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.

Andy Murray, tennis champion

July 2013 - Many Congratulations to Andy Murray on becoming Wimbledon Champion on 7th July 2013, and achieving the goal he's worked towards for so long. With his Age Point in Aquarius, and in the cardinal zone of the 5th house, he fully deserved this win and has worked hard towards it.  Well done Andy!


2012 update
I first wrote about Murray's chart in 2007, when he was 20. This post is now due for an update, with Murray's recent magnificent gold medal triumph in the London 2012 Olympics, swiftly followed by his win at the US Open in Flushing Meadows in September 2012.

Murray has doggedly and determinedly moved on towards his goal of becoming a Grand Slam Champion, and with this we've seen him mellow and become much more lovable and loved. Looking back at where he was by Age Progression when I wrote about him in 2007, his Age Point was at the intersection of his natal and node charts, and I mentioned that his focus would be on aiming to stand out in some way (like a champ!) The Age Point had, at that time, entered the sign of Capricorn, an earth sign, and has been steadily moving through this sign until just recently, when it moved into the air sign of Aquarius. When the Age Point changes signs, it also changes elements. Moving through an earth sign can be good for laying down strong foundations, for building up structures and for being organised and careful. But it can get a bit heavy at times, especially as the Age Point reaches the end of the earth sign. It could feel like wearing heavy boots clogged with mud, so a change of sign and element from earth to air - and in Murray's case, from Capricorn to Aquarius - will feel liberating and things will feel much lighter. So it's not really surprising that Murray has himself lightened up a bit, and in the process has achieved what must be a long-held ambition in his successful Olympic gold followed by winning the US Open.

Congratulations to Murray on his superb achievements this summer and on not being so dour as he's previously appeared!

Here's what I wrote in 2007: Andy Murray’s performance on tennis courts around the world is being watched keenly as British hopes for a Wimbledon victory rise. This young Scot, still only 19, is rated the UK’s best player and his world ranking has recently risen from 14 to 12. Now approaching his 20th birthday (born 15.5.1987, 14.10 BST in Glasgow), his Age Point is in Capricorn and on the Individuality axis of his chart. This should help fuel the determination of the already fiery and determined Murray!

The visual image in his chart is like an explosive firework, bursting upwards from the conjunction of Saturn, Moon and Uranus on the IC. Both Moon and Uranus are opposite Mars at the top of the chart, a combination in opposition which could give rise to explosive reactions and a flaring temper. (the famous John MacEnroe had a Moon/Mars aspect too!). Interestingly, Murray’s Wikipedia entry says he is “known for frequently petulant behaviour”.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Murray_(tennis_player)

The chart shows a strong vertical direction - Murray is motivated to achieve and wants to stand out; Sun and Mars high in the chart and are strongly placed in 9th and 10th Houses respectively. But both are fairly weak by Sign, making the drive towards individuality more of a challenge.

At tennis tournaments, his mother is always present and has been influential and supportive in his career. Let’s take a look at his Family Model. Saturn, representing the mothering principle, sits firmly on the IC alongside Moon, which represents the child. This closeness reflects his mother’s presence and support when he plays, and perhaps indicates Murray’s need for a stable “home”. Moon is sandwiched between Saturn and Uranus - on the one hand, Murray is close to his mother and needing her support; on the other hand, he can be rebellious, unpredictable and want to go his own way. There is a potential “push me-pull you” effect at work here; Murray could go either way. Add to the Moon/Uranus conjunction that opposition to Mars, and the irascible behaviour comes out. But Saturn’s influence sits alongside with his mother perhaps acting as a guiding mentor as well as a psychological anchor for him.

The Sun, representing the father figure, sits high in the chart demanding recognition. Along with Moon, Uranus and Mars, the Sun is part of an Irritation triangle. Could there be a more edgy, uncertain relationship with his father? The motivation associated with Irritation triangles is for the individual to respond quickly and explosively to situations when things start to feel pressured, or there is more going on than can be handled comfortably. The person will feel put upon and a blow up will ensue, followed by a fairly rapid return to normality. It may well be that Murray lives this out quite frequently when on the tennis court. How he might experience this aspect pattern in the context of the Family Model is something that could only be ascertained for sure through discussion with him.

One final profound feature in his chart: at age 8, his Age Point was conjunct Pluto. He was one of the children in the school where the Dunblane massacre of 16 pupils, along with teacher, took place. Understandably, he does not like to speak of this event, but his Age Point bears graphic testimony to this event.

Looking ahead, 2007 could be a key year for him. The Age Point of his natal and nodal chart is currently intersecting on the Individuality axis, so this will focus mind and energies on standing out in some way. And when he played in the Australian Open in January this year, he said that this was the best performance in his career.

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.