Nancy Pelosi's Striving Figure

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Aspect Patterns: The Ear/Eye

If you're reading this because you're interested in Aspect Patterns, see my book Aspect Patterns in Colour and the Astrological Psychology Association website, where you can enrol on a course and learn about aspect patterns under the guidance of a fully qualified tutor.

I’ve been tagged again by Barbara, a super-efficient Virgo who writes an interesting and lively blog from her home in France. This tag or meme asks me to write 8 random things about myself. The challenge for me is not only to find 8 things, but to put them into the context of astrological psychology so that this meme is relevant for my blog’s theme.

Stay with me.

For starters here is an extract from my book The Cosmic Egg Timer. Here I write about an aspect pattern called the “Ear” or “Eye”.

“This small triangular pattern both looks and acts like a tiny radar dish. It is highly sensitive to picking up and storing all manner of information from the surrounding environment. It gathers this in, working most of the time on auto-pilot, stashing it away for future use as and when the occasion demands. . . . The Ear/Eye works effectively as an information gatherer. The green semi-sextiles continuously absorb facts, clues, hints, words, visual impressions and anything else of interest from the surroundings. These are then stored in the blue sextile aspect, and can be accessed when the need arises. . . .The Ear/Eye is not particularly discriminating. It gathers in all manner of information which is likely to be random and unrelated. . .”

Aha! There’s that word “random”. And I’m using the random gatherings of the 3 planets in the Ear/Eye pattern in my own chart to help me list my 8 random things about myself. The planets involved are Sun and Saturn with Venus at the apex of the triangle.

1) I decided I wanted to be a teacher at age 13 and became a qualified teacher when I was 22. My Sun in Virgo is a very good tool for the teaching profession. In my chart, the Sun is physically in the 2nd House, but is stressed before the 3rd House cusp. This means it’s far more interested in 3rd House matters (which include teaching and communicating) so psychologically it behaves as a 3rd House planet.

2) I make a pretty good job of proof reading. That includes books on astrological psychology which I’m involved in publishing, publicity material for Astrological Psychology Institute (UK) and our magazine “Conjunction”. Here comes my Virgo Sun again, psychologically attuned to all 3rd House matters and super nit-picky at noticing errors and typo’s!

3) I like classic/vintage things from the past: art nouveau, art deco, 1920’s and 30’s fashions and music, classic cars and classic black and white films. Saturn is the planet I associate with things old, vintage, and from the past. Here, Saturn displays a nodding acknowledgement towards Venus, which is about taste and quality.

4) More Saturn. It’s in the 12th House. I love visiting Cistercian monasteries and learning about the way the monks lived under the strict rule of St. Benedict. Most of all, I love the simplicity of the empty clear light spaces in Cistercian abbeys and their amazing acoustics.

5) Now on to Venus for the final 4 things. Venus represents quality and taste and artistic expression. Music. I love it. All sorts. Classical to rock. Raunchy to refined.

6) Dancing. Venus in Leo was much in evidence in my childhood when I took to the stage at the tender age of 4, tapping, singing and leaping entrechats in a variety of lovely and often sparkly costumes. This went on right through my teens and into my early twenties.

7) Singing. I’ve done it on stage alone and with others. In the privacy of my car. In a choir singing great choral works (a big “oh yes!” to singing Verdi’s Requiem, guaranteed to send shivers up and down my spine).

8) Last one - this time about real physical taste and discrimination. Aspartame. Artificial sweetener. Vile stuff. Quite poisonous to my palate. I won’t touch any food or drink than contains it. That’s my discriminating Venus at work!

Now I have to confess that having been tagged, I should in turn tag 8 others. Trouble is, I don’t know 8 other bloggers well enough pass this tag on to, and would end up repeating the names of some of the people Barbara tagged along with me. SO. . . . my challenge to you, if you’re reading this and you’re into astrology, is to select an aspect pattern with its pinning planets, or a planet or two from your own chart, and see if you can relate these to 8 random real life things about yourself.

The Cosmic Egg Timer plus Aspect Pattern Astrology, Aspect Patterns in Colour and The Planets  are all available from the APA on-line Book Shop.

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

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

Aries and me..me.. or is it meme?

I've been away for a week in France, and during that time several of the charts of people or events that I've written about in previous postings have been in the news.

Here they are:

• Nicolas Sarkozy (posted May 2007) was inaugurated as France's new President. I watched this event on French TV and had it explained to me by our French family hosts. Interesting to see it from the point of view of the French media.
• It was announced that Prince Harry (posted May 2007) would not be going to serve in Iraq (but he subsequently did).
• Gordon Brown (posted February 2007) will become Prime Minister, unopposed by any challengers to the leadership of the Labour party.
• Tony Blair (posted March 2006) came under attack during his final visit to Iraq as Prime Minister.
• Life on Mars (posted April 2007) the quirky and innovative TV series, won accolades at the TV Bafta Awards ceremony.

And did I mention that whilst in France, I was staying in Picardie where the Battle of the Somme (posted July 2006) took place?

On my return, I also discovered I'd been "memed" by GreenAbby and asked to recall a pop song or two from the year I was 18 and to write about why it influenced me. I cringe at the memory of "It's my party and I'll cry if I want to" and "Dominique" by the Singing Nun ( yes, I kid you not! - her name was Soeur Sourire and as I was learning French at school it was fun to learn the words and sing along - those were very innocent days back in 1963...). The melodies were good even if the words weren't up to much.

And if, like me, you're not sure what a meme is, here is the dictionary definition:

"a cultural unit (an idea or value or pattern of behaviour) that is passed from one generation to another by nongenetic means (as by imitation)"
Somehow, a meme sounds very like Aries as in "me...me!" and I guess I prefer to focus on the charts of others and discover a theme - a sort of thee...me. Thee, not me.