Hillary Clinton - in 2008 and in 2015/16

 
I've added to this blog post several times, the last being in 2015 when Hillary stood for the Democratic nomination, which somehow seems quite while ago now....or is it that so much murky water has flowed beneath the bridge since then?


I can only comment from afar, with input dependent upon news bulletins here in the UK (and goodness knows, we've got enough going on here with our own Brexit mess), but I've lost increasingly on my good night's sleep at the thought of Trump being elected as the next US President on 8th November. 

For goodness sake America, wake up and don't elect a dubious character with no real policies and wandering hands. You know who I mean.

Hillary may not be perfect. She has her faults. According to the Trump team, she's crooked - yet the investigations into her use of a private email server have shown she's done nothing wrong, and she's admitted it was ill-advised to use this method of communication. And she's moved on.

I've already looked in depth at her chart (re-read all I wrote below, especially regarding her Efficiency Triangle.) This woman is a hard worker, she can put in the hours and the energy - and she has the experience of high office to draw upon too. Her Age Point is in 12th House and her chart has, earlier this year, had the second Age Point intersection of her natal and node chart (for more on the node chart refer below, to blog posts on this topic and also my book The Living Birth Chart.) The intersection, or crossing point, often marks an important turning point in the life of the individual.  

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Read what I first wrote in 2008 - then see the additional comments I made as Hillary announced she will stand for selection as the Democratic nominee in 2016. Will she, won't she get the Democratic nomination? Trump seems to think it should be him and no-one else. Sanders appeals to many who are disaffected and seek change.

Clinton was born on 26.10.1947 in Chicago. Her time of birth is not clear, although there seems to be agreement that it was at 20.00 according to the research I've done. As a quick check to see if this might hold up, I note that her Age Point was conjunct Venus at the time of her marriage in 1975, which provides some supportive evidence for this time of birth.

But what of Hillary's chart? The chart structure is composed of two separate aspect patterns: an incomplete Trawler and an Efficiency/Performance triangle. The Trawler is a large figure, quadrangular in shape so therefore Fixed in motivation, and is made up of mainly blue and green aspects. It absorbs and gathers in - quite greedily and needily in the case of the Trawler, whose behaviour and motivation can be likened to an ever-rumbling empty stomach. The food and nourishment it trawls for and seeks to draw in is information and the person has good selective learning ability. In Hillary's chart it lacks the second long green quincunx aspect which may diminish the learning capacity, or make it more of a challenge. Both Sun and Moon - head and heart - are involved in this pattern as pinning planets, with the Moon just in Pisces as the highest planet in the chart. This Moon is in the 10th House, "on show", and could have the effect of making her need feedback and recognition.

The Efficiency triangle, on the other hand, is triangular in shape, making it's motivation Mutable. It rolls with the knocks, at the same time delivering an efficient output of energy in whatever task it undertakes. The planet at the apex of this figure is Saturn, excellent for grounding and making manifest whatever is worked at. The potential drawback in the combination of pinning planets here is that the Moon's North Node is involved. This is not a planet, and has no energy of its own which can be used in the overall drive for performance and efficiency embedded with this aspect pattern. Clinton will have to actively and consciously engage with issues and matters related to the 11th House, where the Node is placed, and the 5th, where the South Node (not shown) is in order for the pattern to function at its highest potential. This means creating a balance between being selective in who she spends time with and learning how to have the common touch.

She can be helped here by her Venus/Mercury conjunction in the 5th House; this provides valuable tools with which to make contact and communicate. But with these 2 planets in Scorpio, and the Sun there too, and all three of them being intercepted (in a Sign with no House cusps), this could be very difficult for her to do. She will rely on Venus/Mercury getting help from her powerfully placed Mars/Pluto conjunction on the cusp of the 3rd House - these planets are connected by a linear red square aspect looking for something to do - so she'll tend to project her relating to others via this powerful pair of planets.

Of course, this is only my speculation, based on what I observe and see on TV and read in newspapers about this particular candidate, but it does offer some speculation on where she might be coming from. As for her LifeClock, she has recently turned 60 and her Age Point is aspecting that North Node, and Uranus, both perhaps indicating a wake up call.

Addendum April 11th 2015 Hillary is poised to announce her entry into the running for the Democratic nomination for Presidential candidate. The Age Progression in her chart shows that her Age Point is now firmly in the 12th House, and in the sign of Gemini, where Uranus is placed. Whilst this current opportunity is likely to be her last chance of running for President, I wonder if she is also being egged on psychologically to seize it and run with it, and potentially become the first female president of the USA. Uranian energy demands change in the established set ups and rocks the status quo. Her Age Point is not making any aspect to planets right now, but it is in the zone of the intersection of Age Points between the natal chart and the node chart, where what is psychologically beneath the surface comes to light and is expressed. As this event is taking place on the 6/12 Existence axis of her chart, it's quite possible that she needs to stand again and to run - maybe to prove a point to herself as well as the outside world, and also to give meaning to herself in the context of her career as a politician. Questions of "Why am I here?" and "What am I supposed to be doing?" will probably have been explored as she prepares to the throw her hat into the ring.

Barack Obama

Democrat Barack Obama has won favour in Iowa in the first stage of his bid to become the next US President. Born on 4.8.1961 in Honolulu, no time of birth is available so his chart is set for noon. Because the birth time is unknown, the orientation of the aspect structure is likely to be different from that shown here, but nonetheless, it is visually a very striking chart. Viewed in this position, with the noonday Sun right at the top, it appears like a moving, ruffling fan.

(But see more recent posting "Barack Obama Revisited" 5th August 2008 too, as his time of birth has since become available. You might like to read this first though, then move on to the update).

There is a striking conical shape to this structure which indicates a flexible, Mutable inner motivation. With 4 red, 4 green and 6 blue aspects, Obama's tendency will be towards action/reaction, sensitivity and awareness. His chart shows a line up of planets in Leo, and his Leo Sun is strongly placed in this Sign at 12 degrees. An interesting feature is the conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter as tension rulers in the chart. These two don't necessarily sit well together, and the image of Dr. Doolittle's "Push me - Pull you" creature comes to mind! Saturn and Jupiter together could be like driving with one foot on the accelerator and the other on the brake. Jupiter in Aquarius will want to go forward at its own pace with no holds barred; Saturn in Capricorn will provide a steadying influence and could act like a wet blanket too. On the plus side, any ideas, new projects, talents, skills and high ideals will be formulated, underpinned with responsibility and made manifest in a thorough manner. A tension ruler in a chart acts like a filter through which everything experienced or expressed passes. Jupiter in this role could welcome all comers; Saturn will steadily suss out situations and provide a protective influence.

Obama has an interesting aspect pattern - a Megaphone- pinned by Mercury, Venus, Moon and Jupiter and composed of 1 red, 3 green and 1 blue aspect. Already ( via the wonders of colour coding!) we can see that this pattern is composed of predominantly blue/green aspects, and is pinned by blue (Fixed quality) and green (Mutable quality) planets. The literal translation from the German word for this aspect pattern is a "whisper bag". What does that mean in the context of this particular pattern?

Bruno, Louise and Michael Huber say of the Megaphone pattern, in their book Aspect Pattern Astrology, " We speak quietly into the narrow end and our voice suddenly fills the room. The other way round it works like the old-fashioned ear trumpet, as used in the past by the hard of hearing". This pattern is about communication - receiving it and giving it. This is supported and emphasised by the inclusion of Mercury as a pinning planet. The area of the chart that it occupies is important, but in Obama's case we can't know this without having his birth time. The high blue/green ratio of aspects in this pattern highlights its idealistic, imaginative qualities. From what I've heard of Obama's speeches, he knows how to use his words well. The Hubers also say "This person is a thinker who extracts a lot of information from communication, which he can then check for value and truth".
How Obama will fare in the next round remains to be seen. But one final thought. This man is 46. According to the Huber's LifeClock, psychologically he has recently been through the Low Point of the chart which is the low point of the whole life and a significant turning point in the life journey, when inner changes are made. This can be a time of frustration and crisis as well as a time of transformation and personal change. I've deliberately not researched Obama's life story in order to write about what I see in his chart, so there's no way I can know whether this might have significance to him. In the context of his bid to be selected as Democratic Presidential candidate, it's on the plus side that he's been through this personal Low Point prior to the 2008 elections.

Addendum: For an update on Obama's chart, now that his time of birth has become available, see my posting "Barack Obama Revisited", August 5th 2008.

Clint Eastwood

I've been a fan of Clint for a long time, and wanted to take a look at his chart. His time of birth is not available and the chart is set for noon (31.5.1930, San Francisco) so what I'll do is focus on the inner motivation as shown in his chart, and on one of the aspect patterns.

Clint's chart has a colour balance of 3 red: 3 green: 3 blue aspects. This might sound very nicely balanced because all three colours of aspects are the same, but it's not! Red "doing" energy vies with green "thinking" energy for equal place and this suggests a lot of jumpy, sensitive, maybe tetchy reactions. Blue "being" energy hardly gets a look in; Clint would need more blue aspects, which confer the ability to rest, relax and enjoy, to make this a more comfortable balance. Clint has been starring in and directing films for many years. He seems tireless in his work and now I can understand why, taking his colour balance and motivation into consideration.

Bearing in mind the red/green aspect emphasis in his chart and life motivation, it's interesting to see that his chart contains a complete red/green aspect pattern - the Irritation triangle. These are touchy, tetchy figures and are seen in the charts of people who are flexible, hard working, and sensitively aware. These people can often take on more than their fair share of work, but sometimes they take on too much, reach breaking point and explode. Those around them take cover until the storm passes, and then things calm down quickly as the person returns to what they were doing, feeling a whole let better having worked their angst and irritation out of their system with the outburst.

Taken together, Clint's emphasised red/green colour balance, and the red/green Irritation triangle start to offer a theme which could be followed up in a full exploration of his chart and motivation.

Although there's no time of birth, it's still possible to use Age Point and LifeClock to see where a few of the significant events in his life fit in. His first starring film role was in 1958, in what is described on his website as "a very poor movie". His Age Point was on the Low Point of the 5th House. In 1959 he starred in the TV series "Rawhide", as the character Rowdy Yates. This was his big break. He was 29, on the Saturn return with Age Point coming up to the stress zone before the 6th House cusp. In 1986 he became Mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea in California, with Age Point appropriately on the 10th House Balance Point and at the top of the chart for all the world to see.

Looking at Clint's films and achievements listed on his web site it's impressive to see just how much he's done over the years. A look again at his chart shows that Saturn, one of the pinning planets in the Irritation triangle is pretty much out on a limb in his chart, on it's own and leading the way. Saturn is in Capricorn, the Sign it rules, so will be at home with grounding and making things manifest. It only has red and green aspects, too, making it active, sensitive and very aware.

Addendum 2014 Since writing this post I've written about Eastwood's chart in depth, using the correct time. The write up appears in my book Using Age Progression available from the APA Book Shop, also see "Books" tab at top of page, and in a published article in the Astrological Association Journal, March/April 2013.

The Jodrell Bank Radio Telescope

Over the next few days, Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire is celebrating 50 years of the Lovell Radio Telescope. It’s creator, Sir Bernard Lovell, now in his 90’s, will be giving a public talk at the Observatory as part of the celebrations.

When I learned that the famous radio dish received its first space signals from the Andromeda Galaxy, on 2nd August 1957, I thought I’d set up the chart (time as noon, location Goostrey) just to see what it looked like.

Wow! Just look at that chart alongside the photo of the telescope! It’s oriented this way because of the time I set it up for, but with a different time the whole chart structure would move around - just as the telescope does when it’s tracking signals from space. The chart image bears an uncanny resemblance to the telescope itself.

There are two interesting and relevant aspect patterns too. The blue/green Ear/Eye Information triangle is one of them. This figure picks up and stores information and messages of all kinds. The other is the Shield, a quadrangular figure. The Hubers say in Aspect Pattern Astrology that this figure is relatively rare and has high absorption power; appropriate then for the chart of the first signals received from space by the telescope.

The radio telescope itself is an impressive sight, and can be glimpsed unexpectedly from different parts of the surrounding countryside. It was used to dramatic effect in an episode of “Dr. Who” when there was a nail-biting showdown between the Doctor and the Master who were battling it out high above the ground on the structure of the telescope.

Roger Federer's Detective Aspect Pattern

Editorial comment, January 2018: I wrote this post back in 2007, and the amazing thing is that Federer is still going strong in 2018. He's just won the Australian Open at the age of 36, quite an age for a tennis player to be on top if his game and still be winning on the international circuit.
 
Tennis player Roger Federer strolled out on to Centre Court earlier this month for the Wimbledon Men’s Final wearing white blazer and flannels. Looking cool, and for all the world as if he’d time-travelled from the 1930’s, he went on to win his 5th Wimbledon title in the presence of the legendary Bjorn Borg, himself 5 times Wimbledon Champion. What makes Federer tick, what is his inner motivation, and how might he be using the Detective aspect figure in his chart?

Federer was born on 8.8.1981, at 08.40 local time in Basle, Switzerland. His chart looks like a hammock, a swingboat, or an upright push chair with hood up. His is an “I” sided chart with Neptune the only planet venturing on to the “You” side. Such an “I” sided emphasis suggests someone who is focussed on their own growth and self-understanding. The direction of the aspect structure is vertical, indicating the urge to stand out, make a mark on the world and be recognised as an individual. The colour ratio of aspects is 2 red, 4 green, 5 blue. Federer’s chart lacks red aspects, but this is compensated to some extent by the 3 pairs of conjunct planets, each having potential talent according to the planets involved. With 4 green aspects, Federer is likely to be sensitively attuned to the surrounding environment.

His chart contains a Detective aspect pattern (a quadrilateral figure with red, green and blue aspects, and in Federer's chart pinned by Venus, Moon, Mars and Sun/Mercury). The Hubers say people with this figure “can discover the smallest clue, insignificant information and slight alterations. . .” Someone with this pattern “sticks to a trail, has a wide-awake character that nearly nothing escapes…with this figure in the horoscope, the person can adapt themselves meticulously to things and eliminate disruptive influences”. With his Mercury conjunct Sun very strongly placed on the 12th cusp and at the apex of the Ear/Eye part of the Detective figure, along with his Virgo Ascendant, and the blue Small talent triangle that is also part of this figure, it begins to sound as if these could be some of the things Federer draws upon in competitive tennis: the ability to focus on the game, absorb all relevant and sometimes minute details on an ongoing basis whilst playing, focus in 100% on the game and the goal of winning, and not be distracted by external factors such as the watching crowds.

I mentioned the position of Mars and the Gauquelin Effect in the charts of sportsmen and women in my posting on Venus Williams earlier this month. Federer’s Mars is not only placed in the fourth quadrant of the chart where this effect is said to be at its greatest, but it is also a part of his Detective figure, and in its strongest possible position, on the cusp of a House.

For more on aspect patterns, see the Huber’s book Aspect Pattern Astrology and my book Aspect Patterns in Colour both available from the APA Book Shop.

The Family Model in Venus Williams' chart

I wrote this post back in 2007 - and 10 years later in 2017, Venus Williams is still winning tennis tournaments on the world stage - she recently won the Wimbledon Championship.
 
Venus Williams won her fourth Wimbledon title on 7th July 2007, grunting and shrieking her way to victory at every smash and volley after a taking a break from the tennis world. What might be seen in her chart that could contribute to her success?

Born on 17.6. 1980 at 14.12 local time in Lynwood, CA, her chart has an intricate tangle of aspects which could resemble the to and fro trajectory of a tennis ball across the court. The aspect pattern that stands out is the red Efficiency Triangle formed by Sun/Venus opposite Neptune, with Saturn/Mars at its apex and outlet point. All planets involved in this aspect pattern are either on or near a Balance Point, or are in the Cardinal zone of the House, and this pattern itself is concerned with activity, production and success.

Her parents have been instrumental in coaching and encouraging both Venus and sister Serena in their tennis - sometimes against all odds and in the face of racial prejudice and opposition - so it's worth taking a look at her Family Model. Sun, representing the fathering principle, is conjunct Venus; Saturn representing the mothering principle, is conjunct Mars. Might this suggest that she experienced interchangeable role reversal in her parents? Each could stand in for the other and both could be equally paternal or protective when this was called for. Her Moon, representing Venus the child, is in the 11th House, sandwiched between Jupiter and the North Node. This suggests the ability to take risks, to perceive, experience life and learn from it....and as Jupiter is in Virgo, the next Sign along from her Leo Moon, perhaps an acute attention to big as well as small details - the use of the eyes, the gaining of knowing and wisdom through experience, which is carefully filed away so that it can be easily accessed.

Her Moon is close in position to Saturn, but only aspects it indirectly. This could indicate a less binding relationship with her mother than the relationship she has with her father. The Moon and Sun directly aspect each other, linked by a blue sextile which could signal a harmonious relationship, but might also hint at adapted behaviour which aims to please.

Venus's Age Point is currently opposite her Moon, with her Nodal Age Point making a quincunx to Jupiter. This is a period of extreme focus and activity on these two planets, and on 11th House in her chart, where selectivity and chosen friends and pursuits reign supreme.

A final thought. The Gauquelin Effect, which looked at the position of Mars in the charts of successful sportsmen and women, says that Mars should fall into the fourth quadrant of the chart, as it does in Venus's. It doesn't do this in her sister Serena's chart, but it does in the chart of Roger Federer, this year's men's Wimbledon Champion, whose chart I shall also be taking a look at this month.

For more on Age Point see the Huber's book LifeClock and my book Using Age Progression. For more on the North Node and the Nodal Age Point, see Moon Node Astrology by Bruno and Louise Huber, and for more on the Family Model see The Cosmic Egg Timer by myself and Richard Llewellyn. All are available from the APA Book Shop.

Nancy Pelosi's Striving Figure

According to my cluster maps widget, this blog has a lot of readers in the United States, so today - 4th July - seems the right day to look at the chart of a prominent American! Nancy Pelosi’s chart was suggested to me by my student Diane in Arizona, some time ago. So bearing in mind that we don’t hear too much about Pelosi in the UK, and that I don’t have her time of birth (the chart is set for noon for 26.3.1940 in Baltimore MD) I thought I’d take a general look at her chart but with specific interest in the Striving Figure aspect pattern it contains.

Pelosi’s chart is visually striking. The orientation would change if her time of birth was known, but I couldn’t help fantasising about turning the whole aspect structure upside down so that the chart image would resemble a crown. She does bear a crown of sorts, as on November 16th 2006 she was unanimously elected as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, making her the first ever female Speaker and the highest ranking woman in the history of the US government. As Speaker, she is second in line of Presidential succession after the Vice-President and the first woman to be this close in line.

Readers in the US will know a whole lot more about her than I do - you can watch her on TV, read about her in your newspapers etc. I know she’s a Democrat, the mother of 5 adult children, a glamorous grandmother, is wealthy, comes from a political background and is regarded as a liberal. Visually, she’s also rather striking, like her chart.

Her chart shaping shows a predominantly Fixed motivation, with an interesting Linear offshoot involving Sun, Saturn and Pluto. With a colour ratio of 4 red, 5 green and 5 blue aspects she has an excess of mutable, adaptable energy at her disposal which could have the effect of making her ultra-aware and sensitive, not satisfied until she’s got to the root of something and unafraid to search out answers. Sun and Jupiter in Aries could make her a formidable opponent; I wonder how intuitive she is and if she’s willing to take risks? The stellium of Venus, Mars and Uranus in Taurus suggests an ability to maintain and preserve as well as creative flair and an inherent sense of quality, taste and balance.

Venus and Uranus are part of the Striving Figure in her chart. Striving Figures are not that common. This figure is sometimes called the “Green Kite”, for obvious reasons, as it has green aspects all around the outside. These up the ante as far as sensitivity and awareness of the surrounding environment are concerned. Pelosi’s Striving Figure involves Jupiter and Mercury along with the Venus/Uranus conjunction. These planets between them form the Ear/Eye part of the figure, and as such they will cooperate to gather in information. With Mercury and Jupiter in this part of the whole figure, communication will be emphasised ( what could be better - she is the Speaker!). The Ear/Eye gives intuitive interpersonal skills. The Hubers say of this figure in “Aspect Pattern Astrology” that “the sextile provides receptivity and a unifying force, which means that the information obtained by the Eye can be assimilated and used for long-term objectives”.

People with this figure aim high, often seeking their objectives via the planet at the apex. In Pelosi’s case, the sharp end of the figure is not pinned by a planet, but by the North Node. It’s placement in Libra gives some clues to what she may be aiming for - justice, fair play, equality, balance - all qualities which could be associated with a Democrat. But a real understanding of her North Node in this position in the Striving Figure would only be possible if we had her time of birth. This would show which House, and therefore which area of life expression and experience that Pelosi would need to develop in order to really activate the potential of the Striving Figure and realise her goals.

You can read more about the Striving Figure (bearing in mind I’ve only touched on a few points about it here) in Aspect Pattern Astrology by the Hubers, and Using Age Progression by myself. Both books are available from the APA on-line Book Shop.

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.

Elton John's Kite & Jupiter

Elton John recently turned 60 ( born 25.3 1947, Pinner. No birth time available on his official website so chart set for noon). As his Age Point entered the 11th House, his threw a lavish party, and dressed up in one of his trademark elaborate and OTT fancy dress outfits, something that he's become well known for. That set me thinking about his dress style way back in the early 1970's when he was thumping out "Crocodile Rock" on "Top of the Pops", seated at the piano and dressed in over-sized specs and knee-high gold boots with enormous wedges and heels. He's never been one to hold back from dressing up, and his style is distinctly Jupiterian!

With such a larger than life presentation, I wondered where and how Jupiter, with its larger than life qualities, might feature in his chart. Although there is no time of birth to work with, making it impossible to say which House Jupiter is in, it's clear to see that it does play a key role in the Aspect Pattern it's a part of. Jupiter, together with Sun, Saturn and the Node, are the pinning planets in the Kite figure in his chart. Sun and Saturn span the sides of the Kite, while the Node is at the aspiration point, at the top of this figure, and Jupiter is at the tail of the Kite.

The Kite is a quadrangular figure and is therefore motivated towards security. With only red and blue aspects, it may operate in an on/off manner, seeking to intersperse periods of rest in the blue aspects with a somewhat tense approach to the work that needs to be completed in the red opposition. This figure contains large quantities of talent (its component parts include two talent triangles) but the individual may prefer not to tap into this talent and produce something until they absolutely have to. This figure is found in the charts of artists and creative people, who often go right to the wire when producing something to a deadline. They may find it easier to stay in the blue part of this figure until close to their deadline, when the red finally kicks in. The Hubers say in "Aspect Pattern Astrology" that people with a Kite have a certain charisma, and that they may also be a hedonist. Interestingly, Robbie Williams, whose chart I've written about, also has a Kite (see the Chart Interpretations page on the API (UK) website.

Jupiter at the tail of the Kite is in opposition to the Node at the aspiration point, that part of the figure which the individual can develop and grow - if only the time of birth were known so that the House/area of life experience where the Node lies could be pinpointed accurately. The only information we have is the Sign it's in - Gemini - suggesting communication. I guess Elton has done a fair bit of that via his many hits over the years. Of course, Jupiter at the tail of the Kite could be that planet/psychological drive which holds back growth, so the lavish costumes, the excessive amount of money he regularly spends on flowers to fill his home and the ownership of a football club (I don't remember which one!) could all be expressions of this planet.

Anita Roddick's very red chart

Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop, has recently been in the news announcing that she has hepatitis C, contracted through a blood transfusion when she gave birth to her daughter in 1971. Famous for combining social and ethical campaigning with success in business, she is now on a mission to raise public awareness of hepatitis C and get more government funding to help treat the disease.
Born in 23.10.1942 in Littlehampton (no time of birth available; chart set for noon), Roddick's Sun is still just in Libra, a Sign it shares with 4 other planets. With Libran qualities emphasised, it's not surprising that she has demonstrated a strong sense of fair play in those fields of endeavour she is famous for. Considered to be the originator of many aspects of ethical consumerism and business, she was also a pioneer of fair trade in the UK. As a social entrepreneur she offered goods for the consumer keen to buy brands that reflected their belief system.
Her chart is predominantly red. There are 6 red, 2 green and 3 blue aspects giving her an imbalance of "doing" and "being" energy - the red, "doing" motivation dominates, and this is effectively embodied in the two closely placed Efficiency Triangles which dominate the chart. Both figures focus on Jupiter at the apex, at the "outlet" point of these figures - fitting for an entrepreneur with a strong sense of social justice who is not likely to say "no" to a challenge!
Although Jupiter is at the sharp end of this figure, the planets that drive it are her Aries Moon and her Libran Sun, Venus and Mars. The Sun/Moon opposition indicates a potential battle between head and heart when decisions have to be made, but the inner conflict that the placements of these planets implies find its expression through Jupiter in Cancer and her entrepreneurial need to DO something, together with a strong social conscience and caring for more than just making money.
She took some knocks and harsh criticism last year when she sold The Body Shop to L'Oreal, not renowned for ethical testing of its cosmetics, but business associates claim that the sale wasn't about the money; she had already announced that she was giving away her fortune to support other ethical entrepreneurs.
Her health may be poor - she has cirrhosis of the liver and will need a transplant - but her campaigning spirit is strong. Her mission now is to bring hepatitis C centre stage and raise the profile of this often-forgotten disease, something that the red motivating energy in her chart will surely be applied to.

Of herself, Roddick says: "I'm not a good business-woman......most entrepreneurs aren't. We're delinquents. Everything these days is to do with economics - people speak as if you were put on this earth to keep the economy going. Well I'm sorry, no f***ing way. I'm here to be a good mother, a wonderful friend and an activist. End of story".

J.K.Rowling

J.K. Rowling, creator of Harry Potter, has been suggested as a chart for me to have a look at, so here goes! Joanne, or J.K. as she is known, is a very Virgoan Leo. She has her Sun in Leo, but with no less than 5 planets in Virgo, she's likely to be someone who pays a lot of attention to detail, and she could be her own worst critic as she'll have high standards in everything she undertakes. I suspect that that this perfectionist streak will have stood her in very good stead as she's developed the Harry Potter books.

Rowling was born on 31st July 1965, near Bristol. No time of birth is available so her chart is set for noon. Without the time of birth it's hard to say in which direction the aspect structure is moving.

Her chart shaping shows a mixture of Fixed and Mutable motivation - an ability to adapt to changes sits alongside a liking for stability. The need for Fixity and for - at times - a less fluid lifestyle may relate directly to needing the time to think and create what she will eventually write. Colour ratio of the aspects is 3 red: 4 green: 4 blue. This gives her a very green/blue chart, suggesting that she has a considerable amount of intuitive sensitivity, that she thinks and maybe connects with ideas which come from within, and that she needs time to be able to do this. She has a comparative deficit of red, "doing" energy which might be challenging when she has deadlines to meet, or when she simply runs out of steam. Again, being able to pause, rest, sit back and think will be a necessary part of the way she goes about her writing - and her daily life.

There are 2 aspect patterns in her chart: a Small Learning triangle and a Megaphone. The Learning triangle (Jupiter, Mars, Moon) will feed what is learned into the Megaphone (Moon, Mars, Neptune, Saturn). The Megaphone is a mainly blue/green figure with only one red aspect. This will be the one that does the work and manifests what has been thought about, imagined and visualised in the blue/green part of this aspect pattern. With no time of birth available, we can't know whereabouts the Megaphone lies in the chart - is it above or below the horizon? On one side of the chart or the other? Knowing this would offer far more information.

The overall meaning of the Megaphone is that it's a very sensitive instrument which can pick up ideas and information from the surrounding environment. With so much blue and green it's going to have strong artistic abilities, and it will rely on the planet at the "sharp" end (in Rowling's case this is Saturn) to direct all the ideas that have been dreamed up out into the world. What better planet could she have there than Saturn to help her ground and manifest what is generated in the blue/green part of this figure!

The other planets in the Megaphone are Moon (emotional needs, feelings, inner child), Neptune (ideals and things mystical) and Mars (active energy, most likely to be thinking/ideas in this configuration). Mercury, one of her Virgo planets, is unaspected and could be a useful tool in bringing in new ideas; Moon is conjunct both Uranus and Pluto, perhaps in the context of Rowlings chart adding the essential Harry Potter ingredients of magic and the struggle of good over evil.

Finally, a look at Rowling's LifeClock. Although we can't be specific as her time of birth is unknown, the general principles of Age Progession can still be applied and noted. In 1995, when she was 30 and her Age Point entered the 6th House, she completed her first book "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone". This was published in 1997 when she was 32, and her Age Point reached the Balance Point of the 6th. This House and these ages include the psychological life phase of establishing one's place in the market or workplace. She certainly did that!

Rowling has announced that her 7th and final book in the Harry Potter series will be released on 21st July 2007, and there is speculation on which characters will die; she's already hinted that two will, but won't be drawn on whether one of them is Harry. This book will be released just before her 42nd birthday, when her Age Point will enter the 8th House of the chart, heralding a period of change and a new orientation in life. In view of this, it seems likely that Harry could meet his end.

Addendum: November 2011. I've just returned from a trip to Edinburgh where J.K. Rowling lived and worked on the early Harry Potter books. She wrote much of these in a cafe called The Elephant House as she was unable to heat her flat and used the warm cafe instead. It's a popular place with a spacious back room whose windows overlook Edinburgh Castle. There are photos of her displayed in the cafe as they are rightly proud of their connection to her and Harry Potter. However, the ladies loo is also of interest, as many visitors have left messages of appreciation for JK on the walls, making a visit to the loo to read them all part of the experience!

Helen Mirren

Dame Helen Mirren has just been nominated for a BAFTA award. She was born on 26.7.1945 in London. No birth time available, so her chart is set up for noon. Let's have a look at some of its most interesting features.Green aspects are emphasised, indicating a lot of sensitivity and awareness. With fewer red aspects, she may push herself, work hard and risk possible burn out. The chart shaping suggests an inner life motivation to adapt easily and go with the flow, being flexible and able to move on when life situations or the environment demands this. There will be some restlessness too - a need to branch out and do something different, or change direction.

She has two distinct aspect patterns: a Dominant Learning Triangle and a Small Talent Triangle. The Learning Triangle is composed of one red, one green and one blue aspect, indicating potential for growth and on-going learning throughout life. Planets involved are Venus, Jupiter and Moon - and look at her Moon! In Aquarius is is a focal point of the chart, having a large number of aspects and being out on a limb on its own in a different area of the chart from the remaining planets. Such a planet is called a tension ruler, and it filters all information and feeds it back to the planets it aspects.

As Mirren's time of birth is unknown, it's more than likely that the Moon would be in a different position, and not in the 4th House as is shown with the chart set up for noon. For an actor, having the Moon as a tension ruler could be a valuable asset and a rich tool to draw upon, particularly when picking up or expressing feelings. The Moon's placement in Aquarius would also help, giving her the ability to stay personally detached from feelings and emotions, but still to be able to portray them when in role. Of course, this is purely general speculation, and it would be far more rewarding to know her time of birth so that the correct House position of her Moon could be discussed accurately.

The Small Talent Triangle is all blue, with pinning planets Sun, Mars and Neptune. Notably, Sun is at the apex, the outlet point of this figure. The figure itself indicates a still-developing talent, something one has to work on, polish and perfect throughout life - in Mirren's case it surely relates to her acting skills, which continue to reach new heights in the roles she takes on. Her BAFTA nomination for her role in "The Queen" is witness to her skill; she played the Queen with sensitivity and an understated intensity.

A couple of interesting and notable features of her chart are her Sun conjunct Pluto, which is a powerful combination on a personal level, as well as adding the intensity already alluded to, together with the capacity to perfect and transform. And Sun in Leo is a common occurence for actors, performers, and showbiz personalities. Mirren also has Venus conjunct Uranus, endowing her with an edge, an ability to shock, be different or unconventional.

Her LifeClock puts her firmly into the 11th House of the chart where she will be selective about who she spends time with as well as able to enjoy reaping the fruits of her acting experience by commanding the roles she wants at an age when many actors of her age are passed by as being "too old"!

Addendum 27.2.2007Congratulations to Helen Mirren, not only for her BAFTA award for Best Actress, but for the Oscar for Best Actress that she's just won - both awards being for her role as Elizabeth 2nd in "The Queen".

Al Gore - "An Inconvenient Truth"

I may sound like a film critic, but I urge you to go and see Al Gore's film "An Inconvenient Truth". It is essential viewing and is yet another wake up call to the fact that global warming is happening now. Not some time in the future, but right now.

The film is based around Gore's current tour of world cities where he is lecturing on global warming. It's his way of spreading this "wake up" call. The material he shares is scientific fact, intermingled with his own personal experiences and explanations of why he's doing this. In 2006, the film has become a runaway success. The bare and true facts about global warming are set out clearly. Gore's presentation and delilvery is graphic and clear, and it was his impressive presentation, plus what he shared of his personal life and upbringing (all spliced into the lecture theatre scenes) which made me want to look at his chart.

He was born on 31.3.1948 in Washington DC, at 12.53 EST. His chart is visually striking with an "active" strong flavour of someone striding forward, carrying a large wide load in their arms. The direction is predominantly vertical, suggesting his motivation is to individualise, yet he has Moon conjunct Jupiter in the 5th House and closest to the DC, offering the capacity to make contact with others easily. Using the combined sensing ability of these two planets he can connect with prevailing moods and feelings out in the world as well as put what these planets pick up to good use for others - the Moon is approaching the 6th cusp and both planets will be more attuned to and interested in being of service to others. Significantly, his Age Point was conjunct Moon/Jupiter in 1976 when he went into politics.

Gore has a Medium Learning triangle which includes the powerful stellium of Pluto, Saturn and Mars in the 1st House. It is from here that the learning of any new skill or information will start and it will finish here as well - it's where his own sense of "I" will be focussed, and is likely to be constantly under review, growing, changing. This stellium links to the other aspect pattern in his chart, the Single Ambivalence figure, and suggests to me that it will be to himself that he will return time and time again when he needs to review things and check out his own life experiences. He will have the ability to assess himself against what life throws up for him, and with Pluto, Saturn and Mars there at this fulcrum point, he can stay the course, on a personal level, and transform.

In the film he speaks of two significant happenings in his life, both of which brought the importance of family life and how we treat each other as human beings into sharp focus. The first was in 1984 when his sister, 10 years his senior, died of lung cancer. He speaks passionately of how the tobacco companies were allowed to promote smoking, even though there was much evidence of it as a cause of cancer. He was 36; his Age Point was crossing the DC, signifying an opening up of greater consciousness.

The second life changing event was in April 1989 when his 6 year old son was seriously injured when he was hit by a car. Gore speaks in the film of how he spent a month sleeping by the boy's hospital bed, and how this experience brought home to him the importance of life and what we do in life. His Age Point was square Venus, which rides high in the 10th House in his chart but is intercepted. It relies on its quincunx aspect to Jupiter for expression as it has no natural outlet into the world in the 10th House - so we are back again with the Jupiter/Moon conjunction which helped usher him into politics when he was age 28. It's interesting to note that Venus sits along with Uranus in a red/green linear aspect, and that both home in on that Jupiter/Moon conjunction, emphasising its importance.

Venus, too, crops up at significant times in Gore's life - his Age Point was opposite this planet when he married in 1970, was square to it at the time of his son's accident, and in 2006 was conjunct when "An Inconvenient Truth" became the unexpected box office hit of the year. Venus is often described as the planet associated with balance and harmony: Gore's book on the state of the environment is entitled "The Earth in Balance".

There's more - his Nodal chart reveals some signficant correspondences with the path his life has taken, and bears reference and further study in the context of the 2000 Presidential election that he "lost" to Bush.

I could say much more about Gore's charts - both House and Node chart reflect and support many of the points he himself makes in his narration of the film and in the lecture scenes. All I wish to do is to whet your appetite to go and see this film - it may repeat many of the things you already know, but it's likely to tell you a whole lot more too, and it closes by suggesting practical ways that YOU can make contributions to help slow down the process of global warming and help preserve our precious planet.

But without political will, what we do may not be enough. As the person who saw the film with me said: " ...as Gore himself says, the trends have been clear for many years. What is missing, and still seems to be missing despite moving from denial to displacement/ projection, is the political leaders willing to take a leadership role in promoting a way forward. Who will be the environmental Churchill?"

Further suggested astrological reference and reading (books by myself and Bruno and Louise Huber):
Aspect Pattern Astrology; Moon Node Astrology; LifeClock; The Astrological Houses - Man and his World; The Cosmic Egg Timer; Aspect Patterns in Colour; Using Age Progression.
Available from the APA Book Shop.

Madonna

The singer Madonna's chart has been requested in response to my invitation to Suggest a Chart (keep asking - I will respond!). Madonna's adoption of baby David Banda from Malawi last month has been riding high in the news and a look at her chart could reveal some interesting possibilities about the superstar herself.

The chart structure clings predominantly to the "I" side and the images that comes to mind are a wide open mouth, a jaunty head-dress, a "Bird of Paradise" flower, crystals growing in the hidden depths of a cave - and the 2 triangular shapes might even remind you, as suggested by one of my students, of the pointy conical bra that Madonna wore in one of her videos! (thanks Jane). There is a touch of the exotic about some of these images, and that relates to what we know about her public persona.

Her motivation is to be flexible, to move on, and this is borne out by her constant re-invention of her image and style. The aspect structure has a predominantly vertical movement, and although there are horizontal features the strongest motivation here will be to achieve. Alongside this there will be a strong drive to improve and understand herself.

Initially suprising is to see that Madonna's is an essentially private chart, with most of her planets in the 12th House. But with a large stellium of planets spanning the 12th and 1st Houses, this sets up a polarity on the 6/12 House axis of Existence and the 1/7 axis of Encounter, so these issues are likely to form the backdrop of her life. Someone with planets on the Existence axis is going to ask questions about why they are here, and seek to justify their existence; the equally emphasised Encounter axis is going to bring up issues of relating to others as well as the importance and need to be able to put herself across in ways which will attract attention, admiration and love. Her Leo planets will seek this, and her Moon in the 1st House will yearn for contact. However, with her AC and 3 planets in Virgo, what she puts out is likely to be carefully detailed and well-prepared. She herself may be her harshest critic.

The chart consists of 2 Small Learning triangles ( see "Aspect Pattern Astrology") which give her the capacity to successfully learn and use specific skills. In 1977 she dropped out of college to go to New York in order to pursue the dance career she longed for as her Age Point squared the Moon. She says of this move "It was the bravest thing I've ever done".

In the Family Model, the Moon represents the child, Saturn the mother and the Sun the father. Madonna's Moon is likely to be a needy one. Her mother died when she was 5, at the first crossing point of the natal and nodal chart, with transitting Uranus and Pluto conjunct her Moon. This, not surprisingly, had a profound and long-lasting effect on her. She says that her mother's death gave her the urge to prove herself. It also brought the experience of being motherless, which may relate to her current controversial decision to adopt a child. It's interesting to see that Saturn, representing the mothering figure, is slightly detached from the main chart structure, and appears out on a limb in Madonna's chart, remote and not quite there.

Jupiter is on a Low Point, indicating that its perceptive sensing works in an inner, less obvious way - yet Madonna herself could never be accused of being retiring as she projects her Leo Sun across the chart! Conjunct Neptune and the North Node, this group which includes Jupiter could be an important key to understanding her ability to pick the right, yet sometimes controversial style she projects in her performances. It will act as a good sensing tool; both Jupiter and Neptune are part of the Small Learning triangle, and the Node will emphasise the lessons of the 2nd House - to develop her sense of self-worth. Jupiter may also endow her with the ability to take risks and be an opportunist, moving into new areas, taking new chances, seizing the moment. It crops up repeatedly as a featured planet in her Age Progression - it was aspected when she graduated from high school, made her first singles recording deal, published her controversial book "Sex", got into studying Kabbalah, married her first husband Sean Penn, and it's around now, making an aspect in her Moon Node chart as she brings baby David from Malawi to adopt.

The Moon Node chart brings to the surface those things which we may repress; we often project things from this chart out into the world around us, so it appears as if they come from somewhere else outside, not from deep within us. Not only does the Age Point in Madonna's Node chart make a trine aspect to Jupiter, suggesting taking a chance, seizing an opportunity, it also makes an oppostion to her Sun. This could mean that she would experience her authority being challenged, and that is reflected in the mixed reception to her decision to adopt. At the same time, Saturn is currently in Leo, moving like a restraining hand over her 12th House Sun. As it does so, she is facing the criticism of the UK adoption agencies and the press for her actions, amid accusations that she has circumnavigated the red tape involved in adopting an African child.

Finally, it's worth considering where her Age Point is right now as this controversy rages on around her. It's in earthy practical Taurus, and when she was 48 in August, it entered the 9th House. In astrological psychology, this life phase is a philosophical one where the Hubers say "it is essential for the human being to find true values for his existence". With such an emphasis in her chart on the Existence axis and her reasons for being here, Madonna may well be trying to work through or express something of this search in the adoption.

Madonna, born 16.8.1958, Bay City MI, USA at 07.05 EST

Suggested reading:

The Cosmic Egg Timer - an Introduction to the Huber Method

Aspect Pattern Astrology
Aspect Patterns in Colour

LifeClock
Using Age Progression

All titles available from the APA on-line Book Shop

Addendum - 11th December 2006

Madonna is again in the news after being seen in Mayfair wearing a coat made from the skins of 40 dead chinchillas. It's estimated cost is £33,000. How sad that Madonna is unable to extend her good will towards the animal kingdom, and chooses to support the fur trade by wearing dead animals. Chinchillas are docile, beautiful creatures. Does she really need their dead bodies to support her ego?

Wayne Rooney

Hearing England manager Svedish Sven speaking about the behaviour of Wayne Rooney at a press conference following England being knocked out of the World Cup, I decided to take a look at his chart (24.10.1985, Liverpool. No time of birth so set for noon).

Sven was saying something along the lines of "He has a temper, but you'll have to learn to live with that if you want him around - you're going to need him, he's the best you've got" ( or words to that effect).

It was the mention of the temper that got me intrigued, following on from seeing him stamp on the groin of the Portuguese player he'd collided with during the match, and getting sent off. That stamp looked pretty nasty, vicious and decisive to me. I reckoned that his chart could contain some indication of where that kind of behaviour comes from.

And I wasn't disappointed. Rooney is a Sun Scorpio - the Sign that is renowned for its sting in the tail and for having the last lash of revenge, which is exactly what that stamp on the groin looked like to me. Not only does he have a Scorpio Sun, he has 3 other planets in this Sign as well, emphasising Scorpionic traits. Most significantly, Pluto is conjunct his Sun, suggesting that he has an urge to control, manipulate, dominate and generally put his power out into the world. This, when channelled through his sporting skills, makes him a star player. However, at 20, he's young and as yet unable to control this energy, so it spills out into on-field behaviour as agressiveness and temper ( it may well do off-field as well, but I don't read the sports pages or the tabloids..! I simply observe).

Sun/Pluto are part of the red Efficiency/Performance Triangle, which contains a lot of working energy, itching to be expressed via the apex planet Jupiter. Interesting to see that the opposition, where the energy is held and stored, is pinned by Sun/Pluto at one end and the Moon's Node at the other. Experience suggests that if the Node is part of an aspect pattern, the pattern does not work as smoothly and as completely as it might if that area of life where the Node is placed is being ignored or is under-developed. As I don't have Rooney's time of birth, I can't speculate more about which area of life this might be, but it's worth remembering that the South Node is opposite the North, so is conjunct his Sun/Pluto. The South Node indicates a place where behaviour and responses are very familiar, well-worn and easy to fall into, suggesting that Rooney will opt for the powerful Scorpionic "sting" as a matter of habit, because it serves him well.

Read more about the Efficiency/Performance Triangle - and other aspect patterns - in "Aspect Pattern Astrology" and "The Cosmic Egg Timer", and about the Moon's Nodes in "Moon Node Astrology", all available from the APA on-line Book Shop.

Belle-fille's Recorder

Deviating from my original "mission statement" of discussing the charts of people in the news, I'm taking a look at the chart of my belle-fille, Maylis (22.1.1977, 08.15, Amiens).

The French "belle-fille" and "belle-mere" (that's me!) sounds far nicer than the English daughter/mother-in-law, translating literally as beautiful daughter/mother. I like that!

Maylis's chart looks like an open mouth, eager to taste and take things in, and open ( perhaps sometimes vulnerable?) to meeting other people, and/or situations as well. I choose her chart to look at right now because she has created her own blog, http://maylisandhugh.blogspot.com

and she has an on-line gallery showcasing her photography: www.maylisphotgraphy.com

Maylis's chart shows heaps of talent which is embedded within the 3 Small Talent triangles she has: one in the lower, unconscious, hemisphere of the chart pinned by Mars, Venus & Jupiter, one is pinned by Moon, Mercury and Uranus, and spans Houses 2-9, and the other is in the upper, consious, hemisphere pinned by Saturn, Neptune & Pluto. The presence of a Small Talent Triangle in a chart suggests the person has a still-developing talent or ability. There is inherent potential to be had, but this has to consciously worked at so that the development of the talent is on-going throughout their lifetime. Maylis's talent appears - to me at least! - to be connected to photography and the use of image. Many of her photographs have a special "something" about them, and this I relate to the presence of both Neptune and Saturn (for practically "grounding" and manifesting the images that she sees - she learned to develop them herself too, before digital cameras came along) in the upper Talent triangle.

Look closer and you will see that this upper hemisphere aspect pattern does not stand alone; it is attached to a Search figure, and is actually a part of the larger quadrangular figure called a Recorder. This is described by the Hubers in "Aspect Pattern Astrology" as functioning like a recorder which "stores, among other things, feelings, situations and destinies, and can replay them in such a way that one imagines they are there."

What is interesting is that the Small Talent triangle in the lower half of the chart links directly into the Recorder, via Mars in Capricorn in the 12th House. Mars acts as a fulcrum, energising both upper and lower aspect patterns, and appears as the possible moving force not only in activating the talent embedded within her chart, but also as the driving force for the open mouth image.

Take a look at her on-line gallery, where you can also buy copies of her work, and see for yourself an example of how something that shows up in a chart can be expressed in real life. www. maylisphotography.com