Aspect Patterns in Astrological Psychology

Chart with Small Talent triangle, Streamer figure, Large Learning triangle

Aspect Patterns, as used in Astrological Psychology and the Huber Method, are pretty much the most revealing thing to consider in a chart when it comes to wanting to understand how people tick. There are 40+ recognisable aspect patterns, all of which relate to observable behaviour in others, and behaviour traits we can recognise in ourselves.

I've written about all of them in my book, Aspect Patterns in Colour, and each aspect pattern is discussed in the context of an example chart, mostly of a well-known person. You will find the charts of Bill Gates, Clint Eastwood, Meryl Streep, Helen Mirren, Charles Darwin, Elton John and Nelson Mandela all featured, to mention just a few.

 

Here's a small selection of aspect patterns, all of which I've written about in this resource website, once again using the charts of well-known people to illustrate them and the various motivations they suggest.

 

The shaping - triangular or quadrilateral - of the aspect pattern is significant as well as the colours of the aspects: red/blue/green.

 

Click on Aspect Patterns in the labels cloud on the sidebar on the left, and that will take you to a choice of no less 80 different items where aspect patterns are featured in the charts or events I've written about.

For a detailed analysis of aspect patterns, the classic reference book is the one by Bruno and Louise Huber, to whom I dedicate my own book on this subject. Aspect Pattern Astrology was researched and developed by them at the Astrological Psychology Institute in Zurich, Switzerland, and it was here that I learned, first hand from them, so much about aspect patterns and the motivations they represent in the charts of individuals. Both books are available from Amazon, reputable book sellers and from the APA on line book shop.

D-Day 70 years on

70 years ago, on 6th June 1944, the World War 2 Allied forces launched their invasion into Nazi occupied France, landing on the beaches along the coast of Normandy. The battles fought there were fierce and bloody. Many lives were lost on both sides, and as this year marks the 70th anniversary of this event, ceremonies of remembrance to honour those who took part in the D-Day Landings, also known as Operation Overlord, will be held to commemorate the bravery and sacrifices of those who were there.

Naval ships stood off the beaches, their task being to bombard and disable the guns of the occupying forces. Gliders brought paratroopers who dropped in behind the lines, many of them blown off course because of strong winds. Aircraft bombed from overhead and soldiers were packed into landing craft which headed for the shore. But the weather was so bad that the operation had to be delayed for 24 hours. It was originally planned for 5th June. One of the criteria for the operation was that there should be a full Moon; the exact full Moon was on 6th June, shown in Sun/Moon opposition in the chart.

Chart set for 6.6.1944 at Longues-sur-Mer, Normandy coast, 05.15

Richard Lewellyn, D-Day veteran

I've set the chart for 05.15 for a specific reason. My colleague, friend and fellow astrologer, Richard Llewellyn, who founded the Astrological Psychology Assocation in 1983, was there. A young Midshipman on board HMS Ajax, he took part in the bombardment and disablement of the occupying forces' guns at Longues-sur-Mer on the Normandy coast. This began at 05.15. Richard is a D-Day veteran and he will be returning to Normandy for the 70th anniversary commemorative ceremonies, which will be the last to be held. 

A few observations on the chart: the overall image or chart picture suggests a target, with a focal point at the position of the Moon. The red/blue Ambivalence triangle takes the eye, and the focus is on the direction of this funnel-like shaping. Being ambivalent in nature, the focal point could be the Moon as the target of the bombardment. Or it could equally well symbolise the aim and fire of a gun turret from the Moon's position, with the other pinning planets of this aspect pattern - Sun/Venus/Mercury and Mars/Pluto - coming under fire. Most of the activity is going on in the lower half of the chart, as if under the cover of darkness, with bellicose Mars/Pluto in Leo close to the IC.

The second chart is set for 2 hours later - 07.15 - which is when Richard recalls the landings could start as the guns along the coastline at Gold Beach, where he was, had been disabled. The Sun has risen and is in 12th house; the Moon is setting and falls into 6th. The focus has changed. Saturn is close to the AC, indicating the importance of organisation and plans. Mars/Pluto are in the mutable zone of 2nd house, at the "escape" point of the Ambivalence figure, suggesting that the only way out of the conflict (the symbolic red opposition aspect on the 6/12 houses of existence) is to fight.

Utah Beach by Joyce Hopewell

So many lives were lost, so much bravery was shown, and it's right to remember and honour, 70 years on, those who took part in D-Day  - those who returned and those who didn't. The Normandy beaches  - Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword  -  are interesting but sobering to visit. What happened there in 1944 is part of our world history and for me personally it's worth honouring, remembering and thanking Richard and the countless others who were there on that day in June.

Richard in London. Image zimbio.com

In Richard's own words when interviewed at a recent commemorative gathering of veterans in London, attended by Prime Minister David Cameron: 

 " When people say thank you, it makes me feel very humble, because you know I was just doing my duty, quite literally as most of us were, and it's wonderful for somebody to say thank you because I hope it gives them pleasure in being able to do that, and for me, it makes me feel proud, I suppose.. I'm not very good at feeling proud.." 


Richard, I'm very proud of you. Thank you.

Louise Huber 1924 - 2016

Louise Huber by Joyce Hopewell

Update 12th March 2016.

Sad news has reached us of the passing of Louise Huber on 13th January 2016. For further details see the APA website
 
http://astrologicalpsychology.org/apa-blog/


I wrote this post to celebrate Louise's 90th birthday in 2014 and will let it stand as a tribute to a very special and rather amazing lady. Louise - thank you - you gave me so much and I am privileged to have known you. May you be at peace and find your bliss.

Many congratulations and a very happy 90th birthday to Louise Huber, born on 10th May 1924 at 03:15 in Bamberg, Germany.

Louise, together with her husband Bruno Huber, taught and developed Astrological Psychology - also known as the Huber Method -  from the Astrological Psychology Institute in Zurich, Switzerland. Today, as we celebrate Louise's birthday, we also take a look at her chart. I first met her in 1985, when she and Bruno spoke at an astrological conference in the UK, and I have known her since 1987. This lovely photograph of her was taken at a seminar she was giving in Achberg, southern Germany, and we were laughing at a joke we'd just shared. The warmth of her Moon in Cancer and her Jupiter in Sagittarius comes across in this image.

Louise Huber, 10.5.1924, at 03:15, Bamberg, Germany

Louise's chart shaping is predominantly Fixed; there is a large quadrilateral aspect figure which dominates the chart. Quadrilaterals indicate a Fixed inner motivation. This, in turn, is reflected in her Sun/Mercury conjunction in Taurus. She can be a very strong lady when her mind is made up!

The chart image suggests a large bucket, basket or receptacle which could be full of interesting facts and experiences (green searching/questing aspects cross inside it). The bucket or basket is lying on its side. The contents can move freely out towards the "You"/DC side of the chart for others to absorb (Louise began teaching astrological psychology in1962). Saturn sits like a guardian in 7th house, filtering what should be shared as well as who should receive information. Louise's early studies included esotericism, and she would be naturally discriminative and cautious about how she shared her esoteric knowledge, as well as who she shared it with.

The chart has 3 red:3 green:5 blue aspects, indicating that blue fixity might dominate - in lay terms it suggests that Louise's enjoyment and satisfaction of what she has learned and done will be significant. Louise has always been immensely proud of what she and Bruno achieved together when they developed and taught astrological psychology. She has every right to be proud as astrological psychology and the Huber Method are known and taught worldwide.

Louise's chart contains 3 Learning triangles which all support her quest and taste for knowledge and information as well as her ability to teach and share it with others. Learning triangles often indicate ongoing learning throughout life. Louise's study of Alice Bailey's esoteric material has been ongoing since the 1950's. In 1956, she and Bruno were invited to help set up the Arcane School in Geneva - this as her Age Point was in 6th house of service, was in Virgo, the sign associated with service to others, and shortly before this it had been conjunct the Moon's North Node. A 6th house North Node points to personal and spiritual growth which can be accessed by working for and with others.

I'm not attempting to interpret Louise's chart in an in-depth way, but have chosen a few significant features for the purpose of this 90th birthday tribute. The last feature concerns Louise's Jupiter in Sagittarius in 9th house. I recall hearing Louise speak of the time she started to write and set down her ideas, knowledge and experience of astrology and esotericism. She told of how, at the time, the words and ideas began pouring out of her, and she felt compelled to write. At the time, her Age Point was conjunct Jupiter in both her natal and Moon Node chart, and Jupiter is in 9th house in both charts. She was connecting with a place, an area of life  experience she already knew (the Node chart taps into the depths of the personality and into accumulated knowledge). The 9th house is concerned with higher learning, study, teaching, and Jupiter with wisdom and experience. Louise's first book Reflections and Meditations on the Signs of the Zodiac was the outcome, and after this she went on to write many more books with Bruno. The featured Book of the Month is The Astrological Houses by Bruno and Louise Huber. Click on the Books by the Hubers tab above to see all their books.

As Louise's current Age Point approaches conjunction with Venus all that remains now is to wish Louise Huber a very happy day, and to send her love, light and power on the occasion of the 90th birthday.

What might 2014 have in store for you?

Chart set for 1 minute past midnight on January 1st 2014

The chart for the start of the new year offers an image resembling an arrow head pointing down into the collective area, with a stellium in Capricorn of four planets - Sun, Moon, Mercury and Pluto - plus unaspected Venus sitting to one side. The on-going Uranus/Pluto square is in evidence, and forms one side of the Efficiency/Performance triangle, which includes Mars, with some of the stellium planets at the pointy, business end of this figure. Immediate, gut response to this  line up is "not much chance of a rest there then..."

Aspect Patterns are covered in depth in two books: Aspect Pattern Astrology by Bruno and Louise Huber, and in my book Aspect Patterns in Colour. 

The aspect structure is composed of only red and blue aspects, suggesting a black/white, either/or modus operandi, with little opportunity of viewing things other than in dualistic, good/bad ways. Unless of course, you choose to take on board for yourself your ability to choose and see things differently. If you're reading this, it's more than likely that you'll be able to see beyond the obvious and search for solutions. Astrological Psychology isn't about predicting the future and telling people what's going to happen to them - it's aim is to encourage people to take responsibilty for themselves and their lives, shaping and creating them from the driving seat, rather than sitting helpessly in the passenger seat.

How might you do this in 2014? Looking at the year ahead from the perspective of where you are in your own life journey, and from the perspective of using Age Progression in your chart and you life, how you face up to whatever comes your way in the year ahead will be determined by where your Age Point is in your chart.

For example, if you're in your 30's, between 30 and 36, you're probably working hard at establishing yourself in your career and in the workplace, so you'll be focussed on that. Whatever comes your way in 2014 will be viewed through this lens of where you are psychologically on your life path.

Between the ages of 36 and 42, you may be more focussed on your primary relationships in life, and will possibly be evaluating them. You will be more likely to gain feedback on yourself, at this stage of life, from your one to one interactions with others, so it could also be a time of increased contact with people in all areas of your life. Beyond that, you're likely to be taking stock in a big way when you reach 45/46, and deciding which direction you want to next move towards. This again will colour and flavour your life in the year ahead. In your 50's, you'll be sensing a peaking of attainment and achievement in your work in the outside world, but there may also be a personal sense of satisfaction when you look back on your life to date and see how far you've travelled. If you don't experience this, you may also be looking back with a sense of not having done enough with your life. If that's the case, what's stopping you? Opportunities are there to be seized, and 2014 begins with Jupiter, the planet associated with risk, expansion and adventure at the top of the chart. Use some of this energy to move you forward if that's what you want - but do it yourself, for yourself.

Age Progression covers each psychological phase of life from birth, as the Age Point moves through each house of the chart. It's described in depth in Life Clock by Bruno and Louise Huber and in my most recent book, Using Age Progression - Understanding Life's Journey. Both books are available from the APA Book Shop, Amazon and other retailers.

May your year ahead be one where you guide and create your life in directions of your own choosing, whatever your Zodiac sign. Forget the predictions - create your own!

Tom Hanks' Search Figure

Actor Tom Hanks was born on July 9th 1965 in Concord, California at 11.17 am.

His latest film is Captain Phillips, an edge-of-the-seat drama based on the true story of Richard Phillips, captain of the MV Maersk Alabama, who was taken hostage when his ship was hijacked by Somali pirates in 2009. Hanks' performance in this role should put him in the running for an Oscar nomination. 

But what of Hanks the person? What can we learn from his chart and what makes him tick? Looking at the overall aspect structure in his chart, it reveals a restless inner motivation. This suggests that Hanks, whilst able to be flexible, able to adapt to changes and roll with them, is also comfortable with taking off on new projects. He may be erratic at times, surprising those around him, as the linear aspects in his chart suggest. This could be reinforced and fed by his Moon conjunct Uranus. Expect the unexpected?

Hanks has 2 aspect patterns - a Small Learning triangle pinned by Jupiter/Pluto, Saturn and Neptune. This is adjacent to the Search figure, which shares Neptune and Saturn as  pinning planets with the Small Learning triangle. The other planet in the Search figure is Venus, right at the top of his chart. Arguably a very good placement for an actor, taking on different and varied roles.

Search figures are triangular, and the behaviour they exhibit is flexible and has a mutable flavour. They can dodge and weave, change direction and adapt to changing circumstances because they are triangular. Composed of only green and blue aspects they have an escapist quality, and may not be particularly active or productive if they don't have any red aspects feeding in to them. In Hanks' chart, the red aspects in the Small Learning triangle feed into the Search figure and will assist in activating the search by provoking learning which may be connected with the business of the Search figure.

I describe the Search figure in my book Aspect Patterns in Colour. People with this pattern in their charts tend to be bound up with thoughts, ideas and are often on a quest to understand as much as possible about any chosen subject as they can. There's an "if only" feel about the Search figure as the person seeks answers and will search high and low for them. Experience suggests that the planet at the blue/green corner is the one which offers a possible outlet and expression for what has been gained during the search. In Hanks' chart this planet is Neptune.

Neptune is undeniably useful for an actor, especially a film actor, and it could well serve as the outlet point for his acting. But recently I learned something else about Hanks. He was being interviewed on TV and was asked what he would like to be if he were not an actor. Without hesitation he replied that he'd love to be a National Park Ranger. In 2009 he was involved in the production of an award-winning documentary series for public broadcast TV - "The National Parks - America's Great Idea". When Hanks said he'd love to be a park ranger it was with a quality and energy which makes me suspect he was coming directly from that Neptune, at the blue/green corner of his Search figure.

More about aspect patterns in two books, available from the APA Book Shop, Amazon and other booksellers:

• Aspect Pattern Astrology by Bruno and Louise Huber,

• in my book Aspect Patterns in Colour  

• and for full in-depth teaching and tutoring on this subject see the full diploma study course book offered by the Astrological Psychology Association.

The Hallowe'en Uranus/Pluto square

It's Uranus/Pluto time again. These two mighties will be exactly square once again on 31st October, but of course, they have been edging closer, just shifting and wriggling in their seats a bit for some time now as they dock into the exact square position once again.

Here's the chart for 31st October 2013, set for noon in London.

Uranus is on the pointy end of the large, quadrangular Model aspect pattern which has 1 red, 2 green and 3 blue aspects. The Model is large, covering a wide area within the chart, and is fixed in motivation, meaning that it strives towards maintaining and preserving resources, ideas, structures. Uranus itself works along these lines, seeking for the perfect world and the betterment of what currently exists. That's why it's the planet associated with change, revolution and upheaval - these things often have to come first before things can get better.

In my book Aspect Patterns in Colour I describe the Model as "a predominantly blue/green firgure, making it sensitive and receptive, with one red aspect providing energy and drive. Its component parts are a Dominant Learning triangle, a Projection figure and a Small Talent triangle. The red/green planet is alert, influded with nervous energy and a focal point within the figure." Uranus is the red/green planet in this aspect pattern at this time.

The presence of a Model in a chart suggests high aspirations which should not be distracted by pessimism because the Model's centred persistence can offer courage and hope to others. Along with Pluto in square to Uranus, the other pinning planets are Mars, with Sun, Mercury and Saturn conjunct in Scorpio joined by the presence of the Moon's Node. 

The energies in that conjunction are something to be aspired to in the overall, global state of affairs of humankind, and the call to be persitent, courageous and work in hope to make needed changes in the world, rather that give up, are in evidence in many areas of life. Organisations such as Avaaz, 38 Degrees, WWF and Greenpeace are living examples of this. And of course, there are many more.

Hallowe'en, when this conjunction occurs, has a become a commercialised time of Trick or Treat. According to Wikipedia the meaning of Hallowe'en, a contraction of "All Hallow's Evening" is a yearly celebration, observed in some countries on October 31st, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows or All Saints and the time in the church's year dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs and all the faithful departed believers. It is also the Celtic feast of Samhain, also known as Calan Gaeaf, the start of the dark time of the year when spirits or fairies could cross into our world and the souls of the dead were particularly active.

Putting Hallowe'en alongside this Uranus/Pluto square and the Model aspect pattern that will form at the same time, here are  few questions which you might like to consider

• what would you like to change in your own life?

• what would you like to change in the world?

• how responsible do you feel about making these changes?

• how much courage would you need?

• how much hope do you have about such changes?

• how could you engage with the energies of the Scorpio planets in conjunction at this time?

• do you have some Uranian fire in your belly to get you started?

The acts of courage of yesterday,

If they seem to us

To be old fashioned,

Have retained entirely their capacity

To arouse the heroic deeds

Of today.

The dust which can cover them

Does not come from decay,

It is the proof of tears 

And battles of yesteryear.

Pere Andre Marie

Royal Babies - Prince George and the new Princess of Cambridge

Prince George, born on 22nd July 2013 at 16.24 in London

Congratulations to Wills and Kate on the birth of their first baby born on 22nd July 2013, and their second baby - the new Princess of Cambridge, now named as Charlotte Elizabeth Diana - born on 2nd May 2015. Click on the link above to read my thoughts on her chart.

Initial thoughts on George's chart - there's inherent talent, the capacity to learn but may he take more than one go at getting the lesson "right", together with an ability to be focussed and express mental/physical energy plus a whole lot of sensitivity. 

Prince George's chart's aspect structure shows a flexible, mutable inner motivation suggesting he will be able to adapt to changes and not become too fixed and rigid - probably a good thing as he has the capacity to express an abundance of energy. This is shown by the 7 red: 4 green: 4 blue aspects in the chart, giving it an overall red/green flavour which indicates sensitivity and possible touchiness. He may need to be handled with kid gloves when he's older - there's a sensitivity which could be expressed explosively when he reaches the "terrible twos", the age of temper tantrums.

George has several aspect patterns in his chart, and I'm not going to discuss them all, but instead will focus on one in particular, which is interesting as it appears in his mum Kate's chart and also in his great grandmother's - the Queen's - chart. It's the all-red Efficiency/Performance triangle, pinned by Mercury, Uranus and Pluto. Mercury and Pluto are in opposition across the 2/8 house axis which is all about possessions - mine and yours, personal and public. Across this axis there is conflict and a build up of energy which can be discharged and expressed via the planet at the apex of the triangle - Uranus. That's interesting for a start, as Uranus is on the cusp of the 5th house, slap bang in the area of the collective, and specifically strong in that part of the chart concerned with relationships. Might this hint at radical changes and a different approach to the haves and have nots in what will become his kingdom? Might he be a bit of a rebel, or a creative innovator?

His strongly placed cuspal Uranus is echoed by Saturn on the cusp of the 11th house. George has a strong 8th house and Cancerian influence in his chart, with Mercury, Mars and Jupiter there. The Sun, hovering on the cusp between Cancer and Leo only just hangs on by a pip squeak in the sign of Cancer, and being right at the end of the sign is weakly placed by sign, but is strongly placed in the cardinal zone of the 9th house. Bearing in mind that he - and we all - are much, much more than just our Sun sign, it's reassuring to see that George's Sun aspects his strongly placed Saturn, which will offer psychological support and back up for what could be a very sensitive nature. Like many Sun in Cancer people, he could have a soft and vulnerable inner core. Mars is conjunct Jupiter in Cancer  which makes for an interesting combination of energies and drives. These carry the potential for a keen and active perception to develop, along with a sense of justice and fairness, which may be directed out into the environment in a caring, sensitive way.

Nelson Mandela

Chart set for 18 July 1918, Umtata, South Africa, at 14.54. Time unreliable.

I first wrote about Nelson Mandela's chart  on the occasion of his 90th birthday in July 2008. Mandela, born on 18.7.1918 in Qunu, Umtata, East Cape reached this milestone almost 5 years ago, and I concentrated on his Age Point and one of his aspect patterns at the time.

The chart image is one of zig-zags, moving to and fro and giving the impression of a flexible structure with the ability to open up and close down. As the time of birth is uncertain, the orientation of the aspect structure could be different from how it appears in this chart, but the inherent colour/motivation and shaping/motivation still offer much information.

Mandela's chart has 2 red: 6 green: 5 blue aspects. It's heavy on green/blue and proportionally low on red. High blue/green suggests visionary ideals and a strong tendency to think, search, question and doubt, often on an internal level. It's interesting to note that the 3 long green quincunx aspects are contained within the central area of the chart and are not directly exposed to the outside. The overall shaping of the aspect structure shows a mixture of Fixed and Mutable motivation - he can dig his heels in and stay his ground, yet be flexible and adaptable. I guess that is a graphic representation of many of the experiences he's been though in his life, and his long imprisonment on Robben Island comes to mind - a Fixed situation, within which he had to adapt.

Mandela has an interesting 4-sided aspect pattern known as a "Stage", pinned by Sun, Moon, Venus and the Moon's Node. This spans the chart and contains 2 of the 3 long green quincunx aspects mentioned. They criss-cross inside the "Stage" like 2 green struts. This 4-sided figure provides the Fixed part of his motivation and it's composed of 1 red, 4 green and 1 blue aspect; this is where the bulk of the green thinking, searching, doubting, questioning, sensitivity and awareness could take place. The Hubers in their book Aspect Pattern Astrology describe the Stage as having ". . . a 'large' heart, but somehow still quite aloof. To be able to be open to everyone and everything, it protects itself from manipulation and prejudice and is very honest with itself. It can understand other people even in their innermost composition, identify their place in society and explain many things very graphically." I have featured this aspect pattern and his chart in my own book  Aspect Patterns in Colour.

Looking at his Age Point in general terms of psychological life phases. 18 years ago, when he was 72, his Age Point was conjunct the AC and had completed one circuit of the whole chart. Crossing the AC and entering the 1st House for the second time around, many people in their senior years experience a kind of re-birth, appreciating all they see and do anew and often though the eyes of a "wise child". Mandela's crossing of the AC at 72 coincided with his release from Robben Island. His Age Point now at 90 years is conjunct the IC, the 4th House cusp and the lowest point of the chart where deep connections with the collective may be felt. The last time his Age Point was at the IC he was 18, a time when he left home and went to study at Wesleyan College. Leaving home at around age 18 is a classic rite of passage, and few pass this place again.

At 90, as he was when I wrote this almost 5 years ago, it was less a case of a leaving of the home and more of a return to the roots from which we spring. The Hubers in their book "LifeClock" say ". . .the approach of the 4th House cusp can dissipate the sense of self to be engulfed by the collective. Many an event which used to be deemed really important now just vanishes into the mists of time, it is totally forgotten. And it doesn't seem to matter greatly whether it concerned our Self, or maybe someone else instead. . . .Many people in this phase of life have moments of true illumination and intuition. They suddenly seem to fathom the deeper meaning of events and surprise others by their wisdom."

Update 6th December 2013 Nelson Mandela has had an indelible effect upon the world. I wrote a brief update earlier in 2013, when there was much concern about his health. Ill and frail, he was an old man nearing the end of his long and eventful life. At the time of his passing, December 5th 2013, I can only reiterate what I wrote at the time - that his passing would be peaceful as he returned "home". Although his birth time is unreliable, it's the time given by Lois Rodden's Databank, and using Age Progression with this chart time, the hand of the Life Clock is currently opposite his 11th House Mars.

He will always be the elder statesman who has won and warmed hearts far and wide, enriching the collective to which we all belong. He was an outstanding figure, offering us all an example of the power and strength of forgiveness.

Details of Mandela’s life can be found at the ANC website, and on Wikipedia.

Liberace

The newly-released film Behind the Candelabra tells the story of the pianist Liberace's life and his relationship with his boyfriend, who had to pose as his chauffeur. Liberace didn't want the world to know he was gay - but with a public image like his, was it ever likely to be otherwise? Liberace is played by Michael Douglas,whose appearance has been made to look uncannily like the glitzy star's. 

Liberace, born on16 May 1919 at 23.15, West Allis, Wisconsin

 

Liberace

Liberace's chart has a strong fixed quality in appearance, as it's dominated by a large 5-sided figure, indicating that his inner and unconscious motivation is to be and feel secure and to seek stability. This need he played out through his extravagant and OTT lifestyle, wearing clothes plastered with sparkling gemstones, and living in opulent surroundings. He also had a Taurus Sun, and Taureans are well-known for their love of the good life, if they are fortunate enough to have the money to fund it. The son of a Polish mother and an Italian father, he started playing the piano aged 4.

Michael Douglas as Liberace

 The dominant 5-sided figure in the chart is made up of a Model  aspect pattern and a Search figure. Green and blue aspects dominant the chart, indicating an imaginative, sensitive disposition as well as giving him escapist tendencies - perhaps that's where the opulent lifestyle, home decor and gem-laden, fur trimmed outfits come in. The Model suggests a person with high aspirations, and someone who will not be sidetracked by pessimism. People with this aspect pattern can offer courage and hope to others, via their persistence in pursuit of their goals. Liberace, a jazz pianist as well as a classically trained one, brought a lot of pleasure into the lives of his audiences. He was hugely popular from the 1950s to the 1980s. He starred in films and TV shows and was a regular performer in Las Vegas.

The Model is pinned by Mercury, Uranus and the Venus/Pluto conjunction. The adjoining Search figure shares the Venus/Pluto conjunction, with Neptune in Leo at the blue/green corner. All these planets share the Moon's North Node as a focal point. More of that later. 

First let's take a look at Venus/Pluto slap bang on the DC. Here they are strongly placed and can't be missed as these are the planetary drives and energies that will be picked up first and foremost by others. For me, Venus here = charm, allure, attraction and a love of beauty; Pluto = power play and allure of a different kind, maybe sexual. These two planets are also placed at the blue/green corner of the Search figure, where the outlet and expression of whatever it is that is being sought is channelled out into the environment.

Let's turn now to Liberace's North Node in the 11th house. The 5th and 11th houses are on the axis of the chart concerned with relationships. If the North Node (shown in the chart) is in 11th house, this usually indicates an important way forward for the individual. In Liberace's chart it suggests that for personal and spiritual growth, he should become far more selective in the friends and associates he keeps company with. The South Node (not shown in a Huber chart using the Huber Method as it relates to the past, and to being comfortably stuck in that place) suggests stagnation and a reluctance to move away from those kinds of relationships with which the individual is familiar. Sad to say, this may have been a contributory factor to Liberace's eventual death as he died from AIDS-related illnesses. His Taurean Sun/Mars conjunction in the 5th house may have proved to be too strong a pull and lure in the arena of relationships and the pursuit of hedonism.

Read more about the Model and the Search figure in my book Aspect Patterns in Colour.

That Uranus/Pluto square again

Uranus/Pluto square exact on 20th May 2013. Chart set for noon, London.

Here we go again. Big shots Uranus and Pluto are squaring up again for the next round of their current cosmic dance. You can see what I wrote about them in October 2012, but this time they have a busier chart full of aspects as their background, and they're linking up with Mercury and Venus to form an aspect pattern called a Learning triangle.

Both planets are on 11 degrees of the signs they're in, and in the Huber Method of Astrological Psychology, this is the strongest place for a planet to be, by sign. So we have Uranus potentially firing on all cylinders in Aries, and Pluto doing likewise in Capricorn. The other planets in the Large Learning triangle which has formed are Venus and Mercury, both currently in Gemini. So what might be going on? Learning triangles are made up of all 3 aspect colours used in the Huber method - red, green and blue. This brings the capacity for all-round awareness and in the charts of people, and the capacity to learn a specific subject and learn it well.

As we're not looking at the chart of a person here, I can only speculate on current events, both nationally and globally, that might have some echoes in the current configuration which the two big heavies are currently a part of. What we're learning more about here in the UK are the activities of well-established male broadcasters at the BBC, and actors working with the commercial channel ITV, who are being accused of rape and sexual misconduct with under-age girls and sometimes boys. This took place in the 1970s and 80s, apparently in some instances on BBC premises. 

Pluto in Capricorn: a lot of nasty stuff, aligned with power play and sexual misconduct which took place in one of the most prestigious institutions.

Uranus in Aries: uncovering these shocking and distasteful events. The accused are now mainly older men, some in their 80s, who were stalwart and well-liked figures at the time these events took place.

Venus/Mercury in Gemini: this news is rapidly hitting the headlines in the UK, with tabloid front pages milking it for all it's worth. The sad thing is that if these accusations prove to be true (one long-established broadcaster has admitted his guilt) the lives of mainly young children, now adults, have been despoiled. There's nothing attractive in that.

On a global scale, North Korea is flexing its muscles and being threatening, the conflict in Syria goes on. Israel have made 2 attacks on them and the US, UK and France are beginning to make noises about intervention. There's a way to go yet with this square, but remember this - Uranus, at its highest level, is concerned with creating the perfect world, and Pluto, at its highest level, is concerned with becoming the perfect being, cleansing and shedding unwanted irrelevant baggage along the way.

As an antidote to some of the negativity out in the world, here are some thoughts to ponder:

Real peace is neither

A matter of emotion

Nor a matter of duration

In time.

It is first and foremost

A matter of relationships

From individual to individual

Which contagiously spreads

From group to group,

The idea to share

While being of benefit to each one

Becomes the only means

Of safeguard and survival,

Of future and freedom for all.

Pere Andre Marie 

Another Happy 100th Birthday

This must be a record. Two one hundredth birthdays in two months to celebrate, and the charts of two centenarians to talk about on this blog, both of them for people I know. The first was of Sylvia, who reached 100 on 6th March. Today's 100th birthday is of Nellie, a family member and a bright and happy person who it's always a pleasure to see.

Nellie (her full name is Ellena) was born in 29th April 1913, in Lincoln. She doesn't know what time she was born, but says it was during the night. On the strength of that, I've set her chart for midnight, as the Sun would have been below the horizon.

 

Nellie's Taurean Sun is conjunct Venus at the apex of the triangular Ear/Eye figure in her chart. This aspect pattern sits like a small but perceptive radar dish, picking up information from the environment in a fairly random way, and storing it for future use. Nellie is communicative and has a good memory. She's sharp, and misses nothing. She likes to read a lot, and to do crosswords and other puzzles, so her Ear/Eye will provide her with a lot of information which she can draw upon in these leisure pursuits. 

Like Sylvia, who was 100 in March, Nellie's chart also has all three transpersonal planets in the same signs, but a quick comparison of their charts shows that the aspect configurations are different, as the planets have moved and new aspect patterns have formed.

Sylvia's chart 6.3.1913 set for noon

Nellie's chart  29.4.1913 set for midnight

                                                 
Sylvia's chart shows an overall fixed motivation with a dominant 4-sided aspect figure - a complete Detective aspect pattern. In Nellie's chart this aspect pattern is there, but is incomplete as the planets have moved on slightly, leaving the Ear/Eye as the only complete component part. Neptune, in Sylvia's chart, is unaspected; in Nellie's chart it's opposite Jupiter and trine Mars. Nellie's chart is more loosely held together by aspects, but all are included in the overall pattern. Sylvia has just one sister; Nellie comes from a large family of 10 children. How might this have impacted on Nellie's early life as a young child and teenager?

The overall shaping in her chart is mutable and flexible, showing an inner motivation which would have helped her adapt to changes as she grew up, such as taking on helping roles when she was old enough, and was no longer the baby of the family. In a family of boys and girls, she says she needed to survive and be as good as the boys, although she does admit to being a bit timid sometimes.

As an adult, Nellie moved house numerous times and with her Moon conjunct Uranus in Aquarius this isn't entirely surprising. Change was almost a constant thing, making the overall mutable, adaptable shaping of her chart very useful to have.

Nellie revelled in the variety of jobs she's done. In the 1930's she went off to London to work in service with various families, which she enjoyed a lot and was always treated with courtesy and included in the family she worked for. She's run a city-centre pub and loved doing this - hard work but fun because of the people she met. She and her husband also owned and ran an antique shop, living in the flat above the shop. I gather that almost all the items in their flat were also antiques and up for sale, so it wasn't unusual for one of her daughters to come home and find that the wardrobe and/or bed had been sold when they went into their room. The only thing not up for sale was the TV, bought in 1950 when it was rare for people to have something so new fangled!


Like Sylvia, Nellie will be receiving birthday wishes from the Queen, and no doubt the card will be proudly displayed for all to see along with all the other good wishes from family and friends when they visit, as I shall, to say

Happy Birthday Nellie!

Pope Francis I

The cardinals have chosen their new pope. Jorge Mario Bergoglio has become Pope Francis I, naming himself after St. Francis of Assisi. He was born on 17th December 1936 in Bueonos Aires, Argentina. No time of birth is available so his chart is set up for noon. [Edit - see below for update 23rd March as correct data and chart added.]

And what an interesting chart it is visually. A zig-zag linear set of aspects looking like giant legs striding forward, intersected by one complete aspect pattern - an Irritation triangle.

In the chart set for noon it is positioned horizontally, but be aware that it would be in a different position if his correct time of birth was known. Pinned by Mars, Saturn and Neptune, and composed of green and red aspects, the Irritation triangle acts like a small green dagger which comes out and unexpectedly "stabs" by giving vent to something which has irked the individual. It may be that they speak out vehemently about injustice - in the case of Francis this is unlikely to be a personal injustice that is felt and could be far more likely to be about gobal rights and wrongs. I only speculate here....but it's something to watch out for. He comes into office with a record of being refreshingly humble and connected with the outside world. The pinning planets in this figure suggest an ability to stand up for himself (Mars and Saturn) but also to stand up for his faith and for inclusivity (Neptune).

Might there be a sense of humour at work too? His Sagittarian Sun is conjunct Jupiter but is also conjunct the North Node - as a spiritual figure we might expect that he's well aware of fulfilling his personal destiny, but we don't know in which area of life, according to his chart, as we don't know his birth time which would put his Node in the house/area of life which he'd need to develop.

His overall inner motivation shows two modes of behaviour - mutable and able to adapt using the triangular shaping (the Irritation triangle) and cardinal (pardon the pun) and restless, making him potentially edgy and initiatory using the disconnected linear aspects.

For more on how to spot motivation in aspect colour, chart shaping and aspect patterns, see my co-authored book The Cosmic Egg Timer.

Update 23. 3.2013
My thanks to Giovannina Celeni who has contacted me (see comments), saying: The birth time is 21h (9 PM). An hour ago, the Argentina astrologer Claudia Rizzi has sent a copy of the birth certificate. The pictures of it are on the Astro-Databank page. This gives the data the highest AA rating of being accurate.

Chart with correct birth time of 21.00

The updated chart for Pope Francis shows the main features discussed above still in place, but with an additional semi-sextile between Moon and Mercury, giving him an almost-but-not-quite-complete Small Learning triangle. This pulls his Moon/Venus conjunction into a more direct working and ongoing learning relationship with Mercury and Uranus. 

The correct birth time shows some very interesting features. A few initial thoughts on these: 

• Uranus is the highest planet in the chart, in the cardinal area of the 10th house; already he is establishing his own approach and is refreshingly different. He's already shown he has a mind of his own when it comes to pomp and ceremony.

• Neptune is now at the bottom of the chart, very strongly placed on 3rd cusp. Francis is reputed to be a man of the people, and more humble and "ordinary" than his predecessor.

• The new birth time places the Irritation triangle on the 3/9 communications house axis, where he can use it to speak out ( see what I previously wrote about this aspect pattern).

• Saturn is stressed before the 9th house cusp. Will there be issues about control, organisation, protocol, tradition?

• His Sun in Sagittarius is on the Balance Point of the 6th house, where it will find ease of expression in his calling

• The chart direction/motivation is a mixture of horizontal and vertical aspects - good for making contact with others and good for asserting his individuality as a leader.