Susan Boyle's Large Talent Triangle

I've been away, touring round the Scottish Borders and visiting Edinburgh where I gave a talk for the Scottish Astrological Association. While I was there, my Data Queen friend provided the correct data for singing sensation Susan Boyle (many thanks Caroline). It took her many long hours of research in the Scottish Records Office, but the chart shown above is drawn up from the correct data: 1.4.1961, 09.50 BST in Blackburn, Scotland.

Boyle's voice made the hairs on the back of my neck prickle when I heard the opening notes of her song "I had a dream", swiftly putting paid to any preconceived notions about this woman, based on her physical appearance. While I've been away she's had a bit of a makeover, having her dark Aries eyebrows shaped and getting a new hairstyle. The media homed in on this, giving mixed comments, but Susan, the media will damn you whatever you do, so just carry on doing your own thing.

Boyle's chart shows a predominantly Fixed shaping and motivation; there are mainly quadrangular figures in the aspect structure, with a couple of Linear aspects too. These could stand her in good stead when she wants to do things her own way and just goes ahead and does them (like the makeover). But most times she is likely to be wanting stability and security in her life, and she may find it easier to stay with what is known, tried and tested when these needs are uppermost.

Her colour ratio is 4 red: 4 green: 4 blue aspects. Although this might look nicely balanced, it suggests she is quite a sensitive person with a surprising amount of red, active energy which can be directed towards achieving what she wants. Her Aries Sun, which some astrologers might attribute this to, will not necessarily be the front line driving force in this because it is intercepted in the 10th House of the chart. This means it has no direct route out into the environment and has to rely on the other planets it aspects. Moon, which it opposes is no help because this is also intercepted. Both planets aspect Mars and Neptune making these the routes out into the world for the sense of self she can gain through her mind (Sun) and feelings (Moon). Mars and Neptune are both strong by Sign and Mars, a strong ally for the Sun, is also strongly placed by House on the Ascendant. Sun, Moon and Mars together form an Efficiency Triangle.

Mars, together with Neptune and Mercury, forms the blue Large Talent Triangle in Boyle's chart. This figure indicates an ability which the individual has as an innate part of their make up. There will be some skill or talent which they are born with and their task is to use this, develop it and share it with others. If it's not used and shared, it may wither and fade. With this aspect pattern, it can be a case of "use it or lose it", and all too often it's easier for people with this figure to opt for the easy way out and not develop and refine their innate talent. The aspect figure is made entirely of blue aspects which tend towards complacency and laziness.

In Susan Boyle's chart the blue Large Talent Triangle and the red Efficiency Triangle converge at Mars on the Ascendant, offering the red "kick" that is needed to get her inherent talent working. I was fascinated to read that she has, in the past, tried her luck with talent spotting competitions, but it up until now without much success. The Talent Triangle (aka Grand Trine) is pinned by planets in Water Signs, suggesting emotional content and flavour; responses to her singing come from the level of feelings.

It's time that the culture of celebrity took a knock, and in this period of changing attitudes and economic restraint, the quality of Susan Boyle's voice is showing the world that there is much more to someone than their physical appearance.

Michelle Obama

US First Lady, "Mom-in-Chief" and now fast becoming a style icon, Michelle Obama was born on 17.1.1964 in Chicago. No time of birth is available, so her chart is set up for noon. With Sun and Mercury in Capricorn, she has no less than 6 planets spanning the Signs of Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces.

Her chart resembles an open box - the lid is propped open at an angle but is held firmly in place by some of the closely-grouped planets. Although the orientation of the chart would change if her time of birth was available, the image would remain, albeit with the lid facing a different direction. It would be open to a different area of the chart altogether, and not to 11th House as it is here. But let's just stick with the open box image because a great deal of openness comes across from this striking woman when she's seen on TV. I specifically here call to mind her recent visit to the UK when Barack Obama attended the G20 conference in London.

Michelle had her own programme of visits, and the most notable and striking images and footage of her was at a multi-language girls' school in London where she encouraged the girls to become the very best they could. She spoke openly and from the heart and she gave high fives and hugs rather than handshakes.

Her chart, composed of triangular aspect patterns and linear aspects shows a flexible and adaptable motivation, laced with restlessness and the need to go off and do her own thing. Her colour balance of 2 red: 3 green: 3 blue aspects indicates little ability to rest and switch off, with plenty of restless and sensitive activity being most likely. This is not a lady who will sit and twiddle her thumbs for long, as her very active role in the presidential campaign showed.

Michelle has two aspect patterns in her chart: a Learning Triangle and an Ambivalence Figure. The Learning Triangle is pinned by planets Jupiter and and Uranus (which is conjunct Pluto - this conjunction is found in the charts of the '60's generation), with the Moon's Node at the 3rd corner. For me, this aspect pattern suggests learning which will stretch boundaries and bring insights and revelations. If the House where the Moon's Node is placed were known ( we don't know because we don't have the birth time) I could say more about the area of life where she has the greatest and most rewarding lessons to learn. As it is, the Node in Cancer suggests a pull towards involvement with the wider collective and the need to feel part of a family; in Michelle's case this is expressed through her "Mom-in-Chief" role as well as her commitment to her country.

The Ambivalence Figure shows Mercury opposite the Node, and indicates that mercurial pursuits could come easily (she is a lawyer). The work - indeed the struggle - may go on internally between committing to her current role and the pull to have her own career. This aspect pattern has an "escape" corner where the 2 blue aspects meet. Uranus sits here, maybe not offering much restful escape, but it provides an interesting pivotal planet for both this aspect pattern and the Learning triangle. Change was the keynote of Obama's campaign, and is reflected in his Uranus being on the "You" side of his chart in 7th House, and close to the DC. Michelle, too, will embrace change and ride its waves more easily with her adaptable motivation. With Pluto conjunct Uranus, she may actively welcome it.

Her Sun in Capricorn, although relatively weak by Sign at 26 degrees and not strongly aspected, is supported by it's one-way conjunction to Mars. These two Cardinal planets are two of a kind in that they are will-oriented. In Capricorn they will help her stick with it when the going is tough because the long-term goal is what is important, no matter how long it takes to get there.

For more on Planets and Aspect Pattern Astrology see the Huber's books, available on line from the APA Book Shop, along with my books Aspect Patterns in Colour, The Living Birth Chart and the Cosmic Egg Timer which cover all these topics, and more besides.

Astrology Question Time: Uranus in 2nd House

In response to my last post, and my invitation to Astrology Question Time, I've received the following question from "A":

Hi Joyce! I would like clarity on Uranus in the 2nd House. The information I find on the internet is distressing. Please provide me and your readers another viewpoint on Uranus in 2nd House. – Thanks!

Thank you, "A", for your question, and also for raising an interesting point about the astrological information you've found on the internet about Uranus in 2nd being distressing. On a personal level, I can't comment on this as I've not trawled around looking for astrological information on this subject, but I'm not surprised to hear there is a whole load of alarming and distressing information around. If you read my blog regularly you'll already know that the Huber Method is concerned with positive personal growth, using astrological psychology as a means to this end; negativity doesn't get a look in, but truth and honesty do.

Now to your question. Uranus in the 2nd House is a combination of two component parts of the natal chart - a trans (beyond) personal planet Uranus, representing the drive towards creative intelligence, and the 2nd House, representing the area of expression and life experience concerned with security and possessions.

Uranus, despite all the hoohah about it being the planet or disruption and revolution (which it can be) is actually a Fixed planet. Its energy is directed towards striving for security and stability, yet it goes about achieving this by turning things upside down and causing change and disruption along the way. This probably sounds confusing! Uranus seeks security and stability and ways of making things better and more perfect than they were before by inventing and creating systems and ways of doing things which provide greater security. It may do this by engaging with and using technology (Uranus is a techno-whizz and adept at research). As we all know, our world is awash with inventions and technical aids and gadgets designed to make life easier. And Uranus, positioned as it is beyond Saturn in our solar system, takes things beyond the realm of known security so that new forms of security can be set in place. I write about Uranus, and the other planets, at greater length in my co-authored book The Cosmic Egg Timer.

Now to the 2nd House. This is where our possessions - those things which we hold dear to ourselves and might even represent our very survival - are of paramount importance. They give us our sense of self worth. Some people might gain this sense of self worth and security from the car they own, the dishwasher they have, the diplomas and certificates they have gained, the house they live in, the clothes they wear. All these things are indications that we've acquired something which makes us feel proud and good about ourselves; they make us feel we're worth something. Of course, our possessions don't necessarily have to be tangible, concrete things. They can also be our attitudes and values. As the 2nd House is a Fixed House, we have to be aware of the inherent dangers of becoming tied to the things which give us our sense of self worth because these can make us narrow and rigid. With a healthy attitude towards the material possessions we think we need, we can more easily let go of them and concentrate on developing an internal sense of self worth, drawing on our inherent talents and abilities, which are also our "possessions" - but no-one can take these away from us!

So, "A", if we put together Uranus and 2nd House, we have a potentially very creative combination. Of course, taken out of the context of the whole chart, what I can suggest about this combination is limited to only these two components. If we were to consider the colours of the aspects Uranus receives, which aspect pattern it is involved in, where it is positioned by Sign and House, then there would be a whole lot more information available - and the additional insights to go with it too!

For more information on planets and houses see the APA website as well as the astrology courses we offer. And don't forget to pose more questions for another Astrology Question Time posting!

International Astrology Day & Astrology Question Time

Yes! There IS such a day!! It's today! International Astrology Day was founded by AFAN in 1993.

The purpose of this event is to raise the public’s awareness of astrology, aiming to dispel the many myths and misunderstandings that surround the subject and in addition to expand networking opportunities among the astrological community and direct media attention to the positive aspects of astrology.

International Astrology Day is celebrated to coincide with the beginning of the astrological year, the spring equinox, when the Sun enters the tropical sign of Aries. Since astrologers are known for celebrating celestial events, this day should be at the top of our list as a way of not only honoring our profession, but of sharing what we do with others.

In celebration of this day, and to promote astrology, I'm launching

Astrology Question Time

I will answer a question from the first 5 named * people who leave a question about

• Zodiac Signs

• Planets

• Houses

in the "Comments" window. Their questions, along with my responses, will be in my posting headed Astrology Question Time.

I'm not able to answer specific questions about individual charts. But If you want your chart read, click on the Consultant's tab at the top of the page. There may be someone near to where you live, and if not, you can arrange to have a chart reading by phone.

Get those questions rolling!

Yours Truly running the API (UK) stand (top and right) and speaking (below) at astrology conferences.

* out of courtesy please name yourself - don't be shy, and don't be "Anonymous"!

The Moon in your Birth Chart

It can be fun having younger members of the family playing at hairdressers - with blunt scissors!

The Moon in astrological psychology represents the sense of self we gain through our feelings and emotions, and often our sense of fun and child-like excitement.

The Moon signifies these spontaneous and fun-loving child-like responses, and it also acts like a mirror, reflecting what's going on around us because it can sense and pick up on atmospheres and feelings very easily. It's a sensing tool, the part of us that feels.

Of course, the way the Moon operates and expresses itself out in the world will be coloured by the Zodiac Sign it's in, which acts like a "costume" which clothes the Moon and modifies its expression. On a basic bottom line level, its expression is influenced by the Element (Fire, Earth, Air or Water) of that Sign.

Fire Sign Moons - those in Aries, Leo and Sagittarius - will tend towards optimism and enthusiasm. Fiery Moons want to be noticed! They will be lively, expressive and outspoken with energetic feelings that demand attention.

Earth Sign Moons - those in Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn - will have a strong practical streak. They may be a bit fussy, but they are down-to-earth and generally enjoy sensual things, espcially Taurus Moons. They will appreciate good quality in all areas of life.

Air Sign Moons - those in Gemini, Libra and Aquarius - love to communicate and share ideas with others, so they enjoy seeing friends and family, chatting and catching up on news, attending talks, lectures and events which will stimulate the mind.

Water Sign Moons - those in Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces - tend to be very emotionally sensitive and tuned in to the feelings of others. They can be very caring, needing to express their feelings and regard for others in tangible ways. But they can also be moody, living life through their feeling nature.

The Moon, representing the sense of self we get through our feelings, is often a part of the personality which is neglected or repressed. We may have been brought up not to show our feelings; they might have been regarded as unacceptable or not something to share or talk about in the environment we grew up in. But they are there all the same, and sometimes they need our attention.

In this video I talk about some of the ways we can work on developing and understanding the Moon and our feeling nature. There is more on this in my book The Living Birth Chart. Click on the Books by Joyce Hopewell tab at the top of the page.