The astrology and psychology of AI

A brief web search for astrology and AI will yield a raft of possibilities and choices if you're looking for a chart interpretation by a robot. But why would you trust a robot, programmed to look at your natal chart - and maybe not very well either - when you could have it interpreted by a real, live, trained and experienced astrologer?

I might, as an experiment, see what an AI astrobot would come up with for my own chart, but really wouldn't have many expectations beyond it being able to regurgitate material it had already been programmed to use. In truth, it would be a waste of time going there because I've been looking at and working on my own chart in the context of my life experiences as I've learned and practiced astrology since 1984, gaining my professional qualification in astrological psychology in 1987. 

There are many approaches to astrology, and many different styles or methods which can be used - Western astrology, Chinese astrology, Vedic astrology, Horary astrology, Psychological astrology, Mythic astrology and more - you can go and look them up for yourself. Where would the astrobot start if it was scraping info from some of these various sources? 

Would it mix them up and present them as a mishmash of different approaches? This has the potential for a dog's dinner because a machine, unable to differentiate, could cherry pick different techniques from different astrological disciplines, methods and systems, regardless of their relevance and compatibilities, and bundle them together into one single reading.

I use the Huber Method of Astrological Psychology, which has strong connections with Psychosynthesis, often called a Psychology with a Soul, which was developed by Italian Psychiatrist Roberto Assagioli. Anything you might find on the web about astrological psychology and AI is likely to have been poached, pinched, stolen and taken from existing information on the web. It might have been copied directly - and illegally -  from books available on the subject if their content is available online. 

Astrological psychology differs from psychological astrology where the approach is more Jungian. Jung and Assagioli were contemporaries, Assagioli branching independently into more spiritual realms with his work. Astrologers Bruno and Louise Huber worked alongside Assagioli in Florence, training with him and seeing clients, and they began to research and combine astrology with psychosynthesis. The end result was a new, soul-centred approach to working with the charts of people - they called it astrological psychology. You can read how they did this in their biography Piercing the Eggshell.

The Huber Method is a system complete in itself and cherry picking and using some of its techniques with another approach doesn't yield reliable answers. You need to use the whole approach to get an accurate reading, as the chart reflects the whole person.

The astrology of AI

AI came into being in the summer of 1956 at a workshop in Dartmouth College, New Hampshire, USA. A group of scientists and mathematicians explored the possibility of creating a human-like brain and research began. In the 1950s in the UK, Alan Turing looked at the possibility of developing AI, and in the US the 1956 research was headed by John McCarthy.

Was the summer of 1956 significant astrologically? Saturn, the planet we might associate with scientific fact and the organisation of well-defined systems had gone retrograde, moving from Sagittarius to Scorpio for a few months over the summer. It stayed there until autumn before returning to Sagittarius for the long haul. It kind of fits if you're looking for a background theme.

I've speculated - just for fun, but you might like to try this too - on what the chart for the "birth" of AI might look like, and have concluded that it would be devoid of most of the planets used in a natal chart. It would be full of empty spaces and unoccupied houses, with two main players - Mercury and Saturn.

The astrological psychology of AI 

Here, with what I see as these two main players in the "birth" chart of AI, I'm going to speculate generally and astrologically about how Mercury and Saturn might operate in this scenario.

We can forget  the presence of the Sun and Moon in this fantasy chart. The Sun represents our sense of self, personal self-awareness, ability to make decisions and moral judgements and it signifies our unique individuality. AI does not have this, nor does it have emotions, needs, moods, or the ability to connect with it's inner child, so forget the Moon here too.

Mercury - yes, AI's fantasy chart can have this planet which represents, in humans, the ability to communicate using words, gather information, and transmit information. But an AI bot will only be as good as the information it has been programmed with, and only as good as the individuals who programmed it, although it can use words to communicate, it can gather and transmit information and it can also chat.  All of this because it's been programmed to.

Venus - no, since this planet assists, along with the Sun, in discrimination, choosing and evaluation. Yet there are hints that AI offers answers which give both sides of a topic. It tends to sit on the fence, doesn't want to offend and answers frequently have an "on the one hand...and on the other hand" flavour. AI doesn't commit to either and doesn't offend, so I detect shades of the traits of the sign Libra here. For this reason, I'll put Mercury into Libra in this non-existent fantasy chart.

Mars - yes, there has to be some Mars energy in order for AI to work and do something, but it's the sheer unconscious energy of a machine, a blind force dependent on the components that makes it work.

Jupiter - no, as this is the planet associated with judgement, wisdom, ethics and the ability to evaluate experiences. AI is currently not able to do that.

Saturn -  yes, Saturn is a reliable player when it comes to storage (of info in this instance) and it's a major player because it represents boundaries and the control of these (AI can only operate within the boundaries of it's physical structure, making it inflexible and conservative). The systems which AI is composed of aren't able to step outside of the framework they're operating within, but there could be a large number of systems at work, transmitting the information that's been stored (Saturn holds on tight to things) via Mercury. And of course, in this fantasy chart, Saturn and Mercury would be in conjunction.

No point in considering the transpersonal planets - Uranus, Neptune and Pluto - in this fantasy chart, although you, the reader, might want to speculate on how AI could work out against the  general background of the collective consciousness - i.e. human beings.

The Moon in your birth chart

 

This was a "supermoon", photo taken on 27th April 2021

 

 

 

I've revisited this post I wrote about the Moon some time ago, because the Moon  strongly and symbolically relates to our feelings, and feelings.....oh boy, they can, from time to time, get us into hot water. They can be repressed, bubbling and seething away away beneath the surface, and they can burst out suddenly and unexpectedly in a whole rush of emotion.

So a few suggestions and thoughts about the Moon might set you on a journey of exploration of how your own Moon/emotions/feelings is or can be. 

*  *  *  *  *

The Moon in astrological psychology represents the sense of self we gain through our feelings and emotions, and in the natal chart it can indicate how we might go about getting our emotional needs met. The Moon is also an indicator of the inner child.

It can signify our spontaneous and fun-loving child-like responses, and it also acts like a mirror, reflecting what's going on around us because it can sense and pick up on atmospheres and feelings very easily. It's an important sensing tool, the part of us that feels.

Of course, the way the Moon operates and expresses itself out in the world will be coloured by the Zodiac Sign it's in, which acts like a "costume" which clothes the Moon and modifies its expression. On a basic bottom line level, its expression is influenced by the Element (Fire, Earth, Air or Water) of that Sign, so I'll make a few suggestions here:

Fire Sign Moons - those in fiery Aries, Leo and Sagittarius - will tend towards optimism and enthusiasm. Fiery Moons want to be noticed. They will be lively, expressive and outspoken with energetic feelings that demand attention.

Earth Sign Moons - those in earthy Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn - will have a strong practical streak. They may be a bit fussy, but they are down-to-earth and generally enjoy sensual things, espcially Taurus Moons. They will appreciate good quality in all areas of life.

Air Sign Moons - those in airy Gemini, Libra and Aquarius - love to communicate and share ideas with others, so they enjoy seeing friends and family, chatting and catching up on news, attending talks, lectures and events which will stimulate the mind.

Water Sign Moons - those in watery Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces - tend to be very emotionally sensitive and tuned in to the feelings of others. They can be very caring, needing to express their feelings and regard for others in tangible ways. But they can also be moody, living life through their feeling nature.

The Moon, representing the sense of self we get through our feelings, is often a part of the personality which is neglected or repressed. We may have been brought up not to show our feelings; they might have been regarded as unacceptable or not something to share or talk about in the environment we grew up in. But they are there all the same, and sometimes they need our attention. 

 

It's worth noting here that the sign the Moon is in is only one layer of understanding and interpreting it in a chart. The aspect pattern it's in, the other planets it connects with and the house/area of life experience it's in all have to be considered.

In this video I talk about some of the ways we can work on developing and understanding the Moon and our feeling nature. There is more on this in my book The Living Birth Chart. Click on the Books by Joyce Hopewell tab at the top of the page.

 

Pluto in Aquarius 2024 - 2043

I'm republishing this post which I wrote nearly a year ago, in May 2024. Quite a lot of water has flowed fast beneath the bridge since then, and things which I mentioned have moved on, and have become more prominent on a global scale. I shall follow this post up shortly, with some additional thoughts on Pluto in Aquarius, so watch this space.....

Pluto has entered Aquarius, and it's almost as if it quietly slipped in under the radar of global bad news about Ukraine, Gaza and Israel, along with the growing clamour of interest and concern about our climate emergency. All that rain...all those landslides, floods and heatwaves...all those devastating tornadoes....all those crops going rotten in the wet ground....

In view of the current volatile state of the world and the line up of dominant hard-right world leaders, plus the growing proliferation of AI, it's not entirely comforting to speculate on what might be around in the years ahead. Pluto moved from Capricorn into Aquarius in January 2024, and will hang around near the doorstep then drop back into Capricorn for a final last look around in September/October before taking residence more decisively in Aquarius, where it will stay until 2043. Then it begins to dither on the doorstep of Pisces.

But that's a long while off. And as 2024 to 2043 is one helluva long time, a lot could happen given where things are at now. For me, Pluto in Aquarius and the rapid development of AI seem to go hand im hand, not neccessarily in a good way. It depends who is using the AI, and how.

I'm not going to attempt to interpret what could happen - but I'll throw out a few suggestions of what the Pluto in Aquarius years might hold, based on key words and characteristics of Pluto's energies and Aquarius' traits. You can think about them, speculate and combine them for yourself. And please share them in feedback too.

Pluto

All the manifestations and energies of the planets can be viewed, experienced and expressed at different levels - asleep, waking and awake. 

Pluto asleep (unaware, at it's most basic) can be manipulative, power-driven, using personal will to dominate and control others (does that ring bells with certain world leaders...?). Waking and awake, there will be greater acknowledgement of power and it's uses and application - for the greater good to benefit humanity rather than for personal aggrandisement. Pluto energy is also about transforming, bringing about change by clearing out the dross and leaving behind what is no longer relevant or useful. This could be a tough call. What might fall by the wayside? Over to you reader, for thoughts and suggestions on this.

Aquarius

Qualities and traits for this sign are independence, freedom, "don't pin me down", new ideas/inventions which will ultimately make things easier for all, scientific advances (AI and all it's manifestations fall into the Aquarius arena), quirky thinking outside the box, a tendency towards fixity (fixed ideas - how might that work with Pluto asleep?), co-operation with like-minded people. How might some of these traits combine with Pluto at the different levels. Once again, over to you. Can you come up with some positive takes? The more negative ones could be scary.....

Yet on the plus side, it's really down to us as individuals to shape the way we want the world we live in to be, and we can only individually do this in small ways. And it's vitally important that we do it. That we use our power of one (Pluto on the personal level) to speak up/about/ for and against, vote for what we believe is right, not what is "expected" of us by anyone else, and that we participate in some way to express our feelings. 

This might be to write a letter to powers that be, be brave enough to take a stand, go on a demo or march, support a positive cause or movement - there are endless options that require a bit of energy which will combat any feelings of helplessness that might be around. 

These are just suggestions and a few rambling thoughts that have come up for me whilst considering Pluto in Aquarius. If you have thoughts on this too, feel free to share them.

 

Masks - it's a Pluto thing

Masks made by particpants at an astrological psychology workshop. The masks they are wearing represent a part of themselves they would not nomally share or show.

 

Since the start of the pandemic in 2020, mask wearing has become a hot and controversial topic. 

Some people are strongly against wearing masks, even though these are known to be the most effective barrier against spreading the Covid-19 virus and its variants. The airborne viral load breathed out or in by we humans is effectively sequestered by the wearing of masks which cover both mouth and nose. Masks protect both the wearer and everyone else they come into contact with. For me it's a no-brainer not to wear one; they're beneficial to all. Otherwise why have medical/surgical staff been wearing them long before the onset of the pandemic? How might a mask-denier feel about a surgeon operating on them without a mask, breathing goodness-knows-what out into the operating theatre and all over them?

So why don't people like them? Is it purely to do with not liking the effect they have on being able to breathe properly or communicate easily? Or is it something to do with people not liking being "told" what to do, maybe thinking they know best? Thinking they look a bit daft or strange wearing them? How vain and anti-social might that be?

In astrology, masks are associated with Pluto, the outermost planet in our solar system, most distant from the Sun, and is associated with the psychological drive of transpersonal will, which is engaged when our energies are directed towards perfecting ourselves and upping our personal ante.

Pluto operates at different levels of awareness. On a personal level it can be seen in disruptive, power-laden behaviour. Pluto is symbolic of the masks we wear to cover up what we don't want others to see. It can make us manipulative, allowing us to force our will on others, trying to dominate them.

Masks can also provide a hiding place for aspects of ourselves we don't want to show or share, to keep safe something hidden about ourselves - think of the smiling face and demeanour which hides a ruthless personality, or a person whose actions belie their true colours.

Masks are not all bad, as long as they are used as masks and not as a hiding place for truth. They can be fun too, but in a superficial way - think of masked balls, dressing up in costumes for a specific role, and make-up which transforms the face of the person beneath. Pluto is the transpersonal planet of tranformation, change and power, things which should definitely be used with awareness and always with the mantra of "do no harm". 

Pluto as a power trip is the expression of this planet at its lowest level; at its highest level of expression personal power has to be surrendered and control relinquished. Those who refuse to wear masks and disapprove of those who do have quite a way to go yet on their path to perfection, which is Pluto at it's highest level: the perfect being. 

That's something we all have to work at, but maybe the mask-deniers have to do it just that little bit harder.

NB - I'm aware that some people have exemptions for wearing masks because they have a medical condition. I know someone in this category who wears an uncomfortable face shield to protect herself and others when she is out, and I take my hat off to her for doing this selflessly.

 

 

 

There's more on Pluto and the transpersonal planets in my book,

 The Cosmic Egg Timer,

and in The Planets by Bruno and Louise Huber.

Both books are available on Amazon.

Click here and here for details of these and other books on astrological psychology.

 

Whatever happened to Lobby Ludd? Some Mercurial musings.

 

Family Group in London, 1950s. Personal archives. Is that Lobby Ludd in the hat?

An inconsequential incident at home has provoked a few Mercurial musings, mainly about how ingrained the symbolism of the planets is in our daily lives and our culture.

The question, "Whatever happened to Lobby Ludd?" arose as my husband was  giving a touch of fresh paint to the area between our kitchen door, which leads to the utility room and also has a door  giving access to the garage. I call it the lobby. He calls it an alcove. Daughter calls it a porch.

Using the word “lobby” had us both remembering a certain character called Lobby Lud, who was around in the late 1950s/early 1960s when we were taken on seaside holidays with our respective parents – me to Clacton-on-Sea, him to Blackpool and Scarborough.

Mercury, the winged messenger

As I remember, Lobby Lud was a mystery man who roamed around the resort, probably wearing a trilby hat and carrying a newspaper. People were encouraged to look out for him, and if they recognised him from his picture in the newspaper, to approach him and say “You are Lobby Lud and I claim my £5”.

The whole thing was a promotional ruse to get people on holiday to buy a daily newspaper. As I recall, it was probably either The Daily Mail, or The News Chronicle who ran this event, and it was done to boost newspaper sales. People often didn’t bother to buy a paper whilst on holiday so this was a way to encourage them to do so, with the potential £5 as the prize. £5 was quite a lot of money in the 1950s. Enter the planet Mercury and some of its manifestations in our world. We speak of mercurial minds, mercurial wit, and the speed at which this planet orbits the Sun in our solar system is relevant here. 

 

Mercury, closest to the Sun, completes its orbit in 88 days as opposed to our 365 days for Earth, with Saturn clocking up 29 years. Mercury, in astrological parlance, symbolises speedy communication of all kinds plus the learning and gathering of facts and sometimes snippets of useful information. English-speaking Newspapers have adopted the qualities of this planet of communication in their names, such as The Daily Mail, The Daily Express, and The Telegraph all have associations of speed and communication. Other regional newspapers attach a Mercurial association to their name by using the word Courier. 

 

Mercury, renowned as a trickster too, is also known as the messenger of the gods. The delivery company Hermes uses this name, which is the Greek version. Hermes was the Greek god of trade, language and travel, amongst other things.

Back to Lobby Ludd carrying his newspaper, and with a nod to Mecury in trickster mode, the whole thing had a quaint, slightly quirky ring to it. I don’t think my dad ever saw Lobby Ludd when we were out and about – or if he did, he tried to get me, but an innocent young child at the time, to go and challege Lobby and ask for the £5. I would never have dared to do this, but I was always on the lookout for a man in a trilby hat, carrying a newspaper when we were walking around in the central promenade area near the pier.

Those were days of innocent holiday family fun alright. In Clacton, as well as Lobby Ludd, there was a concert party on the pier twice daily and live entertainment and shows to go to. Today’s holiday makers are more likely to go to a multi-screen cinema with a bar, and read the news on their smart phones or tablets. And more often than not it’s only the older generation who have a folded, well-thumbed tabloid tucked under one arm. 

The essence Mercury prevails, but now it comes in different, technological forms.

 

Are you Nice or are you Kind?

Twin sisters, Brittany

I was inspired to explore the theme of "nice and kind" having read a blog post by Jane Fritz on this topic.

I left a comment on her blog, having pondered on the differences between being nice and being kind. Using my understanding of psychosynthesis, which underpins the astrological psychology which I use and am most familiar with, I said:

"...if you’re being “nice” you’re probaby coming from a sub-personality but if you’re being “kind” you’re coming from a far more authentic place – your very centre, the core of your being. Kindness is more of a transpersonal quality, aligned with love. If you’re coming from your centre, you’ll be heard (not neccesarily liked, but your truth will shine through), whereas being nice is more cosmetic and without depth and authenticity. But niceness and kindness can cooperate – it’s possible to be kind and nice at the same time, loving and firm."  

I went on ponder on how the expression of "niceness" and "kindness" might work out in the context astrological psychology, and specifically in an individual's natal chart. The Moon - the ego planet associated with contact needs, emotional dependency and the need to be loved - is most likely to be the root and base from which nice and kind behaviour stems.

Expression of the nice aspect of the Moon may come when this planet is operating at an asleep, unaware level, when childish needs, often ignored when the person was growing up, are still seeking fulfillment, and they do not want to be hurt, or for  things to be unpleasant, or to be seen as someone who is not "nice". So what may be presented to the world is not neccesarily "nice" as it may have other, often unconscious motivations driving it.

Being kind is another matter altogether, and draws on the awake, fully conscious aspects of the Moon. Coming from this place, the person is comfortable within their own feelings, and far more aware of their needs; they can ask for them to be met and they don't have to skate around things being nice; they can be direct. The qualities which come into play here are harmlessness, openess, receptivity, sensitivity and compassion.

Of course, most of us can be both nice and kind - if you're being kind you're going to be nice, pleasant, well-mannered, good humoured and all the other meanings in between - and you're very likely to be expressing kindness and consideration too.

The elderly twin sisters in the photo at the start of this post seem to me to be expressing not just being nice as they did their volunteer work in this church in Brittany, they were being kind too. Their faces show warmth, they were friendly, charming and had a sense of humour too. Their kindness shines through.

We need kindness, probably more then ever right now, in this stage of our human evolution, and as we work our way through this pandemic.

Saturn

  

Arnol Blackhouses, Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides

               

This article offers a practical exploration of Saturn. Readers  - you do not need to have any prior knowledge of astrology, or of what the planet Saturn represents - although what I've written here will give you some ideas to mull over.

Do you check the weather forecast before you leave home to see if you’ll need an umbrella, carry a train timetable with you when going to the station, and make sure you have a map in the car when setting off on a journey to a new destination? If you answered “yes” to any of these, then you were probably drawing on your own resources of Saturnian energy.

In astrology, the drive associated with Saturn is for Security. Saturn is concerned with structure and form, always seeking to organise, preserve and maintain things within manageable limits. In our solar system, Saturn is the furthest planet that can be seen by the naked eye.  Before the outer planets were discovered, following the invention of the telescope, Saturn’s position marked the outermost limit of our knowledge of the solar system, so it is not altogether surprising that astrologically it symbolises limitation, boundaries and our own security drives.

It is the planet that swings into action when we need to know just exactly where we stand, so having social structures, guidelines and rules to abide by are all part of Saturn’s realm. Saturn gives the physical sense of self which we gain through the body. The structure, organisation and limitation associated with Saturn are present in the various systems in the body - the respiratory system, the circulatory system, and the digestive system, to mention just a few. The skeletal system provides a firm, solid physical structure around which the other systems are organised. As all these systems are interdependent, their clear-cut organisation is vital. The skin - our own boundary which marks our physical outermost limits - contains them all.

Saturn helps us to become responsible and reliable as individuals; if we live within the rules and guidelines of society then we reap the benefits of feeling safe and secure. Saturn is the perfect foil to  unfettered over-expansiveness and behaviour which can get out of hand. If not contained, our excesses can take us beyond the limits of acceptability.

Saturn helps in curbing what might become outrageous behaviour by giving us a sense of caution and responsibility. Taken to extremes, this sense of caution can become fear,  holding us back and restricting us in everyday life, so it’s important with Saturn that we get the balance right, and that we don’t allow our fears to hold us back from doing what is important for us. 

Because it symbolises such qualities as  responsibility and caution Saturn may not sound like much fun, so it’s important that we understand its positive attributes. It’s value should not be underestimated as it plays an essential role in our psychological make up. Like all the planetary qualities and energies, it can operate at different levels of consciousness, sometimes dormant and inert and responding in a habitual manner, but at its highest level Saturn will endow us with the ability to act with dignity and maturity. 

Then we can live with a clear conscience, accessing the deep learning of life we have developed, and become a mentor and benefactor  to those who seek our help, support and advice.

The Jupiter/Saturn Conjunction - and watch out for 2021

 

Our star, the Sun, setting over the sea

They're calling it The Great Conjunction because in astronomical terms, it's pretty impressive. 

Not since 1632 have these two planets - both of them mighty, large, heavy masses - been this close together, so close that they appear as a very bright star in the sky. It has long been speculated that a conjunction of these two heavies were the "Star in the East" which was seen and followed by the Three Wise Men (bear in mind if you will, that these guys were probably astrologers/astronomers so they knew what they were seeing and the possible significance of this rare event).

Fast forward to the Winter Soltice (that's today) of 2020, when the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn will be as close and extact as it can be. Both planets have been edging closer together as they move though the home strait of Earth sign Capricorn to cross the fininishing line and enter Air Sign Aquarius today, 21st December. Slap bang on the Winter Solstice, when the Sun (from Earth) appears to stand still. What we experience here on Earth (in the northern hemisphere) is the shortest day and the longest night; a time of wonder for our early ancestors who lived their lives closely attuned to the seasons, to the environment, the movements of the heavens, and the position of the Sun, our star.

I've previously written about significant planetary movements in 2020, and you can read about it here.

But what is happening right now, as we hurtle towards 2021? The cases of Covid-19 are alarmingly on the rise, a new variant of the virus has emerged and in the UK stringent new lockdowns have been established in large areas of the country. The vaccination programme is in the initial stages of being rolled out, and the UK teeters towards the real possibility of a no-deal Brexit with stuttering on/off negotiations on a trade deal with the EU. Many countries have already closed their borders with the UK for fear of the virus spreading beyond our shores, and lorries carrying goods from continental Europe are backed up for mind-boggling miles into the county of Kent, triggering fears of shortages. Merry Christmas? I don't think so.

So let's look at the qualites and energies of this significant Jupiter/Saturn conjunction and how they might throw some light on current events and set the scene for 2021. The pair of them together remind me of the "Push-me-Pull-you" animal in Dr. Doolittle, each side tugging in different directions which are mostly completely opposing.

Jupiter qualities are concerned with largesse, big gestures, adventuring, like the Star Trek mission statement of "boldly going forth where no-one has gone before". Jupiter sees the big picture and takes in the potential of the whole, but may not always look before it leaps, so Jupiterian actions can be risky. It's great on vision, on looking ahead and seeing fresh ways to go, but a touch of casual sloppiness can creep in whilst it's in pursuit of new horizons. With Jupiter, think big, and listen to Holst's Planets Suite, where Jupiter is tagged as "The bringer of jollity". The usic speaks of this and Holst knew what he was writing about here as he had studied astrology - albeit the more traditional style, not the Huber Method.

Saturn qualities on the other hand are almost the complete opposite. Saturn is renowned in traditional astrologky for being the grumpy old killjoy of the solar system, associated with the stiffness and stuffiness of old age (Holst's piece in Saturn is tagged "The bringer of old age", the music correspondingly slow and on the gloomy side). But where would we be be without Saturn, with its qualities and energies of restaint, caution and risk-aversion? Saturn offers structure, form, systems, shape, boundaries (but don't let them become high brick walls), organisation, and a scientific approach so we don't leap in without first checking out the facts, or dangers and drawbacks. There are some pretty useful qualities around there.

So - we have the go-ahead/hold-back aspects of this conjunction going arm-in-arm into the Air sign of Aquarius, itself famous for it's forward-thinking/let-it-all-hang out stamp, thanks to the musical "Hair" and the song "The Age of Aquarius" (and that show was around in the late 60's/early 70s). There's nothing new here - this may be the moment we've been waiting for.

Aquarius, as an Air sign, is concerned with ideas, thinking, communication, freedom, shared-interest groups, independence, science, incongruity - you've probably got your own pet thoughts about this sign and you'll get the drift. But place Jupiter and Saturn, both with the potential to bring out the BEST of their own qualities in on this sign, and we could be in for some more interesting times in the year ahead. 

In the Huber Method, planetary energies and qualities are viewed as being able to operate and be expressed at three levels. These, in astrological psychology, are evident in observable human behaviour; the levels as Asleep, Waking and Awake. So Jupiter Asleep would be indolent, lazy, over-indulgence, but Waking or Awake it could be an astute, clear, inclusive and forward-looking vision of the future and an innate wisdom of how things could be.

Saturn Asleep would be fears, doubts, hanging on to what feels secure, being stuck and not wanting to budge. Waking or Awake it could be carefully researching ways of obtaining better security, ensuring that any safety nets required are of the highest quality to do the job and being like a wise mentor, helping others by sharing knowledge.

Put these two planets operating not at the lower, Asleep level, but at one or both of the higher levels of Waking and Awake, into the "Age of Aquarius" sign that they'll be travelling through together for the best part of 2021, and we have a potentially formidable duo who could work wonders - with, of course, the co-operation of we humans if we are are capable of rising to the challenge of these trying times to help steer way through for us all; the vaccines are already being worked on or rolled out across the world. 

But bear in mind Pluto, still hanging in there in Capricorn, which Jupiter and Saturn have now left, although Jupiter does bob back there a couple of times in 2021, but it moves faster than Saturn and goes on its way into Pisces a year from now. That leaves Saturn to continue more slowly and sedately, perhaps laying down firm structures and systems, based on the adventuring vision of Jupiter. Something our sparkling duo in this conjunction share is the capacity for WISDOM, maybe something to hang on to as a positive on this darkest day of the year.

Pluto stays in Capricorn until 2024, quietly getting on with the job of clearing out the old, outworn and no longer relevant attitudes, structures and organisations that have become crystallised over a long period of time. It's as though Pluto is riding postillion to Jupiter and Saturn, bagging and dumping the "unwanted on board" stuff as it goes. Expect some establishments to fall. In the UK, Scotland is urging for Independence and with a General Election in May the result will be interesting to say the least. In May, Jupiter moves off into Pisces for a short while, maybe after it has prepared the way for the vision of Scottish Independence - and that would certainly involve Pluto's transformative qualities as postilion rider.

These are simply my thoughts on our current situation. I'm not a mundane astrologer so I've viewed the current conjunction, the solstice, and the Zodiac signs involved through a more general lens of what all of this might mean for some of us. It's not a prediction, just my take.

Comment if you like, add to the pot, but only if you have something valid, valuable, relevant and respectful to say.

 

D-Day 70 years on

70 years ago, on 6th June 1944, the World War 2 Allied forces launched their invasion into Nazi occupied France, landing on the beaches along the coast of Normandy. The battles fought there were fierce and bloody. Many lives were lost on both sides, and as this year marks the 70th anniversary of this event, ceremonies of remembrance to honour those who took part in the D-Day Landings, also known as Operation Overlord, will be held to commemorate the bravery and sacrifices of those who were there.

Naval ships stood off the beaches, their task being to bombard and disable the guns of the occupying forces. Gliders brought paratroopers who dropped in behind the lines, many of them blown off course because of strong winds. Aircraft bombed from overhead and soldiers were packed into landing craft which headed for the shore. But the weather was so bad that the operation had to be delayed for 24 hours. It was originally planned for 5th June. One of the criteria for the operation was that there should be a full Moon; the exact full Moon was on 6th June, shown in Sun/Moon opposition in the chart.

Chart set for 6.6.1944 at Longues-sur-Mer, Normandy coast, 05.15

Richard Lewellyn, D-Day veteran

I've set the chart for 05.15 for a specific reason. My colleague, friend and fellow astrologer, Richard Llewellyn, who founded the Astrological Psychology Assocation in 1983, was there. A young Midshipman on board HMS Ajax, he took part in the bombardment and disablement of the occupying forces' guns at Longues-sur-Mer on the Normandy coast. This began at 05.15. Richard is a D-Day veteran and he will be returning to Normandy for the 70th anniversary commemorative ceremonies, which will be the last to be held. 

A few observations on the chart: the overall image or chart picture suggests a target, with a focal point at the position of the Moon. The red/blue Ambivalence triangle takes the eye, and the focus is on the direction of this funnel-like shaping. Being ambivalent in nature, the focal point could be the Moon as the target of the bombardment. Or it could equally well symbolise the aim and fire of a gun turret from the Moon's position, with the other pinning planets of this aspect pattern - Sun/Venus/Mercury and Mars/Pluto - coming under fire. Most of the activity is going on in the lower half of the chart, as if under the cover of darkness, with bellicose Mars/Pluto in Leo close to the IC.

The second chart is set for 2 hours later - 07.15 - which is when Richard recalls the landings could start as the guns along the coastline at Gold Beach, where he was, had been disabled. The Sun has risen and is in 12th house; the Moon is setting and falls into 6th. The focus has changed. Saturn is close to the AC, indicating the importance of organisation and plans. Mars/Pluto are in the mutable zone of 2nd house, at the "escape" point of the Ambivalence figure, suggesting that the only way out of the conflict (the symbolic red opposition aspect on the 6/12 houses of existence) is to fight.

Utah Beach by Joyce Hopewell

So many lives were lost, so much bravery was shown, and it's right to remember and honour, 70 years on, those who took part in D-Day  - those who returned and those who didn't. The Normandy beaches  - Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword  -  are interesting but sobering to visit. What happened there in 1944 is part of our world history and for me personally it's worth honouring, remembering and thanking Richard and the countless others who were there on that day in June.

Richard in London. Image zimbio.com

In Richard's own words when interviewed at a recent commemorative gathering of veterans in London, attended by Prime Minister David Cameron: 

 " When people say thank you, it makes me feel very humble, because you know I was just doing my duty, quite literally as most of us were, and it's wonderful for somebody to say thank you because I hope it gives them pleasure in being able to do that, and for me, it makes me feel proud, I suppose.. I'm not very good at feeling proud.." 


Richard, I'm very proud of you. Thank you.

The language of astrology

I wrote this post 7 years ago in 2009, a few days after I'd completed my one hour on the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square, London, as part of artist Antony Gormley's "One and Other" project. I'd been randomly selected from those who applied to stand on the plinth (my dear daughter entered my name without me knowing!) and on reflection it was one of the most memorable things I've ever done, although it was pretty scary and challenging at the time. My granddaughter - first grandchild - was born while I was on the plinth, making the event even more significant, but looking at the words of the different qualities I read out while I was up there, it seems fitting to be reminded of them at these times of upheaval and change.

While I was up there I read out most of the 94 words sent to me by family and friends saying what they would like to see more of in the world. Everyone involved offered words which have qualities and meanings that are universally understood and go beyond the personal. These words can be applied to the qualities and energies we refer to as astrologers when explaining the symbolic meaning of the planets, especially when they are operating at the highest level. Here are just a few of the words I read out:


How do some of these relate to planetary qualities? Cardinal ( go ahead, initiatory) planets are shown in red, Fixed ( stable, maintaining) planets in blue, and Mutable ( changeable, fluid) planets in green.


The Sun embodies Goodwill, Understanding, Integrity and Respect. The Sun represents the mind and the will, our ability to think and make decisions in our lives.



Through the Moon we gain a sense of ourselves through our feelings, emotions and how we interact on a feeling level with the world around us, so the words Caring, Empathy and Consideration could all be associated with this planet.

Saturn can give us a sense of the physical manifestation of ourselves through the body, because we are grounded, real and tangible, so Health - one of the words that cropped up - would go here. Saturn is also associated with Commonsense and Responsibility.

Venus embodies qualities such as Harmony, Discernment and Friendship. We use this planet to form relationships and maintain a balance in our lives as well as it being the planet associated with taste and discrimination.

We look to Mars for energy and drive, leadership qualities and also Courage and Enthusiasm, two words which were sent to me by family and friends.


Jupiter embodies qualities such as Generosity, Truth and Justice, and Equality - remember we're looking at each planet operating at its highest level, so forget "luck" being a Jupiterian thing. Luck doesn't happen on its own; we often have to take risks and seize opportunities in order to get lucky.


Neptune, one of the transpersonal (beyond the personal) planets, embodies qualities like Love, Compassion, Selflessness, Inclusiveness and Peace. You can read more about planetary qualities in my books "The Cosmic Egg Timer" and "The Living Birth Chart".


Addendum: While I was up on the Plinth reading out these words, I heard news that I'd become a grandmother for the first time. Here's what the One and Other blog had to say about this, together with a link to the article about this event which appeared in my local newspaper that week:

The stories behind the plinthers

by Holly, one of the orgainsers: 22:11 GMT, Saturday, 8 August 2009

There's been a lot of debate and discussion about what our plinthers do with their hour, but not much about what goes on in their lives outside that hour. Happily, one plinther's hour coincided with her private life, when she discovered that her grandchild had been born while she was 22 feet high! You can read the full story here.

Aries and the Vernal Equinox

The Sun enters the Sign of Aries tomorrow, on 20th March. This is the Vernal, or Spring, Equinox when day and night are of equal length (equi - equal, nox - night) and it marks the point in the year when the Sun crosses the equator and moves from the southern to the northern hemisphere. The start of Spring in the northern hemisphere marks the start of Autumn in the southern hemisphere.

I've set up the chart for the Sun's change of Sign from Pisces to Aries (also known as the zero point of the zodiac). The chart is set for 06.00 GMT in London, with the Sun just 33 seconds into Aries; at this time it will have been hovering over the zero point and entering Aries for approximately 10 minutes. If you're up and awake then you can welcome the Sun and the start of Spring!

Aries is the first Sign of the zodiac and is associated with go ahead behaviour, leadership qualities, a tendency to rush at things and reflect on them later (that "opening your mouth and putting your foot in it" syndrome!), impulsiveness, an ability to get new things started, lots of energy and enthusiasm and a fearlessness which can allow those with Sun in Aries to forge ahead where others would falter.


The symbol for Aries is the Ram. With head and business-like horns down it can rush headlong at anything which gets in its way, or which it wants to get the better of.

The chart has some interesting features. There is a Double Ambivalence figure which fills a large area of the chart. Quadrangular in shape, it has a security-seeking motivation. One part of it works energetically with that Aries Sun at the "doing" apex of the red part of this figure. At the blue "escape" corner is Saturn. These these two planets are connected on the inside of the figure by a green quincunx endowing awareness and the capacity to learn; Sun and Saturn can work cooperatively if the enthusiasm of the Aries Sun can be tempered by the caution of the Virgo Saturn. The other planets involved - Mars and Pluto - share the same Cardinal qualities as the Sun. Saturn alone in this pattern can provide a Fixed and steadying influence and will help underpin the security which this particular figure seeks.

Photo of the Moffat Ram, Moffat, Dumfriesshire, Scotland