Houses: the "Cities of the World" as Areas of Life Experience

Antero Alli, a fantastic author on astrology, wrote a book where he had the idea of the chart houses (those "wedges," as I call them) as "states" of existence, much as I've outlined in a prior post.

 But what I found helpful was to turn the idea of houses into "cities" around the world.  To me, the chart IS a "world view" of our lives on an individual level.  Here are my ideas for the 12 "city-states" of the world of our lives, along with the dynamics of each.

 In each “city” or house, we all find a new means of understanding a particular experience or Life Lesson that is crucial for our growth as individuals and also for the Four Primary Objectives/Goals of being born on Earth: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual learning.

 It is said that these are unique in their strengths because of the vibrations of the Earth Herself as a Living Entity (She grows Life in multiple forms), and therefore, our capacity to experience the houses (or “cities”) is vital to our knowledge of “how and why” we react and respond to the astrological messages of signs and planets in each house. 

1st House = Aries 

New York City:

"The Big Apple" & New York Yankees #1

(Personality & Physical Embodiment)

Early childhood years

2nd House = Taurus

Las Vegas/Monte Carlo: $$, indulgences, music; View toward sex & needs Self-values, attitude toward assets; Attitude toward earning capacity and its expression.

3rd house = Gemini

Minneapolis-St. Paul or Philadelphia

“Twin” Cities or the City of Brotherly Love;

 (siblings and communications; short travels)

4th house = Cancer-Crab

Rome

“No Place Like Home”

“Have you called your mother lately?”

(home environment; end of life; mother-figure influence)

5th house = Leo

Hollywood…Rio…Paris!

Creativity (physical and mental)

Activities of luck (gambling); arts and crafts skills,

Children and romantic nature

6th house = Virgo

Boston 

“Hahd wehk nevah huht nobahdee 

(Yes, that's their accent in "Bah-stun")

("Hard work never hurt nobody").

Work ethics, Day-to-day service and activities to humanity; Health and dietary needs

7th house = Libra

Hawaii & Polynesian Islands

Partnerships (Marriage, Business & Social Engagements) 

Dealings with Significant Others & Soul Mates

8th house = Scorpio

Moscow; Chicago (in the 1920s--and now); Miami, Florida 
Values of Others

Death-Rebirth Cycles

Sexual Dynamics

Sharing of Self: Assets, body, energy; Attunement with world of spirit; Deep intensity of character

Intuitive mind; perceptive “radar”

Destructive use of power: criminal mind

9th house = Sagittarius 

Notre Dame, (school and cathedral); Jerusalem, Mecca, the Vatican; Harvard. Higher Education and values of learning.

Social regulations and order of ideals.

Morality; Spirituality keys;

Philosophical Issues;

Interest in other cultures and values

10th house = Capricorn

Washington, D.C.; London; Cairo; Beijing; Athens

Status/Occupation

Career/Ambition; 

Need for a legacy

Parent (of same sex) relationship

 11th house = Aquarius

Los Angeles - San Francisco; Seattle; Amsterdam; 

Humboldt County, CA (Eureka-Arcata)
Group Affiliations and networking

Humanitarian Endeavors & interests; 

Friendships and bonding ideals; Openness toward social change

12th house = Pisces

Eden; Never-Never Land; Shangri-La, Casablanca (the movie).

Undoing; self-destructive habits.  Self-limitations, Secrets and fears about oneself; Destructive habits and tendencies; 

abuses of soul/spirit. Unconscious mind: 

memory recall from prior life awareness; Retreat for privacy

(c) MDLOP8 2010; 2014

Birthday "cousins" that match your birth date

 

Astrological "birthday cousins" are more in line with numerology, but they sometimes explain why some signs do/don't get along with each other when they seem to go against standard presumptions. It's based on the total number value of the birthday itself--so in cases when an individual with an apparent inconjunct/quincunx that might indicate a stress pattern of interaction DOES find a social-emotional-physical connection with a partner, this might explain it. You should know your range of inconjunct planets. I'm not saying these are exclusive, and for sure, some folks do not engage well with their squaring planets, and even opposition planets. This is just a possibility idea of mine.

To start, take the single number value of the birthdate itself. For example, a "14" is minimized to 1+4 = 5. The same for a "23" as a total value of 5. Anyone born on any three of those dates (5, 14, 23) are "astrological cousins". Similarly, a person born on the 1st would be in synch with a person born on the 10th, 19th, and 28th. Only 11/29 have their dual pairing.

Only one birthday is not reduced: the Master Birthday 22. These individuals are unique in their own way: they have a singularity of focus that is both powerful and specialized (said to be either a spiritual-religious or a financial/materialistic goal in mind). A connection with another 22 birthday would be very intense.

As we enter the Photon Belt in 2160....

 

Some..."homework" for all of you viewers: the Photon Belt and the timing of its full arrival and potential.

Now, this is one of those fun things about astrological work: getting to "look into the future" and being serious about what can be gleaned from it. In this case, here's a glimpse of a significant galactic event: when the Earth (and our solar system, including our cooperating planets) enters into the Photon Belt. To be basic, the PB is a point in our Milky Way galaxy where the solar system (and of course, Earth) is in direct alignment with an intensified level of energy emanating from a central star that exists in that galaxy called The Great Central Sun. 

Think of the GSS as the center hub of all activity; the focal point of all kinds of understanding, awareness, and advancement. Another way to explain or visualize or imagine it would be to have a huge spotlight in a dark area and someone (or something like a planet) is approaching it. When it gets to the point where the distribution of energy is being released, there's an obvious capacity to "see more", as it were. In this case, it's about REALLY understanding and "seeing more" in an advanced manner that involves cognitive levels on basic and advanced concepts. That "spotlight" area is called the Photon Belt.

We (along with Earth and the solar system) enter the PB in 2160. (I kind of doubt I'll be around to see it, but just in case...), this is good to know. It's SUPPOSED to be a time of enlightenment and advancement for the planet and all its inhabitants, human, animal, and otherwise. So what I've done is plot a chart that indicates that event and uses the start of January 1st, 2160, as the launch time. You can contemplate the results. Quite an interesting set of oppositions, and note that there's a polarity between Cancer and Capricorn: Nurturing and Large-Scale Establishment. Along with that, the four major asteroids AND Pluto too, at zero Cancer? I just wish for sure I could be there to help analyze the outcome. A message to all of you ahead: this is YOUR time of challenge and responsibility. Do well with it. It's a marvelous future ahead if you want it to be so.

The (Magi) Astrology of the Beatles

I know they're back in the music news (yet again!) because of a long-lost track that was part of John Lennon's legacy: it's been modified by Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr to "fill in" their perhaps-last-ever for our listening enjoyment. But there's been something on my mind for over 15 years: a perspective I found in a book on Magi astrology (the kind from the Shaolin monks of China's studies) about declinations. Declinations, as I've mentioned on this site, are the degrees of alignment that are close to the equatorial balance of the northern/southern hemispheres of a chart. And I'm an avid Beatles fan; I have a library of unreleased material on audio format.

In this article in the Magi book, it said that the Beatles as a collaborative group had very unique declinations--and I didn't quite understand it. So I just redid their charts in that fashion in order to try and find clues as to what might have inspired their bonding connections as friends and bandmates. To do this, I only use their birth dates and not the time, per the Magi system. It's done on a solar chart, and I run an equatorial chart instead to find the declinations.

What I found was incredibly unique to my understanding: there are synchronicity ("super linkages") matches with George/Paul between the Sun/Chiron, which indicate a trusting level of identifying with someone else in a relationship; Chiron-Neptune (for a 'reunion' with a long-ago soul mate'; with George/John with Venus-Mars, indicating a close personal "bromance"; John/Ringo's Moon-Jupiter-Saturn, indicating an emotional past-life connection of growth and responsibility, possibly parental; Paul-John's Moon-Mercury-Venus-Jupiter, surely indicating their emotional connection, mental attunement to each other's musical/artistic styles, and growth opportunities and the ability to prosper from it; and Ringo/Paul's Moon-Mercury-Venus-Chiron-Saturn, indicating their emotional-mental-relationship bonds, social appreciation of each other's musical styles, but also, the longevity that they are the last two remaining members with us today. Finally, there's a connection of financial success between Paul's Chiron (relationship with a soul mate) and John's Venus (social pleasure and enjoyment/arts). No wonder they were the premier songwriting duo of their time!

Whatever someone wants to say about astrological techniques or analysis: the Beatles once again come to the foreground in the subject. The union of these four men as a social institution has its origins and validations in the stars.

How to interpret a chart; the processes of delinations

 

"How do you interpret a chart?"

I don't know there's a definitive answer. Everyone has his/her own style. Some say to look at the ascendant first and planets nearby/conjunct; others say to look at houses (depending on what system/style is used); then there are those who look at other patterns: amounts of elements, rulerships, hemispheres, and signages with planetary match-ups.

I do all of that. At once. I can't say my way is better, but it's how my mind works. Sometimes the planets in signs appear to me like a chessboard configuration--and then they (the planets) figuratively rise up as though they're in 3D and not a flat 2D image. And they start to yell at me: "HEY! Look HERE! LOOK at my placement! Look whom I'm in aspect with and how it's making me react!" I also look at declinations (which is ALSO mentioned on this web page). And I consider the aspects, elements, and the houses--several times over. 

(I DO see patterns, and I mentally connect with the symbolism of the glyphs. You do the same thing with the letters of the alphabet. Letters in language (or symbols) are the same to me as glyphs. I mentally connect with the mythic-psychological-archetypical representations of the glyphs. Why? I'm ADD with a learning disorder, but I'm also a Fluid Learner. You'll have to look that up on my education web site here.)

And so much of this happens in a rush of information. Remember, I'm a Virgo ASC--and Mercury in Aries. I think at two levels: either nanosecond speed or delayed comprehension. High-functioning Virgo; Vulcan Rising. (You can look that up on this site as well. Just scroll down to 'V' and you'll see it alphabetized.)

I let the chart talk to me; I use my Intuition as well as my Cognition. 

So I would say to anyone: find your own method. Nurture it. Let it work within you. Let it work externally; learn how to share what you see and what you feel. And express what you know and then learn more.

And have fun. And apply it with care, wisdom, and sincerity. Help others, and in turn, help yourself learn about who and why they are and the same for yourself.

Saturn and Neptune in Aries: Responsibility confronts Escapism and Deception; Spring 2025/2026

 

Sometimes it hurts to look ahead via transits and feel the Intuitive knowledge that lies in possibilities. No one wants to be Cassandra, but the responsibility of knowledge has its own levels of dissemination. You have, as a reader of this site, every reason to disagree with me. You also have every right and reason to consider what I'm sharing and why. One of us is either very correct or very wrong. I'm taking my chances on that. It's like betting on the financial markets: if you're wrong, you lose money and clients. If you're right, you gain assets and investors. I also remind people that in older times, if the astrologer was wrong, he was executed. If he was right...the ruler of the kingdom praised and sustained his counselor. I prefer the second option.

I’ve already shared my thoughts about Neptune in Aries: the rise of the Misguided Spiritual Warrior who wants to fight for an illusionary noble cause. In classic literature, this can be seen in the representation of Don Quixote fighting a windmill and thinking he’s dueling with a giant. In the legacy of the United States, this last occurred in 1861, when the Confederacy was born as an act of rebellion for economic rights and ownership of slaves versus freedom of the human being as an entity.

I’ve also stated that I foresee a rebellion again from the political right-wing groups who want to maintain their sense of white supremacy and domination of women, among other things. And I include the repeated loss of the party that endorses a narcissistic, selfish candidate who wants to destroy everything because he can not have it all, for these reasons and their own misplaced sense of values. If you've never studied world history and the fall of Berlin in the last days of the Reich, then you don't need to read any further: you've made your decision. 

There’s more: what I see with Saturn’s sense of Responsibility going up against Neptune’s Avoidance of Responsibility via Escapism is that there will be challenges in the Areas of Life Experience (houses) that contain the Self-Identity (Sun) and Saturn/Neptune. These two areas are the 8th house Sun in Cancer for the U.S. and the 4th house (home-family) of the transit of Saturn/Neptune. Because these two planets are in the fire sign Aries, I foresee there may be some type of natural disaster with catastrophic implications. Because the U.S. is a Cancer-Crab Sun, I believe this will impact the “Crab’s outer shell” of existence: the two coastlines of the U.S.—in some form of “fire from below” that may well be an earthquake that splits apart the two regions. There is enough validation from scientific and geological research that the west coast is due. I consider that the CENTRAL portion of the U.S. may also undergo a radical change: the New Madrid fault line runs through the Mississippi River causeway. This could possibly be the impact that unleashes what Edgar Cayce foretold of the Great Lakes region breaking apart and flooding down the Mississippi all the way to the Gulf of Mexico.

From my book: Saturn in the 4th brings these lessons:

4th house - Home State

Fear: no home or family; • no “roots”

• “belonging” anxiety; not close to group

• distrusting attachment

• Avoiding grounding and establishing the foundation of self

“I have no place to call my own.”

Duty: Emotional commitment and dependability; building a home base; owning land; Ability to live by oneself

Mastery: Manifestation of home and family as a social hub for transition; safety

What I foresee also with this may be the reunification of displaced peoples into communal living conditions where survival is based on life skills and not “money-payment”. Children and their well-being will be the ruling factor. Women will also likely have a greater say in these matters versus the authoritarian levels of patriarchal dominance.

There will likely still be those who cling to old outdated values and belief systems. Their fate may be decided by their unwillingness to let go of dominance and subjugation.

Regarding the rest of the world (including Europe and Asia): we already know that ocean temperatures and salinity levels are at the tipping point of change and transition. This may be reflected in even greater significant levels of climate change and the inevitable alteration of seasonal patterns. In my view, humanity must begin to finalize a decision of maturity (Saturn) and leave behind the “Heaven will be your salvation and bliss” siren’s call of Neptune.

Uranus in Gemini (July 2025+): There's a Change on the wires a'comin'

 

Uranus in Gemini (July 2025+)

 The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind

It’s never easy nor accepted when change comes to our lives—but it is inevitable. That is the basis and foundation of our human experience. How we respond to it is easy enough. Cardinal signs: “Give me your best shot!”; Fixed signs: “I do NOT want to adjust and I’m going to resist!”; or Mutable signs: “Well, whatever happens, will be…” With this in mind, let’s look ahead at another upcoming Agent of Change: Uranus in Gemini, starting in July 2025.

Consider first the nature of the planet as an Indicator of Life Experience. Uranus represents in our life all that comes with the Unexpected; the Surprises and Startling Occurrences; Acts of Rebelliousness; Genius; Originality; the Unpredicted; and Eccentricity. It’s also about electrical energy, breakthroughs in science, technology, and especially, social trends. As the primary ruler of Aquarius, Uranus brings awareness of movements in the collective behaviors of the group at large. We’re seeing this in increasing volume with the changes in the identity of many individuals who are declaring themselves non-gender assigned. This is because, in an evolutionary pattern, we are shedding some of the limitations of our polarity-based existence. People who are living in this understanding are sharing this as a glimpse of what is further ahead. No matter how we want to fight or resist, it is an inevitable trend that awaits us in the human experience here on Earth. Aquarius also knows the secrets of the universe, and this includes the knowledge that many life forms on other worlds are NOT gender-assigned. Part of our Aquarian awareness as Pluto enters this sign in 2025 also will bring future knowledge of this idea.

Gemini rules messages, information exchanges, exploring ideas, communications, and the energy of the nervous system and upper limbs. The world will likely see new developments in the transfer of information that are both revolutionary and exceptionally unique. Reflect if you will on the emergence of the internet and personal computers, and you can see where this has taken us in our social patterns and experiences. (Personally, as a writer and astrologist, the capacity of a personal computer has completely changed my life in boundless measure.) Historically, the beginning of the last shift of Uranus into Gemini began in July 1776, and the foundation of what would become the United States emerged with the writing and signing (both Gemini qualities) of the Declaration of Independence. (Note that independence is also a Uranian quality.)

Therefore, expect that there will again be profound Gemini-like information exchanges and ideas flying around about all of the above—and that our lives will once again change in remarkable outcomes. I’ve already mentioned in the Neptune-in-Aries post where I feel this will go, and as much, with the advent of Pluto in Aquarius: a shocking (Uranus) rebellion against the status quo in political, social, economic, and global attitudes that transforms (Pluto) the collective awareness (Aquarius). The latter half of this decade will surely see our views of each other and our world in ways that are likely to be talked about for the rest of the 21st century.

 

The "new" astrological signs revisited ahead for 2023

Remember this? I'm STILL being asked "Aren't there 13 signs now?" and "Am I still my original sign? I thought they changed me!"

So...once again...in honor of all the uproar…I am announcing yet another system, the PSYAP way of interpreting your birth sign for the 21st century.  This is my idea, and anyone who disputes it can do so. If anyone cares to reproduce it…send a chunk of crypto (I don’t expect the U.S. dollar to have a long lifespan thanks to Pluto in Capricorn).

================================ 

Ramses the Ram – Known for knocking their heads against the wall and wondering why they have migraines, and also found in hat stores trying on styles that don’t fit or make sense.

Taureen the Bull – Found at the dinner table sampling everything that tastes good (and going for second helpings), and also throwing elaborate sports parties where everything is made on barbeque grills.

JimiNye the Twins – These individuals have the potential to play a right-handed guitar with their left hand, and also possess great urges to steal candy from stores, but turn themselves in after being spotted arguing aloud with themselves about right vs. wrong.

Canseer the Crab – These individuals are found crying at weddings, funerals, and at the maternity ward where babies are kept overnight for observation; also known for making phone calls to total strangers and saying “I was worried about you; did you have a bowel movement today?”

HighlyLo the Lion – Often found in department stores behind the perfume counter and in clothing stores, they help themselves to samples and bring armfuls of items to the dressing room to try on and don’t put anything back on hangers.

Where-go the Virgin Maiden – Often noticed in personnel departments and human resource offices rummaging through the trash bins for lost papers and near the copy machine; they can’t stand to pass by the cleaning storage room without wanting to straighten out the supplies and be sure everyone has a sharpened pencil in their desks.

Libraian, the 2-sided Coin - Over-polite when driving (the Seattle area is known for this), and not moving at a 4-way stop sign. Often found at summer camp as geeky counselors, they are dominated by the kids, who are more cool than their leader. Libraians also collect and maintain libraries of hardcover books by color, not author.

Scorch-you-up the Scorpion – Often seen glaring at long lines of people and yelling at sports figures at ballparks; also noticed in school as youngsters who swear that standardized tests are a form of code.

Sloggytarius the Centaur – Fond of mules, donkeys, and burros, these individuals have a yearning to own animals who refuse to cooperate unless they get their own way.  Also found on farms where they sit in the mud and wait until someone says it’s the right thing to get out of the rain.

CaptainCorneous the grounded Goat-fish –  These individuals are the masters of junk yard recycling:  “Just because it’s broken don’t mean it can’t be used.”  Also seen in the fertilizer business and in the pastures of Sloggytarian farmers:  “One man’s waste shouldn’t go to waste.”

Aquire-ous the social networker – Often seen in community centers, schoolyard soccer, basketball, football, or baseball games as referees, coaches, and umpires who rule against the home team, their motto is “We will extend our neighbors a helping hand.  We will extend two hands, and help ourselves to our neighbors!”

Piskees, the two fish – Known for collecting wading pools and filling them with frogs and other amphibians, and fishing in barrels and swimming pools and wondering why they haven’t got a bite.

(C) MDLOP8 2011; 2022

Neptune in Aries (2025-2039): the battle for values and survival

 

First, when in need, go to an expert source: https://jessicadavidson.co.uk/2021/06/21/neptune-in-aries-pioneering-visions-and-tilting-at-windmills/

Second, when the expert has been cited, THEN deliver one's thoughts as a follow-up. And this is my statement regarding Neptune in Aries (coming in 2025 and ending in 2038/39). Just remember that as an outer planet of influence and representation of the human experience, this will linger for a good number of years beyond the actual timing of emergence/closure. It's already getting ready now in 2022. You can refer to the article, but I want to concentrate on some current issues (political-social-national and historical, and also astrological).

First, We've got a lot of folks who are passionate about fighting for their ideals, values, beliefs, and expectations. This has been a constant for--thousands of years? Nothing new there. Let's all agree that there is a LOT of turmoil going on in the world, especially in Ukraine--and an emerging fighting spirit of national values. We can also see this in the political dynamics of threats from Vladimir Putin and the Communist Chinese Party regarding Taiwan. Nationally, here in the U.S., the emergence of a dual political-religious fight for Christian Nationalism is going full bore, especially at a grassroots basic level of school board agendas and memberships. 

What concerns me--and I think there will be a balance for it--is the phase of how this plays out in 2025 when Neptune's Illusions, Deceptions, Confusions, and Misguided Messages MIXED with Higher Spiritual Awareness and Guidance enters the aggression of Aries, the Warrior-Combatant-Initiator of Events. In particular, the political-religious themes being hurled in today's media and by figures who use the media are my primary thoughts. 

As a preview from a most-recent historical perspective (and I'm keeping it within U.S. dynamics), Neptune in Aries last manifested in our collective consciousness (and subconsciousness) back in 1861. We had a fervor for humanitarian rights to abolish the ownership of a human being as property, and along with it, the conviction that "God gave us prosperity and dominion of the land and all it takes to maintain it" by manifest destiny. (This is also something that the Calvinist movement endorsed, which had its later support in the colonial expansion and subjugation of indigenous peoples here in the U.S.--but for commerce and exploration AND wealth in other continents). So the use of force, militarily and nationally, was not only endorsed but supported. "Might makes right" and "God is on our side" worked together, but not necessarily with the best or highest awareness because "Coin is king" was just as important.

Now take that into the political-social arena of 2022 where there is a roiling fight for personal rights (especially for women) versus group social agendas. We already saw the implications of January 6th and all the turmoil it has brought, but along with it, the adamant support that this event was sanctioned from a Higher Source in the minds of the participants. What I foresee, especially tomorrow is that this will be like a wound revisited (a metaphorical scab torn off the body) if one party does not achieve its objective to dominate the lives of others. 

The fallout and aftermath will not be quiet; in fact, I see it again raising its head (and in forms more violent than before because that's what Aries can represent: warfare and battle, especially with Mars as its ruler) in 2024 and ultimately, in January 2025 when the Congress meets again to formally install the next president. At that time, I believe the entrance of Neptune in Aries will ignite a spiritually-illusioned warrior principle. Rather than repeat what our contributing author noted in her timelines, review it yourself and see what was taking place in the hearts and minds (and misguided thoughts) of ruling parties and nations who were bent on establishing THEIR mandates.

In 2025, I also foresee the inevitable breakup of the United States into four quadrants that are inspired and isolated by their respective collective beliefs. Much like the Union versus the Confederacy, we shall again see a division of the nation--but this time, into quarters--by religious, political, and social standards. Inevitably, there will be separations of support for the healing of the country that will be exacerbated by geophysical upheavals that further create needs for group unity that will determine who survives as a whole. In my view, this will bring about much of the original First Peoples' ways of living in harmony with the land and each other as a tribal group. The loss of prior-established religious, political, and social entities that were relied upon to maintain the status quo will no longer have influence as well. We will either choose as a collective group unit or individuals to join together to maintain what is remaining or we will choose to depart this world from a lack of capacity to move forward without divisions. 

Once this resolution to work together-or-perish has been finalized after much conflict over "We THOUGHT we were right about things!", I see Neptune in Taurus in 2039+ being much more favorable into ways and methods of living and working in balance with Mother Earth. 

The Moon reflects our Personal Needs

 

I've mentioned this before: how the Moon as a subconscious agent is more likely to reflect (!) the True Self to the public because it is what the individual Needs for his/her personal safety, security, and manner of dealing with society.

Moon in Aries: The need to be independent-thinking and responding in action/impulse

Moon in Taurus: The need to be secure and stabilized

Moon in Gemini: The need to ask questions and learn

Moon in Cancer: The need to help others (and Self) be safe

Moon in Leo: The need to be appreciated and show care about others

Moon in Virgo: The need to be of assistance and help others and Self organize and manage

Moon in Libra: The need to keep people and situations in harmony

Moon in Scorpio: The need for privacy and safety by knowing others' motivations

Moon in Sagittarius: The need to learn more about others' values and beliefs

Moon in Capricorn: The need to achieve and succeed at the highest possible level

Moon in Aquarius: The need for personal freedom of Self-image and others

Moon in Pisces: The need to understand and detach from the world

Yes, I DO laugh about my work (and clients!) sometimes!

 Somedays...it feels like either I'm saying this or I've got clients like this! 😄😂Credits also to the original artist!!

Astrological Insights into Personality: the influence of the ruling parent's role

Two reasons to get this book by the late Betty Lundsted: First, this excellent review by Amazon.com.

First, "This down-to-earth exploration of natal chart interpretation shows the familial, male-female patterns in the zodiacal signs and the potentials they hold in combination with planetary energies and house symbolism. Our personalities are strongly influenced by what was happening around us when we were infants and whether our needs were met. Lundsted explains that our natal chart is our parent's transit chart, therefore revealing the truth of our childhood family dynamics. 

Once we understand these dynamics, Lundsted helps us move beyond laying blame on our parents by identifying the compensating strengths revealed in the chart. She also shows us that the typically classified difficult or hard aspects in the chart actually hold the key to our transformation."

Second, Betty purports within the book that there is a very easy, fundamental way to assess which parent was the primary, major influence in a subject's life. To do so, she explores the signage, elemental, and polarities (masculine-feminine) qualities of the three key dynamics in a chart: the Sun, Moon, and Ascendant.

According to Betty, this trio is a remarkable provider of psychological insights. By her reckoning, the outcome is based on a 2:3 ratio, either in a positive-negative polarity outcome, or by elemental outcome dominance of Fire, Earth, Air, or Water. Naturally, the positive-balanced signs are Fire and Air, and the negative-balanced signs are Earth and Water. The father figure, whether or not he was present in the early developing years, will be shown by that two-of-three pattern. Likewise, the mother figure, whether or not she was present in the early developing years, will be shown in a similar two-of-three configuration. 

I honor Gustav Holst "The Planets" but no "Clair de Lune"? Done!!

 

"...ESPECIALLY so, Mitchell, because this is the time of Cancer the Crab, and you KNOW that's all about the Moon. So where is the post for this classic?!"

Ouch! Guilty!! Amended!!!!

Two compositions: one, the original by Claude DeBussy, which I dearly love for its gentleness and serenity. And the second, by Japanese musician Isao Tomita, which I first heard on WNEW-FM, 102.7, New York radio, back in the early 1970s and performed on an electronic keyboard display. (It was and remains in my memory as a legendary institution of music.) Both are brilliant in their presentation. Enjoy. I'm embedding them so that there is no loss if someone closes their YouTube account.

Venus in Cancer: the love of home, family, and more

 

Venus in Cancer – Home (and your heart) is where you find safety, love, and care

 

        There’s a funny quality about Venus in Cancer: it’s got the tangible qualities of a physical relationship with someone special (and not necessarily carnal: “mother’s love” encompasses it)—but also a sense of “home-and-safety” too for something (or someone) in a security-driven way. It’s about caring for someone or something in a protective manner. Venus in Cancer can also be a love of the land and place of origin. Or…even “Mother Ocean,” who in Her own way is the origin of Life on this planet. Many people who just feel that longing for the beach and the lure of the waves know this intuitively. Others, like the men and women who have gone to sea and sailed for days, know this bonding too as the sun sets on the horizon in the evening.

Venus in Cancer also brings the love of nurturing and feeding others—and the self too. “Comfort food” is all about Venus in Cancer, and the holiday memories of sitting at a table with relatives and friends is a part of it too. Nostalgic events, outdoor barbeques, traditional celebrations, and festivals all have their roots in Venus in Cancer in some form or another.

         Pets and small animals are also part of the family ties that go along with Venus in Cancer, but not exclusively to the sign and planet’s qualities. Babies, nurseries, childcare, maternity wards, Lamaze classes, birthday parties, and all the goings-on regarding the early life cycle years are part of it. So is elementary school education and pre-school and nursery school.

         I’ve found that certain names for women have a Venus-in-Cancer vibration for the Divine Earth Mother in our life. When I was taking developmental psychology as an undergraduate, all my instructors were women who carried this signature: Diana-Deanna-Diane-Dina. And in another level, I found Carolyn-Carole-Carol. I think these are representative of the phases of a woman’s life cycles: first as the Maiden, and then as the Adult Woman grows into Motherhood. I’m not sure yet about the name for the Crone years of Wisdom and Experience, but I may learn it in my advanced years now. Diana, of course, was the Roman name for the goddess of the Moon: ruled by Cancer.

    In astronomical terms, there may be a fascination--and sensitivity--to the phases of the Moon. Cancer, ruling the Moon, will most likely bring this out. Venus in Cancer souls are most likely sensitive above and beyond when the moon is full, and very possibly, during a lunar eclipse. I would warrant that any Venus in Cancer individual will find him or herself drawn to large bodies of water during these times, and if so, will likely find an inner peace or contentment that they can not fully express in words.

         Physiologically, Venus in Cancer activates both the breasts and stomach area, as this is the natural body ruler of the sign. Men with Venus in Cancer may have a maternal quality to their nature, and as well be very involved in home functions that revolve around the kitchen. Women with Venus in Cancer will likely have a similar maternal quality about themselves, and restaurants, hotel and residence management, childhood education, holiday and ceremonial arrangements, and even end-of-life occupations may also find expression here in Venus in Cancer.

         I’ll leave this with the words of Elvis Presley—a man who certainly loved his mother, and for her, a reminder that she lost his twin brother at birth. The home—and Elvis’s elegant mansion, Graceland, is a national treasure—is yet another reminder of the qualities of a Venus in Cancer atmosphere.

Home is where the heart is
And my heart is anywhere you are
Anywhere you are is home

I don't need a mansion on a hill
That overlooks the sea
Anywhere you're with me is home

Maybe I'm a rolling stone
Who won't amount to much
But everything that I hold dear
Is close enough to touch

For home is where the heart is
And my heart is anywhere you are
Anywhere you are is home
Home, home, home, home

 (from the movie Kid Galahad)