Uranus in Aries

I wrote this post in 2011, when Uranus moved out of Pisces and into Aries where it still is now, at the start of 2017. As we move forward into a new year with Pluto in Capricorn for another 7 years it may we useful to get a handle on what Uranus represents and symbolises.

Uranus - world improver?

 Uranus is in the last few degrees of Pisces and moves into Aries on 12th March 2011. In their book “The Planets”, The Hubers call Uranus “The World Improver”. The Uranian qualities of improvement through change via the overthrow of old, rigid, undemocratic systems have all been evident in recent dramatic events in the Middle East. Revolution in Tunisia sparked and fired revolution in Egypt. Demonstrations against outdated regimes are now taking place in Bahrain, Algeria, Yemen and Morocco. The current situation in Libya is dangerous and chaotic, developing day by day and moving closer than ever to civil war.



These events are ongoing and unrest in the Middle East is spreading, with people rising up against outdated dynastic regimes.

It's as if Uranus, reaching the final degrees of Pisces, is agitating the fishes’ tails ahead its imminent move into Aries, with its ram’s head ready to butt. This suggests there could be more to come and that the hunger for change is still in its early days.

Aries is symbolic of new plant life shooting forth from the earth as well as being symbolic of the ram's horns. It also rules the head, where new ideas are created, and are sometimes expressed in a headstrong way. The transit of Uranus through Aries could therefore be a time of fruitful new ideas, as reforms are sought and creative ways of providing security are tried out. Of Uranus on the mental level, the Hubers say it “symbolises the power of the independent spirit that pushes forwards over the habitual boundaries of thought and into the transpersonal realm, from worldly to universal thinking”.

The Uranian Spirit is about maintaining security, and people are often surprised by this. They perhaps only know about the revolutionary qualities associated with this planet, it’s ability to turn things upside down, create chaos and move on to the new. Yet Uranus brings about change in order to gain more security in the future - the old and outworn is discarded in favour of new ways of doing things which enhance and improve the living conditions of all. Uranus is associated with technology, and it was interesting to see just how powerful the use of mobile phones and internet networking sites was in the recent Egyptian revolution. Likewise in Libya, where there have been internet blackouts. So threatening were these to the authorities that access to them was shut down, proving that the power of instant communication is undeniably mightier than the sword.

The spirit of Uranus thrives on opposition. Its calling is to right wrongs and improve conditions, seeking divergently to find solutions to problems. Creative intelligence is brought into play and original ideas are put forward to bring about reforms. Uranus is concerned with finding the perfect world, and this it does through research, knowing that there may be no final solution. The search itself is what is truly important. Uranus at its highest level can tap into the pure creativity of the universe, the place where sudden brainwaves come from, and that elusive “a-ha!” moment.

Here's what I say about Uranus on my YouTube channel:

Colin Firth & "The King's Speech"

Colin Firth last night won a BAFTA for his role as King George VI in The King's Speech and is hotly tipped to win an Oscar as well. Update and edit 28th Feb: Last night he won the Oscar for Best Actor - congratulations to Colin Firth!

Born on 10.9.1960 in Grayshott, UK, his chart is set for noon with no time of birth available. It's possible, though, to take a look at his inner, unconsious motivation using the aspect patterns and their colours in his chart, together with the placement of the planets by Sign.

Firth has 3 planets in Virgo - Sun, Mercury and Pluto - making him something of a perfectionist as all Virgo qualities will be reinforced with ruler Mercury in its own sign together with Virgo Sun/sense of self and Pluto adding intensity and depth to his expression of Virgo qualities. This is apparent in his acting, in which he offers an exact and in-depth portrayal of the character he is playing. In The King's Speech I was at times moved to tears by the intensity and sensitivity of his portrayal of a man whose childhood conditioning had stunted his expression of his true self.

Firth's overall aspect shaping is a mixture of triangular aspect patterns and linear offshoots which don't form patterns or shapes. This indicates a flexible motivation with a tendency to be tangential, going off doing his own thing and possibly being changeable; not all bad when you're an actor, with each new role bringing challenges of getting under the skin of the character and requiring this degree of flexibility. The colour balance of 5 red: 1 green: 5 blue aspects suggests a strong either/or approach to life.

The all-red Efficiency/Performance figure, fired up by Jupiter and Mars, and with Mercury at the apex, looks good for an actor, who has to communicate well, powerfully, be physically fit and bring all relevant life experiences to the role he's cast in.

There are 2 Dominant Learning Triangles in the chart - one direct and one retrograde - meaning that some things he'll pick up and learn very easily, others will need more application and trials before the lesson is learned. Both learning triangles include the green quincunx between Moon and Jupiter which, in this very red/blue chart seems highly important. Jupiter will percieve and participate in life, gaining experiences and impressions; Moon will tap into feelings and emotions. It's interesting to see how both these planets connect with Mercury at the apex of the Efficiency triangle, feeding into what and how he communicates.

Uranus, part of the retrograde learning, is also part of the Ambivalence figure which also involves Jupiter and Mars. These 3 aspect patterns, linked as they are, will work together to feed into the whole mode of being flexible and adaptable, but with the red/blue Ambivalence figure there may be a need for independence, freedom involved. For more on these and all 40 aspect patterns used in the Huber method, see my new book, Aspect Patterns in Colour.

Firth's BAFTA is well-deserved; let's hope he gets the Oscar too.

Sun Dogs

Sun dogs are also called mock suns or phantom suns. They are an atmospheric phenomenon which creates bright spots of light in the sky, often forming a luminous ring or halo on either side of the sun.

I first heard them referred to in the film "The Deerhunter" and read up about them, but it was many years before I actually saw them for myself. I took this photograph of sun dogs in the far north of Scotland, and was blessed with not seeing them just this once, but on a second occasion later in the trip.

The Wikipedia entry on sun dogs says they "may appear as a coloured patch of light to the left or right of the sun, 22° distant and at the same distance above the horizon as the sun, and in ice halos. They can be seen anywhere in the world during any season, but they are not always obvious or bright. Sundogs are best seen and are most conspicuous when the sun is low." Those were the exact conditions when I took this photograph.

So why am I writing about sun dogs? What's interesting is that they are a natural phenomenon which shows a reflection, a phantom of the real Sun. In astrological psychology it is the Sun which symbolises and represents our capacity to use the mind and will, to make decisions and express our sense of self. If we develop the Sun, we can become more confident and effective in our everyday lives, and we won't need to hide behind, or project "false", mock or phantom suns or a false sense of our true self. Bearing in mind that this is what what sun dogs are, it's possible that we might also have our own personal "sun dogs".

I describe how to develop the Sun in my book The Living Birth Chart and here's what I have to say about it on my AstroChat Channel:

A bright start to 2011: the Jupiter/Uranus conjunction

On 4th January 2011, Jupiter will be in close and exact conjunction with Uranus. The chart is set for 12 noon in London. Jupiter and Uranus appear side by side, both at 27 degrees and 2 seconds of Pisces. They are part of a Small Learning triangle, which also involves Venus and Neptune. The rest of the planets stand apart, either bunched together at the top of the chart or - in the case of Saturn - ploughing its own lonely furrow in Libra.

Does this herald a bright beginning to 2011? It does if we let it. In amongst all the gloom and apprehension, financial fears and the need to tighten our belts in order to make ends meet, opportunities do exist to be creative, inventive and to step outside the box in the way we live our lives.

Jupiter opens things up, offers new experiences and urges a spot of risk taking. We may find that we're doing something completely new, that we've never done before, in order to adjust to living in more straitened circumstances (and no, I'm not urging anyone to go out and rob a bank or turn to crime!). Uranus spurs us on to find new ways of maintaining stability and security. You may find that strange, because generally Uranus is associated with upheaval and unexpected events. At its heart are the principles of maintenance and change. Change is needed when the old, tired and outworn is no longer working. Because we seek to return to and maintain a stable state of being, we have to be inventive and creative and help bring in something new which will give us the security we're trying to replace, but in a different and often more innovative way.

Together with Jupiter, Uranus could work in beneficial ways - of course, their conjunction is symbolic but it reflects the opportunities which abound in times of need. For example, making things instead of buying them, like clothes, knitting, DIY, gardening, home cooking rather than fast and restaurant food, just to mention a few. Yesterday I was reading in the New Year editions of the weekend newspapers that this is a current trend in the face of belt-tightening, with baking bread being high on the list in terms of being satisfying as well as saving money.

Note also that this conjunction is in Pisces, the sign associated with caring for and helping others, being more altruistic, less materialistic. This could be a nod in the direction of us all being in it together, but only if we let it be so. There are vast inequalities in western society: the Jupiter/Uranus conjunction in Pisces gives us a chance to even these out a little, take a few risks, be a bit creative and do something new in 2011.

Kate Middleton

Kate Middleton (rapidly becoming dubbed as Catherine since her engagement to Prince William on 16th November) was born on 9.1.1982 in Reading, UK. Her chart is set for noon as no time of birth is yet available. If it is publicised officially by Buckingham Palace, I'll update the chart. Watch this space!

After 8 years together, including a split (see my posting on Willam's chart - search for "Royalty" or click on this in the Labels cloud) the couple have decided to wed. The British public are relatively underwhelmed by the news as it's been long-expected, although the media are already working themselves into a frenzy of speculation over the wedding plans. Welcome to life in the big spotlights, Kate.

Middleton's chart offers some interesting speculation on the kind of underlying motivation she might have. With only red and blue aspects (there's an absence of green aspects which offer greater awareness and a more balanced use of the energy available), Middleton will tend to have an either/or approach to life with low emphasis on half measures or shades of grey. Her chart shaping suggests she is flexible and can adapt well to changing situations and circumstances, something which will stand her in good stead as she learns the ropes of the family firm she'll be marrying into. It also shows considerable restlessness and the capacity to move on to new things. Again, this could stand her in good stead but it may also be a source of frustration if she feels tied or bound by her duties as consort to the future king.
Her chart contains one complete aspect pattern, the all-red Efficiency/Performance triangle (aka the T-square if you're a conventional astrologer). This is interestingly pinned by Sun, Moon and Saturn, known as the ego planets in astrological psychology. These relate to our body (Saturn), feelings (Moon) and mind (Sun) and when all 3 are found in the same aspect pattern they can act well together and are interdependent. Middleton may be able to balance out the needs of all 3 aspects of the ego structure, but it's more likely that one of them will dominate. With Saturn at the apex of this figure, it's likely that she will have a strong awareness of duty, structure, organisation, and an ability to be just and fair (Saturn is in Libra) as well as have a certain power and strength (Saturn is conjunct Pluto) which may as yet be untested. Certainly, as a possible future queen, these could be strengths to draw upon.

Her Capricorn Sun says a lot about her ability to wait patiently for William to pick the right moment to propose. Capricorn is the sign which bides its time, carefully making its way towards its goal, in no special hurry to get there. It's also the sign which we could associate with a family business where the younger generation inherit and run the show when the generation above them retires. She comes from a family who run their own business and will be marrying into the royal family firm, taking on a key note role.

Her red/blue chart is complemented by William's more green chart. He will bring more awareness and sensitivity to their partnership; she will provide initiatory energy and "doing" capacity. They share Cancerian Moons and William's Sun is also in this sign, as was his mother Diana's. Cancer and Capricorn are opposite signs but have the ability to complement each other well. The watery emotional Cancerian drives can find grounding in the earthy practicality and organisational abilities of Capricorn. She could prove to be a rock for William, and an important source of support and encouragement. With no time of birth available, it's hard to say in which area of life she might be expressing her Saturn at the apex of the Efficiency triangle, but I'm reminded here of the present Queen's chart which I wrote about some time ago (again, click on or search for "Royalty") which has an Efficiency triangle with apex Saturn right at the very top of the chart.

For more about aspect patterns, see my new book Aspect Patterns in Colour available from the APA on-line Bookshop. And for details of how to learn more about astrological psychology for yourself, visit www.astrologicalpsychology.org