Learning and Practicing : Big Sky AstroBlog

Jul

2

When last we checked in with April and Jonny’s bed, it had been mobilized by Mars in Cancer into a particularly savage display of aggression. Today, a new and apparently fatal development in the battle of the bed: Jonny perched on the edge of the mattress this morning to don his socks, and the bed’s frame gave way in a characteristically dramatic (SNAP!) (CRASH!) - and apparently irreparable - fashion.

That’s it. This bed is a toxic mixture of weakness and vengeance, and it must be replaced.

The irony is this. Today I was scheduled to participate in an experiment my friend Simone is conducting, exploring the intersection of astrology and feng shui. Her theory is that one might note the house of the horoscope where the New Moon falls, and perform a ritual to strengthen the Gua of one’s home that fits the symbolism of the astrological house. Today’s New Moon (at 11.32 Cancer) falls in my 8th house, the house of shared resources - a house of wealth, so my assignment was to perform a ritual in the wealth Gua of our home. Which is - you guessed it - the master bedroom.

I’m not sure breaking the bed is what the Gods had in mind. But this will certainly have an impact on our shared resources; replacing this bed won’t be cheap.

Bagua

Where does today’s New Moon fall in your chart? Consider strengthening the relevant area of your house as part of your New Moon observances (New Moon exact tonight at 10:19 pm EDT). From the perspective of your home’s front entrance, superimpose the bagua onto the rooms of the house.

Simone suggests the following correlations between the houses of the horoscope and your home’s bagua:

First House: Career
Second & Eighth Houses: Wealth
Third & Ninth Houses: Knowledge
Fourth House: Family
Fifth House: Creativity & Children
Sixth & Twelfth Houses: Health
Seventh House: Love & Partnership
Tenth House: Fame
Eleventh House: Helpful People

Report back in comments, and I’ll pass on your results to Simone!

July 2, 2008 | 5 Comments

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.

# # #

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

Apr

9

Are you now, or have you ever been, married? Help me in my ongoing research into the astrology of marriage by filling out this simple online form!

(go to survey form)

April 9, 2008 | Leave a Comment

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Sign of Pisces

Moon conjuncts Uranus at
5:54 am on Oct.12, 2008

Moon trines Venus at
11:27 am on Oct.12, 2008

Moon squares Pluto at
10:02 pm on Oct.12, 2008

Moon goes void of course at
10:02 pm on Oct.12, 2008

Moon enters Aries at
12:07 am on Oct.13, 2008