cathedral. It is delicate and feminine. How it came into being in described thus on the BBC website:


"The Roman Standard - which features a small bird on top of a four-metre high bronze pole - is a tribute to the city's famous symbol the Liver Bird. The sculpture was commissioned by the BBC as part of their contribution to the art05 festival and Liverpool's year as European Capital of Culture in 2008. It stands outside The Oratory, in Upper Duke Street by the Anglican Cathedral. Emin said the sculpture, which cost the BBC £60,000, represents strength and femininity. The bird, which is the size of a sparrow, disappears when viewed from the front and only reappears as the viewer moves left to right."

Emin unveils her bird. Photo-BBC images