Electional Astrology : Big Sky AstroBlog

May

15

Here’s an appropriate topic for this Moon in Libra Thursday. I had an email this morning from a reader who was disappointed that my wedding astrology services do not include gay unions. Following is my response to her; I hope folks will weigh in and let me know if you think I’m being hidebound about this or if there’s anything you think I’ve overlooked.

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Let me offer an explanation, which I assure you has nothing to do with a desire to exclude or discriminate against gay folks (you’ll find few more avid proponents of gay rights in general, and gay marriage in particular, than I!) and everything to do with a rather hidebound and didactic approach to astrology (of which I’m certainly guilty; Pluto in Virgo!).

If a gay friend came to me and asked me to choose a date for his or her union, I wouldn’t hesitate. “You bet!” I would say. In fact, even if they didn’t ask I would give them my opinion. I’m obnoxious that way.

But. Now, stay with me and remember that I mean no offense - I’m just reporting the facts. A union, however well intentioned and sincere, is not a marriage. Which is, of course, why many in the gay and straight communities insist that gay marriage should be legally recognized. From a personal point of view, I make no distinction whatever between gay unions and legal marriage (other than a profound gratitude that my gay friends have never forced me into a tacky bridesmaid dress). But from an astrological point of view, the situation is a little sticky.

Marriage is not just a covenant between two people; it’s a legal relationship and a pact between those two people and the society in which they live. Sadly, our society - with few exceptions; I have hopes for California’s Supreme Court today - does not recognize legal marriage between same-sex couples. And since the centuries-old traditions of electional astrology on which I based my research into wedding dates, and on which I base my work, was never faced with this distinction, I don’t have quite the hard and fast tradition on which to base electional work for non-legal unions as I do for marriage.

An example from the world of heterosexual couples will illustrate this quandary. Many times I choose wedding dates for a couple and for whatever reason it proves inconvenient to use them for their wedding ceremony (even though, mind you, I ask them in advance what months, days, and hours are acceptable; but don’t get me started on that). They’ll come to me and plaintively ask, “But can’t we just go out in a field at the astrologically acceptable time and exchange our vows, and then have the regular ceremony for everyone else later? Doesn’t that count? What matters is our commitment to each other!” Well, no, it doesn’t count - at least, not as a wedding. It may be an honest declaration of feeling and even a solemn promise of intention - but it is not a legally binding relationship. The rules - and the ramifications for breaching them - are not necessarily the same, either personally, legally, or astrologically, as those ruling legally-binding marriage.

Now. Gay couples in the U.S., with few exceptions, do not have the option of legally binding marriage. And to be honest, astrologically, the rules are probably pretty much the same for unions as for marriage. For a union I might give less emphasis to Mercury, the ruler of contracts. I might read Saturn, the ruler of society’s norms, a bit differently. But the interpersonal stuff - good aspect between Sun/Moon, Venus/Mars, all the rest - is probably about the same. This would be the basis of my work for a gay friend who was getting hitched.

But do I feel confident enough in that to offer that as a service and take people’s money for it? I don’t think so - not until I’ve satisfied myself with some research that the rules can be applied in the same way to unions as to marriages. My fervent hope is that this will become a moot point before I ever have a chance to do this research.

If you do wedding electional work, do you offer services for unions? Am I just being an astrological tight-ass? Share your thoughts.

Update: Late breaking news from Susie in comments - California’s top court overturns gay marriage ban!

May 15, 2008 | 10 Comments

Apr

24

I’ve been doing a lot of electional astrology lately - more than usual. It’s a process that involves sitting for hours in front of Win*Star (I use Solar Fire for most things, but I prefer Win*Star’s rectification tool) toggling charts by an hour here, a minute there, trying to keep nasty planets out of the seventh house, a good relationship between rulers of the first and seventh houses, figuring out where to put that pesky Saturn/Uranus opposition, etc. It’s gotten to the point where I view every chart as an electional challenge. Yesterday I calculated the natal chart for a bride and when it came up on my screen I instinctively lunged for the “rectify” button, eager to move her natal Saturn out of the seventh house. Which I suspect she would have appreciated, actually.

Wouldn’t it be fantastic if we could torque our natal charts to correct nasty placements? Though I’m sure my natal chart is chock full of necessary karmic lessons and so forth, if given the chance I’d definitely move Saturn out of my 2nd house, where it’s plagued me with overwhelming insecurity; and Mars/Pluto away from Midheaven, which I believe symbolizes my unique ability to anger people to the point of insanity. And I’d probably try to do something about that Virgo Midheaven, too; although I share this noble placement with the likes of Steven Forrest and Elvis, my Leo Sun occasionally bristles under Virgo’s insistence on humility and modesty.

Chart torquing is, I suppose, what we attempt to do when we relocate natal charts for different locations to see how we might like the astral weather there. (To calculate your chart for a location different from your birthplace, just enter your natal birth date and time, but the time zone and coordinates for the new city.) Occasionally, forces beyond our control relocate our charts for us, and we end up in places we never would have chosen on our own. In Southern California, where I’ve lived most of my life, I do have the Sun conjunct a rock-star Leo midheaven, Saturn in the 3rd instead of the 2nd, and Mars/Pluto a good distance from the Midheaven. But there are always trade-offs. I’ve also got a Scorpio ascendant instead of happy-go-lucky Sagittarius rising, the Moon in the brooding 8th instead of the cooperative 7th, and Neptune awfully close to the Ascendant (apparently rendering me invisible when I walk into a store and require service). Not sure I’d have chosen those. And in fact, I didn’t choose to come here. I have, however, chosen to stay for 37 years so far.

If you could torque your chart, how would you rearrange things?

April 24, 2008 | 13 Comments

Sign of Leo

Moon sextiles Mercury at
4:20 pm on Jul.5, 2008

Moon opposes Neptune at
5:22 pm on Jul.5, 2008

Moon trines Pluto at
3:05 am on Jul.6, 2008

Moon goes void of course at
3:05 am on Jul.6, 2008

Moon enters Virgo at
4:04 am on Jul.6, 2008

Moon conjuncts Mars at
9:19 am on Jul.6, 2008