AUTHOR'S NOTE: When I joined Aeclectic Tarot in 2011 I met two traditional "seven-planet" astrologers whose opinions greatly affected my thinking on psychological profiling with the natal horoscope (and, by extension, with the tarot cards). I had been a "New-Age" psychological astrologer since 1972 but quickly realized that the "complexions" (aka qualitative humours or temperaments) … Continue reading Complexion vs. Character Mapping in Tarot and Astrology
Astrology
Full-Moon Finale: The “Cold” Moon
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Although I prefer to do a New Moon reading each month, the Full Moon on December 15th of this year is special. Not only is it the last Full Moon of the year, it is reaching its northernmost declination (distance from the equator), achieving a "major lunar standstill" in the sky after which … Continue reading Full-Moon Finale: The “Cold” Moon
“You Have No Power Over Me” – Benefic and Malefic Tarot Cards
AUTHOR'S NOTE: My title comes from the final exchange between Sarah (Jennifer Connelly) and the Goblin King (David Bowie) in the fantasy movie The Labyrinth, in which she informs him that she is no longer susceptible to his wiles. But the inspiration for what follows comes from The Discarded Image by C.S. Lewis (who knew … Continue reading “You Have No Power Over Me” – Benefic and Malefic Tarot Cards
Under the Moon
AUTHOR'S NOTE: As a "lunar" person born on a Full Moon I've always felt its pull, and this month is no exception. Although I was inspired in beginning this essay by my reading of Medieval cultural history, as I was writing it I was at least subconsciously aware that the Moon will be full tomorrow. … Continue reading Under the Moon
Mercury Retrograde: A Brief Case Study
AUTHOR'S NOTE: As a natal and predictive astrologer with 50+ years of experience I've always accepted the premise that, unless they evoke a response by contacting factors in the birth chart of the entity involved (most acutely by conjunction, square or opposition), transiting influences of any kind have little impact on individual lives and even … Continue reading Mercury Retrograde: A Brief Case Study
Modern Astrology and the “Pick-a-Chart” Quandary
AUTHOR'S NOTE: On one of the astrological sub-reddits, a member recently asked how it can be right for different house systems to yield inconsistent chart structures and planetary placements but still manage to "resonate" with our life circumstances even though there is little commonality in the competing definitions. This fluidity of horoscope factors doesn't seem … Continue reading Modern Astrology and the “Pick-a-Chart” Quandary
2024 Presidential Election Recap: The Power of Horary
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I had new content prepared for today, but decided to revisit my October 9th "Astro-Tarotscope" reading in response to the projected outcome of the 2024 Presidential election. I've linked the reading below for those interested, but my closing comment in the original analysis is worth highlighting: "While I admit to not being much … Continue reading 2024 Presidential Election Recap: The Power of Horary
“In Angles They Will Pursue Thee” – Angles Speak Louder Than Curves
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I just came across the following quote (attributed to The Emerald Tablets of Thoth by Taoist author Ethan Indigo Smith) that brought me back to the subject of predictive vs psychological (or humanistic) astrology. "Know ye, the hounds of the Barrier move only through angles and never through curves of space. Only by … Continue reading “In Angles They Will Pursue Thee” – Angles Speak Louder Than Curves
Circular Numerology and the Revolving Tarot
AUTHOR'S NOTE: A large percentage of everything that goes on in our environment is cyclical rather than linear in nature (although some cycles like the 25,800 year "wobble" of the Earth's axis are so long that it's difficult to observe their periodicity). The alternation of day and night and the turning of the seasons are … Continue reading Circular Numerology and the Revolving Tarot
2024 Presidential Election: An Astro-Tarotscope Forecast
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Regardless of what you think of Donald Trump (and even though I'm far from liberal in my own political views, I don't have much use for him), the Gods of Prognostication seem to prefer him on November 5th. Of all the readings I've done on the upcoming election, this one is the most … Continue reading 2024 Presidential Election: An Astro-Tarotscope Forecast