Venus, Mercury and Beauty

Beauty. Peace. Power. Wonder. Joy. Compassion. What do these have in common? They are all transpersonal qualities, pure manifestations of energies which exist around us and beyond us, yet can find a conduit into the world though us. Beauty is said to be in the eye of the beholder, which places the concept of beauty in a subject/object relationship. If we see something we regard as beautiful, that surely is a reflection of something equally beautiful within us - and in that we should most definitely rejoice. Beauty is all around but is not always easy to see. Urban landscapes and inner city life can mask it; the erosion of natural environments and wild life degrade it; bad taste, bad manners and the cult of personality can deaden it.

The Italian psychiatrist Roberto Assagioli says in his book Transpersonal Development, “The fact that beauty is the essential attribute of the Supreme, Divine Being has been recognised and proclaimed by thinkers since the dawn of history, and by the great mystics and most gifted artists of all ages. . . in all that has been created there must be some vestige, some trace of this essential attribute of the Prime Creator”. And Plato says in The Republic “the aim of all education is to teach us to love beauty”.

Canova's Three Graces, National Gallery images

Beauty is generally accepted to be a combination of shapes, colours, textures, sounds, ideas and qualities which please the aesthetic senses. A piece of music, magnificent natural scenery, a painting or sculpture, an intellectual argument - all of these, plus many more you can probably think of for yourself - can be beautiful. Venus at it highest level of expression is the planet we might associate with the expression and manifestation of beauty. At this level the harmonious blending of all the components (in, for example, a work of art) combine to make an aesthetic whole. A personal favourite of sheer beauty and the expression of Venus at this high level is Canova’s sculpture “The Three Graces”. I had to return to look at it several times during my visit to the National Gallery in Edinburgh, and the astrologer friend I was with at the time was equally bowled over by the beauty and perfection of this piece. Conceptual art leaves me cold and baffled. But maybe that’s because I’m looking at it through Venus eyes; if I switch to viewing it through the expression of Mercury at its highest level I can “get it” because here Mercury is pure creative communication. But to me, alas, it’s not art. Well, not the sort I like, anyway.

In the 6th form I had an English teacher called Tom Gibson who encouraged us as students to be critical. When discussing anything new we’d seen, or read, he told us to ask three questions: What does it say? How does it say it? Was it worth saying? Tom is long gone, but his advice has stayed with me. In the pursuit and appreciation of beauty in art, music, literature, theatre and numerous aspects of everyday life, these same questions can be applied. And maybe that is all you need to know. . . . but here I’m going to let the poet John Keats have the last word quoting from Ode on a Grecian Urn :

“Beauty is Truth, truth beauty, - that is all ye know on earth, and all ye need to know”

Music as torture

I heard a very disturbing item on BBC radio last week about music being used as a form of torture on inmates at Guantanamo Bay. There's probably nothing new in this "technique" - in fact the American representative who was interviewed in the item called it "coercion", claiming it was not torture.

Imagine having a song for children, sung by the Barney the Dinosaur character, played loudly and continuously - way above safe or normal decibel levels - for 24 hours in an environment you can't get away from. Or "Babylon" by David Grey (a favourite at Guantanamo apparently), heavy metal, even classical music. Is this torture? Or is torture defined as beatings and water-boarding? That was the issue being explored in the item.

My response was yes, it is torture to use music in this way. It was described by someone who had experienced it as worse than physical torture because it is disorientating and creates long-term psychological disturbances.

What does this have to do with astrology? Music and its creation relate to the planet Venus, which is the manifestation in form of relationships of all kinds. In the case of music, it's the relationship of the notes, the intervals between them and the emotions and qualities which are conveyed. Shakespeare's opening line in "Twelfth Night" is "If music be the food of love, play on." Venus, like all the planets, operates on different levels of conscious awareness - asleep, waking and awake. At the awakening level, Venus can express aesthetics, creativity and art; at the fully awake level higher qualities such as beauty and a perception of the divine. To use music as a form of torture is so far removed from its roots as to be obscene and profane.

More than the misuse of Venus is involved here. Venus/the use of music is the method, but the intention is fuelled by the lower manifestations of Pluto. This transpersonal planet, which can lead us from the depths to the heights in personal journeys of growth and understanding is here being expressed on the lowest, most asleep level of its energies. Pluto asleep is power for change and transformation used externally rather than internally. In short, forcing one's will on others, megalomania, manipulation and destruction.

The singer David Grey spoke out strongly against the use of his music as an instrument of torture, and the issue of whether musicians whose work is likewise being abused could sue. Sadly and wrongly, it seems that the only grounds they would have for this would be for payment of royalties rather than the immoral and inhuman use of their creative works.

Next time you're choosing to listen to music, whether it be by David Grey or Barney the Dinosaur, remember that someone somewhere is probably also listening in. But they don't want to, and the music is loud, and goes on and on. . . .

Astrological Psychology Association: 25 years old

The Astrological Psychology Association in the UK was founded on 8th June 1983, at 12.30 pm in a pub in London, at a meeting which took place between Richard Llewellyn and Pam Tyler, an American astrologer who introduced Richard to the work of Bruno and Louise Huber at the Astrological Psychology Institute in Switzerland. They met together to discuss the possibility of founding an astrology school which would teach the psychological work of Bruno and Louise Huber, with the specific intention of making the material available to the English-speaking world.

Today, 8th June 2008, marks the 25th anniversary of the founding of APA - its Silver Jubilee. I’m proud to have been involved with the school since 1986, first as a student, then as a tutor (which I still am) and from 1991, as Principal when I took over the helm from Richard Llewellyn, the founder. Let’s have a look at the foundation chart.

For me, the chart image speaks of searchlights or strong beams of light which are mobile and can change direction to illuminate different areas of activity, a valuable thing to bear in mind as API (UK) has to be able to move with the flow of current interests. The shaping/motivation of the chart is a mixture of Dynamic, Mutable energy and Linear, Cardinal energy offering the ability to engage with the course of change yet also to be tangential and able to change direction quickly. The vertical direction of the aspect structure leaves no doubt about the aspirations of APA - to be recognised for the unique and outstanding courses which it offers! Sun/Mars are strongly placed in the Cardinal zone of the 10th House, but they sit alongside the Moon’s Node suggesting that this area of existence and expression is one which has to be developed and lived fully. Neptune in the 4th House is conjunct the South Node, so it may be too easy an option to stay safe and cosy down there with ideals and visions of what we might be, and not develop the will of the 10th House Sun to move forward and achieve autonomy and full recognition.

The colour balance of 2 red: 3 green: 3 blue is inclined towards being caught up in thought and ideas, maybe to the detriment of taking action. The chart is “I” sided, with an equal emphasis on the upper and lower hemispheres. Can APA connect with its roots in the lower unconscious area of the chart? I think so; stressed Jupiter/Uranus close to the IC is a focal point. Can it reach its highest aspirations and assert its individuality in the upper, conscious half of the chart? Possibly….but this takes effort and the use of the will. The pull of the South Node in the 4th House may sometimes prove too tempting, too strong to be ignored. So the message here is “don’t rest on your laurels; harness the power and strength of Sun and Mars in Gemini in the 10th and let the world know you exist - shout it from the rooftops!”. That's what I'm doing!

Both Sun and Mars are strong by Sign, and are prominently placed near the MC in Gemini. Sun/Mars, placed as they are high in the chart, have another strong supporter nearby when it comes to recognition: the Moon sits high and proud on the 9th cusp. This is a strong Moon by Sign and by House. Here, on the 9th House level of higher learning, the engagement with and commitment to astrological psychology of the UK Astrological Psychology Institute can shine and speak out loud from the heart. It can shout aloud about the importance of astrological psychology being the fantastic tool that it is to promote personal and spiritual growth, help people to achieve their potential and become more truly what they may be.

To find out more about strength of planets by Sign and by House, see The Cosmic Egg Timer co-authored by myself and Richard Llewellyn and available on line from the APA Book Shop and from Amazon.

Gemini: Chatterbox of the Zodiac

The movement of the Sun progresses on through the Zodiac, and today enters the Sign of Gemini. On the Zodiac Clock in Chartes Cathedral (shown above), the Gemini Twins can be seen at 11 o'clock, engaged in an intense and perpetual dialogue with each other.

An extract from The Cosmic Egg Timer, my book co-authored with Richard Llewellyn, says of Mutable Air Sign Gemini:

"This Sign has an insatiable hunger for information and communication, reflecting the busy information-seeking nature of its ruling planet Mercury. It is happiest when talking, asking questions, gathering or disseminating information, using the phone, surfing the internet or learning a new foreign language. For Gemini, variety is the spice of life, so the more new or interesting experiences and snippets of information it can get hold of, the better! This is the Sign of the Twins, and as such, Gemini is most happy with (at least!) two of everything, if not more! The Twins are a duo, a double act, and as two people often do when they get together, they talk! With Gemini, the duality that underlies the Sign may go something like “On the one hand, I see it this way…….yet on the other hand, there might be another way of looking at it…”
Gemini is quick-witted and amusing. It’s a Sign that can think on its feet and simultaneously have fingers in many pies. Gemini will have a busy engagement diary with an accompanying lifestyle, and in conversation will show a rapid verbal delivery and an ability to speak on a wide variety of different subjects. This is a Sign that doesn’t stop still for long because it is constantly moving on to the next intensely interesting yet hugely different source of fascination. Sounds exhausting? Not to a Gemini! It is their lifeblood.

Of the new things learned and the projects undertaken, many may be scanned quickly and absorbed at a skin deep rather than a heart and soul level. This doesn’t mean that Gemini is not capable of going into things in depth - it’s simply a matter of the time available and the urgent need to be moving on to something new, not letting the grass grow under their feet. Gemini is frequently on the go, maybe travelling - but short haul for preference - and in advance they will have absorbed the contents of the guidebook in order to gather as much information as they can about their destination. Time will be allocated for sightseeing. Oh yes, and they will aim to take plenty of good holiday reading with them too. Most important of all, they will want to meet with as many locals as they can in their chosen destination, and of course, they will be keen to try out their newly-acquired language skills!"

Mercury/Gemini heaven? A book stall like this one, or maybe a busy social gathering with a wide variety of people to talk to.

Image: Bouquiniste by Maylis Photography

Sagittarius and the arrows of perception

The Sun is in Sagittarius. The Seed Thought for this Sign is "I see the goal. I reach the goal and see another." The symbol for Sagittarius is an arrow, and in the stained glass depiction of this Sign from the Zodiac Window in Chartres cathedral, the half-man/half-horse centaur, often associated with this Sign, is holding a bow and a whole handful of arrows.

I enjoy playing around with words. The word "Sagittarius" lends itself beautifully to this activity which offers insights into the qualities and nature of this particular Sign.

For instance (and with reference to my dictionary!):

Sage - a profoundly wise man; any of the ancients traditionally regarded as the wisest of their time; profoundly wise, especially from experience.

Sagittarian qualities are wisdom, the pursuit of knowledge and understanding, usually acquired via experience.

Sagacious - mentally penetrating; gifted with discernment; having practical wisdom.

Sagittarius is a Sign of the mind - using it, developing it, stretching it and being able to put to use what it learns from it's journeys of mental exploration.

Sagittate - shaped like an arrowhead

There's that arrow entering the arena as the one-pointed, focussed arrow (often a mental one), seeking it's target and then having reached it, flying off again towards a new, more distant goal. . . and new interests, new areas of exploration.

Jupiter is the ruling planet of Sagittarius, and if you refer back to the posting I made about this planet, you'll see that Jupiter seeks the big picture and wants to know the whole of things, not just the smaller parts. Jupiter wants knowledge and understanding in big whole mouthfuls, not small nibbles, and ably reflects the far-reaching, wide-ranging qualities of Sagittarius.

Where does perception come into this? Jupiter is the planet associated with sight. The Sagittarian arrows fly far towards distant goals we see, bringing what we aim for closer to us. They bring what we seek on distant horizons into focus and make our perceptions change and grow as we quest for knowledge, wisdom and understanding.

What makes you smile?

I've been tagged by blogger friend Barbara, a fellow Virgo, who has nominated me for the "You make me smile" award. Without a doubt, Barbara's warm, friendly and informative blog often makes me smile.

Smiling, laughter and humour in general are something I ponder on from time to time, wondering just where they might be pinpointed in a birth chart. Would it be possible to know if someone had a sense of humour and, if so, what kind, just from looking at their chart? I guess maybe not, although there would be clues to suggest this, especially if you already knew the person, or knew something about them.


I'd veer towards Jupiter in my chart as the planet most likely to be associated with humour and laughter. Its qualities of being larger than life, of being associated with expansion, perception and experience fit in with this, and it's the planet that Holst, composer of The Planet's Suite, called "the bringer of jollity". Mercury could also be associated with humour with it's capacity to be quick thinking and quick witted; quick, clever and witty humour is something I appreciate and enjoy. Then there is Uranus, which I associate with off-beat, quirky humour (and I like that too!).

Here are a few other bloggers who I'd like to pass this award on to as they feed and nurture different aspects of my sense of humour:
Lobo makes me laugh and appeals to my Uranian sense of humour. His blog has Mercurial wit too, and warns people that it contains adult content. Go and see....!

Rivkaz, based in Singapore, writes a blog called Water Learner and she makes me smile gently as she goes with the flow of life and shares her learning and experience along the way.
Jennifer writes a beautiful and thoughtful blog called Goodness Graciousness which appeals to my Jupiter conjunct Neptune.

Ewan McGregor

I wanted to look at actor Ewan McGregor’s chart after recently watching the entire series of “Long Way Round” on CD. For those who’ve not heard of this, in 2004 McGregor, along with actor friend Charley Boorman, rode 20,000 miles on motorbikes from London to New York via the long route across Europe, into Russia, through Kazakhstan and Mongolia, flying to Alaska and then through Canada and the US to New York. It was an epic and hazardous journey and the series makes for compulsive viewing. The men undertook the journey as a personal challenge and as UNICEF ambassadors.

Ewan McGregor was born on 31.3.1971 at 20.10 in Perth, Scotland (thanks Caroline, my Scottish Data Queen). What I noticed when first looking at it was the all-red Efficiency Triangle pinned by his Aries Sun, Mars and Uranus. Watching the series it was evident that Ewan was often in urgent need to take action, to do something and get things moving. His strongly placed Sun at 10 degrees Aries feeds into this, together with the excess red/Cardinal motivation in the colour balance in his chart ( 5 red: 3 green: 4 blue).

All 3 planets in the Efficiency Triangle are either on or close to 11 degrees, the strongest placement within a Sign than a planet can have. Whilst Sun opposite Uranus on the 6th/12th House axis of Existence will also feed into his motivation to be up and doing something, Mars at the apex of this triangle is intercepted in cautious Capricorn, bringing a steadying influence to what might otherwise be headstrong and erratic behaviour. McGregor was usally the one who lost his cool and occasionally erupted, or who wanted to get moving when the bikes were stuck, yet he also demonstrated sound common sense, self-preservation and bonhomie towards the people he met on the journey, especially when their host in Russia appeared waving a Kalashnikov at a party he’d invited them to!

McGregor has several strongly placed and cuspal planets. Any planet placed just before a House cusp will be urgently seeking recognition; those on the cusp or just after it will be very strongly expressed out in the world. Moon, Venus, Saturn and Pluto all fall into these categories, making McGregor a person it would be hard to ignore. His stardom and reputation as an actor bear this out, and although I’ve seen him on the screen, just being himself on this journey with Boorman he comes across as a thoroughly nice guy (if at times a bit impatient!).

The “Long Way Round” journey was undertaken in 2004 when McGregor’s Age Point was appropriately conjunct his Aries Sun. The two men have this year taken another trip (“Long Way Down”) travelling from John o’Groats in Scotland to Cape Town in South Africa, this as McGregor’s Age Point at age 36 crosses the DC and brings him even more closely into contact with the “You” - those we meet out in the world. The account of their journey through Africa will be screened by the BBC this autumn.

Watching the series, I observed the way both men coped with the situations, challenges, and with meeting other people along the way. My feeling was that Ewan was a Sun Aries and Charley was a Sun Libra (opposite Signs) as they complemented each other so well, yet were entirely different. But as I watched this whilst away on holiday I wasn’t able to check out their data until I was back. Charley turns out to be not a Libran but a Leo - another Fire Sign - so I was wrong with Charley but right with Ewan. I will take a look at Charley’s chart soon, but haven’t been able to find his time of birth - does anyone out there have it?

Planets Personified

Over the years, we've had lots of fun amongst the learning at workshops and events run by the UK Astrological Psychology Institute. Always keen to get people involved in their learning of astrology in a practical, hands on way, there have been many opportunities on offer for letting our hair down at the end of an intensive seminar and dressing up as a planet of our choice, or maybe as one of the Zodiac Signs.

Here is a selection from the archives. In 1988, at the end of a seminar with Bruno and Louise Huber at the Froebel Educational Institute, London, participants risked all and dressed up as a planet of their choice, or as a part of their own natal chart.


L-R: Jupiter ( the kimono symbolising foreign travel); next is the whole Solar System! (this lady dressed in blue to symbolise space, and had the glyphs for the planets hanging from a mobile attached to her head): Saturn - he's dressed for safety & security, with a warm scarf, an electric lead ready to plug in hanging round his neck, and a comb in his hair. I also remember he had a toothbrush about his person as well! Jupiter again - this lady was larger that life & full of fun!


L-R: Jupiter again! Next comes someone with Moon in the 6th House, the check tablecloth representing the caring of others in 6th, and the white dress the Moon; next is the Moon's North Node in the 12th House - I think he's taking care of himself with that glass of beer! Jupiter yet again ( he was partnered with the lady on the left who is Jupiter. Lastly, Uranus.


Here's a close up of that Uranus costume, complete with silver lightning flashes across it. Guess who's behind that space age mask........??


This group has L-R, Mars in the red dress, Saturn in sensible brown, the Sun (she was facing front in her black suit which represented night; when she turned around she had a large Sun on her back ( you can just see the edges of it). Next comes Miss Virgo in her grey prim and proper suit, then Saturn again in mac and headscarf, carrying a shopping bag. Memory fails me as to who or what the lady in the coloured t-shirt might have been dressed as.

Fast forward a few years now to the 1990's, and to our annual "Face to Face" workshops in Devon. Here we have L-R, Mr. Saturn, inscrutable Scorpio, and Venus in Leo ( sigh...yes, that's me with a well-earned glass of wine in hand - I'd been running the workshop & teaching, so needed to unwind and have some fun as much as everyone else)

Scorpio in the centre of the picture is in conversation with Mars on the left and Saturn on the right.

Personifying the qualities of the planets can be great fun. You don't even need to dress up to do it either as you can observe the way people dress and behave, and link this to a planet. Mars could be a speeding red sports car, Mercury the person who never stops talking and who knows all the latest gossip. See if you can spot planetary energies at work or personified in your daily life. TV is always a good source of this - the newsreader with the tasteless, tacky outfit will have left Venus out when she chose what to wear; the character in the soap who is odd or eccentric (Uranus); the mystery drama where you don't know what's meant to be going on will be Neptunian, and so on.

Have fun, get creative. I'm off now for some Jupiterian travels. See you soon!

Bringing the Planets to Life

The planets, in astrological psychology, represent our psychological drives. In the line up above, Jupiter on the left hand side is shown as a rather large person, reflecting the expansive principle and the need to expand our horizons. I wrote in detail about Jupiter, sight and perception (qualities associated with this planet) in my 19th April post.

Venus, who comes next, is associated with the psychological drive to form relationships, as well as to have taste, quality, discrimination and express the feminine principle. Saturn, beside her, is the drive to protect and preserve, be careful and cautious. Although maybe not sounding a bundle of fun, Saturnian qualities are essential in everyday life.

Next comes Mars, the masculine principle - a hot headed, energetic "quick on the draw" energy and drive, which we draw upon when in danger and need to take flight or turn and fight. The Moon is about emotional needs, feelings, empathy and sensitivity to others, whereas the drive we associate with Mercury is the swiftness and speed of mind, ideas and words and how we learn and pick up ideas from others. The internet and blogs themselves are a good example of this!

I shall be featuring individual planets from time to time in future posts, so this is just by way of a short introduction. Below is something written by a student I taught at one of my astrology evening classes. She was complete newcomer to the subject, but she embraced it with enthusiasm and wrote the following:

THOUGHTS ON THE PLANETS by Irene Swarbrick

"Before I started my astrology class, I thought I was a true-to-type Sagittarian - extrovert with an urge to travel, and loving new experiences so always trying to do something different, much to my family's amusement or irritation. The only thing which didn't quite add up was the emphasis on sport. As one of my teachers said long, long ago "Really, Irene, with those long legs I don t Know why you can't run".

The Sun and the Moon were delights in the sky, providing warmth and brightness by day and shining white mystery by night. Now I understand they give me personal power and take care of my emotional needs.

Venus is not only an armless statue or the goddess of Love, but gives me femininity and balance, while Mars that erstwhile God of war actually gives me masculine power and energy.

Quicksilver Mercury, the stuff of science and thermometers, helps me to learn from others, while Jupiter trains me to learn from experience.

If I thought of Saturn at all, it was to remember it had rings around it, or to use the derivative "saturnine" to describe some brooding dark hero. Lo and behold, this planet shows me how to be practical, know my limitations and search for a way to overcome them.

I can't say I ever thought of Uranus at all, but this one is really one after my own heart for it signifies change and should encourage my inventiveness.

Neptune recalled sea-green oceans, ever changing, moody and magnificent, or calm and peaceful, which fits in well with this new concept of being in tune with creation.

As for Pluto, no - not the Disney dog, but the Greek God of the Underworld - this is the planet which will make me conscious of my highest ambitions.

If I roll these strange revelations into a golden circle around me, my new awareness must make me stronger and willing to develop and extend my capabilities and potential."

Cats are Solar, Dogs are Lunar

If you’re a cat lover, you’ll know that they can be fascinating, snooty and independent, all over you one minute and ignoring you the next. Any relationship will be largely on their terms; they can take us or leave us, living quite happily without our company for a lot of the time, yet we cat lovers always come back for more!

Cats live in a solar way with life revolving around them like it does with the Sun. They bask in it. They love its warmth and display “big pussycat” behaviour when relaxed and at ease. They’re a bit like people with the Sun in Leo, who like to be in the spotlight, have lots of friends (because they have warm and generous hearts), but because Leo is one of the Fixed Zodiac Signs, they are equally capable of digging their heels in and doing their own thing, regardless of what anyone wants. Leo is ruled by the Sun, which represents our sense of self, creativity, individuality, the mind, the ability to choose and make decisions, and the use of the will.

Photos of Cats and Worn Lions by Maylis Curie
Dogs, on the other hand, are lunar. With qualities such as feelings and emotions associated with the Moon, dogs need contact and don’t do well if left alone. They are pack animals and offer faithful friendship, and (probably without realising it) provide emotional support just by being there for their owners. Whereas cats don’t often splurge their feelings about very much, (although one of my cats used to growl menacingly and lash her tail when the dustbin lorry was in the vicinity), dogs will leave us in little doubt about how they feel: “Bark yap yap woof ” + wag = “yes I do want a walk”!

The Sun is the ruling planet of Leo. We can develop solar qualities of self-consciousness for ourselves, regardless of what Sign our Sun is in. Louise Huber says in her book Reflections and Meditations on the Signs of the Zodiac that “real self-consciousness shows itself when a person becomes conscious of his/her inner power, of his own creative potential…..”

Let’s aim high and go for the higher levels of how you might go about this: you can do it by developing your heart centre, and by consciously developing the sensitivity of your heart which will open it up to expressing real love.

The seed thought for Leo, which you could also meditate on, is

“I am That and That am I”.

Leo rules the heart and the heart is about love, acknowledgement and true acceptance of the other and of all humankind.

The world needs this - let your Sun shine!

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.

Antony Gormley's Ubiquitous Naked Body

British Sculptor Antony Gormley has a new work, called Event Horizon in which statues of his naked body will appear in many locations throughout London between 17th May and 19th August. Each statue is strategically positioned on buildings and rooftops to encourage Londoners and tourists to look up to the horizon.

Photo Jim Dyson/Getty Images on Guardian Unlimited website
Gormley is famous for his works which almost always feature his own naked body. I was curious to see his chart ( 30.8.1950, London). Although there is no time of birth available and the chart is set up for noon, I was fascinated to see this yields an unaspected Saturn in Virgo. It is possible, with a correct time of birth, that the Moon might have moved into aspect with Saturn, but it’s Gormley’s Saturn that I want to focus on in this brief look at his chart.

His motivation is to be flexible and dynamic, able to move on and adapt. His colour balance shows an excess of red aspects, indicating an over-riding emphasis on activity and action. Saturn in an individual’s chart can represent a variety of different things, from fears to an overemphasised adherence to rules, a retentive memory, sound organisation, structure, physical aspects of manifestation and the actual physical body itself. In Gormley’s case, his body is an integral part of his work as an artist and if, in his chart, Saturn is unaspected, then this presents a very interesting theme.

Unaspected planets, which are not linked into the main aspect structure, rely on the environment to give the person a sense of what that particular part of their personality is about. Unaspected planets charge off into the world and eagerly absorb what they find and experience there. The environment stimulates the unaspected planet; the person relies on the feedback it gets in order to get more of a handle on the qualities and energies of the planet for themselves. How appropriate this is for Gormley’s Saturn!



A quote on his work says “25 years work ..... has revitalised the human image through a radical investigation of the body as a place of memory and transformation”. In 1994, when he was 44 and approaching the Low Point of the 8th House (often a significant turning point) he won the Turner Prize for art. He became well-known in 1998 for his “Angel of the North” statue in Gateshead. This is a large and impressive work to view and sits unmissably on a small hill beside a busy main road. (Image from Gateshead gov.website)


His other famous work is “Another Place” on Crosby Beach near Liverpool. This consists of 100 figures of himself stretching out into the sea. At high tide many of them are covered by the sea; at low tide it’s possible to see most of them and to walk amongst them. I’ve done this twice and on each occasion the experience was different because of weather variations and changes in light and visibility.

Photos of Another Place by Barry Hopewell

A final comment on Gormley’s (probably) unaspected Saturn. I heard him interviewed on radio several years ago and he talked about how the casts of his body were made. His wife assists in covering his body with cling film, then plaster is applied and is left to set. During this time he has to remain completely still and breathes through straws inserted in his nostrils. He said that this was the most challenging part of the process, and I can’t imagine a more intense way of living and expressing an unaspected Saturn in perfectionist Virgo than this.

You can find out more about Gormley’s work at www.antonygormley.com and en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antony_Gormley

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.

Mercury Moments

This is a true story!

The main character is Mercury, the planet associated with communication, learning and the gathering and dispersal of information.....even blogging! Mercury is the planet closest to the Sun, and it takes a mere 88 days to orbit our star, so it's also associated with speed and fast movement and quick wit too. Mercury is also known as "The Trickster" because like quicksilver, it can act in that way. Now read on......and spot the many Mercurial associations with speed and different forms of communication in this story!

On 22nd August 2003, my handbag was stolen in the local public library, from virtually underneath my nose. The thief, taking advantage of my handbag at my foot as I sat in a comfy armchair reading a newspaper, knocked over the chair which was behind me and, as he picked it up, he picked up my handbag as well. All I noticed and observed at the time was his scruffy appearance, his bright orange t-shirt and his unwashed smell. Minutes later, I realised my bag was gone and reported it to the staff, who immediately telephoned the police and offered me the use of the phone to cancel credit cards etc.

I later learned that the thief had been seen rummaging through a bag in the nearby churchyard, and that this was reported to the police a bare minute before the library staff reported the incident. Two squad cars rushed to the scene and chase was given through the town. The thief gave the police the slip, but from my description they strongly suspected who it was and were able to retrieve my bag and its contents, minus credit cards and the small amount of cash that I was carrying, from his home and he was duly charged the next day.

I was left with the distinct feeling that I'd been used as "bait" to help catch this thief - the police had been after this man for some time - and I felt as if I was merely a player or pawn in what was taking place.

When I got home, I took a look at the ephemeris to see just what might have been going on. The "Trickster" was definitely at work - at the time of the theft Mercury was transiting my Sun! Things happened fast - both in the public library and the surrounding locality where the chase and eventual arrest took place. And why was I in the library in the first place? To look up a phone number in one of the directories outside of my area.........

Pluto

Pluto, the outermost planet in our solar system, was officially demoted to "dwarf planet" status whilst I was a away on holiday, and blissfully out of touch with current events.

A few days after my return, I was asked "Is Pluto still a planet?" when on air on BBC Radio Stoke. Well, of course Pluto is still a planet! It's not disappeared or disintegrated. It's pretty much as it always has been. Pluto takes an amazing 248 years to make one circuit of our Sun, so in any birth chart it appears to move very slowly and remains in the same Zodiac Sign for many years. Like Uranus and Neptune, it's sometimes known as a "generational planet". I was born when Pluto was in Leo (1939 - 1958) - this generational span covers people born during and after the 2nd World War. Those born post-war are the "baby boomers" who are now reaching the age of 60.

Pluto was discovered in 1930, and like Uranus and Neptune, the other outer planets, it's discovery heralded the splitting of the atom and the development and eventual use of the atomic bomb. Pluto's energy is not cosy. In astrological psychology we view Pluto, as represented within the psyche of the individual, as the drive to renew ourselves and to become reborn. But before we can do this we have to plumb our own murky depths and clear out the things within us which have accumulated in dark corners. This takes courage, and by doing so we may have to confront those parts of ourselves which we'd rather not acknowledge, or would prefer to keep hidden. Pluto is about us becoming a "perfect being", leaving behind our outworn responses and actions, and moving on to a higher and more enlightened plane of being. To help us in this task it may be useful to bring to mind the qualities of people we admire ( such as our heroes and heroines) which we aspire towards.

And of course, Pluto is going to be there at the far distant edge of the solar system, regardless of whether it is classified as a "full" planet or a dwarf planet. It was there long before it was discovered, and now it's been around for over 70 years it's not suddenly going to go away. For astronomers, its size and status might matter, but for astrologers (well, this one anyway!) Pluto will remain as a planet of great significance.

It embodies powerful transformative energies which are there for us as human beings, part of humanity as a whole, to draw upon and use to raise ourselves up to a higher level. How can we do without this at a time when the survival of life on earth as we know it now is under threat from mass materialism and global warming? It's time to wake up and make some radical changes and transform our way of being, and this is the very thing that Pluto's good at!

Read about Pluto and the other planets in my co-authored book "The Cosmic Egg Timer"

Saturn

Astrological symbolism is all around! The qualities of the planets, which in the Huber Method represent our psychological drives, can be found everywhere in the environment - if we know how to to look for them! Take, for instance, Fort Boyard, pictured here. Located off the west coast of France, it's a strong, enclosed, impenetrable fortress. Surrounded by sea, it could be a haven of safety for those inside. Trying to get into it would be extremely difficult, it would be relatively easy to repel all unwanted visitors and if this structure were a person, they would be an expert at "stone-walling"!

Boyard has strong Saturnian qualities. Saturn is the planet which represents our drive for safety, security, our need for fixity, protection, for keeping things the way they are, as well as our need for structures, rules and systems that work efficiently.

Astrologically, Saturn is not always regarded as a bundle of laughs. It's a bit too solemn, stern and forbidding, and represents nothing more than restrictions, rules and regulations for some astrologers. But those trained in the Huber Method see Saturn quite differently.

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Saturn represents the world of matter and form. We ourselves are physical forms, and in the natal chart, Saturn symbolises, amongst other things, the physical body. It also symbolises, on a psychological level, such things as memory, the ability to be well organised, to create structures and systems, and yes, our doubts and fears will be somewhere in there too because they are part of the innate protective mechanism that helps keep us safe.

In the context of The Family Model (see chart of Princess Beatrice in previous post), Saturn also represents the principle of mothering. Traditional, conventional astrologers who equate mother with the Moon, throw hands up in horror at the thought of "Saturn as mother" - but hang on! I said mothering principle. Stop and think for a moment about who looks out for our safety and well-being when we are small, who feeds us, clothes us, keeps us warm, gives us the "rules" and guidelines to help us fit into society as we grow up, tells us to wash our hands before we sit down at the table, to clean our teeth and to be home by a certain time. It's the person in our lives who fulfils the function of mother. It may not be mum all the time; in our rapidly changing society it may be father who stays home and looks after the family, or grandparents, a significant other family member or guardian. Whoever it is, they will fulfil that mothering role. And this kind of caring and protection is attributed very firmly to Saturn.

For fun you could start to look out for manifestations of this planet in everyday life. Happy Saturn spotting.