The Planets go Hiking in Lion Country

I recently visited the Chisos mountains area of Big Bend National Park in the south of Texas where mountain lions (cougars) and black bears roam. This was the sign by the trail near the cabin where I was staying, and I read it carefully before setting off on a hike, especially as I'd heard that a lion had been seen chasing deer near the reception area the night before! I was hiking with a small group, in daylight, so the likelihood of seeing a lion was pretty small....nevertheless, Saturnian caution was advised. Here's the trail we were hiking along (note: plenty of undergrowth as cover for lions...)

And here's how I was reacting on that hike, very aware of the drives, characteristics and motivations of some of the planets:

Mercury - I was using my ears, listening out for any rustling sounds in the undergrowth and paying attention to all details around me, such as tracks on the ground.

Jupiter - my all-round peripheral sensory awareness was very alert, my senses were primed and I was aware that what I was doing contained an element of risk (but hang on, said my more rational Sun, it's broad daylight, lions usually hunt around dusk, or when it's dark. Never mind that, chipped in Saturn, remember you read an article earlier this year about someone being attacked by a cougar in broad daylight....).

Venus and Saturn were in cahoots for this hike, making sure that what I was wearing was practical and sensible - sensible clothing and shoes, sunhat, sun screen, bottle of water etc. - all tasteful of course...

Sun made the decision to go on this hike, with Mars tagging along to provide the energy and impetus to do so, keeping me going when walking uphill got a bit challenging in the heat, and staying on red alert for fight or flight if I did see a lion.

Did I see a lion? No. But it was interesting to observe my reactions to this situation and the feelings that went with them. The nearest I got up close and personal to the local wildlife was when a skunk crept up behind me in the dark and stood pretty close. And no, it didn't spray.

Sex, Money, Relationships and Scandal on the Fixed Cross

Have you noticed that many of the current scandals which have beset the British government of late have a strong theme of money, sex, relationships and possessions?

The recent exposure of MP's expenses claims comes to mind, with loud protestations from them that they were only following the rules and hadn't done anything wrong. Acknowledging that the rules may not have been clear, along with prompt repayment on the part of many MP's, there's also been an element of wanting to hang on to what possessions and privileges they have.

The current financial crisis and the dire situation with the banks which went into a tail spin last year is another example of Fixed Cross behaviour. Some bankers are STILL walking away with huge bonuses, while small businesses can't get the loans they need to keep them going and the banks will not lend.

The Fixed Cross in astrology is about hanging on tightly to what you already have. This is usually money and possessions, both personal and shared. The 2nd house, associated with the sign of Taurus, is about personal possessions - all the things you wouldn't want to give up because you've worked for them and they are yours. You want to hang on tight.

The 8th house, associated with the sign of Scorpio, is about shared, communal possessions - like paying tax (please note, any offshore tax evaders who may be reading this - we need your money and it's time to pay your whack if you use UK benefits when you come here but don't contribute to them). Shared possessions are for the benefit and good of all, like street lighting, bin collections, maintaining roads etc. The 8th house is also about large corporations (like banks, already mentioned).... and if you're beginning to wonder where the sex comes in, that's associated with Scorpio too, the sign which is supposedly the sexiest in the zodiac. Or so they say....

Recent scandals in the new coalition government have seen a manifestation of the Fixed Cross at work. The newly-appointed Chief Secretary to the Treasury, David Laws, has resigned because of accommodation expenses he claimed which were bound up with his relationship with someone he declared was not his partner, sexual or otherwise.

Enter then the relationships axis on the Fixed Cross. This is found in the 5th house, associated with the sign of Leo, and the 11th house, associated with the sign of Aquarius.

The Fixed Cross is the most difficult one to break away from and not be bound to, because to let go of what we own, what we have, what we are and who we like to associate with is one of the hardest challenges we can face. You can hear me talking about the 2nd and 8th houses here:

The Cameron/Clegg Coalition

At 09.33 on Wednesday 12th May 2010, in London, the new British Prime Minister, David Cameron, greeted the new deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, at the door of no. 10 Downing Street. Both men shooks hands for approximately 7 seconds, symbolically starting the coalition formed between the Liberal Democrat and Conservative parties. Data from the BBC and the chart is set up for this time.

And what an interesting chart it is. Dominated by a relatively rare aspect pattern - the Striving Figure - it has Jupiter conjunct Uranus on the MC at the highest point of the chart, opposite Saturn on the IC, at the foundation and anchor point. The orientation of the Striving Figure in the chart is vertical, not horizontal as shown in the diagram here, and it has Saturn on the IC at its apex. Spanning the 4/10 Individuality axis of the chart, the opposition acts like a backbone and the figure looks like a dart diving down into the collective. With Saturn at this apex point on the IC, its aim and goal and all it seeks to achieve is security and stability - exactly what Cameron and Clegg are saying their aim is for this country. I was astounded to see this chart when I set it up shortly after hearing the time of this historic and symbolic meeting on the steps of no. 10. The symbolism of this aspect pattern, together with the planets involved, has a rightness about it.

Jupiter/Uranus on the MC speak of change, opportunity and being open to that change and what it brings. They also speak of risk and uncertainty, moving on from the old, assured and tired ways of doing things, staying open to seeing the whole big picture, and the need to stay receptive to what is new and innovative. In short, a potentially exciting combination. The Striving Figure, which appears upside down in the chart, has its inverted "base" flanked by Moon/Mercury (good for communication and expressing feelings & needs) and Neptune (indicative of good will, which this coalition requires to hold in mind all the time).

What of the meaning of the Striving Figure itself? Here I quote from Aspect Pattern Astrology by Bruno & Louise Huber, available from the APA on-line Book Shop. The Hubers say of this pattern "The great sensitivity of the green aspects tends to weaken the "backbone"....for such a figure, salvation lies in using sensitivity and intelligence to strengthen the backbone and develop qualities to achieve goals....The green aspects mean receptivity to the needs of others. It is clear that this requires real self-scrutiny, but also the conversion of possible deep-seated feelings of inferiority into true humility and unselfishness. This is no easy task, but perhaps the highest goal that can be inspired to".
Our new government and leaders do not have an easy task ahead. Let's hope that the positive good will they have already expressed will prevail and guide them through the challenges ahead.

To learn much more about aspect patterns see the home study courses offered by the Astrological Psychology Association.

Nick Clegg's Birth Chart

I can't vouch for the absolute accuracy of the time of birth I've discovered for Nick Clegg (on the Astrological Association web site), but it's an advance on the noon time I set the chart for in a previous post, when no time of birth was known. I've checked out this time of birth alongside his current Age Progression, and it makes some sense. I'm giving it a go anyway.


Data is 7.1.1967 at 05:56, Chalfont St. Giles, UK.

In view of Clegg's current position as holder of the balance of power as he and the two other main UK political parties are in close discussion about whether or not they will form a coalition with the Liberal Democrats, I'm offering a swift run down on the main features in his chart.

Inner motivation is mutable/dynamic, able to adapt to changes, go with the flow, bend and be flexible.

Motivation by colour of aspects - a predominantly red/blue chart with a lack of green aspects. This contradicts his adaptable & flexible inner motivation. He may be hard to budge (no bad thing if he's driving a hard bargain for electoral reform) and will have quite firm either/or attitudes.

His chart is mainly "I" sided - a more private person but could also be self-aware. No bad thing in a politician.

He has insightful/inner resources in planets Venus, Jupiter and Saturn, which are all on Low Points. Saturn is opposite Uranus/Pluto which are conjunct and straddle the Low Point in the 9th House. These planets are all intercepted - no way out for them apart from via the planets they aspect , which are Neptune and Sun.

At the same time, and to balance these Low Point planets, he has the ability to come on strong with cuspal or near-cuspal planets Mercury, Mars and Neptune.

Mars appears most significant as the highest planet in the chart, right on the MC, and it's going to be working very hard at this point in time, fighting and taking what are hoped will be courageous moves to create something new for our dilapidated country and economy.

Using Age Progression with the birth time of 05:56, his Age Point is making a square to Mars on the MC and an opposition to his Capricorn Sun, forming an Efficiency triangle, which in itself is an aspect pattern about hard work, use of energy and achievement. Sun is conjunct cuspal Mercury, giving it an extra boost when negotiating. And never underestimate someone with a Capricorn Sun. They will explore all avenues of possibility before making a final decision, their risk assessment and damage limitation awareness is second to none, and they tend to be extremely reliable.

Let's hope that's true for Nick Clegg.

Brown, Cameron or Clegg?

The UK general election, to take place on 6th May, is already totally dominating the news and having the effect of turning potential voters off the whole thing. Generally speaking, we Brits are fed up with politicians who don't deserve our trust, and those hoping to get a seat at Westminster are no doubt wishing amnesia on the public about the recent scandal of MP's expenses claims alongside the dire financial situation we are in.

So - Gordon, Dave or Nick for PM? Who are we supposed to be voting for...a party leader, a party, their policies....or the prospective candidates who are standing in the constituency where we happen to live? The campaign is being conducted as though it's one of the first three I've mentioned, so here are the charts of the leaders of the three main parties.
Gordon Brown, Labour party leader, born 20.2.1951, Giffnock, Scotland. You can read what I wrote about Brown's chart when he was 56 by clicking here. Brown has a very green chart. Lots of green aspects indicate sensitivity and combined with the relatively high number of red aspects, a fair bit of touchiness too. But we already know about that - see my more recent post "Gordon Brown a bully?" Brown's chart has an Ambivalence figure (it's part of a larger aspect pattern called a Bijou, but nonetheless, the tendency to ambivalence is present, with the tension of the opposition across the 5/11 Relationship axis of his chart.




What about David Cameron? Conservative party leader, born on 9.10.1966 at 06:00 in London, his chart contains only one green aspect and is largely red/blue which suggests someone with a predominantly either/or approach to life. Interestingly, his chart contains not one, but two Ambivalence figures. The tension in the oppositions here lie across the 2/8 Possessions axis, and the 6/12 Existence axis. Take a closer look,too, at Cameron's and Brown's charts - they both have Saturn close to the DC, placed like a sentinel prepared to defend against all boarders who try to get close before they, the individuals concerned, are ready to reveal things about themselves.
Finally, a look at the chart of Nick Clegg, Liberal Democrat party leader, born 7.1.1967, Chalfont St. Giles UK. Birth time unknown so chart set for noon. Can you spot some similarities with Cameron's chart? Very red/blue; only one green aspect...and...another Ambivalence figure in the chart. There's no way we can know which axis the opposition this figure spans as there's no time of birth available, so instead I'll direct you towards the planet at the all-blue corner of this figure, which is often called the "escape planet". It indicates the nature of interests or activities the person gravitates towards when they are in blue "rest" mode as opposed to red "active" mode (hence the ambivalence). Clegg, Cameron and Brown all have Neptune at this point (in Cameron's case, it's at the blue corner of one of the Ambivalence figures; Uranus/Pluto are at the blue corner of the other figure in his chart).

You can read much more about the Ambivalence figure in my earlier detailed post about this aspect pattern, and much more again in the books available on-line at the APA Book Shop. But now it's over to you, if you're a UK voter. What I've written may or may not offer any insights into the charts of the three main contenders, but it does make for some interesting speculation. Bear in mind, too, which of these three men might be willing to cooperate in a hung, minority or, as it's now being termed, a "balanced" parliament. We live in interesting times!