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.

Tracey Emin: from The Bed to the Venice Bienniale

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

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

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


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

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

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

Emin unveils her bird. Photo-BBC images

Prince Harry - will he stay or will he go?

The media have laid off Harry for the past week now because a) there’s no news on whether or not he’ll be going, and b) there's currently more attention being paid to the Irish agreement on unity and Tony Blair’s announcement about his departure from office on 27th June.

The latest on Harry’s possible deployment to Iraq was that he is going….but that the army has the situation under constant review. No news there then. A look at Harry’s chart (15.9.1984, 16.20, Paddington, London - data from official Royal website) offers an image which is rather like a trumpet or megaphone; it’s not difficult to imagine a mouthpiece at the bottom, formed by the conjunction between the Moon and the North Node, with the wide open mouth of the megaphone at the top. Does Harry need to say “Here I am! Notice me!” in a big way? He seemed to be doing this big style late in 2004 when he was in a punch up with the paparazzi, and in February 2005, when he was caught in the headlines wearing a Nazi uniform to a fancy dress party. Of late he appears to have had his partying guns spiked somewhat by his army training.

His chart has a strong vertical movement which suggests a need to be noticed, to assert his individuality. This may be really important for him - he’s the spare, not the heir - so he’ll need to gain recognition in his own right.

He has an excess of green aspects indicating considerable sensitivity, maybe touchiness, perhaps making him a little thin-skinned and possibly someone who changes his mind quite often. This is reflected in the overall Dynamic/Mutable shaping of his chart. Saturn close to the MC could endow him with an air of authority and possibly leadership potential; he’s known as Cornet Wales in the army because of his rank in his regiment, the Blues and Royals. If he goes to Iraq, he will be in command of 10 –12 soldiers and it is these men, as well as Harry himself, who are going to be in additional danger as they will be serving alongside a potential prime target.

Harry has stated (but note, only via his friends) that he wants to go to Iraq. His Age Point is currently conjunct the North Node in his chart, which is itself conjunct the Moon in the 4th House, and will shortly change Signs and enter Gemini. Age Point conjunct a planet or the Node and about to change Sign is significant. He will be psychologically moving away from the home/family scene (although how anyone in the Royal family can get away from being in the “family firm” is a mystery…!) and ready to make his own impressions on the world around him. The influences of family will be weaker, but for Harry, with Moon in 4th House, the pull from this direction is always going to be pretty strong.

Age Point on the Node is interesting. The Node is a part of one of the Dominant Learning triangles in his chart, and is at the apex of one of the Projection figures. It is part of the conjunction which pins him to the collective yet it can also act as a point of growth and personal development for the individual. The task of the 4th House Node is associated with becoming more humble, more “ordinary”, and of getting down from any pedestal where the person might feel special or significant, taking their place alongside others without recourse to pulling rank.

If Harry does eventually go to Iraq, this kind of experience could be a very significant for him, and one which he may not understand or appreciate until much later on. As it is, he’s a young man who is probably scared stiff at the thought of going to Iraq but is still prepared to go. For that, all we can do is wish him well.

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".

Happy Birthday Dear Blog! - Colour Balance and Motivation

It's a year since this blog was "born", on 4.3.2006 at 16.14 in Knutsford. I set up the blog site, noted the time, and then looked at the chart later. I wasn't too impressed to see that it contained only red and blue aspects - ideally there should have been some green aspects too, to give a rounded balance between red/doing energy and motivation, green/thinking motivation and the enjoyment and stability that the blue/being aspects confer.

Huh! So much for the "ideal" being around in this blog - with only red and blue aspects it seemed at the time that this might turn out to be an experience of either on or off, of energetically writing it or letting it lie still and do nothing!

With no green aspects to prod me into awareness to keep up it's momentum, I might just forget about it and let it fade lazily away into the background of my life. Had I been one of those astrologers who insist on electing a time - the right time! - to start a new project, I could have hung around waiting for some planetary movement which would have made green aspects appear. As it is, I have an excess of red aspects in my chart (see one of my first posts, March 2006, about my own chart) so this approach didn't appeal at all. I resigned myself to having a red/blue blog start chart, and to creating some of the green awareness it appeared to lack, myself.

This has worked reasonably well; the posts seem to flow fairly well, but I only write when the need or the interest or the spirit moves me. I'm aware of not leaving too long a gap between posts and have aimed for around 3 or 4 a month - that feels comfortable. And in a way it reflects, to some extent, the on/off motivation of a colour balance or ratio of

6 Red: 0 Green: 5 Blue.

Yes, it's a "You" sided chart, with the majority of planets on the DC side. Sun is aptly placed in the 7th House, eager for contact with the world and ever-so-appropriately conjunct Uranus, the planet often associated with astrology. But hang on - Sun is on the Low Point of the 7th House, meaning it is eager to get out there and be noticed, yet often is not. It can be frustrating, for sure, not knowing if anyone ever reads this blog!

Moon is slap bang on the MC. It's the highest planet in the chart and by heck it wants recognition! It's very strongly placed in the 10th House, is quite strong by Sign too, and fairly craves comments to be left - readers please note, I love to hear from you!

I'm off now to light the candle on the cake - one year on and you're still going strong! Happy Birthday Dear Blog!

Gordon Brown

Gordon Brown, Chancellor of the Exchequer and Prime Minister-in-waiting is 56 today. His Age Point is in the 10th House of the chart, so becoming PM is a "now or never" issue for him as Tony Blair's as-yet-unannounced date of departure draws near.

Brown's full data is available (thanks again Caroline) - 21.2.1951, 08.40 at Giffnock, Scotland. Let's have a run through his chart.....

The chart image is of a large wedge shape which dominates the entire chart - it is reminiscent of a door wedge, or a wedge of cheese. The overall structure looks solid and chunky, and it's shaping/motivation is Fixed, suggesting he seeks to preserve and maintain stability in his life, yet it's composed mainly of green aspects. These take the edge off any predispositions of Brown to be totally Fixed and immovable, and add a surprising amount of flexibility and sensitivity - or maybe touchiness and and a tetchy moodiness.

Brown's chart has a very high ratio of green aspects, indicating a lot of thinking alongside the sensitivity and awareness, with less "doing" energy available because of a lower ratio of red aspects, and proportionally even fewer blue aspects, so he may find it hard to just "be". Thinking and ideas are likely to predominate.

Looking at the balance of planets on both "I" (AC) and "You" (DC) sides of the chart, Brown is equally at home interacting with others or spending time alone. Neptune and Saturn flank the DC, suggesting that there are two aspects of Brown that could be perceived on meeting him. One would the sensitive awareness of Neptune, or on a lower level perhaps, its more deceptive, illusory side. The other would be the Saturnian guarded, "proper" and rather dour face that he often shows.

What is interesting is his 12th House Sun - is it going to be a case of more of the same if/when he becomes PM? Blair also has a 12th House Sun....! Brown's Sun, representing his sense of self, mind, will, decision-making process, is very weak by Sign - it's only just into Pisces - but is in the strong Cardinal zone of the 12th House, indicating that the demands of the environment could sometimes be greater than he's able to comfortably deal with. But in 12th, these demands may not be so "public". Note also that the Sun has only green/blue aspects, and has Linear aspects to Uranus and Saturn - this could be good/useful/grounding (Saturn) and perhaps erratic/full of surprises too (Uranus)! His Sun will rely heavily on these 2 planets for outlet and expression, as it is also intercepted (Pisces has no house cusps), along with the other 3 planets and moon's node, also in Pisces. Interesting......does he simply disappear into the 12th House and become invisible?
He has a quadrilateral Aspect Pattern called a "Bijou or Bi-Sho" - the wedge shape that dominates the whole chart. The "Bi" in this unusual name refers to the two sides to the person. The Hubers say of this pattern "This figure has two matching sides that have a harmonious and graceful influence, so that these people could possibly be called 'Bijou' (jewel). This makes them very popular in the long run, and so they occupy a position where they are just irreplaceable. However, they often feel misunderstood". After his long, 10 year wait to get into No.10, Brown might just resonate to the basic meaning of this aspect pattern!

Looking at Brown's LifeClock and Age Point I've chosen a few instances from his recent, personal life - his marriage in August 2000 has Age Point square Mars. Brown's face really lit up with joyful smiles at the birth of his first child, Jennifer Jane in 2002, and he publicly revealed a side of himself in his joy at her birth. Sadly, she did not live long, and her death on 8.1.2002 is shown graphically as the Age Point in his Moon Node chart is conjunct Uranus at the time of her death. His first son, John, was born as Brown's Age Point was sextile Sun and square Saturn, and he was appointed Chancellor back in 1997 when his Age Point was trine Moon.

As he celebrates his 56th birthday, his Age Point is quincunx Moon, and in the 10th House which is a very small one, indicating a period of life when there is likely to be a lot happening. It's in the Sign of Capricorn, too, emphasising the desire for due recognition after many years of toil and labour (Old or New....?!) to reach this position. He must be just itching to move into No.10.

For more on LifeClock, Age Progression and Aspect Patterns see details of the Huber's books on these topics available from the APA Book Shop.

Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan's chart has been suggested as one to look at, and the initial chart image that comes to mind is of antennae seeking out information from the environment. There is an angular, sharp pointy feel to his chart along with a sense of movement, in the triangular/linear shaping of the chart which reveals a mobile, sometimes restless motivation.
Dylan was born on 24.5.1941 at 21.05 in Duluth MN, USA (thanks Sara for his data from Lois Rodden's AstroDatabank). Grouped closely together he has 3 planets in Gemini and 4 in Taurus. All, including unaspected Venus, are clustered around the "You" side of the chart, near the DC, with Mercury the closest. When you meet Dylan you meet his words. This man is an amazingly prolific writer and performer of his own work, and he's still going strong after 50 years in the business. With lyrics like poetry, full of philosophical ideas and anti-war protests, phrases and quotes from many of his songs have entered common usage.

The colour balance/motivation in his chart shows a ratio of 2 red aspects, 1 green and 5 blue. There's a lot of potential for relaxation and enjoyment here, plus an underlying need for stability. How Dylan lives this out I can only guess at - but I do know that his music and his performance of it, for me, has always had a "laid back" quality and the chilled out feel of the 60's scene he was so much a part of.

Mars is intercepted in the 3rd House, and the only way it can be noticed out in the world is via his Gemini Sun, which it is square to in a red linear aspect. That could easily sum up not just his protest songs of the 60's but it could also indicate a reliance on his Sun - strongly placed in the 6th House - to be heard.

He has but one aspect pattern and this is a Small Learning triangle which suggests observable on-going learning behaviour. It may be a specific task that is being learned, it may be seeking a better and more effective way of getting his messages across and out into the world via his DC Mercury. The other planets involved are Neptune (also intercepted and indicative of dreams, ideals, visions of how things might be) and Moon - his feelings, emotional needs etc. This strongly suggests that he writes from the heart. Moon is conjunct Saturn, too, and in Taurus which will help in the grounding and manifestation of the ideals, the feelings, and issues he feels strongly about.

But note that this Learning triangle is not direct - its sequence of colours and associated actions involved in the learning process is retrograde. What is done, learned, undertaken may well not come right first time around: several attempts may have to be made before he is either satisfied or successful.

Dylan has recently announced that he is buying a home in Scotland. In view of this, it's interesting to read on his Wikipedia entry that "in his autobiography, Chronicles (2004), Dylan wrote: "What I was going to do as soon as I left home was just call myself Robert Allen.... It sounded like a Scottish king and I liked it."

A full account of his life and work is at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Dylan
and his website www.bobdylan.com
lists all his lyrics - it's worth a browse!

Astrological psychology - how to start with a chart

If I'm going to be commenting on the charts of other people, it seems only right that the playing field should be level to begin with, and that I should show my own chart and say a few things about it. I've been studying it, learning about it and better understanding it - and myself - for the past 23 years, and one of things that I and other tutors of API (UK) always do at the start of our workshops is to put our own chart up for the group and talk about it. So here is mine.

Visual image is where we start from - and even non-astrologers can do this! The coloured aspect lines in the central area of the chart, pointing towards the Moon, can be viewed as a bird's beak, the inquisitive nose of a small mammal, or as a the nose cone of a rocket. There is a sense of movement, of going somewhere with purpose; yes, this is me!

The colour of the red/green/blue aspect lines show the quality of energy available to the individual. If each colour is counted in my chart there is a predominance of red. Red aspects indicate activity, "doing" energy; green aspects confer awareness and sensitivity and blue ones indicate the ability to rest, relax and enjoy the moment. I have only two blue so it's not easy to sit back and do nothing - the excess of red aspects means I always want to be on the go, and find it harder to switch off and relax. This is all part of my unconsious inner motivation.

The shape that the aspect lines make is predominantly triangular. Again, this says a lot about my motivation. Triangular shapes (known as Aspect Patterns) show a motivation which is flexible, adaptable and able to go with the flow.

The overall direction the aspect lines and patterns take is predominantly horizontal, indicating that I am more interested in making contact with people, and working with them, than in carving out a prominent niche for myself. People come first, and have always been part of my work and professional life.

Which part of the chart has the greatest concentration of planets? Left or right? Top or bottom? Without a doubt, the left, or "I" side of my chart is packed with planets. This suggests I need my own space, and that I am focussed on knowing and developing myself. All true...but what about the horizontal direction of my chart, the working with people? The Moon - the planet at the "nose cone" end of the rocket - is the only one on the right, or "You" side, and it acts as the part of my personality which is sensitive to the needs of others. And on the "You" or "people person" side of the chart it is a very useful tool indeed to have there.

For more details on how to look at charts in this way, see tabs at the top of the page giving info on all my books and books by Bruno and Louise Huber on Astrological Psychology and visit the APA website for details of courses and training offered in Astrological Psychology.