Choosing which type of cyclic chart to use.

Sometimes the type of chart you want to use just doesn’t work.  Jackie Robinson’s charts fall into this category.  Right now I am on a bus tour covering several days — last night before leaving I ran a number of p.c. Solar Returns and Progressed Daily Angles charts for Jackie, only to find that they just didn’t work.  They didn’t tell a story.  This happens once in a while.  It bothers me, I figure it must bother others as well.  So, why?

The answer lies in the natal chart, a chart that I did not cover much in the prior posting.  Jackie is a “new moon” person, Moon and Sun both at 11 Aquarius, both in the 6th house and opposing Neptune.  He “resonates” with the Sun and Moon, and the Moon-to-Sun charting used in the prior posting just fits into his astrological make up.  Apparently, Solar Returns and their derived charts do not fit him well. 

I like to explore differing chart types and methods, perhaps I’ll try diurnal charts in one of these posts — most people seem to relate well to their personal Sun & Angles cycles.  Right now, I’ll go do some work in the short time I have this evening and try to get some charts and commentary ready for Monday or Tuesday evening.  If any of my readers have had this or similar experiences with charts, drop a comment.  Dave. 

Jackie Robinson: The Movie, The Man, The Baseball Player

“42” — the movie about Jackie Robinson, the first black player in major league baseball, is now coming to theatres in the U.S.  Jackie was born Jan. 31, 1919 in Cairo, GA at 6:30 PM, EST.  The charts used in this posting have been relocated to Brooklyn, NY where he played for the Brooklyn Dodgers for the bulk of his career.  Jackie was an accomplished athlete inserted into a high-visibility situation.  He succeeded to excel at baseball and as a person by every measure, winning numerous awards and the admiration of baseball fans everywhere.

The chart above is a t/Moon-to-n/Sun Return for April 14, 1947.  The relocated natal data is shown along with the Moon return data.  Note that the “Return” occurred at 9:58:24 PM.  When the chart is advanced to April 15th, his first appearance in a Dodger uniform as MLB’s first black player, this same time will be used.  Only the date is changed to arrive at the “advanced” chart for the event date.

As always, the first interpretive step is to note the Moon-to-Sun position and the “theme” that it suggests for the next two weeks:  “An emotional focus is upon one’s possessions and personal values, heritage or opportunities presents you with cautionary concerns and inner satisfaction.”  Or, we could say that what pleases one has both an emotional and a logical side.  Jackie had every reason to be pleased with himself on this date, having achieved fame for what he was and not for what he appeared to be.

In this chart we note that natal Sun conjoins natal Moon (the natal planets are shown in the outer wheel, transits inside).  This signifies one who is a “look-at-me” personality, one who like to be the center of  attraction due to what he/she does.  This makes Jackie especially aligned to Moon-to-Sun Return charting techniques.  Moon-Moon-Sun lies opposite t/Pluto in the 8th:  Robinson’s range of feelings and self-interests were aware (the opposition) of the society changing effect (Pluto) that he represented.  He would do well in meeting this challenge.  n/MC is at the Descendant; his career and personal goals is in the hands of the public and his team mates. — the “others” in his life.  Note now the t/Part of Fortune at the MC:  Chance and change (the PoF) is part of what is goals and opportunities (the MC) have placed before him.  t/PoF opposes t/Mercury and t/Venus:  Social contacts, forming one’s own impression for others, bonding to the public — these are all suggested by this pattern.

The above few elements found in this chart are all we need to know about this date and this next few weeks about Jackie Robinson, given the context of his life at this time.  The next chart is for April 15th, one day later.  This “advanced” chart will present us with a few changes that may better reflect that date’s personal meaning for Jackie.

Note that this “advanced-by-one-day” chart has the same time (9:59:24 PM) as the former Moon-to-Sun chart.  Only the date has changed.  Anyone who can cast a Moon-to-Sun Return chart can create an “advanced” chart such as this one.  So, what has changed?

t/Moon has advanced to conjoin n/Uranus, square t/Jupiter, oppose n/Saturn.  Quite a pattern.  t/Moon-square-t/Jupiter points to great emotional stress and opportunity, excitement unbounded, happy tension.  t/Moon conjoining n/Uranus suggests being on an emotional high.  Note that n/Uranus is on his n/Ascendant (when relocated to Brooklyn, NY), so he tends to be naturally pleased and excited by others when he is in their spotlight.  The MC opposes Mercury/Venus; highlighting the “bonding” with the public.  n/MC (one day later) is still at the Descendant squaring n/Mars:  He will fight to achieve his goals

All in all, given the context of his life (given a chance to play major league baseball before a metropolitan and national audience) as the first black baseball player, these charts are most informative.    We will pursue his career over the next several posts unless some public event or personage makes news that is of astrological interests.  Dave.

 

Boston Terrorists Killed & Captured

The city of Boston, Massachusetts went to extraordinary lengths in its response to the Marathon bombing, closing the city streets, the entire transportation network.  Cameras from store, street, traffic and people were all analysed by teams of FBI specialists using face recognition software.  With poor-to-none levels of planning, the two brothers who carried out the attack had no money and ability to leave the area.  Confused, the older brother steered their efforts toward robbery and ambushing a police officer in order to obtain money and weapons.  By Thursday (April 18th) evening, their plans to both carry out more terrorism or to escape unravelled.  They were tracked by a cell phone left in their stolen car by the owner, found and engaged in a shoot out.  The older brother was shot, then run over by the younger brother in an effort to escape.  Escape was accomplished.  The area was sealed off and searched house by house. Wounded, the surviving brother hid just outside of the sealed off area.  The next day, the search ended, and the public was allowed to leave their homes.  This was the moment when his hiding place was found, the police called, and a capture made.

Let us look at the advanced chart for the April 19th capture of the remaining terrorist.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In these charts it is useful to treat the cyclic planets (or in this case the Saturn-Pluto conjunction) to be interpreted as the nature of terrorism or the terrorists.  The transiting planets (inner wheel) will be the situation — the situation after the bombing being the social structure arrayed against the act of terrorism.  t/Sun & t/Mars at the Asc. points to society’s intent (Sun) to act (Ascendant) aggressively (Mars) in opposition to the terrorists (c/Saturn & c/Pluto).

These following patterns can be read as fitting the situation:  t/Part of Fortune conjoining t/Moon — the situation is upset (t/PoF) by people’s reactions (the public being released to go outside and being urged to be vigilant) squares t/Saturn (being required to be on the look out for anything strange or a person who is suspicious). This t/Saturn conjoins c/Mercury (constraining another’s plans).  If we play astrological hopscotch we will look for t/Mercury.  t/Mercury conjoins t/Uranus and c/MC. We might say individual or sudden perception (Mercury/Uranus) about the terrorist’s status (c/MC) represents a curious citizen’s observation of his boat’s covering tarp being altered and blood splatter being visible.

There are a lot of ways to spin this symbolism, and that is exactly what I’m doing.  We can learn a bit about astrology by engaging in this type of effort.  Do you, the reader, do this?  Can you see the situation in these chart patterns?  Would you read this chart differently?  As astrologers, as students, we all have to be prepared to recognize when we can’t function at 100%, when we have to feel our way through the chart.  Dave

 

 

 

 

Terrorism Touches Boston

Terrorism did strike Boston, Massachusetts on April 15th, 2013 at the finish line of the Patriots Day Marathon.  The two men who carried out the double-bombing have been killed and captured.  Their birth dates are known but not the birth times.  Consequently many astrologers are casting a wide variety of charts to examine the why’s and nature of this event.  Eclipse charts and Ingress charts seem to be favoured.  Since this blog-site focuses upon Cyclic Charts, I will explore that avenue.

This story commences on Nov. 7th, 1982 around 9 pm from Boston’s point of view.  This is when the outer planets Saturn and Pluto conjoined at 27 Libra.  No pairing of major planets can better represent cruelty, unstoppable change, violence and mass murder.  This cycle started then and pervades today.  This cycle has marked the original World Trade Center bombing, the 9-11 air plane destruction of the twin towers in NYC, the London and Spanish bombings, the attack on the Navy ship, USS Cole.  I will use this chart with other cyclic charts cast relative to the Boston Marathon bombing.

This April 12, 2013 t/Moon-opposite-n/Sun Return chart lies across the 1st-7th house axis, providing this “theme statement:” One has to dominate a relationship with another or others, being argumentative, changes of mind or indecision has to watched for.  one-sidedness is likely to result, an unbalanced solution is enacted.”   The transiting Moon in the 1st house relates to changing moods with or without a cause or reason.  Personal wants take priority.  The natal Sun in the 7th house suggests a need for a partner, strong leadership, self-preoccupation with one’s social activity and efforts.

These “theme statements” relate to the essential meaning of each of 24 combinations of Moon and Sun house placements.  They will be part of an upcoming book in 2014.

This t/Moon-opp-n/Sun Return chart has to be interpreted as a description of the situation as it relates to the essential meaning of the Saturn-Pluto cycle.  This chart does not individually represent one or the other of the two brothers who carried out the bombing, but may be seen as their joint activities and intentions.

t/Pluto is 3 degrees from the MC, n/Pluto is 10 degree above the Desc. angle. The catastrophic energies represented by Pluto govern the goal and interaction with “others” — a doubled-up symbolism that makes Pluto highly significant (as we would expect if astrology has any validity).

n/Saturn (the outer wheel) is, by definition, conjoining Pluto.  t/Saturn also plays a key role, conjoining n/Mercury and opposing t/Part of Fortune:  The strategy that has been developed (Saturn/Mercury) is very chancy and involves personal risk and participation.  Note t/Sun conjoining n/Part of Fortune at the Asc. angle; Decisions and interests involve recognizing “change and chance” conditions — those who were involved were apparently well aware of this dangerous activity.

The Saturn-Pluto conjunction chart’s MC is in the 12th house; Destruction and chaos will be hidden until it occurs.  The Ascendant of the Saturn-Pluto conjunction squares t/Sun.  Great effort and strain will result in these actions.  Since this SA-PL squares the Ascendant (as it relates to Boston), we know this conjunction promises difficulties of some extreme nature.

Let us now look at the day of the bombing at the Boston Marathon’s finish line.

This chart’s angles have advanced some 3 degrees in the 3 days since the Return chart occurred.  We immediately note that the Asc. angle conjoins n/Part of Fortune: This is the time to prove one’s long-standing nature to take a chance, to be macho.  This same Asc. angle is still close to the t/Sun signifying that decisions and intent remain strong.  t/Sun conjoins t/Mars; strong action and attacks are indicated.  t/Jupiter, t/PoF, t/Moon are all together at the 3rd house cusp; opportunity (Jupiter) is subject (conjunction) to change (PoF) and public involvement (Moon) in terms of the news and media.

t/Pluto exactly conjoins the MC angle; This is the date to unleash the brutality that this Saturn-Pluto cyclic chart promises.  Pluto can also represent death and disruption (this is obviously applied to others, but will also apply to those carrying out this activity).

The following days will also fall under this Moon-opposite-Sun Return’s chart.  In other posts, both development and this event will be examined using other types of cyclic charts.  Dave.

Delays to be expected

A number of family issues have come up that will require the support of myself and my wife for those afflicted.  Posts will be a bit scattered for the next week or so due to time constraints.  Dave

Lindsay Lohan; Bad Girl of Hollywood

Lindsay Lohan, Hollywood social rebel, less-than-top-tier-actress, self-focused, queen-of-self-destruction.  The list could be extended, but the image that she has created for herself is now well-known.  Lindsay Lohan was born July 2, 1986 at 9:50 PM DST, Bronx, New York.  The charts of people like Lindsay often prove interesting to study because they “live life large”, exaggerating situations and their behaviour in those situations.  They greatly disappoint their supporters and family, while pleasing the press and super-market tabloids. I will look first at her natal chart, then her chart relocated to Los Angeles to see what changes for her.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Bronx, NY natal chart has Mercury opp. Ascendant, Moon opp. MC. Together, this angular pairing suggests one who blends emotions and thought together, able to both visualize and feel situations before and as they develop, one who thrills at the experiences that life immerses her in.  Mercury at the Desc. tells us she is communicative and social when interacting with others while Moon at the IC suggests she has a need for quiet time and places to regroup, that she enjoys whatever and where ever “home” is.

Another interesting pattern is Part of Fortune conjoining Uranus in the 11th; this is a “I’ll take a chance if you take a chance” dare.  How would you raise a child who seemed to have no self-restraint?  Sun in the 6th opposes, broadly, Neptune in the 12th; this is an “enigma” in that the Sun/6th suggests one who is obedient, caring, hard working, seeking to please (at a young age) while Neptune/12th suggests that Lindsay had her own visions of an alternative life, even at a young age. How would dreaming of something great while feeling locked up in routine play out?  This is the secret to her later-life rebelliousness.   Let’s now look at her LA based natal chart to see what changes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are significant differences when we move three time zones west.  First, Sun is in the 7th, Neptune in the 1st; Lindsay is socially free to interact with others, to show herself, to see others.  Better still, she can envision and work directly with others who are looking for fantasies and visions of their own.  This Hollywood is the place for a Sun-opp-Neptune person, lots of people who are dream-weavers there.  Lindsay is at home.

Not surprisingly, since the Ascendant has moved with this chart, Part-of-Fortune now conjoins Pluto in the 10th; Lindsay finds that she can indirectly manage others through her own behaviour and example.  This pairing squares Mercury, she will talk others into or out of positions and favours.  Mercury in this position is analytical and offers deep insights into what others want from you and what price they will pay.  Again, this fits with her “manipulation” factor.

Uranus is now on the Ascendant; her whole life can now be in “take a chance” mode, being unpredictable, expressing her uniqueness to the extreme.   Uranus, Venus, N.Node all form a loose grand-trine pattern; So, we can blend warm-and-fuzzy with social connections easily made, and with surprises and a delightful personality.  The makings of a star — and a con-man.

In future posts we might be able to explore some of the recent and current events in her life to see how these traits play out.  Dave

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marvin Gaye; Does His Mars Return Relate To His Death?

Marvin Gaye was physically beaten by an overly strict and moralistic father.  As he moved into adulthood, his relationship with his father never improved.  His success in the music business is reported to have been irksome to his father.  While visiting home and conversing with his mother on April 1, 1984, his father entered the room and shot him three times — killing him.  Marvin’s Mars Return had occurred a year and a half earlier on Nov. 10, 1982 at 19 hours, 30 minutes, UT.   This chart is shown below.  

Marvin Gaye’s Mars Return, 1982.  t/Mars conjoins n/Mars at 6:48 Capricorn in the chart’s 12 house.  n/Uranus, on the IC angle, opposes t/Mercury, t/Sun, t/Venus and t/Jupiter clustered about the return chart’s MC.  Before a comment is offered, it might be useful to consider the natal versions of these four planets.  n/Sun and n/Mercury conjoin within 1:07 d/m in the 11th; signifying an incisive and focused view of life and life’s purpose.  What he shares with wider circles and what he can do for those wider circles is part of who he is.  n/Venus is in the 10th house 40 degrees behind the Sun, valuing his public stance and ability to touch the public, but prone to let his heart and values follow what he perceives in life, the subjects he sings about.  n/Jupiter lies midway between Venus and the Sun; his values and views of life are expansive, he brings much of life into his work.  N/Jupiter opposes n/Neptune and n/Moon, the source of his imagination, vision of the public mood, and the need to fulfil what he sees as “being needed” by “what he can offer.”  Marvin was, if anything, tuned into his music and his fans.

Returning to his transiting stellium at the MC angle, we can see that all of who he is and what his success represents is firmly placed on the parental/family axis of his Mars Return chart. 

We quickly note n/Pluto on the Desc. angle of the Mars Return chart. If we first look at n/Pluto in the natal 3rd house we might think of Marvin having an intense manner of communicating, of controlling those he contacts through his verbal/writing skills.  Unfortunately, astrological symbolism is just as readily able to be turned around — others will attempt to strongly affect his understanding, to control what he says and thinks.  This is quite descriptive of his father during Marvin’s early life.  Look back at t/Pluto at the Desc. angle, we might expect this Mars Return period (of some two years) to bring the natal Pluto experience to re-emerge in some way, seemingly instigated by someone else.  As life has proved, this is what happened.

At one of the many peaks in his multi-faceted career, Marvin’s life was taken from him.

On that fateful day, t/Mars had come to 28 Scorpio, trine the Mars Return Pluto/Desc.  t/Mars is approaching (within 5 degrees) t/Uranus in the Mars Return chart.  Here we have t/Mars, n/Pluto, t/Uranus, n/Uranus all mixed up in the Return chart’s soup.  These are, as any early studies astrologer would see, an explosive bowl of ingredients.  Unfortunately we do not have Marvin’s fathers birth chart to look at, although we know his birth date — Oct. 1, 1914.  On that birth date, Mars conjoined Pluto at 2 Cancer!  Marvin’s father was wired for anger and control, especially when in a position where power could be exercised.

This Mars Return chart has told us much.  Is this the correct way to read such a chart?  I’m not sure.  For most Return charts I like to look at the transits of the focus planet relative to the planet’s Return position, using “phases” as the key interpretive outline and conjunctions/oppositions to other planets as event and timing indicators.  That process doesn’t seem to fit well with the Mars Return.  Comments are welcome. Dave.

Marvin Gaye: A Tragic Start In Life, A Tragic Ending

Marvin Gaye is known to almost everyone in the U.S. and many other places for his long career as one of Motown’s greatest singing legends.  As much as you and I love his many hit songs, my purpose in this post is to ask this question: “Do astrological charts show the danger or event for the victim?”  Let us back up a bit and look at a small part of Marvin’s life.  From the age of seven, his father frequently beat Marvin.  His father was a strict and highly religious man with his own strange moral code and weird personal behaviour   It was said that he was jealous of his grown son’s great success and not pleased with the management of his legal and financial affairs.  The day before Marvin’s 45th birthday, he and his father argued.  While being comforted and talking with his mother, Marvin’s father shot him.  Marvin died at the hospital a short time later.

This chart is a Moon-to-Sun Return, t/Moon and n/Sun in the first house.  Transits are shown within the inner wheel, natal planets are in the outer wheel, a convention that permits the transits (inner wheel) to be advanced to following days as needed. This chart is further highlighted by the New Moon at the n/Sun’s position, adding greatly to the powerful significance of this cyclic chart.  Book interpretations give this pattern definitions that are just what you might expect:  “1) Pride and self-interests along with high emotions . . . 2) Hast can place you into curious and untenable situations . . . 3) One can find themselves in quickly changing conditions . . .”

As for the specific patterns in the chart, the most interesting is t/Part of Fortune at the Ascendant; “Chance and change” can be experienced up-close and personal on this day.” t/PoF square n/Mars and the MC; (natal planets reflect the energy/expression of that symbol as we have come to know it and live it).  Marvin was beaten as a child by his father and his animosity towards his father never lessened.  t/Jupiter and t/Neptune bracket the MC angle; idealism and larger issues guide the situation.  The n/MC is at the midpoint of the Return chart’s Asc./MC midpoint; Marvin’s “here and now” experience of this day will relate to his status, goals, career.

Playing astrological hopscotch, we jump to n/PoF and find it conjoined by t/Mars.  Marvin’s own sense of presence is angry/upset by what the day’s situation is throwing at him (arguments and intrusiveness into his affairs by his father).

t/Moon conjoining n/Sun, enhanced by the presence of the t/Sun (this was the day before his birthday so his annual Solar Return was close at hand) highlights personal experiences, decisions and self-interests on this date.

In previous posts it was noted that the day of, or the first few days after, a t/Moon-to-n/Sun Return seemed to correlate with the most intense days out of the Return-cycle’s half-month period.  This was the day of the Moon-to-Sun Return, increasing the intensity of this date.  n/Mercury was conjoined by the t/Moon, t/Sun, n/Sun.  If we play astrological hopscotch and look at t/Mercury, we find it opposing t/Pluto which squares n/Pluto: this was a fated day where two people (two Pluto’s) would seek to control the other.

This is one of the toughest Moon-to-Sun Return charts I have seen lately.  It is very powerful due to 1) the angular Moon-Sun-Sun pattern, 2) the t/PoF at the Asc., 3) t/Mars conjoining n/PoF, 4) t/PoF square n/Mars and MC, 5) t/Mercury opposing t/Pluto, 6) n/Pluto square t/Pluto.

Murder?  Not specifically shown, but powerfully indicated.  It all boils down to how we, as astrologers, tend to view how Pluto is brought into personal perspective in our charts.  Many do not see Pluto as being other than a social force affecting world and institutional trends.  Yet, Pluto also represents a striving for success, seeking power, being reclusive and hidden until it is time to strike and wreak havoc.

In these Moon-to-Sun charts, we need to view the chart as showing how we seek to maintain or re-establish balance in our life relative to the events we encounter.  Here, the PoF indicates our balance will be upset and upset our life as we experience it.  It also shows (n/PoF and t/Mars) that anger over one’s position and stance in life (Mars) will be the agent of chance and change.  What are your thoughts on this issue?  Dave