The astrology and psychology of relationships

Relating - part of everyday life

Relationships form a vital part of our everyday lives, yet they are probably the one thing where we feel we get things wrong, or misread the signals being given out. The question we might ask is "How can astrology help us be more successful in our relationships?"

In order to improve the way we interact with others, most often on a one-to-one basis, an understanding of where we are coming from ourselves can be very helpful indeed, and this is where the natal chart and astrological psychology can be a great help.

Chart A

Here are two charts.  The aspect structure in both is horizontal, indicating that the person is motivated towards contact with others, which is good news in the context of relationships. Both individuals will be willing to go out and meet people, make contact and form relationships in their lives, because relationships are important to people whose charts show a horizontal direction in the overall aspect structure (of course, this can only be accurately ascertained with an accurate time of birth).

Chart B

Although in astrology generally we might like to think that what we project out into the world to those we interact with and relate to comes from the 1st house, this is not necessarily the case. When taking an astrological/psychological look at the chart, the planet or planets in the 7th house are those which are most significant.

Planets on the DC (descendant) of the chart are those which are picked up on first by people we meet, followed by any planet or planets which are closest to the DC. If there are no planets on the DC, look to see which are closest. This is because whatever planet is there will respresent the quality/energy that will meet others when they first meet us.

Chart A has Sun/Moon in Cancer on the DC. They are opposite Neptune, so from this we could infer that this person is very willing to make contact with others, will do so with warmth (Moon involved) and also compassion/sensitivity (Sun/Moon opposite Neptune).

Chart B has Pluto in Scorpio on the DC. This is opposite Sun/Mercury, so from this we could infer that this person will be a striking, potentially powerful person (some might also experience them as a bit scary or be aware they are no pushover), but they will still be willing to communicate and make contact with others, and will draw on the energies of Sun/Mercury in opposition. They could be powerful communicators.

Both of these charts belong to real people, and both are featured in my new book Using Age Progession - Understanding Life's Journey. Available from Amazon and other booksellers.

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.

Aspect Pattern Astrology: The Ambivalence Figure

I'm posting an extract about an aspect pattern from my book The Living Birth Chart. In the Huber Method of Astrological Psychology, aspect patterns offer interesting indications of a person's behaviour. This example uses the chart of a real person. The book has many such examples, with feedback from the individuals concerned on how they experience their own charts.

"The Ambivalence Figure is frequently found in charts. It’s triangular, so has a Mutable motivation, making it work in a flexible way, adapting to change as necessary. But it’s made up of red and blue aspects with no green aspects involved, which gives it with a “black/white” way of operating as it uses the red aspect to get active and “do”, and the blue aspects to enjoy life and just “be”. In the Ambivalence figure, the red working energy is held in tension in the opposition aspect, and much working energy is used here. The more relaxed blue energy in this pattern has a focal point where the two blue aspects meet. The planet here is sometimes called the “escape” planet as the person will use and express the qualities of this planet when they switch off from work, relax and enjoy themselves. The ambivalence in the name for this aspect pattern refers to its work/rest cycle of behaviour. People with this pattern are pulled between two opposing forces - doing and being (the effect of the red and blue aspects). They might be getting on with the job in hand and putting a lot of effort into it, yet all the while they long for some rest and relaxation, looking with longing at whatever the blue “escape” planet represents for them in their lives. When they have completed their work tasks and take some time out, they will enjoy this for a while, but when that niggling feeling comes along that they really ought to be doing something, or that it’s time to get back to work, they flip right back into red, working mode. Then the whole cycle repeats itself again.

Each aspect pattern will be modified and influenced by the planets that are involved, so this always needs to be held in mind when looking at aspect patterns in individual charts.

Gareth - 1.3.1973, 04.45, Crewe, UK.

In this chart, there is an Ambivalence Figure, pinned by Mercury opposite Pluto, with Jupiter in the blue corner as the “escape” planet. The conjunction of Moon with Jupiter perhaps emphasises the need to escape! One visual image we might see in the chart is of the head of a comical cartoon figure, rather like the “Road Runner” rooster, with its wide open mouth or beak pointing towards the “You”. We might also see a flower which is opening up with the tips of its petals reaching towards the “You” side of the chart. Note also that there is considerable vulnerability here as these images show the central core of the chart exposed to the “You” with no aspects to protect it. There are more planets on the “I” side of the chart, so Gareth will not like feeling “invaded” or overwhelmed on first meeting new people. There is a strong focus of planets around the AC and in the 1st House, suggesting he will be more of a private person, and will need time to himself. The planets people first contact on meeting him are Saturn and Pluto on the “You” side; he might be a little cautious and reserved at first, and he doesn’t suffer fools gladly! The direction is mainly vertical, and the chart shaping is triangular, with some linear aspects. He is flexible and adaptable, as the predominantly Mutable motivation suggests, with a touch of restlessness. He has 4 red, 4 green and 5 blue aspects, so there’s quite a lot of sensitivity and nervous energy to expend and he may not always get enough time to relax and “be”.

Gareth works in research, using Mercury and Pluto in the red opposition part of the Ambivalence Triangle. With these he gathers the facts and analyses the data that he needs to produce reports on various topics. He is a researcher in the energy sector, has researched health care, and for many years prior to this he was undertaking intensive research for his PhD. Both Mercury and Pluto are psychologically on the 3/9 Thought axis, reflecting the nature of the work they are applied to and emphasising the theme of thinking and ideas. Periods of intense work involving gathering facts, studying and analysing them have always been interspersed with the need to get away and travel.

With Jupiter as the blue “escape” planet he has often chosen adventurous activities and solo trips as an independent traveller. Gareth has long had a taste for hot-air ballooning, gliding, flying lessons, fast cars and routes less travelled. Jupiter as the blue “escape” planet in this pattern is conjunct the Moon, suggesting that he gets a lot of enjoyment and fun in his time off, which balances out the intense work and mental concentration involved in the red aspect in this pattern."

For more on aspect patterns, see Aspect Pattern Astrology, The Living Birth Chart and The Cosmic Egg Timer - all available from Amazon and other on-line retailers, in book or e-book format.

Prince Charles turns 60

Prince Charles recently turned 60, and his Age Point entered the 11th house of his chart, where Uranus sits waiting for a direct eyeball/eyeball meeting when he reaches 63. I don’t intend to dwell on his Lifeclock but will share a few thoughts about his chart image and the Family Model in his chart. Charles was born on 14.11.1948 at 21.14, in London. Here is his chart, and beneath it I’m showing a picture of a “Witches Hat” roundabout, the sort that was found in children’s playgrounds in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s, but which are not seen so often now (probably another victim of our ubiquitous Health and Safety regulations).His chart image reminded me very much of one of these roundabouts, the sort I used to play on when a child, and which could give a very exciting ride indeed if it was rocked from side to side as it went round and round. Before I found the picture, I’d noticed Saturn in the 2nd house of Charles’ chart, appearing to hold the edge of the conical “Witches Hat” just like the woman in this picture. The Family Model, unique to the Huber Method, describes Saturn as the mother figure, the person who takes care of our physical needs and well-being when we’re growing up and lays down many of the rules, most often with our best interests at heart. (“Eat your greens”; “Wash your hands”; “Look both ways before you cross the road” etc.).

Saturn in the 2nd house - the area of personal possessions and security - seems very appropriate and indicative of the Queen wanting to ensure the safety and continuation of the monarchy. Saturn in Virgo is not flowery or expressive. Feelings are unlikely to be shown. In the deepest recesses of memory I recall a story about Charles, aged about 5 years old, greeting his mother after she’d been away for several weeks on a foreign tour. There was no hug and kiss, maybe a handshake (?) but it was a far cry from the wide open arms Diana greeted Princes William and Harry with on the Royal Yacht after she and Charles had been away on a foreign tour. The Queen is of a generation who learned not to give a public show of emotion, not to rock the boat (or Witches Hat), and she, of all people, would want to ensure the steadiness and safety of her heir.

This is a vertical chart with an aspect structure reaching up to the top of the chart where the Moon is placed as the highest planet. Conjunct the North Node, Charles’ rather lonely and exposed Taurean Moon is very weak by Sign and is intercepted. For him as a child, and later as an adult, his emotional needs may not have been heard or recognised when expressed. When the Moon is the highest planet out of Sun (father figure), Moon (the child) and Saturn (mother figure), the individual can feel they are the most important person in this family triad, but also that they have extremely high expectations laid upon them.

It’s interesting to note that when he married Diana, his Age Point was making a challenging square aspect to his Moon . He joked , when asked if they were in love, “Of course, whatever that means”. When he married Camilla, his Age Point had recently transited his Moon suggesting that she was, as he’d always implied, his true love.

The Sun is low down, right at the bottom of the chart, which is the most challenging placement for this planet. The Sun/father figure and the examples of leadership and autonomy he can give is best placed above the horizon where the Sun can shine and be seen. In Charles’ chart, the Sun is in an entirely separate aspect structure from Moon and Saturn, and it too is intercepted. Whereas Saturn, representing the mother in the Family Model, does have a direct link to the Moon - the child - the Sun does not and appears to be apart and disconnected.

You can find out more about the Family Model in my co-authored book, The Cosmic Egg Timer and in my latest book, The Living Birth Chart. Both are available from the APA on-line Book Shop.

Suzanne Fischer, Soprano

I confess to having a personal interest in looking at Suzanne’s chart as she is the grand-daughter of my neighbours and I’ve seen how she’s been reaching for the stars over the past few years. Suzanne is a singer, and is developing a blossoming career in opera. In April 2015 she begins a season singing in the chorus with the Glyndebourne Festival Opera.

I first saw her perform in the local high school production of “Les Miserables” and even then was telling her I’d have to have her autograph before she got famous and had her name in lights! I now have the autograph, along with her birth data (7.5.1987. 05.15, London) and her permission to look at her chart.

Suzanne comes from a musical family. Her grandparents, my neighbours, are retired professional musicians. Her great-grandmother played the violin, both her parents are professional musicians and her uncle is a composer and recording artiste. Suzanne studied music in Edinburgh and won a scholarship to train for a year in Milan. She embedded herself in the Italian culture before starting her course there, attending language schools and living and working with an Italian family. Her dream to sing professionally began to be realised when she gave a concert in the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester, several years ago, making a CD of the songs she performed. Click here to read more about Suzanne and catch up on her fast-developing career.

Now to her chart. The visual image I see is a juggler or tightrope walker - certainly a performer of some kind - and there is a sense of movement and of balance being maintained. Her chart shaping is a mixture of Dynamic/Mutable and Linear/Cardinal energy. This suggests her inner motivation is flexible, adaptable, restless, forward-looking and enthusiastic. She could be tireless when she gets her teeth into something, and with a colour ratio of 3 red: 2 green: 5 blue aspects, she will need to stay aware of not over-extending herself. She lacks slightly in red aspects, so she may not always achieve as much as she aims for all in one go. The knack may be to take things more steadily and aim for a consistent build up. In terms of voice training this would be important so she doesn’t get over stretched too soon.

The direction of the aspect structure is another mixture, this time of Vertical and Horizontal aspects. The Vertical aspects point towards the planets at the top of her chart - Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Neptune, as highest planet in the chart, can indicate high ideals, visionary aspirations, and could also refer to her “rising star” potential in the field of the arts. The Horizontal aspects pull in her Sun/Mercury in the 1st house and Pluto just before the DC. Don’t mess with this lady - she has a lot of powerful potential and she may well speak her mind and tell you what she thinks, pulling no punches! As Pluto is on the DC, others, when they meet her, may find she can come on strong and they will pick up that she’s not going to suffer fools gladly.

The aspect patterns in her chart are a Search figure and a Single Ambivalence figure. Both triangular patterns have as their outlet point the Venus/Jupiter conjunction in 12th, indicating that this area of her life, where she retreats to recharge her batteries or practise and perfect her art, is going to be very important. The Moon’s Node, as part of this conjunction, may make it easier for her to switch off and take time out for herself. She may have to balance out this tendency by being willing to be out there and “on call” for others; maybe this is something she could bear in mind when she starts performing.

At 21 her Age Point was in the 4th house of the chart, when she was psychologically moving away from the conditioning and expectations of her childhood and teenage years, and began forming her own rules for life. The Age Point at this time was in the Sign of Leo, often associated with artistic expression in the performing arts. Her Moon is also in Leo, a sure fire indicator in her chart that she will enjoy performing and being on stage. Leo can be larger than life, and it seems that Suzanne, en route to the bright lights, is on track here. But I don’t for one moment expect that this will be an easy journey as there is much hard work, discipline and dedication involved. Suzanne’s Taurean Sun will stand her in good stead here, and perhaps the added bonus is that Taurus is generally regarded to be the Sign of singers.

I have featured Suzanne's chart in my book Using Age Progression. This book is packed full of real life examples of Age Progression at work, and is available from the APA Book Shop, Amazon and other retailers.

Roger Federer's Detective Aspect Pattern

Editorial comment, January 2018: I wrote this post back in 2007, and the amazing thing is that Federer is still going strong in 2018. He's just won the Australian Open at the age of 36, quite an age for a tennis player to be on top if his game and still be winning on the international circuit.
 
Tennis player Roger Federer strolled out on to Centre Court earlier this month for the Wimbledon Men’s Final wearing white blazer and flannels. Looking cool, and for all the world as if he’d time-travelled from the 1930’s, he went on to win his 5th Wimbledon title in the presence of the legendary Bjorn Borg, himself 5 times Wimbledon Champion. What makes Federer tick, what is his inner motivation, and how might he be using the Detective aspect figure in his chart?

Federer was born on 8.8.1981, at 08.40 local time in Basle, Switzerland. His chart looks like a hammock, a swingboat, or an upright push chair with hood up. His is an “I” sided chart with Neptune the only planet venturing on to the “You” side. Such an “I” sided emphasis suggests someone who is focussed on their own growth and self-understanding. The direction of the aspect structure is vertical, indicating the urge to stand out, make a mark on the world and be recognised as an individual. The colour ratio of aspects is 2 red, 4 green, 5 blue. Federer’s chart lacks red aspects, but this is compensated to some extent by the 3 pairs of conjunct planets, each having potential talent according to the planets involved. With 4 green aspects, Federer is likely to be sensitively attuned to the surrounding environment.

His chart contains a Detective aspect pattern (a quadrilateral figure with red, green and blue aspects, and in Federer's chart pinned by Venus, Moon, Mars and Sun/Mercury). The Hubers say people with this figure “can discover the smallest clue, insignificant information and slight alterations. . .” Someone with this pattern “sticks to a trail, has a wide-awake character that nearly nothing escapes…with this figure in the horoscope, the person can adapt themselves meticulously to things and eliminate disruptive influences”. With his Mercury conjunct Sun very strongly placed on the 12th cusp and at the apex of the Ear/Eye part of the Detective figure, along with his Virgo Ascendant, and the blue Small talent triangle that is also part of this figure, it begins to sound as if these could be some of the things Federer draws upon in competitive tennis: the ability to focus on the game, absorb all relevant and sometimes minute details on an ongoing basis whilst playing, focus in 100% on the game and the goal of winning, and not be distracted by external factors such as the watching crowds.

I mentioned the position of Mars and the Gauquelin Effect in the charts of sportsmen and women in my posting on Venus Williams earlier this month. Federer’s Mars is not only placed in the fourth quadrant of the chart where this effect is said to be at its greatest, but it is also a part of his Detective figure, and in its strongest possible position, on the cusp of a House.

For more on aspect patterns, see the Huber’s book Aspect Pattern Astrology and my book Aspect Patterns in Colour both available from the APA Book Shop.

Prince Harry - will he stay or will he go?

The media have laid off Harry for the past week now because a) there’s no news on whether or not he’ll be going, and b) there's currently more attention being paid to the Irish agreement on unity and Tony Blair’s announcement about his departure from office on 27th June.

The latest on Harry’s possible deployment to Iraq was that he is going….but that the army has the situation under constant review. No news there then. A look at Harry’s chart (15.9.1984, 16.20, Paddington, London - data from official Royal website) offers an image which is rather like a trumpet or megaphone; it’s not difficult to imagine a mouthpiece at the bottom, formed by the conjunction between the Moon and the North Node, with the wide open mouth of the megaphone at the top. Does Harry need to say “Here I am! Notice me!” in a big way? He seemed to be doing this big style late in 2004 when he was in a punch up with the paparazzi, and in February 2005, when he was caught in the headlines wearing a Nazi uniform to a fancy dress party. Of late he appears to have had his partying guns spiked somewhat by his army training.

His chart has a strong vertical movement which suggests a need to be noticed, to assert his individuality. This may be really important for him - he’s the spare, not the heir - so he’ll need to gain recognition in his own right.

He has an excess of green aspects indicating considerable sensitivity, maybe touchiness, perhaps making him a little thin-skinned and possibly someone who changes his mind quite often. This is reflected in the overall Dynamic/Mutable shaping of his chart. Saturn close to the MC could endow him with an air of authority and possibly leadership potential; he’s known as Cornet Wales in the army because of his rank in his regiment, the Blues and Royals. If he goes to Iraq, he will be in command of 10 –12 soldiers and it is these men, as well as Harry himself, who are going to be in additional danger as they will be serving alongside a potential prime target.

Harry has stated (but note, only via his friends) that he wants to go to Iraq. His Age Point is currently conjunct the North Node in his chart, which is itself conjunct the Moon in the 4th House, and will shortly change Signs and enter Gemini. Age Point conjunct a planet or the Node and about to change Sign is significant. He will be psychologically moving away from the home/family scene (although how anyone in the Royal family can get away from being in the “family firm” is a mystery…!) and ready to make his own impressions on the world around him. The influences of family will be weaker, but for Harry, with Moon in 4th House, the pull from this direction is always going to be pretty strong.

Age Point on the Node is interesting. The Node is a part of one of the Dominant Learning triangles in his chart, and is at the apex of one of the Projection figures. It is part of the conjunction which pins him to the collective yet it can also act as a point of growth and personal development for the individual. The task of the 4th House Node is associated with becoming more humble, more “ordinary”, and of getting down from any pedestal where the person might feel special or significant, taking their place alongside others without recourse to pulling rank.

If Harry does eventually go to Iraq, this kind of experience could be a very significant for him, and one which he may not understand or appreciate until much later on. As it is, he’s a young man who is probably scared stiff at the thought of going to Iraq but is still prepared to go. For that, all we can do is wish him well.

Andy Murray, tennis champion

July 2013 - Many Congratulations to Andy Murray on becoming Wimbledon Champion on 7th July 2013, and achieving the goal he's worked towards for so long. With his Age Point in Aquarius, and in the cardinal zone of the 5th house, he fully deserved this win and has worked hard towards it.  Well done Andy!


2012 update
I first wrote about Murray's chart in 2007, when he was 20. This post is now due for an update, with Murray's recent magnificent gold medal triumph in the London 2012 Olympics, swiftly followed by his win at the US Open in Flushing Meadows in September 2012.

Murray has doggedly and determinedly moved on towards his goal of becoming a Grand Slam Champion, and with this we've seen him mellow and become much more lovable and loved. Looking back at where he was by Age Progression when I wrote about him in 2007, his Age Point was at the intersection of his natal and node charts, and I mentioned that his focus would be on aiming to stand out in some way (like a champ!) The Age Point had, at that time, entered the sign of Capricorn, an earth sign, and has been steadily moving through this sign until just recently, when it moved into the air sign of Aquarius. When the Age Point changes signs, it also changes elements. Moving through an earth sign can be good for laying down strong foundations, for building up structures and for being organised and careful. But it can get a bit heavy at times, especially as the Age Point reaches the end of the earth sign. It could feel like wearing heavy boots clogged with mud, so a change of sign and element from earth to air - and in Murray's case, from Capricorn to Aquarius - will feel liberating and things will feel much lighter. So it's not really surprising that Murray has himself lightened up a bit, and in the process has achieved what must be a long-held ambition in his successful Olympic gold followed by winning the US Open.

Congratulations to Murray on his superb achievements this summer and on not being so dour as he's previously appeared!

Here's what I wrote in 2007: Andy Murray’s performance on tennis courts around the world is being watched keenly as British hopes for a Wimbledon victory rise. This young Scot, still only 19, is rated the UK’s best player and his world ranking has recently risen from 14 to 12. Now approaching his 20th birthday (born 15.5.1987, 14.10 BST in Glasgow), his Age Point is in Capricorn and on the Individuality axis of his chart. This should help fuel the determination of the already fiery and determined Murray!

The visual image in his chart is like an explosive firework, bursting upwards from the conjunction of Saturn, Moon and Uranus on the IC. Both Moon and Uranus are opposite Mars at the top of the chart, a combination in opposition which could give rise to explosive reactions and a flaring temper. (the famous John MacEnroe had a Moon/Mars aspect too!). Interestingly, Murray’s Wikipedia entry says he is “known for frequently petulant behaviour”.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Murray_(tennis_player)

The chart shows a strong vertical direction - Murray is motivated to achieve and wants to stand out; Sun and Mars high in the chart and are strongly placed in 9th and 10th Houses respectively. But both are fairly weak by Sign, making the drive towards individuality more of a challenge.

At tennis tournaments, his mother is always present and has been influential and supportive in his career. Let’s take a look at his Family Model. Saturn, representing the mothering principle, sits firmly on the IC alongside Moon, which represents the child. This closeness reflects his mother’s presence and support when he plays, and perhaps indicates Murray’s need for a stable “home”. Moon is sandwiched between Saturn and Uranus - on the one hand, Murray is close to his mother and needing her support; on the other hand, he can be rebellious, unpredictable and want to go his own way. There is a potential “push me-pull you” effect at work here; Murray could go either way. Add to the Moon/Uranus conjunction that opposition to Mars, and the irascible behaviour comes out. But Saturn’s influence sits alongside with his mother perhaps acting as a guiding mentor as well as a psychological anchor for him.

The Sun, representing the father figure, sits high in the chart demanding recognition. Along with Moon, Uranus and Mars, the Sun is part of an Irritation triangle. Could there be a more edgy, uncertain relationship with his father? The motivation associated with Irritation triangles is for the individual to respond quickly and explosively to situations when things start to feel pressured, or there is more going on than can be handled comfortably. The person will feel put upon and a blow up will ensue, followed by a fairly rapid return to normality. It may well be that Murray lives this out quite frequently when on the tennis court. How he might experience this aspect pattern in the context of the Family Model is something that could only be ascertained for sure through discussion with him.

One final profound feature in his chart: at age 8, his Age Point was conjunct Pluto. He was one of the children in the school where the Dunblane massacre of 16 pupils, along with teacher, took place. Understandably, he does not like to speak of this event, but his Age Point bears graphic testimony to this event.

Looking ahead, 2007 could be a key year for him. The Age Point of his natal and nodal chart is currently intersecting on the Individuality axis, so this will focus mind and energies on standing out in some way. And when he played in the Australian Open in January this year, he said that this was the best performance in his career.

Al Gore - "An Inconvenient Truth"

I may sound like a film critic, but I urge you to go and see Al Gore's film "An Inconvenient Truth". It is essential viewing and is yet another wake up call to the fact that global warming is happening now. Not some time in the future, but right now.

The film is based around Gore's current tour of world cities where he is lecturing on global warming. It's his way of spreading this "wake up" call. The material he shares is scientific fact, intermingled with his own personal experiences and explanations of why he's doing this. In 2006, the film has become a runaway success. The bare and true facts about global warming are set out clearly. Gore's presentation and delilvery is graphic and clear, and it was his impressive presentation, plus what he shared of his personal life and upbringing (all spliced into the lecture theatre scenes) which made me want to look at his chart.

He was born on 31.3.1948 in Washington DC, at 12.53 EST. His chart is visually striking with an "active" strong flavour of someone striding forward, carrying a large wide load in their arms. The direction is predominantly vertical, suggesting his motivation is to individualise, yet he has Moon conjunct Jupiter in the 5th House and closest to the DC, offering the capacity to make contact with others easily. Using the combined sensing ability of these two planets he can connect with prevailing moods and feelings out in the world as well as put what these planets pick up to good use for others - the Moon is approaching the 6th cusp and both planets will be more attuned to and interested in being of service to others. Significantly, his Age Point was conjunct Moon/Jupiter in 1976 when he went into politics.

Gore has a Medium Learning triangle which includes the powerful stellium of Pluto, Saturn and Mars in the 1st House. It is from here that the learning of any new skill or information will start and it will finish here as well - it's where his own sense of "I" will be focussed, and is likely to be constantly under review, growing, changing. This stellium links to the other aspect pattern in his chart, the Single Ambivalence figure, and suggests to me that it will be to himself that he will return time and time again when he needs to review things and check out his own life experiences. He will have the ability to assess himself against what life throws up for him, and with Pluto, Saturn and Mars there at this fulcrum point, he can stay the course, on a personal level, and transform.

In the film he speaks of two significant happenings in his life, both of which brought the importance of family life and how we treat each other as human beings into sharp focus. The first was in 1984 when his sister, 10 years his senior, died of lung cancer. He speaks passionately of how the tobacco companies were allowed to promote smoking, even though there was much evidence of it as a cause of cancer. He was 36; his Age Point was crossing the DC, signifying an opening up of greater consciousness.

The second life changing event was in April 1989 when his 6 year old son was seriously injured when he was hit by a car. Gore speaks in the film of how he spent a month sleeping by the boy's hospital bed, and how this experience brought home to him the importance of life and what we do in life. His Age Point was square Venus, which rides high in the 10th House in his chart but is intercepted. It relies on its quincunx aspect to Jupiter for expression as it has no natural outlet into the world in the 10th House - so we are back again with the Jupiter/Moon conjunction which helped usher him into politics when he was age 28. It's interesting to note that Venus sits along with Uranus in a red/green linear aspect, and that both home in on that Jupiter/Moon conjunction, emphasising its importance.

Venus, too, crops up at significant times in Gore's life - his Age Point was opposite this planet when he married in 1970, was square to it at the time of his son's accident, and in 2006 was conjunct when "An Inconvenient Truth" became the unexpected box office hit of the year. Venus is often described as the planet associated with balance and harmony: Gore's book on the state of the environment is entitled "The Earth in Balance".

There's more - his Nodal chart reveals some signficant correspondences with the path his life has taken, and bears reference and further study in the context of the 2000 Presidential election that he "lost" to Bush.

I could say much more about Gore's charts - both House and Node chart reflect and support many of the points he himself makes in his narration of the film and in the lecture scenes. All I wish to do is to whet your appetite to go and see this film - it may repeat many of the things you already know, but it's likely to tell you a whole lot more too, and it closes by suggesting practical ways that YOU can make contributions to help slow down the process of global warming and help preserve our precious planet.

But without political will, what we do may not be enough. As the person who saw the film with me said: " ...as Gore himself says, the trends have been clear for many years. What is missing, and still seems to be missing despite moving from denial to displacement/ projection, is the political leaders willing to take a leadership role in promoting a way forward. Who will be the environmental Churchill?"

Further suggested astrological reference and reading (books by myself and Bruno and Louise Huber):
Aspect Pattern Astrology; Moon Node Astrology; LifeClock; The Astrological Houses - Man and his World; The Cosmic Egg Timer; Aspect Patterns in Colour; Using Age Progression.
Available from the APA Book Shop.

Madonna

The singer Madonna's chart has been requested in response to my invitation to Suggest a Chart (keep asking - I will respond!). Madonna's adoption of baby David Banda from Malawi last month has been riding high in the news and a look at her chart could reveal some interesting possibilities about the superstar herself.

The chart structure clings predominantly to the "I" side and the images that comes to mind are a wide open mouth, a jaunty head-dress, a "Bird of Paradise" flower, crystals growing in the hidden depths of a cave - and the 2 triangular shapes might even remind you, as suggested by one of my students, of the pointy conical bra that Madonna wore in one of her videos! (thanks Jane). There is a touch of the exotic about some of these images, and that relates to what we know about her public persona.

Her motivation is to be flexible, to move on, and this is borne out by her constant re-invention of her image and style. The aspect structure has a predominantly vertical movement, and although there are horizontal features the strongest motivation here will be to achieve. Alongside this there will be a strong drive to improve and understand herself.

Initially suprising is to see that Madonna's is an essentially private chart, with most of her planets in the 12th House. But with a large stellium of planets spanning the 12th and 1st Houses, this sets up a polarity on the 6/12 House axis of Existence and the 1/7 axis of Encounter, so these issues are likely to form the backdrop of her life. Someone with planets on the Existence axis is going to ask questions about why they are here, and seek to justify their existence; the equally emphasised Encounter axis is going to bring up issues of relating to others as well as the importance and need to be able to put herself across in ways which will attract attention, admiration and love. Her Leo planets will seek this, and her Moon in the 1st House will yearn for contact. However, with her AC and 3 planets in Virgo, what she puts out is likely to be carefully detailed and well-prepared. She herself may be her harshest critic.

The chart consists of 2 Small Learning triangles ( see "Aspect Pattern Astrology") which give her the capacity to successfully learn and use specific skills. In 1977 she dropped out of college to go to New York in order to pursue the dance career she longed for as her Age Point squared the Moon. She says of this move "It was the bravest thing I've ever done".

In the Family Model, the Moon represents the child, Saturn the mother and the Sun the father. Madonna's Moon is likely to be a needy one. Her mother died when she was 5, at the first crossing point of the natal and nodal chart, with transitting Uranus and Pluto conjunct her Moon. This, not surprisingly, had a profound and long-lasting effect on her. She says that her mother's death gave her the urge to prove herself. It also brought the experience of being motherless, which may relate to her current controversial decision to adopt a child. It's interesting to see that Saturn, representing the mothering figure, is slightly detached from the main chart structure, and appears out on a limb in Madonna's chart, remote and not quite there.

Jupiter is on a Low Point, indicating that its perceptive sensing works in an inner, less obvious way - yet Madonna herself could never be accused of being retiring as she projects her Leo Sun across the chart! Conjunct Neptune and the North Node, this group which includes Jupiter could be an important key to understanding her ability to pick the right, yet sometimes controversial style she projects in her performances. It will act as a good sensing tool; both Jupiter and Neptune are part of the Small Learning triangle, and the Node will emphasise the lessons of the 2nd House - to develop her sense of self-worth. Jupiter may also endow her with the ability to take risks and be an opportunist, moving into new areas, taking new chances, seizing the moment. It crops up repeatedly as a featured planet in her Age Progression - it was aspected when she graduated from high school, made her first singles recording deal, published her controversial book "Sex", got into studying Kabbalah, married her first husband Sean Penn, and it's around now, making an aspect in her Moon Node chart as she brings baby David from Malawi to adopt.

The Moon Node chart brings to the surface those things which we may repress; we often project things from this chart out into the world around us, so it appears as if they come from somewhere else outside, not from deep within us. Not only does the Age Point in Madonna's Node chart make a trine aspect to Jupiter, suggesting taking a chance, seizing an opportunity, it also makes an oppostion to her Sun. This could mean that she would experience her authority being challenged, and that is reflected in the mixed reception to her decision to adopt. At the same time, Saturn is currently in Leo, moving like a restraining hand over her 12th House Sun. As it does so, she is facing the criticism of the UK adoption agencies and the press for her actions, amid accusations that she has circumnavigated the red tape involved in adopting an African child.

Finally, it's worth considering where her Age Point is right now as this controversy rages on around her. It's in earthy practical Taurus, and when she was 48 in August, it entered the 9th House. In astrological psychology, this life phase is a philosophical one where the Hubers say "it is essential for the human being to find true values for his existence". With such an emphasis in her chart on the Existence axis and her reasons for being here, Madonna may well be trying to work through or express something of this search in the adoption.

Madonna, born 16.8.1958, Bay City MI, USA at 07.05 EST

Suggested reading:

The Cosmic Egg Timer - an Introduction to the Huber Method

Aspect Pattern Astrology
Aspect Patterns in Colour

LifeClock
Using Age Progression

All titles available from the APA on-line Book Shop

Addendum - 11th December 2006

Madonna is again in the news after being seen in Mayfair wearing a coat made from the skins of 40 dead chinchillas. It's estimated cost is £33,000. How sad that Madonna is unable to extend her good will towards the animal kingdom, and chooses to support the fur trade by wearing dead animals. Chinchillas are docile, beautiful creatures. Does she really need their dead bodies to support her ego?

Astrological psychology - how to start with a chart

If I'm going to be commenting on the charts of other people, it seems only right that the playing field should be level to begin with, and that I should show my own chart and say a few things about it. I've been studying it, learning about it and better understanding it - and myself - for the past 23 years, and one of things that I and other tutors of API (UK) always do at the start of our workshops is to put our own chart up for the group and talk about it. So here is mine.

Visual image is where we start from - and even non-astrologers can do this! The coloured aspect lines in the central area of the chart, pointing towards the Moon, can be viewed as a bird's beak, the inquisitive nose of a small mammal, or as a the nose cone of a rocket. There is a sense of movement, of going somewhere with purpose; yes, this is me!

The colour of the red/green/blue aspect lines show the quality of energy available to the individual. If each colour is counted in my chart there is a predominance of red. Red aspects indicate activity, "doing" energy; green aspects confer awareness and sensitivity and blue ones indicate the ability to rest, relax and enjoy the moment. I have only two blue so it's not easy to sit back and do nothing - the excess of red aspects means I always want to be on the go, and find it harder to switch off and relax. This is all part of my unconsious inner motivation.

The shape that the aspect lines make is predominantly triangular. Again, this says a lot about my motivation. Triangular shapes (known as Aspect Patterns) show a motivation which is flexible, adaptable and able to go with the flow.

The overall direction the aspect lines and patterns take is predominantly horizontal, indicating that I am more interested in making contact with people, and working with them, than in carving out a prominent niche for myself. People come first, and have always been part of my work and professional life.

Which part of the chart has the greatest concentration of planets? Left or right? Top or bottom? Without a doubt, the left, or "I" side of my chart is packed with planets. This suggests I need my own space, and that I am focussed on knowing and developing myself. All true...but what about the horizontal direction of my chart, the working with people? The Moon - the planet at the "nose cone" end of the rocket - is the only one on the right, or "You" side, and it acts as the part of my personality which is sensitive to the needs of others. And on the "You" or "people person" side of the chart it is a very useful tool indeed to have there.

For more details on how to look at charts in this way, see tabs at the top of the page giving info on all my books and books by Bruno and Louise Huber on Astrological Psychology and visit the APA website for details of courses and training offered in Astrological Psychology.