The planets can interfere with a performance in several ways. The position and motion of Mercury is important in any affair involving mental work and performance, examinations, signing of documents, communications, daily experiences, purchases, and more.
If an examination or performance is scheduled for a day on which Mercury is, for example, in a square aspect to transiting Mars, Saturn, Uranus, or Neptune, a variety of problems may arise. If Mercury is also in 3rd or 6th houses, these problems are exacerbated, because Mercury is the Ruler of these houses. If Mercury is retrograde in addition, the problems are underlined. If Mercury is also conjunct to natal Mars, while it is also square to transiting Saturn, then the problem is more serious, for this implies that transiting Saturn is also square to natal Mars ...
In this fashion, one develops a feel for the degree of difficulty one is likely to encounter. Of course, if other planets are also involved (eg, transiting Mars square natal Sun), then problems are certain. One does not need to have these influences outlined on an astrologic chart. People who do not believe in astrology feel them too. For instance, these are the occasions on which they call their offices with an excuse and stay at home to nurture profound thoughts such as “are the walls indeed perpendicular?”
A person preparing for an examination or performance cannot control or bribe the planets. The only variable that is truly under the person’s control is the quality of his\her preparation, although the planets can interfere with the preparation too, for example, by making concentration difficult.
Adverse aspects can interfere with the outcome of an examination in several ways:
Mercury adverse Saturn - may be experienced as a mental block during the examination. These are instances when a person cannot remember a formula, or feeling unsure about something, spends excessive time on a detail and does not have time left to finish the test. Sometimes the situation is exacerbated by insecurity, frustration, or depression which accompany the problem.
Mercury adverse Uranus - signifies a mentally hyper cycle when “stupid” mistakes are made. These are the occasions when one adds two and two as five and carries five to the next step. The thought process is usually several steps ahead of what the hand is doing. Although the mind is sharp, concentration and discipline are difficult to achieve. In a football game this aspect may project similarly, for example, when the pass catcher takes his eyes off the ball and starts running toward the goal line without first securing the ball.
Mercury adverse Neptune - is an aspect that heightens one’s imagination. However, depending on the severity of the aspect, it can also mark an occasion of illusion, deception, self-deception, fantasy, an urge to roam in the clouds ... If the examination is about art appreciation, or involves writing an essay, this aspect may indeed help. However, if it is a subject matter that demands an analytical, meticulous, methodical, detailed, and pragmatic approach, it can be one of the worst handicaps. Unless the person is by nature self-disciplined, the mind is likely to refuse any such involvement. Energy that could have been used to answer problems is partly directed to achieving self-discipline and concentration.
These aspects are tolerable if the performance allows a margin of error. 2 is still a passing grade. A concert pianist may hit a few wrong notes, but otherwise the performance proceeds without a major mishap. Exceptions do occur. In what must have been a particularly severe case, a concert pianist, attempting to reach the extreme right of the key board with both hands, actually slid off the stool and fell to the floor. This type of accident can be brought about by adverse Mercury-Mars, Mercury-Uranus, or Mars-Uranus combinations, although other patterns involving, for example, the Sun or the Moon, rather than Mercury, are also possible.
Some performances do not allow a margin for error. For example, olympic trials for ice skaters. An ice skater experiencing a combination of “Mercury conjunct natal Mars in 3rd house and square to transiting Uranus,” for example, is accident-prone. He/she may indeed land with the wrong parts on the ice. These are the occasions when years of practice end in a heartbreak. It is interesting to note that the same skater may have completed a wonderful performance, had the contest taken place just a few days later.
In contrast, suppose Mercury is trine to Natal Sun in 3rd house. This aspect can help in a variety of ways. Let us assume the occasion involves an examination. The subject matter covers Chapters 1 through 10. You have prepared well for the material in Chapters 1 through 8, but did not have the time to devote attention to Chapters 9 and 10, 1/5th of the test. If equal number of questions are asked from all chapters, you are likely to fail 20 percent of the examination. It turns out there is only one question from Chapter 9 and none from Chapter 10... These are the “lucky” occasions in life.
It is safe to suggest that, other things being equal, lucky cycles are canceled by an equal number of not-so-lucky cycles for most persons in the long run. Since one can not predict luck for certain, one should not develop a habit of relying on luck alone (ie, “pushing one’s luck”), especially if the occasion has potentially significant consequences. This conclusion brings us back to the quality of preparation. One should do his or her best to help one’s luck, as perhaps also reflected in the statement “God helps those who help themselves”. While some persons see in this advice a heavenly permission for opportunistic exploitation, from an astrologic perspective it should be interpreted as a formula by which to minimize reliance on luck.
While there are performances and timed Events that leave no margin for error, many of the most important events in life are actually “Processes” which evolve over a period of time. Processes allow for a margin of error, as long as the major variables are not severely disturbed. A divorce, illness and recuperation from illness, writing a book ... are examples of Process events. In spite of excellent preparation, astrology can defeat a person, if the occasion involves a timed event that does not allow a margin of error. The situation is different for Processes and timed events that do allow a margin of error.
Planets and astrology do not defeat a person in the long run. Adverse planetary patterns should be seen, not as heavenly promises of defeat, but as inducements to do better, to succeed in spite of. Many of the adversities, conflicts, and challenges encountered are frequently the means and opportunities through which one reaches excellence.
Traditional astrology has taken a practical approach to the number of variables involved. It simply reduces complex patterns into parts that it can interpret, of course, with some sacrifice of substance. This is best illustrated in terms of a theoretical example. Suppose that transiting Pluto at 22 degrees Libra and in 5th (Placidus) house (of a person with Cancer rising) is Square to transiting Uranus and transiting Neptune, the latter two conjunct to one another at 18 degrees of Capricorn in 7th house. Suppose also that Pluto is Square and the “Uranus/Neptune Conjunction” is in Opposition to natal Sun - which, therefore, must be in Cancer.
These are significant evolutionary influences on the Sun, all adverse. Astrology at the current state of art cannot interpret the pattern as a whole. It dissects it into parts: a) it can interpret some components, b) it can “guess” about a few parts, and c) it is totally helpless with others. First the guesses:
Some astrologer may disagree with the assertion that astrology cannot fully interpret these aspects. For example, a positive aspect between transiting Uranus and Neptune may be “interpreted” with statements such as “A time when intuition blends well with inspiration and imagination. The sky is your limit ...” A casual skeptic would note that many statements in astrology read profound but say little, if anything. This aspect may continue on and off (i.e., direct-retrograde-direct) for more than a year. Since it depicts an aspect between two transiting planets, it affects everyone. It would be interesting to observe five billion human beings in this state of mind for that length of time, perhaps all chasing a rainbow.
I suggest that a long term aspect should be viewed as a trend or cycle rather than as predicator of individual events in that cycle. If the aspect is a Trine or Sextile, it should be looked as a positive “umbrella,” whatever the umbrella represents, over the influences from other aspects. If the aspect is a Square it should be viewed as a cause of a conflict, very likely an inner conflict. The Opposition is more difficult, for it can be both a “commotion” and/or a challenge that in turn can be the impetus to achieve something positive.
The Conjunction is the most difficult aspect to evaluate, for it is the most intense of all aspects, and it has both positive and adverse characteristics. As I see it, conjunctions are forces that initiate a “growth” process. The adversity associated with conjunctions, which can be severe during the process, are nothing but the impetus to discard obsolete habits so that growth can take place. The “habits” being discarded include ideas, thoughts, values, beliefs, illusions, people, and tangible elements which no longer serve a purpose, indeed perhaps even block progress. Conjunctions are the occasions when one is induced to take an inventory of life, to look back - not necessarily in a nostalgic fashion - and understand the circumstances that culminated in present status quo, to ask “Quo Vadis?” (Where are you going?), and to ascertain that the direction taken in life is the direction that should be taken.
Returning to our previous example, the aspects which astrology is able to interpret include:
It should be pointed out that the adversity associated with the Opposition “finds” the native more often on the receiving end of events perpetrated by others in the immediate environment, whereas in the case of the square, the native is the likely perpetrator of these events. Although the three influences outlined above are well-understood, obviously all the ramifications of a major “process” are not known. These are the so-called “unknowns and gray areas” in astrology," even though some of the “gray” is obviously caused by differences in individual circumstances.
A more significant confusion in interpretations arises from the fact that different aspects are interpreted in a similar fashion. For example, there is no appreciable difference in interpretation between “Neptune Square Sun,” “Neptune Square Moon,” and Neptune Square Venus." The latter influence is more likely to involve a “false” love affair than Neptune-Sun, whereas Neptune-Sun is more likely to be seen as “taking a wrong turn in life.” However, such differences are frequently more semantics than real. For example, a middle-age man who leaves his wife of 25 years to marry a 24-year old beauty, a Neptune-Venus event, two years later may be facing a “The Last Tango” end, confronting all variables of his life: a Neptune-Sun event. The differentiation between the effects on the Moon and Venus is even more nebulous, as also the differentiation between the Square and the Opposition.
All major adverse aspects can also be used positively, for example for a major creative work or some other achievement. This effort does not cancel the adverse influences. However, the positive application may bring about a positive influence on all other events associated with the pattern. For example, the effort directed to writing a book can diminish the tragic impact of, for instance, a wife who has eloped to the sunset with a lover.
According to a documentary and examples, many artists are found to be suffering from manic depression. This can initiate an interesting astrologic debate. Did the person become an artist as a result of an “artistic” pattern in his/her natal chart, or the talent evolved primarily as a means of surviving the depression. Since there is a “subjective” element to art appreciation, the quality of the art, thus the side debate whether of not the piece is the creation of a true talent that can be traced to a natal pattern, is less important here. However, these types of debates underline the difficulty experienced by astrologers in finding a connection between profession or talent and a definitive natal pattern.
This has significant consequences, for it suggests that rather than searching for artistic talent, focus should be directed to flagging out charts that suggest “depression.” Depression is easier to find in a chart than artistic pattern.
Returning to the example of Pluto, Neptune, Uranus and the Sun, for all practical purposes, astrology reduces the influence to the three distinct components outlined above. The combined effect of the Opposition of “Uranus-Conjunct-Neptune” on the Sun is not clear in astrology. This also applies to the combined effects of “Uranus-Opposition/Pluto-Square,” “Neptune-Opposition/Pluto-Square,” and the effect of the entire pattern on the natal Sun.
Depending on the overall look of the natal chart, the combination in the example can indeed play havoc with one’s life. It can coincide with severe emotional burdens associated with the infidelity of one’s wife (or husband), the dissolution of one’s marriage, severe problems with one’s children, either related to the dissolution of the marriage, or as an unrelated problem. It can lead to severe financial losses either through a deceptive partner, or through an unwise speculation, or both. It may even indicate a situation in which all of these effects are related. For example, a business partner who not only deceives the native financially, but also elopes with the spouse.
The circumstances of one’s life are significant determinants of how these influences should be interpreted in a particular chart. If a spouse is also involved, his/her natal and transit charts are also important inputs to the interpretation. For example a spouse that is not normally prone to deception or infidelity is not likely to behave in this manner simply because the chart indicates such a possibility.
The correct analysis of coming events in an adult chart is very complicated. It involves the natal and transits charts of the native as well as the same charts of the spouse, a business partner, or of anyone in a “trust” position with the native. Their relationship chart is also important. This explains why very adverse real-life events confront a native at a time when his/her transit chart shows a very positive cycle. The chart of the spouse or someone with whom the native is closely associated may have been the real culprit. It is not astrology that fails in these situations, it is the astrologer who takes a tunnel-visioned approach at astrology. This conclusion also confirms why Chart Services and Psychics are likely to be totally off with their services.
Faced with similar numbers of DNA patterns, molecular biologists have taken the defensible approach to their puzzle by meticulously building each layer of progress on a solid foundation. Since their effort is also generously funded, the slow and arduous process is already achieving fine results. In contrast, the mode of approach in astrology is dictated more by confusion, frustration, impatience, and alas, also greed. Rather than concentrating on and building upon the traditional Sign-House-Aspect interpretations, which were accurate enough to attract astrologers to astrology in the first place, modern years have witnessed evolution of other ways of looking at the phenomena.
Astrology differentiates between three levels of personalities, as defined by the Sun, Ascendant, and the Moon.
The Sun
The Sun sign characteristics reflect the inner identity or the “Individuality,” not the outer personality. These characteristics seldom manifest on the surface. Unless the individual has developed a considerable degree of self-awareness and a habit of occasionally taking an inventory of life, the individuality remains buried until about mid-adulthood. It is then reflected in the fruits and achievements and in the direction of one’s progress. Until that stage is reached, the native is only aware of passing sensations of inner identity. The strong influences from the Ascendant - outer personality - and the Moon - daily moods and sensitivities - block, confuse, and dilute the energies from the Sun. The combined influence is further complicated by the fact that the remaining planets, each with its unique contribution, modify the energies of the Sun, Moon, and the Ascendant.
Ascendant
As previously stated, the Ascendant is the sign of the cusp of the 1st house. Astrology views planets, if any, in the 1st house as a constant source of energy in dealing with one’s environment. They manifest the relationship to that environment and define the mask one projects on the environment - the outer personality.
The Moon
Western Astrology attributes to the Moon feminine characteristics that may be designated as personality traits. However, unlike the Ascendant, the Moon influences the manner in which one views and experiences the environment, the way one responds to the circumstances and stimuli emanating from the environment. The daily transiting influences of the Moon are associated with mood changes, receptivity, behavior, feelings, and the subconscious.
A review of the Moon’s physical characteristics and astrologic history may be of interest. The Moon is approximately 238,800 miles distant from Earth and traverses her orbit around Earth, a distance of approximately 1,494,000 miles, in 27 days, 7 hours, 43 minutes, and 11 seconds, at a speed of about 0.633 miles per second. The Moon always shows the same side to Earth. Her phases vary according to her position relative to the Sun and Earth. When the Moon is conjunct the Sun - between Earth and the Sun - it is designated as the “New” Moon. Then, a crescent forms and develops into First Quarter or Half Moon. In this state the crescent faces away from the Sun. The Full Moon - in Opposition to the Sun - develops next. The bright light seen on the Moon is the light she reflects from the Sun. The light begins to recede until she reaches the Last Quarter phase and New Moon once again. Every 19 years the same phases occur on the same dates and same degrees of the zodiac. This is called the “Metonic Cycle” of the Moon. Since a Lunar day is about 720 hours, there are twelve Lunar days to our Solar year.
Occult interpretations of the Moon attribute to her phlegmatic, feminine, negative, cold, moist, fruitful, magnetic, and convertible qualities. She is seen as the mirror and reflector of other planetary bodies. The occultists saw in the Moon a dual character: Kama Rupa (the Animal Desire), and the catalyst, which affects the emotional and psychic mentality.
The traditional view of the Moon is one of “Reflector of the Past,” “Interpreter of the Present,” and “Decipherer of the Future.” The Sun and the Moon are seen as two time-markers that also represent the “Immortal” individuality and the “Mortal” personality. Some traditional astrologers suggest that the Sun, Moon, and Ascendant determine about 80 percent of one’s being. This thought originates from Hindu astrology. I suggest that the “80 percent” is a result derived from an overzealous translation. Not only is such a number meaningless, it also contradicts common sense. Assuming an equal distribution in 12 signs, 8.5 percent of the world’s population would be represented by a particular Sun-sign. Of these 8.5 percent would have Ascendant in the same sign, and 8.5 percent of these, in turn, would have the Moon in the same sign. Based on a population of 5 billion people, this would result in more than 3 million people with similar finger prints. The Hindus probably implied that the Sun, Moon, and Ascendant account for a significant portion of the characteristics of an individual. A “significant portion” can be any percentage that is significant.
The Hindus also defined the “Mansions of the Moon” or Nakshatras which are 27 stellar groups of each 13 degree and 20 minutes of arc, completing together a 360-degree circle. The path they describe is called the “Royal Road.” The nakshatras are very similar to the Arabian “Menzils” and the Chinese “Sieu.” The 28 to 32 Arabian parts are likely to be a derivative of the Hindu mansions. “Prenatal Epoch” is a modern rearrangement of these mansions, and the critical degrees in each mansion. Some traditional astrologers consider the sign and house occupied by the Moon as perhaps the most significant influences in life. While there may be an occultist and Hindu bias in this view, traditional astrology also attributes to the Moon’s position considerable importance.
