Sun: The type of train you’re riding on: passenger, working, or other. Obviously, you want to get somewhere by being someone, yes?
Psychology and astrology in the 21st century for holistic healers, parents, counselors, personal and family dynamics of challenge-cooperation, Soul Mate patterns. mitchLOP8@yahoo.com / 840=216-1014
Friday, August 16, 2013
Taking a Train Ride with the Planets
Sun: The type of train you’re riding on: passenger, working, or other. Obviously, you want to get somewhere by being someone, yes?
Monday, August 12, 2013
Aspects Part II: Mixing & Matching Planetary Effort
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Aspects: the patterns of Cooperation or Challenge in the psyche
Aspects are the patterns of Cooperation or Resistance & Challenge. They make up the game of Six Degrees of Separation: who's working (or not) with whom (signs and planets). It is close, but it’s a plus-or-minus range from zero to 30 in astrology. Twelve ways x 30 = 360 degrees, or a perfect circle: the continuation of the chart as a Mandala of Life.
Here we find cooperation and adjustment to Life Challenges as well as frustration and resistance to growth patterns and lessons that will not go away. This is Resolution Management of Life Crises and Opportunities, and the aspects are symbolic indicators of the energy exchanges between different parts of the psyche. Cooperation and teamwork are the basic structure; adjustment and flexibility are the goal.
•Opposition - I stand off against (until I compromise); stalemate that needs balance
• Square - I reluctantly acknowledge (but build with...); the "square peg in a round hole"; the square wheel that takes friction to make smooth
•Sextile - I cooperate with; flexibility
•Trine - I willingly yield to; this is too easy! (may indicate laziness)
•Quincunx - I cannot achieve resolution; that itch is driving me crazy and can’t be answered!!
The conjunction can be tricky because two forces are at work--and there may be a "Stop! Go!" interaction between planets (for example, Saturn-Jupiter) at work, or other types of "How did I get teamed with YOU?!"
Squares represent a personal issue; this is something that the individual must resolve from within for character development.
Oppositions represent someone else: this is both an external factor (much like projection, where another person represents the energy and is a factor in the individual's life), or it indicates a tug-of-war that needs negotiation.
Trines are almost always welcomed, although some astrologers and counselors think they can be TOO much of a good thing and not supportive of effort that could be helpful in character development.
Sextiles work like trines, but they're much more casual.
Quincunxes are not always considered by astrologers because they're a "minor" aspect, but I've seen them irritate and annoy individuals with their dynamics of aggravation. (Strangely enough, the Magi aspects consider the quincunx--with the exception of a Saturn pattern to Chiron)--to be quite supportive as an attraction factor.
As noted elsewhere on this site, I have found the work and research of the Magi Society and their historical perspective of aspects to be one of the reasons why people have trouble understanding the variations within astrology. The Magi Society was originated in China in 1625 and their technique of using aspects as guide markers instead of house systems and cusps made their work that much more significant. In effect, they have been doing the calculations and chronicles of astrological research for almost 400 years—and the volume of knowledge they have to validate their work is quite substantial. It could be said that they were doing the work of the Gauquelin’s from Switzerland, but hundreds of years earlier.
In the years of evaluations on the lives of the subjects whose charts were cast by the Magi Society, they became more convinced than ever that aspects are truly what characterizes the individual; that these dynamics of tension and cooperation are the keys to the psyche’s growth. They see that the house systems can change depending on what type is used to delineate the chart, and so placements of planets can vary up or down within a cusp (doorway) if that planet is close enough by degrees to “move over.”
With the aspect system ONLY, the psycho-dynamics are revealed in a more open way as “either resolved or learning to be resolved” nature: the subject has either shown soul achievement and growth through a challenge, or they have not—and all the “avoidance and excuses” that we use as denial methods will not hold validity because the aspects define the life challenges and opportunities, for better or worse. There’s not much room for rebuttal with an aspect.
Frustrating aspect patterns can be both blessings and frustration: they can inspire someone to great endeavors or they can act as hindrances that an individual may not want to develop. Astrologers and those who use charts for psychological analysis have their own views on which ones are helpful and obstruction. (Some astrologers would disagree, but I have dropped the sextile from my work because I find it too mild. There are also secondary aspects that some astrologers favor--and I don't--but it's all useful depending on who is interpreting the chart.)
And in a comical view of the potential of astrology and education, I have found that aspects are simple geometry and that I quite enjoy finding the patterns--which is remarkable because I failed geometry twice in high school. So much for "when will we ever use this knowledge?" from the student's chair!
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
"Outer Planet People" (OPPs) are "late bloomers in life"
Living on the Edge - or
"Oops, I'm an 'Opps' "
OPPs can be seen as those individuals with one of these planets in a tight connection by degree and angle to one of the Four Direction Markers of Identity (“the angles” that form a cross shape): the ascendant/1st house cusp (personality/appearance), the Imum Coeli (IC; “lower heavens” in Latin), or bottom of the chart (home/roots of being), the descendant (7th house cusp opposite the ascendant, and the 10th house cusp, or midheaven (MC; the “medium coeli”). How would we see such a person? Each planet takes its own properties as an ambassador of energy, and so there is no hard-and-fast rule.
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Astrological Teams of Like-Dislike, and Energy Patterns (Aspects) Pt. 3
Astrological
Teams of Like-Dislike,
and
Energy Patterns (Aspects) Pt. 3
Which signs have compatibility
with each other? Do some signs have more affinity with others and not the rest?
As a song once asked, “Why can’t we be friends?” It’s possible for ALL signs to
match with each other—but some have more capability of doing it with less
challenge.
Some signs DO have
more bonding with others because they’re in the same elements: the
fire-earth-air-water matches. These by nature of their quality of energy will
find a connection:
Fire signs: Aries-Leo-Sagittarius
Earth
signs: Taurus-Virgo-Capricorn
Air
signs: Gemini-Libra-Aquarius
Water signs: Cancer-Scorpio-Pisces
(This also reflects
the aspect pattern of a trine, or 120 degrees)
Fire and Air signs do well together. So do Earth and Water signs. They also
match well with their complimentary element signs that are NOT opposites:
Aries-Gemini-Aquarius (fire-air-air)
Taurus-Cancer-Pisces (earth-water-water)
Gemini-Leo-Sagittarius (air-fire-fire)
Cancer-Virgo-Capricorn (water-earth-earth)
This also reflects the aspect pattern of a sextile, or 60 degrees)
In a similar way, we can line up the zodiac’s 12 signs into two teams:
Aries=Libra
Taurus=Scorpio
Gemini=Sagittarius
Cancer=Capricorn
Leo=Aquarius
Virgo=Pisces
Here, each sign has an alternate match. These are “opposite” signs—or an alternative view of that sign. Each sign’s opposite carries qualities that the matching partner displays—like bookends. In this way, “opposites attract.” (This also reflects the aspect pattern of opposition or 180 degrees.)
Signs can also find their compatible matches and challenges by grouping them by modalities of Cardinal, Fixed, or Mutable. Within each group, there will be an opposite attraction. The remaining two signs left over are NOT in accord with their nature. Another way of looking at this is to put the respective signs on a North-South-East-West 4-way stop sign. The opposite signs will attract; the discordant signs will be at the cross-points:
Cancer
Aries +
Libra
Capricorn
Aquarius
Taurus +
Scorpio
Leo
Pisces
Gemini + Sagittarius
Virgo
The signs at 90 degrees form the square pattern of challenge.
Again, there are signs which don’t find it easy to get along by elemental nature or quality. As noted above, Fire and Air & Earth and Water signs do well with each other. I think the squaring signs DO have a chance with each other—they create a different kind of cooperation once they’ve resolved their differences.
Fire and Water signs tend by their nature to have some difficulties: the Water
sign tends to “put out the enthusiastic fire” while the Fire sign can’t
understand why the emotional Water sign won’t take action on something if they
intuitively understand it. An Air sign tends to express ideas that “can’t find
solid footing on the ground” to an Earth sign, while the Earth sign often
considers the Air sign to be “aloft like a kite without someone holding it
down.”
Then there are the patterns or interactions of signs which are just stressful by nature: they clash with two elements that are not in harmony. For this reason, I call this union--or the effort to make it work "an itch that can't be scratched; a difficulty of resolution." One way to do this involves the help of the opposition pattern: find the “opposite” sign AND THEN NOTICE WHICH SIGN “ESCORTS” IT ON EITHER SIDE. This forms the quincunx or inconjunct pattern, or 150 degrees. If you're matched with a partner whose sign is inconjunct with yours...good luck! You can make it if you try! (sometimes). In a similar way, if you have planets in signs that make this connection, expect a LOT of annoyance within your own psyche as they both try to get their way!
Taurus / Libra-Sagittarius
Gemini / Scorpio-Capricorn
Cancer /Sagittarius-Aquarius
Leo / Capricorn-Pisces
Virgo / Aries-Aquarius
Libra / Taurus-Pisces
Scorpio / Aries-Gemini
Sagittarius / Taurus-Cancer
Capricorn / Gemini-Leo
Aquarius / Cancer-Virgo
Pisces / Leo-Libra
=============================
Fire/Air don't
like Water & Earth
Earth/Water don't like Fire & Air
Astrological Patterns of Energy:
Cooperation or Resistance
I use the conjunction (0 degrees), square (90), opposition (180), Trine (120),
and quincunx/inconjuct (150). I don't use sextiles (60) because I think they're
too weak to feel. The rest are minor aspects, and some astrologers DO use them.
I neither agree nor disagree.
Monday, July 1, 2013
Zodiac symbols are the key to charts
The Ram's Horns, the Bull's Horns, the Twin Brothers, the Crab's Claws, the Lion's Mane, the Woman sitting, the Scales of Balance, the Scorpion's Stinger, the Centaur-Archer's Arrow and Bow, the Goat-Fish with a tail, the Electric Awareness of the Universe, and Two Fish.
The planets are unique too: the Cup of Jupiter's Fortune, Saturn's Scythe that cuts back on our energy; Mars's erection and Venus's Hand Mirror. Uranus is both the electric antenna of Universal Knowledge and the 'H' for its founder, Herschel. Neptune's trident, the Sun is the Center of your world, and Mercury has a winged hat. (Pluto is the Circle of Eternity in the Material World.) The key asteroids are featured here too, and Chiron, the Key to Personal Healing. The planet Earth, although not used, is the Cross of Matter inside the Circle of Life.
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Jupiter in Cancer (meets the Sun in Cancer native): Home is for Happiness
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Pluto 4th House transit: Rebuild your Life & Home
A word from Pluto the Transforming Agent of Changes and Rebuilding: "When I visit a house (Area of Life Activity), you will meet MY demands and expectations that are designed for your personal Growth & Character Development--and My method is to destroy what you have created and expect will continue. Your ability to regenerate and reconstruct yourself into NEW Awareness of Self is my gift--whether or not you like it or agree with the immediate results."
Don't care for Saturn's Lessons and "Go back and repeat it again" ways? Pluto doesn't ask us to repeat a lesson: it completely wipes out the rules and guidelines and makes us develop a whole new sense of ideas, purpose, commitment, or objectives. To my experience (and also from clients), this is more observable when Pluto transits the angles (1st, 4th, 7th, & 10th houses).
This is a lesson of Pluto in the Fourth House of Home Environment, Family Settings, and the End Times of our lives: whatever structures, foundations, plans, goals, objectives, and intentions are in place will be swept aside, either figuratively or literally. (Author's note: In my own experience, I have watched Pluto in my 4th house since 2005--and I have moved almost 3000 miles six times since then. That's over 4600 km each time. In facing Pluto each time, I have made friends and seen them depart from my life and given up loved ones, pets, belongings, property, and jobs. It has been brutally painful each time--but Pluto in the 4th house says "Where you are and what you are at this time will not be the same when I have finished with your life.")
I don't want to use the analogy of a disaster as a means of defining Pluto in the 4th house, but it has a firm message that I saw as the embodiment of this transit. In 2005, when I saw New Orleans, Louisiana, be pummeled by Hurricane Katrina, that was a strong motivation for me to immediately decide that I needed to change how I lived, WHERE I lived, and how much I needed to learn about my priorities and values about "home sweet home." My very first home that I bought seven months earlier was put on the market for sale--and I said to friends that I intended to relocate to California so that I could meet someone who would help me learn about self-reliance and self-sufficiency and share a home. I found that person--and found ourselves a farm and land--not long after. It was an eye-opening experience to raise food--including chickens--and to be responsible for the egg-to-dinner table results. This City Boy learned a whole new way of living from Pluto's presence in the 4th house.
It happened again in 2009, when I had to move yet again (and yes, over 3000 miles) in order to deal with 4th house issues. (The 4th house involves one parent; this involved my mother's health and care.) After I finished the tenure set by Pluto for this transformational understanding, I was then free to move yet AGAIN 3000+ miles in order to start new--and so I did.
And now...Pluto has energized me and the importance of starting over one more time--and I have--you guessed it--moved a great distance to work overseas. (My 5th house cusp is 23 Capricorn--looks like "the road is my middle name" may well be my future for a LONG time).
So, PLEASE heed my counsel when I say to you that "Pluto in transit through your 4th house {and also in other houses} will change you in ways that you do not expect, that you do not want to let go of, and in ways that are absolutely profound to your expectations. Learn to embrace the potential of Renewal, Rebuilding, and Opportunity from Pluto, even if it means you have to pack everything in a suitcase and go. Pluto makes no promises except that change is inevitable, and that your willingness to face it can make all the difference for success or frustration. As much as you may love your home and all that belongs under your roof, Pluto transiting your 4th house may uproot you physically, emotionally, and most certainly, completely, so that you find the path to a new reality that is vital for your psyche.
Saturday, May 4, 2013
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Sunday, April 28, 2013
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Mars in Taurus - Steady at the helm
All manners of physical work, including exercise, should be better now: the body human and its flesh-and-blood construction, will be better able to handle requirements and functions if asked and applied. This also includes care and treatment--as in "get some quality time for relaxation and comfort."
It's absolutely appropriate to go to the gym a bit more if you need the hands-on workout, but it's also just as important now--more than ever--to get body care, including adjustments, manipulation, or other corrective support, and also massage, reflexology, spa or other water therapies, or sensory enhancement (aromatherapy, ear candling, mud baths, or even deep soaking time in a hot tub).
Mars in Taurus is a time when intellect and decision-making moves slowly; therefore, it's absolutely correct for deep thinking, planning, strategizing, and even deliberation. It can also be beneficial for projects that would take time to fulfill or accomplish; this could be an excellent opportunity to tackle a large project that does not have a need for a fast resolution. However you use this energy, it's slow and steady--and gives a great potential for tangible rewards.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Astrology & Tarot as Archetypes & Role Models
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Empty Houses & Follow-up Rulership placements
Then ask yourself--what's the condition of the empty house? Who's the doorman on the cusp? What uniform is he wearing? What characterizations of the sign do you know? Find the ruler of that sign and see where it falls on its respective cusp, and also, what planet is engaged? In what sign? In what kind of aspect or energy flow? In other words, "Where was the activity of that empty house displayed?" What role of response is represented as a resulting follow-up? Who got the job, and what IS the job?
I have Capricorn on the 5th; no planets. Saturn, the ruler of Capricorn, is in my 3rd in Scorpio. It makes up part of the Yod to my midheaven (career): how I express myself in communications through my work as a Life Mentor and astrologer. The 3rd house involves Communications, Short Trips, and Basic Learning. The 5th house is Children, Fun & Enjoyment, Love, and Creativity--I have no children, but my creative works, including my books, are my "kids" in their own way. I fulfill the (Gemini-like) 3rd house Communications and Information Dispersal & the Discipline Demanded thru the presence of the Master Teacher (Saturn) with my effort to express myself as an astrological teacher and my college professorship as an English instructor.
I also do it by writing and blogging, including the 3 books I've authored. My B.A. in psychology fulfills the mystical deep intuitive studies demanded by Scorpio: "what secrets hide in the minds of men and women?" By using my abilities to write, speak, and act with deliberation, effort, knowledge of the psyche, and creativity, I learn to give life to my "progeny" through my work and play--and fulfill my lessons to express myself in verbal and written form. Public speaking, anyone? Learning THAT was a big lesson for me--even how to speak more slowly. And that isn't easy for a Noo Yawker from Lawn Guyland.
So it's just like that: where's the ruler of the empty house sign? Look to the answer for the clues to reveal about how it's being resolved.
Here's a long sample of rulerships:
Ruler of the 1st House in the 1st House
The manner in which you come across to others is very important to you. You are self-conscious and very body aware. Even if you don't have any planets in Aries, you have some distinct Aries traits--you are reactive, a leader, and sometimes impulsive. You are self-motivated and self-interested. You live life believing that your fate is in your own hands, and you are likely to be quite proactive.
Ruler of the 1st House in the 2nd House
You have a strong value system, and you value security and longevity more than most people. Some may call you stubborn and fixed, as you do have a way of establishing routines and getting set in your ways. You may be focused on establishing yourself materially, but this position can also suggest a strong desire to lay down roots. Comfort and security motivate much of what you do, and you value things that last. Even if you don't have planets in the sign of Taurus, you have some distinct Taurus traits.
Ruler of the 1st House in the 3rd House
Even if you don't have planets in Gemini, your chart ruler in the third house gives you some distinct Gemini traits, such as versatility, curiosity, and communication skills. You may be fidgety, somewhat restless, and most certainly curious about the world around you. You are likely to be quite active, moving about close to home. You adopt a lighthearted approach to life, may be a "jack of all trades", and are a "people watcher". You delight in putting two and two together, and feel a stronger need than most people to engage in idle chit-chat with friends.
Ruler of the 2nd House in the Houses: Interpretations
The anxiety about earning your own money already was generated in your youth, probably by your family upbringing. Your financial income is directly related to your own effort, to the expression of your talents and to the utilization of your physical body.
Ruler of the 2nd House in the 2nd House
You are able to earn money through your own industry. You will find security thanks to your patient work and perseverance. Your practical and realistic sense allows you to do very well in your professional activity. It is important for you to establish a healthy sense of values, because your remuneration is based on that.
Ruler of the 2nd House in the 3rd House
Your income may be derived from a job or career which involves verbal as well as written communication, studies, travel, and also by working with a brother or sister if you have any, or other close relative.
Your professional success is related to the expression of your personality, the confidence in your initiative and your physical body or appearance. Whatever you achieve in life, you will have to do it on your own and will be very proud of it. Try to avoid the tendency to become egocentric. You may do best when self-employed.
Ruler of 10th house in 2nd house
Your professional success will be reflected in your income. Most likely you will make money through the profession you choose. Your resources and values play an important role in your future success.
Ruler of 10th house in 3rd house
Your professional success is related to some form of self-expression. You feel a need to communicate and to express your own ideas through the profession you choose. Your career may necessitate a lot of traveling or you may publish notes or articles.
Ruler of 10th house in 4th house
Your profession is related to your home, and because of this, you may work out of your home or with one of your parents, possibly continuing a family business. This astrological influence also could lead you to try fields having to do with soil, property, land or those that have to do with your place of birth.
Ruler of 10th house in 5th house
Your professional success is related to your creativity. No matter what profession you choose, you always show your originality and desire to do things your way. This astrological position leads you to find success, especially in sports or artistic careers. Working in your profession will be a pleasure for you.
Ruler of 10th house in 6th house
Your professional success is related to your ideas on service. No matter what profession you choose, it will be more gratifying for you if you feel that you are helping others. This astrological position favors professions linked to medicine, therapy or nutrition. If you do not have a career, you are likely to work in a company that provides some kind of service.
Ruler of 10th house in 7th house
Your professional success is related to the public, society and marriage. You have a need for give and take with the public; your contact with the public could be on a large scale as well as people individually. Your professional progress will be stimulated by the training of some association or by the support you receive from your mate.
Ruler of 10th house in 8th house
Your professional success is related to your ability to produce changes or transformations in yourself as well as others. This astrological influence brings financial support from others that will help your career. That help could come from a financial institution as well as your marriage. Any kind of investigations would be very favorable.
Ruler of 10th house in 9th house
Your professional success is related to your ideals, university degree, higher studies, religion and traveling. You may establish yourself professionally in a different place from that of your birth or your work could necessitate you to travel often. You always feel the need to expand your knowledge and to make the most of each day.
Ruler of 10th house in 10th house
You are likely to put a lot of energy into achieving professional success. Your ambitions and goals are clearly defined, and you have a need to demonstrate to yourself and others what you can achieve through your own effort. Your career may depend on parental support or guidance, or you may follow in the footsteps of your parents. Either way, you always point out your individuality and personal ability.
Ruler of 10th house in 11th house
Your professional success is related to your participation in some organization, group, union, or club. The support you receive from your friends will be crucial and because of this, you have to consider sociability as an important part of your life.
Ruler of 10th house in 12th house
Your professional success is related to your ability to serve others behind the scenes. Your profession is likely to be performed behind closed doors or in private. This position favors professions that require power behind the throne; that is to say that you make suggestions or decisions without conferring with the public. Activities linked to secret information, medicine or investigations would be very favorable.