Mundane: The Destiny of America

The nation at the centre stage of the world for the last half century, the nation that led the world into a new era, and a nation that has been the spur of growth, of world hope and optimism is marked by this chart.

Ascending Sagittarius denotes a fiery ardent and questing nature, one that is not likely able to sit still for long periods of time, one that is restless and likely to move about to and fro in any direction so long as there is somewhere it can go.

Sirius (Canis Major)

America was born under two very bright and fortunate stars: Sirius, and Canopus which in 1776 were between one and two degrees before Tropical Cancer Sun in this chart.

It stirs up war and restores peace, and returning in different guise affects the world with the glance it gives it and governs with its mien. Sure proof that the star has this power are its colour and the quivering of the fire that sparkles in its face. Hardly is it inferior to the Sun, save that its abode is far away and the beams it launches from its sea-blue face are cold. In splendour it surpasses all other constellations, and no brighter star is bathed in ocean or returns to heaven from the waves. [Manilius, Astronomica, 1st century AD, book 1, p.34-37]

Sirius is associated with a vast mythology and esoteric power, so it´s no surprise then that a nation born both with its Ascendant ruler Exalted and conjunct this star on one side and its Sun, its heart conjunct on the other side should shine like the bright star among all nations.

When the Dogstar rises over the rim of the sea, which at its birth not even the flood of Ocean can quench, it will fashion unbridled spirits and impetuous hearts; it will bestow on its sons billows of anger, and draw upon them the hatred and fear of the whole populace. [Manilius, Astronomica, 1st century AD]

Conflict and America´s Heart

The conflict in America is easily understood by observing ruler of 2nd and third house Saturn in Exaltation and angular in close square with ruler of the 9th house Sun in the 8th with Ascendant Ruler Jupiter. The signification is of values and wealth (2nd rulership) being placed above and in direct conflict with the spiritual heart (9th rulership Sun). 8th house Sun denotes the fidelity and Faith of America is often put into a state of crisis and death.

Ascendant ruler Jupiter is also ruler of house 4. This means that America identifies with home, with roots and with home comforts. Also that the “fathers” are part of their being and identity. The founding fathers, the idea that each is descended from a certain lineage, whether this be Irish, English, African, Latin, Asian, Italian, Jewish, the surname seems to be all important.

The second conflict of America is 3rd house finite knowledge ruler Saturn in direct conflict with the heart of America and its soul, 9th ruler Sun in crisis in the 8th, with Ascendant Ruler Jupiter. Saturn appears to be the stronger of these two and in air there is a mental calculation and connection with the second house of resources and money.

The Destiny of America

The United States of America came into the world as a bunch of colonial rebellious Aquarian traders. South node in house 2 denotes that America was born as a financially independent state with an income, and that in Aquarius it was born as an act of rebellion, with certain “high ideals” swirling about on those rebels´minds.

The destiny of America is Imperial. There is no question of this with North Node in Leo, and indeed when there has been forward momentum and motion, when America has been fulfilling its destiny in the past it has been acquiring new territories, and achieving domination of the world through all techniques that Empires use; but primarily as a diplomatic and economic power with Saturn the most essentially dignified planet in the Tropical sign of diplomacy. 8th house North Node also indicates that destiny will be fulfilled through crisis and transformation, often through death and legacy.

Mars is in fact the most accidentally dignified planet and has terms avoiding peregrination. So although America has benefited most from other areas, it without a doubt is the Hawk side of this country that has had the biggest growth and opportunity. Mars as ruler of the 5th house shows an ego which is based upon sexual drive, sexual drive, physical power, and in more mundane thought, military power, which is the primary Martial signifier. Ruling the 12th house means that it will be through violent, spontaneous actions that it will undermine itself.

America´s place in the world is not secure. MC ruler Mercury is not only placed in 8th house of death and crisis, but is so damaged by essential and accidental debility, that it may be the greatest challenge to keep a good reputation. Mercury also rules over the Descendant so America´s allies are likely to be weak, though the same should be said of opponents.

Pluto

In whichever chart you use, Pluto is more closely ingrained in America than is visible. This little planet placed in tropical Capricorn is in fact contra-parallel to both America´s Jupiter, Sun, Venus, and Mars. Whatever the true meaning of the planet Pluto is, America a nation which has not only transformed, but has acted to transform others, whether they liked it or not, is truly tied in with the destiny of the nation.

Composite and Synastry – Destined Relationships

Soulmates?

I believe that these are probably the most quested for types of horoscopes which can be cast. To cast your own chart and to interpret it is one thing. If you know the time and believe it to be accurate, then all you have to do is to work it out and nod your head when you realise what you are, accept the faulty nature which is no fault of your own, and move on to trying to work with it.

But when there is someone that you know 100% that you love and that you are made for each other, it doesn’t really matter what interpretation you get, if it’s not the one that says you should stay together until the End of the Age, then it is obviously wrong. It is wrong, of course it’s wrong, how can some random Astrology tell you about how you feel about someone when it doesn’t even have feelings of its own.

There probably are some good relationships out there somewhere in the blue yonder, somewhere, there are people who find their happiness, all they do though is keep it secret. But it can happen and is destined to happen for those that believe in it, for those that seek and never give up hope.

Natal Chart vs. Synastry

Part of the parcel of course is that, written in every person in the Natal chart is a picture. This picture can say whether relations with other people, will be positive, or negative, whether they will encounter opposition, or whether they will encounter amiability. If the ruler of the natal 7th house is debilitated or weak, judge accordingly, all relations with regard to intimacy will involve a weak or debilitated person.

If the ruler of the Ascendant is joined happily with the ruler of the 7th, if the ruler of the 7th is placed in the 1st or the ruler of the 1st placed in the 7th, then the native will find contentment with a their significant other. These are the lectures of William Lilly. But this is a gross simplification. I use it simply to identify that some of the natural tendencies within an individual are already set, and that whatever synastry chart or composite chart they can find through someone else, that individual is set up for certain relationships from birth.

Instead of looking for certain things in a synastry or in a composite chart, you should look for the relationships which are destined in your natal chart. I don’t believe that it is necessary to have the same relationships throughout life, I don’t believe in the psychological model of the parental and familial relationships being repeated, at great cost and misery to any one particular person. Those individual relations are one-offs like every relation.  the point of them is to accept them, integrate them in your life, however distinct from what you crave and want, and then set out to find someone that is different, because life is about gathering up different experiences.

There may well be similarities between what you experienced as a child and what you experience as an adult with other adults. But it will not be the same, the same patterns do not have to be repeated. There is one house which signifies parents, one house which signifies siblings, one house that signifies extended family, and another entirely different house that signifies relationships.

I think that parallels are important in synastry and in a natal chart. The 7th house and its signifier must have some similarities with the overall nature of the person that you are interested in. They must in some way fulfil the destiny of that planet, of that house, and the aspects of that planet and its house.

MEANING

If you have ever read Brave New World by Aldous Huxley you will know that to have perfect and easy relationships and lives is to never learn anything and never acquire knowledge and human understanding. But that is not to say that in order to live a meaningful life you must suffer all the way through it. Just that you can only measure the successes and the happy times with the seemingly infinite times of failure, solitude and misery.

Some Pointers to Positive Synastry

There is no such thing as the perfect chart. But these things should be sought after rather than using aspects in order to reject someone. Compatibility is one thing, but there is also such a thing as having someone that is different to yourself and who can encourage you to experience different things.

Venus signifies love, and attraction, it is so obvious. Venus – Sun in aspect, this is the aspect that you should look for, all other aspects are just inferior.

The Descendant: The Descendant has as its natural ruler Venus, and is the traditional house of your intimate love. So what you need here is Venus – Descendant aspects, and by its very nature, Venus – Ascendant aspects, but especially Venus conjunct the Descendant.

Mars signifies sex, interestingly Mars is the natural ruler of the Ascendant and 1st house. Mars in harmonious aspect must be present to bring heat and warmth, its nature is of fire, this makes for passion.

Then Saturn, the other traditional malefic. Saturn allows things to last. A relationship is based on time spent together, and Saturn is Cronus. Saturn by its nature is in exaltation in the 7th sign Libra, the sign of the marriage and partnership. Saturn brings stability to people’s lives and permanence. Harmonious Saturn aspects are wanted.

Jupiter is important for Faithfulness. Jupiter in aspect will make things feel good.

Pluto. Pluto is about manipulation and attraction as well.

To be continued…

Pluto in Aquarius

I am not going to make predictions about what will happen in 2023 onwards, though that would be fun. But I do think that Pluto in Aquarius is an interesting topic. Here is my take on Pluto in Aquarius.

Elizabeth I, Queen of England had Pluto in Aquarius placed in the 1st house. This person was a writer and a poet, as well as a monarch and symbol of sovereignty. She embodied Pluto in the first house, by maintaining power. But that power was not solely hers, it was of course, in Aquarian style shared. Elizabeth was no dictator, she presided and encouraged her country to begin an era of cultural experimentation, of scientific advancement and rewarded her subjects for their ultimate voyages of discovery. Elizabeth was also known as the “Virgin Queen,” she did not marry and was a Virgo Sun, Virgo is the sign of duty and this fits with her sacrificing her love life for her country. But the 1st house is the house which is most associated with a person, which makes someone who they are more than any other planetary placement. Scorpio is on the tenth house cusp, and therefore Pluto disposits that highest honour and esteem into the first through Pluto in Aquarius.

Aquarius is a sign which is often alone, yet wants, society. So it is befitting that Elizabeth patronised the likes of William Shakespeare, Christopher Marlowe, Ben Jonson, Francis Drake, Francis Bacon, Sir Walter Raleigh and Sir Humphrey Gilbert. She rewarded people who were cultural creators, poets, play writers, adventurers, pirates, explorers and colonisers of “new worlds.” These people were all doing something to expand the English National consciousness, they were contributing to the construction of a society, which was not totally reliant on singular religious codes, but dialogic, offering rebellion, change, intellectual freedom, freedom to roam, while still maintaining itself as a power to which all paid respect.

Simon Bolivar, was accredited with being one of the leaders of the liberation of South America from the yoke of Spanish Empire. This man was a Freemason, and a leader of armies. He was a fighter and he had Pluto placed in natal 11th house in Aquarius, with Scorpio ruling the eighth. He was instrumental in the transferral of collective resources from an empire, to independence. Something that he does have in common with Elizabeth and it is just a curiosity is that he was a widower who’s wife died early on, and who never remarried. In essence he was alone for most of his life. Even with the Sun in Leo in the 5th house and with Neptune in Libra in the 7th.

Pluto in Aquarius is about changing a system, and a society. People who have this placement are motivated by seeing themselves outside, or above the current system and are inclined to alter it, in order to change human social interactions, not just locally but on a national and international scale.

Parallels and Contraparallels – Latitude

Here is a secret which most astrologers don’t know about. Here, unless you are an 8th house native and already go about looking beneath, are the aspects that go, well below the surface. And unless you are committed to seeing the unseen, and knowing the unknowable, the practically invisible forces, you will, like 99% of the population who supposedly dedicate themselves to this particular study, totally miss out, and totally live on the surface for the rest of your life.

I am not going to go into how the aspect is calculated, or how it compared to different types of calculations. I believe that these are all possible, but basically amount to the same thing. Basically calculating the degrees of latitude allows you to view planets placed on line X. Whereas the vast majority of the study depends solely on line Y, calculating line X allows you the third dimension. It is that simple.

In the past the Antiscion was used. Some people still use this. Some people use it and are unaware of how or why they use it, of the reasons behind its tabulation. It was created to delineate a rough line of latitude. Latitude which the Sun follows and which the planets follow in relation to the Sun as they are roughly on the same disk shaped eliptical path around the Sun. The Antiscia are an old fashioned latitude calculator, and used today for no other reason than that this was the tool for which parallels were most easily seen in pre-computer days. Antiscia are simply a crude parallel calculator, they gave approximation of latitude through the solstice point, but with a rather large degree of error. Today however, the declinations are easily known, but not easily illustrated, not in relation to the longitude, without a three dimensional chart. Now that would be something.

Here is the secret then. The Parallel and Contraparallel aspects by their nature, allow two points which are not linked through elemental basis to be linked together, to be merged, to be combined in signs and degrees which are totally random as compared with longitudinal astrology. That is the core of it. This is the big secret.

But that is not all. The Parallel and Contraparallel are the pinpointers. These are the things that give you real things which actually happen, whether or not other longitudinal aspects are in operation.  Many times a conjunction occurs, an aspect of great importance, an opposition, or a square, but nothing apparent really takes place.

The way Astrology works is that the Stars make their rays felt on Earth. This is fine. This is why planetary placements work so well. This is why temperament, why house dispositors work. The Stars send down their qualities, their gifts and special talents, as well as their doubts and atrocities. But the aspects are not complete. This is what is greatly lacking in the vast majority of readings. The simple fact that Y by longitude is located and aligned with the zodiac, while X is totally ignored. Well X is the degree of latitude.

Parallels are more important than longitudinal aspects. This is the great and rigidly kept secret of astrology. Astrologers don’t want to share it because it is that tough little nut to crack, that little aspect which is the back door entrance to the third dimension. This is the aspect that lets you see in colour while all the other astrologers are still seeing in black and white.

If you have read as far as here, then you know what a parallel is, and you don’t need me to go into any more detail because you have done your own research on the subject, and you understand the importance of such aspects. Instead of giving examples though of its use, of its application I would like to give a definition, terminology which is distinctive and which befits the parallel and contra parallel in comparison with its longitudinal counterparts.

The Parallal: Harmonious aspect. This aspect is as strong as a conjunction on its own without the need for any longitudinal coinciding aspect. If the aspect is exact it should be considered as an exact conjunction is considered, if not more powerful. The reason for its power lies in the fact that its power can be felt even when there is no elemental connection between the signs. This amounts to a latitudinal alignment in the sky, and like a longitudinal alignment must be considered as its exact equal in strength and power.

The Contraparallel: This is an extremely potent force, more so than the opposition, it must be read as an extremely strong force, which does not have to be antagonistic, it does not have to be strained like the square, but it must be thought of like the Parallel in terms of materialisation of reality.

The latitude of planets are as important as the longitude. It is no secret, it is just something that an astrologer must work out before really seeing what is there. Looking at a chart and then looking at it through latitude is like looking at a body and then looking at it through X-Rays. Latitude must be considered in relation to all of the planets and all of the major points including the Ascendant-Descendant axis and the MC-IC axis as well, since these also are calculated using both longitude and latitude.

Antiscion and the Winter Solstice

The Winter Solstice is the split second in the year in which the Sun is at its greatest angular distance from the Equatorial plane from the observer. This occurs at Midday when the sun is at its lowest point in the Sky over the course of the year.

Zero degrees of Capricorn, marks this point. It occurs between the 20th and 23rd of December in the Northern hemisphere. The Winter Solstice has for millennia been associated with a very sacred, special period of time. From Stonehenge to the Pyramids, to Christ’s birth, which most Historians claim was not really on the 24th December, this astronomical event has been imbued with importance.

The Antiscia are the degrees of the Zodiac Year which correspond on either side of the Winter Solstice beginning at 00 degrees of Capricorn. How do they work? Why are they important? If you notice that a beautiful spring day in April can sometimes look and feel exactly the same as a beautiful day in October, or at least that there are the same number of daylight hours and night time hours you have the beginning of an explanation. There is a seasonal significance to the Antiscia, being that days in late spring can be very similar to days of early Summer, with early spring having similarities with late summer at least by the amount of daylight that there is due to the Sun’s rising and setting positions through the year.

The real significance of Antiscia though comes from its relation to that winter solstice. The Solstice is a magical point in time, the turning point in the year, and it should be considered as the real new year if you go by the Astronomical significance of it. So for an example: 15 degrees of Pisces and Libra are Antiscia to each other. They are both an equal distance away from the Winter Solstice which would be 75 degrees. They have the same number of hours of daylight, because the Sun at these point rises the same time and sets the same time. The Sun during the day reaches the same degree in the sky and the Midheaven is at the same distance from the equator. The only difference is that one side is increasing in light and the other is decreasing.

In the Night Sky of the Winter Solstice, as seen from a northern sky, the three stars in Orion’s Belt align with the brightest star in the eastern sky Sirius to show where the Sun will rise in the morning after winter solstice. At about three BC it is said that “three wise men” or “three Kings” came from the East following a “bright star” to witness the “Son of God” being born. It is interesting that to this day this birth is celebrated year after year coinciding with the Winter Solstice, the place where the Sun was traditionally thought to be “re-born” each year.

To think of the immense meaning and significance not just in terms of the mathematical astronomical point, but of what it means on a spiritual level, then the Antiscia connecting through the Winter Solstice must has an astrological significance too and it is not surprising that there are tables which delineate their positions.

How do you go about interpreting Anticia though? It is clear that even though many separate cultures around the world throughout history and pre-history did not have any cultural cross pollination, they still honoured the Winter Solstice. Take Amaterasu, the Japanese Sun-Goddess, bringing Sunlight back to the universe on this day, Beiwe of the Scandinavian Saami people, Chaomos ancient Pakistan, and then Natalis Domini of 4th Century Rome. All of these sacred traditions are connected together by re-birth of the Sun, by renewal of hope for the coming year, and all celebrated and honoured at the same time.

It would be obvious that any point that was close enough to the actual Winter Solstice point would be both conjunct itself and in Anticia. So two planets or points both placed within a degree of 00 Capricorn would be conjunct and in Anticia. The interpretation of points and planets must therefore be linked in with that Solar Renewal. It is often described that planets or points placed at 00 degrees of Cardinal signs are “Aries Point”, but if we take the Winter Solstice for its true Astrological and Astronomical significance, that point ought to be renamed the “Capricorn Point.”

Planets or Points that are Antiscia with each other are connected by the most sacred timing in relation to the Capricorn Point, in relation to the Winter Solstice. The interpretation of Antiscia, are that they mirror each other, they aspect each other through being symmetrically equidistant.

Having explained Antiscia though, I believe that these points are only connected by the Solar Year and only in relation to those Solstice points. They work like a mirror, but to get a truer picture it may be more useful to consider the parallel aspects. Anticia are based on Solar Longitude, they correspond roughly to the Solar Latitude throughout the year. But since the planets do not pass exactly along the elliptical plane, looking up parallel and contraparallel aspects are definitely a more accurate three dimensional representation, a more complicated calculation, sure, but with technology these aspects are easily seen and analysed.

The New World Economy

Financial meltdown is occurring

Financial meltdown is occurring. This is not scaremongering, this is happening around our heads right here, right now. Banks are going bankrupt. Prices are rising, jobs are being lost, people are losing their homes. The figures we know are just the tip of the iceberg. And just because it is happening slowly, with politicians and commentators debating whether it really is as bad as all that, doesn’t mean it’s not happening.

Alistair Darling the Chancellor, the man in charge of the UK economy, said “these are the worst economic conditions for 60 years.” Why would a man in charge of keeping confidence in the world’s Financial Capital, London go and say such a panic inciting thing like that? 60 years ago, there was food rationing, people were starving in the UK, people were entitled to one cup of flour, a spoon of sugar, and a slice of bacon each day.

To look around Great Britain today, you would think that Alistair Darling was making a ridiculous joke, in bad taste considering what the post war generation had available to them. There is wealth, there are huge supermarkets filled with variety, as well as quantity of food, there are jobs, and there are warm centrally heated houses.

But Darling wasn’t speaking of now, of the visible. Darling was talking about what is unseen, like a cobra beneath the night sheets. Just what is there lurking in the shadows to make the man in charge of the worlds most vibrant economy shudder and throw out warning signals? It’s like he’s insuring himself against what’s inevitably going to happen, trying to give a little cover for when the questions come home asking “why didn’t you warn us?” So he can sleep safer in the knowledge that he did warn but people did nothing to try and avert. Is Darling playing the doctor warning the obese that they are in for some health problems in the not too distant future? This is what it sounds like.

Some of the sources of the problems are easy to discern, some of them are complex, and even economists are debating amongst themselves. But whatever the actual reasons, the recession of all recessions is on its way, like a storm surge far out to sea, with the first waves already beginning to splash in the faces of the coastal dwellers.

Economies are not based on the gold standard. This is one of the reasons for the huge wealth wastage. If money is not really based on anything more than paper, there are implications. People and especially lenders and bankers are unaware of its true value. Part of the problem of the American credit crisis was this fact. It mirrors, Rome’s melting down of its gold and silver only to mix in ever increasing amounts of worthless copper and other cheap metals in their money supply during the years when their military and conquests were costing them more than the sum of their empire. Money that is based on debt rather than real wealth is worthless.

Pluto in Capricorn

It is hard to say exactly what will happen over the next couple of decades. Pluto’s conjunction with the constellation of Capricorn is something that most of the Astrological world has been eagerly awaiting, partly because it’s not every day that outer planets move into different signs, and partly because this isn’t just any old sign, this is the Cardinal Earth sign.

Pluto’s ingress into Capricorn will bring a sigh of relief to the people and places ruled by Sagittarius. In Capricorn the energy will be low key, it will be sober, cool headed, there will be a cool breeze blowing in from the North. I am not going to digress into what happened “the last time Pluto was in Capricorn”, the world is simply too different to how it was 246 years ago to make a statement concerning this planet-sign combination.

Much of what has written about Capricorn depicts falling empires, and rising nations, and this is one thing that should be of interest to most people. The only real prediction that I am willing to make about the planetary placement with absolute certainty and commitment, is this: Countries all across the world will be prepared to either merge with each other or separate even more so. The European Union is daily intergrating itself more and more possibly in preparation for that final act of Unification. While in other parts of the world separatist regions are trying to break away from the yoke of power, Central Asia is one example of this, but South America and Africa have examples of cities that are beginning to protest their political autonomy from centralised and often tyrannical authority.

The United Kingdom has recently under the ray of Sagittarian Pluto undergone a partial dismemberment, all completely voluntary, though still as a Union holds on tenaciously to its strategic Imperial territories like Gibraltar and The Falklands. Whether the UK will be “assimilated” into the European Union or whether it takes on a different partisan role is irrelevant. Both England and the UK are strongly Capricorn and will be on the offensive in the world at large, leading the world as that nation has done in centuries past. Resurrect the British Empire? It may not be possible, but there will definitely be a desire to create, to build a civilisation, an all-powerful civilisation based on order over chaos, of duty, responsibility and people working hard for achieving stability.

That stability of course is not going to happen for this poor Capricorn Pluto transit. The incoming T-square of Uranus and Jupiter mixed in opposition to Saturn and Mars will bring about turmoil in very short time. It is hard to pinpoint exactly where the cards will fall, but this transit denotes a most unstable Capricorn power structure for a period of 7 years at least.

The massive trauma which occurred during Pluto’s transit of Cancer must not be ignored, war and destruction was occurring during this period. But it is possible that responsible old Capricorn will not let things get out of hand too much. Pluto in Capricorn is extremely down to earth, and will definitely bring people closer to the land in which they live.