Charles Dickens

7th February 2012 marks the bicentenary of British author Charles Dickens, who was born on 7.2.1812 at 19.50 in Portsmouth, UK. Various celebratory events will take place throughout the year to mark his bicentennial anniversary so it's appropriate to look at the chart of the man who was a journalist, author and social reformer. His writing is known throughout the world, and even if you've never read a Dickens novel it's more than likely you'll know of at least two of his works - for example A Christmas Carol and Oliver Twist.

Dickens chart shows an adaptable, fluid inner motivation, with triangular and linear aspect patterns. The aspect structure is focussed, via the pinning planets, on the lower hemisphere of the chart, the area of the collective. This is the field of life that Dickens was inspired by and involved in, as a writer and social reformer. His works were a commentary on the Victorian times he was living in, and he criticised the social division between those who had more than they needed and those who were living in poverty. Were Dickens to revisit Britain now, would he find that much has changed?

The chart has three Learning triangles, all with red/green/blue aspects which offer a wide range of learning potential. Moon/Neptune, right on the IC of the chart, connects into two of the three triangles, and suggests the ability to empathise on a collective level with his fellow humans.

Dickens was first a freelance journalist, becoming a parliamentary commentator in 1833. He wrote serialised sketches in periodicals which were published under the title Sketches by Boz in 1836. The year 1836 was a significant one for Dickens. He married Caroline, daughter of George Hogarth, editor of the Evening Chronicle, and publisher of Sketches by Boz, and his first novel, The Pickwick Papers, was published. In this same year he also became editor of another periodical. How does this flurry of literary activity and recognition show up in his chart?

For a start, Dickens' Age Point was conjunct Mercury in 1836, when his career as a writer took off with the publication of The Pickwick Papers. In addition to this, Mercury, the planet associated with the drive to communicate - in Dickens through his writing - is very strongly placed in his chart. Just past the 5th cusp, it's in an excellent position to be heard, recognised and to have its say in the area of life associated with creativity, recreation and social awareness. In Victorian times, reading novels, periodicals and serialised stories (the "penny dreadfuls") was something of a leisure activity.

Mercury is part of the linear zig-zagging aspect configuration in the chart - this planet connects by sextile to Uranus (inventive, creative, forward-looking), which squares Dickens' Sun (use of the will, mind, creative thought/ideas), itself part of the small Learning triangle pinned by strongly placed Venus/Pluto and Moon/Neptune. Quite a powerful combination. And if this were not enough, Uranus is quincunx Jupiter, this aspect reaching right to the top of the chart with Jupiter looking like a hand held up high for all to see. Here in this configuration, and without too much stretching of the imagination, it's possible to see Dickens' skill as a writer about social inequality alongside with his work as a campaigner against the slave trade, which took him to America and Canada.

He was also a philanthropist, raising funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital and setting up a home for "fallen" women, backed by money from Angela Coutts, heiress of the Coutts banking fortune. Dickens, perhaps with some astrological knowledge, named this house "Urania Cottage". The women who lived there learned how to read and write and were rehabilitated into society. But they had to emigrate, making a fresh start in life when they graduated from the programme at Urania House.

Although Dickens may have named the house Urania after the muse for astronomy rather than astrology, it's a very appropriate name for a place where lives were changed and turned around, and a graphic expression and manifestation of Mercury, Uranus and Jupiter in Dickens' chart.

Mitt Romney

Writing in January 2012 I said: Mitt Romney is fast emerging as the favourite nominee for Republican candidate in the 2012 Presidential election. Born in 12.3.1947 at 09.51 in Detroit, MI, his chart shows a lot of red and blue aspects, with just about enough green to deter him from veering into a very on/off, either/or motivation towards life.

The chart image, which can give insights into the person's inner life and motivation, is reminiscent of scaffolding poles around a building and brings to mind ideas of construction, or work in progress as the disconnected aspects seek to complete something and make it whole.

The direction the aspects move in indicates which areas of life the person is motivated tomove towards - upwardly vertical suggests someone who wants to be noticed and recognised as an individual; horizontal aspects show more emphasis is placed on making contact. Romney has both. No less than 4 planets ride high in the chart, with Venus very strong on the MC right at the top. The horizontal reaching out comes via the close Moon/Jupiter conjunction almost on the DC, the point where the person meets the "You" (others) eyeball to eyeball. This is a very useful place for a politician to have pleasant, warm, open and generally friendly planets (pyschological drives) such as Moon (the sense of self gained through emotions) and Jupiter (the drive to genial, open to gaining knowledge and first hand experience). Note, though, that Romney's Moon/Jupiter is opposite his North Node in 1st house, suggesting that his task is to balance out his own needs against those of others, and to not neglect himself along the way. Of interest here, with the Moon's North node in 1st, is that people with this nodal placement can wilfully ignore themselves, especially when there may be things which are too uncomfortable for them to look at and acknowledge, or perhaps which they would rather were kept quiet.

The chart has only 2 complete aspect patterns: an Ambivalence figure and a Projection figure. The former has his high-up Venus opposite Pluto - is he someone who likes to be liked, to be seen to be friendly and to be recognised for this? With Pluto involved, is there an element of power play at work, maybe at an unconscious level? People with this aspect pattern tend to work hard in the red part of the figure and escape and enjoy in the area where the all-blue planet is - in his case Neptune in 5th. Are there elements of real escapism for him? Time with friends and family and in leisure pursuits - games, sport, art, film, socialising?

And what about the Projection figure? These figures are about putting out into the world what is important to the indivual and they work a bit like a projection screen. The planet at the green apex seeks to project what it wants to achieve on to the blue "screen". So in Romney's chart, Mercury up at the top of the chart and strongly placed on 11th cusp is needing to get its message across to the screen which spans 4th/5th houses and is pinned by Pluto and Neptune. Something of a theme starts to emerge here as both these planets are involved in the Ambivalence figure, suggesting both interact and feed into one another.

Romney is nearly 65. His natal chart Age Point is aspecting both Mercury and Uranus and the Age Point in his Moon Node chart is aspecting Neptune and Pluto, both major players in both aspect patterns in his chart. In anyone's chart, this would be of great interest and potential significance; in the chart of a prospective US Presidential candidate, this is certainly so. Watch this space!

Addendum 8th Feb: I said to watch this space and here's a brief update. Romney, I gather, has lost some support over the story of his mistreatment of the family's dog Seamus in 1983. This passed me by in the UK so thanks to a friend in AZ who passed this snippet on to me. He confined his Irish Setter (quite a large dog) to an airtight container and strapped it on the roof of his car, driving for 12 hours with it there - and thought it was OK to do this. Of course, he may have changed since then.....

But today's news is that he's lost to Rick Santorum in the states of Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri (in a beauty contest?!? - the subtleties of American politics are beyond me here), but the question is, how will Romney feel about this defeat? He's also said, reportedly, that he doesn't care about the poor, which won't help his campaign at all, apart from with those who also don't care about the poor. Let's go back to how he might feel, bearing in mind that feelings could be something he brushes aside. His Moon/Jupiter on the DC will have taken a knock, but it's a Scorpio Moon so don't underestimate this guy - he could get nasty. And I wonder if saying that he doesn't care about the poor could be something to do with his Age Point currently aspecting both Mercury and Uranus, so words start coming out inappropriately?

Addendum 24th September: Romney has recently had a week of opening his mouth and putting his foot right in it. The UK press have focussed on his dismissive comments made about those on benefits and lower incomes, and the video of him saying this. He's doing himself no favours and many Republicans must be squirming with embarrassment at his current performance. Things could get very interesting when he and Obama meet for the public debates. Will Romney have got his Mercury under control by then...?

That may be an interesting one to watch as Romney's Age Point is in Aries, not a sign known for restraint. Aries energy often acts/speaks first and considers later, which is not to knock it as it's also a great source of impetus for initiating and getting things done. As well as being in Aries, Romney's Age Point is in the stress zone before the 12th cusp. This is again an area where impulsive, anxious and pushy behaviour may be in evidence, and the individual concerned will be more interested in the qualities and themes of the upcoming house, and not the one the Age Point is in. Does Romney have an eye on 12th house matters? That I wouldn't like to say, but it appears that his current comments and performance do correlate with Aries-like behaviour from the stress zone.

Stephen Hawking

Scientist Stephen Hawking has turned 70. Born on 8th January 1942 in Oxford, his chart set for noon as his time of birth is not known.

Hawking is highly respected and known for his work as a theoretical physicist and cosmologist. His best-selling book A Brief History of Time is widely known but maybe not so widely read to the end; apparently many people can't understand it. But he is perhaps known equally well for suffering with motor-neurone disease, and for surviving this debilitating disease against the odds for the past 50 years.

Hawking's chart appears as a mass of triangular aspect patterns, dominated by the blue Large Talent triangles. Two conjunctions pin these: Moon/Neptune in Virgo, and Saturn/Uranus in Taurus. Moon/Neptune speaks of sensitivity and the capacity to embrace wider issues, to be open to the unknown, whereas Saturn/Uranus reflect his scientific path and life's work. The triangles are pinned on the third corner by Sun (the creative mind and will) and Mercury (ever-eager to learn and teach and research).

The Talent triangles themselves indicate an inherent talent and ability, which, when developed and used can benefit more than just the individual whose chart they are found in. The Sign the pinning planets are found in suggests the underlying essence of the talent. In Hawking's case, with all pinning planets in earth Signs, the application of the talent will be grounded and practical.

Interwoven with the Talent triangles are Dominant Learning triangles, composed of red, green and blue aspects. These will be active throughout the life of the individual who has them in their chart.

Hawking is a remarkable human being, with a remarkable brain, but what is even more impressive is the use of his will (Sun) which has enabled him to continue with his life's work in spite of the many physical challenges he has.

Uranus square Pluto - Clash of the Titans?

In Greek mythology, the Titans were a race of powerful deities, descendants of Gaia and Uranus, and they ruled during the legendary Golden Age. The Titans were eventually overthrown by a race of younger gods, the Olympians.

As many readers will know, 2012 marks the start of an intense and prolonged period of activity between outer planets Uranus and Pluto. For the next 5 years they will be 90 degrees apart, forming no less than 7 square aspects which will sometimes be tight and close, and at others slightly looser and more relaxed (but only slightly). Square aspects (shown in red in Huber-style charts) have a Mars quality in the sense that they need to be actively and energetically doing something. If they are denied this, then expect trouble.

As these heavyweight planets line up to form the 7 square aspects there is no way that we, citizens of the world, can escape some of the effects. They may be direct or indirect, and are likely to have similarities of impact with the clash of the mythological Titans or, if you want a powerful image from the natural world, like two bull elephants seals vieing for supremacy. Bull elephant seals fighting courtesy of en.bestpicturesof.com

Uranus and Pluto have already started the warm up, and I first wrote about them in September 2011. In the pasr year there have been revolutions in Middle Eastern countries and the overthrow of long standing dynasties and harsh regimes. Riots broke out in England in the summer of 2011 and the Occupy movement established its presence in Wall Street and at the London Stock Exchange. Ordinary people are getting restless and plain fed up with financial inequalities and the apparent cavalier attitude of big bankers who lug their bonuses all the way back to their millionaire mansions.The chart is set for noon in London and shows the first exact square of Uranus/Pluto on 24th June 2012. This is a very red chart, dominated by an all-red Efficiency Square. Uranus in fiery Aries squares Pluto in earthy Capricorn. Both make aspects to the Sun in Cancer and Venus in Gemini, forming a * Provocative figure aspect pattern.

This aspect pattern can irritate and annoy, but it can also call forth, awaken and encourage something new. With Uranus in Aries, this could be ideas and a completely new way of thinking about how we seek and manage our own security of life. It's the revolutionary spirit squaring up to, clashing with and challenging the established power structures and authority of Pluto in Capricorn. Something has to give. Power structures have to change and transform. The old established methods have to give way to new reforms, new attitudes, new ideas and ways of thinking, with potentially big changes in the way life is lived. Forget the celebrity culture, the "me, me" attitudes and the cachet of the ££££'s in the bank, or not paid in tax avoidance schemes 

Update comment June 2012: Thank you, comedian Jimmy Carr, for bringing this scam to the notice of the public and having the grace to apologise and withdraw from such a scheme yourself.

In 2012 the next exact square is on 19th September, then in 2013 on 20th May and 1st November. Watch this space and blog as there is surely a lot more to come.....

* For info on the Provocative figure see Aspect Pattern Astrology and Aspect Patterns in Colour both available from the APA on line Book Shop and Amazon.

Vaclav Havel

The death of Vaclav Havel, Czech playwright, political activist and president, has been announced today (18th December). Havel was born in Prague on 5.10.1936 at 15:00. He was instrumental in bringing about the Velvet Revolution in 1989, when Czechoslovakia broke free from communist rule. Havel opposed Soviet rule and the persecution of fellow artists and writers under the communist regime. During the 1980's he spent 5 years in prison for this.

Havel's chart is dominated by the large red Efficiency/Performance square pinned by Jupiter, Saturn, Moon and Neptune. All but Saturn are relatively "soft" planets, but all will have been engaged in tireless hard work and effort in pursuit of something close to his heart:freedom.

These four planets span the 2/8 house axis of possessions and the 5/11 house axis of relationships. Jupiter and Moon are across the 5/11 axis, and with Moon in Gemini in 5th it's not surprising that Havel was loved and respected by his fellow Czechs. Saturn in 2nd is opposite Neptune and hints at an iron fist in a velvet glove where human rights and the good of society (8th house) are concerned.

When he was in the army in the late 1950's Havel realised he could mock the military administration from the stage by writing subversive plays, and this subsequently became his conduit for criticising the communist system. This could be his unaspected Mercury in 8th at work, taking risks but relishing freedom of expression.

Crumpled and casual in appearance, Havel shunned the limelight but his power should never have been underestimated. With Pluto on the DC he could have been a force to be reckoned with, but his motivation was for truth, justice and freedom.