Astrology and Astronomy

Astronomers can be very snidey and dismissive of astrology because it doesn't fit neatly into their scientific parameters, and can't be "proved". Yet astrology and astronomy were originally twin sciences and were studied side by side at the great European universities in the middle ages. Up until the 17th century the two subjects were two sides of the same coin, astronomy being more scientific and astrology more philosophical.

Any astrologer who has undergone formal training in the subject will have also had to learn some astronomy and at the very least be able to understand how a birth chart relates to the positions of the planets in the sky. Media sientists such as Richard Dawkins and Brian Cox take note, and pause for a moment or two before you publicly slag off the subject, asking yourselves if you have studied astrology for yourself before you denounce it.

As an astrologer with formal and intensive training in the subject, along with over a quarter of a century's experience of working with astrological psychology, I enjoy moving into the astronomical field from time to time, and often the simplest way to do this is to look up on a clear night and see the stars and planets and identify some of the constellations. On a trip into the deserts of New Mexico, where a lot of space observation takes place, I visited the museum of space discovery near Alamagordo. The roll of honour included men and women instrumental in breaking barriers by their space flights, along with such key astronomer/astrologers as Kepler and Copernicus. Included in the names honoured was that of Clyde Tombaugh, whose observations from an observatory in the desert of New Mexico led to the discovery of Pluto in 1930. And I remembered learning about this way back in the 1980's when I was taking a formal course in astrology.

Also located in the same desert area is The Very Large Array (VLA) - an impressive line up of 27 radio telescopes which track and pick up signals from space, rather like the Jodrell Bank Telescope, close to where I live in the UK. The work at the VLA is highly scientific, yet it focusses on space and what is physically beyond us, making it for me, a fascinating place to visit. The VLA, which has been featured many times in films as the backdrop formed by this Y-shaped alignment, is dramatic and impressive.

If you look up at the night sky, and if there are no clouds in the way, it's a good way of reminding yourself - if you're an astrologer about to set up a chart - of the old, old saying: "As above, so below".

The Titanic

This is the chart of the maiden voyage of the passenger ship Titanic, claimed to be unsinkable when she embarked on her journey from Britain to the USA on 10th April 1912. Sadly, the claim of unsinkablity proved to be wrong as she sank 5 days later after being hit by an iceberg off the Newfoundland coast.

The chart is set for 10th April 1912 at noon, which is when she sailed from Southampton, UK. The centenary of her sinking is on 15th April. This is being marked by exhibitions and by the media in various ways.

The maiden voyage of this luxurious liner, which had a strong "Upstairs Downstairs" theme with its well-to-do passengers on the upper decks and steerage passengers in the less glamourous and cramped quarters below decks, is well-documented. Interestingly, the chart image for this event could be seen as a capsized/upturned boat with Jupiter at the apex of what might be a sail or funnel - but then it's easy to say this after the event and in view of the tragedy that took place.

The overall aspect pattern shape is one which presents a solid picture - there is a 5-sided structure pinned firmly at the top of the chart by Sun, Mercury and the Moon's North Node. All are in Aries, all are in 10th house, and all would appear to herald a new start, an important event and the embarkation on a new venture. There are no less than 3 Learning triangles embedded within the overall structure, suggesting much to be learned from this event (tragically, there was).

Saturn sits, intercepted, on the Low Point of 10th, in steady and practical Taurus, and sends a questing, searching green quincunx aspect to that isolated Jupiter which in turn aspects the Sun, forming a Search figure. I can only speculate on the significance of this here (and the answers are all there in the subsequent research that was made - the provision of lifeboats was insufficient), but were the safety measures checked and secured sufficiently? This would be be one of Saturn's questions to Jupiter, symbolic of learning from experience, wisdom and knowledge, and in astrological psychology, the planet associated with perception and vision. Interestingly Jupiter becomes unaspected - and therefore not linked in to the main aspect pattern - at the time of the iceberg hit and Titanic's subsequent sinking.

You can find out more about Low Points and aspect patterns, such as Learning triangles and the Search Figure by visiting astrologicalpsychology.org where there are courses and a variety of books with more information available.

Rick Santorum

Following the Super Tuesday close result on who will eventually win the Republican nomination as the candidate to run for President, the question on some people's minds is likely to be "Will it be Romney...or Rick Santorum?"

Rick Santorum, Republican hopeful for the nomination, was born on 10th May 1958 in Winchester, Virginia USA. No time of birth is available so his chart is set for noon. What information can it offer about him?

Santorum's chart shows a mixture of restlessness and adaptability in his underlying and often unconscious motivation. It's high on blue aspects which suggests that having things stay put, fixed and the way they are is important, as well as enjoying the fruits of his labours and being able to sit back and rest on his laurels. But it's low on red aspects, which help to get things going and keep them moving. The chart has enough green aspects to help offset any polarisation between doing and not doing; it's important he engages with this ability to see things from all sides and not just rely on the "blue view" which could lead to stasis. This could be helped by the presence of the Dominant Learning triangle pinned by Sun, Moon and Jupiter - he has the capacity to learn and continue learning from life's big lessons.

Santorum's Age Point is right on the Midheaven - the highest point of the chart - and as such there will be a lot of pressure felt to perform and be seen to be an outstanding individual, regardless of whether the person concerned is wanting to run for president. Age 54, which this coincides with, is the culmination point of the chart - the age and stage at which one is psychologically geared to standing alone. This in itself can be challenging, especially if the individual hasn't already been tried and tested in some way in the past to withstand this "head and shoulders above the parapet" stance.

With no time of birth available, it's not useful to speculate in great detail about other features. His Taurus Sun suggests, on a broadly general basis, practicality and an appreciation and enjoyment of the good things in life; his Sagittarian Saturn, on the other hand, could prove to be a bit of stickler and maybe not take too many risks.

6 years on and going strong

Today - 4th March - marks the 6th "birthday" of this blog. I started writing about astrological psychology together with astrological chart interpretations on 4th March 2006. The chart is set for 16.14, the time the first posting was published back in 2006.

The chart for the start has a mixture of Triangular and Linear aspects. The linear, disconnected aspect lines give a restless, tangential approach and motivation (yes - I only write when there is something or someone of interest to me) alongside a more flexible, fluid and changeable approach which is part and parcel of the triangular aspect patterns.

There are two complete aspect patterns in the chart: an Ambivalence figure and an Efficicency/Performance figure. Both are triangular. Both include the red opposition between Jupiter and Moon on the IC/MC axis of Individuality.

Moon is high in the chart - the highest planet - so I really do like and appreciate any comments I receive from readers. Moon opposite Jupiter speaks of my enthusiasm for astrological psychology as a method of self-understanding and growth in self-awareness and ultimately getting a whole lot more out of life. In the Ambivalence figure, the planets at the all-blue corner are Sun/Uranus - pleasingly appropriate for an astrological blog written by an enthusiast with 26 years experience of using this approach, and placed in 7th house, where contact can be made with others.

The Efficiency/Performance figure, which the Moon/Jupiter opposition is also a part of, has Neptune at the apex. This means that Neptune is the outlet and conduit for what is written - and it's given out freely, via the 6th house of service. Note that Neptune is also appropriately placed in Aquarius.

A quick look at the blog's Age Progression shows that the hand of the LifeClock has just entered the 2nd house where a sense of preserving what has been established so far is important. This coincides with transiting Jupiter being in opposition to natal Jupiter (Jupiter is currently in Taurus). And the hand of the LifeClock is opposite Mercury in 8th house. If I needed any further encouragement to continue with this blog, there it is!

Some readers may have spotted that this chart for the blog's start has only blue and red aspects - it has no green aspects at all - and this suggests a tendency for an either/or, "on/off" approach. Yes, that's right - I only blog when I want to and when I feel I have something to write about.

Adele

Gutsy singer-songwriter Adele has recently received a whole raft of awards for her music. Born on 5th May 1988 in London, there is no reliable time of birth available so her chart is set for noon.

The focus here will be on her inner motivation, as shown by the aspect colours and patterns in her chart. It's possible to work with a chart in this way if there is no time of birth available, but bear in mind that the orientation of the chart will not be accurate. With a mixture of triangular and linear aspects, Adele will be motivated to be flexible and changeable in her approach to life. With a large number of red aspects and very few blue aspects, we can expect her to be a "doer" who doesn't find it easy to rest and relax. The chart image supports this too - to me it looks like a diabolo toy, something which is balanced on a rope and has to be in constant movement to maintain that balance.

A very Taurean lady, Adele has her Taurean Sun closely conjunct Jupiter, emphasising Taurean traits of earthy practicality and creativity. Taurus also rules the throat and is the sign associated with singers. Sun and Jupiter together suggest expansion, a larger than life approach, the ability to seize opportunities and take risks. They will also support dogged determination and a lot of staying power and physically, a solid frame. Adele is a curvy lady with a big powerful voice, and this makes a refreshing move away from the "expected" norm of pop singers being stick-like thin.


Opposite Sun/Jupiter is Pluto in Scorpio, adding underlying strength to her Taurean determination, and keeping the red energy of this aspect in a state of tension. In the Ambivalence figure, the opposition is where work and activity take place. The planet at the blue corner - for Adele this is Neptune - is where she will go to escape the "doing" to find refuge in "being", and it's possible that this is where her creativity comes into play.

Rumours are flying that Adele is engaged, after the flashing of what looked like an engagement ring at the recent Brit awards. If it was an engagement ring, and a big one, that sounds just what a Taurean would want. But that is rumour. What is fact is that Adele's Age Point is approaching the 5th house cusp, and when an individual enters the 5th house at age 24, psychologically they are geared up for relationships.