Category Archives: cycles

Jane Austen… Again

Over 200 years after her death, Jane Austen’s popularity continues to soar. Her numerous book spin-offs include plays, film adaptations, soft-core porn sequels and even things like Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. With Neptune rising in her horoscope, it appears that everyone can see something different in Austen.

Neptune conjoining the Ascendant in Virgo in Jane’s chart makes her work multi-layered. Her books give us her personal impressions and are true-to-life reflections of daily concerns that strike a chord with readers, perhaps because there is usually some romanticism and often the suggestion of happy endings. But typical of Neptune, we don’t even know what she looked like!

Austen may not always be what she appears, especially as Neptune squares her 4th house Sun in Sagittarius. Commentators have seen her as a conservative, a house-mouse and a feminist (she never married and while tied to her family, she produced great novels). Her Mercury in Sag. in the 3rd attests to her need to write, and it opposes Uranus in the 9th house, giving her an independent outlook. Jupiter in Gemini in the 9th shows her education and the ability to publish, especially as it trines her Moon and Saturn straddling the 2nd house cusp. This aspect is probably part of what has continued to keep her books popular with readers, as Saturn can bring longevity. (While she sold some work during her lifetime, Jane did not make much money at it.) Venus in Scorpio indicates her deep feelings.

The Moon in Libra conjoining Saturn gives Austen a consistent interest in relationships, which were both persistent (especially those with women) and limited (she quickly broke off an engagement). The Moon and Saturn also square Mars in Capricorn in her 4th house, suggesting responsibilities and obligations to the home and family. Her life had limitations. Saturn squaring Pluto in Capricorn shows her pragmatic and realistic side. The Sag. and Capricorn planets combine to make her work both humorous and ironic.

With Pluto trining the writer’s Ascendant in 2020 and returning to its natal place in 2021, the recycling of her brand will probably continue. Hopefully some of it will get to the heart of what makes Jane Austen special.

Jane Austen was born on December 3, 1775 at around 11:45 pm in Steventon, Hampshire, England, according to a letter from her father – see Astrodatabank.
Helena Kelly’s feminist analysis, Jane Austen, Secret Radical, deconstructs Austen’s life and work and provides an encyclopedic look at the history and culture of the time.

Jupiter in Sagittarius

Jupiter is called the greater benefic and Sagittarius is the sign where it’s most at home. Jupiter and Sagittarius think in broad terms and enjoy expansion. The combination also accentuates its meaning, as planet and sign share similar qualities. Jupiter/Sag. people often like to do things in a big way and may at times over-reach or go too far. Though we may feel that some have a lot of “hot air,” they tend to be naturally exuberant and positive people.

Jupiter entered Sagittarius, its own sign, on November 8, 2018, where it will remain until December 2, 2019. My father and two aunts had Jupiter in Sag., each born 12 years apart. They were all warm, optimistic and talkative people, with an openness and candor. They had lots of energy and an upbeat attitude, actively engaging with life and others. I found it easy to enjoy their company, as all of them laughed wholeheartedly and were good story-tellers. They each had strong opinions on certain topics, and although Sagittarius is a mutable sign, they were committed to their ideas and beliefs.

Though all were angular, with very different aspects and house placements, their expressions of Jupiter were varied. My dad worked in the legal system throughout his life. One aunt was bilingual and enjoyed travelling; the other had strong religious convictions. Some of the typical expressions associated with Jupiter and Sagittarius are experiences with the law, foreign cultures or philosophical beliefs.

Let’s look at some celebrity examples for a better idea of the many expressions of Jupiter in Sagittarius. Notice how many of these characters could easily fit into more than one category.

Philosophers: People committed to their beliefs, whether they’re astrologers or in touch with the metaphysical world, share Jupiter in Sagittarius. They may have insight into the cosmos or our connection with the divine: Howard Sasportas, Carroll Righter, Karl Ernst Krafft, Marc Edmund Jones, Antoine de St.-Exupery, Eckhart Tolle, William Blake, Henry David Thoreau, William Butler Yeats.

Like Laughter: It was easy to find comedians with this combination, as many of them have an irrepressible sense of humor, while also offering insight into life: Maya Rudolph, Amy Poehler, Sacha Baron Cohen, Allison Janney, Damon Wayans, Ted Danson, Cameron Diaz, Tracy Ullman, Hugh Grant, Alan Alda, Bernadette Peters, Jim Henson, Billy Crystal, Kevin Kline, Richard Simmons, Phylicia Rashad.

Law and Politics: Government and the legal system are other natural outlets, as many legal experts and politicians share Jupiter in Sag: Justin Trudeau, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Michael Avenatti, Prince Charles, John McCain, George H.W. Bush, Janet Reno, Al Gore, Antonin Scalia.

Striking Voices: Jupiterians come across in a big way or may literally have an exuberant voice: Idina Menzel, Amy Winehouse, Carrie Underwood, Stella McCartney, Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, Andrew Lloyd Weber, David Mamet, Jackson Pollack, Maria Callas.

Wide Acclaim: People with Jupiter in Sagittarius are often attracted to other cultures and may reflect their ethnic heritage, share something from another culture or become widely known, even internationally: Sofia Coppola, Emma Thompson, Alan Turing, Yves Saint Laurent, Selena, Ricky Martin, Julia Child, Yusuf Islam/Cat Stevens, Florence Griffith-Joyner.

Speak their Minds: Sagittarians have a need to enlighten and educate. They’re sincere truth-seekers, with faith in their ideals. Some celebrities with Jupiter in Sag. speak out on political or educational issues or are simply known for being outspoken themselves: Jada Pinkett Smith, Jane Lynch, Amber Rose, Ben Affleck, Simon Cowell, Truman Capote, Sarah Ferguson, Robert Redford.

Go too Far: The flaw in Sagittarius and Jupiter may be not knowing when to stop. Since they like to see the big picture and may enjoy gambling, some have ideological beliefs or what the Greeks called “hubris” – arrogance towards the gods or excessive pride. We can find both people and situations that typify this trait: Martin Shkreli, Edward Snowden, Lance Armstrong, Kim Jong-Un, statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee placed in Charlottesville, VA park (Lee also surrendered on a Jupiter in Sagittarius), Titanic sailing.

Astrological Birth Control

Sheila Ostrander and Lynn Schroeder’s Astrological Birth Control (1972) is a very odd book. It reports on the theories and work of Eugen Jonas, a Catholic psychiatrist in Czechslovakia, who purportedly developed a system of pinpointing astrological fertility cycles.

Obstetrician and medical astrologer Margaret Millard has told us it can’t work. But astrologers I respect say they’ve used it with success. The basic theory seems intuitively logical, that the repetition of the Sun-Moon angle from a woman’s birth chart indicates fertile times.

For several years in the 1960s, Jonas, along with other physicians and researchers, received grants to study birth control, fertility, sex selection and viability astrologically. The fertility and sex selection cycle was reportedly identified by projected estimates based on the size and length of newborn infants. While this might symbolically produce a meaningful horoscope, it seems far-fetched that it would lead to the their consistently reported 85-98% success rates.

Almost nothing in astrology is this simplistic or constant. I also find it hard to believe that so many couples were able to routinely follow such specific instructions at home. People are not lab animals.

The authors state several times that the theories haven’t been proved and that little documentation was available, but everything about the book suggests a breakthrough. Some time is spent summarizing numerous scientific studies that support astrology but have little to do with the topic at hand.

Several of the few examples reproduced from Jonas’ work have errors. The authors don’t appear to be astrologers (nor does Jonas for that matter), so that the presentation of the actual techniques is also not very compelling. (It may be worthwhile to consider Jonas’ close Moon conjunct Neptune in Virgo, which exactly squares the Nodes, suggesting that publicity and hype may outweigh content.)

Astrological Birth Control is historically intriguing, as it was released by a major publisher, was designed for a wide audience, and influenced many astrologers. But for better books on this topic, I’d recommend Your Fertile Hours (reprinted in 2015) by Emily Faugno, a readable memoir and textbook with horoscope delineations from another Catholic devotee, or The Lunar Cycle (1989) by Francesca Naish, which is a practical guide. The Moon and Childbirth (1999) by Margaret Millard, M.D. is an excellent work that covers many topics (in vitro, predicting sex and the prenatal epoch), but unfortunately it’s difficult to find reasonably-priced copies these days. Fertility Astrology (2018) by Nicola Smits-Allsop provides sophisticated astrological analyses of fertility in the birth chart and presents astrological techniques for in vitro fertilization (see my review of this book here).

Click the links above to see more on these books on Amazon.com

The Modern West is Linear

Horoscopes have survived for over 2,000 years and represent a unique remnant of the ancient world. There is absolutely nothing else like them, as they symbolically represent the sky and are able to convey the events and experiences of a life. While we can use various techniques to progress or direct the chart into the future, the horoscope itself conveys the entire life.

In the contemporary west, we live in a world of linear time, where we adhere to schedules and see ourselves evolving into the future. Others in the past and elsewhere are different. In polychronic cultures, time is cyclic, and deadlines are unimportant. People from India that I’ve known seem to have a more polychronic attitude, for example, and interestingly enough many in India also value astrology.

Astronomer and anthropologist Anthony Aveni gave an excellent example of polychronic works of art in his book, Conversing with the Planets. In a museum in Mexico City, he observed Aztec plant sculptures that contained both the mature fruit and blooming flowers – which cannot co-exist at the same time. “Each half of the calabash and maize sculptures seemed totally faithful to what I have actually seen in my garden at the beginning and the end of the season… But the artists who made these carvings just a few generations before Cortés landed on Mexico’s shore… had conflated different stages of plant metamorphosis into a single coherent image… for reasons that escape us, the polychromic image – the combination of realities pulled from different time frames and brought together by the human imagination into a composite whole – seems to have held greater significance.”

A horoscope can also be seen as a “composite whole.” And it’s worth noting that the Maya, who predated the Aztecs by at least 1,000 years, were keen sky observers who also had their own elaborate system of astrology.

One reason that astrology is commonly criticized today may be that mainstream western society is so time-driven, ordered and quantitative, while horoscopes and astrology are qualitative and cyclic. Those of us who value them are able to do so despite the linear culture that surrounds us.

Aveni’s Conversing with the Planets is a wonderful book that looks at the many cultures through history that developed astrology. It was published in 1992 as the Uranus-Neptune conjunction in Capricorn approached, and is one of the first books to seriously address the cultural history of astrology for a wider audience. Buy on Amazon.com:
Conversing with the Planets: How Science and Myth Invented the Cosmos

Neptune with Leo

How do artists capture the soul or spirit of humanity? Somehow they are able to reflect the metaphysical, transcendent and numinous (spiritual or holy) in ordinary life. A poet sees beyond the mundane to the essence of life and immortalizes it for the rest of us.

I’ve always enjoyed reading biographies and memoirs to see how lives unfold and the twists and turns of circumstance. The best illuminate something about the human condition. And any biography will help us learn more about astrology.

Frank McCourt in Angela’s Ashes (1996) captured the town of Limerick, Ireland in the 1930s and ‘40s – it’s warmth and weaknesses, wealth and poverty, kindness and cruelty. Given McCourt’s character, talents and the unforeseen events of his life, we get a telescopic view of why he had to be who he was and how closed doors became open windows. McCourt’s interactions with others, for better or worse, provided key events in his life. And his own early experiences of poverty, loss and illness also included great understanding, love and compassion.

His horoscope includes Mercury in Virgo and Venus in Libra, both signs of their rulership, which accentuated his mind, sense of balance and relationships. We can easily see why he eventually became a writer with the ability to share his feelings with others. In his book, he presents his life with affection and humor.

McCourt’s Sun in Leo conjoins Neptune in Virgo. This combination gives him the ability to see the world with an artist’s eye. In a hospital with typhoid fever as a child, he was introduced to poetry and Shakespeare. His father was an alcoholic who loved his family but couldn’t cope with life.

Frank McCourt also had his Moon way Out of Bounds in Gemini. Kt Boehrer felt that this could indicate a “Cindarella” type who experiences hardship in life but succeeds later on.

But perhaps the most telling pattern in this horoscope is Saturn in Capricorn opposite Jupiter in Cancer. (Saturn has almost exactly returned to its natal place as I write this.) Saturn is in its own sign and Jupiter is exalted, showing his experience with those who were resilient, supportive and idealistic, as well as authorities and others who had become hardened or cautious.

McCourt worked his way out of the family’s straightened circumstances (Saturn), returned to the U.S. (where he’d been born) and expanded his circumstances through education (Jupiter). Leading a stable and secure life as a schoolteacher for many years, it was only after his retirement in 1988 (at age 58 and the start of his Saturn return) that he began writing the memoir that captured his early years in such vivid colors.

Frank McCourt was born on August 19, 1930 in Brooklyn, New York, no time is available.

Angela’s Ashes: A Memoir

Uranus in Taurus and Fascism

Astrologers have noted the link between Uranus in Taurus (April 1935 to April 1942) and Fascism, which coincided with Hitler, Mussolini and Stalin’s authoritarian regimes. Madeleine Albright’s book Fascism: A Warning provides insight into this period of history.

Early on, the author shares the odd coincidence that Charlie Chaplin and Adolf Hitler were born only four days apart, quoting a line from Chaplin’s The Great Dictator (1940): “You are not machines! You are not cattle!” which literally underscores themes related to Uranus in Taurus.

The former Secretary of State turned history professor is a Nazi refugee who speaks from her own personal experience. I found it refreshing to hear her sensible arguments and deep understanding of the scope of history. Albright has Mercury retrograde widely conjunct Uranus in Taurus and trine Neptune in Virgo (no birth time available). She’s approaching her Uranus return.

Albright quotes Hitler as attributing his own popularity to his ability to reduce issues to their simplest terms so people would easily accept them. It appears that the potential danger of Uranus in Taurus lies in strong, ideological convictions. Based upon world history, fixating on the wide-scale acquisition of land and property may also reflect this symbolism.

Madeleine Albright defines Fascism as an extreme authoritarianism linked to nationalism, the lack of concern for the rights of others, and leaders taking whatever means necessary to achieve their goals. Through optimism and traditional views, Fascists typically generate hope for political change. Their unwavering trust in their own judgment attracts followers who see them as decisive, and they may accomplish some things early on.

Fascists often take control through legitimate means but soon dismantle democratic systems. They despise reasoned debate, take steps to thwart the freedom of the press and an independent judiciary, and divide by striking out at enemies both within and outside of their own parties. Fascists typically admire other authoritarian leaders and seek to emulate them. At the end of the book, Albright adds that, “the herd mentality is powerful in international affairs.” In the 20th century, “steamroller” effects were not recognized until it was too late.

Uranus in Taurus may have firm but simplistic views and could also be insensitive (Albright uses the term “moral numbness”). Though it can initiate radical change, it does suggest monomaniacal systems and self-serving principles rather than democratic ideals.

Buy the book at Amazon.com — Fascism: A Warning

When to Act? And How?

Astrologers are often called upon to advise on the coming planetary weather. When important life events are on the horizon, it’s helpful to know what to expect in the coming months and years. Clients will take our advice when they can. But we often see examples of people who, without the benefit of astrology, acted unwisely.

A neighbor had a dispute with his landlord. I happen to know his birthday. He has a lease, but rather stubbornly resisted any compromises offered. His progressed Sun was just past sextiling natal Uranus. In January, transiting Jupiter trined his Saturn. Then in March, Saturn sextiled his Uranus. These would’ve been good times to settle with the manager, as the Sun’s aspect might bring an innovative solution, Jupiter’s transit could stabilize legal issues, and Saturn’s bring about some change. We should always try to take advantage of helpful influences that the Universe provides for us!

In addition, though, the progressed Sun and Mercury will go on to approach a square to Neptune, creating a T-square with natal Venus opposite Neptune. And the neighbor also had Neptune squaring Neptune during this period, a long-term transit. He did seem to have illusions about the future of the relationship and what he could hope to achieve. An astrologer would advise clients not to hold out for something unrealistic. Though admittedly with Neptune, people find it hard to know what is unrealistic.

The months went on, with the landlord making concessions in hopes of avoiding a court case. The neighbor refused to budge. In April, Uranus squared his Sun and Jupiter squared both his Mercury, then Saturn. The Jupiter aspects might make one feel that they have “the law” on their side, but they add challenges to resolve any issues. And certainly with Uranus squaring the Sun, the situation might radically change. It did.

The landlord finally offered a deadline, which was missed. He then called a lawyer, and the neighbor will now have to take the time and trouble to go to court to resolve the matter. Neptune will exactly square the tenant’s Venus in July, and the hard transits from Jupiter repeat in September: things may not be resolved for some time. Jupiter will trine the neighbor’s Sun in November, when Saturn also sextiles his Uranus again. So things may ultimately be resolved to his satisfaction (five months away).

Evangeline Adams called working with the planets “intelligent non-resistance.” You can’t control everything. I’m a very Saturnine person who asks, why make things difficult? Life is hard enough. But without the help of astrology, many people can’t know when it’s best to be stubborn or when to take advantage of an offer or opportunity.

Scientific Basis of Astrology

Dr. Percy Seymour, an unusual scientist with an open mind, has considered the evidence and concluded that our geomagnetic field, as well as that of the Sun and even planets, may account for the influence we call astrology. In his book, The Scientific Basis of Astrology: Tuning to the Music of the Planets, Seymour traces the history of our involvement with natural cycles over millennia and puts our relationship with the cosmos in an evolutionary context. This book was released in 1992, when the Uranus-Neptune conjunction in Capricorn was first near exact, and it reflects a more cosmic view of history and cycles. To me, this time was a turning point for thinkers considering astrology from different points of view.

Living organisms are locked into the fluctuations of our geomagnetic system and all life on earth has evolved within it. Seymour first surveys the development of calendars and clocks over the centuries, and we see how intimately we’ve been part of the cycles around us. We then look at numerous studies of the seasonal behavior of mammals, birds and insects, and how exposure to light can influence them.

The Moon’s connection with the tides is well known, but it also has a proven link to rainfall. It’s fascinating to learn about studies done on how bacteria, bees, migrating birds, homing pigeons and even whales are directly influenced by the magnetic field that surrounds all of us. Most people are familiar with the effect that solar activity can have on electrical instruments, but studies point to the fact that solar activity may correlate with planetary movements as well.

Dr. Seymour also cites theories on geomagnetic and planetary influences and includes a discussion of the work of Michel Gauquelin, the intrepid astrological researcher. Gauquelin couldn’t prove the influence of Sun signs, and Seymour doesn’t accept them, either. (However more recent research has shown that the month of birth correlates with a risk for particular diseases.) The author also critiques his scientific colleagues for their closed minds when it comes to investigating astrology.

This is a wonderful book for any astrologer who wants to know more about how astrology might work. Each of the chapters builds on the material in the one before it, ultimately amounting to an astounding revelation. There is no index, but the Table of Contents is clear, as is the organization of the book itself.

Buy at Amazon.com: The Scientific Basis of Astrology: Tuning to the Music of the Planets

New York City: Mars Out of Bounds

New York City commemorated the 25th anniversary of the 1993 World Trade Center bombings on February 26. Mars, the planet we most associate with weapons and violent crime, was accentuated: it was both rising and Out of Bounds in declination at that time. Six people were killed and over 1,000 injured as a rental van exploded in an underground parking garage.

When planets are Out of Bounds, they fall outside the Sun’s path and may present situations above and beyond the norm. Mars goes Out of Bounds in declination about once a year, often for a month or more at a time. This usually happens when it’s in the equinoctial signs of Cancer and Capricorn or their adjoining signs of Gemini and Sagittarius.

Mars was in Cancer and OOB (26 N 26 in declination) for the 1993 bombing. The 9/11/2001 airplane attacks also had Mars OOB (26 S 47), this time placed in the sign of Capricorn. New York City has its natal Mars in late Sagittarius, also OOB at 24 S 03, though not as far from the ecliptic edge of 23 N/S 26.

Another downtown Manhattan terrorist attack, the Wall Street bomb of 9/16/1920 (12:01 PM) also had Mars rising (in Sagittarius this time) but just a day shy of being OOB in declination (about to step outside the ecliptic).

Evangeline Adams talked about late degrees of Cancer being common to fires in New York City in the late 19th century. She noted that the great Windsor Hotel fire of 1899, which killed over 60 people, had Mars at 21 Cancer 22. At the time of the fire, the Moon and Mars were both OOB (at 24 N 11 and 24 N 49 respectively).

These are unusual coincidences, but many things are ruled by an OOB Mars. In the horoscope of New York City, Mars OOB in Sagittarius in the 3rd house may also represent transit, traffic, pedestrians, accidents, languages, education, trade and candid speech. Much more research is needed to establish how often Mars coincides with notable violence and destruction in New York.

The terrorist attack on February 26, 1993 occurred at 12:18 PM according to numerous news stories.

For more on the 1993 and 2001 charts, see Michelle Young’s analysis.

The Twin Towers attacks chart is here.

I also looked at the New York City chart in an earlier post.

Jupiter in Scorpio with lots of Capricorn

Looking back for multiple planets in Capricorn, I found January 10, 1994, which featured 7 planets in Capricorn as well as Jupiter and Pluto in Scorpio. That date was the beginning of the trial of Lorena Bobbitt for cutting off her husband’s penis (the irony of the name must be given to Jupiter in Scorpio!).

She was found not-guilty as she had suffered physical and mental abuse from the husband for years. Maybe Pluto in Scorpio added to the violence of the act. Today, with Pluto in Capricorn, the efforts seem more directed toward reform in business and other institutionalized hierarchies.

The horoscope for John Wayne Bobbitt is on Astrodatabank – he had Mars in Scorpio opposite Venus, which is a tough and potentially brutal combination. His Sun in Aries closely conjunct Saturn, both quincunx Mars, may have made him both aggressive and frustrated. He subsequently served time for assaulting another woman as well as he second wife.


Lorena was born on October 31, 1970 in Bucay, Ecuador. She had Mars conjunct Uranus, explaining her impetuous actions. Most of her planets were in Scorpio, though, so she was able to withstand her abusive husband for nearly five years. She was also near her Jupiter return at the time of the trial, which helped others understand her story and put some luck on her side.

This is a sad story all around, but important in terms of women’s rights. Many these days are associating Jupiter in Scorpio with the “MeToo” movement. In 1994, two Jupiter cycles before, we these issues were already in the news.

Lorena’s birthday is found on Biography.com.