Back when I was first learning natal astrology (around "5 B.C." or five years before the first Sinclair and Kaypro personal computers hit the street), students were encouraged to look at the main themes in a chart first before getting sucked into the details. Economical and effective chart synthesis was the "Holy Grail" of the … Continue reading Structured Chart-Reading
General Astrology
Astrology Takes a Detour
In the interest of full disclosure, I should mention first that I've been what is known as a "psychological" astrologer since the term gained popularity in the early 1970s. British astrologer Alan Leo - often called "the father of modern astrology" - was the first practitioner of what he called "the science of tendencies" rather … Continue reading Astrology Takes a Detour
File Under: “Why Bother?”
Here is a well-reasoned 2003 editorial by "Frater P.A.L." from the Journal of the Western Mystery Tradition, No. 4. Vol. 1 titled "Why Study the Divinatory Arts?" (Forgive me if I've posted this article before, either here or in the tarot forums, but I wanted to expand upon its subject matter with a few personal … Continue reading File Under: “Why Bother?”
An Astrological Thumbnail: Translation of Light
I just calculated a chart for a newborn that, while remarkable for several reasons, contains a "textbook" example of a translation of light scenario. First a definition for those unfamiliar with the concept, from On the Heavenly Spheres by Helena Avelar and Luis Ribeiro: "Translation of light occurs when faster planet A separates from slower … Continue reading An Astrological Thumbnail: Translation of Light
A Crowded House, or Where Do I Put All Those Planets
For those old-timers like me who may wander in here, the title of this post should bring back fond memories of William Conrad's narrated taglines to the animated Rocky and Bullwinkle episodes, which invariably went "Be here next time, when . . . " followed by a tongue-in-cheek pair of amusing but not always obviously … Continue reading A Crowded House, or Where Do I Put All Those Planets
Wrangling Dual Rulerships
I present myself as a traditional astrologer these days, at least in spirit if not yet in full-fledged practice. So I don't use the trans-Saturnian planets for much beyond generational insights. That means I don't see Uranus, Neptune and Pluto as sign rulers or dispositors, or as partaking of the other essential dignities, or even … Continue reading Wrangling Dual Rulerships
Cheap Shots #16: What Do You Call a Group of Virgos?
Every species of animal has its unique collective nomenclature (a gaggle of geese, a murder of crows, an obstinacy of bison, a brood, flock, cluck or peep of chickens, etc.), so why not astrological natives? Since I have seven or eight Virgos in my life, I figured that's a good place to start. (Please don't … Continue reading Cheap Shots #16: What Do You Call a Group of Virgos?
Update #2 – Travel Event Charts
The trip is done, and the return phase was as smooth and uneventful as anticipated. The phrase I was thinking of for Mars and Mercury in Virgo in the 9th House was "swiftness and precision," and the flights were all of that. We arrived early at both airports, and even the final landing was a … Continue reading Update #2 – Travel Event Charts
Update – Travel Event Charts
Sometimes astrology can be very literal. The outbound phase of our vacation travel went smoothly in that there were no air-travel "situations" at any of the airports. However, I was watching that 12th-House Mars in Virgo closely and it didn't disappoint. Mars rules irritability, Mercury has an association with both Air and Earth, and if I … Continue reading Update – Travel Event Charts
Travel Event and Transit Charts
With Mercury going stationary direct at 28° Leo on September 5th, only 29 minutes after our outbound vacation flight is scheduled to depart, and the fact that it will be within two degrees of an applying across-sign conjunction with transiting Mars at that time (although it won't enter Virgo until September 10th or catch up … Continue reading Travel Event and Transit Charts
Parsifal's Wheel Tarot & Astrology 