Paula Radcliffe, Marathon Runner

Hopes of success for marathon runner Paula Radcliffe will be running high when she takes part in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing this summer. Born on 17.12.1975 in Northwich, Cheshire (chart set for noon as no time of birth is available), Paula has been on a steady rise to fame for a number of years, culminating in her gaining the World Record for a marathon in 2005, when she ran the 26 miles in 2 hours, 17 minutes and 42 seconds.

Paula’s chart is an interesting one as it has only red and blue aspects. There are no green aspects at all - green aspects encouraging the ability to learn, gather information, doubt, search and ask questions. A lack of green aspects can indicate a lack of awareness, giving a motivation of seeing things in a black/white, either/or way. I’m not suggesting that Paula is like this - she is clearly an intelligent woman with more strength of will and determination than many - but I do speculate on there being a “no shades of grey” attitude in her makeup, which is manifested in her utter determination to win and her dedication to the training which underpins her success. Hearing Paula speak in interviews, it’s clear that she is not faint-hearted, and the either/or approach is expressed in either sticking with it and winning, or giving up and losing. She says she competes against herself (and therefore is likely to be her own harshest critic) - not an easy place to be when your drive is to succeed as she has.

Her chart shaping/motivation is Mutable and Dynamic in nature, giving her the ability to adapt and be flexible. However, this may not always be so easy; lacking in green aspects she will have to consciously work at being adaptable with a colour ratio of 3 red: 0 green: 8 blue. Paula’s strongest pull could be towards the blue; making the effort to work and train, drawing on the low number of red aspects is not likely to be easy.

Paula has an interesting combination of aspect patterns: a Small Talent triangle and two interlocking Single Ambivalence figures which form an incomplete Righteousness rectangle. When a quadrangular figure is missing one side, it is more than likely that the person experiences a drive to “complete” the figure and acts as if the missing aspect is in place, always trying to make up the shortfall. In Paula’s chart, the missing link is the blue sextile aspect between Mars and Saturn. My question, were I to meet with Paula to discuss her chart, is whether this missing link between the two planets I associate with active energy, strength, courage, determination, staying power, bravery, the physical body, and making some tangible mark on the world has any bearing on her “true grit” attitude to winning and to getting back up there to have another go if she fails.

Paula has had a mixed few years of late, with highs and lows. In 2002, she was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year; in the Athens Olympics in 2004 she was forced to drop out of the race towards the end as she was ill from the medication she’d been taking for leg pain and swelling. If you watched this race you’ll maybe remember Paula sitting on the roadside, head in hands, despairing. She says that this was the lowest point of her career, yet 3 months later she went on to win the New York marathon and in 2005 achieved her World record in this race. Perhaps the real high point for Paula came in January 2007, when her baby daughter, Isla, was born (17.01.1007, 09.43, Monaco if you’re interested!), this event came as her Age Point was travelling through the Low Point of the 6th House in her chart, and her energies were directed towards an achievement of a different kind!

When Paula represents Britain in the Beijing Olympics I for one will be rooting for her. One of my family members was at school with Paula, has run and trained with her and is still her friend. Here’s wishing you good luck in Beijing, Paula!

Addendum 20.5.2008: Recent news on Paula is that she's struggling with a hip injury and is using crutches some of the time to help support and hasten the healing of the torn muscles. Her chances of going to Beijing are threatened by this injury. Good luck and get well, Paula.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon's Learning Triangle

A while ago, someone requested I look at Ban Ki-Moon’s chart. He is relatively new to the post of Secretary General to the United Nations, and to date has not had a very high media profile, unlike his predecessor Kofi Annan. But give him time - and remember he’s not doing the job for media attention or glory. The aftermath of the recent devastating cyclone in Burma, and the urgent need for humanitarian aid have meant Mr. Ban has been seen and heard more frequently as the UN and other agencies seek ways of getting help to a people whose rulers appear to have sidelined them. I was recently in New York and visited the UN building where I saw Mr. Ban’s portrait displayed alongside those of past Secretary’s General.

Mr. Ban was born on 13.6.1944 in Umsong, South Korea. His time of birth is not available, so the chart is set for noon. And what a chart for someone whose life has been dedicated to government and diplomacy! He has 5 planets in the ably communicative Sign of Gemini, including his Sun, which surely must be an asset, and he speaks English and French in addition to his own native tongue.

His chart image suggests movement, and the ability to take that in different directions; there is a touch of the tangential about the aspects in his chart, which form both a fluid and go-ahead shaping and indicate that this is how he is motivated. His colour balance is 3 red: 2 green: 3 blue aspects, suggesting little pause for rest, and with the one complete aspect pattern being a Large Learning triangle, an on-going urge to absorb, learn about and perfect the tasks he undertakes.

Let’s take a closer look at this aspect pattern. The natural sequence of aspect colours is to have the red-green-blue aspects which form this figure moving in that sequence in an anti-clockwise direction, starting at the red/blue corner. But Mr. Ban’s triangle, starting at the red/blue corner which is pinned by Uranus, has a blue/green/red sequence. What does this mean? Simply, that learning can take place, but that as the sequence is reversed the whole process may take longer, and the individual will probably need more than one “go” at whatever the task is in order for the lesson to be learned and the task completed. The green quincunx is the longest aspect, indicating that the learning itself will be the most important and satisfying part of the whole process; the red “doing” and activity stage involving the red aspect, and the blue “enjoyment” stage of the lesson learned and the task completed are of less importance.

Let’s speculate briefly about how Mr. Ban’s reversed (retrograde) Learning triangle might operate. The start planet is Uranus. The learning process is kicked off here with interaction between Uranus and Mars. Could be some sparky, innovative idea or the need to make changes, take action, maybe profound action with Mars conjunct Pluto, but the energy to carry this out is blue, not red, so the impulse to action may be slower - maybe diplomatic - as the blue sextile has a Venus quality. The drive to action and possible profound change then goes into deep and lengthy communication with Moon. The feelings are engaged (note that Moon is in Pisces - this stage of the process could engage a lot of feelings and touch into the emotions, maybe even higher ideals). When this stage is complete, the impulse to instigate changes and seek better, more effective and efficient ways of doing things can free flow back to Uranus, where the process started.

More information about this and other aspect patterns can be found in The Cosmic Egg Timer, co-authored by myself and Richard Llewellyn, Aspect Patterns in Colour by myself and Aspect Pattern Astrology by Bruno and Louise Huber. Both are available from the APA on-line Book Shop. And of course, if you really want to learn in depth about aspect patterns and how to use them, the APA Diploma Course offers the best opportunities for understanding this and all the other Huber Method techniques.

Finally, a couple of shots of the UN in New York:

Flags of many nations, and a graphic sculpture of a gun with a knotted barrel.

Touching the Moon

Just back from a memorable trip in the US, hence no postings for a while, but there have been plenty of interesting experiences while I've been on my Jupiterian travels. I always have my astrological eyes open, and was thrilled to see my own chart image "for real" .

When I first started learning the Huber Method and was looking for images in my own chart, I saw a space command capsule which had been launched from a launch pad and was on a journey to the Moon. In America I visited the NASA Space Centre at Houston and saw the huge Saturn V rocket, which was displayed in sections showing each stage of the rocket, finishing with the command capsule shown above.

It was exciting stuff to see that final stage of the rocket - the command capsule - and really connect with my chart image.


I got to touch the Moon, too! Here I am fingering a piece of heavily guarded Moon rock. . . .


. . . and holding the whole thing in the palm of my hand.

The Dalai Lama, the Olympic Torch, and Tibet

The Olympic Torch - symbol of the 2008 Games to be held in Beijing later this year- has been the target of much protest over the past few days as it’s been carried through London and Paris. Demonstrations are also expected when it arrives in San Francisco. The torch is but a symbol; it’s the Chinese regime which is being protested about, and their long-standing occupation and repression of Tibet, the Tibetan people and their culture.

His Holiness The Dalai Lama, the Tibetan head of state and spiritual leader, has offered to speak to the Chinese authorities, and to return to his homeland of Tibet for the first time since he fled in exile in 1959. The Dalai Lama is meeting with UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown in May, and he is carrying his own torch of liberation for Tibet high as he seeks the support of world leaders.

Born Tenzin Gyatso on 6.7.1935 in Taktser, NE Tibet at 04.38 am (data and source “from memory” as recorded in his autobiography), is chart is striking. The Kite aspect pattern dominates, and appears like an entangled kite, caught in bushes and grounded, nose down. The shaping/motivation shown in the chart is to be strongly Fixed (perhaps reflecting his lifelong and steadfast determination to work for good and on behalf of his country in a peaceful and non-violent way). However His Holiness (HH) is a shrewd and wise man; he can be flexible and restless too and his chart shows the potential to draw on other driving motivations and forces as and when these are needed.

The colour ratio is 4 red: 2 green: 7 blue. This is almost the “perfect” balance between red “doing” energy, green “thinking” energy and blue “being” energy. The Kite pattern stands out and is focal. At its nose are Moon/Neptune in close conjunction; both planets are “soft” and love-oriented and because they are at the nose of the kite, they lead the way. The Kite itself is a creative figure and Moon/Neptune are focussed into the 3rd house where communication is all-important. HH has written several books, he teaches and speaks around the world, and shares his thoughts on his website.

His Sun/sense of self, part of the Kite figure, is in the 1st house, suggesting his is a strong sense of self, this backed up and supported by Saturn in 9th at the tail of the Kite. However, that sense of self, as we know it, is likely to be far less driven by ego needs. Saturn is the highest planet in the chart, and as the tail planet in the Kite it could hold back or curtail the creativity of this aspect figure. Saturn is opposite Moon/Neptune; energy is held in tension between being head of state (the Saturn end where authority, rules and organisation would come in) and being spiritual leader (more akin perhaps to Moon/Neptune). However, both ends of this opposition which runs right through the centre of the Kite are important, as they are interdependent and to work effectively, they have to integrated.

Another interesting feature of the chart is the Moon’s North Node in 7th house opposite Pluto in 1st. Pluto in this position could indicate someone who is very powerful (he is! I went to hear him speak in London and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up when he walked on to the stage. There was no way I could not rise to my feet, along with everyone else, when he entered). Yet HH, aware as he must be of his own personal power, has the task of sharing and empowering - giving away even - his power with others along this 1/7 Encounter axis, particularly in the struggle for Tibetan freedom from oppression.

Currently his Age Point is in the 1st house. He is approaching 73 and the Age Point, which takes 72 years to complete one circuit of the chart, is now just into its second round. Most interesting is that right now it is conjunct his Sun, making this an appropriate time for him to take the opportunity that the Beijing Olympics offer to highlight the need for justice and freedom for Tibet. In his latest posting on his web site, he says:

I want to urge my fellow Tibetans who live in freedom outside Tibet to be extra vigilant as they voice their feelings on the developments in Tibet. We should not engage in any action that could be even remotely interpreted as violent. Even under the most provocative of situations we must not allow our most precious and deeply held values to be compromised. I firmly believe that we will achieve success through our non-violent path. We must be wise to understand where the unprecedented affection and support for our cause stems from.

As Tibet is currently virtually closed and no international media is allowed there, I doubt my message will reach the Tibetans in Tibet. But I hope through media and by word of mouth, it will be passed on to the majority of you.

Finally, I want to reiterate and appeal once again to Tibetans to practice non-violence and not waver from this path, however serious the situation might be.

The Dalai Lama

Both the Free Tibet and Avaaz organisations have secure and reputable on-line petitions which you can sign in support of freeing Tibet from its occupation by China, and to encourage China to become a less repressive regime.

Astrology, Astronomy and the Jodrell Bank Telescope

Until the 17th century, astrology and astronomy were twin subjects, and were taught alongside at the great - now oldest established - universities of Europe. Astronomy was more scientific, and was concerned with understanding how the heavens worked; astrology was more philosophical and was concerned with relating the movements of the heavenly bodies to our experience here on earth. The basic tenet was "As above, so below".

Then astrology fell from prominence as science took over, scientific knowledge grew and expanded, and astrology became something of the poor relation, open to ridicule and scorn as it could not be scientifically proved. On the plus side, this is changing, as scientists worth their salt are admitting that some things simply cannot be explained scientifically (Richard Dawkins doesn't fall into this category!).

Any astrologer who is serious about their study will have a good working understanding of our Solar System. Students on the APA Foundation Courses have to do some basic astronomy as part of their training; the twin subjects can't be separated out.

Although I'm not deeply conversant with astronomy, I'm certainly interested in it and have a good understanding of how the birth chart and the Solar System relate to each other. Last week I took a trip to the world famous Jodrell Bank Observatory, home to the Lovell Telescope, the first ever radio telescope. I've visited it many times to see the orrery spheres of the solar system on display, and to enjoy the visual trips to various planets in the planetarium. I was there last week because we had a visitor staying who has started to study astronomy, but I'm always up for a trip there as I find the telescope itself an inspiring and awesome structure. It's visible from many areas of the county where I live and acts as a homing landmark. It's even been featured in a dramatic episode of the TV series "Dr. Who".



In 2007, Jodrell Bank celebrated its 50th anniversary. It was threatened with closure but this threat was averted and more recently it's visitor centre and adjacent arboretum has had a makeover.


Whilst I was at Jodrell Bank I saw a 3-D film about the Sun through the special 3-D viewing specs the audience were provided with. Before the film started, we were told that the commentary was now "wrong" as there are now 8, not 9 planets in the Solar System. Pluto was demoted a couple of years ago and is now classed as a dwarf planet. My hackles only rose slightly at this, because I've yet to meet an astrologer who has stopped using Pluto when they set up a chart! The film was interesting, and the info sheet handed out at the visitor centre gives a good website - The Nine (Eight!) Planets - for those who want to learn more about the planets in our Solar System.

You can see the chart for Jodrell Bank in the post I wrote in August 2007 when it celebrated its 50th anniversary.