Astrologicalmind

The magic of astrology explored

Tag: Saturn

  • Charlie Kirk: Words have Consequences (part 1)

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    Charlie Kirk was a polarising public figure who was admired by some, loathed by many and ignored by most until his shocking public assassination on September 10, 2025 in Orem, Utah. He was born into a politically moderate household and grew up in the affluent Chicago suburb of Prospect Heights, Illinois. While his family were financially comfortable rather than wealthy, he nonetheless entered the world with privilege and financial comfort. A comfort that grew exponentially during the course of his short life.

    Charlie made a name for himself as a young conservative political activist and right-wing influencer. At the age of 18 and with the help of a rich benefactor he founded TPUSA (Turning Point USA) a non-profit organisation that advocated for conservative politics on high school, college, and university campuses. He claimed himself to be a proponent of free speech, expressing his right-wing, at times provocative views on politics, race, morality, gender and religion. He was an avowed Evangelical Christian who strongly supported Trump and white Christian nationalism; he vehemently opposed abortion, DEI and gun control; was highly critical of feminism, civil, gay and transgender rights, Islam and immigration. He also promoted conspiracy theories including false claims about the 2020 stolen election, Covid-19 and the ‘great replacement theory’. 

    His tragic public assassination propelled him into the limelight. Ironically, as his supporters elevate him to the status of martyr: the slain hero of free-speech; there is a move to suppress any public criticism of the man or the words he spoke. The myth making and distortion of truth regarding Charlie Kirk the man, is so thorough that he may forever remain an enigma.

    We shall never know whether Charlie Kirk would have made amends for the pain his speech caused, because he was robbed of his potential to mature, to evolve and gain wisdom. For better or worse history will judge Charlie Kirk by his word and the ideas he gave voice to.

    Astrological Chart

    Charlie Kirk was born on October 14, 1993 in Arlington Heights, Illinois. There is no recorded birth time, so I have used the pre-natal eclipse angles.1 The resulting chart has 20 Cancer 11 rising and 0 Aries 35 on the MC2. We will look at how this chart was impacted on the day of his death, but first let us delineate this chart. It is often the case that the astrological chart of a public figure or a person we know, is not what we expect. People are far more layered than is evident, so it is important to let the chart guide us, rather than impose our own opinions on what it should mean. Easier said than done!

    Oct 14, 1993 in Arlington Illinois – PNE angles

    General Observations

    Almost everything is under the horizon, indicating that there is much that is hidden beneath the surface. What you see is not necessarily what you get. It is worth noting that both benefics are in essential debility, while the two malefics: Mars and Saturn are in their signs of rulership. Located on the IC, the root of the chart, the essentially debilitated Venus has a lot of influence over the life.

    There is an abundance of Air in this chart, with both luminaries, Jupiter, Saturn, the South Node and IC in Air signs. The hot, moist element of Air indicates a sanguine temperament, being of a friendly and social nature. Air is associated with intellect, ideas, communication and social interchange. Unless balanced by the cold, dry Earth element, Air can tend towards shallowness and an avoidance of deep contemplation. Earth with its natural inclination to stillness, depth, scholarship and tangible reality, will ground the idealised, hypothetical and intellectualised reality of Air. In this chart there is very little Earth; with only Venus in Virgo and Uranus/Neptune conjunct the Capricorn DES; the angle representing the other and the open enemy.

    An essentially strong Mars in Scorpio conjunct Mercury and Pluto and the Cancer ASC provides water in this chart. The cold, moist element of water is associated with emotions and feelings. Here, they would be driven by Mars, the most essentially dignified and well placed planet in the chart.

    Missing from this chart is Fire, with only the North Node in Sagittarius and the Aries MC. The hot, dry Fire element is associated with light and spirit. Fire takes us outside ourselves to inspire3.The inspiration brought to us through the Fire signs, leads to insights which can reshape our understanding of life; bringing us to a higher, broader and more wholistic perspective of the world and ourselves.

    The angles, Sun, Jupiter and Moon (L1) are in cardinal moveable signs. Associated with the initiating impulse, action and beginnings. Cardinal signs are focused, vibrant and associated with excitement; anything is possible, but they do not carry much staying power. The MC degree at 0 Aries is especially telling, in that this is the very beginning of the entire zodiacal circle. The symbolism of Aries being singularly focused on their objective and blind to the other, is at its most potent at this first degree.

    Like the missing element of Fire, there is a notable lack of mutable energy in this chart with only the Nodes and Venus in mutable signs. The reputation of mutability equating to indecisiveness, belies the fact that they are best able to consider multiple perspectives and change direction if needed.  Mutability can impart subtlety and shades of meaning.

    The Chart in Detail

    The Moon being the ruler of the ASC being, emphasises the importance of needing to feel safe and secure. In this chart the Moon is much afflicted, so Charlie’s sense of safety would be challenged. The Moon being in the 4th house of family and roots, conjunct the two planets associated with God and religion, indicates that he found safety within family and through religion. Sun is the natural significator of God and Jupiter is naturally associated with religion and philosophy, especially in this chart as Jupiter rules the 9th house.

    The Moon, is only a few degrees from his exact conjunction to the Sun, after which he begins a new cycle. The beginning of any cycle holds the immature potential of its unfoldment. There is a fragile innocence or naivety that has yet to be moulded by experience, reminiscent of a new born child’s almost infinite potential in need of support.

    So how supported is the Moon? It is peregrine4, in the via-combusta5, combust the Sun, square Uranus/Neptune, trine and received by Saturn in the 8th into his exaltation. It is interesting that Saturn and the Moon are in each other face (decan), a dignity which bring a sense of concern, anxiety or fear with it6. This connection with Saturn would exacerbate the insecurity that the Moon’s condition indicates and imply the need for a strong external authority or structure to rely on.

    The Moon’s dispositor Venus, provides little support as there is no aspect between them. This being a night chart Venus, the universal significator of relationship, is in fall and peregrine. Moon in air can impart the ability to distance one’s self from their emotions, by approaching them from the safety of their intellect. Those with Moon in Libra tend to use relationships with others to define, recognise and validate their feelings.

    The Sun is essentially afflicted by being in fall and peregrine. The negative expression of an afflicted Sun is arrogance, something that Charlie was often accused of. The Sun makes the same difficult contacts as the Moon. As the ruler of the 2nd house and the exalted ruler of the 10th the Sun informs us as to his attitude around money and power. A planet is essential debility can convey an insecurity or lack of confidence around the matters it governs. Insecurity around money, can lead to focusing on what is lacking and constantly striving for more. The Sun’s dispositor Venus though in essential debility, is strongly placed on the IC and is also the lord of the 11th house of good fortune and benefactors. He had financial benefactors who supported him from the time he was eighteen years old.7

    The Sun is received by Saturn in the 8th, ruler of the 7th house of “others” and 8th house their money. Normally we would see reception as helpful especially coming from an essentially dignified planet such as Saturn in Aquarius. However, there are a couple problems here; the Sun is very uncomfortable with Aquarius where it finds itself in detriment, so this reception will fail in its promise. Saturn would provide support, but would also have much power over the Sun. A retrograde planet will often express itself in a very tangible manner; here this could literally be other people’s money. Saturn (OPM) was able to provide tangible resources to the Sun (L2), but these would come at a price.

    The Sun’s conjunction to Jupiter, also bestowed good fortune, but like with Saturn, there would be a cost. Jupiter is conjunct the lucky fixed star Spica and the Sun would have shared in its good fortune. Charlie’s ability to generate money was strong. Jupiter’s rulership of the 6th house indicates that he no doubt worked hard for it.

    Jupiter only has dignity by face, squares the ASC/DES, is combust the Sun at the tail end of its synodic cycle8 and will shortly begin a new one. The same sense of immaturity we see in his Moon, envelops Jupiter who also receives no help from his dispositor Venus, in Virgo the sign of her fall and Jupiter’s detriment. Though received by Saturn, his dispositor by exaltation, what Saturn as Lord 8 in the 8th offers is the antithesis to Jupiter’s expansive and optimistic nature. Mars as ruler of the MC and the 5th house, shows that he was inclined to focus his energy on his career and public life. Having Mercury, the natural communicator & the lord of the 3rd house, along for the ride, was made evident through the creation of his successful platform that communicated to masses of people. In true Mars/Mercury fashion this was achieved in a way that engaged and inflamed emotions. Through incendiary verbal pronouncements, that provoked reaction and pushback, he was able to successfully project himself into the world.

    Mercury in Crisis

    As Charlie was most known for the words he spoke, it is interesting that Mercury is in such a terrible position in this chart. He is peregrine, having no essential dignity whatsoever. This Mercury has no mooring, which only exacerbate the tendency of Mercury to take on the nature and characteristic of those around him. He is besieged between a conjunction to his dispositor Mars and the square with Saturn, both in rulership. He is also afflicted by his conjunction to Pluto and sextile to both Uranus and Neptune. He is devoid of any benefic influence.

    Saturn in Aquarius, fixed air sign can impart on the native a tendency towards fixed, dogmatic ideas, while Mars in Scorpio will tenaciously defend their position to the end. The two malefic planets in their fixed signs of rulership would strongly impart their nature on to Mercury. The fixity and confidence of Mars & Saturn would endow Mercury with the ability to forcefully express and defend his opinions with absolute authority. It is reported that his views on many topics became more extreme over time.

    Mercury rules the 3rd house as well as the 12th. He was a confided communicator who may have painted himself into a corner. One has to wonder if his meteoric rise and success, beholden to other people’s money and power may have entrapped him into an immutable position that in time could have become untenable. We shall never know as his life was cut short, ironically by a gun; the ownership of which he defended as a ‘god given right’.

    There is no aspect between Mercury and the Moon; there is nothing that connects them except their applying aspect to Saturn; which Mercury will not perfect as he stationed retrograde a full degree before his square to Saturn. This disconnect between the sensible mind (Moon) that is informed through the bodily senses, emotions and feelings; and the rational mind (Mercury) that is informed by the intellect and objective thinking reinforces the difficulty he would have in forming nuanced understanding or recognition of the paradoxical and interwoven nature of life.

    Venus is also the ‘significator of the mind’9 in this chart. The significator of the mind does not denote intelligence but rather the manner in which one uses their mind and to what end. As such, she does not herald a positive use of his mind. She is essentially debilitated, being both in fall and peregrine. She is unaspected, except for her separating sextile with Pluto. Being located on the IC, the root of the chart, Venus had a lot of influence over the life.  And here we find an enigma.

    Symbolically her location in the darkest part of the chart and in fall is descriptive of his voiced opinions of a woman’s place in society10; in the home with the children and submissive to the man. From all reports he was in a good marriage; his wife who was 5 years older (Saturn Lord 7), was educated and a successful business woman.

    Conclusion

    Charlie Kirk died so young that he did not receive the opportunity to mature, to gain depth and wisdom through experience. Wisdom is rarely present in the young, but I firmly believe that we all have the ability to find that wisdom in time. He was clearly an intelligent man who held fixed notions about life, society and morality. At the moment of his death, he still had that exaggerated swagger and self-assurance in himself that only the young can have.  

    He was born with an innate sense of naivety and lack of self-confidence. He would have been influenced by the strongly expressed ideas of others especially if they were void of subtlety. In order to find safety, he needed a clear and strong structure to believe in. He found comfort and confidence through his evangelical Christian faith and his family that mirrored the moral values of that faith.

    He was motivated by fear.  His Christian faith provided him with the arrogant notion that he was on the righteous side with God. Therefore, he could cruelly condemn and dismiss all who differed from him. He defended ignorance as a virtue, cruelty as strength and prejudice as common sense. At his core he was insecure, seeking strength and power outside himself, whether through money or powerful friends.

    He was a talented communicator who expressed himself with absolute conviction, using his intellect to craft simple and straight forward opinions of good versus evil. The ability to think with nuance did not come naturally to him; far easier to have a clear black-and-white view to hang on to. In time he may have allowed himself to consider the grey. But we shall never know.

    (Part 2: Charlie’s death, coming soon)

    1. See article by Eve Dembowski https://astrologicalmind.wordpress.com/2025/10/23/no-birth-time-what-can-the-poor-astrologer-do/ ↩︎
    2. It is to be noted that the USA (Sibley) chart has 1 degree Aries on the IC. ↩︎
    3. The word inspire means; “to influence, move, or guide by divine or supernatural influence or action”.  The meaning is a metaphorical extension of the word’s Latin root: inspirare meaning “to breathe or blow into.” The metaphor is a powerful one, with the very breath of a divine or supernatural force asserted as being at work. ↩︎
    4. Having no essential dignity. The planet has no connection to that part of the zodiac. It is like a person that is lost in a foreign land. ↩︎
    5. Via Combusta is Latin for “the burning way”; it refers to the last fifteen degree of Libra and the first fifteen degrees of Scorpio. Considered to be particularly afflicting to the Moon at those degrees. ↩︎
    6. Lee Lehmann, Essential Dignities, Whitford Press 1989 Chapter 5, p. 127 -136 ↩︎
    7. In 2012 at the age of 18, Charlie met Bill Montgomery with whom he founded TPUSA (on June 5 2012) and Foster Friess who financed it. ↩︎
    8. It would not be until March 2016, that by progression, Jupiter would emerge from the beams of the Sun. The same year that he made his appearance at the 2016 Republican convention on July 18, 2016. On that day progressed Mercury was on the degree of his natal Mars. ↩︎
    9. The significator of the mind is the compound almuten of the ASC, Moon and Mercury ↩︎
    10. Kirk repeatedly stated that women should prioritize motherhood over careers, asserting young women are suffering because they are encouraged to focus on jobs over families. He criticized birth control, claiming it makes women “angry and bitter” and that females over 30 “aren’t attractive in the dating pool.” 
      Discussing news of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement on The Charlie Kirk Show, 26 August 2025  He said:
      “Reject feminism. Submit to your husband, Taylor. You’re not in charge”. Responding to a question about whether he would support his 10-year-old daughter aborting a pregnancy conceived because of rape on the debate show, “The answer is yes, the baby would be delivered.” published on 8 September 2024 ↩︎

  • Saturn: the great malefic or the astrologer’s friend?

    Traditional astrologers viewed the planets quite differently than how we understand them today. They understood the planets to be living conscious beings, or as 12th century Guido Bonatti called them: superior beings.

     “…On those things which move a man to pose a question. The first is the motion of the soul, when someone is moved by his intention to pose a question. The second is the motion of the superior beings, namely when someone asks what they are impressing into the quaesited thing, what will come of it…”1

    Planets were not owned in the way we speak of them, when we claim some authority over “my Saturn” or “my Moon” … In the past each planet was understood as having a fundamental nature that dictated its specific function, promise and associated chain of correspondence. Depending on their condition at a particular moment in time, they would express the best or worst of their nature and fulfill their promise to a lesser or greater degree.

    The notion of some planets being “malefic” and others “benefic” is one that sits uncomfortably with contemporary norms. Our world promotes the notion of equality and neutrality, to the detriment of natural order. Each of the seven classic planets was understood to govern an aspect of the divine order which dictated that everything in this world must be born, grow, sow their seed and die. The benefic planets were life promoting, initiating growth, birth and expansion; whereas the malefic planets functioned to restrict and destroy, ensuring that no one out stayed their allotted time. Each was crucial in maintaining balance in the world.

    The human experience tends to judge one side of this balance more favorably that the other. We want to avoid the pain that comes with lose, grief and death; and to seek out that which promotes life, joy and happiness. One is brought to us via the malefic planets Mars and Saturn, while the other by the benefic Jupiter and Venus.

    Who is Saturn?

    Saturn rules time and the restriction this imposes on our earthly existence. As astrologers, we deal in time and are prone to get caught in its apparent, but deceptive forward momentum. However if we are to look honestly into our past, we can recognize that we have not moved far. The cycles of life, the movement of the planets and stars, mark our experiences, but time stands still in a forever present moment that is re-experienced over and over and over. 

    Traditional astrology understood the importance of Saturn, not only as the significator of time but also as the ally of the astrologer. For it was only through hard study and serious application to this sacred Art that any relationship with the “superior beings” (the planets) is possible.

    Saturn is encountered at the beginning and at the end of all endeavors, including life. He provides the body that allows us this earthly experience, and at the appropriate time, he takes it away. It is for this reason that he is associated with the ASC and 1st house, the beginning point that marks our birth; and the 8th house of death.

    Saturn is the first planet in the Chaldean order, the first planetary gate through which the Soul must pass on its journey into incarnation. Encountering Saturn, the soul takes on structure and authority as well as the limitations of the physical body, matter and time. Even as modern astrologers we are well aware of the association of Saturn with restriction and limitation. The reason for this becomes obvious when we consider that Saturn exists at the outmost edge of our visible solar system, and defines our natural limits. Saturn is the border between our known world and the Divine sphere of the fixed stars.

    The basic qualities that make up Saturn’s temperament are cold and dry to the extreme. Cold constricts and dry limits movement. Saturn is of a melancholic temperament; he is stern, serious and authoritative. He is a masculine and diurnal or day planet. Saturn’s extreme cold nature needs the warmth of the Sun to function in a more balanced manner, therefore though he may like and feel at home in the cold darkness of night, he functions better in the heat and light of the day.

    Saturn’s extreme cold and dry nature is what accounts for his reputation as a malefic planet. The absence of warmth and moisture is antagonistic to life and growth. Yet it is these qualities of Saturn that allows matter to crystallise and take physical form. It is the discipline and structure of Saturn that allows life to exist and ideas to take shape. From a human psychological perspective, it is only when we engage with the discipline and structure of Saturn that we accomplish anything.

    The tears of grief are another of Saturn’s gifts to the soul. Hidden deep in Saturn’s strictness and authority lays the impossible longing for the return to the divine. The grief of Saturn is the knowing that one must pass through incarnated life, with its pain and joys and that one’s authority is fleeting and illusionary. The ruins of the past, the laws of old, and the desolation of yesterday are all part of Saturn’s cold and dry rule; and so, his association with melancholy and in its extreme form, depression.

    The great malefic demands hard work and is associated with death and the inevitable end to all beginnings. Interestingly he is also connected with births, to which death is always a close possibility. This is illustrated by the fact that the birthing process is called “labour”, for it is indeed hard work to give birth and hard work is Saturn’s territory.

    From a traditional medical understanding Saturn governs the memory function of the “animal spirit” which resides in the brain. Without Saturn our individual thoughts and knowledge could not be retained. Saturn is the storehouse of wisdom.

    Saturn is associated with the hardest, heaviest and oldest things. He is associated with old age (from 70 to 99 years old) and the seventh age of man, the age of resignation and ideally, wisdom. Saturn is associated with the metal lead, the heaviest and most poisonous of all the metals. Saturn corresponds to the most toxic and poisonous plants, including hemlock and belladonna.

    Saturn is said to rule the bones, teeth and skin of the body, that which defines the structure and limits of the physical body. All boundaries are under the rule of Saturn. At the borders of our travels, we encounter Saturn in the form of immigration and border authority which demands that we present our documents, our right to passage, or we can go no further.

    No need to fear the great malefic?

    Once we enter the world of traditional astrology our view of life and reality changes. Once we open our minds to the wisdom of our lineage, it is very difficult not to be influenced by the great astrologers that came before us. However, it is the incredible commonality between human experience of the past and our own that takes us by surprise. The emotional and psychological needs of the everyday person have not changed over the centuries, even though our technology has.

    We live in a linear world that is imbued with the ideas that promote evolution and progress. Whilst everything on earth is born, grows, withers and dies in the endless cycle of life, giving rise to the illusion of a forward movement of time, it is but that; an illusion.

    Saturn is the path less taken, because it is the path of greatest hardship; the path of blood, sweat and tears. Saturn provides us with challenges and obstacles that in the end force us to confront the inevitable transient nature of life. Saturn teaches us that this life is an illusion to which we are not meant to get attached. But by making the effort to befriend Saturn and do the hard work he requires, we are rewarded by the awe-inspiring storehouse of ancient wisdom that is his domain; and by making friends with Saturn the door is open to the other superior beings in our cosmos: Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, Venus and the Luminaries.

    1. Guido Bonatti Book of Astronomy – Treatise 5: 146 Considerations  translated by Benjamin Dykes ↩︎

  • ADOLF HITLER a Study in Evil

    Looking at Hitler’s chart we find that the Almuten of the Ascendant is Saturn 13 Leo in the  10th house, because it has both exaltation and triplicity dignity over the ASC degree of at 21 Libra in this day chart.

    Finding the compound almuten over the degrees of the Moon 6 Capricorn, Mercury 25 Aries, and 26 Libra ASC we find the significator of Quality of his Mind to be Mars 16 Aries with 13 points, closely followed by Saturn 13 Leo with 12 points.  These two planets would function very much as a team especially as they are aspecting each other by square as well as by a very tight, almost to the minute antiscia1 conjunction. This antiscia allows these two planets to function far more cooperatively than their stressful square aspect would indicate.

    Finally, we must find the Pilot of the Soul. In this chart the search is difficult because Mars, Saturn and Moon are all in detriment, Sun and Mercury are peregrine which means they have no essential dignity whatsoever and Jupiter though he has face dignity is in his fall. Of the seven classical planets only Venus in Taurus has any dignity and she is retrograde, conjunct Mars as well as being very close to the 8th house cusp. Yet by default she wins the position of Pilot of the Soul. This would have been the ideal planet for Hitler to follow…But did he? Let us review.

    His Lord of the Ascendant is Saturn in Leo in the 10th house. The planet signifying his Quality of Mind  is Mars in Taurus in the 7th house with Saturn in Leo a close contender. Finally the Pilot of the Soul is Venus in Taurus in the 7th conjunct Mars.

    Lord of the Ascendant, Saturn in the 10th house, is debilitated in his sign of detriment, in other words far from his (Saturn’s) essential best nature. Saturn was seen as the great malefic by the ancients. Debilitated malefics function in extremes, their nature is amplified and exaggerated. This planet could bring great misfortune in one’s life unless it was on his best behaviour. At its best Saturn is patient, responsible, disciplined and holds authority. But in this chart, he is not at his best, he is at his worst and yet he is positioned in the 10th house to act and act strongly. So, he will act in a strongly malefic manner.

    As Lord of the Ascendant, Saturn represents Hitler’s corporeal desires; being in the 10th house, he desires power and authority. Saturn in Leo, he probably wants to be king. Saturn’s dispositor (and MC ruler), Sun is peregrine, he has no ability to keep Saturn in check. Saturn disposits Moon and Jupiter in Capricorn conjunct the south node. Moon in Capricorn is in detriment and would feel insecure unless in control. Jupiter is equally debilitated in his fall, though he has a bit of face dignity this is more to do with fear than an actual strength2.  Both being with the south node only adds to their debility and sense of weakness. All this would give Saturn more justification to take control and not let go (Leo fixed).

    The significator of the Quality of the Mind is Mars working closely with Saturn. Here we find Mars equally debilitated in detriment squaring his ally Saturn.  One of the main meanings of the quality of the mind is conscience, knowing that an action is right or wrong because we are conscious of a higher and broader perspective than just that of our individual ego. Mars is a mutual reception with the Moon; both are peregrine and in detriment, but are trining each other with reception by exaltation. Unfortunately this will not bring the promised support usually associated with reception; the only thing they can provide the other is the insecurity of their debility.

    Mars also rules Mercury in Aries. Mercury being peregrine was easily enlisted to do Mars (and Saturn’s) bidding. Hitler was a great orator who was able to stir the emotions of the masses and lead them into war. As an aside, Germany is said to be ruled by Mars and Aries. Hitler became Germany’s mouth piece. So Hitler’s Quality of Mind was not going to tame or soften his Saturn’s drive for power and authority. On the contrary the two would work in tandem together and both bring with them the insecurity of the Moon and fear of Jupiter.

    So far, we have a dire situation, but was it absolutely necessary for Hitler to become what he became? The Pilot of his Soul may have helped him steer a different path. As Venus in Taurus, we see fertility and creativity, but it is retrograde, conjunct Mars and square Saturn. The good nature of Venus is over shadowed by the strong malefic energy working together and feeding off the long-term fears and insecurities (Moon, Jupiter conjunct South Node). The two malefics used the veneer of Venus to camouflage their indent, presenting a more benign face of Hitler to the world.

    Remember that Hitler’s first aim in life was to be an artist and then an architect. Unfortunately, he was rejected by the Vienna Academy of Art in 1907 and 1908 and didn’t have the educational qualifications to apply for study of architecture. We can only speculate how history may have turned out differently if he had been accepted by the Academy. So, his Pilot of the Soul was not given a chance to take the drivers seat. Does this mean that Hitler was inherently bad or evil? I do not think so, he was insecure and angry, so the odds were stacked up against him. He needed to overcome an awful lot to turn his life towards goodness.

    Astrology is about time and we can not look at Hitler’s life or chart without regards to his time. Hitler’s fate was that of Germany’s. Looking at the chart of the man I would conclude that this was a man who was essential weak with little choice then to be carried by the forces of the times in which he lived. Picking two events that seemed to have been pivotal in Hitler’s life; one mundane and one personal and, we may trace the growing dominance of Mars & Saturn’s influence in Hitler’s life.

    The Weimer Republic

    November 9, 1918 at 13:30 CET in Berlin Germany

    In 1918 on November 9th the Weimer Republic came into being, shortly followed by the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. This perceived public humiliation of the German nation coincided with the period of Hitler’s Saturn return and marked a turning point in his life. This event planted the seed of his nationalistic and racial fervour that germinated into the Nazi Party and lead the world down the road to holocaust.

    On that day the Sun 16 Scorpio was directly opposite Hitler’s Mars, Venus conjunction at 16 Taurus and in contra-antiscia to his Saturn 13 Leo. The event chart’s North Node was at 13 Sagittarius, conjunct its MC and was on the antiscia degree of Hitler’s South Node 15 Capricorn, whilst the event charts Jupiter 15 Cancer was transiting Hitler’s natal North Node; his 6 Capricorn natal Moon was being opposed by the obsessive and at that point unknown, Pluto at 6 Cancer. On a more personal front his progressed Moon 8 Aquarius was moving to oppose his Saturn 13 Leo.

    The fate of his nation evidenced by this charts MC, Sun and North Node triggered the worst of Hitler’s horoscope promises: deeply malevolent Saturn and Mars in positions of extreme power, fed by the insecurity of his foundations (Moon, Jupiter and South Node). 

    Geli Raubal

    Another incident that was very pivotal in the development of Hitler’s persona was the death by gun shot to the heart of his niece, Geli Raubal on Sept 19th 1931. Rumored to have been his mistress, Geli and Hitler had an unusual relationship which in many ways played out the symbolic configuration of his Mars conjunct Venus in Taurus in the 7th house square Saturn.

    Hitler, twenty years her senior, found happiness with Geli, her presence subdued and relaxed him and yet he was totally controlling and fanatically jealous of her. There were questions as to whether Hitler was in any way involved in her death. The rumours and innuendos were never proved, but her death was to have a profound effect on Hitler.  became suicidal and never regained the public joy he had exhibited in Geli’s presence.

    Her body was discovered at approximately 10:00 am on the 19th, by the landlord. It is believed that she died sometime on Sept 18, 1931.

    Body discovered Sept 19 1931 at 10:00 in Munich Germany

    On the day her death was discovered, Saturn was 16 degrees Capricorn trining Hitler’s natal Mars, Venus and conjunct his South Node; and transiting Jupiter at 13 degrees Leo was on his Saturn. Mars, ruler of his 7th house was transiting his 1st house, at 1 degree Scorpio applying to square his MC (5 Leo) and oppose his natal Mars, Venus conjunction. His progressed Moon sextiled natal Mars, Venus and was conjunct his North Node and on its way to conjunct his MC on the day he took the control of the newly formed Third Reich (January 30, 1933).

    Hitler’s highly afflicted Saturn and Mars were triggered by this event. It is said that after Geli’s death Hitler threw himself ever more into his public life. Having enough political influence to ensure that his involvement surrounding the suspicious circumstances of her death never came to light, must have empowered his sense of invincibility.  The ambition of his Lord of the Ascendant, Saturn coupled with the ruthless and destructive Mars, devoid of the balancing force of Venus (possibly symbolized by Geli herself, her death being the final death of Hitler’s Venus) allowed the evil that was festering below the surface to be given full expression.   

    We can not judge a chart in a vacuum. Hitler’ fate was linked to the circumstances of his era, culture, nation and birth. Hitler did not act alone in perpetrating the evil that was the Third Reich. Yet as the figure head for this movement he became the focal point of its manifestation. Was Hitler an evil man? The answer is that he was a weak man who through fateful circumstances yielded a huge amount of worldly power (symbolized by his celestially weak planets in terrestrially strong placement). What could have been done with this power need not have been so destructive, but it takes a strong individual to resist the allure of the ego.

    The 13th century Saint Thomas Aquinas expounded the truth that: “The stars may incline, but do not compel.” 3 Yet even Thomas Aquinas conceded that only when a man’s soul was in communion with God, was his will freed from the bondage of his corporal nature – with his physical body and its appetites, needs and desires. The stars may only incline, but your spirit needs to be in touch with a higher power to resist their inclination. Clearly this was not the case with the individual Adolf Hitler.

    1. Antiscia – From the Greek, meaning “opposite shadow”. A degree and its antiscia are equidistant from the summer-winter solstice axis (Cancer/Capricorn). Planets related by antiscia have the force of a conjunction.  Contra-antiscia (the opposition to the antiscia degree) has the force of an opposition. ↩︎
    2. The Faces supply some intriguing leads about those areas where the individual has fear or problems. The point is that most people don’t like fear and would rather cloak fear with hatred”.  From Lee Lehman “Essential Dignities” page 136 ↩︎
    3. This is a paraphrase of a Latin saying: “Astra non compellunt, sed inclinant”, translating to: “the stars do not compel, but they do incline”. A concept that Aquinas frequently used to explain how astrological influence may suggest a course of action, but because of human free-will, a person is not forced to follow it.  ↩︎

  • Planets and Related Flower Essences

    Mercury and Related Essences

     Mercury represents our ability to think, communicate and learn. Mercury is related to language and words and indicates how we form relationships to things and how we exchange ideas. He is related to how we acquire skills and learn. Mercury rules the rational part of the brain and through our ability to reason we gain the freedom to choose.

     

    Mercury is related to Hermes the messenger of the gods and has the ability to travel into the underworld, the unconscious and bring up into the conscious light information and wisdom from within. Mercury guides us into the mysterious inner realms of the mind. He informs us through the thinking capacity, but it is important to remember that he is also the trickster. This aspect of Mercury is evident when logical arguments lead us astray.

     

    A Mercurial imbalance occurs when the logic of the mind and the knowing of the heart are not working together. This can manifest as becoming lost in the details losing sight of the overall picture or becoming overwhelmed with the big picture and being unable to focus on the details. All difficulties with verbal communication have at their root Mercury: not being able to find the words or lots of words with no meaning, having your words misunderstood. Over or under intellectualising are both symptoms of Mercury out of balance.

     

    Hibbertia (Hibbertia pendunculata), is a great essence to help the mercurial imbalance of head and heart separation. Its yellow heart shaped petals remind us to bring the heart into the intellect. This essence is especially recommended for those whose drive to acquire knowledge and improve themselves borders on fanaticism. They may read widely and learn a myriad of philosophies, but their focus on self-improvement is hindered because they are incapable of integrating what they learn. Hibbertia can help to bring the heart into the intellectual understanding engendering more acceptance and practical use of ones knowledge and limitations.

     

    Other essences that can assist with Mercury imbalances are:

    Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus) will come to our rescue when we are so overwhelmed by our ideas that we cannot coordinate our speech to express them.

    Madia (Madia elegans) for those who have difficulty in keeping focus, are unable to concentrate and are easily distracted, Madia essence brings about precise thinking and disciplined focus.

    Isopogen (Isopogon anethifolius) is for those who live too much in their head and are dominated by their intellect. They may become very stubborn and controlling and have an inability to learn from past experience.

    Brown Boronia (Boronia megastigma) essence frees the mind of obsessive worry, anxiety and repeating unpleasant thoughts that stop one from enjoying the moment. Frees one from constant thinking and brings about acceptance that solutions to life’s dilemmas will be found.

     

    Venus and Related Essences 

     

    After the Sun and Moon, Venus is the brightest and most beautiful light in the sky. Traditionally she was understood as a moist and warm planet that promoted growth and fertility. Venus is the embodiment of the feminine, balancing and harmonising function of the psyche. As one of the principle archetypes, she is the Goddess of Love and Beauty. Venus is the lover who will not sacrifice herself for love, but rather enter into relationship through seduction to fulfill her own desire. In our astrological chart she stands for what we values and what is important to us, she is about what we want and desire.

    Venus seeks to create beauty and harmony in the world and is associated with art, music and dance. She wants to conciliate, to unite and bring balance between opposites. She represents the urge to relate to another and defines how we are in relationship. It is through Venus that we come to know the pleasures of this world. She is about sensual, erotic desire and the artistic creative urge.

    The dark side of Venus is sexual deviance or dysfunction, an inability to enjoy being loved or difficulty with intimacy. Venus imbalances are common in woman during times of transition: adolescence, pregnancy, after the birth of children and menopause. Self-esteem and self-obsession problems all stem from a lack of self-value, which can be directly attributed to Venus issues.

    Easter lily (Lilium longiflorum) one of the most Venus essences comes from this beautiful white flower, long connected to the sacred feminine through her association with the Madonna. Easter lily is symbolically the pure white of the virgin mother. This essence will help with all imbalances of our sexual nature and inner conflicts regarding our sexuality. It helps both promiscuity and prudishness and helps relieve the tension that can occur between our sexual/physical desires and our spiritual aspirations.

    Other essences that can aid with Venus issues are:

    She Oak (Casuarina glauca) is another essence that has strong connections with the feminine encouraging a softening of the emotions and has been found to be particularly good for woman in menopause.

    Pomegranate (Punica granatum) is a particularly good essence for the confusion that so often arises out of feminine creativity and procreativity. The sense of ambivalence between the values of home versus career can often be resolved with Pomegranate.

    Tiger Lily (Lilium humboldtii) for those who are overly aggressive and competitive having a hostile attitude. This essence helps bring in balanced feminine strength instilling co-operative service with others and extending feminine force into social situation. When there’s too much Mars and not enough Venus, think Tiger Lily.

    Alpine Lily (Lilium parvum) helps women whose abstract sense of femininity is disembodied and alienated from their female body. Brings about an acceptance grounded in a deepened experience of their female body.

     

    Mars and Related Essences

     

    Mars is red hot and very dry, he is about focused and direct action. Mars is the ultimate masculine archetype, the warrior of the cosmos; he embodies courage, energy and fighting spirit. Mars carries the sword of discernment and in his purest manifestation he is the sacred warrior, righteous defender and protector of whatever needs protecting. Thinking is not Mars’s forte; he has little conscience and can behave like a brute. He is all action not complicated by emotion, opinions, morals or mindset.

     

    Mars is pure energy with no judgement, attachment or thought. In many regards he is like a soldier enlisted to do the Sun’s fighting. When Mars is truly integrated and in balance there is no need for fighting, no need for arguments or conflict, but out of balance Mars will rage and attack.

     

    True to Mars’s simple nature his shadow is the most easily recognised; anger, aggression and fury. Other signs of Mars out of balance are the inability to express angry, to assert oneself, to defend and fight for what is rightfully yours..

     

    Mountain Devil (Lambertia formosa) is an essence that helps those who are incapable of expressing feelings of love because they are blacked by the lower emotions of jealousy, hatred and anger. They tend to be profoundly suspicious of others and their motives and will hold grudges. Mountain Devil helps these individuals to set healthy boundaries and express anger constructively. They can then develop an ability to forgive and learn to love unconditionally.

     

    Other essences that can help with Mars issues are:

     

    Mountain Pride (Penstemon newberryi) helps those who lack the ability to assert themselves and stand up for their convictions. Mountain Pride brings in the warrior energy that can be used to confront a situation and take a stand. This essence is about positive action and activity.

    Mountain Mahogany (Cercopcarpus breviflorus) helps those who have become stuck in their development and who push to make things happen and believe that assertion means aggression, Mountain Mahogany helps one to accept direction from the sacred rather then from the ego.

    Mountain Wormwood (Artemisia tilesii) for unresolved anger, resentment and the holding of grudges against those believed to have caused one hurt or pain. Such held in emotions erodes ones peace of mind. This essence encourages one to let their judgement dissolve and allow true forgiveness to enter their heart.

     

    Jupiter and Related Essences

    If it weren’t for the Sun, Jupiter would surely be the king of our cosmos. Everything about Jupiter is big and as the largest planet in our solar system he struts his stuff bringing new growth, good fortune and luck wherever he goes. In traditional astrology Jupiter was understood to be the great benefic, the God of fertility and rain and was said to bestow good fortune, riches and plentiful bounties on all who honored him.

    Jupiter has long been associated with higher learning, philosophy and religion. He is keeper of the universal laws and sits in judgement, not condemning but rather as a compassionate spirit encouraging us onto the right choice. The rule of Jupiter is our conscience and moral stand. Jupiter can tempt us out of our limited everyday experience into the bigger more glamorous world of spirit through learning, knowledge, travel, dreams and prayer.

    Jupiter is the eternal optimist of the chart and can lead us down unrealistic and foolhardy paths. The downside of Jupiter is over doing it. Jupiter has problems with emotional issues particularly those of a darker nature. We see the imbalance of Jupiter manifested in over the top happiness hiding unacknowledged depression, in reckless spending of non-existent money, in gluttonous over eating or the inability of accepting limitations leading to all types of addictions. Jupiter imbalances can conversely express themselves as an unwillingness to grow beyond the safe and familiar.

    Oak (Quercus robur) is a good essence for one type of Jupiter imbalance, that of overdoing things. Oak people can be inflexible and have a cast iron will that stops them from knowing when to give up. This essence helps those who take on challenges in life and persevere through exhaustion, depression and discouragement with no complaint and a smile on their face. Life becomes a struggle and they lose the ideal with which they began. Oak helps one to balance their strengths and accept personal limitations allowing them to surrender when the going gets too tough.

    Other essences for Jupiter imbalances are:

    Agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria) For those whose cheerful exterior hides anxiety and the denial of emotional pain possibly leading to addictive behaviour. This essence allows one to work with their painful emotion and engenders emotional honesty.

    Forsythia (Forsythia suspensa) helps motivate one towards transforming old, useless patterns of behaviour such as addiction, habits and thoughts.

    Golden Waitsia (Waitsia aurea) is for contrary Jupiter imbalances, when one’s petty worries about details stops them from having a positive outlook. Golden Waitsia frees the mind from small perspective, allowing for a more expansive and adaptable attitude.

    Saturn and Related Essences

    As the most distant visible planet, Saturn up until the last few centuries, thought to be the outer limit or boundary of our solar system. Beyond him laid the divine realm of the fixed stars, he set the perimeters of our imperfect world. He was considered the greatest malefic in the cosmos and was portrayed as father time and the grim reaper. His extreme cold and dry nature restricted growth and life and was associated with endings, old age and death.

    Saturn is the stern, hard taskmaster whose authority defines the reality of the material world. He is the judge and lawmaker who condemn all who transgress the man made laws of the land. He is connected to the continuum of time and generations and as such is related to our ancestry and the inheritance or karma that binds us. Boundaries of all types are under the rule of Saturn.

    Fear emerges when Saturn has gone out of balance. Ultimately all fear has at its root the fear of death and death is one of Saturn’s roles, for he defines the limits of life: birth and death. When there are issues with authority or father you will find an out of balance Saturn.

    Boab (Adansonia gregorii) is a powerful essence that works on Saturnian issues of inheritance. Found in the Kimberly regions of Australia the Boab tree stores water in its bloated body. It is common for the Boab to have younger trees growing around it in a circular pattern eventually merging to form one giant tree. Very large Boab trees were often hollow inside and used by whites as holding prison for aboriginal, illustrating one of Boab’s messages: racism, prejudice and the imprisoning effect of our inherited patterns.

    Boab essence clears ancestral patterns that are passed on from generation to generation and deal specifically with the negative energy and core beliefs that are inherited from our forefathers. Boab allows us to gain wisdom from our inheritance with out becoming victim to its darkness.

    Other essences that deal with Saturn issues are:

    Saguaro Cactus (Cereus giganteus) is an essence that helps deal with any issue of power struggle with parental or authority figures. Brings about an awareness of the ancient wisdom and sacred knowledge of our elders and instill a respect for our lineage.

    Menzies Banksia (Banksia menziesii) deals with the fear of pain and expectation of repeating painful experiences, which limits our ability to move forward. Clears the hesitation and pessimism that blocks joyful new beginnings.

    Aspen (Populus tremula) helps with fear, anxiety and apprehension of the unknown, bringing about an inner trust and confidence to meet new circumstances. Aspen remedy is associated with feelings of guilt that have no logical reason for being.

  • The Collective Crisis of the Coming T-Square: A Time of Creative Possibility

    One of astrology’s greatest gifts is providing an understanding of cycles and time, enabling us to reassure clients that tough times will pass and everything will begin to flourish again. All of us have experienced difficult times that are reflected by challenging personal astrological cycles. There have also been many difficult times in our history that have been reflected in the difficult astrological aspects current at the time. It is however important to remember that these astrological configurations do not cause the difficulties we experience, they merely reflect them.

    We are currently experiencing such a time when the difficult planetary aspects in the sky are being mirrored in the political, social and financial events in our world. Some people are also being affected personally by these same aspects and are doing it tough. There is a general sense of fear, uncertainty, anger and anxiety about how it will all end. 

    The T-square configuration of Saturn squaring Pluto and opposing Uranus, brings three of the most uncomfortable and powerful planetary energies together in difficult and harmful relationship. Uranus is associated with sudden, erratic, unexpected and at times shattering change. Pluto like its mineral namesake, plutonium, has come to be associated with great stores of uncontrollable energy, massive upheavals and transformation.  Traditionally Saturn was known as the Great Malefic; the planet of fear and grief.  It was understood to be very cold and dry, being the farthest (traditional) planet from the Sun, the giver of life and vital energy.

    The pre-dominate quality of these three planets is dry. Dry quality separated things and caused them to become brittle and break apart, while the moist quality gave things flexibility and encouraged them to combine together. The overly dry nature pervading the world today is causing people to separate, isolating themselves from each other, hording for fear of lack, turning inwards and assuming a defensive attitude. But it also encourages us to redefine ourselves and to appreciate the smaller details of our lives. We are being forced to find new ways of being which can lead to an opening of our heart, a rediscovery of our creative core and resurgence of creativity in the world.

    We can not consciously work with Uranus or Pluto as these are collective energies to which we can only surrender and accept that the changes they so painfully bring are for the better. But we can work with the energy of Saturn; we can call Saturn into our lifes.  In fact we need to make use of Saturn in order to manifest, to bring into physical reality our dreams and hopes. Saturn demands that we take responsibility and “get real”, for in order to live an abundant and creative life we need structure and foundations both coming under Saturn realm of influence.

    It is often forgotten by modern astrologers that Saturn was the planet that brought tears and grief to mankind. The sorrow of being incarnated in the physical world and separated from our spiritual origins often underlies our discontent. When the familiar is taken away and our expectations are shattered we feel grief. The essence of Sturt Desert Pea (Clianthus formosus) is a powerful essence that works to help us let go of deeply held sadness, grief and pain. Often these emotions become frozen within the psyche to that point that there is no conscious awareness of them, but at times of crisis we can become overwhelmed by them.  Sturt Desert Pea can quickly thaw these emotions and bring them up, allowing tears to flow. Tears release moisture an antidote to dryness. Sturt Desert Pea essence helps us to release pain and sorrow as well as ease depression which is often the result of unacknowledged grief.  The interesting thing about this essence is that it sometimes works to release collective sorrow and grief that we have picked up from our environment.

    When things are difficult there is a human tendency to find someone to blame. This can lead to hate and resentment which freezes the heart and separates us from love, the vital essence of life. The essence of Mountain Devil (Lambertia Formosa) is a great essence which helps to bring about unconditional love and forgiveness. Lack of love is expressed through jealousy, anger, suspicion and envy.   Any time there is a lack of love Mountain Devil is the essence to reach for. In difficult times there is a tendency for prejudices and racism to rear its ugly head. Slender Rice Flower (Pimelea linifolia) is a very good essence that helps to promote group harmony and opens us to perceive the divinity in all people, something that seems to be sorely missing in the world today.

    Waratah (Telopea speciosissima) is an amazing and powerful essence that seems ready made for this time. It is made from a stunningly dramatic red flower. The Waratah flower essence is said to be for those who are going through “the dark night of the Soul” periods. It promotes courage, faith and tenacity in the face of momentous challenge. While it can be used in times of personal crisis, it is also perfect for times of collective crisis. In fact Ian White who is the creator of the Bush Essence range says in his book “Australian Bush Flower Essences” 1991 (page 166) of the Waratah essence:

    “Metaphysically, major spiritual, economic, social and physical changes are common at the end of an age, and the next is due around the year 2000. If those upheavals occur, literally millions of people will be taken by surprise, will have no understanding of what is happening and will quite likely find it difficult to cope. The Waratah essence will help them find their own faith and will give them the courage and strength to deal with those changes”

    Waratah is an essence that does not need to be taken for long periods of time. It is a fast working and powerful catalyst for change.

    Another essence that needs to be considered grows in the shape of a cross; an apt symbolic signature currently mirrored by the T-square of Saturn, Uranus and Pluto. Southern Cross (Xanthosia rotundifolia) an unusual and predominatly white flower is unique to Australia and is shaped like a cross. The cross is in itself a very powerful symbol representing manifested matter or Earth as well as being the principle symbol of the Christ, the light and is reminisent of “the cross we must bare”.

    We are living through a period of time that feels extremely difficult as we stand at the crossroads (another cross) and big decisions need to be made, both as a whole and individually. It is easy during difficult times to blame others, be it goverments, institutions or individuals for the problems we face. The essence of Southern Cross helps to turn victim mentality and poverty consciousness into a sense of personal power and positivity thus we can take back our personal responsibility and stop blaming the world for our situation. 

    Combining it with Australian Star of Bethlehem (Callectasia Cyanea) the essence that opens us up to creative solutions and new ways of thinking would be a great way of accessing the creative potential of this time. The old ways are clearly in need of an overhaul, but when we feel overwhelmed with insecurity and fear it is hard to imagine other paths. Star of Bethlehem (Australian) opens our minds to opportunity and brings new creativity and hope to whatever situation we find ourselves in.  Woolly Banksia (Banksia hookeriana) is another Australian essence which helps us to stay focused on new goals with a sense of optimism. It rekindles the desire to go after our dreams and live by our ideals despite the struggles and difficulties we encounter. It re-energises us to believe that we can succeed when we are feeling disheartened by circumstances.

    Most of the essences mentioned here are powerful essences made from flowering Australian plants and in my experience these essences tend to work very quickly and less subltly than other essences. We are living through the crisis point of a collective cycle, which is affecting some far more personally than others. It is important to remember that time is simply a series of cycle and all cycles come full circle. Times may be difficult but nothing is permanent.

    Flower essences can be used to rebalance collective as well as personal energy, because as we individually open our hearts to the possibilities of today we help others to do the same.By taking personal responsibility for our circumstances, letting go of blame, opening our hearts to love, our minds to the creative energy of these times and allowing ourselves to accept new ways of approaching life we will come out of this period stronger and wiser.   

    Waratah, Southern Cross, Mountain Devil, Slender Rice Flower, Sturt Desert Pea are from the Bush Flower Essence range http://www.ausflowers.com.au/

    Woolly Banksia, Star of Bethlehem (Australian) are from the Living Essence range http://www.livingessences.com.au/