Arty Farty Friday ~ Adolf Wölfli, Outsider Artist.

There's a post from earlier this year about an Outsider Artist, George Widener, here.
A look at another "Outsider" today:
Adolf Wölfli.

Adolf Wölfli, born on 29 February 1864 near Bern, Switzerland, suffered an horrendous childhood: mentally and physically abused, orphaned early, failed attempts in a variety of manual work roles, and some army service brought on withdrawal and social isolation. Aged 26 he was imprisoned for his attempted molestation of two young girls; then aged 31, after molesting a 3-year old girl he was committed for life to Waldau, a mental institution near Bern, and diagnosed as being schizophrenic. After 4 years in the asylum he began to draw.

This 3 minute video shows a few examples of Wolfli's art, and musical composition. Many more are at Google Image .

Some detail taken from a 1989 article in the LA Times by Kristine McKenna follows.

ART REVIEW : Adolf Wolfli: His Art Emerged From Madness

....He began to pour out the tormented workings of his memory and imagination onto paper. Drawing and writing obsessively, this untrained novice who'd had no known exposure to art hammered out a visual vocabulary of such originality and power that his body of work stands as one of the cornerstones of Outsider Art (the popular designation for art created by persons who, either by choice or fate, are isolated from society). Working up until his death in 1930, Wolfli completed 25,000 pieces and went through several distinct periods.

The first thing one notices about Wolfli's work is how suffocatingly dense it is. Walking a tightrope between picturing and manic patterning, Wolfli constructed labyrinthine mazes with no point of entry or exit. Pulsating with organic life, his patterning--which employs everything from clock hands and buildings to snails and birds--is evocative of musculature one minute, an illuminated manuscript the next.

Executed in plain and colored pencil on newsprint that was bound into books, Wolfli's largely autobiographical art was essentially an attempt to mythologize himself. Interspersing real facts from his life with fantastic tales of adventure that constituted the life he longed for, Wolfli chronicled scientific explorations and pleasure trips, personal disasters and redemption, tales of war and reconciliation.

Encrusted with musical notation and beautifully scripted German text, his drawings also feature maps of cities from around the world, an occult numbering system, ideas for social and political reform, and investment strategies with interest calculations. Wolfli had a highly pronounced sense of order, and his detailed renderings of elaborately developed systems are widely interpreted as his defense against his chaotically schizophrenic interior life. Simultaneously perceiving himself as a persecuted child, an intellectual giant and a god, Wolfli had several different signatures for his work, including "Cast-Off Accident," "St. Adolf-Great-Great-God," and "Grim Casualty"; three or more of his identities often appear on the same drawing.

Empty space terrified Wolfli and he rarely used perspective or attempted to depict three-dimensional forms in space, because such forms imply a surrounding emptiness. Ascending balloons, a favorite recurring motif, represent Wolfli's yearning for heaven, but alas, Wolfli had no faith that his sins would be forgiven and his balloons always plummet to earth. Unsociable and plagued by hallucinatory voices that were often violent, Wolfli gave further evidence of his conflicted inner life in his depiction of himself; the eyes of the male figure who appears in most of the drawings are dark, hooded and filled with fear.

One of the many astonishing things about Wolfli's work is the fact that while all of his work bears his unmistakable stamp, no two works are remotely alike. The tonal range he got out of a simple lead pencil is astonishing, as is his feverishly inventive imagination. He had no musical training, yet he composed reams of music over the course of his life, and productions using Wolfli's richly cadenced text as librettos have been staged in Europe and the United States. Though he had no more than rudimentary training in math, numbers fascinated him and "Wolfli the Allgebrahtor," as he dubbed himself, devised impossibly complex formulas and equations.

In 1915, Wolfli began constructing collages that combined his drawings with images cut from popular periodicals, and his unerring sense of composition really shines in these remarkably modern-looking works.

ASTROLOGY

Born on 29 February 1864, Bern, Switzerland. Chart set for 12 noon - time of birth unknown.

The Grand Trine in Air signs linking Mercury, Uranus and Saturn offers a hint that Wolfli would always have had a good measure of mental acuity, however his life pattern had unfolded. His early background of abuse would have affected this in ways we cannot properly imagine. A close sextile between Venus (planet of the arts) in Aquarius and Neptune (planet of creativity) in Aries led his gravitation to art during his long incarceration. Another close sextile, this between Sun (self) and Pluto (darkness), can be linked by two quincunx aspects to Saturn (work) in Venus-ruled Libra - which does kind of describe the way he was able to channel his own darkness through working on his art.

Without a time of birth Moon's exact position can't be established, nor can his rising sign and degree.

UPDATED chart showing position of Chiron:

Four more examples of his work:

"If you don't control your mind...someone else will" (John Allston).

"Don't you see that the whole aim of Newspeak is to narrow the range of thought?... Has it ever occurred to you, Winston, that by the year 2050, at the very latest, not a single human being will be alive who could understand such a conversation as we are having now?... The whole climate of thought will be different. In fact, there will be no thought, as we understand it now. Orthodoxy means not thinking—not needing to think. Orthodoxy is unconsciousness."
- George Orwell, 1984, Book 1, Chapter 5

1984 was written long ago. For a view of how Orwell's words relate to the state of things in our time there's a 2010 film, available at YouTube: Psywar - "The real battlefield is the mind". The full film (around 1 hour 40 mins) is available, also in 8 shorter bites, the first of which is below:

1/8

Links to the rest:
2/8
3/8
4/8
5/8
6/8
7/8
8/8

The film takes us back, with guidance from some highly regarded historians and philosophers, over past centuries to illustrate the use of propaganda and manipulation of public opinion...mind control...psyops...call it what you will. The evolution of propaganda and public relations in the United States is explored, with an emphasis on the “elitist theory of democracy” and the relationship between war, propaganda and class. This is not a high budget affair; it was financed via a blue collar job, and released online for free. The interviews contained within it are original, conducted by proxy.

Psyops (Psychological Operations), under one label or another, has been a part of warfare, and used by all countries, for centuries. It has included simple operations such as circulation of propaganda leaflets, posters, radio broadcasts, along with many more sophisticated and sinister activities. As well as being a part of warfare, psyops is used to influence populations that war is necessary. Remember those "weapons of mass destruction"? War is one of the most profitable of all events, but only for the power-wielders. Others lose their lives, their health or their sanity. Families are left devastated, on both sides of that divide of manufactured hatred. Not always realised, though, is the continual use of a form of psyops on the population at large by those in power (and I don't necessarily mean a country's government).

One theory put forward in the film is that we are being manipulated because "the power-wielders" consider that "the people" (The Great Unwashed) are not fit to have a say in how countries are run in this advanced technological age. All power, and consequently all wealth, must be restricted to "the elite leaders". The power-wielders choose/designate individuals - candidates - for "election". This gives the appearance that these individuals are being "chosen" by the people. In reality the "candidates" are there only by permission of "the elite", and are there to do their bidding. This process is aided by a coordinated psychological operation using elite-controlled media as its front-line to push forward "candidate du jour" and denigrate others.

"The people" are, from time to time, given tid-bits of help (eg: The Affordable Care Act.) The ACA could quite easily have been of far more assistance to more people, but that would have resulted in a reduced share of goodies for the pharmaceutical corporations. Can't have that! "The people" receive just enough to avoid outright rebellion by the masses. Outright rebellion - revolution - is something "the elite" fear and always plan to avoid.

Quote from a respected philosopher:

Noam Chomsky, Thought Control in a Democratic Society

“If in some Orwellian future there were One Big Owner, he might be benevolent, in his own opinion, as indeed, Orwell’s Big Brother was – in his own opinion. Big Brother let the public see and hear a variety of things he deemed useful – where there is centralized control, it is the One Big Owner who makes the choices…Each year is more likely that the American citizen who turns to any medium – newspapers, magazines, radio, TV, books, movies, cable, recordings, video cassettes – will receive information, ideas, or entertainment controlled by the same handful of corporations, whether it is daily news, a cable entertainment program, or a textbook…Media giants have become so powerful that government no longer has the will to restrain them…Now that media owners are so large that they are part of the highest levels of the world economy, the news and other public information become heavily weighted in favor of all corporate values. The new corporate ethic is so single-minded about extreme fast profits and expanded control over the media business that it is willing to convert American news into a service for the affluent customers wanted by the media’s advertisers instead of a source of information significant for the whole of society.”

Beware Newspeak! My advice: be forever wary of what you read and hear, especially when what you read and hear will aid or profit "the elite". Pause to wonder, for instance, why more stringent (or any significant) measures are not in place to try to slow climate change. It would not profit the corporations and "the elite" power-wielders. Outpourings of manipulative garbage come regularly from what are laughingly called "both sides of the aisle". There is only one side, the corporate side, and no aisle to speak of.

Another Candidate? + OPEN THREAD

Another potential Democratic candidate? Much as I've admired Lawrence Lessig in the past (see here and here) I wish he wouldn't do this. It cannot end well, for several reasons, and it does rather smack of pie in the sky. I'd have thought a better plan would be to put his weight behind Bernie Sanders' already very healthy campaign, and work from that position. Splitting the vote further can only end in tears!

Open thread from here......

Early Degrees Can Be Fun

In yesterday's post there was a mention of the possibility that the middle degrees of a zodiac sign could have some relation to music and musical abilities. That possibility reminded me of something I investigated in my early years of astrology blogging - not relating to middle degrees, but to the early degrees. I had wondered whether the early degrees of zodiac signs had some relevance to humour, in particular to the talent for cartooning. I looked for birthdates of a few favourite cartoonists, then compared charts. I did note a common factor, in looking at 12 noon charts, as birth times are unknown. I noticed, and it's not necessarily astrologically significant - but it might be - most were born with the Sun or Mercury on the edge of, or in early degrees of the zodiac sign, and/or there are other planets in early degrees too. Look.....


From the British press of the 1950s and 60s Wally Fawkes aka Trog ("Flook") 21 June 1924, Vancouver, Canada.

The incomparable Carl Giles ("Giles"). 29 September 1916, Islington, London, England. Giles is the odd one out of this group of 5 because he didn't specialise in cartoon strips, he put everything into one big drawing. You had to study it carefully to see all the fun.This example is too small , but the best I could manage.

From the USA, the legendary Walt Kelly ("Pogo"), 25 Aug 1913, Philadelphia PA

Charles Schulz ("Peanuts") 26 Nov 1922, Minneapolis, Minnesota and

Bill Watterson ("Calvin and Hobbes") 5 July 1958 Washington DC

Berkeley Breathed ("Opus", "Bloom County", "Outland") 21 June 1957, Encino, California.

Summary

Wally Fawkes: SUN 00* Cancer
Walt Kelly: SUN 1* Virgo. Pluto 00*Cancer, Uranus 4*Aquarius
Charles Schulz: SUN 3* Sagittarius. Venus 1*Sagittarius, Jupiter 6* Scorpio.
Carl Giles: SUN 5* Libra, Jupiter 3* Taurus, Pluto 4*Cancer
Bill Watterson: (a bit later) SUN 13*Cancer, but Mercury slipped into 1* Leo, Pluto 00*Virgo, Neptune 2* Scorpio.
Berkeley Breathed: SUN 00*Cancer, Mars 00*Leo, Uranus 5*Leo


All this proves nothing, of course, it could be pure coincidence. I chose the 6 cartoonists because I like them, and they are well known. I wonder, though, could the early degrees of all zodiac signs carry some qualities of Aries, first sign of the zodiac.....a childlike, fun-loving flavour, which might lead an artist towards cartooning ?



How about Gary Larson, of "The Far Side" fame? He was born on 14 August 1950, Tacoma, Washington. Sun and Mercury are not in early degrees here. But Mars at 2 Scorpio, Jupiter at 3 Pisces, Uranus at 7 Cancer, the Nodes at 00 Aries/Libra. The Moon is more than likely to be in early degrees

Female cartoonists? There are a few, but none as well known as their masculine colleagues.

An early female cartoonist was Dahlia (Dale) Messick, originator of the "Brenda Starr" comic strip about a glamorous red-headed a reporter who has a taste for fashion, romance and intrigue. I've written a full post about her, with natal chart, here. She was born 11 April 1906 in South Bend Indiana. Talented and witty as she was though, her work doesn't have the same whimsical quality as that of, say Charles Schulz. It's a different style entirely. Even so, she had 3 planets in those early degrees, which might possibly be a kind of signature for cartoonists -Venus 4*Taurus, Jupiter 5* Gemini and Uranus 8* Capricorn.



Another female cartoonist, with birth data available, is Cathy Guisewite. Her  focus is mainly on feminist or feminine issues. Cathy Guisewite was born 5 September 1950 in Dayton,Ohio. Early degrees as follows: Mercury 2* Libra. Jupiter 1* Pisces, Uranus 8* Cancer.




Different - yet similar:
The 2006 movie "Idiocracy" was written, produced and directed by Mike Judge. A satirical, somewhat twisted, illogical yet funny look at what the world (or more accurately, the USA) might be like after 500 years have passed. The premise is that the USA is becoming more and more dumbed down as years go by. The brainy intelligentsia do not breed at nearly the same rate as yo-yos. Therefore, in time, the yo-yos will take over. Mike Judge was acting as a kind of cartoonist here, doing a similar thing, using a different medium.

Mike Judge was born on 17 October 1962 in Guayaquil, Ecuador. No birth time available. There are several planets in early degrees of their signs: Mercury 6* Libra, Mars 2* Leo, Jupiter 3* Pisces, Saturn 4* Aquarius. Also Moon's nodes @ 4 Leo/Aquarius.






Is it time to rest my case for the early degrees often playing a significant part in cartoonists' birth charts? It's interesting, anyway, to notice this phenomenon popping up.

Music Monday ~ Leo Fender, inventor of some legendary guitars.

Leo Fender was born this day in 1909. The 10 minute video below tells most of what a non-expert in musical technicalities (like me) would need to know about him.

In this short video Brian May explains a few of the nuances of sound available from a Fender guitar:

As for the astrological:
Leo Fender was born on 10 August 1909 in Anaheim, California. Time of birth unknown - chart set for 12 noon.

Stand-outs: the middle degrees. Venus (planet of the arts) conjunct Jupiter (excess, expansion) in trine to Uranus (innovation)...all at between 15 and 17 degrees. Sun is at 17 Leo, Neptune at 17 Cancer, Moon could possibly be within that 15-17 range in Gemini too. If Moon were to be in a middle degree, a nice Yod would form between the Sun/Moon sextile both quincunx Uranus, drawing innovative Uranus into a more comfortable situation with the core self.

Mid-sign degrees might, for some unknown reason, have special relevance in natal charts of musicians, composers (and perhaps even innovators of musical instruments?) Some research by Peter Morrell on DEGREE INFLUENCES IN MUSICIANS & COMPOSERS is detailed at his website.

Snip:

Musicians and composers need a sense of vibration [16 fixed signs] a sense of rhythm [Jupiter or Mars in earth?] and also a sense of subtle perception [Venus Neptune contacts]. They also need artistic sense [Venus] and the sense of symmetry [Libra] and architecture [Mercury Saturn] for composition. Many also deal with lyrics and thus a Gemini, Virgo, Mercury component also comes in.

Mark Knopfler :

CUI BONO ?

So Black Lives Matter (or some people hiding beneath their mantle) disrupted another Bernie Sanders rally yesterday, this time in Seattle. These people, if they are not being paid by someone, or some body, to attempt to kill the Sanders campaign, have to wake up and appreciate how misguided are these actions. Not only are they shooting themselves in the foot by disrespecting a political ally of theirs, they are losing support of many ordinary people who would otherwise be on their side, myself included.

I ask myself "cui bono?" (who benefits?) Who would wish to wreck the campaign of the only candidate who is not in thrall to the oligarchy, who will at least try to right the many wrongs and injustices now present in the USA? I'll leave it to passing readers to work out the answer.

Uncertain Poetic Bloodlines

I read an article this week, like this one, about a series of experiments which have produced amazing results of rejuventation from giving young blood to old mice. Experimentation is to continue, using humans rather than mice. Among a thread of commentary I noticed some unfamiliar lines from a poem.

The lines quoted by that commenter were these:

"They bled an old dog dry yet the exchange rills
Of young dog blood gave but a month's desires.
The waste remains, the waste remains and kills."

Down a rabbit hole I fell.

I had to discover the rest of that poem. Having discovered it to be William Empson's "Missing Dates", written in 1937, I also discovered that it is in the poetic form known as "villanelle". (There was a villanelle in Thursday's post too, by the way.)

I enjoy poetry, but am not educated to the point where I can recognise the many and varied poetic forms that have developed over the centuries. The limerick, elegy, sonnet and ode are just about my limit - I've added one more to that list via this particular rabbit hole.

The full poem/villanelle by William Empson goes like so:

Missing Dates

Slowly the poison the whole blood stream fills.
It is not the effort nor the failure tires.
The waste remains, the waste remains and kills.

It is not your system or clear sight that mills
Down small to the consequence a life requires;
Slowly the poison the whole blood stream fills.

They bled an old dog dry yet the exchange rills
Of young dog blood gave but a month's desires.
The waste remains, the waste remains and kills.

It is the Chinese tombs and the slag hills
Usurp the soil, and not the soil retires.
Slowly the poison the whole blood stream fills.

Not to have fire is to be a skin that shrills.
The complete fire is death. From partial fires
The waste remains, the waste remains and kills.

It is the poems you have lost, the ills
From missing dates, at which the heart expires.
Slowly the poison the whole blood stream fills.
The waste remains, the waste remains and kills.


On its surface, fairly depressing!


William Empson said of his poem:

I don't think anything needs explaining except that I believe I had actually read a piece of scientific research about changing an old dog's blood with a young one's. And the Chinese tombs - it's a legend that they can't go on farming because the land gets covered with sacred ancestors' tombs which is not true, incidentally. But that's all that needs explaining I think. It's called 'Missing Dates', which is failing to meet appointments, you understand.

And from HERE:

At the time, Empson had turned 30 and returned to London from a teaching position in Japan; he would soon be on his way to China. He uses English literary allusions, contemporary medical experimentation, and Chinese and Buddhist traditions to reflect on the loss of poetic power and personal human decay.

Another perspective:

This poem means different things to different people, and was almost certainly written with this intention as is hinted on the linked page. It is very often interpreted almost literally these days, when we are all concerned about pollution. But it was written in 1937, when pollution was not a general topic of concern.

To me (and my perspective will not be shared by many others, I realise) this is a poem about the Church of England in particular and the failure of Christian churches worldwide to spread a message of love rather than nitpicking and backbiting. The waste, the waste!

Also, there's this:

Empson’s attempt to reconcile opposing forces may have led to his fascination with Buddhism. Such a philosophical acceptance of human suffering as a way of apprehending reality so appealed to Empson that he put together “The Faces of Buddha,” a collection of articles written in Japan and China; the manuscript, however, is regrettably lost. In “Missing Dates” (1937), the despairing refrain of the poem laments that despite humanity’s efforts “the waste remains, the waste remains and kills.” Whether the ambiguous key word here denotes emptiness, exhaustion, loss, or prodigality, its reality is fatal; nirvana is unattainable. Furthermore, in his published collections of poetry, Empson chose for an epigraph Buddha’s “Fire Sermon,” recognizing, as did Eliot, that modern humanity shares a universal dilemma.

How would I interpret the poem?
Hmmm...Metaphor for negativity of any kind, in absolutely any situation. Its waste remains and kills.

Any other interpretations spring to mind?

Arty Farty Happy Friday

Tomorrow will be NATIONAL HAPPINESS HAPPENS DAY – August 8. Founded in 1999 by the Secret Society of Happy People as “Admit You’re Happy Day”, Happiness Happens Day is celebrated each year on August 8.

"The society encourages members to recognize their happy moments and think about happiness in their daily life. They have two motto’s which include; “Happiness Happens” and “Don’t Even Think of Raining on My Parade”. Their main purpose is to stimulate people’s right to express their happiness."

For today, then, a handful of paintings from different eras, plus one photograph, depicting a variety of happy situations. (Click on images for larger or clearer versions).

16th century

Allegory of Happiness (1564) by Agnolo Bronzino of Florence, Italy, known as Il Bronzino. He eventually became court painter to the powerful Medici family of Florence and gained notoriety for his portraiture, and "mannerist" style.

18th century

Jean-Honoré Fragonard, "The Swing", aka " “The happy accidents of the swing” " (c. 1767) French, from the rococo period.

20th century

The Homecoming by Norman Rockwell. Cover illustration for “The Saturday Evening Post,” May 26, 1945.

Dining Out (1985) by Beryl Cook, one of Britain's best-loved painters of the 20th century. My old, 2007, post about her is HERE, and a nice Daily Mail piece at the time of her death HERE.

Photograph from this website: Soulful Photos that Depict Happiness

Last, and far from least, Michael Jurogue Johnson's painting of some friends who make human lives so much happier every day.
(See website HERE)

2 Bits & Open Thread

This week there's a good piece about the uncomfortably scratchy quincunx aspect from Matthew Currie at Oh My Stars!:
Annoying But Useful Astrology Aspects, Part 1:
The Quincunx.

Talking of uncomfortable aspects - or prospects - I'm trying to forget that Republican presidential candidates will be debating tonight...but reading a few poems yesterday morning I came across a line (highlighted below) that could be apt for the occasion.



W.H. Auden's "Villanelle":

Time can say nothing but I told you so,
Time only knows the price we have to pay;
If I could tell you, I would let you know.

If we should weep when clowns put on their show,
If we should stumble when musicians play,
Time can say nothing but I told you so.

There are no fortunes to be told, although
Because I love you more than I can say,
If I could tell you, I would let you know.

The winds must come from somewhere when they blow,
There must be reasons why the leaves decay;
Time can say nothing but I told you so.

Perhaps the roses really want to grow,
The vision seriously intends to stay;
If I could tell you, I would let you know.

Suppose the lions all get up and go,
And all the brooks and soldiers run away?
Time can say nothing but I told you so.
If I could tell you, I would let you know.

So, dear passing readers, do please be my guests today, to bring up anything else that comes to mind.

Introducing the misses: -andry and -ogyny

Misogyny: The hatred of women. Misandry: The hatred of men. Sexism: The belief that one gender is superior to the other.

A few years ago, when Sedna and Eris arrived on the astrological scene, two recently discovered celestial bodies both given names of goddesses from mythology, some saw it as an indication that, at last, women or at least "the feminine" would come more to the fore in world events. Bearing in mind, though, that Eris was Greek goddess of strife and discord, Sedna goddess of the Inuit underworld and sea creatures, who went through all kinds of tribulations before being killed and sinking to the bottom of the sea, portents were not too good!

C.E.O. Carter in his Encyclopedia of Psychological Astrology has no entry for misogyny, misandry or sexism. I suspect because in the mid 1920s when the book was written these were not yet perceived as problems; or if so, in certain enlightened circles, an author - even an astrologer - might shy away from voicing an opinion on the matter, if selling books and maintaining a reputation was the aim. I've noticed quite a bit of sexism arising in casual turns of phrase in vintage astrology books I've picked up in antique/junk stores.

If a tendency to be misogynist/misandrist/sexist could be found in a natal chart (which I doubt) it might stem from Mars and Moon (representing male and female respectively) and antagonistic aspects between them.

But there's this, too:

Allied with Venus in honourable positions Saturn makes his subjects haters of women, lovers of antiquity, solitary, unpleasant to meet, unambitious, hating the beautiful, ...
— Ptolemy, 'Of the Quality of the Soul', 2nd century

I wonder if there's a word for the hatred of those who embrace misogyny, misandry or sexism? If so - that's moi! If we simply have to hate something let's hate war, poverty, injustice, cruelty.....Alright - I know someone's already thinking that the greatest perpetrators of those ills have traditionally been males. But ALL males were not involved. Hatred, if at all, should be directed at the actual perpetrators not at a whole gender.

Misandry is not nearly as common a word as misogyny...in fact I'd wager many people don't even know what it means, but that doesn't mean hatred of men doesn't exist. Rabid feminists display what many see as hatred of men. That would be truly ironic if so!

True misogyny and misandry are, I guess, more rare than commonly thought. They are often, maybe always, the result of life experiences, "the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune" as The Bard called 'em. Some people can quickly get over unfortunate and uncomfortable experiences such as rejection, the cruelty of abuse, or something even worse. Some never do though, and that's completely understandable. Still, even in the worst possible case, spreading hatred to cover a whole gender isn't going to take away the pain; in fact I suspect it only serves to keep the pain alive.

Sexism, an overall -ism covering both misogyny and misandry, can and does operate in the absence of both. What often passes for misogyny/misandry could be more accurately described as sexism, which does not entail actual hatred. The prevention of women from voting didn't spring from hatred of women. It sprang from the idea that the genders are not equal. Tacky comedians' jokes at the expense of women (or men) could, in a few cases, spring from misogyny or misandry, but more often simply from sexism.

All this pitting of sex against sex, of quality against quality; all this claiming of superiority and imputing of inferiority, belong to the private-school stage of human existence where there are 'sides,' and it is necessary for one side to beat another side, and of the utmost importance to walk up to a platform and receive from the hands of the Headmaster himself a highly ornamental pot.
— Virginia Woolf (A Room of One's Own)

(Originally posted on 2 August 2011.)

Leading Lights

An article at Huffington Post at the weekend got me thinking on the topic of leadership. The piece: What a Leader Looks Like, by Fidji Simo, Director of Product at Facebook. Ms Simo made some good points, but some commenters made better ones. This, for instance from commenter Alex Alan Berg, San Francisco, California ~

True leaders do not need an audience. They 'do' what they 'do' with no need for applause or approval or disapproval of others. This is not to say that they are immoral, but rather that they embody morality, or a sense of justice for themselves and others seeking the same...
True leaders do not affect 'leadership qualities'...
True leaders merely ARE....
True leaders have compassion for their fellows, and disdain for those who merely pretend to lead.......and true leaders have the GUTS to point such fakery out....
True leaders have very few friends, or even lovers, but true leaders have the BEST of friends, and sometimes, even lovers....
True leaders help others survive life.... and to combat those who attempt to take it in whatever form....
True leaders need no acclaim or praise, but rather the knowledge that their efforts led to something that helped others who could not succeed on their own...
God bless the true leaders, for they know better than to work in environments which IMPEDE rather than CULTIVATE leadership....including corporations.... where you will NEVER find a true leader....

Taking a look at what 20th century British astrologer C.E.O. Carter had to say about leadership, in his Encyclopaedia of Psychological Astrology (1924) ~

Leadership.
Aries, Leo and Capricorn may be styled signs of leadership, and the ideal leader should have all three strong. Of the three, Aries leads by its energy, courage, and power of evoking loyalty, but it usually meets many opponents, as we can see in the cases of Gordon, Mrs Besant, and Savonarola [people of note in early 20th century], and many Aries people at some time or other of their lives, if not frequently, are carried away by their own energies and make serious blunders. Capricorn rules by diplomacy and tact, and by appeals to self-interest in the lower types [Oh Mr Carter - really? Tsk!] and to moral principles in the higher. The Sun is a natural commander and often leads by sheer personality. Lord Kitchener, although his birth-time is unknown, probably belonged to this class, and in his case we also see the popularity with the masses that a good Cancer element often bestows.

The Uranian leader is probably yet to come, but to a certain extent, and in a distorted way, we may perhaps class under this planet the dictators and semi-dictators of this present epoch.

It must be born in mind that, in their appropriate spheres, each sign may figure as a leader, if the rest of the map supports it.

I think Mr. Carter's last point would have been better made at the start. A leader in one sphere could prove to be quite disastrous in another. There are some basic qualities and potentialities that all good leaders, in any situation, will need - these for instance: self confidence, self belief, integrity, courage and vision.

I wondered if I'd ever rambled on before about leadership; came up with this, part of a post from 2007:

What would we look for in the astrology of such a leader? I'm tempted to say that astrology would come second - we'd first be hit between the eyes by his/her charisma. We wouldn't need to search astrological charts to find someone with potential - it would be staring us in the face. What might the chart of such a being contain though?

The classic answer would be a good dose of Leo to attract attention, but I don't think Leo alone equals charisma. Leo provides the vehicle to show it off - that's all. The rest of the ingredients must come from some magical mix of planets, signs and aspects in the natal chart which somehow connect with the communal mindset and needs of a particular time or era.

On the resume of a heroic leader in any era we'd hope to find evidence of vision (Aquarius), passion(Scorpio), discipline(Saturn), persistence (Fixed signs), good judgement and decisiveness (not sure, Cardinal signs and a combination of many factors?) He'd need to be empathetic(Water signs), a team builder(Air signs), and though an extrovert to the public(Leo), have the ability to be introspective also(12th house). Above all - top of my own list - strength and integrity(not sure how that would show - a well configured and balanced chart with appropriate planets close to the angles?)

And from 2008 a slightly different angle (I'll copy it in full, comments can be seen at the original posting HERE.) These aren't qualities of zodiac signs as leaders themselves, but what I believe the essence of each sign would wish to see in a good leader.

Signs Having their Say on Leadership

If the 12 zodiac signs had voices, what would they tell us on the topic of leadership? What would each of them want to see in a new leader of any kind - in a President or Prime Minister for example ? Listen:





Aries.........someone decisive, who will have no compunction about leading the herd, identifying and getting on immediately with what needs to be done.

Taurus....someone who will honour the environment, and the arts, look after the wealth of those who have it, while for those who don't, help to make improvement possible.

Gemini.....someone who knows how to communicate with the public without talking down or patronizing them, someone with fresh ideas and flexibility in their plans.

Cancer......someone with strong family values, enough sensitivity and emotional intelligence to understand the needs of the people.

Leo......someone who, above all else, stands out as having leadership qualities, who people will automatically accept as their superior, irrespective of any other factor.

Virgo.....someone who demonstrates integrity and discrimination, who can sort the wheat from the chaff when populating his/her cabinet, someone with a mind sharp enough to see potential flaws in plans presented by others.

Libra......someone with tact and good judgment, the ability to see both sides of any issue.

Scorpio......someone who feels passionately about important issues, and has the tenacity and determination to stick to their principles and ideals.

Sagittarius.......someone who has a philosophical turn of mind, sufficient to see the big(and even bigger) picture, and an ability to see how good might be extracted from difficult situations.

Capricorn......someone who is straightforward, practical and hard working for his/her people - no bells and whistles required, just solid reliability and experience.

Aquarius.....someone who has the good of all humanity in mind, not just the good of his/her own nation, and who considers all people from the most lowly to the most eminent as equals.

Pisces..........someone with vision, and with compassion in all circumstances, intuitive insight and an uncanny ability to know the right thing to do, when everyone else is in a quandry.

Monday's Mulling Over: Icke & Wogan

Happy birthday Sir Terry Wogan! I'll not go into detail about Sir Terry because any stray readers from the UK will know him already, and y'all in America won't care much anyway. My post about Sir Terry, from 2009, is HERE. I will, though, treat us to a couple of videos of Terry/Sir Terry interviewing the one and only David Icke. The first was aired in 1991, the second 15 years later in 2006. We're 24 years on from the former and almost 10 years on from the latter now...how does it all sound from this distance?





On the strength of these two videos, I have to admit that Icke's views aren't what I'd call too outlandish. Maybe I'm growing more eccentric myself in my (ahem) maturity!

What does anyone else think about David Icke? I've posted about him in the past HERE...and that post contains links to others.

I have to add, though, that in my view David Icke does tend to "over-egg the pudding" too often, but I guess he has to do so, in order to keep people reading his books and listening to his lectures.

Fixed Stars in Leo - a few noticed in natal charts.

On I go, with a series of monthly posts on Fixed Stars in each tropical zodiac sign.

Data for Leo from Astroweb (HERE), showing star positions in 1900 in the left-hand column and in 2000 on the right.

All I can dredge up from my own natal chart is the first star in this list, Talitha, known to ancient astrologers as "daughter of the assembly". Talitha was a little more than a degree away from natal Pluto when I was born, in first, or maybe second house, depending on exact time of birth and house system used. The star is located on the front foot of the Great Bear star formation, Ursa Major.

Most interpretations of Talitha are variations on this one from Librarising HERE

Quiet, prudent, suspicious, mistrustful, self-controlled, great anger when roused; control of wild animals.

I like this one though, from an article at Lunarplanner about a couple of dwarf planets:

Haumea's North Node primarily conjoins Talitha, Iota of Ursa Major, and Kappa,which mark the forefoot of the Great Bear. I dub Talitha to be the protectress, guardian, and nurturer of humanity. This duo is also the Chinese "High Dignitary." Although minor stars, they should not be taken lightly, as they hold a principal office within the Bear. Of the Great Bear they are associated with the global scene and world powers. They inspire us to become a caring and nurturing force for each other, an enabling force that responsibly supports our emergence from darkness, dogma, and delusion, emergence from the limits and bounds created by selfish, fearful or controlling beliefs, a force that supports us to move into freedom and in greater personal fulfillment.

Enough about my own natal chart - what about some of these Leo stars in the charts of President Obama, or would-be presidents Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump?

Acubens, at between 12 and 13 Leo would have been close to President Obama's natal Sun and Hillary Clinton's Mars and Pluto, at their times of birth.



At Constellation of Words

One significance of Acubens is the enforced use of applied intelligence when finding oneself in combat at someone else's behest, as we may say the Crab's front leg finds itself driven on by the Mars Al Tarf on the back leg. But a generally more positive quality to read from Acubens is that of a sharp intellect and ease of coming to grips with problems, for which one might earn public renown. But, again there is the note of doing this under pressure of others demanding 'from behind'. [The Living Stars, Dr. Eric Morse, p.50.]

Donald Trump has Giansar close to Pluto natally.

From Terry Nazon HERE

Penetrating and analytical mind, travel and many friends, craft, ingenuity, and valour, but danger of robbery and accidental poisoning

And Alfard/Alphard (with Mars). At Constellation of Words:

Trouble and scandal through love affairs. Attachment to a married person.

ALSO Regulus at his ascendant! Hmm.
(From Terry Nazon)

The most Royal Star. Raphael, the Healing Archangel, the Watcher of the North. Nobility, ambition, alertness, great power, status, leadership, sudden downfall, accidents, violence.

Bernie Sanders has only one planet in Leo: Pluto at around 5 degrees - fairly close to Praesaepe when he was born. Main indications for this fixed star from traditional sources seem to be eyesight problems, but those come up regularly in respect of several other stars too. I tend to ignore this interpretation when considering people born 20th century or later. Praesaepe hasn't been seen as a fortunate star in general though. Maybe there'll be better indications from stars further along the zodiac.

Anyone else have anything of interest to report in this vein, either in personal chart or other charts we would recognise?