Wishful Thinking... Astrologically

I have a book by astrologer Ivy M. Goldstein-Jacobson, Here and There in Astrology,    first published in 1961. It contains all manner of astrological tid-bits which provide food for thought. In the Introduction the author says that the first part of the book is "designed to give the student of astrology a new, different and much simpler approach to his work with natal charts...."

How much validity to attach to the method described below under the heading What You Want and Whether You Get It in Part I of the book, is up to the individual. While I understand the thinking behind it, I do feel a tad uncomfortable with it. At times astrology can be made to seem something akin to a board game. Best way to assess this particular proposal of Ms Goldstein-Jacobson is the old "suck it and see" method!

Here's an excerpt from What you want and whether you get it, with some exact quotes mixed with shortened versions, or clarifications, in my own words.

Mrs Jacobson explains, with regard to hopes and wishes, it is to the 11th house in a natal chart we should first look, this denotes what is wanted. Whether it is achieved is shown by the planet ruling the sign on the cusp of the 11th house. "Be sure to note the distinction we make here" said Mrs. Jacobson. An intercepted sign within the 11th house will denote a secondary, less important desire, often held in abeyance due to circumstances over which the native has little control. It might also denote a future desire.

Mrs Jacobson goes on to describe in which direction Fire, Air, Water or Earth signs on the cusp of 11th house will be likely to direct hopes and wishes.

Briefly: Fire basically wishes for spiritual things or whatever is creative or touches the heart and soul. (Fire signs = Aries, Leo, Sagittarius)

Earth, practical and material things, roots, future security.
(Earth signs = Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn)

Air, whatever is scientific, intellectual, these signs are diffuse having "only a light hold on what they want when they get it.....they desire to spread their knowledge, they are teachers". (Air signs = Gemini, Libra, Aquarius)

Water sign on the cusp of the 11th - these need to satisfy their extra sensory perception through deep understanding of the mystical, whatever appeals to the imagination and emotions. (Water signs = Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces).

An intercepted sign adds its element characteristics. (Intercepted signs occur when a whole sign is contained within a house, that sign isn't found on any house cusp. This only happens in unequal house systems - i.e. all systems other than the equal house system).
Mrs Jacobson then tells us that the sign on the 11th cusp and that of any intercepted sign may be ruled by more than one planet. We must look to the houses where these are placed to find out in which department of life the hopes and wishes are being sought...."the more houses involved, the more diversified the desires".

The next thing to note is the relationship of such houses to the 11th house itself, square (90 degrees), trine (120*), opposite (180*), etc. this will show whether the 11th cusp ruler will "find conditions easy to handle or not, in gaining his hopes".

5th opposes 11th - your circumstances involve opposition and non-cooperation, success is difficult. An opposition represents "anything that is as far from you at birth as possible, such as marriage for example - you have to grow up before you can attain it. On the other hand an opposition is like a full moon lighting whatever is before you.....you are aware what you have to face in life. You always have to break a bond to overcome opposition.....dearest wish often comes true late in life".

4th and 6th are quincunx the 11th Circumstances have to undergo radical reorganisation before whishes can be attained. Quincunx can indicate that you may need to pay another's debts, or put out money for support, etc. ("The quincunx is basically the distance from the ascendant to the 6th and from 8th to ascendant"). Discrimination needed in deciding what it is you want the most.

3rd and 7th are trine the 11th - Happy circumstances make it easy to attain one's wishes through family or strangers, or by moving home or country ("because the original measurement of the trine falls between ascendant and 5th and 9th houses"). This is the luckiest aspect of all.

2nd and 8th are square the 11th, putting obstacles in your way due frequently to financial circumstances. ("Squares make you go to extremes of effort since they are basically the distance between ascendant and 4th or 10th.") Obstacles may be due to family/parental factors, they being unable to provide what you need, especially in childhood.

1st and 9th sextile 11th. "Opportunities like the postman will always knock twice affording excellent chances of success through own effort or that of people you talk to, since the sextile is basically the distance from ascendant to 3rd and from 11th itself."

10th and 12th are semi-sextile to the 11th. Circumstances favour gaining some hopes and wishes, but not as easily as via the sextile. ("Semi-sextile is basically the distance between ascendant and 2nd or 12th"). You may find you have only half a chance due to past mistakes.

The 11th may be said to conjunct itself, and when the ruler of the 11th is there it means that circumstances are with you: your hopes and wishes are within easy grasp. Friends are there when needed.

There are other details, covering mutual reception, retrograde and stationary planets: interpretations for these are fairly easy to guess. 

Using the Placidus house system,I have Aries on the 11th cusp natally, with Taurus intercepted in 11th house. Mars, ruler of Aries lies in 5th (opposing), Venus ruler of Taurus lies in 6th(quincunx). This method gives a reasonably accurate result, for me.