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The U.S. vs. Trump

When I looked at Donald Trump’s chances of winning the presidency in 2020, I noticed an unusual aspect in synastry:  his progressed Mars was approaching a conjunction with the U.S. progressed Mars.  At over 6 degrees apart, I didn’t consider it.  But time has passed and I was reminded of this combination when Trump announced on August 8th that the FBI had raided his Mar-a-Lago home.  It looked to me like a fight. 

Astrologers are familiar with Trump’s rising Mars in Leo, which perfectly describes his bold, assertive, bombastic personality.  It rules his 9th house, making him expansive and litigious, as well as his 4th house, often focusing him on family matters and real estate.  Trump’s Mars has helped him enthuse followers and push through his agenda.

In the U.S. Gemini rising chart I use (favored by Evangeline Adams), Mars is also rising.  In Gemini, a mutable sign, it has less force and consistency.  But it does describe a multiplicity of voices and America’s sense of independence and self-reliance.  Trump’s natal Mars is roughly sextile the U.S. Mars.  But relationships grow and change and we can get a better idea of their status at any moment by looking at progressed to progressed aspects.

The U.S. progressed Mars, like Trump’s, is now in the middle degrees of Libra, the sign of its detriment (opposite its ruling sign of Aries), making it more malefic.  We might potentially say that Trump and the country are joining forces, but the U.S. also has natal Saturn at 14 Libra 47, the sign of its exaltation, giving government authority figures the edge in any encounters.  Saturn rules the 8th, 9th and 10th houses in the U.S. chart, and closely squares the U.S. Sun in Cancer.  We can see the resources (8th) of the government (10th) and its legal system (9th) brought to bear in an authoritative move against the former president.  Both the U.S. and Trump’s progressed Mars conjoin one another, but also conjoin U.S. natal Saturn and square its Sun.  The country may be at a crossroads, and all are experiencing a challenging period of time.

The progressed to progressed combinations are unusual and continue for several years.  Trump has been actively flirting with running again in 2024, but at the time of the election, his progressed Mars will nearly exactly conjoin U.S. Saturn (less than half a degree – it will be roughly exact in the summer of 2025).  Meanwhile, the U.S. progressed Mars moving slowly retrograde and Trump’s progressed Mars moving more quickly direct in Libra are in a double-approaching conjunction with one another, less than 2½ degrees apart at the time of the 2024 election.  They will continue their close conjunction until around 2027, when the aspect will perfect.

One commentator has suggested that the more aggressive the government’s actions against Trump, the likelier he will be to run for president again in 2024. Contention motivates him.  This fits the astrological picture, which suggests a long legal battle over what justice (Libra) actually means.  The malefics involved show quite a contentious relationship in the coming years, but the strength of the U.S. Saturn implies that the country will win in the end.  (Unless, of course, Trump once again becomes its authority figure.)

Still, the malefic Mars-Saturn combination does not bode well for Donald Trump’s candidacy in 2024.  But the election is over two years away, much will change in the intervening years, and these progressed aspects, though notable, are just one small piece of a much larger picture.

 

1953 Wedding

It was August of 1953:  my parents were married with the Sun in Leo conjunct Pluto in their wedding chart.  Not something an astrologer would have chosen or the most auspicious of placements.  But they had already both lived through the Depression and World War II in Europe (and both had Sun-Pluto aspects in their birth charts).  The Sun and Pluto conjoined her Midheaven and his Ascendant, and formed a grand trine with his seventh house Jupiter and her Uranus.  They were very different people but were both warm-hearted and agreed on the basics:  finances and the kids.

The reception was at my grandparents’ home in Flatbush.  In the photo:  Uncle Nick Cosentino from next door, and Aunts Millie and Josephine to the right.

My parents both had Libra Moons, and the Moon was in Libra in their wedding chart too.  They were married for 58 years.  My dad passed with an exact Saturn return to the wedding chart! 

P.L. Travers Consults Johndro

Mary Poppins’ creator P.L. Travers had been successful in her career, but at age 40, when she was offered a set of twins to adopt, she felt she could only take one.  Should she do it?  And which child to take?  Who could answer this kind of question but an astrologer?  She consulted L. Edward Johndro half a world away and listened to his advice.

The Poppins books contain many magical elements, and these grew out of Travers’ world view.  She had worked as a Shakespearean actress and newspaper columnist in her native Australia before moving to London in 1924 at the age of 25.  There she met George William Russell (also known as AE), the editor of the Irish Statesman.  Through him, Travers explored Celtic mythology and Eastern religions, and met Yeats and other metaphysical thinkers.  She became interested in Theosophy and followed Krishnamurti, studied with Jung in Switzerland and was even a disciple of Gurdjieff, whose consciousness-raising program included fasting, labor and dances.  Travers loved Romantic poet William Blake, another original thinker who was also interested in astrology.

Uranus conjoined her Ascendant in Sagittarius, and Pamela was a seeker who identified with esoteric subjects.  Uranus trining her Venus in Leo in the 9th shows her love of writing and study, as well as her phenomenal worldwide success.  The Sun in Leo conjunct the Midheaven and Mercury in Virgo in the 10th house, both dignified, clearly signify her many achievements.  She had a formidable horoscope with an equally notable life and personality.

Despite her prominent Leo planets, Ascendant-ruler Jupiter is placed in the 12th house in Scorpio, turning her inward and attracting her to imaginative work and occult studies.  Her biographer, Valerie Lawson, shared that she had a reserved personality and “valued anonymity.”

Her early life had been difficult.  Saturn was rising and part of a tight T-square with her Moon in Virgo conjunct the 11th house cusp and Pluto in the 7th, showing a notable disruption and maybe even questions of survival.  Saturn traditionally rules the 4th house relating to home and family, and its modern ruler Uranus also comes to her 1st and  squares Mercury.  Travers’ father died when she was seven and she was raised by an older aunt.  While her mother had some family money, her uncle lost much of it through mismanagement.

Travers was concerned with finances as an adult, and Saturn-Pluto is quite security-oriented, especially with the T-square involving the Moon in Virgo.  She must have had anxieties but was probably a disciplined writer.  Her son’s oldest brother Joseph Hone, writing critically, said that she was “steely, self-centered and very controlling,” and added that she was “a contrary, divided, hypochondriac of ambiguous sexuality.”  The Moon in Virgo also shows her attraction to the discipline of Gurdjieff’s “work,” and Hone added that Guardjieff advised her to take an enema a day!

A friend was the grandfather of six children abandoned by their parents.  Pamela travelled to Ireland to visit the twins and consider adoption in October of 1939.  Camillus was better-looking but crying, and she wasn’t sure.

Travers’ mentor AE was later an adviser to Franklin D. Roosevelt, whose one-term Vice President Henry Agard Wallace also worked with L. Edward Johndro.  So AE may have recommended Johndro.  Pamela wrote to the astrologer, who did both charts to help her decide.  (She must have had their times of birth, which we do not.)  Johndro soon wrote back to recommend Camillus, saying that “All in all it would be a rare thing to find better cross rays between a child and its OWN mother.  So I would say, by all means, ADOPT HIM.”

Camillus was also a Leo, with his Sun conjunct Travers’ own.  Not only that, his Sun, Mercury, Venus and Pluto all in Leo fell at the top of his adoptive mother’s chart.  His Moon, whether in Leo or Virgo, did the same, so there was much common ground.  And they unfortunately also shared hard Saturn-Pluto aspects.  Camillus’ Saturn was almost exactly square Pluto, and Saturn also conjoined his South Node.  He had learned the lessons of survival in infancy, and was underweight, underdeveloped and in and out of hospitals for a few months after Travers brought him home.

Pamela was born on a first quarter Moon, and Camillus on a new Moon.  While they had issues (particularly the fact that she hadn’t told him the truth about his birth), they remained on “more or less friendly terms” throughout their lives.  But according to biographer Lawson, Travers gave Mary Poppins a dramatic full Moon at birth!

And while Camillus was fortunate in his adoption, he had drinking problems throughout his life as did his twin Anthony, who he didn’t meet until he was 17.  Anthony died an alcoholic at the age of 65 while Camillus lived six years longer.

Pamela became wealthy in the 1960s from the Mary Poppins Disney film.  Beginning in 1976, she was a consulting editor and contributor to the magazine Parabola, which addressed mythology.  She left over ₤2 million in trust for her son and grandchildren when she died in 1996 at the age of 96.

Mercury was one of her most notable planets and her fame came through her writing.  In 2018, a crater on Mercury was named for her!

Frances McEvoy obtained Travers’ birth data from her according to Astrodatabank.  Though it may be rounded-off to noon, her life does seem to resonate with this time.

Emma Thompson convincingly portrayed a curmudgeonly Saturn-rising Travers in Saving Mr. Banks.

Valerie Lawson did excellent research for her biography of Travers, Mary Poppins, She Wrote.

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Jupiter, Neptune and the Midterms

Many commentators are predicting a shift to the right in the November elections due to political cycles, Biden’s low approval ratings, and re-drawn Congressional districts.  But André Barbault shared that the Jupiter-Neptune conjunction “portends a swing to the left,” quoted by Lynn Koiner in her Predictions 2022.  Lynn also noted the conjunction’s influence near Barack Obama’s first presidential inauguration in 2009.  Will astrologers or the pundits be right?  Planetary cycles can be very telling and the astrology should prove correct. 

André Barbault focused on planetary cycles throughout his long career, and made remarkable forecasts that included foreseeing the 2020 pandemic in 2011 (Anthony Louis’ blog post has more).

After analyzing over 200 years of history (from 1792 to 1997) in his book Planetary Cycles, Barbault concluded that Jupiter-Neptune “aims for unity and peaceful exchange; in brief, it is humanitarian.  There is a general atmosphere of diplomatic and political détente and collective movements that have liberal democratic tendencies.  In effect, its ideology is socialist… a continuum with phenomena, which are undeniably of same order, being repeated every thirteen years:  the beginning, end or renewal of a historical process with the same tendency which is of a collective liberal order, democratic, socialist, or even more or less revolutionary.  There is a swing to the left, with international aims of an associative, peaceful or humanitarian nature.”  (pps. 52-56)

We’ve already seen this concept of collective, peaceful unity in the international support for the defense of Ukraine in early 2022.

Jupiter conjoins Neptune exactly on April 12, 2022 staying within orb from March through mid-May.  As Jupiter moves quickly, the return of the conjunction occurs with Jupiter stationing direct in November to early December, as Neptune also stations.

Much news time was spent in April considering the French Presidential race between Emmanuel Macron and his far-right challenger Marine Le Pen.  But if we believe André Barbault, the outcome was clearly foreshadowed astrologically.  (See Michael O’Reilly’s analysis of their birth charts and the race; I personally feel that Le Pen would have a tough time winning any election with her Saturn in Aries in the 7th house square Mars in her 10th.)

What does Barbault’s work suggest for the November midterm elections?  Former President Trump is endorsing a number of far-right candidates.  But the Neptune station squares his Sun exactly on November 1, 2022 and January 5, ‘23 while also squaring his Nodes and Moon, very close to both the elections and the beginning of the new congressional term.  These aspects prevailed when Trump lost the White House in 2020-’21, and continue to suggest deflated hopes.  I’ll wager that few of his candidates will win, and that under the conjunction’s influence this spring, liberal-leaning folks may also do better in primaries.

Six months before the midterm elections, many commentators are projecting a Republican take-over of the House and maybe even the Senate.  But the  Jupiter-Neptune conjunction’s history points toward a chance that Democrats will keep their majorities.  If not, then I expect more moderate Republicans, or those who share some of what Barbault described as “liberal democratic tendencies” to be elected instead.

Read Lynn Koiner’s Predictions for 2022 (scroll down) for an excellent, thorough look at this year and beyond, with nods to many astrologers of the past.

Find more of André Barbault’s incredible research in Mundane Planetary Cycles (English translation by Kate Johnston).

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Astro-Genealogy: Reclamation

Why do we connect with particular ancestors?  Of course it’s astrological.  Gayle Jessup White’s oral history assured her that she was a descendant of Thomas Jefferson.  White’s book, Reclamation, chronicles her lifelong journey to trace her roots, and astrology shows an extraordinary connection between the ancestor and his descendant, with eleven conjunctions between the two charts.

The author gives us her birth date, and with at least five planets in Leo, White writes candidly and with love and pride.  Her Moon may be in Cancer or Leo (if she was born after 6:15 p.m.).  Cancer seems more likely since her writing also shows warmth and sensitivity.

At thirteen she overheard her older sister mention that the family was descended from the president.  After some research, they also believed they were descended from Sally Hemings, the enslaved half-sister of Jefferson’s wife Martha, who had six of the president’s children.  But their father had lost his mother at five to tuberculosis, so knew little about her life.  Though he identified as black, he remembered uncles who had “shed their black identities.”

Gayle Jessup White’s Leo Sun disposits all the planets in her horoscope (except for the Moon if it’s in Cancer), making it quite influential.  The Sun conjunct Uranus and trine Saturn shows her connection with her father and their unique heritage, as well as her interest in the past (Saturn).  It was many years before Gayle was able to piece together more of her family history.

As an adult, White regularly visited Monticello, Jefferson’s estate, always sharing her story with the tour guides when they mentioned Hemings, but got no response.  Finally, in May of 2010, with transiting Saturn conjoining her natal Jupiter and transiting Jupiter and Uranus in Pisces opposing her Jupiter, she visited again with her son, and her story found an audience.  They received a private tour and a referral to a researcher interested in their history.

In late July, as Jupiter and Uranus, now in early Aries, both stationed closely in trine to her Sun, Gayle made contact with the researcher, who quickly found her grandmother in the 1900 Census, living as the servant of a white great-granddaughter of Jefferson (a remnant from the days of enslavement).  After getting the news, Gayle had a psychic experience, hearing the voice of her grandmother saying, “It’s all I have, tell my story.”

She then continued her search with “relentless determination” (as we might imagine with Mercury, Mars and Pluto all conjunct in Leo), and was eventually able, through genealogy records and DNA testing, to confirm that she was indeed a direct descendant of Jefferson and that Sally Hemings was her four-times great-aunt.

Gayle’s astrological connections with her ancestor are remarkable.  Isaac Starkman’s rectified chart for Jefferson and the noon chart for White both share a late Cancer Moon.  Their Mars are conjunct in Leo, and Jefferson’s Saturn and Jupiter in late Leo and early Virgo conjoin White’s Mercury, Pluto and Venus.  If this were not enough to motivate a search through the centuries, their Nodes are closely conjunct in opposing signs, with Jefferson’s Pluto falling exactly on White’s North Node.  Their Saturn-Pluto conjunction is also near exact; both Pluto connections suggest their genetic bond.

What Gayle knew for so long was proved.  She had received a research grant from the Jefferson foundation and became the PR and Community Engagement Officer at Monticello.  She describes herself as “A woman who after a lifelong journey found her family, her home, her purpose.”  A strong Leo Sun trine Saturn often promises success, even if Uranus made for many twists and turns before she got there.

Buy Reclamation on Amazon.com.

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Cornerstones of Astrology

Cornerstones of Astrology is an unusual book with a curious history that was inspired by the work of Jean-Baptiste Morin de Villefranche (1583-1656).

Morin’s magnum opus, Astrologia Gallica was published in Latin in 1661, five years after his death, and not many took notice.  The book was rescued from obscurity by French astrologer Henri Selva (b. 1861), who translated its most important section (Book 21) on synthesizing the horoscope in 1897, and wrote a commentary a few years later, making turn of the century French readers aware of the depth of Morin’s thinking.

Viennese astrologers Friedrich “Sinbad” Schwickert (1837-1930 – a frigate captain) and Adolf Weiss, M.D. (1888-1956) digested Selva’s books and together wrote a 5-volume work, Bausteine der Astrologie (Leipzig 1925-1927) based on Morin’s techniques.  Weiss later relocated to Argentina (a wise move since at least one of Sinbad’s other astrology students was killed by the Nazis), and published a Spanish version of the work in 1945.

Cornerstones of Astrology is a 1972 English translation by an unidentified astrologer based on the Schwickert and Weiss Spanish translation.  It seems to me that it covers only the first two original German volumes, on the elements and synthesis (the latter once again following Morin’s crucial Book 21).

Quotes from Selva’s work are some of the most compelling parts of the text, along with those from Morin himself.  The authors nevertheless state that Selva was “not very successful on his enterprise.”  Were they more familiar with Morin’s original work?  Only somewhat, it appears, as they admit it was written in “an almost incomprehensible Latin.”  Nevertheless, Cornerstones effectively communicates Morin’s techniques and shows how charts can be judged using it.

The first half of the book describes the Primary Characteristics (hot, cold, wet, dry and fire, earth, air and water) and Essential Nature of the planets, signs and houses.  These include lists with more modern esoteric discussions that reference Ptolemy and 19th to early 20th texts as sources, with much having little to do with traditional astrology.  Uranus and Neptune are addressed, and Pluto mentioned but not included, due to a lack of research.  I don’t feel the first part of the book works particularly well.

With the chapter on Cosmic State and Local Determination, we finally begin to get into Morin’s techniques.  Cosmic State relates to each planet’s strength from its sign, malefic or benefic nature and aspects.  Local (or Accidental) Determination or Terrestrial State takes a planet’s house placement and rulerships into consideration; in other words, where the planets fall, come from and lead to at a particular time and place.  Do they have analogous meanings with the houses they’re in and planets they combine with?  Do they facilitate or hinder the affairs of the houses they’re involved with, and how?  All of these considerations will inform our judgment.

The book goes on to describe how the techniques work in example horoscopes.  While at times the astrologers digress, their analysis is thorough and focused ( I sensed a Virgo approach and indeed, both were Virgo).  Schwickert and Weiss communicate Morin’s ideas and show how the facets of the horoscope are inter-related in charts.  I don’t know of another text that goes into such great depth of systematic analysis.  (Patti Tobin Brittain’s Planetary Powers presents isolated elements of similar considerations without real chart examples.)

The criteria used range in importance from planetary position and essential dignity to house associations and rulerships, then finally aspects.  General significators (the Moon for the mother, Saturn for the father) are too general, but may be helpful when they coincide with more specific determinations found in the birth chart (like Saturn in the 4th or the Sun ruling the 10th house).

The steps are challenging enough in themselves, but there are additional hurdles.  Schwickert and Weiss use abbreviations:  “M” represents malefics and “m” accidental malefics, for example, and houses are given in Roman numerals, both of which I found unwieldly.  In addition, aspect symbols are used but sometimes the characters aren’t printed completely.  (The authors share Saturn in detriment in the 7th house – perhaps creating a barrier to access?)  There are typos in some of the charts (one has no date listed and there are other errors and omissions).  The three charts from Morin don’t include the modern planets, while the others do, and most of the authors’ collection of charts give times to the second, with no indication of how they were rectified.  The 1972 English translation is not the best overall, and has made no attempt to update original comments on sexuality and lifestyle, which some today may find objectionable.

Finally, Schwickert and Weiss only present the steps of their judgment that are necessary to see how the combinations of planets, houses and aspects work together.  But all charts are in the appendix, so the reader must continually flip back and forth between charts and text, often with little reminder of who the people are.  No charts are completely delineated in one place.

Despite its limitations, Cornerstones of Astrology is written by expert astrologers, covers an amazing amount of ground and provides worked examples of how Morin may have looked at horoscopes.  As a result, this book is unique and valuable.

Check out my blog post on Morin and his Astrologia Gallica, which has additional links.

Buy Cornerstones of Astrology on Amazon.com.

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Morin’s Book

Jean Baptiste Morin de Villefranche (1583-1656) was a leading astrologer in 17th century France, with patrons like Cardinal Richelieu, Pope Urban VIII, France’s Queen Marie de Medici and Queen Kristina of Sweden, but he never received quite the acclaim he felt entitled to. He fumed over contemporaries who used what he considered deficient methods but who nevertheless enjoyed greater success. For 30 years he toiled over his masterwork, The Astrologia Gallica, yet he was never able to publish it. Finally, five years after his death, his patron Queen Marie Louise Gonzaga of Poland brought it into print.

With Jupiter ruling the 9th of higher learning and publishing placed in its own sign of Pisces, Morin retained a college professorship for over 25 years. Jupiter trined his Mars and conjoined 3rd house ruler Mercury in Aquarius, and he could certainly write – Astrologia Gallica runs over 26 books and 800 pages! So what was the problem? Saturn.

By the time Morin practiced in the mid-17th century, his Latin was going out of style and the work of Copernicus and Newton attracted more attention as the west drew closer to the scientific reductionism of the “Enlightenment.” Morin was a man who suffered for an expertise that no longer seemed relevant to many.

Jupiter conjoined his Sun at about a half a degree, with both in orb of conjoining Saturn in Pisces in the 12th house. Morin’s Moon, also in Pisces, conjoins Saturn more closely. If Jupiter lacked dignity, we might describe the situation as “too little, too late.” Instead, we have a seminal work that is still being read and translated over 400 years after publication, but only in parts and with a limited audience.

All of the 12th house planets increased Morin’s sense of isolation and seclusion, but gave him the opportunity and motivation to capture his thoughts. With Aries rising, Mars in cranky Cancer conjoined the low-point 4th house, quintiled the Ascendant and trined the Sun, Jupiter and Saturn in the 12th. His attacks on Descartes, Galileo, Cardan and others didn’t help his popularity. Today we can also see that Mars squares Pluto in the 12th, heightening his anger and frustration. But the 4th house placement goaded him toward a solid foundation, and with Mars’ trine to Saturn, ruler of the 10th, he succeeded in transmitting an astrological tradition over several centuries. Unfortunately, though, in keeping with Jupiter, the Astrologia Gallica is also just a little too big, complex and comprehensive.

With Jupiter conjunct Saturn ruling Morin’s 8th through 12 houses, this notable combination also activated events after his life. Jupiter and Saturn at 1 Taurus 36, conjoined his Ascendant on April 18, 1881, and 20 years later, on November 28, 1901, the conjunction in Capricorn closely conjoined his Midheaven.

At the turn of the century, French astrologer Henri Selva translated an abridged version of Morin’s 21st book on determinations, and included a commentary. The next Jupiter conjunct Saturn in 1921 fell at 26 Virgo 36 in Morin’s 6th house of helpmates and squared his 3rd-9th house Nodes. Austrian astrologers Captain Frederich “Sinbad” Schwickert (1837-1930) and Adolf Weiss, M.D. (1888-1956) together wrote their own explanation of Morin’s methods, a 5-volume work based on Astrologia Gallica’s Books 21 and 22 (synthesis and directions) called Bausteine der Astrologie (Liepzig 1925-27). Weiss fled the Nazis in the 1930s, moving to Brazil and finally Argentina, where he published a Spanish version of their work in 1938.

The Jupiter-Saturn conjunction of 1961 at 25 Capricorn fell in Morin’s 10th house and squared his Ascendant, again setting the stage for what would follow. Hungarian immigrant Zoltan Mason (1906-2002) opened his astrology bookshop in New York City in 1950. As he was fluent in both French and German, he may have initially encountered Morin in Europe through the earlier 20th century works.

Mason’s Ascendant was opposite Morin’s, and his Moon at 28 Libra closely conjoined Morin’s 7th house cusp, making him a partner. In 1974, Mason published an English translation of Morin’s Book 21, Astrosynthesis, by his student Lucy Little (a pseudonym as the woman’s family disapproved of astrology). The same year, a translation by Richard S. Baldwin was released by the AFA.

Another teacher of Morin’s technique was Gerhard Angel Houwing (1923-2009). According to Dave Roell, he was from Argentina though he may have been Dutch. Houwing began studying astrology before he turned 20, and was introduced to Morin in the 1950s through the German Bausteine. He resettled in Dallas in 1963, and his students included James Herschel Holden and Patti Tobin Brittain. Brittain wrote the Morin primer, Planetary Powers (1980). (See my review of Planetary Powers.)

Cornerstones of Astrology is an English version of the Spanish translation of Schwickert and Weiss’ Bausteine, published by the Sangreal Foundation, Inc. from Dallas in 1972. There is no indication of who translated the book, but Brittain tells us that Houwing was “instrumental” to the work. The short preface is attributed to Jan Meursing, which Roell believed was a pseudonym for Houwing.

In the early 21st century, after the Jupiter-Saturn conjunction at about 23 Taurus on 5/28/00 in Morin’s first house, Holden translated several parts of the book into English. Morin’s Moon and Saturn closely straddled Holden’s Ascendant, so he was able to connect with and express the long-obscured work. The AFA published a number of English translations of Astrologia Gallica’s books, many by Holden.

I will write more about Cornerstones of Astrology in a later post.

Morin’s chart is based on his own statements, with research by Tony Louis and Zoltan Mason.

Robert Corre has much on Morin on his Forum on Astrology.

More on Morin from the late Dave Roell at Astroamerica.com.

Philip Graves appears to have a rather complete list of works by or about Morin at Astrolearn.com (scroll down).

Wise Men

Worldly leaders work their way up to positions of authority, are elected, inherit their jobs or sometimes seize power. Spiritual masters are different, since their authority reflects their inner lives and not the material plane. They, too, may work their way up in an organized group, or they may simply be found. Their stories of recognition, sometimes at an early age, may be recorded for history.

Much has been written about the Christmas star, with astronomers, astrologers and historians weighing-in on what, exactly, it was. It’s been seen as a comet, a Jupiter-Saturn conjunction and a supernova. Astrologer Courtney Roberts believes that the Magi (wise men or even astrologers in some New Testament translations) who visited Jesus from the east were in fact Persian Zoroastrian priests, known for both astrology and dream interpretation. This seems to be a more important point.


Mathew in Chapter 2 tells us that the star was a sign leading the Magi to the baby Jesus. When they inquired where the child could be found, the Roman ruler Herod hoped to enlist them to locate the baby for him (learning of the prophecy in Micah 5:2 stating that the child would come from Bethlehem). But the Magi were warned in a dream and went straight home after recognizing and presenting gifts to Jesus, who may have been two years old.

Micah also says that the promised Israeli ruler’s “goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting,” which might also suggest reincarnation. The Magi’s gifts of gold – for royalty but also representing alchemical perfection; frankincense – an incense used in temple rituals that represents spirituality; and myrrh – used in burial rituals, which might allude to the reappearance of the spirit on earth.

We have more detailed information on the discovery and recognition of the 14th Dalai Lama, the great guru of compassion, believed to be the reincarnation of his predecessor. Once again, prophecy and signs led wise men to find him. The head of the 13th Dalai Lama, after his death in 1935, was found facing east. It was the Tibetan Regent’s role to find the successor, and he saw a clear vision in the sacred Tibetan lake of a monastery and house. Following these and other signs, search parties of high lamas and dignitaries looked for the place described.

When found, the party disguised their roles, but the two-year-old boy of the household recognized the rosary worn by the group’s leader and named him. Other recognition tests followed; various items were presented to the boy, and he was able to identify the ones he had owned in his previous incarnation. His identity was confirmed and the 14th Dalai Lama was officially enthroned in 1940.

Though these stories are separated by over 2,000 years and 3,000 miles, they describe similar spiritual practices of discovery and verification. Both appear to reflect trust in traditional practices that include omens and prophecies, and were considered important enough to be captured for posterity.

This brief biography of the Dalai Lama includes the story of his identification.

Austrian mountaineer Heinrich Harrer also wrote about the discovery of the Dalai Lama in his book, Seven Years in Tibet.

How to be Compassionate is a wonderful and accessible book from the Dalai Lama.

Ian Stevenson Was a well-known reincarnation researcher; he wrote about young children who remembered previous lifetimes in 20 Cases Suggestive of Reincarnation and Children who Remember Previous Lives.

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Louisa May Alcott’s Jupiter

Popular writer and feminist Louisa May Alcott has enjoyed unusual popularity over the years. Her best-known work, Little Women, published in 1868, spawned five feature films and has been translated into over 50 languages. Her life is explored in at least half a dozen biographies, and her earlier works have been rediscovered. Why have so many for so long responded to her work? You guessed it: Jupiter.

Alcott had an eventful life, and not an especially easy one. Saturn rises in Virgo as part of a T-square with Mercury in Sagittarius in her 4th house and Jupiter in Pisces conjunct the Descendant. Her upbringing was unusual, with great limitations but also rich rewards. Her parents were both reformers who supported social equality, abolition and women’s suffrage. Her mother was responsible for the home and family and later became an early professional social worker. Her father, Bronson Alcott, was an idealist and vegetarian who believed in self-denial (in keeping with Louisa’s Saturn in Virgo archetype). He ran an experimental school, brought the family to a utopian community, and would only accept donations for his work or lectures. The family was often impoverished and moved repeatedly.

But growing up, Louisa got to know many prominent writers and thinkers, including neighbors Emerson, Thoreau and Hawthorne, Julia Ward Howe and Margaret Fuller. She met Frederick Douglass and the family home served as a stop on the Underground Railroad.

Saturn rising in Virgo points toward her sense of responsibility and practicality, and Saturn rules her 5th house of creativity and 6th house of work and service. Louisa began teaching and writing at a young age and she supported family members throughout her life. Her writing gained acclaim around the time of her Saturn return in 1863 when she published Hospital Sketches, about her experiences nursing Civil War soldiers. Saturn also forms a tight grand trine with Mars in the 9th house of publication and Neptune in the 5th, igniting her imagination and giving her the ability to express it. Her work was commercially and critically successful.

Alcott’s Jupiter in Pisces conjunct the Descendant sextiled Mars in the 9th and Neptune in the 5th house, turning the grand trine into a kite pattern. It also forms another T-square with her Ascendant and Midheaven. The 7th can show business partners and it was a publisher who originally asked her to write a book for girls. She had mixed feelings (since the Moon in Aquarius in her 6th squares Mars), but accepted the offer. The autobiographical book became Little Women, which was praised for its strong, realistic female characters. Alcott’s Moon in Aquarius conjunct Uranus helped her as a freelance writer. The Moon’s trine to the Gemini Midheaven shows the popularity of her work and subject matter, and its sextile with Mercury in her 4th house points toward her facility for drawing on her past experiences.

But it’s ultimately Jupiter in Pisces that ensured her long-term success. Angularly placed within half a degree of the 7th house cusp, it gave her an unusual ability to reach a wide audience. The sextile to Neptune in the 5th provided a great well of inspiration. Jupiter is also the final dispositor of the chart (eventually ruling all others). Well over a century after her death, she continues to resonate with the public.

Alcott never married and contemporary interpretations of her life and writing suggest she may have been gay. Regardless of our retrospective opinion, Jupiter in the 7th house can show someone whose need for independence is too great to tie themselves down. Pluto conjunct the 8th could also indicate strong personal boundaries, especially as it squares Venus in Capricorn.

Louisa May Alcott and her father were both Sagittarians and shared the same birthday. She passed in 1888 at the age of 55, two days after her father died.

Dad had a Grand Cross

The grand cross is known as a tough pattern, with challenges throughout life. The standard descriptions I’ve heard characterize it as scattering the energies and presenting repeated crises. I’d instead suggest it as a strong motivating force, demanding compromise and bringing notable developments in life from time to time. All of course depends on the planets, their essential dignity and placement in the horoscope.

My dad passed ten years ago and is never far from my mind. He was centered, stable, good-humored and yes, he had a grand cross. Don Christino was born at home in Park Slope, Brooklyn. I believe his time of birth is essentially correct. Uranus in Pisces in his 10th house fell in a T-square with his Gemini Ascendant and Jupiter in Sagittarius conjunct the Descendant. All of his positions in life were relatively independent. He had a restlessness about him and was multi-talented: a handyman, driver, gardener, mechanic, bird watcher and personal accountant.

The grand cross in cardinal signs includes the Sun in Aries, Moon in Libra, Mars in Capricorn and Pluto in Cancer. I believe Mars and Pluto work for the 2nd-8th houses. He prioritized job security and benefits, and when he died at the age of 87, his affairs were in perfect order. Don grew up during the Great Depression, worked a paper route as a boy, and made money from football pools at school (which the principal shut down as they were starting to do really well). He loved telling the story of how he earned more than his father one Christmas holiday.

The full Moon squaring Mars and Pluto suggests contention in the home. His father was a Libra who apparently left all household tasks to his wife, creating conflict. Don ended up doing much of the heavier work at a young age, including getting up early to shovel coal in the winter. But he liked the responsibility and doing things for himself and others. His Ascendant ruler Mercury in Pisces is drawn into the grand cross, and gave him charm, compassion and understanding. (A Viet Nam vet told us at his funeral that he’d helped him get over the war. No idea what he did, but it made sense.)

Aquarius on the MC and a prominent Uranus drew him to engineering (often associated with square aspects) and he began a college course. But World War II intervened, a disruption of his life path nicely symbolized by Uranus in the 10th house. With the Sun in Aries and Mars in Capricorn (out-of-bounds in declination), he led a tank unit. Hard Pluto aspects may also point toward a strong survival instinct or the experience of traumatic events like these. After the war he joined the police force in Brooklyn and was a motorcycle cop on the block where I later lived for over 25 years. He subsequently became a credit card detective and finally a Court Officer. He notably guarded mass-murderer Joel Rifkin at his sentencing in 1996 (as Jupiter conjoined his Mars and Uranus into Aquarius sextiled his Sun from the cusp of the 9th house). The video was featured on the evening news and his picture was on the front page of the daily papers.

(The photo of us is probably from the late ’80s.)
I feel the strong essential dignity in my father’s chart helped him overcome the challenges his early life presented. The Sun exalted in Aries and Mercury in its detriment both fall in the fortunate 11th house. He was gregarious and popular, but had no ambition for any great achievements. Venus is dignified in Taurus, Mars exalted in Capricorn and Jupiter angular (conjunct the 7th cusp) in its ruling sign of Sagittarius. As he could be generous to a fault, there similarly always seemed to be someone on hand to help when needed.

He was happiest lifting a glass with friends and family, and was a part-time bartender at his club for much of his life (Gemini rising with Mercury in Pisces). He loved tending to his backyard “farm,” battled squirrels every year, and avidly followed the Three Tenors (Venus in Taurus in the 12th). Straightforward and direct, he believed that serving on a jury was a wonderful experience, yet typically Southern Italian, he trusted few authorities and felt politicians were “all a bunch of thieves.” (Uranus in the 10th square Jupiter in Sagittarius, and traditional MC ruler Saturn in Scorpio). He enjoyed reading Michener, Mark Twain and James Herriot, was a wonderful storyteller himself, and had a deep and hearty laugh (Jupiter trine Neptune).

Does a grand cross signal a frustrated, sad or wasted life? Indeed not. Planetary placement and dignity are often more important to consider than aspects. This horoscope clearly shows why we shouldn’t too quickly judge a prominent pattern without a thorough study of all facets of the chart.