The Year of the Water Dragon

Though not traditional western astrology, Chinese astrology has its own tradition and system that’s worth acknowledging.  In previous years I’ve posted up a series of predictions using the Chinese astrological system that were written by Dr. Maoshing Ni.  Unfortunately I don’t have access to his predictions at this time.  However, I thought I would leave you with this link to a page by Feng Shui and Bazi consultant Laurent Langlais which offers insight into the year ahead using the same method.  It’s a very interesting look on the future, and probably one many of us saw coming.  Enjoy!

Astrolome: What It Is and What It Does

A couple of months ago, several astrologers were excited about the release of a new astrology application for smart phones called Astrolome.  Curious as to what it was myself, I went to go see, hoping that someone had finally come out with a horoscope drawing application.  What it was, though, is a transit reader.

The application asks for your birth information and calculates the positions of the planets at birth, and then gives you information on the transits you are currently experiencing, dividing them into challenges and advantages as well as a couple of sentences on each transit, which one exactly it is, and for how long you can expect it to last.  There are also pro-astrologer comments (used to be called Advisors before a recent update) which can give extra information as well as a place for people who have underwent the same transit in the past can comment.  All in all, it’s a more community-based astrology application that presents a transit and the community can add in more details in their comments if they so choose.  Also, it comes off more as a step in the right direction from Sun Sign columns.  Now it’s more personal and based off of actual astrological phenomenon!  How novel!

The problem is that the transit descriptions still leave a lot to be improved on and really only waters down the concepts of transit interpretations to make them easy to copy and paste for everyone.  Serious astrologers know that not everyone experiences a Jupiter/Neptune Trine the same way, but according to the Astrolome application, everyone who experiences this will meet or become some kind of spiritual teacher.  While the software does record the sign and house placement of all your natal planets, it does nothing with them besides calculate the proper transits or house ingresses.  Also, there’s not a button to say a transit description isn’t accurate for you, but there is one to say that it was accurate, creating the illusion that no one disagrees.  The advisor comments come across as very random at times, sometimes talking about things not related to the transit being discussed, sometimes they offer incorrect information “No Venus transit is bad…”, and other times it’s the advisor validating the transit description offered.

All that nitpicking aside, the main problem is that now everyone can be an astrologer with Astrolome.  Just put in the birth information and you can get transit reports on anyone in the world.  You could even charge that person for the reports!  As if there aren’t enough fake astrologers in the world.  Also it creates the illusion that people don’t need astrologers, they just need Astrolome and they’ll know everything they need to know.  It’s the unfortunate side of being more astrologically correct.  With Sun Sign horoscopes, anyone seriously considering consulting an astrologer knew they were bogus because it was pretty obvious there was more to it than that, however Astrolome obscures that line.

What are your thoughts on services like these?  Do you feel they are helpful, harmful, or have no effect on astrology as a whole?

Up Coming Event: Job Interview

Last week I put in an inquiry about a position somewhere else in the company where I work.  Today, I heard back from the lady who scheduled the interview with me and after we agreed on a time, I went and drew up the chart for that moment to see what my chances were or to see if I could find any sort of problems that were likely to disqualify me from consideration.  The chart is posted below.

So, Taurus rises and the Lord of the Hour is Venus, which sets a nice, pleasant tone for a first meeting/interview.  Things are likely to be polite, agreeable, and as delightful as possible for such a stressful situation.  Before we assign siginifactors, we have to look at what’s happening in this event; one party is interviewing another.  Essentially, one person is performing an interview and the other person is receiving it.  In this instance, I am the one receiving an interview, I’m the one being asked questions.  In event astrology, the party that receives an event or has one acted upon them takes the Seventh house whereas the party that is initiating the event or acting it out takes the First.  So, I get the seventh house and Mars, whereas the interviewer gets the first and Venus.

Immediately, I am very disappointed with my significator.  In a day chart, Mars is peregrine in Pisces (reflecting that I’ve really never done this type of work before) making him powerless in his situation.  Mars has some accidental dignity being in the Eleventh house (have had experience in the various duties of the job), but also has some pretty unfortunate accidental debility with the Combustion of the Sun, though he’s almost cleared of it.  This does not look good.

Venus is representing my interviewer, she’s in Aquarius which is a pretty good sign for someone in her position, sanguine and talkative, but straight-laced and to the point.  This probably even describes her physically as a woman of medium stature with shorter/medium, probably light colored hair and glasses with a fashionable and noticeable color (I’ve never met this woman before, so I’ll be interested in how close that is)  Venus is in the Tenth house, showing that she’s very in control of the situation.

So now we can look at the relationship between these two planets.  Mars is in the exaltation, triplicity, and term of Venus and so is received by her, but Mars doesn’t receive Venus which doesn’t make it a mutual reception, even if it did, however, there is no aspect between the two to cement the reception.  This is a good sign though, showing that the interviewer is receptive and open to me.  Mars applies a sextile to the Ascendant, and Venus applies a Square to the Descendant, though the degree on the Descendant is in Venus’s triplicity in term, lessening the Square’s effect through a perfect reception.  There may be hope yet!

The job itself is the Tenth house and Saturn.  Saturn is in Libra, retrograde, and in a cadent house, not aspecting the Seventh house or its lord.  It doesn’t look like I’ll get the position simply do to that.  There’s a very closer relationship between Venus and Saturn, the two are seeking to Trine in mutual reception, which is a very clear sign that the job will stay with her, and that I will not be offered it.  There may be a bit of a saving throw in this, though, as the antiscia of Saturn is 4° from Mars, and vice- versa, though I think 4° for the orb of an antiscia is a bit wide.

Finally, the Moon is Void in Aries, showing that if the interview progresses, it will be through much difficulty.  Lilly shares that events begun under Void of Course Moons progress so difficultly and painstakingly that the querent often wishes he had never begun the endeavor.  Pleasant…

I’ll update this through the comments section as it unfolds.

Don’t be a victim of circumstance, take charge of your own affairs by using electional astrology services to give you the upper hand.  See the About Astrological Services page for details.

Lunar Mansions: The Introduction

Due to her quick orbit around the Earth, the Moon is a heavily referenced body in traditional astrology.  We see this in horary astrology as she becomes the co-significator of the querent and the overall significator of the question itself and an emphasis is placed on the aspects she makes on her trip through her current sign.  We see her significance again emphasized in timing of events, even becoming noticeable in Neo-Paganism where rituals are timed with the Moon’s phases.

An easy way to follow the Moon in such instances as timing is to follow her around her own Zodiac.  We’re all aware of the Sun’s zodiac, but the Moon also has one called the Lunar Mansions.  While the Sun’s path is carved through the 12 signs he runs through during his annual trip across the ecliptic, the Moon’s mansions are carved from the fixed stars she moves across during her monthly orbit.  Vedic tradition holds that there are 27 lunar mansions, while Western astrology and Chinese astrology says there are 28.  Either one would be logical, as the Moon’s orbit is about 27.5 days.  To make the Lunar Mansions work, the Vedic tradition calculates the mansions as being 13°26’, while Western and Chinese astrology calculates them as 12° 51’ 26’’ long.

Uses of the Mansions

The use of the lunar mansions depends primarily on the system they originate from.  Regardless of the origin, though, they were obviously used astronomically to track the Moon’s progress throughout her monthly orbit as a time-keeping calendar device.

Electional astrology is one use that crops up every time the mansions are mentioned.  Used in both Western and Vedic traditions as means to determine the best time to initiate something.  Generally one would erect a mini-election by selecting the time that the Moon was in a mansion that corresponded to the event the astrologer wished to elect.  The above also holds true with astrological magic, with the astrologer electing a time the Moon was in a particular mansion to begin making a talisman for a desired effect.

Individual to Vedic astrology, a child would generally be given a name that matched the mansion their moon was in at birth.

There does appear to be some debate as to the appropriate star system to use the lunar mansions with.  Should the lunar mansions be progressed to continue to fit with the stars they draw their power from?  Or should they be left stationary as an act of symbolism rather than material fact?  This has become a split in astrological tradition and that split lies clearly along party lines with the Vedic astrologers calculating for the procession of the equinoxes and Western astrologers not following suit.  To Vedic (and Chinese) astrologers, the fact is that the star Sheratan is not where it was 2000 years ago, and so the mansion that holds this star should be moved to follow along with the star.  This is dismissed in the Western tradition which holds spiritual (and thus celestial) perfection to be of more importance than material fact.

The individual mansions will be explored in subsequent posts.

Symbols Through Time

The astrological glyphs for the planets are well known across the world and often take a surprisingly large part in popular culture.  While modern thinkers have come up with interpretations of what those glyphs represent, what is it that they symbolize and what were they before they came to take shape as the symbols we recognize today?  Some of them are easily explainable, but others have taken on a different lineage than has been attributed to them by modern practitioners.

Evolution of the Moon

Today the Moon is symbolized by either a right-facing or left-facing crescent, obviously representing one of the most iconic stages of the lunar cycle.  Modern thinkers have associated this symbol with a crescent of receptivity, showing the mind and the evolving human spirit.

We know this symbol goes back at least to William Lilly’s day, though he seems to consistently use a left-facing crescent, which reflects the way the Moon looks during her waxing phase, wherein she is generally regarded as a benevolent planet.  This left-facing crescent is echoed in a 1506 translation of Abu Masar’s Great Introduction.

The earliest representation for the Moon can be traced to a 2^nd century BCE tablet called the Bianchini planisphere which shows the patron of the Moon wearing a tiara with an upturned crescent which heralds to a lunar phenomenon called a Wet Moon where the “horns of the Moon” – or the crescent – is turned facing up.

Evolution of Mercury

Mercury’s symbol is shown by an upwards facing crescent on top of a circle which rests on a cross.  This is said to represent the mind as the crescent resting on divine spirit – shown as the circle – which stands firmly on the cross of matter.

Mercury’s symbol stays rather consistent, with no real change to it until we see it in Abu Masar’s work where it has suddenly gained an extra crossbar.

Interestingly, in Lilly’s Christian Astrology, he seems to mostly utilize an older style of drawing Mercury which goes back to 1150 CE as shown in a planisphere attributed to a Manuel Komnenos who was most likely copying from earlier sources.  In this rendering, Mercury losses his crossbar, but the loop at the top is apparent as being one symbol instead of being broken down into two distinctive symbols.  Lilly, of course, adds the crossbar when using this image for Mercury.

In the Bianchini planisphere, the symbol attributed to Mercury is none other than the caduceus, and that connection has survived throughout the ages.

Evolution of Venus

Modern Venus is shown by a circle on top of a cross, much like Mercury, but without the crescent.  This has been taken as a representation of divine spirit resting on the cross of matter.

Venus’s symbol has largely remained unchanged in the past several hundred years.  Abu Masar’s work shows Venus much in the same way as it is today.

Kamateros’s Venus is missing the crossbar, and it seems that in an attempt to Christianize astrology, the crossbar was added to Venus’s symbol and it fell into popular use sometime between this work and Abu Masar’s.  This idea will be repeated for another planet later.

The Bianchini planisphere shows Venus’s symbol as an ornate necklace.  This is an interesting distinction from popular modern conception which holds the symbol as being Venus’s hand mirror, but how fitting for Venus to be symbolized by a piece of elaborate jewelry.  Even the modern symbol quickly takes back its old connection with the circle representing the chain and the distaff showing the pendant.

Evolution of the Sun

The symbol for the Sun is a dot surrounded by a circle.  Modern thinkers interpret it as the divine spirit surrounding and nurturing the seed of potential.  Obviously that depiction is of the solar disk which is something that we see a lot in Renaissance period art adorning the heads of deities or other important spiritual figures.  Later we would interpret these solar disks as halos.

It’s not until we go back to Kamateros and his sources that we see the image for the Sun change.  Here it’s a smaller solar disk with a single ray coming out from it.  We use a similar symbol today to denote the position of comets.

The Bianchini plainisphere shows the personification of the Sun as wearing a crown adorned with many rays, and it’s that symbol that was attributed to him then.  It’s interesting to note that throughout time the Sun has gone from having many rays to having no rays.

Evolution of Mars

Today’s symbol for Mars is that of a circle (representing divine spirit) with an right-up facing arrow coming out of it (representing drive and force).

Mars changes very little over time, but there is a significant change in Kamateros’s planisphere.  Here, Mars is shown by a line through the circle showing the spear being placed diagonally along the shield.  The implications seem to be a bit different here as the shield and spear seem to be at rest rather than actively engaged.

The Bianchini planisphere shows Mars with his signature spear, but there’s no shield present, though the personification is wearing a helmet.

Evolution of Jupiter

Modern Jupiter looks like stylized number 4, but upon closer inspection you can break it down into two parts.  A crescent attached to the arm of a cross which is said to represent the mind overcoming matter.

There’s a major shift in Jupiter glyphs when we go back to Kamateros and his 600 CE Egyptian source where the one in common use is the lowercase of the Greek letter zeta, or the first letter in the Greek word Zeus.  The dramatic shift from this Greek letter to the cross and crescent of the next stage may have something to do with Christianization of Pagan concepts like with Venus where the best way to change something to make it less “heathen” is to slap a cross on it.

The Bianchini planisphere shows Jupiter with a scepter, denoting his status as king.  Jupiter’s glyph is the most drastically changed with the modern glyph bearing little – if any – resemblance to the original intended item.

Evolution of Saturn

Saturn today is the image of a crescent attached to the side of a cross.  Modern thinkers have interpreted it as matter (shown by the cross) taking precedence over the mind (shown by the attached crescent.  This symbol is a depiction of an upturned scythe, the symbol of Saturn as the god of the harvest.

There’s an interesting battle going on in Saturn’s history over that cross.  In the 1550 Anecdotum Parisinum we see Saturn much as he is today, but without the crossbar.

Abu Masar depicts Saturn with the crossbar in his manuscript 44 years earlier.

Kamateros’s planishpere shows that his several hundred year old source (by his time) depicted Saturn without the crossbar, showing that the addition of the bar must have been a Christian introduction as it was with the other symbols that underwent similar additions.

Finally, the Bianchini plaisphere shows its Saturn personification in a cowl with a right-side up scythe.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astrological_symbols

The Origin of the Symbols of the Planets by Maunder, A.S.D.

Mercury’s Retrograde Rampage

Mercury went retrograde on August 20^th and I don’t think I – or anyone else – can wait until it turns back around.  While this cycle is only 12 days old, it seems about 11 and a half days too old and that’s really saying something.  Usually retrograde periods have some sort of a theme about them, just a general something that gets affected detrimentally while a planet is retrograde.  This time around it appears the target of Mercury is vehicles.  I have heard so many from friends and co-workers about how something unexpected has put their car out of commission, and these have all happened within the last week and a half.

The good news is that even though Mercury is afflicted while retrograde, it is still super dignified in Virgo where it experiences both domicile and exaltation, so while there are going to be unexpected problems and days when cars just aren’t going to want to do anything for you, whatever is wrong should be fairly easily fixable with no recurring problems; that is, no recurring problems as long as you don’t seek to fix it during the retrograde period.  If you do, then you may find yourself having a similar problem before the planet goes direct.

Mainly, the instances have been mostly electrical and wiring in nature.  I’ve heard one case of a car not starting due to a wire discovered to be detached from the battery, and reattaching it solved the problem.  A second car that wouldn’t turn its engine over was due to an electric issue with the alarm system, where the car thought the operator was a thief and simply refused to start.  The dealership was able to handle that, though.  There’s a third car with a broken heater coil and something causing it to handle improperly, but there’s no word on what the cause of that is as of yet.  A fourth car turned up with a flat tire after someone slashed the tire.  I’m not completely sure that’s a Mercury retrograde thing as it doesn’t necessarily fit the theme of wiring, but it gets an honorable mention in that a store “patched” the tire and not fifteen minutes later that same tire was again flat which fit in neatly with the retrograde pattern.

Now, silly me thought that I would get out of this particular period without anything happening because I had been experiencing an electrical problem with my car since before Mercury went retrograde.  Due to an electrical component going out, I’m forced to drive with high-beams as my low beams will not turn on.  The quote for this corrective service was an astounding $500+, so I’m still sitting on it saving up to put it back in the shop.  Now that my sob story is done, I thought I was doing pretty good and was confident that I would simply be cursed to sit with this problem until after Mercury went direct…and then the universe (looking at you Mercury) threw a deer at me!  Yes, Mercury is not above having deer jump out of the woods and smack into cars leaving dents and destroying the inside of headlight lamps.  Luckily that was the extent of the damage, no one was hurt, and while the deer may have an injured back leg, it seemed to be doing pretty well as it bounded off into the woods undoubtedly with a smirk on its face having completed its mission (but no, seriously, I do hope the deer will be okay).

Everyone be careful out there and please share your Mercury car meltdown stories in the comments!

The Year of the Tiger

Sunday, February 14^th marked the Chinese new year and for this event my kung fu class got together and held a renewal ceremony.  During this event, everyone was given a handout that had an interpretation for the new year written by Dr. Maoshing Ni.  I’m not going to use this as an area to express my personal feelings on Chinese astrology, but there were some parts that I thought were pretty interesting and seemed to go along well with other things happening in the sky through a Western astrological perspective.

“In Chinese astrology, the Tiger is a dynamic and powerful sign.  Its nature is unpredictable, courageous, and powerful.  Therefore, the year of the tiger is usually associated with change, making 2010 likely to be a year of transformation globally and personally.  Those who understand the nature of the tiger should have the flexibility to adapt to changes and take advantage of the opportunities that arise.”

Really, the only thing in this paragraph that’s of any interest is the part about the year of transformation.  I would normally say that Pluto in Capricorn is an obvious sign of fundamental change in some way, but I don’t really think it’s fair.  Pluto is going to be in Capricorn for quite sometime, not just for the year of 2010.  However, one thing that’s different is the Square that’s going to be off and on between Saturn and Pluto this year.

“In the Chinese calendar, 2010 is represented by the elements of metal and wood.  The elemental interaction is symbolized by an axe cutting down a tree.  What this means is a potential for more conflicts on the world’s political stage.  It is a more combustible year resulting in increased military engagements.  It is therefore critical for leaders of the world to exercise calmness when dealing with confrontations and seek peace and harmony as the ultimate objective in any interaction.  The imagery is akin to clearing a forest or the undergrowth in a field for planting or removing the wreckage after a storm in a process of rebuilding.  Therefore this year is about transforming your life courageously and harnessing the power of the tiger to actualize your dreams.”

This doesn’t sound like a very excellent elemental symbol.  One thing that’s not really mentioned, but I think may be important is that the symbol seems to suggest a triump of industry over the environment.  Anyway, the conflicts on the world’s political stage is peraps the more interesting part of this whole paragraph.  Perhaps it’s the sextile of retrograde Saturn and Mars casting to their places of detriment, or maybe it’s Uranus’s quick ingress into Aries, but strife seems to be well in the air.

“In 2010, the economies around the world should stabilize and improve, with more optimism from the Tiger.  The conflicting dynamics of the metal and wood elements shall spark more volatile times ahead for both the economy and the stock market.”

I actually thought this was pretty interesting.  I had thought for some time that when Jupiter moved into Pisces and Saturn moved into Libra the economy would improve.  I can’t remember who said it, but I read in either Benson Bobrick’s  The Fated Sky or Nicholas Campion’s The Dawn of Astrology that the state of the world could easily be foretold by the state of the two outermost planets.  So, hopefully after Saturn turns direct and gets back into Libra, the situation will improve.

After that, Dr. Maoshing Ni goes on to discuss the various diseases that he feels we should be on the defense of due to the elemental qualities of the year.  The Metal and Wood illnesses fit very nicely with Mercurial respiratory, Saturn skin and obstruction, and Jupiter’s everything.

Take my Yod…. Please!

Definition of a YOD or aka “the finger of God”…. Formed when one planet (the Apex of the YOD) forms a 150 degree (Quincuxed or Inconjunct)  aspect to two other planets that in turn are sextile (60 degrees) to each other.  In most Astrological programs, that is the nice green skinny triangle, charted it would look like a Y.

Notice the definition does say Planets…. not points, cusps, or asteroids.  I have found over and over that newer Astrology students insist on having unusual aspects, such as the YOD, a kite, a tsquare, and/or a Grand Cross.  Though not at all unheard of, these are still aspects that are unusual.  The combinations are sometimes humorous, ” I have a Tsquare caused by BML, my Vertex and the IC.”  And most often the use of unacceptable orbs…. One of these configurations would not have an orb or larger than 3 degrees, and that is being generous.   But students don’t want to hear that it isn’t the case.  I suspect it is because it feels special to have something unusual in our charts…. trust me, the owner of a legit Tsquare and 2 YODS, I would gladly trade these for a nice, uncomplicated, simplistic chart.   I still don’t even know how YODS figure in life.  Not that I haven’t been told a kazillion times by more knowledgable Astrologers, I just can’t seem to grasp it.  You know, that is the actual nature of a YOD.  You have 2 planets complementing each other and they are both “confused” by the apex planet.  The apex planet will share neither gender or element with the sextile pair.  The midpoint of the sextile will be the opposition of the Apex planet, and transits to this point will be felt.  I would LIKE to see the YOD as like we use our eyes.  Open one and then close the other, then go back and forth…. I think it would be a possibility to understand the sextile planets work best when focusing together on the apex, making it 3d.    Others talk about how difficult it is to reconcile the relationships of the planets involved… There seems to be many schools of thought.  And often those with YODs, myself included just can’t seem to wrap our minds around it…. sort of not seeing the forest for the trees.

I remember once correcting a fellow Astrologer, that his Ascendant did not make for a contribution to a YOD in his chart.  He immediately attacked me that I should not chime in as I didn’t have the Ascendant aspect so therefore I shouldn’t comment….. the Astrology student I understand least, the if I scream and try to intimidate you, it makes my opinion correct….  He doesn’t know how lucky he is that it isn’t a YOD.  Finger of God…. hmmmm, reminds me of a Gary Larson Far Side Cartoon.

Embracing my North Node (Finally)

When we look at our own charts, we often find sources for disappointment.  This is more a truism when we begin studying astrology, as opposed to the more seasoned astrologer that comes to the conclusion, can’t change it, it is who I am.  The next step is not just to acknowledge, but to accept and eventually rejoice in the uniqueness our charts point us toward.  My North Node is in Cancer (near my Moon) and in the Sixth house.  I couldn’t imagine a more unattractive placement for the NN.  The south Node in the 12th and in Capricorn is so much more what I thought I wanted to be.. it was/is easy, the SN often being sited as the place we fall back on, a place of familiarity, and the interpretation of some, the karmic past of other lives.  It has been a place I go back to often, having worked as a psychic and studied and worked in the field of psychology.  The North Node position seemed boring and lackluster, and a whole bunch of effort to put in “reality” world.  Ah, there it is…so much effort.  The NN is known as the place we need to strive.  Karmic astrologers believe this is the lesson for this lifetime.

Being organized (sixth house) has always been an issue with me.  I  suppose if I put effort into it, all would be fine, but a resentment takes hold, the “I don’t want to be told what to do”, even if by my own expectations.  Conversations of health and nutrition bore me to no en.  But much as as I would want to disown the placement, it has peeked through my entire life.  I have always done volunteer work (the Sixth, house of service), the pleasure and challenges of having been a foster parent, I have spent many years in the pet industry (sixth house of small animals and birds) and they do seem to be tainted with the influence of Cancer and the Moon’s presence nearby.

The chart co rulers are the Moon and Uranus.  It is the Uranus that makes me really want to buck the responsibility of the sixth house.  I grew up with a very strong mother that broke a lot of the barriers in place due to gender.  I followed somewhat in those foot steps, breaking the unwritten rules of society and the expectations thereof.  With that attitude, I shunned the more traditional role that women had historically been cast.  Growing up in a time of bra-burning and protesting, I remember there was a strike done by housewives!  Television and the media were shaping our ideals and telling us that women had to be more and that the traditional role was obsolete.  By the time I reached high school, home economics was no longer a subject – let alone the core study – that most females before me had been expected to particpate in.  That was just fine with me, I wanted to play in the science labs anyway and the baby had been thrown out with the bath water.  Circumstances have put my in a place where I am having to spend most of my time at home.  things slowly changed around here.  Instead of throwing out clothes because a hole appeared, I (at 45) bought my first sewing kit…and am teaching the kids how to use it.  I am on a quest now to produce the perfect homemade chicken pot pie.  I think I am going to try to reupholster my couch (how hard can it be if you don’t know any better?).  Have found myself rearranging the pantry cans to make more sense, and this makes me happy.  Once I got past the imposted feeling of shame that somehow I was letting down all of my suffrage sisters and realized this doesn’t make me any less of a person to want to have a more settled domestic life and to enjoy having an active role in such.  Bet my friend will love this new appreciation of the NN in Cancer…I have a huge list of cookies, pastries, and other goodies I plan to bake this Christmas.

Don’t Give in to the Urge!

In astrology, there is nothing more interesting and fun than the thought of doing the natal charts of the people you know and are close to in your life.  This is something you should probably not do on a whim as the consequences could be dire!  Now that’s somewhat overexaggerated as obviously the world won’t end upon you doing an indepth natal reading for someone you’re close to, but you understand the general idea.

I recently decided to sit down and seriously go over my boyfriend’s horoscope with Lilly’s Christian Astrology Volume III as my guide.  Now, this is a big step because I haven’t even done my own horoscope as extensively as I’ve gone over his so far.  Probably a bit of a weird thing to admit, but it’s true.  His chart was an interesting challenge, mostly because of not having an accurate birthtime but thanks to Ptolemy, I did the best I could in fixing that problem and so far the reading seems to be going pretty well.  The problem being that the chart is mostly referencing things that are still further along in his future, so really the jury is still out, and it may be a big egg on my face if we ever do really find out his real birthtime.

While I’m still not finished (I’ve still got the Tenth, Eleventh, and Twelfth houses to do, and then after that I’m going to try my hand at following Lilly’s directions on progressions), what I have gotten out of his chart so far seems to be pretty interesting, and in some aspects it’s changed my way of thinking about him in little ways.  According to his chart, he’s going to get married twice.  That’s right, you heard it, twice!  Wouldn’t that make you think and get a bit concerned about your future with someone?  Lilly says Venus in the second house argues that the native marries for money.  Lord knows I don’t have any money (you should see the pathetic state of my second house lord), so I’m wondering who he’s marrying for money, because it doesn’t seem like it’s going to be me.  Another red flag for the collection.

Now, in this particular case, everything checks out okay.  Don’t tell anyone, but my boyfriend has actually been married already, and yes, it was technically for money for college.  So, that means only one marriage left, and I’m pretty sure I already called it.

Continuing the marriage trend, his nativity also suggested that his spouse would outlive him.  That makes me a little sad already, and it’s not like death is knocking on our front door.  On the positive side of that, maybe it’ll make me take my time with him a bit more seriously, since I know I’m the one who’s going to run out of time with him.

I also learned all the diseases and injuries he’s going to get throughout his life.  Besides the weak eyesight shown, the other interesting diseases were apparently bladder and urinary tract infections.  Now, I’m no doctor, but I’m pretty sure cranberry juice helps against that kind of stuff.  So bottoms up, you’ll thank me for it later.

Something else I forgot to mention is that his father may not be his real biological father, because apparently his mother slept around. :S  I know, right?  Well, I don’t think his father is his real father, and I’m a little concerned on if I should tell him or not.  He’s got a night chart, so his father is signified by Saturn in Capricorn in the Twelfth and Venus in Aquarius in the Second (Lady of the Fourth).  Now, I don’t know about you, but I’ve always seen significators of parents in cadent houses as showing a removed parent either physically or emotionally or whatever.  The Twelfth house especially having significations over those things that are secret or kept hidden.  Hm, a hidden father?  Suspicious…

Doing the horoscopes for someone you’re close to can bring about some interesting inner conflicts.  Do you tell them this or do you keep it to yourself?  How do you keep what you learned from influencing how you interact with them?  You probably really can’t, as it’s always going to be in the back of your mind.  In my case, I was lucky.  I could have seen three marriages, I could have seen him inclined to have affairs, I could have seen an untimely death, but I didn’t.  I could have, but I didn’t.  Things to consider before you dig too deep.