Teen+ Fantasy = Jonas

Every generation of young females has to have one. A fantasy, a focus for their budding femininity. It seems like the current generation of youngsters have, courtesy of Disney, been herded towards their own fantasy - The Jonas Brothers.

I can't remember having such a clear focus, personally. It's a long time ago, and the teen pop music phenomenon was in its infancy then. I do remember travelling to a nearby city by 'bus to see one Dickie Valentine - a pop crooner who had the dubious pleasure of having handkerchieves thrown at him on-stage. Before the advent of Kleenex we carried delicate lace edged handkies in our pockets, often with our initial nattily embroidered in one corner. In deepest Yorkshire the idea of throwing bras or panties hadn't yet surfaced.

For following generations the Beatles stirred up a storm, then the Bay City Rollers, then I lost track, until the other night when the Jonas Brothers appeared, first on Letterman then on SNL.

It's comforting to see that though many things change, some things stay the same. There's always going to be a boy, or a boy band, or a band of brothers to get the hearts of young gals beating faster.

Astrologer Jeff Jawer has already written a piece touching on the astrology of The J. Brothers...see here .

I took a look at their charts set for 12 noon, in the absence of times of birth. Yes, it's clear that the two younger lads have similarities and Kevin, without as much grounding Earth (Virgo and Capricorn) as the other two, and with Pluto conjunct Sun in Scorpio is going to prove somehow, some day, to be "the odd one out".
Click on charts image to enlarge. Top left: Nick/bottom left: Joe, right: Kevin)





(In photograph, left to right: Nick/Joe/Kevin)


As I watched them on Letterman, having no idea of their birth dates, I kept focusing on Joe, the middle (in age) brother. His snazzy haircut attracted the eye, he seems just slightly "cooler". His natal Moon is, more likely than not, in Aquarius. Unless he was born in the very early hours, 1 or 2am-ish, he defintely has an early Aquarius Moon. Nick has a dash of Aquarius too, via Saturn in its traditional home sign, so he and Joe have a touch of the Water Bearer, leaving Kevin the odd one out yet again.

It'll be interesting to watch their progress and develoment.

I found their dates and places of birth on Wiki Answers HERE.
Kevin Paul Jonas Jr. was born in Teaneck, New Jersey on November 05, 1987.
Joseph Adam Jonas was born in Casa Grande, Arizona on August 15, 1989.
Nicholas Jerry Jonas was born in Dallas, Texas on September 16, 1992

Arty-Farty Weekend : e.e. cummings

Today, Valentine's Day, it's traditional to speak of lurrrve. Who better to lend his voice than e.e.cummings?
(Heart illustration ,left, is by Erté)

A multi-tasking artist was e.e. cummings. Though best-known as a poet, he was a prolific painter, as well as novelist. There's a gallery of his paintings HERE , from which I've borrowed one or two as examples.

"Whimsical and experimental, E.E. Cummings was a popular American poet of the early 20th century. Cummings' first published work was his 1922 novel The Enormous Room, based on his time in a French prison camp during World War I. He became more widely known as an avant garde poet, thanks to his unconventional use of typography, syntax and sometimes scandalous (at the time) choices of words and topics. He had a fondness for scattering words unevenly across a page, and liked to spell his own name as e.e. cummings, leading generations of college students to remember him as the guy who didn't capitalize his own name. "
From Answers.com

There, in a very small nutshell, is the biography of e e cummings. It's a small nutshell, but it pinpoints the salient parts of his personality which can be cearly seen in his natal chart :

Born 14 October 1894 in Cambridge Massachusetts, at 7pm.




The key to this is Mercury conjunct Uranus in Scorpio - look at the adjectives in the bio above - avant garde, unconventional, uneven (Uranus), scandalous at the time (Scorpio) - in relation to his mode of writing (Mercury). It's classic. Love it!

There are a couple of oppositions - Sun and Moon, Mars and Saturn, close enough to blend into one big opposition Sun/Saturn in Libra opp. Moon/Mars in Aries. A broad interpretation of a complex aspect could be: a restless soul, charming but determined, not always at ease within himself.




Venus, planet of the Arts in its home sign of Libra trines imaginative Neptune and powerful Pluto in Gemini, boosting creativity.






With natal Venus, planet of love and the Arts at home in Libra in the chart of e.e.cummings, in 5th house of pleasures, and in trine with Pluto and Neptune in communicative Gemini - creative eroticism rules! As this is a family blog, I've restricted myself to a couple of his milder works.

I've chosen poems which are not too cummings-ish and peculiarly Uranian in their layout. The limitations of Blogger (and me) would tend to send lines and verses all over the place where mr. cummings never intended.

So.....

love is a place by e.e.cummings

love is a place
& through this place of
love move
(with brightness of peace)
all places

yes is a world
& in this world of
yes live
(skilfully curled)
all worlds

AND

i carry your heart with me by e.e.cummings

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

More biography HERE

HAVE A LOVELY VALENTINE'S DAY Y'ALL !

Morrissey, Paris & Love.

Sometimes I feel I'm led to topics for the blog in mysterious ways. I'm not sure whether these stem from intuition, chance, or simple serendipity. Who knows?

As I mentioned on 28 January, my post about a pop song "Human" has generated more hits than any other on this blog. Another song has been tapping on my subconscious for a couple of weeks now. It's being played every day on morning BBC record shows to which I regularly listen on-line. The Song? Morrissey's "I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris". Initially, I decided the song is about a guy whose lover rejected him, so he hopped over Paris as a treat, to get over the pain of loss. Simple enough. But there's more.....or is there?

Morrissey isn't a singer to whose work I've ever felt drawn, though his name is familiar from my days in the UK. He was part of the British group The Smiths, back in the day. When I look at photographs of Morrissey I don't see a singer or a pop artist, I see someone who might sell me a new fridge, or who might man the reception desk when we take our car in for service. That seems like a daft thing to say, but it hits me every time I see his image.

Stephen Patrick Morrissey was born May 22, 1959, in Manchester, England. I do wish I had a time of birth, but I don't, so the chart below is set for 12 noon.


We can't know his rising sign or exact position of natal Moon. If Morrissey was born 1pm onward his Moon would be in Sagittarius, an earlier birth time puts it in the later degrees of Scorpio. I'd go for the latter.
I'll not spend too much time on the chart. A few salient points: Sun is in the first degree of Gemini - the sign of writers. That doesn't lie. He started writing at an early age, a fanzine, letters and many articles. Later he turned to songwriting. Natal Mercury in Taurus (ruled by Venus planet of the arts and music) possibly propelled him in that direction.

He has the reputation among his peers and fans of being something of an enigma (as far as his sexual orientation is concerned ), a tad difficult, scratchy, hard-edged. There have been accusations that there's racism in some of his lyrics, even though his politics would seem hard-left. I suspect his natal Moon was pretty close to being right opposite his Sun, which would account for a seeming polarity in his nature, but in any case Jupiter opposes his Sun and Pluto squares it, both these aspects smack of inner conflicts.

Back to those lyrics "I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris". There's something of a debate going on among his fans as to their source and meaning. Some consider there's a connection to a rare syndrome where people (mostly women) turn their love and sexual feelings on to inanimate objects. Message board conversation on this subject HERE.

Apparently there is a woman who has fallen in love with the Eiffel Tower, another whose amorous attention is given to the Berlin Wall. An article in the UK's Independent refers to the syndrome.

Other fans see a link to Oscar Wilde in the lyrics. Wilde returned to Paris after a spell in prison as a result of his homosexuality. He died in Paris, his tomb, designed by Jacob Epstein, is shown in the photograph. Morrissey is known to be a fan of Wilde.

There are other, less likely theories as to the lyrics' meaning, too. How about a (somewhat contrived) astrological link ? Pluto (planet of, among other things, sex and the erotic)recently moved into Capricorn (sign of structure, institutions, rigidity). Yes, I know - it's stretching it a bit, but there is a link between sex and stone and steel there!

Once again, as in "Human", a clever songwriter/performer has hit upon lyrics which have a number of interpretations, depending on the experience and knowledge of the listener - rather like an abstract or surrealist painting. This is a very welcome trend: pop music for the thinking listener?

What first attracted me to the song is the rather dramatic melody direction at "Only stone and steel accept my love". I find that the addictive point.

In the absence of your love
And in the absence of human touch
I have decided I'm throwing my arms around
Around Paris because only stone and steel accept my love

In the absence of your smiling face
I traveled all over the place
and I have decided I'm throwing my arms around
Around Paris because only stone and steel accept my love
I'm throwing my arms around
Around Paris because only stone and steel accept my love

I'm throwing my arms around Paris because
Nobody wants my love
Nobody wants my love
Nobody needs my love
Nobody wants my love

Yes you made yourself plain
Yes you made yourself very plain

The Thorny Topic of Relationships

Valentine's Day approaches. Our minds turn to thoughts of love and relationships.

Beyond the red hearts and fluffle (my word for what goes on on February 14) there often lies much angst.

"Oh, life is a glorious cycle of song,
A medley of extemporanea;
And love is a thing that can never go wrong;
And I am Marie of Rumania." - Dorothy Parker

As a rule I avoid writing on the topic of relationships, leaving it to my professional colleagues to tippy toe through that minefield. It's a tricky subject at best, and from personal experience I can confirm that though astrology can be initially helpful, even with all astro boxes ticked, one can still come to grief. Actually that should be "two can still come to grief".

Would-be lovers or participants in relationships of any sort often seek the advice of astrologers. This is a wise move, in my view. Before doing so though, it's advisable to read up a little on the basic principles behind astrological doctrine. If this seems like too much of a chore, the seeker may not benefit as fully as he or she might have done from what the astrologer has to say.

Alternatively, an individual with with the soul of a gambler will trust his/her gut feelings in all matters of love and relationships. In some cases this can be even safer than following an astrologer's advice. Gut-feeling can come from a kind of psychic second-sight, aka intuition. Not always though. A mix of astrology and gut-feeling would cover more ground. There's no totally risk-free method for determining success in matters of love, friendship, or life in general....that's my one absolute truth.

Personally, when it comes to relationship queries I always turn to Robert Camp's book "Love Cards". His system is complex and rooted in the mists of time. The system has astrological connection, and seems to bundle this with some other mysterious ingredient. More often than not, in my own experience, it has been reliable. A glance at some of the customer reviews of the book at Amazon (here) confirms that others share my confidence in Camp's system.

At the end of the book is a section called "Bringing More Conscious Awareness into our Personal Relationships". As part of this section the author lists his "Nine Golden Truths of Relationships" and expands on each of them. I'll list the headings only. They, in themselves, are quite telling, but some do need to be expanded upon to be fully understood.

1. We are the ones who choose our partners, not the other way around.

2. No one can make us stay in a bad relationship but ourselves.

3. Though together, we each choose our current relationship for our own personal and specific reasons.

4. All we can see in our partner is ourself.

5. We cannot hurt others and others cannot hurt us. We can only hurt our self.

6. The best thing we can do to love and help our partner is to love our self.

7. Love always wants more of itself and love always brings up everything unlike itself.

8. Lying destroys imtimacy.

9. Marriage is not forever.

Robert Camp finishes by saying:

"These nine truths can be very helpful in separating the truths from the lies we tell ourselves. They can help us through the maze of emotional turmoil and give us some anchors in reality upon which we can depend. If we remember them in times of need, they will be of help."

Helen Thomas, The President & Old Friend Neptune.

Watching part of TV's coverage of President Obama's press conference on Monday evening, it was a treat to see Helen Thomas still sharp, insightful, and right on-the-ball. She'll be 89 this year - an example to all who dread their seniority. What a gal!

My earlier post about Ms Thomas's natal chart (Saturday/Sunday Superwomen) may go some way to explaining why this lady is such National Treasure.

M.J. Rosenberg's article HERE concerning the question she asked the President is a good read. Part of her question gave the President a chance to speak about stemming nuclear proliferation. This is a topic which needs much more airing - it has been pushed aside of late by more pressing issues - a thought which brings to mind a warning we used to have pinned to our notice board at work:


And our new President? I reckon he's doing just fine in the abysmal circumstances facing this country and the world. He inspires confidence. I very happily take back any suspicions I had early in the primaries that his lack of experience would be a detriment, and that a constant Neptunian vibe I got from him was A Bad Thing. I was reminded of that Neptunian vibe again the other day when I noticed the title of an article by John V. Santore at Huffington Post: "Obama Isn't Who I Didn't Think He Was. But He Might Be."
Doesn't that title reflect Neptune so very well?

Perhaps nobody can yet see President Obama without a wisp or two of fog around him. That's not an entirely bad thing though. It keeps us alert. Alert enough to note any mis-steps. The President is a human being, he'll make a few of those. Anyone who thinks otherwise is in a Neptunian fog far denser than those wispy clouds around President Obama.

Zosma's Blues - Seth Walker

Last weekend we saw Austin-based Seth Walker and his group play at our local theater. I don't pretend to have the vocabulary or understanding of his particular genre of music to properly describe it. Reviewers have described it as Blues and Roots, Americana, Downhome with a bit of Soul. I easily recognised the blues element, but there was also what I think the experts call "a driving beat" in there. Seth's blues style is way more funky than the wailing "I lost my dog, my wife left and grandma's in jail" type of blues.



We were thoroughly entertained. All but two of the numbers were new to us, most self-penned by Seth. His guitar playing was, I thought, superb, backed by bass player and drummer, nothing more was needed but his very bluesy voice, and engaging personality which, from the cheers and applause, clearly appealed to the audience.

My husband's son-in-law who helps organise the season of concerts at our local theater, kindly asked Seth for his birth data on my behalf. I'm always wary of asking or seeking anyone's birth data in case they find the idea of astrology offensive - I don't understand this, but do respect it. Seth, it seems, had no such objection.

Seth Walker was born on 2 September 1972 in Burlington, North Carolina. Time of birth, he thinks, was around 4am. A biography tells us that he was a child of two classically trained musicians, and was brought up in a commune.

Sun and Mars are conjoined in Virgo. I wasn't surprised to find him a Sun Virgoan - his lyric writing is prolific, he seems to be able to write a song at the drop of his hat! Virgo (along with Gemini) is ruled by Mercury, the writer's planet. Mars so close to natal Sun reflects the energy and drive evident in his stage performance.

Mercury (communication and mental processes), ruler of his Sun is in Leo in 1st house of self - linking writing ability with leadership and public performance.

With a birth time of around 4am Seth's rising sign would be Leo - very appropriate for a stage performer and leader of his group. This birth time puts Aries at mid-heaven, which is the area of career and public standing. Here again, a leader's sign, Aries! Mars, conjunct Seth's Sun rules Aries - so here's another nice link between his self (Sun) his rising sign (how people perceive him) and his career. He's doing exactly what his natal blueprint describes!

Moon (inner self) is in early Cancer - cardinal Water sign - along with Venus, planet of the Arts. There had to be some Water to account for the deep emotion, often painful, lying behind almost all of Seth's lyrics - The Blues. There's more to account for this "blue" feeling of his though - I suspected as much. Fixed Star Zosma (@ 11.16 Virgo) was conjunct natal Mars at his birth - and through Mars linked to his Sun (self). I've come across Zosma twice recently, in the charts of Ann Coulter and George Michael. Ancient tradition links this star to victims or saviours - an interpretation which isn't relevant here, it wasn't relevant in the other cases I mentioned either. Yet there is one link here. There's sadness inherent in many of George Michael's songs, as there is in Seth's, in a different, but in more energetic and "determined to overcome it", fashion....that's Mars' reflection. This sadness and melancholy may connect to Zosma, the Fixed Star providing a kind of overlay to the standard interpretation of Virgo Sun/Mars..

It'll be interesting to note future occurrences of Zosma, especially in charts of musicians. Perhaps, rather than a victim/saviour motif, a modern interpretation might be "a potential leaning towards melancholia".

Transiting Saturn would have passed over Seth's Sun and Mars around August and Spetember last year, 2008. I wonder whether this coincided with some challenges, changes, or perhaps simply a particularly difficult few months? If this was the case, then I'm sure he wrote a few songs to help buffer those difficult times.

Seth's rather snazzy website, with samples of his music, a promotional video etc. can be seen HERE. I can confirm that a Seth Walker concert is well worth seeking out!.

(From the husband's camera.)

The Sun/Mercury/Venus Triad

A commenter on one of last week's posts asked me a question about Sun, Mercury and Venus, and their relative positions within a natal chart. The query had me searching my archives, for I felt sure I'd posted on the topic more than once. It seems I must have abandoned potential posts on the topic - probably for want of clarity on my part. I know for sure that I'd intended to write about this!

What I did find, on my WordPad, was a copy of part of an interesting article touching on this subject. It came from what now appears to be a defunct website: lifepathastrology.com. Having saved the URL I failed make a note of the author's name, which is very unfortunate. I apologise profusely to him/her for the omission, as I now copy part of their piece.

I have the feeling that enough attention isn't always given to the "triumvirate" of Sun/Mercury/Venus in a natal chart. While it's not as important as that other triad Sun/Moon/Ascendant, I think there's still much significance in the way this secondary Big Three are configured. There is a limited, but still quite varied, number of positions in which these planets can appear in a natal chart.



Because the orbits of Mercury and Venus lie within Earth's orbit, Mercury can never be more than 28 zodiacal degrees from the Sun (either in the same sign as the Sun or one sign before or after it); Venus can never be more than 48 degrees from Sun (in the same sign, or up to two signs before/after).

In my own chart, for instance, the three bodies are found in three different signs - Aquarius/Capricorn/Sagittarius - a configuration categorized in the article below as "Dissonance" - not necessarily a bad thing though, according to the author.

The article follows. If a passing reader is aware of the author's name, or new website address, do, please let me know via comments. Thanks.

"The Sun is the life force of a horoscope, the conceptual furnace that reaches out and draws us into the warmth it projects. It is our purpose in life, supported by the more immediate need of the Moon. The Moon we know well, yet at the Sun we become.
But there are two planets in particular we look to in astrology that aid the Sun more intimately in many ways – Mercury and Venus. All together, the Sun, Mercury and Venus represent a crucially-important triad in the birth chart. In ancient Rome we would call such a triad a ‘triumvirate’ – a ruling council of three men. The first triumvirate ever included Cnaeus Pompey, a top general, Marcus Crassus, a wealthy citizen and Julius Caesar, an ambitious politician. Together, they ruled Rome until individual, personal ambitions emerged to create problems.

In astrology, Mercury and Venus can never be far from the Sun. It is an astronomical reality that Mercury can never stray more than one sign, either side, away from the same sign the Sun is in. Venus can (but rarely does) jump out of this same boundary to inch itself into even one sign beyond. But they are bound by this reality. Let’s think about what this means, astrologically, this tightness of relationship to each other and apply it to lives lived. As we go along, think about your own chart and how this synthesis applies to your own life.

When all three planets are aligned in the same sign, the same archetype is being pressed into consciousness through our ego and core energy, our mind and our social antennae. There is a unified approach to life, a path and purpose that seems sure and right, whether or not this matches up with reality. For instance, consider the sign Pisces. With all three of these bodies in Pisces, there would be a deep-seated focus on things that can help one transcend – intense creativity, for instance. There is no doubt this theme means something to a Pisces. This is because the Pisces Sun is buttressed by Mercury and Venus. All together, they support a defining structure.
Those who have the Sun, Mercury and Venus in the same sign seem to have a strength of purpose – a focus that doesn’t waver as easily as those who have the three bodies in more than one sign. Certainly, this is not a value judgement. Consider that strength of purpose can also easily turn into willful stubbornness and intractability. It is what one does atural ability to stay focussed that counts. Let’s look at an example

To review, ‘harmony’ through the Sun, Mercury and Venus in the same sign simply means the same message, the same energy, is being pumped through the core of an individual. How one chooses to respond to this energy and message is what is at stake on an ongoing basis. When one acts with determination and focus, does he or she still retain the strength of will to change gears when necessary and see other possibilities? This is what will determine successful use of these energies.

Discord
Outside of harmony, there is discord. We might consider the astrological imprint of the Sun and Mercury or Venus in one sign but the third planet in a second sign as an example of discord. For instance, Sun and Mercury in Aries but Venus in Pisces. The Sun and Mercury are symbolizing ‘me first’ kind of energies in this example. There is courage and a willingness to engage the world in a fiery kind of way. Venus, though, as the social antennae, splashes some water on this notion and will react and behave differently than the Sun and Mercury. Of course, only one human being is being discussed here in the long run, and that person needs to assimilate energies that are fundamentally different. Consider Caesar with only the support of one partner. In the case above, only the wealthy Crassus supports him without question but Pompey, the general, does not – at least not with additional work.
Of course, let us realize this can be done, this assimilation of energies that are different. People do it every day – millions who go about their business. Some people may or may not be conscious of the subtle and not-so-subtle energies that pull and prod until we make choices and define who we are in the process. We are calling it ‘discord’ to create an image in our minds of two energies that work together while the third, renegade energy has to negotiate with the others every time a decision needs to be made! In the same example, the ego (Sun) is feeling the swell of Aries pride and the mind (Mercury) races on ahead with it, completely ready to wade into a crowd of people and talk about anything. Meanwhile, the social antennae indicator (Venus) is putting on the brakes. "Well, maybe I’ll just float about in the corner and see if anyone notices me instead." Venus won’t win all the time. But the fact is, it’s a constant mini battle to understand oneself and ones motivations.

Dissonance
Three planets in three different signs I refer to as dissonance. Again, this is simply a descriptive word to understand symbols that are fundamentally different, all calling out for different needs to be fulfilled. Instead of one voice acting as the lone renegade, we now have three voices all trying to run the show, with the Sun calling out for most of the attention. It is Caesar trying to lead (one’s Sun) without Crassus or Pompey working alongside– of course it can be done, but it demands adjustment. For the person with this sort of dissonance, the adjustment is a lifelong work-in-progress but should be increasingly easier with growing self-awareness.
To review, let us be clear that the idea of dissonance to describe three different themes of expression is merely a different path to potential success. Just as we learned harmony of thought and intent can be a mixed blessing, dissonance between the Sun, Mercury and Venus is no different. Value judgements must be left at the altar of personal choice.

The Last Say
The politics of ancient Rome was a tricky business. As Caesar's military successes aroused Pompey's jealousy, the death of Crassus on top of this pushed history’s first Triumvirate to an end. Pompey and Caesar then set against each other in a bloody civil war.
The Sun, Mercury and Venus are a lot like the symbols of the ancient triumvirate in Rome, in many ways. But in our own internal ruling council, we have the last say. We get to determine our own fates, to avoid the chaos competing energies can bring. We have the free will to quash an inner civil war, to realize with grace that reaching the warm light of our Sun is the destination all energies must share."

While on the subject of Mercury and Venus - there are two more articles, these by Michael R. Meyer, which might be of interest to readers: "The Four Faces of Mercury" and "Venus, Morning Star, Evening Star" by Michael R. Meyer. The articles discuss the cycles of Mercury and Venus in some detail.

If You Twitter Are You A Twit?

Yet another mode of communication is rapidly gaining a head of steam on the internet: Twitter. Blogging buddy Robert Phoenix must have been writing a post on the topic around the same time I was drafting this. Robert's excellent assessment is here: "Is Twitter the Killer App for Jupiter in Aquarius?". I had already decided not to post my somewhat jaundiced views and scrap my draft when I came across Robert's piece yesterday. But what the heck - let's celebrate synchronicity!

I have trouble in seeing Twitter's value. When do folks have the time to Twit - or is it Twitter, or it is Tweet? They already seem to be speaking on cellphones for much of their waking lives, writing or reading blogs, or contributing to message boards, Face Booking, My Spacing, instant messaging, and/or chatting in chat rooms.

As far as I can tell, Twitter is something of a hybrid of message boards and instant messaging facilities, miniaturized to 140 character bite-size.

Much of Twitter's charm appears to be in catching "followers" or in becoming a "follower". Here lies my own initial feeling of antipathy to Twitter. I dislike the "follower" idea. It smacks of schoolyard cliques, which I avoided like the plague, and still back away from anything similar.

Let's consider who, astrologically, would be most inclined to gravitate to Twitter.

Lots of Gemini input, of course would be any astrologer's first thought on the matter. Not necessarily Gemini Sun, but Gemini (or 3rd house) somehow prominent in a natal chart would propel a person towards Twittering.

A glut of expansive Sagittarius influence could do it too - excess of communication -enough is never enough!

Prominent Leo and Aries natally, natural leaders of the zodiac, would love to gather lots of followers, so Twitter might appeal to individuals with those signs featuring strongly in their charts.

Followers might come from the soft-hearted, empathetic or diplomatic groups - those with Cancer, Libra or Pisces-heavy charts would enjoy the following aspect of Twitter, I suspect.

Although Virgo is ruled by Mercury, the communications planet, I doubt that 140 characters would be sufficient to satisfy Virgo-led personalities for long. Their search for perfection and accuracy would soon gain upper hand.

Capricorn-led folk, down to earth as they are, would be likely to see Twitter as a waste of valuable time; in some circumstances though, they might see it as a PR tool to drive people to their own websites or businesses - so could swing either way. (Don't let a Capricorn boss see you Twittering in his time though!)

What's left? Aquarius, Scorpio, Taurus - three Fixed signs. Some with these signs prominent in their charts might initially be drawn to Twitter for a variety of reasons, of course, but in general I suspect they'd be less likely to be attracted to the idea. Aquarius, though amused by its novelty, is too analytical to be satisfied by 140 characters for long. Scorpio's too intense, and likes secrecy - again, novelty might attract, but not for long. Taurus, who would rather be doing something more sensual, might use Twitter as a tool for flirtation.

As for me - I already spend enough time on-line, researching or writing my own blog posts, and reading those of a select few others. I doubt I'll be Twittering any time soon....but maybe that makes me the twit!

Governor (Val) Kilmer?

Val Kilmer is said to be considering a run for the post of Governor of New Mexico in 2010 when Bill Richardson's term of office ends, with no opportunity to run again, due to term limits.
(See here.)

I took a look at Val's natal chart to see whether it resembles the chart of a potential State Governor. I was looking for administrative ability, enterprise, energy, common sense and the ability to appeal to a wide section of the population of New Mexico.



Oh yes! I see why a Governor's life and work might appeal to him. Sun conjunct Saturn, exact to 2 minutes of arc! Sun represents self, Saturn represents structure, law, authority figures, and suchlike. Classic!

It's a great pity there's no known time of birth. Val's ascendant sign remains a mystery, as does the exact position of the Moon at his birth; Moon would be in Aquarius somewhere though, whatever time he was born. Moon in Airy Aquarius, known for its analytical ability and logical thought processes, adds to Val's suitability for a post as Governor.

There's a stellium of Jupiter, Mars and Mercury in Sagittarius. This blends the energy of Mars, communication abilities of Mercury and the expansiveness and generosity of Jupiter all within the Fire Sign Sagittarius, known for its geniality and appeal to the masses; it's also Jupiter's home sign, by the way. These Sagittarius planets warm and expand what could have been a rather cold and tight-assed personality. Here would be a source of his popularity with the inhabitants of New Mexico.

The Moon at 12 noon lay at 7.50 Aquarius, very close to the recent Solar eclipse point. Depending on his time of birth it could be even closer to that point. While a run for Governorship is still some time away, it might be that the recent eclipse will have some bearing on his decision making - whether or not he will run in 2010. That would mean complete change for him in all areas of his life. Eclipses are said by astrologers to be precursers of such changes.

Val's natal Uranus at 20 Leo will be hit by the coming Lunar eclipse on 9 February. Hmmm - I'll keep an interested eye on developments.

Val's appearance has changed since he first burst upon our silver screens. Will his public status change too in the near future?

I wonder.

I remember him best as Doc Holliday in "Tombstone" - brilliant performance, I thought.

He is reported to have commented that if he decides to run for Governor - he will win. From his natal chart, I'd say he has the makings of a good one. We shall see!

Arty-Farty Friday ~ David Hockney

I'm not sure how I've managed to avoid David Hockney in the Arty-Farty series 'til now - a "Yorkie", like me. He was born in Bradford, Yorkshire, UK on 9 July 1937. Cancerian influence is prominent in his chart, Sun and Mercury conjoined are in Cancer along with Pluto. If he was born before 6am then Moon also would have been in Cancer. (12 noon chart below).
It's interesting that so many of his paintings feature water - Cancer being the Cardinal Water sign of the zodiac.

Without a time of birth for Hockney we can't know his ascendant. He's described as "gregarious" and an "ebullient" personality, which brings to mind Sagittarius or Leo rising - but that's a wild guess.

David Hockney has been described as
"The most highly publicized British artist since the Second World War, he occupies a position analogous to that which was once accorded to Augustus John - one irony of this being that for John's exuberant heterosexuality Hockney substitutes a publicly acknowledged homosexuality."
(Augustus John was featured in a post here).

"About David Hockney (republished from brain-juice.com)~~~
David Hockney has often been regarded as a playboy of the art world. He has had lascivious relationships, and he has run among strange and crazy artistic circles. Yet he has always retained a sense of stability in his life through his constant and tireless devotion to his work. Hockney is an artist that has always enjoyed success and praise, facing little to no hardship in his career. What is interesting about his life is not the problems he has encountered, but the strides he has taken to bypass much human suffering and malaise."

Hockney's Moon at 12 noon was quite close to Pluto - it could have been much closer if time of birth was early in the day, and would connect to an emphasis on sexual matters.

A Grand Trine in Earth signs (right) in his natal chart links to his "sense of stability", as mentioned in the above extract.




It's possible to see Uranus sextile Sun/Mercury represented here:
"Hockney made a series of discoveries. He visited New York, and was struck by the freedom of American society - it was at this stage that he bleached his hair and began to present a new image, fuelled not only by the United States but also by his discovery of the poetry of Whitman and Cavafy."

"Hockney's life and all his loves are always on display to the public. By embracing all sorts of technology and media, Hockney has made his art accessible to people everywhere. He has used art to express the love he has felt for others, and consequently, his works show personal stake and personal meaning. Ironically, his artwork caused much personal suffering and strife in the making and breaking of his romances, while at the same time, garnering him much respect and admiration. Hockney has truly made art a form of real human interaction and communication."

The painting below is my favorite Hockney - it's of Garrowby Hill in East Yorkshire. This is a very long steep hill with a twist in it. I've travelled up and down the hill countless times, in all weathers - when icy it's treacherous. Several fatal accidents have happened there over the years, including a runaway bus filled with passengers, 13 of whom died. There's a big wooden crucifix at the side of the road, near to the top of the hill, which is actually a memorial to King George VI, but most travellers see it as a memorial to all who have died there, and a protection to drivers.


More at
http://www.davidhockney.com/bio.html
http://www.artchive.com/artchive/H/hockney.html
http://www.davidhockneythecolorsofmusic.com/

Aquarian Neil Diamond To Be Honored

Something else I heard on the car radio while travelling back from San Antonio sparked my interest: Neil Diamond is to be honored at the Grammy Awards, this weekend.

"Diamond is being honored as the MusiCares Person of the Year in recognition of his exceptional artistic achievements as well as his philanthropic work, which has included many generous charitable donations over the years. Most recently, Diamond has been donating 100 percent of merchandise sales from his October concerts in Houston, Dallas and Oklahoma City to the hurricane relief efforts in Texas for areas ravaged by Hurricane Ike."(Here)

I've written about Neil's natal chart before, in 2007, so these few lines are by way of an update.



Neil is benefitting just now from Jupiter transiting very close to his natal Sun. The lucky planet will move on to transit his natal Mercury next month. Generous Jupiter had conjoined his natal Venus in Capricorn last October, during the concert tour mentioned in the extract above. The recent solar eclipse occurred within a couple of degrees of his natal Sun; whether we shall be aware of any changes Neil experiences, which could be related to this, remains to be seen.

One more tidbit I now notice in addition to what was posted in 2007: Venus, planet of music lay conjunct fortunate Fixed Star Vega as Neil was born. This star was said by ancient astrologers to bestow artistic talent. Vega is also a Behenian Star -

"The Behenian fixed stars are a selection of fifteen stars considered especially useful for magical applications in the medieval astrology of Europe and the Arab world. Their name derives from Arabic bahman, "root," as each was considered a source of astrological power for one or more planets." (See here).

It's worth noting that the planets involved with Vega are Venus and Mercury, and the star is conjunct Venus in Neil's chart. While the Behenian Stars were used in magical applications rather than interpretation of a natal chart, it's not too big a stretch to consider that there could be an interesting connection to Neil's artistic talent as both songwriter and performer.

Neil sings "Play Me" in the video below - what else on an astrology blog?

You are the Sun
I am the Moon
You are the words
I am the tune

Elsewhere in the lyrics is a line which causes the husband to tear out some of his remaining hair - "Song she brang to me".
"He can't say "brang" - not even with poetic licence", says he.
"Yes he can", says I, "Neil Diamond can do no wrong!"

He can still curl my toes!

Fateful February Events

Yesterday, on the drive back from San Antonio through deepest Texas, a local station on the car radio reminded us that it was the 50th anniversary of "the day the music died", February 3rd 1959, when Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens all perished in a plane crash. The station was playing music from the hit parades of that long-ago time for the whole day. Nostalgia reigned, until we were out of range.

When we arrived home yesterday evening I looked up planetary positions for 3 February 1959 in the ephemeris. Mars lay at 26 Taurus on that fateful day, conjunct Fixed Star Algol, thought of by ancient astrologers as the most malefic star in the sky; planet Mars was also thought of as a malefic, so here was double trouble. In addition, two other planets with somewhat challenging reputations were in trine, pooling their problematical potential: Saturn at 3 Capricorn, Pluto at 3 Virgo. A fairly worrying sky then!

As I listened to the car radio yesterday I read through some tourist literature we'd picked up in San Antonio and noticed that February 3rd 1836 was the date Colonel William Travis arrived there to lead the defence of the old mission-cum- fortress known as The Alamo, and block progress of Mexican forces sent to reclaim San Antonio and put Texas back under Mexican rule. By 6 March Travis, David Crockett, Jim Bowie and around 150 men died defending The Alamo after a seige of 13 days by the Mexican army, led by Dictator/General Santa Anna.

The seige of the Alamo is covered in a post from March 2007. We'd planned to visit San Antonio then, but postponed our trip. (See The Alamo Garnished With Astrology.) Interestingly Fixed Star Algol is also mentioned there; the star was very close to the Moon's North Node at the time of the Battle of the Alamo, which raged from Tuesday February 23 to Sunday March 6, 1836.

From our 6th floor bedroom window we could see The Alamo, right opposite....I hadn't booked "a room with Alamo view", as these cost quite a bit more, but we got one anyway. A little help from transiting Jupiter, which lay a degree from my natal Sun. A late birthday present from the sky!