Astrologicalmind

The magic of astrology explored

Tag: traditional astrology

  • The Wrong Chart

    Every astrologer has done this at some point in their career; given a really good reading to someone and then realized that the chart was wrong! It happened to me just the other day and I could of course blame Mercury for being combust and having turned retrograde (on my Uranus none the less), but maybe I should just admit that I was just careless. Now it wasn’t the birth data that I got wrong, but the consultation chart.

    I have been using consultation charts for a long time now. I always set the chart for the time that the appointment is made. I have found that coupled with: solar return, profections, progressions and naturally the birth chart itself, the consultation chart is a mine-full of information.

    So last week I set the consultation chart for a regular client; I knew about the issues and situation she had been dealing with in recent times.  Looking at the consultation chart I could see many connections between it and my client’s natal and solar return charts; including its IC and her solar return ASC being on the same degree and its ASC being my clients profected ASC for the year. I expect to see these types of connection between consultation charts and my client’s charts; this confirms the validity of the consultation chart to me.

    Wrong Chart

    July 24 2012 at 11:47 am AEST Melbourne, Australia

    In blissful ignorance I continued analyzing the chart. Scorpio was rising; its ruler Mars was in the 12th house in Libra, between Saturn and the Moon. Mars was in a separating trine with Jupiter, sextile with Mercury and moving towards a trine with Venus. Both Venus and Jupiter were in Gemini and the 8th house. In fact Mars was in a partile trine to the cusp of the 8th.

    I knew that my client’s mother had died some 18 month earlier and that there were issues with her brothers relating to the inheritance, her assets and property. Mars being with Saturn Lord 3 (her brothers) and the Moon Lord 10 (her mother) and the emphasis on the 8th house, particularly as Jupiter was by profection, Lord of the year and exactly transiting  her natal IC, I concluded that the whole situation surrounding her brothers and her mother’s estate was foremost on her mind and that she was finding it difficult; having problems taking action or making a stand on the issue  as her significator, Mars was in detriment in the 12th house.

    Sure enough that first thing out of my clients mouth when she arrived was about her trip back home and the dilemma she was having feeling caught between her brothers; whichever way she went would alienate one or the other, yet she felt that both were looking to her to resolve the situation. In  fact  she really didn’t want to deal or even think about the whole issue, but knew that she could not continue to ignore it.

    The situation like all family disputes is complex and her brothers relationship is intense (Pluto is in the 3rd house). The appointment went very well as we explored many options related to her ability to figure out which approach to take. When she left I felt that it had been a very insightful and productive session, and then I looked at the consultation chart; it was not only the wrong date, but also the wrong time!

    How could I do this? Yet the chart “worked” in guiding us to the core of her issue, through which she found a possible course of action for her to follow. This was to take a more “spiritual” approach which is suggested in the chart by the partile sextile between the Moon (ruler of the 9th) and the Sun in its own sign in the 10th.

    Correct Chart

    July 25 2012 at 10:00 am AEST Melbourne, Australia

    Going back and setting the chart for the correct date & time, I could not see the situation nearly as clearly, though it could probably be extrapolated.  There are few connections between this “correct” chart and my client’s natal and/or solar return charts. Had I looked at this chart I would not  have been drawn to conclude that she was dealing with her family’s inheritance issues. However Mercury’s aspect to Jupiter and the 9th house cusp, as well as his conjunction to the Sun does point to my client’s conclusion of taking a more spiritual approach to her situation.

    I am left with a sense of awe at the mystery of astrology! How can such specific information be drawn from a seemingly random chart?  There is obviously some force at work which is beyond our control and that “knows” best.

  • Easy Horary “Will I benefit from being involved in this project?”

    I love horaries that are quick and easy to judge!

    July 2, 2012 at 20:22 AEST, Melbourne, Australia

    Background

    The querent is a young woman trying to establish herself as a stylist in a competitive field. Initially she asked me whether she; should be involved in a project she had committed to? After a bit of probing we came to understand that what she really wanted to know was whether there was any benefit for her in being involved. So the question became “Will I benefit from being involved in this project?”

    The project was a fashion runway show for some young emerging designers and included the shooting of a promotional video. There was no money involved, though it promised to be a creative and possibly good networking opportunity. As her focus of interest is photo and props styling, she was made responsible for all props. She was now having second thoughts about the project as she had a lot of paid work on and felt that it was going to take up far more time than she first had anticipated. She also had a sense that the woman in charge of the project had subtly manipulated her into getting involved and was very vague as to the time commitment it would involve.

    Simple Judgement

    The chart has Aquarius rising giving Saturn exalted in Libra as significator of the querent. Saturn is being sextiled by the Moon in Sagittarius who could also be taken as a significator for the querent. The project, being a creative project that falls into the category of entertainment, I gave to the 5th house and therefore was signified by Mercury in Leo in the 6th house. Mercury is disposited by the Sun in Cancer in the 5th house, which I took as the “Boss” of the project, the woman who was putting the project together and had asked my client to be involved.

    Both Mercury and the Sun are in the signs of Saturn’s detriment. The answer was clear. She would not benefit from this project, in fact it was likely to be to her detriment.  Mercury in the 6th implies that she will be worked like a slave and the Sun’s position in Cancer shows us how the Boss could manipulate the Moon, our querent to do whatever it wanted.

    The promise that this would be a good opportunity to network and make contacts, was not going to happen as Mercury, the project was already separating from Jupiter, the ruler of the 11th house who signified these contacts. However, Saturn being in a partile sextile with the Moon on the cusp of the 11th house indicates that the querent is already making contacts.  A fact that the querent conceded.

  • “Where are my glasses?” Beware of Saturn in the 7th house.

    Barbara Waters wrote in 1973 “Horary Astrology and the Judgement of Events” (page 14):  “Saturn in the 7th house, the astrologer’s judgement is clouded…the reason for his blindness hardly matters because his judgement is clouded and cannot be objective.”

    This chart has  Saturn in the 7th house and I, the astrologer got it wrong.  I even jokingly told the querent after giving my erroneous judgement that: “since Saturn is in the 7th house I am probably wrong”.  On that point I was right. Looking back at the chart the answer seems obvious, however at the time “my judgement was clouded”.

    “Where are my glasses?” (21 Jan 2012, 12:52 PM, Melbourne Australia)

    The querent had a trade table at an astrological conference. While setting up she had misplaced her glasses which were a new pair of designer prescription glasses. I was speaking with the querent, a friend and fellow astrologer, joking around as one does at a conference surrounded by colleagues and associates. When she told me of her lost glasses I offered to find them with a horary.

    Only having the querent’s computer at hand I set the chart, but when I first saw it, I was shocked to find a chart filled with a million aspect lines and various asteroids and other points. To me the chart looked a confusing mess and I said: “I can’t see anything!”… I asked to change the settings and finally “saw” a chart as I am use to; clean and simple with few lines.

    She, the querent is signified by the ASC and its ruler Mars in Virgo (working at a marketing table at a conference), the glasses are signified by the  2nd house ruler, Venus in Pisces, exalted (being designer glasses), but this placement also indicated that they are not in a totally foreign place, but rather a place where they are being “honoured”. There were a number of indications that the glasses would be found: the Moon in Capricorn is making a trine to Jupiter a planet in the first house, both luminaries are above the horizon.

    But the only thing I saw was that there was no aspect between, Venus and Mars or the Moon and Venus (or Mars). I also saw the peregrine Mercury was on the MC, and I concluded that someone had found them, picked them up and walked off with them.  Not a thief so much as an opportunist.

    I could not get beyond the fact that the Moon would first hit Pluto before he could complete his sextile to Venus; which I interpreted as a prohibition.  (This chart adds to my growing understanding that the outer planets do not function in the same manner as the seven classical planets do).

    The fact that the Moon was in a partile trine with Jupiter in the ASC and had just separated from a sextile with Saturn (after which it ingressed into a new sign) shows that the glasses were probably in the possession of someone in authority, as Jupiter rules the 9th (the conference was being held at a University) and Saturn rules the MC (also both Jupiter and Saturn tend to suggest a person with authority). The glasses were found at the front desk of the conference and the querent was reunited with them a couple days later.

    As for the astrologer, she learnt a valuable lesson; never try to read a chart without giving it due reverence.

  • Should I direct this film clip?

    As a rule, I normally do not think that “should” questions are able to be answered with horary, but every once in a while I get a chart that is just so clear, the answer so obvious that it defies this “rule”.

    The querent had recorded a song and wanted to get it released but was told that without a video clip this would never happen. He has been trying to get someone to “direct” the clip as he felt totally unqualified to do so himself, though he had lots of ideas about how he wanted it to look.

    This chart shows the significators of the querent highly dignified and fortified, while the significator of others (7th ruler, Mercury) or employees (6th ruler, Sun) are both in bad zodiacal condition and in weak positions, giving us the answer.

    The querent is signified by Lord of the ASC, Jupiter in Sagittarius is on the MC. Venus being on the ASC would also signify the querent. Both are dignified benefics and on the major angles clearly providing the answer; yes he should direct the clip. The Moon also in the 10th close to the MC and conjunct Jupiter, is about to sextile the Sun (Lord 6), and Venus sextile Mars ruler of the 2nd (the money) and 9th (the vision), on the 11th cusp. With the help of friends (11th house) and hiring others (Lord 6) the job will be done.

    The sextile of the Moon and Sun can be understood asbringing the vision to light, as the Moon is ruler of the 5th house which could signify the creative project, especially relevant as the Moon’s last aspect was a sextile to Neptune (conjunct the Sun) and universal significator of film.

    Mars being exalted the vision and the friends assisting will be of a good quality.

    It is also interesting that the Nodes are conjunct the ASC/DES axis, showing a fated quality to this question. Having tried to find someone to direct this clip for quite a long time with no success; signified by the Sun (Lord 6) in detriment on the 12th cusp opposite Saturn in detriment retrograde, being let down by others promising one thing and not coming through. These others could also be signified by Lord 7 Mercury in Pisces and with Uranus in the 12th, very unreliable. Neither Sun nor Mercury engenders any sense of reliability and trust.

    The querent did go on to direct the clip with the help of friends and others. The exalted state of both Venus (the querent) and Mars (the vision and friends) show us that the querent was not 100% comfortable doing this but he was capable. It was a successful project whichsaw his vision realised.

    In fact you can check out the final result here.

  • The Truth that Lies Within the Horary Chart

    It is often said that horary works best when dealing with concrete and verifiable matters and as such is concerned with the trivialities of life. Anyone can learn the rules and techniques of horary, but it is only through consistent practice that the inexplicable correspondence between the will of the soul, the moment of asking and the celestial movements come to be revealed. It is then that a horary chart mirrors the depth and magic inherent in the most basic events of human life.

    The simplest of inquiries can hide a complex web of relationships and meaning that the horary chart will reveal in plain sight to any with the eyes to see. Astrology generally and horary in particular makes the truth known; but few really want to know the truth, they are happier to be told that what they already believe, is the truth. The rigorousness and discipline of horary gives the astrologer an objective framework from which to work and with which the truth and richness of life and human experience is exposed.

    Some charts defy rational explanation and prove the truth that lies at the heart of astrology. Here is such a chart:

    “Will Adrian get the house?” Aug 14, 2008 at 3:50 pm, Melbourne

    Adrian had been planning to renovate and move into a property he owned, but he was not really happy with its location. He had recently seen a property which would suit his needs quite well and situated in a neighbourhood he wanted to live in. The asking price seemed pretty low, but it was going to be sold at auction. He had all his financing is place and planned to bid at the auction on the following Saturday. I asked this question as Adrian had been in a long term relationship with my daughter which looked to be headed for marriage and this property could end up being her home.

    The first thing to note is that the ASC has a very late degree rising which could mean that the matter is already settled and nothing about this matter can be altered by the judgement of this chart.  At the time I did not understand how this could be relevant but have later come to see this simple question in a different light.

    On the surface this is a clear and simple buying and selling question. Adrian is not the querent so is signified by the 7th house and its ruler, the Moon. The seller would be the ASC and its ruler Saturn and the property itself would be signified by the IC and its ruler, Mars and the profit from this property would be signified by the MC and its ruler Venus.

    The next applying aspect of the Moon is a trine to Mars; there are no impediments to this aspect and it is being received, as the Moon is in the sign of Mars’s exaltation. This is about the best scenario you can get. It goes without saying that he got the property. The profit to be had from the property would appear bad as Venus is in her fall and conjunct Saturn, but he did buy the place for a relatively low price.  Again I didn’t understand and thought something was wrong, but a different perspective would later make sense of this.

    On further consideration, the lack of planets in the angles and all the main significators positioned in either cadent or the 8th house, gives reason for concern. Guido Bonatti’s 5th consideration tells us to “consider how many ways the Moon is ill affected…whereby hindrances and damage happen in all questions…”[1] Here the Moon is in the sign of her detriment as well as being peregrine, in the 12th house connected to Jupiter in the sign of its fall. After the Moon makes her aspect with Mars she will be VOC until she comes into orb of opposing the Sun, which is considered to be an affliction to her, especially as this opposition was in fact an eclipse of the Moon at 24 Aquarius, incidently opposite Adrian’s natal Sun at 23 Aquarius.

    Major alarm bells are now ringing. The poor state of this Moon certainly reveals that the matter will be “hindered and damaged” and the stellium of planets in the 8th house of death is a further warning that all may not be so rosy. Further more the Moon also rules Adrian’s turned 12th house of self-undoing and makes a partile sextile to Uranus in the 3rd house opposite Mars.

    As it turned out Adrian purchased the property for a low price in dollar terms, but the price in emotional terms was very high; he did not profit from this move and neither did my daughter. The relationship which had been at its peak, went downhill very soon after moving into this property and ended thereafter.

    In this chart the Sun is conjunct the South Node and Adrian’s turned 2nd house hinting of the money worries this purchase engendered. Even the fact that Mars signified the property suggests strife. Adrian’s natal chart connects with this horary proving this to be a radical chart[2]. The Moon is conjunct his natal ASC and Mars is conjunct his natal North Node indicating the fated nature of this matter. The North Node and Neptune of this chart sit on Adrian’s natal 2nd house cusp, mirroring the money issues highlighted in the horary chart.

    Though I asked this question with no conscious awareness of my concern for my daughter, her natal chart also connects strongly with this horary chart. Her natal Moon sits on this chart’s MC at 16 Libra, her natal Venus is on the degree of this chart’s Mars, and Saturn was on her 11th cusp, just beginning to put his heavy damper on her “hopes and wishes”.

    My daughter, being Adrian’s partner would be signified in this horary by the ruler of the ASC, Saturn peregrine in the 8th house, of “mental anguish” symbolically depressing both her mind (Mercury) and her pleasures (Venus). She has since told me she felt lost, unsupported and suffered from depression during the first year in this property.

    With the benefit of hindsight the 29 degrees on the ASC can be understood as indicating a crisis and a change of circumstance about to happen, but I did not see this at the time. After all, the question was simply about whether Adrian would get the property and the strong testimony that he would proved true. But behind this question was a desire to see Adrian and my daughter happy and secure; yet the testimony in this chart point to strife, depression and unhappiness for both.

    Astrology never ceases to amaze and humble me. Far from being trivial, horary astrology is as deep and multi-layered as the world it reflects and reveals.

    Postscript:

    The antiscion degree of the Jupiter (3rd house ruler) of this chart was on my daughter’s natal Uranus. The antiscion degree of the North node (on the 2nd house of money) was on Adrian’s natal Uranus. The Antiscion degree of this chart’s Uranus falls on Adrian’s natal Mars.

    When they broke up Jupiter and Uranus were conjunct at 27 degrees Pisces opposite Mars.

    [1] (page 3-4) Guido Bonatti 146 Considerations,  from William Lilly The Astrologer’s Guide, first edited in 1778, reprinted by AFA 2005 from the 1953 edition.

    [2] A radical chart is one deemed able to be judged. “Pertaining to the radix, or horoscope of birth, the root from which everything is judged.” Nicholas deVore Encyclopedia of Astrology, Astrology Classics 1947 (page 328)

  • Alchemy and Astrology

    The connection between astrology and alchemy has its genesis in the fifth and forth century BC, in the philosophies of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle and the metallurgical skills of the ancient Egyptians. The meaning and structure of alchemy were summarised in the “Emerald Tablet” and presented as a revelation to Hermes Trismegistus the supposed author of “the Corpus Hermeticum”.

    In recent times our understanding of astrology and alchemy has become so distorted that they have lost all true meaning and purpose. Our empirical understanding of reality has made alchemy appear at best as philosophical musing, at worst as little more than superstition.

    Astrology and alchemy are in essence looking at the same thing functioning on different levels or different realms. To put it simply astrology deals with the celestial realm and alchemy with the sub-terrestrial realm of the same thing; the movement and manifestation of spirit.

    Spirit is the essence of all life and binds the whole of creation together. It permeates all matter and form giving it substance and vitality. Spirit or essential form is akin to the vertical threads of life, the horizontal threads being the substantial or material. Soul is both essential and material, it is both spirit and body, it embodies the rich tapestry woven when the essential spirit and material come together to create life. The purpose of soul is to reflect spirit. The purpose of alchemy and astrology is to purify and align the soul/body in order that spirit can be wholly reflected through its embodiment in matter.

    What is Alchemy?

    The word alchemy evokes many images including that of the crazed medieval chemist, stooped over arcane manuscripts, trying to unlock the secrets of nature in order to make gold out of base metals or create the so called “philosophers stone” propounded to bestow eternal life. Some have excused alchemy as a philosophical endeavour, defining the alchemist as a philosopher and those who engaged in the transmutation of metals or the search for eternal life as misguided fools.  In the 20th century psychologist led by Carl Jung used the image and symbolism of alchemy and ascribed it to the psychotherapeutic process of personal evolution and analytic practice.

    Modern psychological astrologers have embraced this Jungian understanding of alchemy and use the natal astrological chart as a symbolic guide to self-growth. While this works well in gaining an understanding of an individual’s process of individuation and knowing themselves it is a misunderstanding and misrepresentation of alchemy. Alchemy is not about the individual or his process; neither is alchemy naïve chemistry, as some would define it.

    Alchemy is the endeavour of purifying soul in order to reflect spirit truthfully, in the sub-terrestrial world the result is gold.

    The true aim of alchemy is to go beyond the “I” for it is the “I” as a thought concept or ego consciousness that is the barrier preventing consciousness from being flooded by the light of pure spirit. In the alchemical view of reality consciousness exist in one form or another in all things including the metals and the planets.

    The Roots of Alchemy

    The problem in trying to come to an understanding of alchemy is that it has always been an esoteric or occult science. Alchemy was known as the “royal art” it was not meant for everyone. A person had to gain the wisdom needed before being privy to the secrets of the alchemists. The true purpose and truth of alchemy is hidden in the symbolism of the alchemical language. This symbolism has a great similarity with astrological symbolism.

    In the same way that the physical process of trying to make gold was fraught with danger from accidental poisoning or explosions, alchemical knowledge was considered dangerous to those who were not ready or properly prepared. Philosophically alchemy threatened the dominant monotheist religions and so needed to remain hidden. This may account for much of the old texts being written in secret language, illustrated symbols, paradoxes and riddles.

    Much of the astrological, alchemical and philosophical wisdom of old comes to us from “The Corpus Hermeticum”, a work attributed to Hermes Trismegistus a mythical wise man also said to be the Egyptian God Thoth. The Corpus Hermiticum is said to record all human knowledge up to that point. It is in this work that we first encounter the precept of: “What is below is like that which is above, and what is above is like that below.” This sets out the basic principle on which alchemy is founded and this same dictum goes to the heart of astrology and magic the world over.

    Alchemy aims to create purity in order for spirit to be reflected and manifested in this earthly realm. In the same way that light has no direction or substance until it encounters an object that can reflect back, giving light form, colour and direction, spirit needs to be reflected by soul, which exist in all matter. But when soul/matter is impure, like a dirty mirror that can only partially reflect light, it distorts the reflection of spirit. Spirit can only truly express itself through pure soul. The purer the receptacle or body of the soul the more able it is to reflect the light of spirit.

    The alchemical process begins and ends with the Materia Prima. It is both the origin and the fruit of the work. The Materia Prima is found everywhere in creation, it is the primary substance of the world and the basic substance of the soul. It contains all things and is contained in all things. In order to purify the Materia Prima, it must be broken down and opposites must unite, creating liquid fire, the embodied spirit, the volatile stable or air like earth.

    The moment soul (be it human, metal or other) achieves purity and becomes a clear receptive mirror of spirit, the revelation of the creative spirit takes place. Purity can not take place until the creative spirit reveals itself, which can not happen until purity is achieved. This paradox is the true meaning of the sacred marriage alluded to in alchemical writings. The King and Queen come together, pure being meets pure spirit. This is the marriage of Sun and Moon; spirit and soul, sulphur and quicksilver, the primary ingredients of alchemy.

    Sulphur and Quicksilver

    Two of the principle ingredients of alchemy are sulphur and quicksilver.

    – Sulphur, is the original masculine power, it is hot and dry and is symbolised by the Sun. It is the dynamic aspect of the solar or masculine cause.

    – Quicksilver is the original feminine power that is cold and moist and is symbolised by Moon. It is the productive power of “materia”, the dynamic aspect of the lunar or feminine cause.

    Together quicksilver and sulphur embody the two phases of nature: dissolution and coagulation. On some level dissolution can relate to the active, vertical thread (or pole) of essence or spirit, of which alchemical sulphur corresponds. Coagulation relates to the horizontal passive thread (or pole) of substance to which quicksilver corresponds. These two may seem as opposite but they are in fact mutually complimentary.

    Sulphur corresponds to the Divine command, by which the world became out of chaos and quicksilver represents Universal nature, the passive counterpart of the former that allows itself to be used and moulded. The first property: hot and cold, of both is the active masculine. The second property: dry and moist, is the passive feminine. Between them sulphur and quicksilver, by their qualities can expand (hot), contract (cold), coagulate (dry), and dissolve (moist) in a variety of combinations.

    Corruption of matter happens when the properties of each mutually penetrate each other: so when the dry (coagulation) of sulphur joins with the cold (contraction) of quicksilver, complete rigidity of soul and body occurs. In human life this is expressed as the torpor of old age, avarice and a total loss of the original receptivity and vitality, both spiritual and sensual. The other way with the moist (dissolution) of quicksilver penetrates the heat (expansion) of sulphur, we get unbridled passion and a volatility of power. Often these unbalanced states are found together, one begetting the other.

    Creative equilibrium can only happen when the expansive power of sulphur and contracting power of quicksilver hold the balance while at the same time the masculine coagulation and feminine dissolving capacity come into a fruitful union. This marries the two threads (poles) of being (essence and substance) and is symbolised by the intersecting triangles of the Seal of Solomon.

    The Seal of Solomon, an interlaced hexagram symbolizes: protection, harmony, and the union of opposites; in the Ouroboros, the serpent that eats its tail, symbolizes wholeness, eternity, and renewal.

    This state of absolute equilibrium between the passive and the active, the realisation of the centre of the earthly state is the ultimate goal of alchemy. Only in this state can matter, body or soul reflect back its true unadulterated spiritual essence. The evidence of reaching this state will manifest on all levels of existence including the mineral. So gold will be made, physical life will be prolonged and psyche will be freed of its desires. The dross will be removed through transmutation to allow the revelation of the light of spirit in matter.

    Astrological symbols and alchemy

    Throughout alchemical texts are found astrological references and symbols. It is evident by this that both are related and an understanding of one would help to understand the other. Both traditions come from the same source that at its heart understood the world to be interconnected and united, imbued with conscious intelligence that manifested in various forms.////Astrology interprets the meaning of the planets and zodiac, alchemy interprets the meaning of the elements and metals. The planets are embodied intelligence; the metals are intelligent bodies. While the metals were generated in the womb of the earth they are essentially under the influence of the seven planets.////The sacred metals of gold and silver are the earthly reflections of Sun and Moon and thus also reflect all other realities of spirit and soul that are related to this heavenly pair. Gold, the supposed aim of alchemist is regarded as the purest of metals; it is free of the impurities of other base metals and is the mineral reflection or subterranean manifestation of spirit. Silver the other sacred metal whose reflective quality acts as a mirror has the ability to reflect spirit. All other planets had a corresponding metal with which they shared their symbol.

    • Saturn              =         Lead
    • Jupiter              =         Tin
    • Mars                =         Iron
    • Sun                  =         Gold
    • Venus              =         Copper
    • Mercury           =         Quicksilver (Mercury)
    • Moon               =         Silver

    The hierarchy of the planets descends from Saturn, analogous to intelligence or intellect, through to the Moon which is analogous to the vital spirit that rules the involuntary and instinctive activities of the body. The hierarchy of corresponding metals are ascending from lead the densest and most chaotic of metals to Silver, the embodiment of pure unformed receptivity. In both Gold/Sun occupies the central position, which is the ultimate and true goal of the alchemist.

    The seven signs of the planets/metals express the entire cosmic hierarchy which is the result of the polarisation of existence into an active or masculine pole symbolised by the Sun and a passive or feminine pole, symbolised by the Moon.

    • The Sun is symbolised by the circle and reflects the active principle of being, the pure act of essence. This is the planetary symbol of the King. Gold the metal associated with the Sun represents pure spirit embodied in mineral form.
    • The Moon is symbolised by the crescent or semi-circle and reflects the passive principle of becoming, constant change. This is the planetary symbol of the Queen. Silver is associated with the Moon and represents the metal whose purity is like the purified soul able to reflect spirit in all its glory.
    • Earth (Physical matter) is symbolised by the cross of the elements (or of matter), the vertical pole of active essence (fire and air) and the horizontal arm of passive substance (water and earth). The wheel of heaven is made up of the cross of matter and the circle of the active principle. This is the symbol for earth or the angular cross of the horoscope. The physical realm of the sublunary world, where form is corrupted is the setting for the desired alchemical transmutation.

      Spirit/Sun acts on soul/Moon and changes it, as seen in the changing of the Moon’s form and the constant unchanging form of the Sun. Becoming is therefore passive, while the pure essence of being is active and remains unchanging.

      The Work of Alchemy

      Though Spiritual alchemy was not necessarily involved in metallurgic work, there is a supposition that originally the inward and the outward work went hand in hand. The purpose of alchemy is not to transcend matter, but rather to manifest spirit in matter. The way to do this is to free the soul or body from its impressions and passions, returning it to its original state, which is pure receptivity. The Materia Prima, primary substance of the world and the basis of soul, contains all things and is found in all things.

      There are three stages to the work; as well there is a lesser and higher level to each stage of the alchemists work.

      First stage is the blackening. Black is associated with downward movement, into matter away from the luminous origin.
      Second stage is the whitening or bleaching. White is associated with upward movement, aspiration towards the origin/light.
      Third stage is the reddening. Red or Royal Purple is associated with a tendency towards expansion on the plane manifestation.

      The lesser work, has the Moon/silver as its end point, precedes the greater work whose ultimate aim is Sun/gold. The two-fold (lesser & greater) and three-fold (black, white & red) stages do not conflict. They occur in a seven-fold division based on the reign of the planets and properties of metals.

      The first three stages of the lesser work is related to Saturn, Jupiter and the Moon. This is the phase whose end point is the Moon and Silver. Saturn and Jupiter are symbolised by a glyph compromising the cross of matter and the crescent of the Moon. The first three stages are purely lunar signs.

      The first three stages of the greater work is related to Venus, Mars and the Sun whose glyph compromises the cross of matter and the circle of spirit. The original glyph for Mars was a circle with a cross on top, rather then the arrow now used. The last three stages have purely solar signs.

      Mercury, whose associated metal is quicksilver, the principle initiator of the alchemical process, is symbolised by the cross under the circle under the crescent. It is the only astrological glyph to contain all three symbols. Only Mercury is androgynous and contains both lunar and solar signs.  Mercury, quicksilver comes before all the others. It is not a stage in the alchemical process, but rather the key to the whole work.

      The order of the lesser and greater works is in opposite direction to the other. For every active aspect there is a corresponding passive aspect.

      • Saturn represents the passive abasement or extinction of ego-bound consciousness.
      • Mars represents the active descent into unconscious passion
      • Jupiter represents the passive development of soul’s receptivity
      • Venus is the active rising of the inward sun or spirit
      • The Moon and Sun represents the two poles in their pure state.
      • Mercury bears both essences within itself and is the key of the alchemical process.

      The Lesser Work

      The first stage of the lesser work, the blackening:
      The first, black stage of the lesser work comes under Saturn, whose metal is the densest and most chaotic of all metals: lead. This is the mortification and putrefaction stage. Symbolised by the Raven or skull. At this stage consciousness must be withdrawn from the senses and turned inwards. Saturn’s glyph is the cross of matter over the lunar crescent of soul. The Soul is submerged in matter (the cross) and hidden from the light.

      The second stage of the lesser work, the bleaching:
      The second, whitening stage of the lesser work is dominated by Jupiter associated with the metal tin. Now the crescent, the soul has risen out of matter and is on the horizontal arm of the cross. It has risen above and out of the earth. Jupiter or tin its corresponding metal, represents the first step in the loosening of the soul from the elemental pairs of opposites.

      The third stage of the lesser work, the reddening:
      The reddening stage of the lesser work brings us to the Moon or silver. Here the crescent stands alone free from matter, independent of the cross of elements. Here the potentiality of the soul has been purified from the initial chaos of death (Saturn) and has now fully developed and united in a state of pure receptivity. The white mirror-like metal of silver manifesting this purity, a state also symbolised by the “blessed virgin mother”, the Moon.

      In the lesser work the energy as represented by the crescent moves upwards in an ascending movement until the Moon stands alone. These first three stages correspond to the “spiritualisation of the body” the last three stages correspond to the “embodiment of spirit” and represent a downward movement and descent back into matter.

      The Greater Work

      The first stage of the greater work, the blackening:
      Venus dominates the first stage of the greater work. Here the form giving power of the active essence of spirit imprints anew to the cross of the elements. At this stage the volatile power of Quicksilver prevails over the solid bodies, later the fixative power of sulphur will prevail over volatile Quicksilver and crystallise a new soul-body form.

      The colouring power of Sulphur does become visible in Copper (Venus’s metal) yet the new creation is not perfected, it is still unstable and coarse, because it is still attached to the opposing forces contained in the cross of the four elements.

      The second stage of the greater work, the whitening:
      Mars dominates the second stage of the greater work. Saturn and Mars are opposite each other, seen in their glyph where the cross sits atop dominating the crescent of the soul or the sphere of spirit. Both represent an extinction of sorts, while Saturn symbolises the chaotic condition of death, Mars is an active and directed descent of spirit into the lowest levels of human consciousness.

      Here the body is completely penetrated by the incombustible Sulphur. In Iron the fixative and colouring power of Sulphur, though present, can not manifest its lustre. The spirit is wholly submerged in the body, this is the threshold of the final completion; the transformation of body into spirit-become-form.

      The final stage of the greater work, the reddening:
      The completion of the greater work is expressed by the Sun. The centre point that was missing at the start in the circle, representing what was only potentially present is now manifest. This stage is the reddening, which expands spirit into matter, reflecting the completion through the colour royal purple-red.

      In the greater work the energy as represented by the circle moves downwards until the Sun stands alone. The Sun is analogous to the soul transmuted and illuminated by spirit, representing the perfect union of spirit, soul and body, it is the centre point of equilibrium sought by the alchemists.

      The alchemical work that transmutes metals into gold, light incarnated, has its parallel in the inward alchemy of prayer. The soul initially becomes congealed on turning away from the outward world, and then dissolves as a result of inner warmth, and finally after having been a volatile changing stream of impressions, becomes a motionless crystal filled with light.

      Ultimately the process of alchemy changes the life of the alchemist in the same way that astrology will forever change the way an astrologer will view life. There is far more to both then initially meets the eye. The more one puts into both the more depth and wisdom is unearthed.

      This article also appears on the C.I.A. site and was published in the FAA journal in 2008

      Reference:

      Burckhardt, Titus: “Alchemy, the Science of the Soul” published by Fons Vitae, 1997 (originally published 1960)

      Burckhardt, Titus: “Mystical Astrology According to Ibn’Arabi” published by Fons Vitae, 2001 (originally publishd in 1950 in French, first English translation 1977)

      Zoller, Robert: “The Arabic Parts in Astrology: a Lost Key to Prediction” published by Inner Tradition International, 1980

      Editors of Time-Life Books: “Secrets of the Alchemists”, published 1990

    • Antiscia: The Story Behind the Chart

       

      When I first began to explore the world of traditional astrology I came across a term that was puzzling; antiscia and contrantiscia. The definition was clear enough, degrees of the Zodiac equal distant from the cardinal points of 0 degrees Cancer/Capricorn for antiscia or Aries/Libra for contrantiscia, in other words degrees mirroring each other from the cardinal axis.

      Planets in antiscia relationship to each other were said to act like a conjunction, while the contrantiscia were like oppositions. In fact the contrantiscia point is in opposition to the antiscia point. For the purpose of this article I will only speak of the antiscia point, its opposition being a given.

      Now the antiscia was defined as: a shadows point, a reflection or a hidden ally.  My intellectual curiosity was pricked. Whilst investigating the antiscia I found that I had two such planetary pairs in my own natal chart. Now the desire to understand antiscia became far more personal.

      It seemed that the ancients put a lot of significance on these points. Some even mentioned mundane antiscia, meaning degrees of the Zodiac equal distant from the angles; a sort of midpoint. Could these points be activated by transits or progressions? This might explain those times when nothing seems to be happening in a chart and yet the life is filled with dramas and activity.

      When Pluto transited my Sun, its antiscia point occupied by Venus was also activated. Because my Sun and Moon are in partile square to each other she was also being activated as was her antiscia point occupied by Jupiter. Rather then 1 or 2 planets being shaken by the newly demoted powerbroker Pluto, four planets were involved. All the houses they ruled or had command of were taken along for the ride. Suddenly the potential for what these points could mean became very interesting.

      Finding the antiscia point for your ASC and MC can reveal so much about who you are and what you do, especially if there happens to be a planet or other significant point on these zodiacal degrees.

      Christina Onassis

      As a child I remember reading about Christina Onassis the super rich heir of a fortune. Her life played out in the tabloids as proof that money can not buy happiness. Her life ended prematurely at the age of 37 years and 11 month when she died alone of a heart attack brought on by years of drug abuse and physical neglect.

      Christina was born into extreme wealth, into a culture and to a father who had little regard for women. Her mother, reputed to be a great beauty was prone to depression. Some accounts claim that she ended her life in suicide; others say she died of natural causes.

      As a child Christina was close to her older brother, Alexandros, the clear favourite of their father. Growing up they had little contact with either of their parents who bitterly divorced in 1960, when Christina was 10 years of age.

      She grew into an awkward and conventionally unattractive woman in a world that exalted the beauty of women. By all accounts she was a good business woman who had like her father a natural flair and instinct for business, but she is remembered more for her unfortunate personal life.

      Within a 24 month period in the early 1970 she lost her entire family when her brother, mother and then father died. She was left alone in the world. Over the years she married four times, but never seemed to find happiness in these relationships. At the age of 35 she gave birth to her only child. She died three years later.

       

      Christina’s ASC at 25 Taurus has its antiscia point at 4 Leo, conjunct her IC. The IC represents foundation, family and father; in this case it is ruled by the Sun, a universal symbol of Father. Her identity (ASC) was therefore one and the same as that of her father/family. The Sun also represents the sum total of who we are and who we are evolving into. In her case this was forever bound to her foundations and father, forging her own way in the world would have been that much more difficult.

      Looking further we see that the Sun is in Sagittarius right on her 8th house cusp. The 8th house is the house of death and also the house of as “other people’s money” or in our modern terms “their resources”. This is the house of inheritance or legacy, particularly through death. The Sun’s placement on this cusp reinforces the antiscian connection between ASC (self) and IC (father/family). It also accounts for the talents and abilities she inherited from her father.

      The Sun’s own antiscia point is at 10 Capricorn within a degree of Mercury, which rules her 2nd house of money and her 5th house of children & joy. There is little doubt that her money came through her father’s estate and one of the few joyful events in her life was the birth of her only child: Athina. Because of this relationship between Sun and Mercury her health & vitality would be affected by movements to Mercury as well as the Sun.

      Not only was her Sun connected to Mercury by antiscia and in flowing partile aspect (to the degree) to both Pluto and Neptune, but there was also a hidden contra antiscia (opposition) relationship to Uranus. This gives us a hint of the hidden side of her father. Yes he was powerful and mysterious, but there was a volatile and erratic side that was hidden behind closed doors. It could also symbolize the more self destructive tendencies that hovered just below the surface of her life.

      Not surprisingly we find that the antiscian degree of her MC is conjunct the DES, the angle of our relationships, traditionally our marriage partner. So who she was in the world was very much defined by who she was in relationship with. Interestingly her DES is ruled by Mars in Capricorn, exalted conjunct and receiving her Capricorn Moon in detriment. With such an insecure and needy Moon exalting Mars, universal significator of men and ruler of her 7th house, we can surmise that she needed relationships, but as Mars also ruled her 12th house it was potentially the road to her self-undoing. The stage for many a disastrous marriage was set.

      Through the antiscia connection between her ASC/DES and MC/IC we see how the men in Christina’s life came to absolutely dominate her identity and how she conducted her life. The Sun was not just the ruler of her IC, but also in a secretly ruled her ASC. Mars didn’t just rule her 7th house, but also subverted the reign over her MC.

      Antiscia by Transit and Progression

      On Jan 23 1973 Christian’s beloved brother was killed in an airplane crash in Athens. On that day her vulnerable Moon at 23 Capricorn was being transited by Jupiter and her progressed Venus, whilst Neptune was on its antiscia point of 6 Sagittarius. This incident fuelled conspiracy theories and suspicion of covert foul play that were never proved. The antiscian Neptune shows us the hidden side of this very public tragedy, which was none the less a very personal loss to Christina.

      At this time Christina’s progressed Sun had reached the antiscia point of her natal Sun. Her brother’s death projected her further into the world of business as she became the sole inheritor of their father’s business. Another interesting antiscian connection at this time was the progressed MC at 26 Aquarius and progressed Moon at 4 Scorpio in antiscia conjunction. This is particularly interesting as the Moon rules her 3rd house of siblings. Behind the very public news about her brother was a devastated progressed Moon in the natal 6th house of “the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune”. Her grief (Moon) was thrown up to public view (MC).

      This death was the first of many in her family concluding with the death of her father on March 15, 1975. On this day Saturn was at 11 Cancer in opposition to the Sun’s antiscia point of 10 Capricorn and Jupiter was at 29 Pisces transiting the antiscia point of her natal Saturn, ruler of her MC. As well the North Node at 3 Sagittarius right on Mars’s antiscia point. In her progressed chart the Moon had reached the antiscia of her natal Moon whilst the ASC was within one minute of her progressed Uranus’s and 1 degree of her natal Uranus’s antiscia point. This last detail speaks volumes about the final blow her father’s death must have been to Christina, now she was truly alone and abandoned in the world by her family.

      In her final days Neptune was approaching a transit to her Mercury, which as a result of its connection to her Sun (her vitality) would have affected her health. Whilst Jupiter (ruler of her 8th house of death) at 2 Gemini was opposite Mars’s antiscia point, her progressed Sun was conjunct Mars and transiting Mars was opposite natal Saturn (ruler of her 6th house of illness). All in all a very Mars death, though she is said to have died of natural causes she had attempted suicide numerous times during her life and her death was finally brought on by years of drug abuse and physical neglect.

      There is much more to Christina Onassis chart that could be explored, but limited to looking at the story the antiscia can tell, has given us fascinating insight into a troubled life.

    • The Deeper Psychological Levels of Horary Astrology

      Traditional astrology is erroneously assumed by some to be void of any psychological component; this is especially the case with horary astrology. The preconception being that horary astrology simply answers the question asked of the astrologer, predicting the outcome of a client’s fate without any sensitivity to their particular situation or feelings. This idea is easily refuted by even a cursory reading of William Lilly’s “Christian Astrology”.

      William Lilly was a successful astrologer living in 17th century England and is widely acknowledged as being one of the greatest proponents of horary astrology to have lived. In the first book of his classic work: “Christian Astrology” he set down the basic principles and rules for astrological delineation. In his second book he puts these rules into practice, presenting his judgement on over 35 horary charts providing the reader with a gold mine of astrological nuggets. Here we can observe this great astrologer at work and are privy to the extent of depth and detail which he extracts from a horary chart.

      The astrological rules of horary can be likened to the musical scales, arpeggios and technical exercises endlessly practiced by musicians. These technical exercises maybe integral to a musician’s craft, yet they are not what we hear when a musician is performing. At the point of performance it is the musician’s soul that speaks; and so it should be with the astrologer. Reading some of William Lilly’s judgement can be likened to witnessing a virtuoso’s performance, the depth and beauty of his skill leaves one in awe. Bending the rules Lilly illustrates his ability to dig deeper, beyond the fate evidenced of the chart, into the possibilities that are open to the client if they chose to make use of them in order to take an active role in shaping their destiny.

      Horary is not only a means of “finding the cat” or getting a simple yes or no answer to your client’s queries. Horary is the tool that will most clearly guide your client to an understanding of their present situation and what possible path they can take. The issues troubling a client may be evident in their natal chart, but practical guidance is far more difficult to extract. This is when a horary chart can be of immense help.

      Recently I had a client who present with a problem that she wanted answers to. This is a client who has been in therapy for a long period of time, with a soul based psychologist, trying to understand herself and her response to life’s challenges. She and her husband have also been in counselling for many years.  She came to me as an astrologer and asked me point blank “Can you see in my chart if my husband will change so that it is worth my staying in the marriage?”

      Naturally this opened up a dialogue in order to discern exactly what the problem was. Pointing out that wanting another person to change was not a realistic way of dealing with problems in our life; she admitted her awareness of this and confessed that she had come to the end of her tetters and was at a point where she was quite prepared to leave the marriage. She also recognised that doing so would entail more than a break of her relationship with her husband; it would have far reaching effects, potentially destroy other relationships as well as see the shattering of a family.  She wasn’t sure she wanted to see the marriage dissolve, but felt so exhausted by the continually repeating problems that she doubted whether it was worth the effort to keep it together. After much discussion it turned out that she wanted to know whether the situation (her marriage) would change enough for it to be worthwhile for her to stick with it.

      A horary was drawn up for the moment the question was clear to me, as I am the astrologer, the channel through which the stars have the ability to speak as I am conversant in their language. Over the years I have become aware of a strange sensation in my gut the moment when a question becomes clear. A gut feeling so to speak that heralds “the moment of Astrology”[1]. If I adhere to that moment the resulting charts appear to sing louder and clearer than others.

       

      There are three important factors to consider in this chart; my client (the querent), her husband and the marriage. She would be signified by the ASC, the ASC ruler and the Moon, her husband by the 7th house and its ruler and the marriage by the 10th house and its ruler[2].

      My client is signified by the ASC ruler Saturn in Virgo, the sign of Mercury, significator of the marriage in this chart and situated appropriately in the 10th house of the marriage indicating her principle concern. Saturn is currently peregrine, meaning he has no innate power and little control, but is placed in a strong angular house and is with Venus a benefic planet that is applying to conjunct him. Venus being the universal significator of relatonship further emphasises my client’s concern about the state of her marriage.

      Saturn is in a partile sextile to a debilitated Mars conjunct the Moon, which he receives into his detriment; clearly describing to us my client’s anger at her husband and the situation she sees he has placed them in. Saturn is now at the beginning of his cycle (having recently conjunct the Sun) and so is increasing in light, he is also about to move into Libra the sign of his exaltation. Both are indications that my client’s significator will be gaining strength and in ability to act.

      Normally we would also give her the Moon as a secondary significator, but here the Moon is the ruler of the 7th house and so signifies her husband. The Moon is in Cancer and is on the 8th house cusp partile conjunct fallen Mars and the South Node. The Moon currently in his own sign indicates that he is at present principally concerned about himself and his money (Moon rules his turned 2nd house of money). The five degree rule puts the Moon in the radical 8th house of “anguish of mind”[3]. The combinations of these factors describe an essentially honest man who is at present, in a bad place and keeping bad company. Being signified by the Moon would also suggest a man who is easily influenced by others. There is little happiness here and a lot of anger.

      Being in the sign of Saturn’s detriment indicates that much of this anger is likely to be directed towards my client. Soon the Moon will be moving into Leo where he loses all power and control when he becomes peregrine. He is also losing light being in the last waning quarter of his cycle. This shows us that her husband is losing strength and heading towards a position of weakness.

      Moon is applying to perfect a sextile aspect with Saturn, but first will conjunct Mars and carrying his light towards Saturn who is receiving the Moon into the sign of his detriment. So though there is an aspect formed and perfecting between the two there is not much agreement. The presence of Mars in this configuration shows the anger that is shared by both parties. Seeing as all of these aspects are already to the degree, but not quite perfected shows that this is the situation between the two as it stands now and things will very soon be changing as all are at the end of the sign.

      Ultimately this question is about the marriage and whether the circumstances within it have the ability to change. Marriage as opposed to relationship is about a contract or agreement between two people. The ruler of the 10th house signifying the marriage[4] is Mercury in Libra. The marriage has recently under gone a shift described by Mercury’s recent ingress into Libra. Mercury is just under the Sun’s beams and will be following and getting closer to the Sun until it makes its superior conjunction at 12 Scorpio. We could interpret this as describing the marriage as becoming less visible or as having the truth of the marriage exposed. Mercury has recently had its inferior conjunction with the Sun (retrograde conjunction), and so is into the second half of its cycle.

      It is interesting to note that the beginning of the sydonic cycle of Mercury (the superior conjunction) was at 21 Cancer[5]; very close to the Moon’s position. The inferior conjunction, being like the “full Mercury” point, the opposition point of greatest awareness occurred at 27 Virgo. My client’s significator is currently sitting exactly on that degree. We could say that she has a far greater objective perception of the state of their marriage than does her husband who maybe trying to hang on to the past, the old status quo which existed at the beginning of the marriage. This symbolic picture is given further weight by the Moon’s conjunction to the South Node.

      When Mercury makes his superior conjunction with the Sun at 12 Scorpio heralding the beginning of a new cycle, Saturn will have moved into Libra, sign of his exaltation where he will stay till Oct 2012, (though he comes very close to his ingress into Scorpio in February 2012). Taking the symbolic time of the progressed Moon as equal to that of transiting Saturn, then the Moon will remain powerless in Leo till February 2012.

      It was at this point that my client revealed to me some further information about the issues affecting the marriage. The issues principally revolved around money and her husband’s business dealings which were constantly getting them into problems that threatened the family’s financial security, though he has a very strong capacity of generating income. It turned out that the authorities were investigating him and that there was a very strong possibility that he would be barred from running a company or having financial control of a business for a period of two years. One of the proposed solutions would be for her to take financial control of the business. She would have the power and for the first time in their married life she would be at the forefront of their financial affairs.

      The Part of Fortune is in Libra, ruled by Venus who is applying to conjunct Saturn in just over 1 and half degrees. Venus also rules the 11th house which could be seen as the 2nd from the 10th in other words the house of the marriage’s money. This makes sense as money which is so much part of the problem and therefore this question. Venus is intimately connected to both Saturn and the Moon, significators of my client and her husband as well as being in mutual reception with Mercury significator of the marriage.

      The 11th house can also reveal to us the hopes and wishes of the querent. Ruled by Venus the planet of conciliation and with the presence of the Sun in Libra on its cusp shines a light on the truth that she is dearly hoping that the situation will change enough for her to reconcile the marriage and save her family as well as her sanity. Despite the presence of Mars, the aspect between the Moon and Saturn is a sextile indicating that there is possibility for cooperation despite the conflict.

      This horary chart was able to show my client the increase in power that she had already been feeling but was loathed to fully trust. Seeing her husband’s coming worsening state confirmed that he was reaching the bottom of a cycle and powers beyond him would have to take control. The timing indicated in this chart fit in with the circumstances revealed to me only halfway through the session. My client left with a renewed sense of focus and confidence, satisfied that the possible outcome to their current predicament would allow changes in the marriage which could benefit all.

      References:

      William Lilly “Christian Astrology (Book 1 and 2): An Introduction to Astrology. The Resolution of All Manner of Question” written in 1647

      Deborah Houlding “The Houses: Temples of the Sky” The Wessex Astrologer 2006

      Geoffrey Cornelius “The Moment of Astrology” The Wessex Astrologer 2003

       

      [1]See “The Moment of Astrology; Origins in Divination” by Geoffrey Cornelius published in 2003 by Wessex Astrologers Ltd

      [2] Traditionally the ancients saw the 10th house as the house of marriage as this was associated with ones status in the world and the 7th house being the house of the marriage partner. In some circumstances we could use the 7th house as signifying the marriage, but in light of this question we needed to distinguish between her husband and the marriage, so the 10th house was a logical choice, especially as my client’s attitude to the situation was far more rational and concerned with the practical ramifications of a break up rather than being emotional driven.

      [3] William Lilly “Christian Astrology” Volume I, Chapter VII, page 54

      [4] See Deborah Houlding “The Houses, Temples of the Sky” page 85, published in 2006 by Wessex Astrologer Ltd.

      [5] There is some debate as to when the inner planets Mercury and Venus’s cycles begin. The superior conjunction occurs when the planets are on the other side of the Sun and in direct motion, while the inferior conjunction occurs when the planets are between the Sun and Earth and in retrograde motion. Dane Rudyard set the inferior conjunction as the beginning of the cycle and this has been widely accepted since. The evidence from traditional sources refutes this and from my perspective it seems illogical to have a cycle begin when the planet is going backwards. Deborah Houlding has an article appearing in the Jan/Feb 2010 Mountain Astrologer about this very issue.

    • Will My Man Win?

      I was recently asked to sit on a panel of astrologers to discuss and give our predictions on the upcoming US presidential election. Being billed as the “classical astrologer” as distinct from the mundane, modern, cosmobiological and Chinese astrologer, I decided that rather then sift through natal, ingress, eclipse and all other possible event charts I would simply ask a horary. I waited until both candidates had announced their running mates before setting out to ask my question.

      In horary the most important point is the asking of the question. The resulting chart reveals far more then a simple answer and is a good example of the “magic” of astrology.

      I  am very clear as to my biases both political and personal in this election.  I spent 10 years living in Hyde Park, Obama’s home turf in Chicago. I moved away at the age of 22, but my family  still live there and I visit regularly. When I set the question I was very clear that this was a contest question (therefore a 1st/7th house question) and that my team or in this case man would be signified by the 1st house.

      Obama, my man is Jupiter in the 2nd house, in his fall and retrograde. Looks bad, but Jupiter is actually station and in roughly eight hours going direct. His opponent McCain is Mercury who is peregrin in the 11th house. The prize would be the MC and its ruler appropriately the Sun.

      I wondered and pondered how to identify the VP running mates and finally decided they had to be “with” the significators of the presidential candidates. Jupiter is in partile trine to Saturn as well as being received by him. Saturn seemed a perfect significator for Biden, an older man who is a longtime Washington politician. Saturn is conjunct though  separating from the Sun, the Sun is the prize but as 10th house ruler  can also be seen as the seat of government. The trine aspect and reception between Jupiter (Obama) and Saturn (Biden) indicates that these two can work well together and Saturn especially helps and supports Jupiter.

      Finding the running mate of McCain was pretty easy. As Mercury closely conjuncts two planets Mars and Venus, we have a choice. Venus may seem the obvious choice as Governor Pallin is a woman, but Mars in Libra is so close a symbol of a “pit bull in lipstick” that she has described herself as, that I couldn’t go past it. Besides Mercury is in partile conjunction with Mars and separating with Venus. Mars in Libra is a pretty aggressive Mars, being in his detriment, and his exact square to Jupiter indicates the verbal (Libra is an air sign) attacks that Pallin had been directing at Obama.

      The question is who gets to the prize first? There are no applying aspects or reception between the Sun and Jupiter. Nor will Jupiter make any aspect to the MC. Mercury on the other hand will be sextiling the MC in just under 2 degrees and will also oppose the Suns antiscia degree of 14 Aries 16. These are both somewhat weak testimony, but they are stronger then the nonexistent testimony indicating an Obama win.

      I reluctantly had to conclude that the election will be close, but that McCain will win. I will happily forgo my reputation as an astrologer and be wrong. But there is more to this chart, consider the Moon.

      The Revealing Moon

      The Moon in horary charts is very important. She is a secondary significator for the querent, in certain questions she can be a universal significator for “the people”, as well as plotting for us the course of events. Here as a significator for the querent, that is me, she shows my bias towards Obama.  Moon(I) “love” Jupiter (Obama), I am in his sign, he receives me and has power over me. All true!

      As the people this Moon shows their powerlessness through its peregrin state. The Moon also rules the 9th house of foreigners and as an American living abroad I can state that most non Americans see Obama as a shining hope for the future. Moon in Sagittarius ever optimistic but maybe not so realistic….just wait until it moves into Capricorn, that will be a reality check.

      So what does this Moon reveal to us about the course of events?  From a traditional perspective when a Moon is Void of Course, meaning it will not make any Ptolemaic aspects to any planet before changing signs, it is said that nothing will come of the question or that nothing will change. In this chart the Moon at 20 Sagittarius is classically VOC, but there are mitigating factors at play here. Moon is in partile trine with Uranus, she then applies to square Neptune and finally will conjunct Pluto before her ingress into Capricorn where she will fall into her detriment.

      It is difficult to predict using the outer planets because unlike the other planets, they do not rule any particular part of the chart. What we can say is that there is likely to be an unexpected and shocking event (Uranus) trine, followed by a period of confusion (Neptune) and finally some show of power (Pluto).

      Shortly after asking this question the massive financial crash and fallout from the sub prime fiasco exploded. With Venus, the planet associated with money on the antiscia of Uranus this could be the event that this trine foretold?  As more is revealed confusion and uncertainty is gripping Americans and the world (Neptune square). There is a feeling that the truth is not being fully told or that the “expert” actually have no idea how this will play out.

      So have we seen Pluto yet?  Remember that Pluto is associated with hidden treasures and very LARGE sums of money; a “bailout” of some $700 billion perhaps? Pluto is also associated with power. Will the Moon, as significator of the people, joining Pluto mean power to the people? Or will the power that be, reinforce their grip? I leave it to you to ponder that one.

      The revealing magic of astrology forever amazes!

    • Reception, the Tony Soprano Clause

      This is a rather long, but (I believe) entertaining and interesting article on this complicated subject. I would welcome any feedback.

      Anyone who has studied astrology for a reasonable length of time will have examples of charts that defy our most stanch inner sceptic. These charts stand as evidence that the connection between the stars and our world is far more mysterious then we imagine. The most fascinating thing about these charts is that their origin can be so ordinary. Coming across one of these charts is like having the magic of life exposed; everything takes on a special glow and it reaffirms the reason we astrologers continue our study long after the realisation that the path to riches, this is not.

      When such a chart is encountered the desire is to share it, exposing it to the world and challenging those who would degrade astrology to explain how such beauty and perfection can be dismissed. Recently I came across such a chart; revealing itself to me during my search for a better understanding of receptions, it stands as testimony of the powerful wisdom inherent in astrology. But let me begin at the beginning of this quest.

      Encountering Classical Astrology in Modern Times

      As the many techniques from our astrological past are being rediscovered and reintegrated into contemporary astrology, terms and labels are often bandied about without a thorough understanding of their meaning. Astrology students are at the mercy of their teachers who have been informed by conflicting texts, some of which were translated by academics with no knowledge or respect for astrology. Consequently our understanding of the terminology of old is pretty confused.

      Contemporary astrologers have given new meaning to old terms and have initiated various ways of applying the old techniques. This causes confusion, as certain words come to mean different things to different people. Making matters worse even amongst the old masters there were different opinions, so our modern confusion is understandable. However we should endeavour to understand and agree on the basic meaning of our astrological vocabulary, if only to insure that we do not repeat mistakes like that of assigning rulership to “new” planets, in contravention of the essential system on which astrology was founded.

      Recently the words “receive” and “receptions” were discussed in one of my astrology groups. It became evident that there were differing ways of understanding the meaning of this term. As reception is a crucial part of delineation, it important that we are in agreement as to the definition of this word and its application in astrological reading. Researching the meaning of reception has brought home to me the subtle complexity of the whole subject. The problem appears to be that if a planet is in another planet ruling (or exalted) sign there is a reception, but which planet receives and which is received and what does this mean in practical terms?

      Receiving and receptions

      Nicholas de Vore gives two definitions for “reception” in his “Encyclopedia of Astrology”: (1) A planet posited in a sign not its own, is said to be received by the ruler of that sign, as if one were visitor and the other host. (2) The condition in which a planet is receiving an aspect from a faster moving planet.” According to these definitions a planet can “receive” an aspect from another faster moving planet, it can also be “received” by the ruler(s) of the sign it is in.

      The term reception is now commonly used to refer only to relationship between a planet and the ruler of the sign it is in. {There is also reception with the minor dignities of triplicity, term and face, but for the sake of this article I will focus only on rulership and exaltation}. Contemporary astrologers may think that the need for an aspect is superfluous, yet most of the old texts imply the need for planets in reception to be in aspect, or applying to aspect each other before their ingress into a new sign. When there is an aspect, the two planets in reception are interacting or communicating to a far greater degree. Reception allows the potential of an aspect to be fulfilled.

      There is some room for interpretation here as an “aspect” in classical times was thought to exist between signs not planets and points. It is fair to say that as long as there is aspect by sign, receptions are active. This still precludes all but the Ptolemaic aspects (sextile, square, trine, opposition and conjunction). Both the semi-sextile (30 degrees) and inconjunct (150 degrees) connect sign with no commonality, which therefore can not see each other.

      In the context of a reception through sign or exaltation, the planet “receiving” is the ruler of the sign in which the other “received” planet finds itself. The receiving planet is the host and as such is under obligation to welcome and allow his guest access to his domain, resources and virtue. He also has a responsibility towards his guest; he can do them no harm, even if this would be his natural inclination. The received planet or guest is also bound to support his host or ruler and to help do his bidding.

      Reception between planets reflects society’s rules about how we relate to one another. If you are my guest I will not harm you, on the contrary I will welcome you and give you access to my home. It would be very bad form if anything unfortunate were to happen to you whilst you were under my roof.

      Rules also apply as to how guests are expected to behave. Generally speaking they will respect their host, heed expectations, offer them help if needed and they will not overstay their welcome. All of this is dependent on the essential character of both host and guest, the more honesty and integrity they have the more they will uphold the terms of their association. The more afflicted they are, the more they will struggle to do the right thing.

      Aspects give two planets the means of “seeing” each other and communicating. The type of aspect indicates how harmonious or stressful that communication will be. The closer the aspect the clearer they can hear each other, the better the aspect the more they will agree with each other. When there is reception the planets share common motivations and are inclined to assist each other; the stronger the reception the better they can co-operate to achieve their goals. Planets inconjunct, with no aspect between them can not communicate at all, even if they happen to be in one another’s sign.

      Broadly speaking the receiving planet has power over the planet that is received, for it rules the territory in which the received planet finds itself in. The received planet is recognisant of his host and could be said to love him. This exchange of power and affection becomes far more complicated when there is “mutual reception”, the situation that arises when both planets are in each other’s signs.

      A Study in Reception

      Whether a reception is helpful or a hindrance is dependent on the circumstances present in the chart. It also must be remembered that receptions, aspects and dignity have different implications in different types of chart investigations. Horary and some event charts are of a finite moment in time, where as a natal chart is for the life, so that even the most afflicted planet will by direction, progression and transit shift in time. We need to understand reception in context of the specific chart and not as a cook book panacea.

      The best way of illustrating how reception may work is through the use of a chart. As providence would have it while trying to make sense of this subject I was also immersing myself in the fictional world of the “The Sopranos” via the iconic television series created by David Chase. The interaction between some of the characters was very reminiscent of the interaction between planets in reception. I began to imagine the characters as planets in particular sign led by the main character, Tony Soprano as a hypothetical Saturn in Aries.

      Before continuing my imaginary casting I decided to have a look at the chart for January 10, 1999 at 9:00 pm the date and time the series’ first aired in America. I set the chart for Newark, New Jersey, the geographical setting for the show. The resulting chart is an interesting study of receptions and a great example of how obliging astrology can be in providing us with the perfect chart for every occasion. As the cast of characters naturally found their assigned planet, led by Tony Soprano, the previously hypothesised Saturn in Aries, I was left in awe at the synchronistic revelation that is astrology.

      Cast of Characters

      I have to apologise for those of you who are not familiar with this fine television program and will provide you with a brief synopsise and outline of the main characters who so easily find their significators in the above chart.

      The story line of “The Sopranos” orbits around the character of Tony Soprano a New Jersey mafia boss in full throws of midlife crisis. Tony suffers anxiety attacks and depression from the weight of his family responsibilities, the expectations of his criminal underlings and a profoundly dysfunctional relationship with his mother. Between the normal mid-life worries about teenage children, money, security, mistresses, ageing family members, as well as manoeuvring the political minefield of the criminal world and dealing with the constant suspicion about everyone’s motivations, we discover that Tony is not much different then the rest of us. The series follows the ups and downs of the individuals living in this world, who other then their predilection of solving problems through violence and murder, share the same aspirations of love, happiness and a better life for their children as more law abiding citizens.

      So, let us now move on to our casting. As previously stated Tony Soprano would have to be Saturn in Aries, and obligingly he find him here positioned in the unfortunate house of death and legacies. Saturn is in its fall, but does have a bit of dignity by term, so though driven by excess he is able to conduct business. In this nocturnal chart he is the most elevated planet, as would befit the “boss” of the family. Saturn being a diurnal planet in a nocturnal chart is out of sect, reflecting the difficulties he has in performing his duty as the head of the family.

      Tony is married to his teenage sweetheart, Carmela Soprano, who supports and encourages him. She keeps a nice home and tries to be a good mother to his children, and though enjoying the fruits of his ill got gains she appears to be in denial about exactly how and where Tony gets his money. Her sphere of influence is the immediate environment and she is of course Moon, cadent in the third house and fallen in Scorpio giving her an excessive need for security and a kind of powerlessness.

      The third house maybe cadent, but this is the house where the Moon finds her joy and is referred to as the “House of the Goddess”. The Moon/Carmela’s position here supports the traditional view of the sanctity of the family and the role of the mother in the Italian culture that is the world of the Sopranos. The Moon/Carmela with no aspect to Saturn/Tony can not see him, but her close square to Venus who is in Saturn’s domain and rules the material assets, shows her attraction and uneasy relationship with all things provided by Saturn/Tony.

      Tony has many business associates who have to answer to him. They are loyal out of friendship, family ties, insecurity and fear. In Tony’s world friends and allies can quickly turn into liabilities as everyone jostles to align themselves with power. Mercury, peregrin in Capricorn, applying to square Saturn and under his power, collectively signifies these various characters.

      Tony’s nephew Christopher holds a special position in the family, the golden boy and Tony’s heir apparent. Sun in Capricorn, ruler of the twelfth house, applying his square to both Mars and Saturn makes a perfect significator for this most interesting and flawed character enmeshed in a complex relationship with his boss and uncle. Christopher is an aspiring writer and film maker with a substance abuse problem, whose loyalty to Tony and the oath he took is such that he would allow his fiancée to be killed rather then betray him.

      Mars in Libra, applying his opposition to Saturn signifies all of Tony’s various enemies. In true “Godfather” style there is an understanding between enemies, the rules oblige those in power to take certain action: it’s not personal, it’s only business.

      Venus in Aquarius sensually positioned in the fifth house of pleasure and applying to sextile Saturn/Tony, signifying all the spoils of the Soprano’s business interests: money, luxury and the women. Symbolically Venus represents the material gain, but personified she embodies all of Tony’s various mistresses.

      Finally we have Dr Melfi, the psychiatrist Tony Soprano has been in therapy with for years. She appears as the voice of moderation and the only one able to reflect back to Tony the dysfunction of his familial relationships and the moral dilemmas his chosen profession create. Jupiter in Pisces, in the seventh house of the physician and in the sign most closely associated with the unconscious could not be a more perfect significator.

      Receptions at Play and “the Tony Soprano Clause”

      Let us first examine our main protaginist, Tony Soprano ie: Saturn in Aries. As Mercury, Sun and Venus are in Saturn’s ruling signs of Capricorn and Aquarius, Saturn welcomes or receives them into his rulership. As these are applying to aspect him, Saturn/Tony is receiving a sextile aspect from Venus and square aspects from Mercury and the Sun.

      Looking at Mercury, Tony Sopranos criminal colleagues, we see that he will perfect his square aspect to Saturn at 27 degrees, but his movement into the next sign will keep him in Saturn’s domain. This means that Mercury is the guest of Saturn and as such he has his attention and can take advantage of what Saturn has to offer. Squaring an angry malefic in his fall situated in the house of death would clearly be a problem for Mercury, but here Saturn’s reception of Mercury alleviates much of the danger.

      Saturn holds the power and has the responsibility to offer Mercury protection just as a sovereign would to his subjects (or a mafia boss would to his family). In the old texts Saturn would be said to be bestowing his virtue unto Mercury. I call this the “Tony Soprano Clause”; Tony is duty bound to make sure his guest come to no harm whilst they are in his home. Mercury as the submissive planet being received has to offer support to the needs of his ruler, Saturn. As a guest he must obey the rules of the house and not overstep his welcome. But here we are dealing with a reception by square aspect so there is tension in the relationship. The interplay between Tony Soprano and his criminal colleagues certainly reflect the stressful power play of this reception.

      Mercury is in a just separating sextile with the Moon/Carmela. Mercury is in the Moon’s detriment, therefore is received by her. Being in the Moon’s detriment means that Mercury receives the worst of her, he doesn’t like her at all. Saturn/Tony’s criminal colleagues resent Moon/Carmela and she doesn’t want to give them anything. Being in a sextile aspect they will be cordial with each other, but neither gets much support from the other.

      Saturn receives Venus, welcoming her into his ruling house of Aquarius, with Venus perfecting her sextile to him at 27 degrees. This reception works both ways as Venus is also receiving Saturn but into her detriment. This means that while Venus has access to the power and goodness of Saturn/Tony, he is welcomed into the world of Venus’s detriment, accessing all the trouble that Venus can bestow.

      Venus in detriment indicates an exaggerated desire for luxury, pleasure and all things sensual. In this chart with Venus placed in the fifth house as well as ruling the money house, not to mention her besiegement at the hands of Neptune and Uranus, we get a clear indication of how Venus could come to spell trouble for Saturn/Tony. Venus as Tony’s various mistresses has access to the best of him and though she provides him with pleasure she is also the source of major headaches. No matter how much pain his mistresses may cause Tony and how much he may want to make them pay for it, he is obliged to do them no harm. This is the “Tony Soprano Clause” in action.

      Tony’s mistresses, Venus is in a precarious relationship with his wife, Carmela, the Moon. We see the Moon fallen in Scorpio, the sign of Venus’s detriment closely applying to square her. Venus welcomes (receives) the Moon into her detriment and bestows on to her the worst aspect of herself. This is one very stressful square, which through Venus’s relationship with Saturn ties Saturn to the Moon. So while Venus gets to have the virtue of and protection from Saturn but she gets nothing but a square from the Moon who is like a thorn in her side reminding her of what she can never aspire to: wife and motherhood.

      The worst of Venus is accessible to both Saturn and Moon. The Moon as Carmela is as corrupted by the money and luxuries also represented by Venus as her husband Saturn/Tony is and her knowledge of Tony’s sexual infidelities almost destroy her. Venus as the symbol for the spoils of Tony Sopranos business, also receives Mars into her domain. The square aspect between them does not perfect, but it does come into orb, indicating a weaker reception. So Mars/Tony’s enemies has access to the goods, including the money represented by Venus. Seeing as this is what everyone wants in the world of the Sopranos this comes as no surprise.

      The Sun, signifying Tony’s nephew Christopher Moltisanti is applying to square Saturn and Mars, and both receive him into their rulership and exaltation respectively. The Sun/Christopher has a more complicated relationship with Saturn. Saturn is in the exaltation of the Sun, creating a mutual reception between Saturn/Tony and Sun/Christopher. While Sun is being received by Saturn and has access to his power and virtue, he is protected from being harmed by him in the same way that Tony is protected from being harmed by Christopher through the Sun’s reception of Saturn into his exaltation.

      It is clear that Saturn/Tony and Sun/Christopher are very fond of each other, but this relationship is not free of danger. For one, it is a square relationship between a nasty malefic and a luminary with little dignity, and for another, the Sun squaring Mars first, will carry the light of Mars another nasty malefic and Tony’s enemies, to Saturn. This is a case of the “Tony Soprano Clause” cancelling itself out as both planets being received are protected from the harm the other might inflict on them, they are also vulnerable through their reception and welcoming of the other into their domain.

      Saturn is in the exaltation of the Sun and has access to the disillusionment that is the danger of exaltation. Over the course of time Tony Soprano becomes more and more disappointed with Christopher’s actions which true to a twelfth house ruler include a fair bit of substance abuse and secrecy. The mutual reception of Sun and Saturn insured that the two stayed bonded, but in the end Saturn/Tony’s essentially debilitated state allowed him to take advantage of circumstances in order to do away with Christopher. It could never end well, as the Sun’s next move was to be into the house of its detriment.

      The “Tony Soprano Clause” ensures that Saturn can not kill anyone in his own home, but reverse the situation and invite Tony into your home and things may not end so amicably, for once he crosses over your threshold you give him permission to inflict whatever damage he chooses. This is what happened to the Sun/Christopher and to Mars, Tony’s enemies.

      Mars is in Libra, receiving Saturn in Aries into his rulership, whilst accepting Saturn’s reception by exaltation. Mars represents Tony’s enemies, one of who was Ralphie, the captain of one of Tony’s crews, he generally angered all who had dealings with him including Tony, exactly what one would expect from Mars in detriment. Being one of Tony’s business associates may help explain why he felt safe enough to receive Tony into his home. Once inside Saturn/Tony’s anger at Mars/Ralphie boiled over and Tony used the Aries energy at his disposal, bestowed to him by Mars, to do away with him.

      Mars/Ralphie himself tried his best to inflict onto Saturn/Tony what ultimately got him, but being in detriment he was essentially weaker then Saturn/Tony’s state of fall. And so Mars/Ralphie lost his head, this is the danger of receiving nasty malefics into your domain. This mutual reception of Saturn and Mars is in an applying opposition. Every opposition with reception will have the receiving planet(s) in their detriment or fall. This may account for the negative reputation of opposition, reputed to be the worst of all aspects.

      Moving on we find the Moon/Carmela in Mars/enemies domain of Scorpio, but because there is no possible aspect between the two planets they can not communicate. Tony’s enemies are aware of Carmela (the Moon) but as per the rules they have nothing to do with her. She along with all other family members are safe from Tony’s enemies, the reception insure it, but the lack of aspect means they can not help or give support to each other, they have no connection. Receptions without aspects can not really function. If you are in my home but I have no way of communicating my welcome to you, then this is like the reception with no aspect.

      The final member of our hypothetical cast is Jupiter in Pisces as Dr Melfi. This is the only one of the classical seven who is not in a reception (or aspect) with any of the others. She is essentially well dignified in her own sign and though in Venus’s exaltation, there is no possible aspect between them as they are in adjacent signs. We could hypothesise that Dr Melfi/Jupiter may have an insight into the desires represented by Venus, but she has no real connection. Venus does not hold any sway over Jupiter here. In the end Jupiter strong in his own sign and angular is powerless to affect the other planets as he has neither aspect nor reception with them, he stands alone. This is very like the fictional Dr Melfi who concludes that there is no point in continuing the therapy with Tony/Saturn as it only serves to reinforce his destructive attitudes.

      Epilogue, the Chart and Beyond

      There are some final points of interest in this chart, like Pluto, Lord of the underworld sitting on the IC underpinning the chart. The twelfth house associated with criminals and secret enemies is ruled by the Sun that is on the antiscia point of Pluto. The two malefics, Mars and Saturn are in the signs of their detriment or fall, accentuating their malevolence and allowing them to act in an extreme manner. Both unfortunately placed, they oppose each other from the house of death and the house known as “the gates of hell”.

      Venus the ruler of the second house of money, a primary motivation for all who inhabit the “Soprano” world, is in a closely applying square with the fallen Moon, symbol of an unrequited need for security. Adding to the Moon dilemma is the fact that she is on the antiscia point of the South Node. This being like a hidden conjunction it symbolically implies that a strong tie or pull to the past hinders the ability for change and growth. Obviously the Moon also finds itself in a contra-antiscia, or hidden opposition with the North Node, symbol for the road that lies ahead.

      So what does lie ahead for Tony Soprano and his follow cast? The final episode “Made in America” aired on June 10, 2007 at 9:00 pm. The chart for this event again set in Newark NJ compares interestingly with the chart of the show’s premier. Mars, Venus and Mercury have all moved to oppose their premier chart’s position, the South node is conjunct the premier chart’s ASC almost to the minute and the Moon is conjunct Saturn’s premier position.

      The Sopranos final episode

      Saturn/Tony has now moved into the sign of Leo. This is appropriate for at the shows end he has survived a deadly coup by his criminal rivals and can claim the position of “king” over his criminal organisation, albeit his power is much diminished by the loss of so many of his crew. Saturn/Tony is in detriment and is conjunct the twelfth house North Node of the premiere’s chart.

      Mercury, significator of the criminal colleagues is unfortunately receiving the Sun, eighth house ruler, lord of death into his own sign. Though the two are in adjacent signs and appear to make no aspect they are in an exact antiscia to each other. So Mercury covertly invited Sun/death into his home, and death did his thing. True to the symbols in this chart, by the end Tony had few surviving colleagues. Their demise being perpetrated at the instigation of Tony’s enemies, Mars now stronger in Aries, who is being received by the Sun into his exaltation.

      So Mars/Tony’s enemies is able to access and use the virtue of the Sun, lord of death to seek his revenge on Tony “family”. This is a strong reception as Mars is in a partile sextile with the Sun enabling him to carry the light from the lord of death to Tony. But Mars himself is in a precarious position being conjunct by antiscia the South Node. Symbolically Mars can be thought of as the final winner in the game, he sits on the IC the end point or it could be the grave.

      The Moon/Carmela is trining Saturn/Tony from Saturn’s original position, indicating that Carmela has come to understand and accept Tony. Her position on the IC represents the conclusion of the show that family is the true foundation of life. The Moon in Aries, is received by Mars from whom she is separating, indicating that she has access to his virtues, including self-assertion and courage. By the end of the show Carmela has gone from an obedient and subservient wife totally dependent on her husband, to one who accepts the life and man she has chosen, takes financial responsibility and sits more as an equal partner with Tony. {Interestingly the Moon is on the antiscia point of the premier charts Mercury/Tony’s criminal colleagues}.

      Venus makes no aspect to any planet and though the Sun receives her into his rulership, the reception is poor as they will not perfect or come within orb of an aspect to each other. As a significator of money, her placement on the eighth house cusp mirrors the financial difficulties our characters find themselves by the end of the show, a situation that will probably not change in the near future. Moral of the story is that crime doesn’t pay after all.

      Obligingly, Pluto has moved for his angular position on the IC to one on the ASC, the underworld has come out from hiding. Meanwhile, Jupiter/Dr Melfi is still essentially dignified, but is afflicted by her accidental state of retrogression and position in the twelfth. She is moving away from all aspects and is not involved in any reception. Jupiter like Dr Melfi is isolated from all the other planets/characters and is powerless to take any effective action.

      So what happened when the screen went black? Did Tony Soprano live or die? The evidence gained from the receptions in this chart point to Tony’s survival. Lord of death, Sun receives Saturn/Tony into his domain. The “Tony Soprano clause” works in Tony’s favour here death can do him no harm. Yet he is under the Sun’s power in the sign of his detriment and in the house indicating anguish of the mind. We can conclude that Saturn/Tony will not be free of the fear of death, but for the moment death, the Sun can not harm him.