Anne Frank

The most famous diary of all time is Anne Frank‘s. She was 14-15 years old when she began writing in total confinement. The family were hiding from the Nazi’s and non-Jewish friends helped them to find shelter. The family were captured and died at a concentration camp. Anne’s father the only survivor returned and found his daughter’s diary. The Diary of Anne Frank was turned into a stage play and transformed into a film. It was later published and translated all over the world and was part of high school education. Anne was acknowledged for the quality of her writing, and soviet writer llya Ehrenburg said: “one voice speaks for six million-the voice not of a sage or a poet but of an ordinary little girl.” The diary of Anne Frank has become a historic piece of writing.

The astrology may reveal why Anne was able to write so poignantly and honestly about the suffering of millions. Natally, Anne Frank has both Sun and Mercury in the sign of Gemini, this signifies a highly Mercurial and intellectual personality. Gemini’s need constant mental challenge and freedom to communicate. The purpose (Sun) of her young life was to report (Gemini) what was happening to the collective (11th). Gemini is good at picking up information and the Sun is opposite Saturn in Sagittarius. With a Sun-Saturn contact this could well be the chart of someone in a position of authority (Saturn) in the area of writing and teaching (Gem-Sag).

Uranus in Aries is conjoined the Midheaven - and Uranus rules insight, sudden realizations, freedom and public awareness. A powerful innovative quality was present and she was revolutionary and original. Anne had Moon conjunct Neptune and she has a deep sensitivity to the collective and feels their pain as if it were her own. Pluto in Cancer in the 12th house is a significant placement as it houses the collective shadow of abuse.



Tracy Marks is the twelfth house expert and here are her thoughts on Anne Frank‘s, Pluto in the house 12th house.

“Because your capacities for psychologically and physically healing yourself and others are truly remarkable. Your twelfth house Pluto indicates that your hidden resourcefulness is greater than that of the average person, who does not have such a reservoir of inner power to draw upon in times of stress. Another talent indicated by your twelfth house Pluto is your psychological perceptiveness. As a result you become capable of encountering shadow material. “

Excerpts from Anne Franks Diary:"I've reached the point where I hardly care whether I live or die. The world will keep on turning without me, and I can't do anything to change events anyway. I'll just let matters take their course and concentrate on studying and hope that everything will be all right in the end." - February 3, 1944

"...but the minute I was alone I knew I was going to cry my eyes out. I slid to the floor in my nightgown and began by saying my prayers, very fervently. Then I drew my knees to my chest, lay my head on my arms and cried, all huddled up on the bare floor. A loud sob brought me back down to earth..." - April 5, 1944

"It’s a wonder I haven’t abandoned all my ideals, they seem so absurd and impractical. Yet I cling to them because I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart.

It’s utterly impossible for me to build my life on a foundation of chaos, suffering and death. I see the world being slowly transformed into a wilderness, I hear the approaching thunder that, one day, will destroy us too, and I feel the suffering of millions. And yet, when I look up at the sky, I somehow feel that everything will change for the better, that this cruelty too shall end, that peace and tranquillity will return once more" - July 15, 1944

Same Day, Same Year

I looked up horoscopes of people born the same day, same year. I wanted to see the similarities in their lives and the differences. The next two cases are of two men born into two completely different backgrounds. The major difference is race but the family backgrounds are somewhat different too. One chart has the AA Rodden Rating, and the other a B rating. Both men have Sagittarius rising with a Cancer Moon. The difference in house placement shows Pluto in the 7th house in one chart and in the next chart Pluto is in the 8th house. Both men have Uranus in Aries in the 4th house, indicating some shake-ups at home, independence and individual lifestyle and a home setting that is different from the “norm”.I will introduce these men and then chart important life patterns in each individual… This is an interesting study for me, and I want to see what it actually reveals about what astrology can and cannot predict. I am hoping the B chart is right for this study, so I will go ahead with assuming this to be the case. It could turn out different but it’s the closest time to work off. I will contrast the two lives as best as I can. Some of the major life events may not line up, it is a bit of a test working both charts, but I love a challenge and I am always curious when it comes to Astrology.I will start with the older cosmic brother by a few minutes and he is the living cosmic-twin, he is Robert Duvall, and he is an American actor and director. He is known as one of the greatest actors of all time and has done over 60 stage plays.The younger astro-brother is Alvin Ailey he is an American black gay choreographer, dancer, director and the founder of the Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre; he has performed in movies and dramatic shows and was recognised as a major creative artist of his time.Both charts show drive and ambition and a serious approach to life, with Sun-Mercury-Saturn all conjunct in the 1st house of the ‘self’ it represents the way an individual projects himself upon the environment. What is noticeable through this configuration is that the powerful Saturn energy in the nativity shows the drive to build up success, and to use their energy constructively. Organizational ability, and need in both of them to become an authority (Saturn) figure (Sun) they both expect a lot of themselves and achievement is necessary. The counterpart to not succeeding with a Sun-Saturn contact is the feeling of failure and a personal let down that could create considerable depression and anxiety, but it’s probably the impetus that moves them forward in life.Venus in Sagittarius in the 12th house forms a square to Neptune in the 9th house and shows an expansive artistic nature. The aspect also points towards strong creativity and imagination (Neptune) and talent in the arts, e.g. gifted in music, drama, film, photography. Both men are also highly dramatic and original shown by Mars in Leo trine Uranus in Aries, this is an innovative energy, and there is a love of freedom and expression. Sexuality is also reflected in the 8th house of shared resources, and the expression of Mars in the 8th house really delves into the depths of creative expression and drive (Mars in Leo). Alvin was said to have revolutionized (Uranus) dance (Leo), but there also a rebellious nature and need for freedom that sharply contrasts their heavy Saturn nature. Both Sun and Jupiter square Uranus. Early Background: Father Figure -Robert Duvall is the son of an actress and a war general. The family are Christians. Growing up in a military family he moved various times across the country, he never settled in one area.- Alvin Ailey was born to a 17-year-old mother, and he was only six months old when his father abandoned him. His mother moved across country picking and doing domestic work, before landing in Los Angels in 1942. When Ailey was 5 his mother was raped by a group of white men, leaving him afraid of whites. In his later years he developed a fierce black pride.We see two different father figures (Sun), Robert's Dad is a strict authority (Saturn) at work. And Alvin lacks (Saturn) a father figure altogether and therefore has no physical role model to look up to. The military father would have worked long hours away from home. Saturn’s astrological keywords are: authority, time, hard-work, ambition, failure, anxiety, depression, and so on. In Alvin’s chart he was denied (Saturn) a father and his Dad failed to live up to his responsibilities. I can’t judge how Robert Duvall’s father was at home, but we know some key Saturn points about him, he was ambitious and hardworking.

In reality, all Sun-Saturn types are challenged to achieve their own sense of self-worth, achievement and excellence alone. It is one of the natal aspects that develops self-sufficiency. I have the Sun-Saturn opposition and I lost my father at 18 years old. He was a kind man but he did suffer from health problems due to arthritis which is a bone condition (Saturn), and it affected his legs and his ability to work. If I collect enough biographical information I will do an article on father figures for all the Sun aspects, and it will contain real life experiences, but it takes time to build this blog with data and examples. However, the Sun is also opposite Pluto in both charts and this can show a powerful fatherly influence - present or not. Pluto rules abandonment, power, abuse, control, passion and drive, so these are the keywords we can associate with their father figures.

Unsettled Home Life - Rape of Mother

Uranus in the fourth house signifies the regular moves in both of their lives. It also shows that they both need to assert independence and creative self-expression. Uranus in the fourth house can’t follow the normal path of stability; they need to break-away from past conditioning and what family roles are expected of them.The Moon-Pluto conjunction in the 8th house, symbolizes Alvin's mother and her traumatic experience, this astrological pairing relates to issues of abuse, emotional terrorism (Moon-Pluto) and the abused black woman, and the power to heal emotional wounds. His powerful feelings are triggered around the mother and females in general. I don’t know much about Duvall’s mother to comment, but Pluto falls in his seventh house rather than 8th. In 1936, when Alvin’s mother was raped transiting Pluto (abuse) conjoined his natal Moon exactly (Mother).Notable EventsBoth men have a different sexuality; Robert Duvall has had three marriages and adopted children and Alvin is Gay and I am not sure about his relationships. Alvin had a great career opportunity in 1953, when he took over the Horton Dance Company after the leader’s death. No one stepped forward to take the role and so Alley became the creative director. At this time transiting Uranus (sudden) was conjunct Jupiter (Opportunity) cancer in the 7th house. However, Uranus was around the 8th house cusp (death) and triggered the natal Jupiter-Pluto contact, so it describes the unexpected death (Uranus-Pluto) and the opportunity (Jupiter) to progress in his career. Those Jupiter-Uranus conjunctions are following me around lately. Duvall was serving in the army and he left its constraints around the time of his own transit of Uranus over the Jupiter-Pluto natal configuration and he was freed-up to begin his studies in acting, so greater freedom and more room for self-expression, which was predicted for both men. It is quite an interesting astrological alignment. In 1958, Ally formed his own company with transiting Saturn (business, responsibility, hard-work) crossing the Asc (angles show important life junctures), and Duvall made his professional debut off-Broadway at the same time, so they both debuted professionally (Saturn). Perhaps the beginnings of ventures happen when a planet crosses the Asc and also the consolidation of the self and an important career/concrete move.In 1971, Alvin produced “Cry” one of his greatest successes and he dedicated it to his mother and black women everywhere. During this phase transiting Jupiter and Neptune conjoined his natal Venus in Sagittarius in the 12th house; this is a fortunate and highly artistic time. We can also observe transiting Saturn and Pluto sextile his motherly moon in Cancer. At the same time, Duvall was receiving considerable praise for his portrayal in the cult classic THX 1138.

Death Bed Alvin died in of AIDS in 1989, and at the time he asked the real cause of his death not to be made public, due to his concern for his mother. Transiting Saturn trined natal Neptune and transiting Pluto in Scorpio square his natal Mars in Leo in the 8th house (life and death, birth, re-birth and endings). Meanwhile in 1989, Duvall appeared in the series Lonesome Dove, in the role of Gus, he starred in four episodes and he was trained to use deadly (Pluto) weapons (Mars). Gus dies of blood (Mars) poisoning (Pluto) and the doctor said he needed to amputate his leg to save his life, but he refused. This is the strange act of fate in both lives, one man had a real life death and the other a figurative death on-screen. I guess this is where the two lives part ways now. It was interesting to look at the different dynamics in the charts and how they played out. It can’t be a real in-depth look, as I would need more information, but there were some fascinating correlations and revelations to be found in both charts.

The Wait is Over: Uranus in Aries

Here is more information by Liz Greene for the transit of Uranus through Aries:

As Uranus moves through Aries, the awakening of new spiritual values and the enriching of the creative imagination give way to a more extroverted and disruptive energy. Because Aries is concerned with the crusading spirit in human beings which seeks to change the world according to a grand and fiery vision, there are likely to be many movements erupting within the collective - political, religious, scientific and artistic - which seek to utterly overturn and transform existing structures and ways of thinking in order to achieve a clear dream of progress. This is likely to be a time of revolutions in thinking, and perhaps also revolutions on a more mundane level as collectives seek to assert their individual values against the threat of a uniform globalisation. There is some turbulence reflected by this seven-year transit of Uranus, because its disruptive, innovative energy affects us on intuitive rather than practical levels. This means not only shifts in the ways in which we define freedom and individual rights, but also a potential time of new scientific discoveries as the human mind seeks new forms through which to inaugurate progress.

Astrodienst Formed/Jupiter-Uranus 

Astrodienst web enterprise was seeded under the Jupiter-Uranus conjunction in Sagittarius, 1983. Coincidentally, Liz Greene, was introduced to astrology during her own Jupiter-Uranus conjunction in Gemini. The natal chart has a stellium of planets in Virgo/service in the seventh house/public. The Saturn-Pluto conjunction is also present indicating a powerful company.

The End - Letting Go

Post contains spoilers on Lost. Do not read any further if you don't want to know what happened. The End of Lost aired during the transit of Jupiter conjunct Uranus in the last degrees of Pisces. Remember my post on the Jupiter-Uranus conjunction and I described it as a time we gather around our T.V sets for some event or important long-running series coming to an end. The ending for Lost was simultaneously aired across different countries and we waited in anticipation for the answers to finally be revealed. However, Lost is one of those programmes that always leaves more questions - unanswered. It has to be one of the most confusing television series to have aired. And true to the sign of Pisces it has held us in suspension and has left a cloud of mystery and confusion surrounding the whole show. The first episode aired in September 2004, during Uranus’ first entry into Pisces. 

In the final sixth season, we saw the Losties still living on the island and also in another alternate reality, and we found out at the end of Lost, that this “other reality” was the afterlife, a place they built so they could find each other again, and let go. Another supernatural series I have always enjoyed watching, is Ghost Whisperer with Jennifer Love Hewitt. Melinda is a psychic who mediates between the living and the dead and helps ghosts still here to let go of the past and move on. The ghosts are earthbound and unresolved issues leave them hanging around in a kind of limbo state, suspended between two worlds. Some ghosts are lost and confused and others are angry, jealous and annoyed. All of them need closure, but a whole host of emotions keeps them locked in suffering and unable to find peace in the “light“. We could use this metaphor when we have to face our own ghosts from the past.



The Lost survivors were living in an afterlife scenario, and when they each made contact with those they had shared a close bond with, all their past memories flooded back and they were suddenly at peace, knowing it was time to leave. It was a fitting end for a Piscean show, but it wasn’t a satisfying end for all Lost fans. We were told everything would be answered, but we were left with further questions. Letting go means to relinquish something, to give it up, to stop the battle or struggle and to find release. You have to stop holding on to something that only causes you suffering and pain and know when it's time to let go. I think it refers to unfinished business or unresolved issues. When something is left unfinished it isn’t brought to the final desired state. There is no end or conclusion and things are left in limbo.

“We can never turn back the pages of time, though we may wish to relive a happy moment, or say goodbye just one last time, we never can, because the sands of time continue to fall, and we can’t turn the hourglass over.” – Unknown

Forgive me Father for I have Sinned

When a person is gone from our life we need to both resolve any left over feelings “within” and find release.  The twelfth house represents the last sector on the wheel. Absolution belongs here and signifies - forgiveness. It’s comparable to a cleansing of the soul by confessing all our sins. So we can find release and move on. I don’t think we are all "sinners" but perhaps there are things we have done that we cannot forgive ourselves for. Alternatively, we cannot forgive others for what they have done to us. We have a lot of religious themes bound up in the image of Pisces, Neptune and the twelfth house. I do think we find a strange duality in Pisces, with souls longing to escape earth-bound reality, and those finding it hard to let go of their physical life. Flesh is viewed as a virtual prison for some Neptunians.

The twelfth house has to do with acceptance and this refers to a situation that is often unchangeable, and forgiving ourselves and others allows us to move on. There is another word called sufferance which is derived from suffer and that means to patiently endure pain and distress and accept the situation. Surrendering may imply weakness but sometimes we are not strong enough to carry our personal struggles. I think it can be one of the most emotional experiences we can ever have, it takes a lot of strength to find forgiveness. When we let go and forgive we release the iron bond that binds us to others through hate, resentment and fear. A lot of tears may flow out of us and the experience can be overwhelming. I believe Pisces and the twelfth house accepts human flaws, and offers compassion even to those who we believe least deserve our love. Pisces doesn’t give us all the answers, and it leaves many questions unanswered. Maybe it’s part of human nature to order and find a compartment for everything in life. However, is this feasibly possible? I think life would be boring if we knew all the answers.

The process of letting go seems to lead from the 8th house, and this is the sector of the natal chart that we feel “tested” by fire. Scorpio and the 8th house represents something hard and frozen, and therefore immovable, but at the same time it is immeasurably deep. The art of forgiveness involves forgiving those for something they did or didn’t do. Forgiving others also allows them to move on. Letting go implies we place trust in a higher being, beyond earthly life and find that unfailing supply of strength and solace, and have faith in a power greater than ourselves. We don’t allow those that have hurt us to have power over us anymore. We don’t lock ourselves in suffering and we put old ghosts to rest.

Twelfth house/Pisces involves working with dreams and forgotten memories even repressed and unhappy ones. The flood of memories can threaten to overwhelm our personal identity and everything we choose to hold on to. Everything we believe defines us as an individual. It’s a huge task facing the past, and it can be done through silence, spiritual soul-searching, music and dream work.  Maybe Pisces is about reaching our absolute and that means something that is perfect, complete and pure and we release ourselves from guilt, obligation or punishment. There are heavy themes underpinning the twelfth house and Lost touched upon the Piscean dilemma of letting go.

“We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the life that is waiting for us.” – Joseph Campbell

Gemini's Dark Twin

I am getting quite addicted to answering search engine questions, and the greater public have become my source of inspiration. I feel like a fisherman pooling through my queries. I had a question about “Why Gemini are the abusers of the Zodiac” and I wondered why this question concerned Gemini. The more I thought on it, the connection may have something to do with the good and evil twin. 

Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and the strange case of the split personality. I will have to discuss the dark twin in relation to Gemini as it's the only link for the question I can find. All double sign personalities are centered upon the light and dark aspects of the personality/dual experiences/two natures, the other double bodied signs are Sagittarius and Pisces. The duality of human nature with both good and evil existing in us all is the main point of stories like Jekyll and Hyde. And if we can't accept our darker side it is often projected outside, or we try to hide our repressed side, it's the part of us we don‘t want others to see...

The best movie I can think of which archetypes Gemini is: The Man in the Iron Mask. The evil Twin hides his brother in a dungeon and keeps his face hidden behind a mask, the twin is trapped in a state of darkness, unable to see the light and achieve consciousness. Therefore one twin is unable to express himself, and the weight of the iron mask represents his own mortality, heaviness and bitter cynicism. The other twin lives his life as a King and has a godlike divine existence. The king does many crafty things throughout the film. For example, to win the woman he wants to marry, he doesn’t get rid of her partner personally, he sneakily sends him off to war, knowing he would be killed. The devious mind of the king are revealed and he is unmasked. The twins exchange places, and one lives in darkness and the other in the light. The two are never together in one place and this is part of the myth of Caster and Pollux, the mortal and divine twin.

I don’t have a deep understanding of myth but movies can connect us to our own astrological myths and dilemmas. The twins represent the stark opposite nature of dark and light. One twin seeks to destroy the other and they live out opposing sides. Sibling rivalry comes from many of the twin myths with one brother attempting to kill/repress the other. However, both need to be brought into consciousness and somehow integrated into the personality. Gemini hates to be trapped by the weight of his own mortality. The duality and dark/mortal side of Gemini has to do with the fact that this is a double sign. The shadow side pertains to all human beings, and we all have our own dark/repressed natures. The hidden self is locked away but desperately wants consciousness.

How to Kiss Venus in Aries

This is another question from the search engine and quite specific. I am not sure if it’s a male or female receiving this kiss, so I will go for a female. I can never specifically say what each lover wants in detail, but if you’re out to impress Venus in Aries with a kiss, better make it quick because she won’t wait around. So let’s see, Venus in Aries wants excitement, so make it worth her while. I am not sure if she would be into really soppy kisses, although watery placements in her chart might say otherwise. I hate really sloppy kisses and I’m a water female with Venus in Capricorn so I don‘t do public affection. Whatever you do, make sure she knows that she is number one. Venus in Aries likes to be pursued or sometimes she enjoys the chase. You could pick a fight with her and then in the middle of the battle grab her in your arms and kiss her passionately, but that could be dangerous. I am just thinking of a situation that could generate heat. Venus in Aries loves a challenge. Or you could just take her into your arms and tell her that you want her right now. The kiss needs to be confident and self-assured; she can be easily aroused but also turn off just as quick. You have read her carefully, some Venus in Aries types like to do the pursuing and others enjoy being chased. Venus in Aries might go in for the kiss first or want you to take the lead.

This is the best I can do with this question as it really is a subjective thing and I'm not a love guru. Here are some great movie kisses, and I like the kiss in the rain. My own Venus in Capricorn feels inhibited writing this post, I am not sure that this is an appropriate post topic for my blog…. Enjoy your kiss.

Twelfth House Isolation

I had a question about twelfth house isolation, and I do feel this needs explaining as there is a good deal of negative connotations connected to this house in astrology. Many new students are left worried and confused by the “misunderstandings” that occur when trying to interpret the twelfth house. I will answer this question from a modern astrological perspective, but will quickly explain the old view of this house.

In traditional astrology the twelfth house is an unfortunate house, in fact, all the cadent houses (3, 6, 9, and 12) were seen as less fortunate and weak houses in astrological interpretation. The word cadent means 'fallen' and any planet placed in a cadent house is weakened in power and expression. In practice, the twelfth house, in particular, can show hidden strengths rather than “perceived" or imagined "weaknesses”. A planet in the twelfth house behaves subconsciously, vague and unclear and this may be viewed as a weakness in character.

Henry Kissinger has Mercury (communication) in the twelfth house and his private conversations “behind the scenes” helped to bring peace between warring countries and he has won awards for his negotiation skills. By contrast, in Kissinger's early childhood he was shy, withdrawn and hesitant to speak and teased by other children because of his funny accent. Others may not recognize the gifts concealed in our twelfth house, and we may not even know about our own hidden abilities.

The twelfth house is associated with sad events, sorrow, anguish, imprisonment and persecution. The only other house that receives the same negative interpretation is the 8th house. Though these houses are associated with transformation and transcendence. The eighth house is affiliated with the process of metamorphosis and ultimately changing forms. The twelfth house describes moving beyond our physical boundaries and letting go of our attachments. The 12th house may involve suffering in silence, and living in isolation or thrown into a state of disorganization and chaos. The two houses maimed with the “worse afflictions” are also the largest in meaning and reflect deep healing and the letting go of negative cycles, but they are painful nonetheless. The house of "death" and the house of "self-undoing" are not easy to understand and how do you go about explaining what transformation and transcendence mean for each of us anyway.

The twelfth house can be both voluntary and involuntary confinement, and some individuals cannot cope with the daily grind of life. The twelfth house famously houses those with psychosis and other illnesses and rules over all mental institutions and hospitals, and people unable to adjust to daily living (6th). Likewise, physical illness is a time of deep reflection through suffering, helplessness and despair, and when the physical body is weakened we begin the work of reconnecting to our inner spiritual selves.

We are susceptible in the twelfth house of losing ourselves and coming apart at the seams. The use of drugs, alcohol and other stimulants that help people achieve a temporary state of bliss, but often leads to dissolution of the self are sought. In the story of Adam and Eve, they ate the forbidden fruit from the tree of knowledge and were both exiled from paradise (fall of man). The twelfth house relates to this sense of isolation, rejection and abandonment and our subsequent attempts to reconnect with the source of creation. The sixth house reflects self-analysis and self-work in the earthy domain and the twelfth house symbolizes introspective soul-searching.

Twelfth house isolation and confinement is sometimes“voluntary” and the individual may be unaware that he creates this situation himself. Isolation is not just for the criminally insane and people choose to live in a monastery or in solitude away from the hustle and bustle of the city and to live in a state of peace. Twelfth house energy operates behind the scenes and is hidden from public view. Still, the 12th house often demands a sacrifice of some kind and one that often creates suffering, loneliness and isolation. Once more, it is all paradoxical because the meaning behind the 12th house is “oneness” and a feeling of unity with life. We are breaking down barriers that separate us from one another.

In this view, the twelfth house person may need isolation because he is so sensitive to his surroundings and can’t erect strong barriers to protect himself. Other twelfth house individuals commune with an invisible entity and it takes a great deal of faith to do this work, and it is often done alone. However, a lot of people with twelfth house energy do live very public lives, but may sacrifice a large part of their own identity. There can be a deep sense of isolation and loneliness when no one understands us or “sees” us for who we really are. Any planet in the 12th house feels unknown, unseen, unheard, unnoticed and unacknowledged.

On the other hand, twelfth house people are incredibly sensitive to everything around them and this includes joy, happiness and even sorrow. These individuals possess great sensitivity for those lost, shut off from society and rejected. Therefore we may find twelfth house people working in hospitals, institutions, and in foster care. Individuals who sacrifice their own personal lives to help others, and in an act of selfless service they serve something greater.

The twelfth house represents complete integration with life. Necessary seclusion from the world helps the inner process of purification and this is silent development. It is work that needs to be done alone and “behind the scenes” and as corny as it sounds, we are never really alone in life. We have physical loneliness and material poverty, and at desperately low points we may have no-one in our life that we can turn to for help. We may feel isolated, stranded, separated, but in those poignant moments we connect to an invisible source.

The twelfth house is the area of LEARNING on the EMOTIONAL and SOUL level. This learning takes places through gradual growth of awareness that accompanies loneliness and deep suffering, through selfless service, or through devotion to a higher ideal, and through freedom from ghosts of past thoughts and actions. By Stephen Arroyo

The 12th house involves the process of letting gobut the terrifying fear of losing reality is frightening. Some may feel their sense of isolation is some kind of punishment inflicted upon them. The 12th card in the Tarot deck shows The Hanged Man suspended in the air, signifying a sense of hopelessness and despair and is perhaps the best pictorial image for the astrological twelfth house. The twelfth house asks us to give up our defences and journey into self-doubt, isolation, abyss and loneliness to learn about what really supports us at a time when we feel most unsupported and to trust in what we cannot see.

“We have identified ourselves with our body, mind, and personality, imagining these objects to constitute our real ‘self,’ and we spend our entire lives trying to defend, protect, and prolong what is just an illusion. Contrary to most professional opinion, this knowing dissatisfaction with life is not a sign of ‘mental illness,’ nor an indication of poor social adjustment, nor a character disorder. For concealed within this basic unhappiness with life and existence is the embryo of a growing intelligence, a special intelligence usually buried under he weight of social shams.” Ken Wilber

Why a Cancer Man Won't Let You Go?

Question: Why a Cancer Man won’t Let You Go?

Answer: It may have a lot to do with those crabby claws of his and once he has a hold of you it's difficult for him to release his grip. A Cancer man has a hard time letting go of the past and he also depends on emotional and material shelter. This type of man can have a preoccupation with security, so if you really want to go, you might have to be direct with him, but try to be delicate with his tender feelings. It’s unlikely he will make the first move and he may not want the emotional confrontation. Deep down he fears loneliness and he would hate to be left in isolation. When he feels fearful he crawls into his shell for protection. However, his dependency and constant need for reassurance may wear on you after some time. Cancer can be clingy and possessive; his reasons are based on insecurity and emotional needs. Cancer has a difficult time detaching and is fearful of rejection. The Cancer man is loyal and he has plenty of lovely qualities, but the reasons stated above are the main causes for his inability to let you go.

Jupiter-Uranus conjunction in Aries 0 degrees: Updated

The conjunction of Jupiter-Uranus in Aries is getting close. Right now, the excitement and anticipation should begin to increase as we all begin to feel the abundance of this transit. Jupiter is a great expansive energy and when it contacts another planet it expands the body of the archetype. The conjunction in astrology is a potent aspect by itself, but the meeting of these two planets occurs at a cardinal degree (0) which is said to be critical. The predictions for this pairing aligning in the sky are exhaustive, but we know something significant will happen and astrologers are predicting a scientific breakthrough of some kind at this juncture.

On a personal level the transit coincides with freedom, new possibilities, and exciting sense of what the future could hold. It foretells a phase of good fortune, windfalls and new friendship. The spirit of rebelliousness beckons and a brand new futuristic worldview. In Mythology, Prometheus/Uranus stole fire from Zeus/Jupiter to give to mankind and was punished by Zeus for his willfulness. Each time this pair come together the myth is reenacted and we advance towards a more "god like" position. However, with great discoveries and enhanced knowledge, we must handle them with even greater responsibility.

Astrologer Liz Greene, was introduced to astrology during a transit of Jupiter-Uranus which formed a conjunction in Gemini in the 7th house. After a meeting with astrologer Mrs Hickey, she was urged to explore astrology further. I do own all of the books she has written on astrology and she is considered a leading expert in the field and has benefited many astrology students.

Quote from "Astrology of Fate" by Liz Greene and insight into the transit on a personal level:

Naturally I was quick to inspect the transits and progressions in operation at the time of my meeting with Mrs Hickey and its subsequent repercussions. The most striking transit at work was Jupiter passing through Gemini and making a direct station on my natal Uranus in the seventh house. This is a classic interpretation of a 'fated' (or synchronous) encounter, which brought opportunities in its wake but left my life as quickly as it had come. I have learned since to pay close attention to the transit of Jupiter, for although they often pass quickly and without noticeable concrete benefits for the person who is waiting for heaven to shower manna on him, they often coincide with opportunities which can greatly expand one's vision and understanding. But one must act on such openings which appear in the curtain that masks the inner world. We might do well to remember Zeus, who with lightning quickness pursues and mates his chosen paramours, and then vanishes as quickly, leaving them fertilized with a semi-divine child to bear.

In 1969, the first Moon landing occurred during a Jupiter-Uranus conjunction in Libra (0 degrees). Jupiter is the largest body in the solar system and its expansive nature governs large adventures. Uranus rules science, astrology, progressive movements, outer-space and futuristic inventions. Therefore,  "One giant leap (Jupiter) for man, one giant leap for mankind" (Uranus) really does capture the essence of the time. According to astrologer Barbara Goldsmith, "these are times when some kind of significant breakthrough happens for the world."

The 1983 conjunction in Sagittarius coincided with the first woman to travel into space and first African American entered the solar system later that year. We also saw the greatest bigamist go to trial. Giovanni Vigliotto marred 104 women across 14 countries and was sentenced to 28 years in prison. The final episode of M*A*S*H was the most watched episode and it appears that we all gather around our television sets during these planetary movements.  T.V is the universal medium and transmits to a large mass of people.

Amidst the Jupiter/Uranus conjunction in Aquarius in 1997, it was announced that the first sheep had been successfully cloned. Bill Clinton banned funding research into human cloning. The first ever space burial occurred on April the 21st of that year. Pegasus carried the remains of 24 people to the stars. I hope they rest in space (bad joke).  Princess Diana died in August, and the funeral was another massive television event with 2 billion people tuning in to watch. The birth of another set of septuplets happened in November and was the first case that all survived past infancy. Predicted world events are the Fifa world Cup in June/July in 2010, The International Space Programme will record its longest occupation in space history. 

The Twelve Gates Predictions

A space exploration into new territory and discovering something new about space. Plenty of political excitement and new leader/new reform. Some kind of knowledge that leads to a breakthrough  in science, astrology, astronomy and in all types of technology. In fact, all Uranus related subjects will do well. A broadcast on television with LARGE ratings.

A new law could bring freedom for parts of society and new developments in religion and all types of higher education. The universe-ty of life can feel more abundant now if you have natal planets plugging into this transit. The Internet could show growth with futuristic looking computers that are faster and new technology. Sports should do exceptionally well at this time and a world record could be broken.

Reading Room

Here are some links I posted on my forum and the links are now broken (pulls hair out), and it's a shame because they are all a really good read. So now and again, I might make a post of great links to webs and blogs.

Astromaze - There is a lot of interesting stuff in here, you have signs, aspects, planets in houses. Worth exploring.

Bernadette Brady has some great lectures and visual astrology to listen to in here. It's like attending a real lecture, but you can stay at home and be a lazy bones, like me. I haven't listened to the second link on the page which apparently got a standing ovation, I will look forward to hearing that one, when the house is quiet, which is rare.

Uranus Freedom from the Known is the online version of the book. I don't think it's copyright as it is associated with his daughter Deva Green. I bought this book; it's small and compact but large in vision, enjoy.

 The Astrology of Grief  is an interesting article and you fixed signs hold on too long (PDF).

Do you have a Wounded Moon? I do.

Paul Wade's Transit Course: This is very informative and we all need help with the transition of transits.

The Astrology of the 1918 Influenza Pandemic

I will try and salvage the other links for next time.

Multiple Marriages: Elizabeth Taylor

In my last post I discussed Carol Rushman's work on the natal promise for marriage. The technique used in the book is a traditional method. It simply involves the Sun and its applying aspects. I will demonstrate how this is done by using Elizabeth Taylor's natal chart as an example.

The star has been married eight times to seven men (remarried Richard Burton), and this is a staggering number of marriages. Elizabeth has Sun in Pisces at 7 degrees - matching her number of husbands. The aspects the Sun makes before it leaves the sign of Pisces are as follows: The imaginary movement of the Sun forms one trine to Pluto in Cancer at 20 degrees. In Elizabeth's chart it promises one marriage, and this is way off, and it proves that other factors must be looked at in the chart.

With Taylor's notorious love life, divorces, sexual triangles and ongoing battle with alcohol addiction, it has left her acting career in the shadows. The chart I am using for this study is from Astrodatabank, and the data given has a Rodden Rating of A. Other Elizabeth Taylor charts use Libra rising and this puts her Venus-Uranus conjunction in Aries in the 7th house. However, I will use the Sagittarian Ascendant, and it relates to the horse film "National Velvet" (Sagittarius ).

Elizabeth's natal chart has Sagittarius rising with Gemini on the Dsc, (cusp of marriage). The descendant is said to symbolise those qualities which we seek in a partner. However, both sides of a pole need to be integrated into the individual personality, but often the qualities on the seventh house cusp are experienced through ‘others‘.

All signs opposite each other on the zodiac wheel naturally "oppose" one another, but they are also incredibly complimentary. Both Gemini and Sagittarius are multiple signs and according to astrology; this can sometimes indicate more than one partner. Gemini on the descendant may indicate that she looks for men who are witty, intellectual, versatile,  and who possess a good sense of humour.

Astrologers look to the planet Venus for further clues about romance, courtship and pleasure. Venus is the planet of relationships love and beauty. Venus symbolizes what we value and has a lot say to about our romantic ideals. It is the feminine urge towards relating and adjusting in the sphere of personal relationships. Elizabeth has Venus in the self orientated sign of Aries. Venus in Aries is about the budding potential of a relationship and even when they are shackled up in a marriage, Venus in Aries needs to keep love new and fresh.

"Nobody tells me who to love or not to love, who to be seen with and not to be seen with." by Elizabeth Taylor

Venus trines expansive Jupiter, the ruler of her chart (Sagittarius rising), so she has a natural optimistic outlook on love and knows there will always be more. It doesn't take much for Liz to jump enthusiastically (Jupiter) into the next romance (Venus). According to James Braha, How to be a Great Astrologer (Venus trine Jupiter):

She is supremely lucky in gaining the affection of the love partner she desires. The person must be aware of occasionally taking her lovers for granted. Because she so easily fulfils her love desires, she may not realize how fortunate and blessed she is compared to the rest of the human race. There may also be a tendency to be too enthralled by money and material comforts. In certain cases there is the possibility of laziness and indulgence. Also, the person may be so comfortable by her charmed existence that she avoids at all costs the potentially gloomy and melancholy vibrations.”

Everything was handed to me-- looks, fame, wealth, honour, love. I rarely had to fight for anything." by Liz Taylor

The Venus-Uranus-Jupiter configuration in Elizabeth's chart trines her Sagittarian Asc and possibly shows why she leaps (Jupiter) into relationships (Venus) and those sudden and magnetic attractions (Uranus). Elizabeth herself has a stunning beauty and the Asc signifies how we come across. Taylor's blue eyes contrasted by dark hair is appealing. The Venus-Uranus conjunction falls in the fourth house of family home and background.

I researched Liz's early years to see if divorce or separation was a prominent feature. Uranus in the fourth house often signifies some of kind of change affecting the family, and there may have been unstable affections around the father. Elizabeth’s parents were both American’s living in London, England. In 1945, at the beginning of war world II, the family moved back to America to avoid the hostility. Elizabeth's father stayed behind for seven months while he tied up his art business in England. Transiting Saturn (duty) in Elizabeth’s was in her fourth house signalling a move due to “necessity” rather than choice. It can also indicate responsibility and heavy burdens at home (fourth house).

Venus-Uranus is the classic divorce aspect in astrology, but relationships do not always divorce. The couple may have unusual or exciting lifestyle, different living arrangements. Partnerships can begin suddenly and end just as quickly. When a relationship becomes predictable, stale, boring, Venus-Uranus begins canget itchy, restless and unpredictable. Uranus rules freedom and rebellion. Uranus also rules "idealism". Elizabeth's relationship patterns did not follow the status qua and she didn't care about other people's expectations. The individual with this contact may choose unusual partners and have a sparkling social life, and omance turns up out of the blue when least expected.

Natal Promise: How many Marriages?

The natal promise in the chart has always fascinated me, and the first time I came across these ideas was in the book "Predictive Astrology" by Carol Rushman. I read the book a few years ago and I remember vividly reading the back cover of the book in the store and immediately taking it to the counter. I was sold by what the author claimed could be predicted. Here is what it said:

"Are you likely to meet a new love soon? Is the coming year a good time for that major career change you've been contemplating? Are you likely to make a lot of money in your life, or will you be challenged to make the most of what you have? The techniques presented in "The Art of Predictive Astrology" shows you how to forecast upcoming trends and life events for yourself, friends and family, and astrological clients. Author Carol Rushman, a practicing astrologer for over thirty years, shares her method for astrological prediction, including:

-THE "NATAL PROMISE" OF THE BIRTHCHART

-SECONDARY PROGRESSIONS INCLUDING THE PROGRESSED MOON, AND PROGRESSED CUSPS

-TRANSITING PLANETS

-LUNATIONS (NEW AND FULL MOONS) AND ECLIPSES

After reading this book you will be able to predict major events such as marriage, and minor events like receiving a small gift. Real-life examples drawn from the author's experience show you firsthand how to practice the art of predictive astrology." 

I took the book home and excitedly rushed through it, applying all the techniques to my own natal chart. I couldn't really test the theory out fully, as I didn't have a computer or access to many charts. I think it's a limited technique - if you don't have the correct birth time. I introduced these ideas on an open forum that I had joined when my interest in astrology heightened. However, as the post went out, I got multiple requests to count the number of marriages in a woman's chart. It was a bit overwhelming for a beginner in astrology and all these women were desperate to know their marital fate. A new astrology student shouldn't be inundated with all those tough questions, and I was only learning the ropes in astrology. All I did was share what I had read on the subject of marriage. The number of marriages predicted never always matched up the actual number of relationships. So there are times when you really need to throw the rule book out!

I jokingly called this natal prediction theory for marriage in a woman's chart, the "Sun game", in some ways it kind of felt like a prediction game that was fun for others and miserable for the rest of us. It's like when you shake a magic 8 ball and ask a question. The prediction for marriage in a woman's chart, follows the Sun and it's applying aspects and to determine the number of marriages for men, you look to the Moon and it's applying aspects. It is easy to use once you know how to do it. However, there are rule breakers. For example, if Jupiter is involved and there are multiple signs on the Asc-Dsc.

Astrology is often a weighing system, trying to judge the chart fairly, and weighing up the so called "negative" factors and "positive" factors. In my next couple of posts, I will look at multiple marriages. The second batch of charts will show one marriage and maybe no relationship at all. Here are a few brief notes from the book.

The natal promise for marriage.

Charts resistant to marriage: Aries, Gemini, Sagittarius, and Aquarius seem to have less need for partnerships than other signs. The Sun will describe the men in a woman's life and the Moon will describe the women in a man's life. One thing that will bring a lot of marriages is Sagittarius on the 7th house cusp or Jupiter in the 7th house. The opposite is true when Capricorn is on the 7th house cusp or Saturn is placed there, they may limit their own marriage opportunities.

Classic Natal Indicators of Marriage Potential

- Aspects to and from the Sun in a woman's chart, or to and from the Moon in a man's chart
- Applying aspects from the ruler of the seventh house
- Planets in the house and their aspects
- An interception in the seventh houses indicates multiple marriages

Determining the Number of Potential Marriages

- I use only the major applying natal aspects; that is, the conjunction, square, opposition trine and sextile.
- When calculating the number of potential marriages for a woman, I look at he applying her natal Sun makes before it leaves a sign. The Sun can only apply to the slower moving planets- Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto (Use the Moon for a man)

The houses describing the different marriages are seven house for the first mar rage.  The second marriage is the 11th house, but it has some funny reasoning for this in the book. Each "love affair" after the first marriage is counted five houses for each marriage.

If there are no applying aspects to the Sun or Moon in a chart, or if the luminary is in a late degree (27, 28, or 29), I have found that anything can happen when it comes to marriage. Carol Rushman calls these degrees "wild cards".

In my next post I will look at multiple marriages. 

Moon Landing

Apollo 11 was the fifth mission of the Apollo Project and the third to take humans to the Moon. The space flight was launched on July 16, 1969, and it culminated in Commander Neil Armstrong and lunar module pilot Edwin 'Buzz' Aldrin walking on the Moon. The resounding success of the mission was heightened by its fulfillment of President Kennedy's statement of hope in 1961: 'I believe that this nation should commit itself tot he goal, before this decade is out, of landing man on the Moon and returning him safely to Earth.' The Jupiter-Uranus conjunction in Libra (0 degrees) occurred at the same time. Jupiter rules expansive journeys and Uranus rules outer space. The large television (Jupiter) broadcast (Uranus) marked a major event of our time. The year 69 closely resembles the symbol for Cancer. The fourth sign of the zodiac, which is ruled by the Moon. However, this isn't real astrological symbolism. It was Cancer's birthday too, with the Sun moving through Cancer (69) and entering the critical degrees.

The critical degrees are the beginning of a sign and the last degrees of a sign are also said to be critical (27, 28, 29). Some astrologers believe a planet is weaker when it reaches the end of sign, but it proves the lunar energy was particularly potent. Hopefully, 2010/11 will be just as exciting for us. I wasn't born during the time of the Moon landing, but I was here during the cloning of Dolly the Sheep under the Jupiter/Uranus conjunction in Aquarius in 1997. It wasn't the same as man landing on the Moon (sulks), hopefully we have something great to talk about in the years to come with this next conjunction. I can't stand all this waiting....

Brittanee Drexel

The few cases where people do vanish there is a high occurrence of  Mars-Neptune contacts and other aspects too. It doesn't happen all the time, but I wondered about the significance of this aspect in the horoscope. It's an aspect that shows up in Brittanee's chart, she is the missing teen, that still has not been located. Here are some quotes on Mars-Neptune and the Britanee Drexel case to follow.

"With Mars in aspect to Neptune, Neptune wants to come through Mars. So, when people with this aspect want to assert themselves, they should do it with sensitivity, refinement, and artistic flair. In some cases, this with difficult Mars-Neptune aspects appear to be taken over by external forces which compel them to act in a certain way. For instance, if there is a lot of anger in the atmosphere that is not being expressed, it may be the person with Mars in aspect to Neptune who ends up acting it out. Neptune acts as a psychic vacuum cleaner, picking up the nature of whatever planet it aspects from the atmosphere. I know people with Mars conjunct or square Neptune who occasionally act strangely out of character, or even "wacky," as if something has overtaken them.

I do worry about people abnegating personal responsibility. I'm thinking of the Nazi war criminals who proclaimed their innocence because a higher authority made them do it. Sometimes people with Mars-Neptune aspects seduce other people to seduce them. They want to do something but are guilty about it and are afraid to admit it to themselves. Accordingly, they set up a situation in which someone else then coerces, forces and pleads with them to do that thing they are afraid of admitting they want to do. You know what I mean- it's the "I did it because I was drunk syndrome", or "I did it because the other person need me do it" or "I did it for Jesus." - Dynamics of the Unconscious by Liz Greene and Howard Sasportas.

"One can easily become involved in scandal or trouble resulting from fraud or racketeering by unprincipled agents. Stay clear of chance taking, gambling, alcohol, drugs, gas or anesthetics; this is no time for surgery and be extra cautious of food poisoning and bad drinking water." Astrologers Notebook, May Elsnau.

"In regard to the external life, he may be brought in contact with the objectionable sides of life - indeed, it is certain that this will Be the case. For example, unscrupulous money lenders, cheats, share pushers, persons addicted to sexual irregularities, drug takers or vendors, coarse minded and foul mouthed persons, bullies, dishonest bankrupts, drunkards and so forth. It's necessary for the individual to find outlets for his imagination and to learn to let reason control this faculty, not only in somethings but in all. The effect on the health is through worry, diseases of imagination, or through poisons or bad water. I believe there is some peril to be apprehended from animals and from treacherous and brutal human beings. Neither of these dangers will be great unless some other serious afflictions occur." The Astrological Aspect, Charles Carter.

The Britanee Drexel Story

Brittanee went on a trip to Myrtle beach while she was on spring break with friends but acted in secret (Mars-Neptune) and her parents were unaware of the trip.

Brittanee had asked to go on the trip during her spring break from school with a group of older teens and young adults, but Dawn Drexel said no, sparking a fight between the mother and daughter. "I just told her 'No, I don't like the idea,'" Drexel said. "I didn't know the people she was going with." And, Drexel said, she didn't like the idea of her teenage daughter driving down to Myrtle Beach without a parent in tow. Brittanee, she said, stormed off to a friend's house, saying she needed to cool down. She apparently defied her mother and went with her friends anyway. Diagnosed with depression, Brittanee had recently been put on anti-depressant medication after the stress of family problems, including the divorce of her mother and stepfather, became too much for her to deal with on her own.

The house, Drexel said, was in foreclosure and Brittanee was protective of her younger brother and sister, wanting to make sure they were all right. Though the anti-depressents were prescribed only recently, Drexel said they were told they could take about a month to build up in her system. "I really don't know what state of mind she's in right now," she said. One of the last people to see Brittanee was her friend Peter Broswick, one of the Rochester men who Brittanee visited at the Bluewater Resort Saturday night. According to the police report, two of the men told police she stayed only for about 10 minutes and left to return some clothing to another friend.

Knipes told ABCNews.com that the men, including Broswick, checked out of their hotel between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. that night and drove back to Rochester. "Sinister? I don't know," he said, pointing out that Rochester is a 16-hour drive from Myrtle Beach and the men may have had school or jobs they needed to get back to. The others, according to a police report, told detectives that they had only met Brittanee, through Broswick, the night before at a night club. None of them, he said, are considered persons of interest at this time.

The Astrology of a Missing Teen

Brittanee appeared to be in an emotionally troubled state at the time of her disappearance and I am not sure if these men she was travelling with are completely innocent. Astrology can't make a judgement on who did what and where and how. However, the whole thing reeks of natal Mars square Neptune. Astrologically Brittanee is a powerful Librian and she can get along well with the opposite sex. The teenager is extremely pretty and Britanee likes to take care of her appearance, spend time on hair and make-up. Libra is a social sign, that needs to please and create harmony around them, and Librians don't deal well with dis-harmony. The young teen wasn't handling the break up of her parents marriage well, and she really does need harmony in her environment and for people to at least "appear" to be getting along. Sun (individuality) square Uranus (breaking rules) shows a rebellious nature and explains why she went off on spring break against her parents wishes, it can also show her step (Uranus) father (Sun).

Neptune (confusion and dissolution) is exactly conjunct the North Node in Capricorn, along with Mars in Libra square Neptune. Brittanee has a cardinal nature, and she likes to take action, but there is some disharmony between relating harmoniously (Libra) and authority and control (Capricorn). Brittanee has Mars (aggression) square Saturn (control) and this heightens the danger of violence from men, as Mars also rules the male principle. Mars and Saturn are called the lesser (Mars) and greater (Saturn) malefics in traditional astrology. In modern astrology we hardly use the term, but we understand the difficulty some planetary aspects pose to one another. We need to keep grounded in these type of interpretations, thousands of women/men have these type of combinations and many were born the same day as Brittanee and won't meet the same fate. 

At the time she disappeared transiting Jupiter trined Mars (tight) and squared Pluto. Transiting Neptune was trine Saturn and Mars. Transiting Pluto trined Brittanee's natal Venus-Jupiter conjunction in Virgo. Transiting Pluto was also conjunct Uranus. However, until she is found we may not know what happened. I do question how much planetary energy around the individual unravels some of this mystery. I think most astrologers and non-astrologers, agree that going on holiday with men is not a good idea for any teenager. The easy Neptune energy in her horoscope at the time of her disappearance is setting off Britanee's natal Mars square Saturn. We can all "guess" but the facts are still unclear. I would like astrology to be advanced enough to give clearer and definitive answers, but we only work with symbols.