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. . . .

Our valuable National Health Service

The National Health Service (NHS) in Britain was 60 years old this week. It was first rolled out as a service on 5th July 1948 at Park Hospital, Manchester. The chart is set up for noon; there's no way of knowing when the NHS was actually "switched on"! The BBC are featuring different aspects of the growth and development of the NHS in their news bulletins all week.

The NHS is said to be the envy of the world, yet it has also come in for much criticism over the past few years. My own experience of it as a patient and parent is mixed - very good in parts, somewhat lacking in others, but taken overall, a highly professional service which we should celebrate and cherish. It was created by Clement Atlee's Labour government after the Second World War; up until then, all health services had to be paid for. You can read about its history here.

What clues does the chart give about the NHS? The shaping/motivation is Dynamic, indicating a flexibility, the urge to change and move on and the ability to adapt to changes along the way. This is true beyond doubt. The NHS has embraced technology and the life-saving techniques now available in hospitals and health care would probably seem like pure sci-fi to the nurses and doctors of the early days.

The colour balance in the chart is 4 red: 1 green: 3 blue. Red dominates, in the form of the Efficiency triangle, suggesting the NHS has always been an active, hard-working entity. This could be reflected in the long hours that junior doctors work, and the long shifts worked by nurses. If this were the chart of a person, I'd be wanting to explore the lack of green aspects. These bring awareness, the gathering of information and ability to think, ponder and use ideas. The chart is short changed here, with the emphasis on red/blue aspects. These together give a more either/or approach - things tend to be seen in black and white with few shades of grey, and it may be that the NHS has had to tread water furiously at times, just to keep going. The introduction of performance targets doesn't allow much space or time to be "green". Patient care and quality people time can suffer here.
The stellium of Moon, Mercury, Venus and Uranus are all part of both the red Efficiency triangle and the red/blue Ambivalence figure and suggest a blend of creative ideas laced with a need to care. In the Efficiency triangle these planets oppose Jupiter, holding in tension the active "doing" energy ready to be released by Mars at the apex. Mars will deliver the goods in the form of the service itself and the hard work that is required to maintain high standards. Jupiter is the somewhat lonely tension ruler of the chart, but is an important significator of the ability to learn and gather wisdom through first hand experience.

There is one linear aspect, the one-way red square between Sun and Neptune. This speaks to me of the ideals of the NHS, the original premise on which it was founded - to offer health care free for all with there no longer being the need to pay. Yet Neptune is comparatively isolated and relies on the caring Cancerian Sun being awake and aware, always with an ear open to heed the selfless and compassionate ideals of which Neptune might whisper.

With no time of "birth" to work with, it's impossible to say exactly what might be taking place in the NHS chart's Age Progression. However, in general terms we do know that age 60 puts the hand of the LifeClock slap bang on the 11th cusp. In terms of planetary cycles, age 60 heralds the 5th Jupiter return, when transitting Jupiter is conjunct natal Jupiter, so a re-evaluation of all that has been learned and experienced to date, together with moving forward into a new cycle of growth could be possible. Age Point entering the 11th House signals a more discriminatory approach to contacts, friends made, and ideals shared. The harvest of all that has gone before can be enjoyed, but the way forward is with greater sensitivity and a more refined choice of the contacts made.

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.

Dona Nobis Pacem

Today, June 4th 2008, I'm supporting the Blog Blast for Peace 2008, started by blogger Mimi. The idea is to get as many blog postings headed "Dona Nobis Pacem" out there, and spread this urge for peace throughout the world as far and wide as possible.

You can read more on Mimi's blog, and if you're a fellow blogger you can join and make your own peace globe, sign it, decorate it and display it with pride. Here's mine:

Venus, the planet associated with harmony, concord and relating in a peaceful and peace-loving manner, is in Gemini, the Sign of communication. So spread the word, and do something positive too - be the peace you want to see in the world.

Here's my thought for the day, a quote from Carlos Santana:

"Peace has never come from dropping bombs.
Real peace comes from enlightenment
and educating people to behave in a more divine manner"

Your birth chart and your motivation

When I write about a chart I often mention its overall shaping which, in astrological psychology, relates directly to the underlying motivation of the person concerned, and can give important and valuable clues about what makes them tick, what drives them and what kind of behaviour you might observe in them.

I write in The Cosmic Egg Timer about the Cardinal, Fixed and Mutable qualities which pervade astrology ( and life) and are part of an essential underlying theme of "three-ness" in the Huber Method. Once this is understood it becomes easier to understand the Huber approach to chart interpretation. The overall shaping of the aspect structure can give us a lot of information about unconscious motivation. So the question to ask is "Does the overall structure have predominantly quadrangular shapes, triangular shapes, or are there just a lot of disconnected lines?"

The aspect structure in a chart is Fixed if it has figures of four or more sides. It looks solid and firm, and its overall quadrangular shaping suggests that the unconscious motivation of the person it belongs to will be towards security and stability. Their motivation is to know where they stand, to feel safe and secure and to enjoy the substance of life. Fixed energy has an established quality. It seeks to keep things pretty much the same, unchanging, firm and solid. To preserve what is already there is it’s main purpose.

The aspect structure is Mutable when it is composed of triangular figures which give a feeling of fluidity, suggesting that the person will be able to adapt and adjust quite readily to life circumstances. They will go with the flow, and will not be too upset by change. Mutable energy is moving energy. It adapts and moves on, seeking to keep this momentum of fluidity, shifting, changing but not stopping.

We have a Cardinal chart when there are no complete shapes, only disconnected lines which never quite manage to come together to form a three or four sided figure. The unconscious motivation of this person is to be restless, changing direction quickly, always seeking to start something new. They will continually want to be doing, to keep moving from one thing to the next, probably expending a lot of energy along the way. Cardinal energy is initiatory energy. It heralds new beginnings, a fresh start, a confident thrust forward and a moving out into the world.

Many charts have a mixture of shapes and motivation - sometimes a combination of Fixed and Mutable, or Mutable and Cardinal, or even Fixed and Cardinal. You can work out for yourself how it might be for the person concerned if they have a mixture of two of these motivations in their chart. I have a mixture of Mutable and Cardinal - see if you can find it in my chart here. I can adapt and go with the flow of life, but sometimes I get downright restless.

The selection of charts below have Cardinal, Fixed and Mutable shapings. They all have a mixture of two of these shapings and motivation, and they are all charts of real people.

Can you identify the different chart shapings? See all of my books for more information on chart shaping, what it means and how it relates to unconscious motivation.