The 2025 Saturn /Neptune conjunction

Saturn and Neptune are currently in conjunction in Aries. They have been gravitating towards this position during the first few months of 2025, finally arriving together, alongside, on the first degree of Aries in May.

I can't resist viewing this conjunction in terms of two people/beings/entities, both with very different natures, who are irresistibly drawn to each other by some uknown powerful force. The magnetism becomes too great, they can resist it no longer and - for better or worse- they fall into each other's arms and to hell with the consequences. 

The fact that this happens in Aries (imagine the circumstances of this meeting taking place against a backdrop of being urged to "get on with it" and "come on, get started - get the ball rolling - there's no time for hanging around dithering!")

This is just one way of looking at it, and allow me my fantasy of what it could be like as I seek to understand the significance of this conjunction of these two planets in this sign - both planets are "heavies" in the sense of being influential personally and collectively. 

Saturn and Neptune are hardly the most compatible of bedfellows. Saturn will be uncomfortable having the loose leaky margins of Neptune invading its well-defined space, while Neptune will find Saturn's boundary-loving structures a big challenge when all it wants to do is hang out and share a bit of love. And Aries, where this is taking place, is the sign related to getting things moving - especially new things -  and being quick off the mark.

Without a doubt, globally we are  going through times of change, upheaval and uncertainty with the need to renew, refresh, and make changes in all areas of life. This is reflected in what is going on in our world, from ongoing attacks on Gaza, ongoing warfare between Russia and  Ukraine and unrest in the middle east, while the US president presides over endless announcements of trading tarrifs on other countries. These change, alter, and yo-yo up and down seemingly at the whim of the president. No wonder watching the news is rapidly becoming a threat to mental health.

At this point, let's break off and say hello to Uranus in Gemini. Are you, Uranus, excitedly enjoying your first toe-testing foray into this sign, taking what you glean back into steady Taurus for a brief while before setting off into inquisitive Gemini proper next April for the long haul? When you arrive, there will no doubt be a surge of new tech-based issues to get to grips with, involving more AI and all that goes with it. We can expect more disruption.

Back to Saturn and Neptune who, although not immediately natural bedfellows, have a lot going for them; their inherent and very different qualities, when combined, can confer strength. They have things to learn from each other and their contrasting energies can be combined to create something new. That's what a conjunction is about - it's not about one of the two planets involved being superior, but is rather the opportunity to create something new, blending, mixing and expressing the two sorts of prevailing energy in a positive way.

On their highest level of expression, these two combined could usher in a new approach, a new way of looking at things. Saturn, at this level could convey wise and benevolent authority, with Neptune bringing unconditional acceptance and love. The potential is there - but will it be taken up collectively? Looking at the current state of the world that, at this stage, seems unlikely just yet.

At the lowest level of collective expression of these planets, Saturn will probably want hang on fiercely to old estalished structures, old ways of resolving problems and defending boundaries, i.e. in countries (Israel, Russia for example) in the "usual" way - that of conflict and war.

Collectively so many things seem in flux, the need for change is pressing, but the "same old, same old" patterns are played out because they're safe, established, tried and tested. We've heard it all before - the solid, defensive, unchanging Saturnian stuff, so those softer, more inclusive Neptunian qualities could be instrumental in ushering in change. Neptune at the lowest level of collective expession is concerned with escapism and getting away from the challenging demands of having to find new and fair solutions. At this level Neptune is good at creating smoke screens, diverting the attention towards something more alluring which will capture the attention of the masses.

It's not difficult to spot this behaviour at work with powerful world leaders showing us how they do it. But only when, on a personal level, the ego and any narcissistic needs are set aside, will it begin to work.

And what of this Saturn/Neptune on a personal level? We're all part of the collective and are therefore part of both the problem and the solution. What can you/I/anyone who happens to wonder what the hell is going on right now do on a personal level to work with the current flavour of things in our eveyday lives?

Saturn is about structure, form, boundaries, standards, mentoring, teaching, supporting and - for want of a better word - rules. Not tough rules but clear guidelines on how to be a fully functioning member of the society we live in, respecting others, being kind to them and supporting them. If this is something we'd like for ourselves, then it's up to us to offer this to others. Do as you would be done by. You get back what you give out.

Neptune is about unconditional acceptance, inclusion and love for our fellow human beings. Not an easy ask by any means, but it's achievable. Forgive, accept, include, care, understand. Again, do as you would be done by and yes, you will get back what you give.

 

The Journey of Psychosynthesis

 

Astrological Psychology and Psychosynthesis go hand in. Bruno and Louise Huber, who researched and developed the Huber Method - the innovative approach to astrology that I write about here - worked alongside Roberto Assagioli, the founder of Psychosynthesis.

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Will Parfitt’s latest book offers a comprehensive and very readable overview of Psychosynthesis. But it’s more than just a book; it’s a well-structured treasure trove of insightful practical lessons and exercises for anyone seeking to increase their self awareness and make the best choices they can as they journey through life.

Based on his work and experience of more than forty years as a psychotherapist and trainer, Will has drawn on the Psychosynthesis distance learning course he created, and he shares it in this book. The reader is guided, at their own pace, on a journey to the centre of their true self. Travelling this path, the reader – who could more appropriately be called “the explorer”, since this is a journey of discovery – is encouraged at each stage to gently open to their unique wholeness. The journey is one to be savoured, not rushed, with pauses for review and consolidation along the way.

Regardless of whether you’re new to Psychosynthesis, or are an old hand at practising this approach to self awareness, the material for this journey is well-written, clearly laid out, and presented in a relaxed and engaging style. It hits the spot. Will doesn’t talk up or down; his words speak directly from his centre. Throughout the journey, readers are encouraged to take part in the practical exercises which can be both enlightening and challenging. A break and a period for reflection is recommended at the conclusion of each lesson. The reader is encouraged to record and consolidate what they have experienced before moving on.

Life crises and turning points are focussed on, as are sub-personalities – those different parts of us - which are the diverse aspects and roles of the personality with their own individual wants and needs. One lesson covers the art of self-identification, focusing on how we do this and how it colours and influences all we encounter in everyday life. Here, Will encourages the reader to disidentify from the different roles of these sub-personalities or selves, and become the driver in their life rather than one of the passengers. There are exercises that are both challenging and empowering for anyone who has ever asked themselves “Who am I?” as it is oh-so-easy to identify with and be attached to one of our many “selves” - our sub-personalities. Learning how to connect with our core self and choose to be attached or not attached to our various sub-personalities offers the reader freedom.

On disidentification from our thoughts, feelings, roles and mental attitude, Will asserts that if we are able to disidentify from a sub-personality “we will have it rather than it having us.” On a personal level, those words resonated for me, and I will use them as a reminder and mantra when I find myself coming from a sub-personality.

The Journey of Psychosynthesis is one which will lead you to your core, your centre and your soul. If you’re a newcomer to Psychosynthesis you may want to embark on this journey and see it through sequentially from start to finish. If you’re already familiar with Psychosynthesis I can think of no better way of refreshing your perspective on whatever is going on in your life by choosing an appropriate staging post from the book and focussing on that. Will asserts that once you have the basics of Psychosynthesis, you can work with what emerges from inside, not following a pre-set plan but making the best choices you can.

You can read about how Bruno and Louise worked, studied and trained in Psychosynthesis with Roberto Assagioli in Florence in Piercing the Eggshell.

 

Bittersweet

 

Sun, clouds and sea, Isle of Barra

In the book Bittersweet – how sorrow and longing make us whole by Susan Cain, the author explores something you might recognise immediately, just by reading the title, especially if you’re the kind of person who’s drawn to what is poignant in life. This set me thinking astrologically about which planet or planets might be associated with what is bittersweet in life, and I came up with strong possibilities for these being Moon, Venus and Neptune, but of course it doesn't stop there and readers may have their own ideas - if so, please share/comment.

In astrological psychology, the Moon 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.

Venus represents the drive to be selective and choose, using discrimination. Venus is associated with our ability to form relationships, to develop and express our aestheic tastes and preferences, to pursue what is harmonious and beautiful and, as a sensory organ, to use our physical sense of taste. The energies of Venus will be as fully engaged when you're eating a meal, as when you're visiting an art gallery, deciding on a colour scheme, listening to a piece of music or forming a new friendship. And, of course, falling in love.

Neptune notches things up to a higher and often far more inclusive level. Neptune is most likely to be the source of kindness, unconditional acceptance and non-judgemental love at its highest level - the level of mind - where "there is a desire for universal love as the highest ideal"  to quote from their book, The Planets, by Bruno and Louise Huber. 

On Neptune, they continue, "There is a heightened sensitivity and a refined awareness of communication (empathy) that breaks through all walls and flows from heart to heart.This is what Assagioli called loving understanding".

Could this be you, or me, putting this loving understanding into action and remembering to do and be this in our everyday lives? Of course, we all lapse, but if we forget about being kind, pleasant, helpful, inclusive and positive towards others, we stand in line to get an unpleasant reminder if the vitriol comes out in response! 

 

So how does this fit in with the idea of bittersweet?

Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines Bittersweetness as

“a tendency to states of longing, poignancy, and sorrow; an acute awareness of passing time; and a curiously piercing joy at the beauty of the world.”

To that I’d add yearning, the desire to be reunited with something or someone who is no longer there, or to search after an elusive goal, place or state of mind which we seek in order to feel whole, fufilled or spirit-full. Bittersweet includes both the light and the dark, exploring how the combination and meeting of sadness and joy can trigger our own creativity and open a portal to something greater than our personal selves. It can be transformative, and can be recognised as something we already “knew” when we meet it (but had forgotten about).

Bittersweet is found in sad (often beautiful) music with minor key notes…..in browsing old family photographs…..in rainy days….in intense reactions to music, art, nature and beauty, and is often accompanied by goosebumps. I’d add, based on my own experience of bittersweet, that a flash of insight, or a sudden recognition of a half-remembered, dream-like something from the past could be bittersweet too.

The book contains a short quiz to help the reader identify whether or not they are a bittersweet type, and it’s also available on line, as is her curated list of bittersweet music. You may want to try that out.

Cain shares examples of bittersweet experiences in her own life and draws on the experiences of others she meets during her thorough research for this book. She shows how a bittersweet state of mind is the quiet force which helps us transcend our personal and collective pain, whether from a death or breakup, addiction or illness. She asserts that if we don’t acknowledge our own heartache we can end up inflicting it on others, maybe through abuse, domination, or neglect. Once we realise that all humans know—or will know—loss and suffering, we can turn toward one another, rather than turn away, and connect with joy as well as sadness in a bittersweet moment.

I’ll share a couple of quotes from the book. If you read it, I hope you gain as much from it as I did:

Most of all, bittersweetness shows us how to respond to pain: by acknowledging it, and attempting to turn it into art, the way musicians do, or healing, or innovation, or anything else that nourishes the soul.

The love you lost, or the love you wished for but never had: that love exists eternally. It shifts its shape, but it’s always there. The task is to recognise it in its new form.

For more info see Susan Cain’s website

Solar Eclipse 2024 – an astrological/psychological view

 

Image courtesy of NASA

In the days leading up to the 2024 eclipse, which will cover much of the USA, I’ve been pondering on how the physical eclipse – when the Sun is obscured by the Moon, from our viewpoint on Earth, along and either side of the line of totality – could be looked at from an astrological/psychological point of view.

The Sun represents the individual’s sense of self in the natal chart. The Sun is symbolic of the mind and the will, of the ability to make decisions, to take the lead, to assert oneself, to be an individual, to choose and yes – to shine and stand out in some way.The Moon represents the individual’s feelings, their emotions, the need to be loved, to have those emotional needs met, and the inner child, who might be impish or fun-loving or scared, shy and vulnerable.

If – and only if – we’re travelling along the path of personal growth and self-understanding, we’ll already be reasonably aware of our own strengths and vulnerabilities – all good Sun and Moon stuff. So shifting away from the incredible experience of physically seeing and feeling a total eclipse, and viewing it astrologically, how might it be experienced in real, everyday life when our Sun/light/sense of self is eclipsed, clouded, hidden and darkened by our Moon/feeling, sensitive/needy self?

When something happens in life where our feelings totally take over and block out our more rational mind, does our thinking go haywire? Do we have a knee-jerk emotional, irrational response, perhaps tapping into a previous traumatic event and triggering reactions similar to those we had then? If his happens, our sense of self – the Sun – takes a knock as we temporarily forget that we are OK just as we are, and that we’ve come a long way.

If this happens, it’s a personal eclipse and, unlike the real physical eclipse, it can happen any time. In a total eclipse, the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, blocking the Sun’s light for a short period of time. But it’s a temporary thing, and the transient experience of darkness and chill passes….as these effects can when we’re plunged into a personal life event “eclipse”.

With a real solar total eclipse, viewed from a location on Earth, there’s always plenty of notice of the event as excitement and anticipation build up ahead of the event. It’s predictable, whereas on a personal level, it may be less so if something or someone comes along, bringing experiences which swamp our sense of self and our rational mind. We forget that we can choose, can use our will (be it good will, strong will, or skilful will) to temper our emotions and ride out this temporary, personal eclipse.

Sun and the Mind

We gain a sense of self of the mind through the Sun, which, in the chart, represents our autonomous self - awareness. With its Cardinal quality, the Sun is our drive to be assertive, go-ahead and initiatory. The Sun is the sense of self we gain through our ability to make decisions and use the mind. It’s our capacity to choose, our capacity to make conscious choices and ultimately take responsibility for ourselves.

Whichever role you cast it in, it represents how we direct and use our will based on the decisions we make. It leads the way, and the rest of the planets, our psychological drives, follow. The Sun signifies our strength and power and this is involved when we discriminate and judge, when we think, form ideas and tap into our innate creativity. 

 The Sun, the sense of self and the will   

Closely linked with the Sun is the use of the will. We can draw on

 · our strong will which gives us determination and the capacity to keep going

 · our skilful will which endows us with sound common sense and the ability to be flexible and adaptive as we work towards our goals, and

 · and our good will which enables us to include others and to work selflessly for their benefit as well as our own.

The use of the will helps us to be goal-oriented and better able to go after what we want to achieve.

When we’re seeking to achieve the goals we set ourselves, it’s useful to remember that energy follows thought. Using the Sun/mind, we form our ideas and go on to make these real, to make them manifest. Doing so, we can be truly creative.

Our capacity to use our will, to be aware that energy follows thought and to find practical grounding in our everyday lives for our ideas and creativity can be developed and should be encouraged. It can help us strengthen the Sun and gain a greater, more centred self-confidence, and ride out the temporary effects of a personal “eclipse”.

Doorways

Doors. Portals. Gateways. It doesn’t matter which name you use as they all symbolise a threshold which, when crossed, will take us into a new and different physical place or state of mind. Psychologically, doors can represent the threshold between past and future, between what has gone before and what is yet to come. Doorways, what they represent and what might be beyond them, can be exciting, forbidding, intriguing, scary, interesting, fascinating and stimulating.

Using the natal chart, the on-going movement of the Age Point around it works like a LifeClock, constantly offering opportunities for us to open doors to new psychological life phases and ways of being; the journey is progressive and at each stage there is something new to learn and experience about ourselves and the world we inhabit.

There are the doors which lead us from one House, or area of life experience, of the chart to the next. These doors are probably rather large and impressive as they mark the end of one psychological life phase and the beginning of the next. Being right on the cusp of a House, these doors can be flung wide open to the world in a big way - we have to go through them and we may as well enjoy the view as we do so. Then there are the doors which we pass through as the Age Point changes Sign. Perhaps these doorways are even painted the colour of the element of that Sign, giving hints about what kind of energy might be around. Jazzy, full-on red, sensitive green, soothing blue or contact-seeking yellow?

Joseph Campbell, the author of many books on mythology said, “When you follow your bliss….doors will open where you would not have thought there would be doors; and where there wouldn’t be a door for anyone else”. 

His words could be related directly to the movement of the Age Point through the metaphorical doors I’ve been speaking about. Of course, these doors are uniquely your doors and uniquely my doors - they are experienced differently for every one of us. And if we follow our bliss we must do so willingly, knowing that whatever life phase we are travelling through is transient….and that at its end there will always be another door, leading us to a new beginning.

 

Rose of Heaven

                    Rose of Heaven 

          and other stories by Will Parfitt

I confess to not being a fan of short stories, always finding them, as a child and teenager, like a taster or snack, and never as satisfying as the full-blown meal of a novel. My view towards them changed when I learned that short story writing is a specific and exacting art, so with this in mind – and with an open mind too - I read Rose of Heaven and the other eight short stories in Will’s latest book.

I wasn’t disappointed. Far from being light snacks, each one comes with a meaty message elegantly seasoned with positive and/or thought-provoking ideas. Will draws on his experience of working for many years as a psychotherapist, and his own search for truth and meaning. The stories all have a psychological slant, which may or may not hit the spot, depending on where the reader is on their own life path

Characters come across as real, and there is a gentle touch of humour in several stories. Nothing Like a Hole in the Head had me intrigued and made my toes curl at the same time. It’s probably the one story which impressed me most, along with

Mabel’s Mindfulness, which made me smile, has a feel-good quality and an interesting punchline. The title story, Rose of Heaven, is possibly based on the author’s personal experiences and searches. It sets the scene, signalling (to me at any rate) that the reader will be in good hands in this book. “I love you for who you are, not what you do…..” says Rose to the anonymous character who is telling the tale.

I will return to read Rose of Heaven and the other stories at a later date. I suspect there is a mirror hidden in each and every one of them which will offer me insights and encourage reflections and connections.

Recommended reading? Yes!

 

Will Parfitt is the author of several non-fiction books on psychology and psychosynthesis. 

His most recent book, "The Magic of Psychosynthesis", is reviewed here on this blog.

This book and "Rose of Heaven" are available on Amazon.

The Moon's Nodes: what is your next step?

 

Where have you come from, where are now and where are you going?

Sometimes clients or non-astrologers will point to the glyph of the Moon’s North Node in the natal chart and ask “What does that thing like a headset with earphones mean?” This question offers an ideal opportunity for the astrologer to explain the significance of the nodal axis in the context of needing to “tune in and listen” to its message and bring greater awareness of what it indicates into everyday life.

The Moon's nodes are not planets and have no energy of their own. They are significant points in the chart and can be used as signposts pointing in two opposite directions. One points to an area of life experience and expression which is well-known and familiar. The other indicates where we could be heading on our own path of personal and spiritual growth - the "next step" point in the chart.

The message of the south node is “stay put, you’re safe here.” The message of the north node is “move forward and grow, even though it may feel scary.”

The nodes are best thought of as a nodal line, or axis - a path along which we can travel. Both ends of the line have to be included because the nodes can show us where we have come from. 

The nodes offer the potential for gaining balance within ourselves and our lives, and they can act as a correcting mechanism when we work cooperatively with them. Through a greater understanding of the nodes we can identify what we already know and have experienced and acquired in the past. 

We can do this from our stance in the present, where we are now, accepting our current situation together with all the challenges and opportunities it offers. At the same time, we can look towards the future and the direction we can take in order to grow, develop and unfold more fully. 

 

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The south node's position by sign and house indicates what we come into life already knowing well, what we are comfortable and familiar with, such our habitual responses, well-known and well-used habit patterns, ways of behaving, relating, responding and being. 

The south node has a Saturnian quality because it is about safety and familiarity. We may harbour doubts and fears about getting involved in new and challenging activities, and of stepping beyond the boundaries of our well-organised security system. The south node is like a cosy fur-lined rut or an old and comfortable pair of slippers that we’re loath to let go of – understandably so.

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The north node leads the way into new and often uncharted territory. Its position by sign and house gives a clear message of what we can aim for as it shows the direction we can grow towards, if we so choose. 

It has a Jupiterian quality because it offers the opportunity to expand, open up and experience new things. It encourages us to move forward into areas which are less familiar and face the excitement and adventure of rising to new challenges in life. 

The north node in the chart is like a beacon indicating where and how we can develop ourselves through personal and spiritual growth. Following the direction of the north node may mean turning away from all that is safe, cosy and familiar as we move forward and break new ground. 

In astrological psychology, only the north node is included in the chart and the aspect structure. That's because the north node is considered to be an important feature for personal and spiritual growth, pointing the way forward to our next step along the path. 

The house/area of life experience will indicate where our next step might lie; the zodiac sign the north node is in will indicate how we behave and interact in that area of life. It will also give a nudge (if we take all of this on board) of what we might need to work on too!

As an example, actor Tom Hanks has the north node is in the 3rd house (comunication, learning, connected to community) and in the ruled-by-Jupiter sign of Sagittarius (being open to new things, expansion, taking risks etc).

 

 

 

 

There's much more about the  Moon's Nodes, 

and how to interpret and work with them, 

in my book The Living Birth Chart.

 

 

Planetary manifestations

How do the energies and characteristics associated with the personal planets act out in everyday life? How is this energy expressed? We can observe it in human behaviour  - that of others and in our own responses to life situations.

Let's look at how it might show up, bearing in mind that the energies of the planets can operate at several different levels, ranging from downright low levels to more admirable and acceptable higher manifestations.

Starting with the Sun - our sense of self, which can always do with a polish up from time to time to keep it on the higher level - consider how you're feeling about yourself today, right now. Are you reasonably centred, focussed, clear in your mind about what you're doing? Are you willingly taking responsibility for yourself and the decisions you make?

Next check out the Moon. How are your feelings and emotions and needs? Is the small child in you acting up in any way? Can you give your feelings some attention or do you push them down, ignore them and hope they'll go away? Is there anything you can do right now to help with this?

What about Mercury? How are your communications with yourself (like the needy Moon)? And how are your communications with others? Are they good, clear, not muddled and well-expressed, or do you avoid straight talking? Do you pore over news websites to keep up with what's going on, or talk/WhatsApp a lot with friends? What are you reading or learning about right now?

Engaging with Venus, we can connect with the higher levels of beauty through the arts; on the lower levels we might just stuff ourselves full of food and become sluggish. Taking things up a few notches, we will be considerate to those around us, engage with our sense of taste in all areas of life, and strive for more harmony with our family and friends.

If we don't engage with Mars, nothing will get started and nothing will be achieved. Depends how you, and every individual, make the energies of this planet manifest. Argumentative, combative, controlling, bullying behaviour come across as pretty low down on this planet's possibilities but, directed skilfully and with awareness, it can be notched upwards and used as an impressive force to get things done, such as those small tasks we prefer to ignore and leave hanging around.

Jupiter is engaged when we step out of the ordinary and take a risk, and do something new or different, like eating a new dish, or going to a new place. We can all do something we've never done before, and it doesn't have to be outrageous (although Jupiter is not known for holding back as it's the master of grand gestures). You don't have to try bungee jumping, just temper whatever boundary of experience you want to extend with a little common sense, which takes us on to.....

Saturn who may be regarded by some as the killjoy of the cosmic group, but is essential to keep things within safe bounds on a personal as well as a general level. How do you structure your time, your day, your life? Saturn is on call here and fulfils the need we all have for stability and security - but keep this in perspective and don't let your saturnian tendencies hold you back. Proceed with caution and awareness and be thankful you have this capacity to keep yourself safe.

The Planets by Bruno and Louise Huber offers a lot more insight and info on these personal planets, and I recommend it as an excellent source of all you need to know to get you started on understanding how you and your planetary manifestations operate.

 

 

 

 

 

Moon Node chart

The Moon Node Chart is unique to the Huber Method, and is one of the three charts used in Astrological Psychology. The other two are the Natal Chart (used by all astrologers) and the House Chart, which I've previously written about. You can find out about the House Chart here.

The Moon Node Chart can be likened to a mirror - we can look into it to discover more about the shadow side of the personality, those things which might be repressed and that we don't like in ourselves, and it can also reveal to us the accumulated knowledge and life experience we bring with us to this lifetime.

Moon Node Chart

 

The Moon Node Chart shown here reflects the aspect patterns and shaping shown in the Natal Chart below.

The orientation of the aspect structure in the chart is different. In the Moon Node Chart it has a more vertical direction, and in the Natal Chart below, it's more focussed on the horizontal. This is significant.

Natal Chart

Also note that the positions of the planets are reversed, giving the mirror image effect, which makes looking at the Moon Node Chart rather like looking into a mirror, where what is seen is not really there.

The Moon Node Chart is always used alongside the Natal Chart and never on its own. The two are designed to be used together, and this particular technique was researched extensively by Bruno Huber. It can offer insights, for those who are on a path of self-growth and awareness, into where they are coming from. It can also highlight some of their more habitual patterns of response to everyday life - the well-used behaviour patterns. The beauty of understanding and working with this chart is that it can help us to see what is going on in ourselves, decide if we want to keep it or make changes, and then actively and consciously choose to leave our familar and habitual patterns of response and behaviour behind us and move on.

Finding out more about the Moon Node Chart

There are several ways of doing this:

• Read Moon Node Astrology by Bruno & Louise Huber (see sidebar). It offers comprehensive coverage of this specific and unique chart. Click on Books by the Hubers in the bar at the top of this page
  
• Read The Living Birth Chart which specifically features using the Moon Node Chart and gives worked examples using the charts of real people. Click on  Books by Joyce Hopewell in the bar at the top of this page
• Have a consultation with an astrologer trained in Astrological Psychology. They will really know their stuff and will treat you and your Moon Node Chart with the greatest respect, as use of the Moon Node Chart is not to be taken lightly.  
• Louise Huber says that when we look into the Moon Node Chart, we have to be completely harmless. This should always be borne in mind when working with this chart.
  

 

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.

 

Friendship, Fun and Folly in the Fifth House

The astrological houses sometimes cause a bit of confusion for non-astrologers, because people don't know what the houses are, but if you substitute the words "area of life experience" for "house" that will give you a better understanding of what they mean in a real life context.

To find out which areas of life experience each house represents take a look at my my co-authored book The Cosmic Egg Timer and my YouTube channel where I describe what each house  - including the fifth house  - represents.

The fifth house is one which most people can readily understand as it's concerned with relationships, the friendships we make and the experiences and real life lessons - both good and bad -  that we gain from them.

 Quoting from The Cosmic Egg Timer, I say that

The 5th house is, in a sense, a place of self-discovery. This is an area where we venture forth from the collective to explore ourselves in contact with the world and participate in the Games People Play. It is an extrovert place where we are likely to be full of self-belief, flamboyance and even bravado as we go out on our journey of conquest. We like to be involved with people, have a good time, and our conquests may well involve the opposite sex; these may produce the other aspect of this house – creativity, whether this be babies or works of art.

The downside in this area of life is that when our conquests don’t produce the results we need to make us feel special, we feel rejected and insecure. We may attempt to possess somebody and hold him/ her as a personal prize in order to prove how good we are. 

Musing on this, alongside my own life experiences in this house/area of life, I consider myself lucky to have true friends, people I trust. I've known some of them for years. But there have been others along the way who initially presented themselves as friends, but turned out not to be so, and were not to be trusted. In this way, the fifth house can be a learning ground, filled with real life experiences which are not always pleasant, but which offer important lessons for self understanding and personal growth.

Friendship and fun with a true friend is something to treasure and cultivate. Friends can laugh together, do things together, trust each other and share confidences. A friend will support you, stay in touch, be there if you're going through a difficult time, remember your birthday, be kind to you, be honest with you, and not talk behind your back. And you can reciprocate by doing the same for them. It's a two-way traffic and you're equal partners.

Folly creeps in when someone purporting to be a friend proves to be anything but. You might blame yourself for being taken in by this person, for being taken for a fool, especially when you realise that this is a toxic relationship and you're being used, manipulated and controlled. You've been drawn into playing one of the many games people play in the arena of relationships. This is especially so where powerful emotions are involved, and your so-called friend -  or maybe it's your ex - proves unworthy of your trust and reveals their true colours.

Of course, the boot could also be on the other foot and you may realise that you could be the one attempting to possess or control somebody and hold him or her as a personal prize in order to gain power over them or prove something to yourself.

By waking up and being consciously aware of our own motivation and behaviour with the friends we relate to in this area of life we can, thankfully, begin to bypass the downside of these games - such as control and manipulation - and create lasting and worthwhile connections which are true, open, honest and beneficial to all concerned.

In fifth house friendships, as in all areas of life, there's always a choice between  the darker alleyways and the path of light.