Exploring Mars-Ascendant Charts

This posting will initiate a series that explores the Mars-Ascendant patterns in the charts of public figures.  The series may be interrupted at times to cover news stories or to vary the subject matter.  

Prior to leaving on vacation I was thinking about all of the violence that was evident in the world around us.  Terrorist attacks, street shootings, political verbiage . . . these were all signs of Mars’ energies.   Using a astrological database I called up a listing of public figures having natal Mars on their natal Ascendant.  Some of these people used their Mars-Ascendant pattern in obvious ways, others were not so obvious.  Upon returning from vacation I find the current copy of Horoscope Magazine featuring Richard Nolle’s “Mars Max Cycle” theory.  Coincidence?  Nolle finds that when Mars is close to Earth, as it presently is, (Mars is opposite the Sun from the perspective of Earth), angry incidents such as wars, violence and terrorism increase.  The presence of coincidences (my study and Nolle’s article) demands attention.

If one wished to do a mini-study on Mars-Ascendant people it would seem that some form of a qualifying agent would be useful.  Consider the current Republican Party political nominee for the office of the U.S. Presidency; Donald Trump.  Mars on his Ascendant can be seen in his belligerent speech.  Any intimation of being slighted by another heralds an immediate counter-attack.  Trump talks impetuously, often having to later restate his words and shade the meaning given to those words.  This almost every-day occurrence hurts him, politically.  So, how might we screen or filter those having Mars-Ascendant qualities of overly aggressive, bombastic actions and words?

Looking at Trump’s natal chart we note a “full Moon” pattern.  Perhaps this is an auxiliary pattern, being an opposition, that provides an expressional foil for Mars-Ascendant’s seeming need for an adversary of some kind.  In considering a “full moon” pattern I will be using Dane Rudhyar’s eight-phase ‘Lunation Cycle’ approach wherein he divides the zodiac circle relative to the Sun into eight 45 degree segments.  The segment that is 180 to 225 degrees ahead of the Sun is considered the full moon phase.  This will be discussed later.  Seven of the thirty two listings in my short Mars-Ascendant data set have a “full Moon” pattern.  They are:

1. Donald Trump, businessman turned politician
2. Prince Rainier of Monaco, King of Monaco
3. Francis Ford Coppola, film director
4. Steve Irwin, naturalist
5. Christian Dior, fashion exec.
6. Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, wife of John Jr.
7. Jeff Bridges, actor

Also on the list, but not with a full moon pattern, is Megan Fox the Fox News journalist with whom Trump trashed and fought with during the Republican candidate’s debates.  Mars versus Mars.

So, let us nail down the basics.

MARS-ASC.  A fighting spirit, according to Ebertin.  Rex Bills, in his Rulership Book, notes these keywords (among many):  acceleration, accidents, aches, action, adrenalin, adventurers, aggressors, agitators, ambition, anger, the army, arson, attacks, battles, blood, breakage, carnage, challenge, conflict, courage, cruelty, cuts, . . . the list goes on and one, but the ideas are clear.  When we combine the chart Ascendant with Mars we expect to find a personality expressing the qualities of Mars quite strongly.  Only some of thos qualities are typically expressed.  For example, Trump talks with anger, Steve Irwin acts in an adventurous manner, Christian Dior was creatively expressive.

Sun opposed Moon, the full Moon pattern.  Opposition, conflict, partners for better or worse, negotiations, cooperation, associates or enemies, male and female . . . these are some of the many recognized indications associated with this pairing, this opposition.  The full moon provides perspective, clarity and recognition as well as representing the use of these and other qualities as a ‘giving out or disseminating understanding and help to others.’

Let us start by looking at the natal chart of Donald Trump.

In this chart I have included the four asteroids and the transneptunians-Uranian bodies.  n/Mars hovers just above the Ascendant, three degrees away.  Sun in the 10th opposes Moon in the 4th house.  Because of the full moon pattern, the Part of Fortune is near the Desc. angle where it opposes Mars!  The PoF indicates chaos and change involving others.  Mars at the Asc. indicates that ‘The Donald’ (as he likes to be called) will undertake to define and control the chaos and change.  As noted in the definitions attached to Mars, ‘negotiation’ is one attribute of Mars.  Trump is famous for his book, The Art of The Deal which advocates methods of conducting business negotiations.   With Sun-opp-Moon,  an adversarial approach may be evident in how man-woman relationships are conducted.  Trump has many incidents on public record of saying or treating women badly.

Let us look at a recent event in which Trump speaks out to counter the words of another.

 

On Thursday, July 28, 2016 at the Democratic Convention in Philadelphia, a ‘gold star’ parent of a Muslim Army officer who was killed in Iraq spoke to the convention in very impassioned terms.  Mr. Khizr Khan, an attorney who had come to this country from Pakistan and became a citizen had lost his son to a detonation of a vehicle at a checkpoint.  He defended the Muslims as patriotic citizens and condemned Trump for his remarks about Muslims, claiming he had a ‘black heart.’  This speech was riveting and went viral on TV news shows.  Trump retorted with angry words and has not let up his reactions for the past several days.  We see t/Part of Fortune (PoF) conjoining n/Mercury (words causing chaos) and squaring n/Neptune (distorting the words and meanings of Khan’s remarks) and broadening the argument so as to confuse the effects of the bad reactions of the press.  Transiting Mercury is at the n/Asc., fueling his words, adding oxygen to the fire of n/Mars, while opposing n/PoF.  Look at the combinations here  . . . Mars, Mercury, Ascendant, Part-of-Fortune . . . all of the natal and transiting versions interacting with each other.  Add this to the Sun-opp-Moon background and we have a highly non-Presidential demeanor being displayed.  There are so many other ways in which this gold-star parent’s remarks could have been replied to.  Instead, the Donald has taken several low roads and turned this into a publicity nightmare.

We can visually advance this chart from Friday, July 29th (the day after the convention speech) to Sunday (the 31st of July).  The same patterns hold.  Transiting Moon and the PoF will come to the Ascendant later this week, increasing and prolonging the effects of his bad image and political damage.

In following posts I will explore the charts of others having Mars-Ascendant and full Moon patterns in their charts.  In this way, we can all learn a bit about how Mars can express itself in one way or another.

For those not familiar with Dane Rudhyar’s Lunation cycle, the following brief comments will serve as an introduction.  I will post more on this later.

 

New Moon Type (birth from New Moon to about 3 ½ days after New Moon, when the Moon is 45° ahead of the Sun) — main characteristics are: a strongly subjective, emotional and impulsive approach to life; often a tendency to be emotionally confused and to project one’s feelings upon people and situations without much regard to what these actually are in themselves.

Crescent Type (birth with the Moon from 45° to 90° ahead of the Sun) — determined self-assertiveness, active faith, an eager desire to carry out an inwardly felt command or vital urge and to clear the way for its realization; negatively, a sense of frustration and of struggling against too heavy odds.

 First Quarter Type (birth with the Moon from 90° to 135° ahead of the Sun — i.e., from 7 to 10 ½ days after New Moon) — strong will and ability to organize and make decisions, to push through obstacles; self-exaltation in the thrill of activity and overcoming of difficulties; negatively, a tendency to defeatism and escapism.

 Gibbous Moon Type (natal Moon from 135° to 180° ahead of the Sun — i.e., before the Full Moon) — eagerness for improvement of self and others; ability to evaluate things and people, to bring matters to some fulfillment; devotion to a personality considered great or the need to be surrounded by people devoted to and serving the native; spiritual aspiration.

 Full Moon Type (birth from Full Moon to a soli-lunar aspect of 135° in the waning half of the lunation cycle) — mental objectivity; the ability to make ideals concrete, to receive illumination, to “image forth” what one feels, to fulfill social-religious trends; negatively, a sense of being divided against oneself or of being divorced from reality.

Disseminating Type (birth with the waning Moon from 135° to 90° away from the Sun) — ability to demonstrate to others what the native has learned or envisioned, to disseminate ideas, to fight for what he believes right, to be crusader for or disciple of a great cause; negatively, a tendency to become lost in social or moral conflicts, to develop mental confusion or fanaticism.

Last Quarter Type (birth from Last Quarter to Moon 45° behind the Sun — i.e., from 7 to 3 ½ days before a New Moon) — managerial and organizing ability in terms of broad social ideals or business improvement; an eagerness to force issues and precipitate crises, to reform and transform, to build new systems and to work hard for future goals regardless of personal cost; a tendency toward humor or, negatively, the inability to take criticism; perhaps dictatorial attitude.

Balsamic Moon Type (birth less than 3 1/2 days before New Moon, Moon less than 45 degrees behind the Sun) — eagerness to serve social institutions and organized groups, to bring the past (and its karma) to a conclusion and to sacrifice oneself for the sake of the future; a sense of personal destiny, of being led by superior powers, of finality in all things and in one’s judgements or statments; prophetic gift, perhaps.

Vacation

I will be on vacation until the first of August.  No postings until then.  Dave.

Local News; Brady’s Story Continues

Yesterday, July 15th, 2016, and nine days after his t/Moon-to-n/Sun Return of July 6th (see the previous post) Tom Brady made an announcement that he would not further contest the ruling of the National Football Leagure Commissioner.  He would accept the imposed four-game suspension.  His only option was to appeal to the Supreme Court of  the United States.  The lower court cases were all about the right of the Commissioner to judge, decide and impose punishment for a perceived or actual infraction.  The case, as it was developed by the Player’s Union and lawyers, was never about the misreading of evidence that Brady had deflated the footballs in the championship game.  That evidence was shown to be wrong as the prevailing winter temperature was easily related to the slight lowering of the football’s pessure to just below the minimum level.  No, the case was wrongly formulated to attack the Commisioner’s right to judge, rule and impose punishment.  On that basis, petitioning the Supreme Court was not likely to change the outcome.

Let us now look at Brady’s advanced chart for July 15th, 2016.

 

For Advanced charts we first look for angular planets, and then for t/Sun, t/Moon, t/PoF contacts, then doubled-up planets or mutually-aspected  planets.

Angular planets include n/Mercury-n/MC at the Ascendant with t/N.Node nearby.  This implies announcements or news about one’s status and public image, and how relationships may be involved.  Note t/Neptune-Desc.; an unclear or disappointing relationship, confrontation brings a lack of resolution.  t/Moon-t/Saturn bracket the IC angle; frustration and depression will be evident.

Now, n/Mars is also angular but I wish to treat it as part of an opposition to t/Saturn while noting that t/Mars (3rd house) squares n/Saturn (12th house).  This mutual aspect connection emphasizes the Mars-Saturn symbolism.  At it’s most basic meaning, Mars and Saturn are a ‘stop and go’ pairing; action is put on hold, steps taken are cautious, the expression of anger is channeled, long-term revenge is advocated.

We still need to assess the role of t/Moon, t/Sun and t/PoF.  These three do not have to be angular to be significant.  t/Moon-IC looks like holding one’s emotion from public view.  t/PoF-t/Pluto looks like seeing this event date as a fundamental catastrophe, an all-out war to be waged.  t/Sun-n/PoF points to a future of change and chaos.  What we have here is the makings of a one-man declared war on football in general, the Commissioner as a specific symbol.  Starting in the 5th game, if the Patriot football team can live up to his demands and level of play, Brady is likely to go on a smash and win streak, heading again for the championship, riding roughly over any team he encounters.  It should be quite a season.

 

 

 

Local News; Interesting Stories, Interesting Charts

The news broke early this morning.  Tom Brady, quarterback of the New England Patriots football team, was turned down on his effort to appeal a finding by the National Football League Commissioner.  Brady was determined to be guilty of tampering with the pressure of footballs used in the play-off game in the 2014-2015 season.  Roger Goodell issued a four-game suspension for Brady.  This was taken as a personal insult to Brady and to the Patriot’s team.  The cold weather during that play-off game has been demonstrated to account for the small amount of deflation found in the game balls.  The Patriot’s won that game in the last few seconds of regulation time due to a interception at the goal line.

The natal chart of Tom Brady is available from a number of sources,  the charts used here are relocated to Boston, Massachusetts, the area where the Patriots are based.  There seem to be two or three news reports each day involving people whose birth dates can easily be found on the Internet, through Wikipedia, or from one of the astrological databases.  In those cases where a birth time is not known, a ‘noon’ chart can be used with t/Moon-to-n/Sun Returns.  The resulting chart’s MC will be within 15 degrees of the MC of a known birth time chart due to the ratio of movement between the faster Moon and slower Sun.  Below is Tom Brady’s most recent t/Moon-to-n/Sun Return.

This July 6, 2016 Moon-to-Sun Return in the 12th house has a theme which my book relates to “Shaping the future . . . advocating for public service or policies . . . wrapping up a joint endeavor with others. . . . being isolated or working alone behind the scenes.”  The appeal by Brady and the Players Union against the Commissioner was not heard, in effect, keeping a lower court’s ruling in place.  Brady would have to sit out four games.

A most important feature in this Return chart is the n/Ascendant at the IC angle.  When natal angles are found at Return or Cyclic chart angles, a significant situation is indicated.  The n/Asc. indicates one’s natural personality and attitude.  Found at this chart’s IC angle, we can infer that Brady will have to face a new situation that will require him adapting his attitude.  The chart shows that the recent Solar Eclipse position opposed t/Jupiter-t/N.Node.  Jupiter can be an uncertain symbol to interpret — it does represent legalities and courts, the opinions of those in power.  Jupiter opposite Sun-Moon (eclipse) can signify an opportunity denied or out of reach.

In these charts, the t/Sun, t/Moon and t/Part of Fortune (t/PoF) are always indicators to pay attention to even if they are not angular.  The only angular planets in this chart are t/Mars and n/Mercury at the Ascendant and IC angles.  t/Mars is an attack, n/Mercury is the receipt of news.  Today’s news attacked Brady’s hopes.

The chart below is Advanced to today’s date, July 13, 2016.

Today, n/Mercury has come to the Advanced chart’s Ascendant along with n/MC.  News about Brady’s professional status is the focus of the day.  t/Neptune-Desc. is opposite, an unclear situation is offered by another.  Since t/Neptune is angular, let us skip over to n/Neptune which is in the 4th conjoining t/Saturn and opposing n/Mars.  This complex pattern combines a lack of clarity (Neptune) with a definition of reality (Saturn) that is subject to criticism and anger.

Now, let us use those three standby symbols, t/Sun, t/Moon, t/PoF.  t/Sun conjoins n/PoF; the book indicates that self-interests (Sun) are enhanced or ruined.  t/Moon conjoins n/Uranus; a lack of warning, upsets and public involvement.  t/PoF opposes n/Jupiter indicates political affairs, legalities and court action.

We can view all of the news story elements in the chart.  It is important to note this!  When we do a ‘predictive’ chart before an expected date or a soon-to-arrive period, we look for the ‘context’ of the subject’s life.  In this case, a couple of weeks ago, we would have asked Brady about the general flow of his life.  He would have indicated that he was in the midst of preparing for the upcoming football season and that he had entered an application to an appeals court to hear his claim that Roger Goodell had overstepped his authority in his imposition of a four game suspension, that procedures and evidence had been wrongly dealt with.  With that said, we astrologers would have looked at the recent t/Moon-to-n/Sun Return and advanced the chart.  What would we have looked for?

• The advancing Ascendant contacting n/Mercury (news) and n/MC (status).
• t/Sun contacts, in this case t/Sun-to-n/PoF.
• t/PoF contacts, in this case t/PoF-opp-n/Jupiter
• t/Neptune contacted by the advancing Desc. angle

So, if we can see, after-the-fact, the elements of the news story in the chart, we can expect to have the context of the subject’s life tell us what to look for in a chart cast ahead of time.  Yes, we need to have confidence in how we practice astrology.  We need to use conventional, typical ‘everyday’ meanings for the planets.  In my book, Personal Moon-to-Sun Returns 2, I provide a comprehensive listing of two planet combinations that offer ‘everyday’ meanings typical to this form of charting.  These two-planet combinations include Sun, Moon, Part of Fortune, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Chiron, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto with each other and with the Ascendant and MC.  The interpretations given are taken from the 100+ charts included in the book.  Those in the UK, with its falling exchange rate, can obtain my book for relatively little compared to U.S. dollars.  I probably have no profit margin left for books sold in the U.K.  For others, Amazon offers the book at discount prices (the discount is off their portion of the sale).   Dave

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Local News: A Source for Astrological Study

Our local news sources offer us many opportunities to practice or study astrology. Last weekend, on July 2nd, Donald Trump again found himself in the middle of a news mess.  He had used a illustration of Hillary Clinton face, superimposed on a field of money, with a six-pointed red star in a tweet sent to a racist fringe group.

This was quickly picked up by a number of special interest groups and labeled as being anti-semetic.  The red, six-pointed star was seen as being the Star of David.  This was immediately reacted to by all sides in the political arena.  The issue was highlighted by Trump’s people removing the illustration from the tweeted message, and by Trump saying that it should have been left there and that it was easily defended.  All of this, of course, extended the news story and displaced any ‘political’ messaging of the campaign.

Let us look at his t/Moon-to-n/Sun Return charts. *** t/Moon-to-n/Sun Return for July 2nd, 2016 has Moon-to-Sun in the 4th house; “Promoting yourself, changing your personality, making an effort to work through a transition, . . . expanding one’s place or the integration of past and future conditions. . . something ends, something starts.” This is taken right out of the book. This fits with his tweet showing Hillary Clinton’s face on a back ground of money with a message within a six-sided start. Everyone jumped all over this as an anti-semetic statement. The fact that it was initially tweeted to a right-wing extremist fringe group gave it’s anti-semetic flavor some credence. Looking further at his Return chart (which sets the theme for the following two weeks) we find t/N.Node at the Desc. and n/N.Node near the IC — both will be activated by the advancing angles in a couple of days. This interprets, within this type of chart, to “fundamental changes brought into relations with a group of associates (or population segment). Since N.Node is conjunct n/Sun, his ability to connect with others (the Art of the Deal, etc.) is at play here. We can’t consider the Desc. angle without considering his natal Asc.-Mars combination — he tends to be very combative and aggressive.

Since he is a businessman, we should note his n/Jupiter approaching a phase-angle square to n/Saturn. Jupiter is close to leaving the ‘Crescent phase (45 to 90 degrees ahead of the slower-moving Saturn) which indicates that he will be fighting to leave his generation’s status-quo and parental values behind him. The next Activist phase (90-135 degrees) indicates he will be engaging in struggle against the normal way of conducting one’s business life. With t/Jupiter conjunct t/N.Node at the Desc., we can see that his business persona (does he have any other persona?) is linked to how he treats others. Note also that the n/Moon opposes this Moon-Sun Return position, adding a great deal of emotional content to the period in his life. Emotions equate to haste and reaction.

The tweet has been taken down. There has been no official comment — the campaign often ignores bad feedback and lets it die down (hopefully). In any case, it has had a terrible response from specific groups who take offense to these remarks (like 90% of the population).

Let us look at his Advanced chart for July 4th. The chart is posted below. The angles have advanced in two days time such that t/N.Node-Desc. and n/N.Node-IC are more-or-less exact; difficulties in how one’s basic values are imposed on others causes conflict.

Note t/Neptune and t/Part of Fortune at the Asc.; his personal actions are at the root of this confrontation. t/Jupiter-t/N.Node squares t/Pluto in the 11th; community relations take on a personal color. (Note that all of the hard aspects in the sky above us really do come down to haunt us on a daily, highly visible basis.) Since Trump’s Asc. (how he tends to act) conjoins n/Mars, let us look at t/Mars — which squares his n/Asc-n/Mars! He is in a combative mood these days. The natal Mars-square-Part of Fortune does not help his cause — he tends to be reckless. Finally, note t/Mars opposes n/MC. Fighting for what is his is his current mode of action.

I would expect this issue will go on for a few days due to the angles having to yet advance to his n/Moon position. At that point t/PoF will advance and conjoin t/Uranus. Look for a strong reaction at that point.

As a point of information, keep in mind that Trump has ‘loaned’ his campaign millions of dollars. In the past he has taken donations and used them to pay back his loan to himself. Tricky. NOW, those who would normally donate to his general campaign are holding back since they believe their money would go directly into Trump’s pocket and not be used to promote his candidacy. Consequently, Trump is broke in terms of campaign financing and cannot produce advertising that counter the attack ads that Clinton is pouring upon him during this period. No wonder his polls are going down, hers are going up. This is why he is using social media to gain attention. Rallies and tweets are what he is depending upon. With n/Uranus in the 3rd, he may well have to continue in this mode for awhile.

With Trump’s birth data being readily available, and his volatile comments coming to us so frequently, he is an excellent example of a news-figure providing us astrologers with plenty of substance to study.  Hillary Clinton is also highly news-worthy,  Her birth time is in question — an evening or a morning birth? — so, I’ll have to do a little study on her two charts to see which fits.  Then, we can use her news stories to provide an interesting set of charts for study.

Dave.

Summarizing the Return and Cyclic Charts Used for Bill Cosby’s Arrest

 

In the series of Return and Cyclic charts for Bill Cosby’s arrest on Dec. 30, 2015 several types of charts were reviewed:  Most recently, his midpoint charts (natal and transiting), preceded by a t/Moon-to-n/Sun Return, a tropical Solar Return and progressed daily chart, a precession corrected Solar Return and progressed daily chart, a Diurnal chart, and his natal chart.

The midpoints (natal and transiting) revealed a great number of midpoints.  These were reduced in number by choosing midpoints that were within 0 degrees, 10 minutes of arc in exactitude.  This resulted in five midpoints:  Pluto=Mars/Saturn, Mercury=Venus/ Node, Mercury=Mars/Pluto, Saturn=Moon/Pluto, and Saturn=Mercury/Neptune.  This technique of focusing on the most exact midpoints as a starting point is helpful when dealing with the large number of midpoints possible between a natal and transiting chart.

The result of this focus was an appreciation of two sides of a complex character, one side focusing upon communicating supportive situations through his TVe series as an example, and a darker side where internal conflicts were worked out through his sexual and control urges.  While that posting did not paint a complete picture or offer solutions, it did recognize that there was much to study in terms of a complex personality.

Assessment:  Midpoints are complex and don’t lend themselves to daily tracking             and day-to-day prediction.  They excel for detailed examination of an event.

The Moon-Sun Return, by its nature, offered a more focused view of that period and that eventful day.  Key to these charts was the natal and return angular realignment.  This is always a powerful indicator of a major life-changing period.  In p.c. Solar Returns, this realignment occurs in one’s 39th and 78th years, unless one moves from near one’s birth place.  In Moon-to-Sun Returns or Solar Returns, this is still indicative of a momentous day.  With Moon transiting n/Mars, Moon conjoining n/Sun in the 4th, t/Sun at n/MC and Pluto, and t/Uranus on the Ascendant, it was obvious that this was a game changing date.

Advancing the chart, we saw the angular realignment still in effect, t/Mars now exactly on the Desc. angle, t/Pluto on the MC.  Notable were the just-prior eclipses in the chart; the Lunar Eclipse at n/Saturn and the Solar Eclipse at t/Jupiter, n/Neptune.  Others would be attacking-accusing Cosby, irrevocable changes would affect his public image and life’s goals, an emotional brake would be applied to his life, and his intent to pursue fantasies would be impacted.

Assessment:  Moon-to-Sun Returns and Advanced charts are excellent for short-term tracking and prediction.  The focus on angular activity clarifies situations and simplifies interpretations.

Tropical Solar Returns, Daily charts;   This form of Solar Return and using the 90+/1 degree arc between successive Solar Returns as a factor for proportionately advancing the chart to obtain daily charts was interesting, and new to this astrologer.  Interestingly, the daily chart showed t/Sun at the MC (a focus on one’s public standing and career), n/Saturn at the Ascendant (a constraint on his actions, depressing experience) and t/Chiron at the IC (adjustments needed in his personal life).

For many astrologers, proportioning the arc-distance between Solar Returns by dividing 90+/- degrees by 365.25 days, and then multiplying that value by the number of days from the last Solar Return to determine the daily chart’s MC is probably not favorably looked upon by today’s younger or new-to-astrology practicioners.  Finding software that will permit inputting an arc distance and calculating the intervening days is harder to do than one might imagine.

Assessment:  An interesting methodology.  The use of a proportioning calculator of the double wheel type (like a circular slide rule, if you can find one) makes the calculating of daily charts much easier.

Precession Corrected Tropical (or Sidereal) Solar Return and progressed daily charts;  These are also complex but inherently simplified due to RIYAL’s superb software designed to deal with these charts.  Many conventional software package can also do p.c. Solar Returns but are less capable of progressing the chart against the 450 degree arc-increment between successive solar returns (aka Cyril Fagan).

The Solar Return had t/Uranus at the Asc.; personal upsets suddenly materializing, one’s individuality is at stake.  Plus an angular realignment, warning of life-upsetting events and opportunity for profound changes.  The daily chart for his arrest date noted t/Mars coming to the Ascendant (personal attack and wanting to strike back) opposing n/Asc. at the Desc. angle (one’s experiences are bound to the actions of another ((the accusing person)).  With n/Pluto at the MC and t/Mercury at the IC, we can anticipate devastating news.

Assessment:  If one takes advantage of the right software to calculate these charts, they are highly effective and descriptive of yearly themes and daily pressures that impact one’s life.

Diurnal charts.  The Diurnal chart is the most basic of the cyclic charts reviewed in this series.  It is an anual cycle based directly on the natal chart and its angles.  The chart is advanced 360 degrees in the following 365 day year.  The contact of transits to natal planets, and the advancing angles provide a rich interpretive mix for the astrologer to take advantage of.  Interpretive tools familiar to astrologers at all levels (beginner to professional) make chart reading relatively simple.

In the example chart, the d/MC had reached the n/IC angle; life is turned around, new circumstances affect one’s public image.  Sun in the 4th suggests a focus on home and values, while Sun trine Mars seeks some form of action to deal with events.

Assessment:  Diurnal charts combine transits with the natal planets set within a moving framework of advancing houses through which natal and transiting planets can express themselves.  These charts provide a visual means of seeing upcoming event patterns as well defining the current day’s events and feelings.

Lunar Returns were not addressed.  The t/Moon-to-the n/Moon highlights feelings and emotions and does not offer a broad view of life except for that emotional-reactive lens.  As a rule, I do not use this form of chart any longer.

What is in both the natal chart and the chart you are examining?  Most charts have interesting patterns if only we take the time to look for them.  In the case of Cosby’s natal chart he has a phase relationship between Saturn and Jupiter in which Jupiter is 73 degrees behind Saturn (in zodiac order).  This places Jupiter in the “closing square” phase (270 to 315 degrees ahead of the slower moving Jupiter).  Marc Robertson, in his book The Engine of Destiny, notes “You . . . must realize, at some significant point in your life, that what you’ve been doing . . . has got to change because it’s becoming obsolete.”  He goes on to note, “What should bother you is your tendency to ignore common sense at critical points of your life.”  And, “If the aspect is near seventy-two degrees, you’re the kind of person who finds change in the realities of life a kind of self-expression.”

In the case of these charges against him for his sexual behavior, he did not appear to make a conscious or creative effort to change his behavior.  He followed an early obsession long past the point where maturity should have prompted change in his behavior.

If we look at the transits for Dec. 30, 2015, we find the Saturn-Jupiter relationship to be at 78 degrees — in the same phase relationship and about to become identical to the natal pattern.  Since he had not learned to make adjustments on his own, the cosmos seemed to be sending him a reminder.  In one sense, we do not always need other charts beyond the natal and transiting charts to see trends developing.  That said, look again at the various charts in this series that we have been using.

Return and Cyclic charts embody both natal and transiting planets.  What is different, and what makes such a great difference is that 1) the specific chart highlights one or two planets and their role in our life, and 2) the natal and transiting planets are placed within a charts house structure and angularity that defines our place with one of several ongoing cycles.  The universe is full of cycles or vibrations.  Some vibrations or frequencies are very fast (such as microwaves, ultra-violet light) and some are very slow (like the orbiting of a planet or the pulsing of a dwarf star).  Each of these Return and Cyclic charts are a way of tracking our sensitivity to a given vibration or frequency.  The charts used seem to represent those cycles that are more significant in our life in this universe.

Dave