Nature v Nurture - The Family Model

In my book The Cosmic Egg Timer, I include a chapter giving guidelines on how to use the Family Model in the natal chart. Looking at the position of Sun, Moon and Saturn a lot can be learned about the Mother/Father/Child relationships which existed as the individual was growing up.

Sun at the top

The Sun symbolises the will and the mind, and aspects of the personality which relate to "self" - self-confidence, self-esteem and self-identity. When we're young, we're not yet ready to take on board developing these things for ourself, so we project our own Sun on to the person in the family who we assume is playing out that role - it's usually dad, but in these days of changes in family structures, it can also be mum. In such cases, the child will look to the mother to fulfil both parenting roles. Ideally, the Sun in the chart will be placed above the horizon, preferably near the top. Needless to say, it doesn't always happen this way; variations and what they suggest are discussed in The Cosmic Egg Timer.

Saturn at the bottom

Saturn in the chart is symbolic of our physical self (see previous post on the ego planets) as well as security in all its different manifestations. Security means different things to different people, but one thing's for sure: we all need to feel secure, especially when a child. Who is the first person to offer such security and protection? Mother of course, so we tend to project our own Saturn on to her. She's the one who gives out the rules and guidelines of how things should be as we grow up. Please don't fall into the trap of gasping and rejecting Saturn as mother when you may be attached to thinking of the Moon as mother. Mum can be Saturnian and loving at the same time. She (or the person who fulfils this role) is usually the one who keeps us on track. Ideally, Saturn will be placed below the horizon in the chart and you can read more of why this is in the book.

Moon in 7th

Moon represents our inner child and how we express ourselves through our feelings (again, see my previous post on the ego planets) so it won't come as a big surprise to discover that the Moon symbolises the child - ourselves as we grew up - in the context of the Family Model. The Moon is best placed in the chart where it can make and receive contact with others. A 7th house placement is ideal, but not too many things in the chart fall into the category of "ideal", so let's say that the Moon is likely to be well-placed if it's somewhere in the region of the DC, where it has the best chance of connecting with others.

You'll find much more about the Family Model in my co-authored book The Cosmic Egg Timer, where family relationships, family dominance, and specific bonding between child and one or both parents is covered. The book is available as an ebook and as a paperback.

Comment by A. Gregory, newcomer to astrology, on The Cosmic Egg Timer:

"This impressive book explains astrological psychology clearly in a logical and progressive manner. It enabled me to examine my own chart, and those of family and friends. I came away with a deeper awareness of myself, and greater understanding of astrology. It has left me wanting to know more!"

Sun, Moon, Saturn - the Ego Planets

Ego planets shown in red

How is 2014 going for you so far? Have you set goals, made resolutions, yearn for things to get better for you in the year ahead? Are you leaving it to chance, fate and good luck for the year ahead, or are you willing to engage in making things improve and go your way, on your terms? Here's how you might go about this, using your ego planets.

We identify with our own sense of self through the ego, and in astrological psychology the planets which represent the ego in a natal chart are Sun, Moon and Saturn.  They are always shown in red in the chart because of their significance and importance. Ego planets operate at a more conscious level and large portions of life are lived through them. The qualities, drives and energies that these three planets represent are closely linked with the physical, emotional and mental aspects of what it is to be human.

Saturn provides structure and gives a sense of the physical self.

Moon conveys our emotional responses and gives a sense of self via feelings.

Sun allows us to connect with the will, the ability to make choices and gain self awareness through the use of the mind.

All three planets can be functioning a various stages of consciousness - are they asleep, waking or awake? Are you using them to the best of your ability to gain the most you can from your daily interactions and relationships? If you're interested in your own personal growth, and want to get the best you can out of life, you can learn to wake these planets up so they are working more effectively for you.

Engaging with the Cardinal energy of the Sun you can begin to tap into your ability to be creative; connecting with the Mutable energy of the Moon you can become more comfortable and proficient at expressing your feelings and learning to ask for your emotional needs to be recognised and met in relationships; and with Saturn's Fixed energy you can pursue your security needs alongside becoming more structured and organised in your life.

Book of the Month

What I've written here is a short extract from my co-authored book, The Cosmic Egg Timer, where you can read about the psychological drives associated with the ego planets, and can get some ideas about how to move through 2014 in a more awake way, making the things that you want to happen for yourself actually happen, rather than leaving it all to chance - or to what sun sign astrologers tell you!

What might 2014 have in store for you?

Chart set for 1 minute past midnight on January 1st 2014

The chart for the start of the new year offers an image resembling an arrow head pointing down into the collective area, with a stellium in Capricorn of four planets - Sun, Moon, Mercury and Pluto - plus unaspected Venus sitting to one side. The on-going Uranus/Pluto square is in evidence, and forms one side of the Efficiency/Performance triangle, which includes Mars, with some of the stellium planets at the pointy, business end of this figure. Immediate, gut response to this  line up is "not much chance of a rest there then..."

Aspect Patterns are covered in depth in two books: Aspect Pattern Astrology by Bruno and Louise Huber, and in my book Aspect Patterns in Colour. 

The aspect structure is composed of only red and blue aspects, suggesting a black/white, either/or modus operandi, with little opportunity of viewing things other than in dualistic, good/bad ways. Unless of course, you choose to take on board for yourself your ability to choose and see things differently. If you're reading this, it's more than likely that you'll be able to see beyond the obvious and search for solutions. Astrological Psychology isn't about predicting the future and telling people what's going to happen to them - it's aim is to encourage people to take responsibilty for themselves and their lives, shaping and creating them from the driving seat, rather than sitting helpessly in the passenger seat.

How might you do this in 2014? Looking at the year ahead from the perspective of where you are in your own life journey, and from the perspective of using Age Progression in your chart and you life, how you face up to whatever comes your way in the year ahead will be determined by where your Age Point is in your chart.

For example, if you're in your 30's, between 30 and 36, you're probably working hard at establishing yourself in your career and in the workplace, so you'll be focussed on that. Whatever comes your way in 2014 will be viewed through this lens of where you are psychologically on your life path.

Between the ages of 36 and 42, you may be more focussed on your primary relationships in life, and will possibly be evaluating them. You will be more likely to gain feedback on yourself, at this stage of life, from your one to one interactions with others, so it could also be a time of increased contact with people in all areas of your life. Beyond that, you're likely to be taking stock in a big way when you reach 45/46, and deciding which direction you want to next move towards. This again will colour and flavour your life in the year ahead. In your 50's, you'll be sensing a peaking of attainment and achievement in your work in the outside world, but there may also be a personal sense of satisfaction when you look back on your life to date and see how far you've travelled. If you don't experience this, you may also be looking back with a sense of not having done enough with your life. If that's the case, what's stopping you? Opportunities are there to be seized, and 2014 begins with Jupiter, the planet associated with risk, expansion and adventure at the top of the chart. Use some of this energy to move you forward if that's what you want - but do it yourself, for yourself.

Age Progression covers each psychological phase of life from birth, as the Age Point moves through each house of the chart. It's described in depth in Life Clock by Bruno and Louise Huber and in my most recent book, Using Age Progression - Understanding Life's Journey. Both books are available from the APA Book Shop, Amazon and other retailers.

May your year ahead be one where you guide and create your life in directions of your own choosing, whatever your Zodiac sign. Forget the predictions - create your own!

Sun into Capricorn - Winter Solstice

I've written something similar to this in the past around the time the Sun enters the sign of Capricorn, but it bears repeating because we all, myself included, need reminding of things from time to time. And it's always good to reconnect with those events outside of ourselves. Connecting with the position of the Sun in relation to ourselves on Earth is something we can do relatively easily at this very busy time of year. On 21st December the Sun is at its furthest point from the northern hemisphere, making this is the shortest day and longest night of the year. Meanwhile, down in the southern hemisphere the Sun is riding high in the sky as the exact opposite happens.

It may look dark but the light is there, waiting to return

The winter solstice is a festival of light and in the northern hemisphere it coincides with Christmas. This Christian festival takes place at the same time of year as the pagan celebration of the solstice which celebrates the gradual and at first impercetible return of the light of the Sun after the long days of darkness. It's the turning point of the year and marks the return of the light and the rebirth of the Sun (the Son in Christianity...?), together with the promise of the warmth and energy the Sun brings to make crops - essential to life - grow once again after the earth has lain dormant.

This is the time of year when people of all faiths, and none, can express their connection with the earth, our life upon it in relation to others we meet, and our place in the solar system, so

celebrate !

Share the warmth of friendship at the turning point of the year and bring some light and joy into your own life and the lives of others.

What you could do at this time of year to bring light into your own life:

• light a candle 
• call a friend
• perform a random act of kindness
• take a risk and smile at strangers as you walk down the street 
• glow with joy and a warmth of spirit and it will come back to you in spades

Greetings of the season to everyone out there, and may the warmth of friendship be wrapped around you at this time of year.

 

John F Kennedy 50 years on

The 50th anniversary of the assassination of JFK is being marked and remembered as 22nd November 2013 nears. Many people around the world will recall hearing the news, experiencing the shock and the aftermath of this event.

Kennedy was born on 29th May 1917 at 3.00 pm in Brookline, MA, USA. His chart is sparse and graphic.

The aspect structure is almost completely linear and tangential, with only one aspect pattern, the Small Learning triangle pinned by the Mercury/Mars/Jupiter conjunction in Taurus, with Venus and Moon at the other two corners. The chart image is one which conveys a rather gawky, awkward appearance, and the separate semi-sextile at the top of the chart formed by Saturn/Neptune and Pluto has little chance of being integrated into the overall pattern. It would act as a separate, possibly quite strong-willed part of his personality.

I don't intend to make a detailed anaylsis of his chart, but will focus on features which are interesting in the light of what is known about JFK the person and President. Family expectations for him were high. He came from a weathy and influential background, and was brought up in the Catholic faith. His father is said to have been absent, his mother cold and remote. In the Huber's Family Model, the Sun represents the father and Saturn the mother principle (note - NOT the mother, the protective mothering principle). The child, in the Family Model, is represented by the Moon. JFK's Virgo Moon is tucked away on the AC side of the chart and looks quite lonely and isolated. It is close to the 12th cusp so psychologically would be more interested in 12th house matters than in those of the 11th house where it just about has a foothold. Children with a Moon placement such as this tend towards retreating into their own space. 

The Sun, with its loose conjunction to Venus in Gemini in 8th suggests the experience of a father who is charming and communicative, deeply engaged with the matters of a wider society and a networker/businessman. Saturn is part of the detached semi-sextile which spans the top of the chart. Saturn's conjunction with Neptune may indicate a yearning for love and acceptance on the part of the child (JFK himself) but this could have felt way out of his reach, with her being potentially powerful and scary, taking into consideration the connection with Pluto alongside the dominant position of Saturn at the top of the chart. 

JFK was renowned for his womanising and had great charisma. Mercury, Mars and Jupiter, all strongly placed in 8th house and squaring Uranus could convey his pulling power as well as his charm, and Venus conjunct Sun in Gemini - part of the complete Small Learning triangle - would contribute to this, along with his ability to be a powerful orator.

JFK's Age Progression is worth noting - he married at age 36, as his Age Point in Aries crossed the DC and entered the 7th house. This is often a time of opening up to new horizons in life. Marriage made his selection and election as President more likely - the "Camelot" family of John, Jackie and their young children was very appealing. His renowned long term affair with Marilyn Monroe coincides with his Age Point transitting the 7th house, yet his marriage to Jackie appeared solid. 

JFK was sworn in as President in January 1961. He was 44 and his Age Point was on the Balance Point of the 8th house. The Balance Point experience in Age Progression is one of being able to respond smoothly and easily to the demands of the environment; when the Age Point reaches the Low Point this becomes more challenging. In November 1963, JFK's Age Point had already moved through the Low Point in the 8th house and as he was was driven through Dallas in the open-topped car, waving and smiling at the crowds, with Jackie at his side, he was shot dead.

He was 46 and his Age Point was conjunct his Sun.