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!

Richard Dawkins

One of the comments I received following my last post says:

“Unfortunately, Dawkins will claim that it is impossible for you to observe his chart in an objective, scientific kind of way because you already know things about him. And you've made judgements about him in response to the programme of his that you have commented on! Therefore, your analysis will only add fuel to the fire of his argument, I fear! Ah well.”

Ah well indeed, and to quote comedian Catherine Tate’s “Lauren the school girl” character, “Am I bovvered?” No I’m not. Dawkins was born on 26.3.1941 in Nairobi, Kenya (no time of birth available so I’ve set it for noon) and I’m going to approach his chart straight, as though it belongs to Mr. A. N. Other and not to Professor Richard Dawkins of Oxford University, who I know little about anyway, apart from what I’ve observed of him in the recent TV programme.

In the chart of A. N. Other, indications are that this individual has an inner drive and motivation to be flexible and go with the flow of life. This approach to life will dominate, but is likely to be offset by the need this person has to feel secure and enjoy the fruits of their labour. The balance of colour (indicating inner motivation) in the chart is 4 red: 1 green: 8 blue aspects, giving a strong emphasis to the possibility of Fixed behaviour and the need to maintain the status quo. So alongside the ability to adapt, there is also a strong drive to keep things as they are.

The lack of green aspects in the chart ( there is only one) and its dominant red/blue appearance suggests a polarised, black and white approach to life. There is a strong possibility of viewing life through a lens of on/off, right/wrong, with little space allowed for shades of grey.

There is a Large Talent triangle ( all blue aspects), with pinning planets in Earth Signs, so his talent, skill, ability may be associated with practicality/reality of some kind. The planets involved, which would be a part of this inherent talent, are interesting: Uranus, Mars and Neptune. This conjures up pictures of creative thinking and ideas (Uranus), sensitivity or confusion (Neptune) depending upon the level of awareness at which this planet might be operating, and strong assertiveness (Mars). The talent embedded within this figure, however, may not be fully expressed if the individual is not using it consciously.

There are also 2 Single Ambivalence figures (red/blue triangles) which include all of the outer planets (Uranus, Neptune and Pluto) and 2 of the ego planets, Sun (mind) and Moon (feelings). The red opposition aspects stretching across the chart indicate where work can be done and energy expended; the pinning planets will be involved in this endeavour. But the planets at the all-blue corners of these 2 aspect patterns will suggest where the person might go to escape the drive and need to work: in A. N. Other’s case these are the transpersonal planets Uranus and Pluto, neither of them particularly enticing or easy as an “escape” route, unless our subject is keen on creative ideas and thinking (Uranus) and power/transformation (Pluto).

With no time of birth, there is no way of knowing which Houses or areas of life the striking red oppositions would point to, but wherever it is, there would be a strong chance of internal conflict involving the psychological drives concerned (as signified by the planets involved - Sun, Venus, Moon, Neptune). It’s noted that the Sun is opposite the Moon’s North Node, and therefore conjunct the South Node. This could indicate that moving outside of a familiar comfort zone might be too difficult, too challenging a task to contemplate, so it may be safer to stay put with what is known, tried and tested in terms of self, mind, ideas, creativity, self-knowledge, self-awareness, responsibility and the use of the personal will.

It’s possible that A. N. Other has a fair amount of charm and charisma, with Sun in Aries conjunct Venus. However, Sun and Venus are both weak by Sign, so it’s possible that the energies and drives related to Saturn and Jupiter could dominate. These planets are strong by Sign and may work together like a “push me pull you”, Jupiter encouraging a wider vision and broader horizons, with Saturn reining things in tightly, always adhering to the rules, requiring a safe structure and being reluctant to relinquish anything (note, they are both in Taurus!). With no time of birth there is no way of knowing the orientation of the chart, nor whether these planets would be strongly or weakly placed to express themselves in the outside world.

Speaking out for Astrology

I always speak out in support of astrology in one-to-one situations when it's being discussed, and I've had a lot of experience of live broadcasting on radio phone-ins on the subject.

"The Observer" newspaper ( a Sunday national for overseas readers info) printed an article which appeared on Sunday 12th August, in advance of Richard Dawkin's TV programme "Enemies of Reason" (see previous post). Their astrologer at the time, Neil Spencer (also a journalist who writes on other subjects), appeared in the programme and wrote the article about his experience of being done over by Dawkins. He came out rather well as he refused to be drawn or rattled.

Feedback was invited from readers so I sent mine in response to the article. The feedback special was published on Sunday 19th August and my comment was included. To be truthful, I'd even forgotten I'd written it once I'd got it off my chest, but do confess to being rather pleased that, not only was it published, but that the Astrological Psychology Association got a mention in a national newspaper.
Here's what I wrote:

Alongside it appears in the "Your letters special" column published by the newspaper.

People of Goodwill: Satish Kumar

Satish Kumar is Editor of Resurgence magazine, founder of the Schumacher Society and the Small School project in Hartland, Devon, and is a peace activist and ecological campaigner. He became a Jain monk at the age of 9, and leaving his family he followed the strict regime of the Jains until he was 18. He was involved in the campaign to gain land for the landless poor in India when he worked with Vinoba Bhave, a disciple of Gandhi. In 1962 as his Age Point entered Sagittarius, he walked from India to America with no money and en route delivered symbolic packets of "peace tea" to leaders of the four nuclear powers. He lives in England, and broadcasts regularly, sometimes presenting his "Thought for the Day" on BBC Radio 4's "Today" programme. He has also been a guest on the long-running radio show "Desert Island Discs". I've met Satish several times and he gave permission for me to use his chart. His data - 9.8.1936, 04.00, Sri Dungargarth, India - appears in the opening pages of his autobiography "No Destination".

His chart contains the striking image of a large, strong pyramid. This four-sided figure gives a Fixed motivation, and the aspects are predominantly blue (Fixed motivation again). For aspect patterns he has a Large Talent triangle and two Small Learning triangles, suggesting a life motivation of putting his inherent skills and abilities to use, but always learning more at every turn of life's path. The lower half of the chart is emphasised, with 7 planets present. Satish's life has been one of connection with the earth and the community from his early childhood days in India: learning from his mother how to farm the land, his later work to help reclaim land for the poor and his strong involvement in ecological issues now.

The 2nd House of the chart is emphasised. His Sun is strongly placed on the 2nd cusp and the theme of "possessions" ( which is related to 2nd House) is a significant feature of his life. He had few when he was a wandering Jain monk as personal possessions and money were forbidden. His unaspected Saturn is not only symbolic of the beloved mother he gave up when he became a monk, but also of his ability to learn how to find security in whatever situation he found himself. Walking from India to America without money is a graphic example of this.

With Moon conjunct Uranus, and riding high in the chart, Satish is never likely to "conform", and he is dedicated to bringing insight and inspiration to others aspiring to live more consciously. At 18, Satish came into contact with the ideas and teaching of Gandhi and started to question leading a spiritual existence without practically grounding and expressing this spirituality in the real world around him. His Age Point was quincunx Uranus when he rebelled and escaped from the Jains. He shares his wisdom and experiences in the inspiring talks he gives, and founded "Resurgence" magazine to disseminate these ideas. The magazine now has world-wide readership.

Satish recently appeared on a 2-part TV documentary presented by scientist Richard Dawkins, who labels Satish and others like him (including astrologers) as "Enemies of Reason". Are we deluded and superstitious? Is Satish really an enemy of reason? Only to Dawkins, I guess, who had better watch out, as I'll be looking at his chart next!

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."