Whitney Houston

The world is stunned and shocked by Ms. Houston’s sudden death. A lot has been written about it, and I suppose every astrologer noticed that transiting Pluto was square her Mars, which can produce a great deal of tension leading to possibly relieving it through medication. Also progressed Saturn was retrograding very close to opposing her natal Sun—a bit of depression there, but she was born with that aspect, so it wouldn’t have had a major impact. However, with Neptune forming a T-square with it, a signature of self-doubt and escapism is part of her character.

What is really interesting is what we discover when looking at midpoints. She had several midpoints at zero degrees in mutable signs, and Neptune, which just entered Pisces (a mutable sign) this month, triggered those. I’m quoting from Ebertin’s book, “A Combination of Stellar Influences.” First, the Mercury/Saturn midpoint at zero Sagittarius was being squared by Neptune:

“A state of depression, distrust, emotional inhibitions…..plans without any prospect of realization.”

Also in that same place she had the Saturn/Pluto midpoint squared by Neptune:

“..danger through water, poison or gas— shattered nerves.”

And additionally in that same degree she had the Neptune/MC midpoint. It was being triggered by Neptune, itself, so there is no combination including it; however, the meaning of the midpoint, which was part of her basic character, is:

“Aimlessness and lack of purpose in life, a lack of self-confidence” and “Depressive psychoses, mental disturbance….”

Additionally, she had a midpoint “tree” of Mars=Uranus/Neptune, which Pluto was triggering with its transit. That one means:

“…the abandonment of resistance, the necessity to give in, great losses, calamities, catastrophes.”

There is a great deal more, but Cosmobiology (which this is) is very detailed, and it would take a long article to examine all of it.

Her chart shows a person who was a perfectionist and had a great need to be successful just to justify her being here and drawing breath. In recent years, with her voice deteriorating, it is not surprising that she was questioning her future. She thought deeply about things in great detail and was very hard on herself, feeling an all-pervading guilt about things she probably never did. It was probably guilt about not being “perfect.” With Pisces rising and Neptune involved in her self- esteem issues, tension would become so acute, it would not be surprising that she would seek relief through some kind of mind-altering drug. She really had a difficult life, despite appearances.

The Leo/Aquarius Polarity

Many people don’t realize that the twelve signs of the zodiac are really six sets of polarities and the two signs opposite each other have a great deal in common. It could be said they are two sides of the same coin. I’m going to go through each set over the next few weeks and give you a good understanding of this principle in hopes that it can help you understand others better. Since it is February and Aquarius is influencing us right now, I’ll start with that one.

You can have a heavy influence from ANY sign if you have it rising or your Moon sign, or even if you have planets occupying the houses associated with them—in this case, the fifth house for Leo and the eleventh for Aquarius. Therefore, these may apply to you even if your Sun sign is not one of them. I have witnessed over the last 40 plus years, that many people who don’t have anything in a sign will still greatly exhibit traits of that sign just because they have several planets (or a very strong planet) in the house associated with it. The same applies to having a lot of midpoints fall in a specific sign. Astrology is very complicated!

In extreme brief, the first six signs are personal: i.e. Aries: Myself, my body. Taurus: My possessions and income. Gemini: My mind, knowledge and thoughts. Cancer: My home and family. Leo: My creations and ego expression. Virgo: My work and service, as in a job or personal skills.

The second six signs are more about fitting into society. i.e. Libra: Partnership and co-operation, one-on-one. Scorpio: Joint ownership (investment, taxes, insurance)—and usually control over it all. Sagittarius: The group’s mind—laws, rules of games, higher education (which is what others have discovered earlier, passed on us). Capricorn: Career, home away from home and support of the family in society. Aquarius: Appreciation for creativity and freedom of expression of all. Pisces: Service extended freely without concern for reward (collectively, we are one—what I do for YOU, I do for myself).
The entire zodiac unfolds from the very personal (Aries) to the absolute impersonal (Pisces). In theory, it’s like an evolutionary path back to the Father. We find perfection in selfLESSness. But, we’re all in various stages of growth and understanding, and our charts show a mixture of many facets of this principle.

The opposite sign from Aquarius (i.e. six months away) is Leo. Leo and Aquarius are fixed signs, meaning that they don’t change readily. Once on a specific path, they pretty much will stick to it. They are dependable. This pair forms the axis of ego. Some teachers say it is “love given (Leo) and love received (Aquarius).” I think, however, that it is more about self-expression (Leo) and appreciation of the right to that expression for everyone (Aquarius). My teacher used to say that Leo cares so much about what others think (vulnerable ego), they are constantly aware of how they’re coming across—hence, having to be respectable (to whomever matters to them) and well-turned-out. Some who are ignored too much (or think so) can be the worst of drama queens. More than any other sign, they cannot do “humble” very well. The need deep down inside is to feel special and unique. There is a need to leave a legacy, whether it is children or works of art or literature—or a great body of work of any kind. It is considered the royal sign.

But a king or queen is not one of the masses, and Leo usually will not feel ordinary. There is a little bit of distance although s/he will be wonderfully warm and friendly, it’s very hard to get really close. They are discovering they have special gifts and are quite eager to express them. Many celebrities have a heavy Leo influence. They love applause and attention. But, you cannot bask in applause if you are part of the audience—hence needing to be a little bit apart.

Aquarius generally doesn’t have a problem with insecurity. Just as Leo wants to appear
special, Aquarius deep down already feels unique. S/he doesn’t need a lot of applause and will work hard to assure that we ALL are free to express our talents and abilities. S/he is part of the masses, but feels that each one is special. That is why Aquarius has the courage to be outrageously different. Leo is searching for individuation and is personal about it, but Aquarius knows s/he is an individual and wants everyone to realize they are “special,” too. He feels he has a right to do what he wants—i.e. that he is an individual within society and not apart from it. Think of Leo as the artist and Aquarius as the gallery owner who gives the public a chance to applaud Leo’s creativity. They are in it together but with a different role to play. Leo wants to be free to express himself, but Aquarius feels we are ALL creative and expressive and should be allowed to shine, each in his own way. Abraham Lincoln was an Aquarius, and I believe this belief in each individual having something to contribute was the impetus behind his attitude toward slavery.

On another level, Leo is love and romance between individuals (and this produces children, which is why the fifth house is also children). Aquarius is friendships, organizations, communes, or group activity of any kind. It’s “love” but on a broader, more inclusive scale. Leo is Eros and Aquarius is Agape.

I know there are many who will feel this doesn’t fit them. Remember these are archetypes, and your personal chart, which is unique to you, will have many indications besides the Sun sign. The ascendant, which changes signs about every two hours, is probably going to define your personality more than anything else unless there is something else that overwhelms it. Without doing your chart, I would have no idea if that is the case, so I would have no answer for you if you just say it doesn’t fit you. Please take this for its intent and that is to familiarize you with the six pairs of signs so you will have a more coherent understanding of their philosophical message about our evolution

Neptune enters Pisces February 3rd

The mysterious blue planet, Neptune, will enter its ruling sign, Pisces, in a couple days. It did dip its toe into Piscean waters last year for a test to see how the swimming was from April ‘til August, but it was only a test. Now the twelfth sign will have his (or is it “her”?) company for another thirteen years. Pisces doesn’t have this guest often; the last time was from around 1847 to 1861-62. We learn from history, and we can get a hint of what to expect, but times were different then, and we have other planets in different places now along with it, which colors the picture somewhat.

Neptune represents anything which is not solid or clearly discernable—mysticism, deception, redemption, artistic expression, spirit, smoke, gases, water, visionaries, compassion, corruption, pollution—you get the picture. Pisces is kinda like that, too—which is why Neptune rules that sign. So we sort of have a double whammy here. In a chart, if Neptune is connected to other planets positively, then we have a positive expression of its energy, but if it’s not in harmony with other energies, we get conflict, and therefore, negative results.

It seems in Neptune’s travels, that collective attitudes are subtly changed-- colored by Neptune’s innate core energy—or vice versa. For instance, when it was in Capricorn (1984-1998) corporate and governmental corruption and deception was a temptation. Capricorn represents corporations, government and power. The United States has Neptune in the ninth house, which is legislation, as well as religion (not spirituality, but organized religion). That time was the rise of fundamentalist religions getting too involved in government, religious-based warfare—or oil-based—also Neptune, and giant corporations like Monsanto deceiving us about genetically modified food, which is now a HUGE issue. Other corporations, like those of the Koch brothers, did their own manipulating.

From 1998 until now, Neptune has been in Aquarius. This sign is noted for its detachment emotionally and for fierce individuality, and so we have had a collective outcry that we are not our brothers’ keeper, and we have been looking for ways to shed emotional reaction to those less fortunate. This, of course, does not affect everyone, but collectively the masses would seem to be headed in that direction. Each sign is a reaction to the one before it, so during this time there was also an awakening to the corruption of the preceding fourteen years, and so the fierce individualism of Aquarius also noticed the infringement on individual rights, as well, as witnessed by the treatment of organic farmers by Monsanto.
Neptune is also melding or blending of anything. Immigration is one such blending. Back in the mid nineteenth century when Neptune was last visiting Pisces, we were concerned about immigration from Europe and did not trust the Irish and the Catholics. Now, it’s the Muslims and Spanish-speaking people we do not trust. These are “strangers” attempting to meld into our society, and in Neptune fashion, we have irrational suspicions.

In those years just before the Civil War, slavery was an issue, too. We are now just beginning to recognize that exploitation of children and the very poor worldwide in the sex trade is another kind of slavery. We are seeing books appearing to awaken us—like the trilogy beginning with “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.” In the next fourteen years, we will do something about that.

I believe we will see much more compassion for the less fortunate as Neptune sojourns in Pisces. There might be some areas where it can be increased deception and fraud, but Neptune is not in negative aspect too much, so we’ll probably see the better side of it. For instance, it will trine the USA’s Cancer planets for most of the fourteen years. That can bring in increased recognition of how badly the American people have been deceived over the last twenty-eight years.

And last, Neptune in the USA’s birth chart is negatively aspected to Mars. We usually don’t use Neptune in its highest form. It will eventually activate that square, which has been involved one way or another every time we have a war. It is also the signature of a corrupt government. As long as this chart exists, we’ll have a propensity to this. It would be especially tempting when Neptune, itself, is activating it. That will be 2021-22, and I’d expect to see the very worst of that configuration manifesting. We would need to be particularly vigilant.

Obama Signs Defense Bill

New Year’s Eve evening President Obama signed the controversial defense bill that he had previously threatened to veto. The main problem is that it pretty much ends our rights as we’ve known them. Most Americans probably have no idea what has just happened. Now the Executive branch has unprecedented power, including being able to arrest, prosecute and imprison American citizens without due process. All they have to do is suspect you are a “terrorist.” It has been announced by members of congress that among things that indicate that you are suspect includes having more than seven days’ worth of food in your house! Another is paying with cash! Have you noticed large signs on highways encouraging you to phone a number if your neighbors are doing anything suspicious? All you need to be arrested without cause is a vengeful neighbor who wants to cause you pain. All of this is like an Orwellian nightmare.

Although Obama added a written statement that he had “serious reservations” and would not actually use those powers, it passes on to all subsequent presidents who may have no reservations at all. This power lasts until the “War on Terror” is over. As Jon Stewart said, however, that is subjective. WHAT indicates that it’s over? Does “Terror” surrender? This could be perpetual unless something is done to change it.

When I heard of this betrayal, I looked at Obama’s chart to see what was going on that day. Transiting Neptune was exactly, to the minute, square his MC! This is blatant deception revealed, and/or he is totally without a clue what he has just done. This isn’t the first time for that aspect since he’s been in office, but it is the last before it goes into Pisces on February 3rd. The backlash on him for this very treasonous decision will start in about three or four months…or at that time he will be dealing with very serious issues and it will fill the rest of his term. Right now a pattern is forming (and actually has already been active), and it will be triggered often this year. Secondary progressed Mars and Mercury are occupying 25 and 26 degrees Libra. They are marching steadily toward a square with his natal Saturn-Jupiter conjunction at 25 Capricorn and 0 Aquarius. The progressed Mercury already was partile to squaring Saturn less than a year ago. I mentioned it in a previous blog about his chart. Besides this, progressed Ascendant is approaching an opposition to this pattern. Transiting Saturn will be back and forth over this pattern in 2012 in April, and again from August through early October. The progressed Ascendant will oppose the progressed Mars exactly sometime in late August/early September—a dangerous period for him in dealing with rage from others. Around August 17-20 Mars will also trigger the progressed pattern described above which could activate it early.

I think this bill signing will fuel the occupy movement even more and cause a backlash that Obama never dreamed his “sheeple” would be capable of doing. Let’s see what happens in April.

The Current Climate of Change

Many of you may have noticed over the last few weeks that there was a climate of deception and change. We see it all around in the worldwide occupy movements, that were not reported in the mainstream media for a LONG time, and the flip-flopping of political candidates—not to mention the exposure of scandals like Penn State and even new information about Natalie Wood’s death. You may be wondering what is going on in the “astro weather” department. With the current indications, no one will get away with very much. People have had enough. You can expect further truths to emerge.

First there is the long, long cycle of Pluto. It went into Capricorn back in 2008, and that was the beginning of a clean-out of corruption and power misused. That was when we saw the economy begin to crack with all the corruption of financial institutions—and it’s not finished. The Universe has a scheduled, orderly agenda of overseeing our evolution whether we like it or not. It will extend all the way down to the individual level and will last until 2025. Until then, one out-of-balance power struggle after another will be transformed, which is putting it nicely. In other words, if you are personally (or collectively) used to wielding power or have been pushy and overly strong-willed, it will be harder to continue being that way. The last time Pluto was in Capricorn was way back when things got so bad in England, the Pilgrims decided to leave the country. It is a very long cycle, and whatever sign it is in, there is upheaval related to that sign that leaves a situation totally destroyed and left to rebuild. Capricorn is about government, structures of whole societies, power and “who’s in charge.” Whether the ultimate outcome is positive or not depends on us. Are we our best most honest selves, or do we try to control and repress others? If you are the one being forceful and controlling unfairly, it will not be allowed to continue. From an individual up to a global level we are personally responsible for the outcome. Since Pluto is being energized by Uranus 90 degrees away for the next several years, expect a revolution.

Then there is the continuing opposition of Jupiter and Saturn. These have already opposed each other exactly back in March, but are now in range of an opposition, although not exact, reminding us again of their meaning here at the holiday season. This is the business duo. When Jupiter is going FROM the conjunction of the two TO the opposition, business usually is on an upswing that is relative to possibility. In other words, for the last ten years, although it seems the economy has been negative, it was relatively positive compared to the NEXT ten years when it goes from the opposition back to a conjunction. This is a twenty year cycle. The first half is the more positive compared to the second half.

Mars
Every two years Mars stays in one sign for a long time. If it didn’t, its cycle would be about eighteen months, but because of this long retrograde period, it takes two years to complete its cycle. This time it will remain in Virgo from November 12, 2011 until July 4, 2012. The first two weeks of November (just passed) it was opposite Neptune. This inclines to deceptive behavior. You can be either the one deceiving or the one being hoodwinked, but one should have been vigilant during this period. This will not repeat again, but will be very, very close in mid-April next year. Virgos, Pisceans, Sagittarians, and Geminis will be more impatient, will jump to conclusions and perhaps be more impulsive than usual. Plus, the eclipses this year will activate those signs making them a focal point. They will be learning a lot.

There are two eclipses this month and next. The first was this morning, and the next will be on December 10th. The eclipse months are two months out of four each year that we call the “Moon Wobble.” The other two are half-way between those. They always show a time of upheaval and a bit of chaos if they affect your chart specifically.

As an aside, Mercury went retrograde yesterday and will remain so until December 14th. That doesn’t help in a Moon Wobble time. It helps to be vigilant with that, as well—double checking things for accuracy and postponing a start-up of any kind. It's a good time to go back to something that needs re-working.

The outer planets have been changing signs in unprecedented numbers. Very seldom do we have so many doing so in so short a time span. We feel this by being a bit off balance and wary of what will happen next. The last month has been particularly so. But, it’s all part of the larger plan, which in the end is for our best interests. The next one to change permanently(and it already did for a short time from April to August this year)for a fourteen year sojourn is Neptune, which will enter Pisces in very early February. Neptune’s activity is totally different from Pluto’s. It can be felt either as confusion and delusion or inspiration and spiritual enlightenment, depending on its placement and aspects in your personal chart. It, too, will affect the four signs mentioned above for fourteen years.

In short, for the next several years we can expect a concentrated effect of these planets like we haven’t seen in a long time. It has barely begun. We are entering into a new chapter of our evolution, and it should be welcomed. After all, we’re not doing so great where we are, are we?

Rick Perry

Whenever we look at a birth chart, one challenge is to keep in mind that people have choices all their lives. They can choose to live up to the best of themselves, or reinforce and express their darker side. I first interpreted the second George Bush with an eye to his best potential when he first ran for president, but it soon became obvious that he had not chosen a positive path of growth. Rick Perry’s is a chart like that.

We had a date and place for him but no time. Then an astrologer in Texas called the department of vital records and was able to get his birth time read to him over the phone!! If only every vital records department were that co-operative. He was born on March 4, 1950 at 10:40 am CST in Haskell, TX.

He has placid, not confrontational Taurus rising. The ruler is Venus in Aquarius, and it is trine Mars in Libra which has great potential for compromise—the aspect, not just Mars. The ability to strengthen and exhibit that quality is there. However, he also has Mercury (the way we think) in Aquarius conjoining Jupiter, but in range of opposing Pluto and square the Ascendant. That is a different story. Mercury-Jupiter by itself is optimism, and in the tenth house, the optimism expresses most in his career confidence. He sees himself as very fortunate and deserving there. The Sun in the tenth adds to that. Venus, Mercury and Jupiter are all in Aquarius. That is an emotionally detached sign, when considered as an archetypal principal. It tends to view life as “what is best for the group.” Which group, is the question. Mercury is in an out-of-sign trine to Uranus, the dispositor of Mercury (ruling the sign Mercury occupies, Aquarius), and that indicates very independent thinking without feeling a need for advice—with Jupiter it is exaggerated; opposing Pluto, it is absolute. We have seen this quality blatantly exhibited, and it is dangerous.

Sun in Pisces (the only thing in that sign) is usually kind-hearted, not the sort of energy that executes people and seems to enjoy it. I think he was born a Pisces to learn how to BE one—Saturn is opposing the Sun. It includes the Moon, since Saturn conjoins it in Virgo. That can be very critical and cold—especially with so much in detached Aquarius. But, mostly it speaks to an austere upbringing, albeit with drama and ego involved (fifth house).

What is his life purpose? One lesson is to learn to be less critical and negative and more compassionate. But the main indicator of past life energy is the south node in Libra in the fifth house. This indicates that in past lives he was a person of some importance, used to being respected and admired, but mostly because of his spouse. He chose a well-off spouse in this lifetime, too. He was not used to making his own decisions, however, and so he’s in this lifetime, not only to learn to be “one of the common people,” but also to make his own decisions. As with most issues wherein we are not so skilled, we can see him over-doing it. Like the pendulum swinging too far in the other direction.

Pluto in his chart represents his public persona, since it rules the seventh house. Within the last year, his Moon-Saturn conjunction has moved by solar arc to square his natal Pluto. It calls for a transformation of habits—especially those of habitual criticism and callousness. Whether he is still in the presidential race or not, his progressed Sun will square his progressed Pluto in about five or six months, and he will have a strong lesson about control, power and public perception. It will be followed seven or eight months after that by a repeat of the same thing when the progressed Sun also squares natal Pluto. Sun-Pluto connections are the most life-changing of them all.

Not only that, but his goals radically shifted about four months ago when solar arc Pluto conjoined Neptune, but that wasn’t a strong harbinger of success. Instead, it indicated that he was not clear about what he was doing. That is exacerbated by the fact that Neptune in transit over the last few months has been squaring his 27:55 degree Taurus ascendant. This is about the most confused a person gets in life regarding their behavior. It also can indicate a period of escapism, like drinking too much. In fact, solar arc Neptune has been squaring his natal Saturn-Moon for more than a year, which greatly adds to this problem. I wish him luck, but he’s not presidential material.

Steve Jobs' Chart

I've had requests for Steve Jobs' chart. Also, many people and pundits have mentioned some darker traits he had. I'll be doing an NCGR Memberletter article more in depth about this, but for now, I'd like to celebrate a life that did much for us, albeit with some unfortunate side effects. People will probably be examining his life for a long time.