Astrology E-books or real books?

Are you an e-book or a real book person? Which do you prefer - the tactile sensations of handling a real book, its smell and the feel of its cover? Or are you happy to travel light, with your e-books safely downloaded on to a reading device, which can be a very convenient alternative.

Those who prefer the real, hard copy book thing will probably indulge their Jupiters and/or any planets that are in tactile Taurus. Those who are the techno-lovers of transportable e-readers will be indulging all things Uranian and Aquarian in their charts.

I like to have the choice of both - I like real books and I like the convenience of my e-reader when I'm travelling away from home and my bookshelves. I also like the range and choice of books I can take with me on an e-reader, and I make sure it's packed ready with plenty to read before I go away (although I can, of course, download books from anywhere which has to be an advantage!).

All the books I've written are now available in paperback and e-reader versions, including Aspect Patterns in Colour - and it is presented in full colour in the e-reader version so you the reader will gain the greatest benefit from learning about the 40+ aspect patterns that are used in the Huber Method of Astrological Psychology.

Bruno and Louise Huber's introduction of colour into their use of the natal chart was ground-breaking and significant. The psychology of colour and its importance is covered in the Diploma course training offered by the Astrological Psychology Association, and the use of colour is often what attracts newcomers and experienced astrologers alike to the Huber Method. Colour is an integral part of the inner motivation, as shown by the overall aspect structure in the chart and in the individual aspect patterns. Each pattern operates in a distinctive way and reveals how motivational behaviour may be expressed and observed in everyday life.

Don't take my word for it - if you're interested in astrological psychology, a book - or an e-book - is a good place to start!

Pope Benedict stands down

Pope Benedict XVI born on 16.4.1927 at 04:15 in Marktl, Germany

The Pope has announced that he is standing down at the end of this month, February. The last time a Pope resigned was 600 years ago, and this news came out of the blue, taking the world, especially members of the Catholic church, by surprise.

But is it really surprising that an 85 year old man, clearly in ill health and with low energy, wants to stand down from such a high profile office? Benedict, whose real name is Joseph, has not been a particulary charismatic figure, nor as popular as his predecessor. With an aspect colour ratio of 3 red: 3 green: 3 blue in his chart, this might suggest that his energy and inner motivational drive is perfectly balanced, but equal numbers of aspects of each colour suggests there's never enough resting/consolidation time, and that there's too much output of energy. This brings an imbalance which can be sapping to strength and drive.

Benedict's motivation, according to the shaping and aspect patterns in his chart, is to be flexible and restless. He has unaspected Saturn high up in the chart too, which suggests the potential for a lack of feeling and being grounded. The majority of his planets are below the horizon, psychologically in the collective area of the chart. This is where he will feel most comfortable; the demands of high office and of being a prominent figure will have been felt keenly.

Benedict's Age Point is currently in Gemini, in the cardinal zone of the 3rd house of the chart. His Age Point was last here when he was aged 13 - 14, so he's meeting this area of life as an old man, not a young teenager, and with all of his life experience in tow. Decisions such he's made will not have been taken rashly or in a hurry. 

Currently, his Age Point is within orb of unaspected Saturn, to which it is making an opposition. From the psychological perspective of the 3rd house, he is able to view Saturn, and all it may represent for him, from a distance and bow to the needs of his physical body, which needs a rest (Saturn gives the individual a sense of self through the body). Benedict has had the wisdom to acknowledge this and act on it.

Judi Dench

Judi Dench, a dame of the British Empire for her services to acting, is probably currently best known as "M" in the 007 Bond films - although her status changed dramatically at the end of the latest Bond film Skyfall. Dench was born on 9th December 1934 in York, UK. No time of birth is available so the chart is set for noon, putting her Sun conjunct Venus in Sagittarius right at the top of the chart, as this is a noon chart.

Although there's no time of birth, a fair amount of information can be gained from looking at the overall aspect pattern in the chart, together with the aspects, aspect patterns and their colours. All these relate to inner, often unconscious motivation.

The aspect structure has a slightly off-balance, tipping feel to it - there's a sense of movement and fluidity and even though the overall shaping is quadrangular - making her security-oriented - this drive sits alongside the tangential linear aspects. She will not be one to rest on her laurels, probably always seeking new challenges.

There are 4 red: 6 green: 5 blue aspects in the chart. With a surfeit of green, she will have a strong mutable approach to life, always wanting to try or learn new things. This can easily be related to her continued success as an actor, taking on new roles. Now 79, she shows no signs of easing up on her career.

A lesser-seen but interesting aspect pattern that she has is the Striving figure. This is pinned by Saturn, Moon, Venus and Pluto, with Pluto at the apex. The apex planet is usually the one whose qualities the individual strives towards, and at its highest level, Pluto is about the perfection of being. In Dench's case, I'd view Plutonic perfection of being as what she is striving towards in the acting roles she undertakes. The three ego planets - Sun (by default as it is conjunct Venus), Moon and Saturn - are all involved in the Striving figure, indicating that this aspect pattern could be a major driving force in her acting career. People with Striving figures are always aiming high and striving for goals, but don't always reach them, often collapsing or giving up before the target is reached and the goal attained. Their energy may be erratic, and will not always support the drive needed for a final push to the finishing line. In Dench's chart, I'd say she's overcome this potential hazard; her career to date is testament to that.

To find out more about the Striving figure, see my book Aspect Patterns in Colour- available as an e-book and in paperback.

2013 - New Year, new start

The New Year often marks a change in intention and orientation, as those who make New Year resolutions will know. The renewal of the gym membership, going on a diet or restarting a jogging or fitness programme are just some of good-intentioned resolutions  that are made. All too often we weaken and fall by the wayside as, after a promising start, our enthusiasm falls away. 

Some will look to predictions of the year ahead for their Sun sign to offer guidance of what might happen in the coming year. If you're familiar with this blog and with the Huber Method of Astrological Psychology, you'll know that I don't do predictions of this kind, but instead - as this method is concerned with encouraging people to make their own decisions and take responsibility for themselves - what I'd encourage anyone seeking a new start for 2013 to do is to connect with and develop their own sense of self, their mind and their will. These are all attributes of the SUN in the natal chart, which acts like the conductor of the full orchestral range of the planets in the chart.

Whether it's a new start, a restart at the gym, a diet or a new orientation in life, it's the Sun which will be engaged. To maintain the initial momentum you can connect with and use your Sun in effective ways to keep you on track in 2013. I describe some of these in the video below, and in my book The Living Birth Chart. Happy New Year!

Sunset time and the Winter Solstice

Sunset at Llandudno, North Wales, on 15th December 2012 at 15.45

Watching the Sun set on 15th December from the top of the Great Orme, a seaside mountain adjacent to the rather grand Victorian resort of Llandudno in North Wales, I thought it would be interesting to look at the chart, and share some of the photos I took of the event. First, the chart.

Three things are immediately obvious.

• The Sun is setting so is right on the horizon, the DC, and at the time was making semi-sextiles to Mars and Venus. How appropriate this was is borne out by the fiery beauty of the event (see photos).
• The Projection figure aspect pattern, a feature of the forthcoming Winter Solstice chart for 21st December and the end of the Mayan calandar, is already in place and will have been for some time. At the time of this particular sunset, the Moon was conjunct Pluto, one of the pinning planets in this pattern (see below for my previous posting on the Solstice chart). Moon/Pluto can be pretty intense - as were the effects on me of the changing aspects of this sunset.
• Jupiter, at the apex of the Projection figure, is in 12th house, so has just risen above the horizon but would not have yet been visible. But look up at night because Jupiter is shining brightly right now and is easy to spot in the night sky. When you find it, look to the right and slightly upwards to find the Pleiades(also known as the "seven sisters"). If you don't look directly at them, you'll see them better. Best of all is to use binoculars to see this stunning group of stars.

Astronomy and astrology can sit side by side quite easily and if you're an astrologer it's always an inspiring and humbling exercise to look up at the sky and relate what you see to the chart. Now for the photos. May the return of the light at the Solstice fill you and inspire you.

 

The setting sun at 15.52....

 

 

 

 

....and 15.53....

....at 15.54....

...and at 15.57