Shyly

Why we should celebrate shyness- an essay by David Robson last week at BBC's website:

From Agatha Christie and Charles Darwin to Keira Knightley, Francoise Hardy and Morrissey, the socially awkward and anxious have changed the world for the better. Have we forgotten the benefits of being shy?

A good read, I found, and an interesting take on being shy. Mr Robson references a new book by Joe Moran:

How could someone so successful still be so insecure? This is the paradox at the heart of a new book, Shrinking Violets, by the cultural historian Joe Moran, which explores shyness in politics, literature and psychology. Moran’s book portrays this full spectrum. Consider Dirk Bogarde, who, having learned how to hide his feelings from bullies at school, likened himself to a hermit crab hiding in a scavenged shell. “I was safe from predators,” he wrote, “and by predators I meant everyone I met.” He had hoped to conquer his shyness in adulthood, but he found it was “a malady” that “crippled me before I walked into a crowded room, theatre, restaurant or bar”. Acting in the West End, he would throw-up before every performance, saying “you can’t be as frightened as I am now and still be alive. This is as near death, execution, and everything else that I’ve ever come across.” As Moran points out, Bogarde was not taking these words lightly: he had fought at D-Day and in the following battles in Normandy.

Consulting my tattered copy of 20th century British astrologer C.E.O. Carter's "An Encyclopaedia of Psychological Astrology" I found this under "Shyness":

Shyness is a form of Sensitiveness (q.v.) and is to some extent connected with too pronounced a consciousness of the self. It is also to some degree analgous with suspicion and timidity.
Astrologically the usual indications are Saturnian-lunar afflictions in some form or other, and a lack of the positive elements in the map. Cancer is especially shy, and just as the lunar influence is strongest in childhood and then grows weaker, so adults usually grow out of their shyness.

Besides Cancer, Virgo is often extremely shy, and the same is sometimes found in Scorpio or Pisces children (v.Self-confidence).

Under "Sensitiveness" which Mr Carter directed the reader to see, he talked about this being common to all watery signs, especially Cancer, and to the negative signs, excepting Taurus. Leo and Sagittarius probably come next in lack of sensitiveness, he wrote. Also:

Virgo is easily hurt and inclines to adopt an attitude of what is commonly called "huffiness". Capricorn readily feels slights or snubs and is very sensitive to neglect or being overlooked. Libra is easily hurt but has a short memory for such things. Gemini and Aquarius are predominantly mental and do not feel injured over-easily.

Under Self-confidence Mr Carter, among other things, emphasised that a prominent Mars is the chief thing to look for....Moon Venus and Neptune are the least self-reliant, Neptune has much to do with inferiority complexes (q.v.)

A quick look at natal charts of some of the people mentioned in David Robson's essay, to discover if C.E.O. Carter's propositions...erm...hold water.

I'm stating only what immediately jumped out to me from these linked charts, at Astrodatabank, in context of this post:

Charles Darwin


Astro.com has two different times on birth on offer. In one (DD rated, so not reliable) Darwin had Sagittarius rising with Neptune conjunct Saturn on his ascendant. That'd be a shy signature. In a chart with a rectified time of birth Virgo was rising with the Saturn/Neptune conjunction closer to the nadir...still good but not as good.

Agatha Christie


Sun in Virgo, Virgo rising, Saturn in Virgo in first house of self. Yes!

Francoise Hardy


Virgo rising, with Neptune in Libra in first house; Saturn in 10th house of career opposing Venus in Sagittarius. Not as clear a shyness signature, but more of a dampener I'd say. Shyness not out of the question.

Dirk Bogarde


Saturn and Jupiter (not quite conjunct) in Virgo opposing Mercury and Uranus conjunction in Pisces. His Pluto at 6 Cancer trined his Mercury/Uranus in Watery Pisces.

As someone with Cancer rising, I'm pretty sure I have that to thank for intense childhood shyness, which continued into maturity, better hidden. Being an only child didn't help either, I guess. There was less of Cancer involvement in the few charts I investigated, above. Extreme, deeply Cancerian shyness could deter a person from even trying to seek public acclaim or fame and fortune. Characters like those investigated here might be secretly shy, but not cripplingly shy enough for it to act as deterrent. This broad, random proposition could be easily struck down though (said she, shyly).

Any thoughts ?

Glass Houses

Another scandal (yawn) hit the headlines this week. New York's Governor Spitzer, allegedly hoist with his own petard, with potential to be brought down by the same kind of investigation he pioneered as a prosecutor. At least this new source of gossip deflected some attention from the popular pastime of Clinton-bashing. Those obsessed with the C-bash however have even sought to make tenuous Clinton links to the current scandal, in case the name might pick up an extra layer of dirty dust in the storm.

Scandal. What did esteemed astrologer C.E.O. Carter have to say on the subject in his "Encyclopedia of Psychological Astrology"?

Hmmmm "Scandal ...see Slander". Okay. Different aspects of the same thing, but astrologically perhaps from similar sources.

"Slander
Liability to slanderous attacks is generally shown by malefics in or afflicting the 10th house, especially an afflicted Mercury, Mars or Neptune therein. The house from which the afflictions come, or which is ruled by the afflicting planet, shows the direction of the attack.

Love of scandal, slander, and backbiting is a fault connected with Moon-Mercury afflictions, while, if Mars be involved, the trait will be more pronounced and acute. Domestic gossip is largely a result of Moon or Cancer afflictions, but the Moon will not by itself give malice or ill-nature. The most treacherous attacks will result from Neptunian or Scorpionic aspects."

Applying that theory, not to Governor Spitzer, for he is author of his own undoing, but to the American public - a sizeable proportion must carry the chart afflictions mentioned by C.E.O. Carter in the second paragraph , so enraptured are they by tales of scandal in high places.

Applying the first paragraph of Mr. Carter's theory - liability to slanderous attacks, Senator Hillary Clinton's is a good natal chart to investigate. She has been attacked mercilessly during past months by her opponents' obsessed supporters. Let's see then. (Chart available here)

If Senator Clinton's birth time were, as is widely supposed, around 8.02 am, then the 10th house is empty. Saturn 21*, Pluto 14* and Mars 14* in Leo (three planets traditionally labelled malefics) all lie in 9th house. 9th house represents, among other things publicity and politics. Mercury, right on the ascendant is at 21 Scorpio exactly square Saturn. Symbolically, critical Saturn is challenging Scorpio Mercury in the area of self, and the other two Leo planets which are conjoined at 14degrees, are also within challenging distance (7 degrees). These aspects could also be ammunition for the anti-Clinton brigade to say that Senator Clinton has tendency to cause problems via her Scorpio Mercury. However, according to C.E.O. Carter "the house from which the afflictions come show the direction of the attack." The three malefics, surely together stronger than Mercury, are in the house of politics directed to the house of self. There's a definite source of problems there, and it seem likely that trouble could move in both directions, according to circumstance and transits.

"There is so much good in the worst of us, and so much bad in the best of us, that it hardly becomes any one of us to talk about the rest of us." (Anon.)

All you need is....

Valentine's Day comes around again tomorrow. The day used to have a peculiar feel for me. My long-ago first husband was called Valentino, after the saint who gave this day its name. The marriage was the complete antithesis of anything connected with "his day". I'm happy to report that I learned some lessons and became a better picker. Two good 'uns out of three ain't bad!

My old stand-by "Encyclopedia of Psychological Astrology", by British astrologer of the 20th century, C.E.O. Carter, is now rapidly falling apart, but before I administer sticky-tape, a search for his take on that elusive commodity LOVE:

Mr Carter had this to say:-

"LOVE. I have been gently criticized for omitting to mention this emotion in former editions. Perhaps the reason was that the word is used in so many senses as to be almost valueless.

It seems, however, that Love always implies an attachment to something or somebody and a desire to enjoy its, his or her presence and this is equally true whether the object is, perhaps, a house or country or a person. In a word, Love produces or seeks to produce happiness through association with something or somebody and so comes naturally under Venus, Libra and the 7th house. If these are well configured, the attachment fulfils its promise and does produce happiness; if otherwise, only sorrow and disappointment result.

A second characteristic of Love is that it seeks to benefit the object of its affection even to the extent of great personal danger or self-denial. This would appear to be a matter mainly of the Sun, and it is indeed true that Leo is a great lover and in the good types ready to give much to the beloved in affection and service.

Sexual love or desire I should place chiefly under the Sun; but it seems likely that several planetary values might enter into this condition, according to the underlying motives in particular cases. For example, the flirt desires to exercise power over a man, whilst an instinct to hold and possess may be stronger in a man than the anticipation of actual physical enjoyment. And so on."

Mr. Carter's views are a little behind the times for the 21st century, with regard to his last thought. In these days of equal opportunity, flirts come in all three genders, and the idea that man's best aim is "holding and possessing" left the building long ago. I'm sure, though, that Mr Carter was spot on with the astrology.

In my own case, Mercury is the only resident of 7th house trining Neptune, squaring Moon and semi-sextiling Venus. The square to Moon from Mercury in 7th may be the reason for a remark in the first astrologer's interpretation I ever bought, back in the 1970s. The astrologer informed me that I may find that romantic associations end in disappointment (or words to that effect). I'd already been there and done that, by then. An unfortunate pattern doesn't need to repeat itself though. There were a few more, non-binding, bad choices and consequent minor disappointments, but I became a little more aware with each one. When it came to making serious long-term commitments, the pattern didn't repeat itself. The mildly helpful aspect of Mercury to Venus probably helped.

Marcus Aurelius, that wise old Roman Emperor and philosopher had some good advice on the topic of love:

"Accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together, but do so with all your heart."

Bad Temper ?

Back in the 20th century, British astrologer C.E.0. Carter wrote the "Encyclopaedia of Psychological Astrology". It was reprinted many times between 1924 and 1976. The author lists, in alphabetical order, many and varied psychological traits, spanning "Ability" to "Youthfulness". Mr. Carter describes astrological configurations which he found often present in people who exhibited certain traits.

Under the heading "Temper", Mr Carter has this to say:

"Temper must be judged from the rising sign, Mercury, and the general appearance of the horoscope. The usual characteristics of the signs when rising are:

Aries (rising) ....... Easily angered and then often go to great lengths.

Taurus (rising).......Not readily moved, but may when aroused become furious.

Gemini (rising)...Not bad tempered, but can be "waspish" and malicious.

Cancer (rising)...Not easily angered, though soon hurt. Timid.

Leo (rising)......Often hot tempered, though affectionate.

Virgo (rising)....Temper is usually controlled and seldom violent. Often uses "the retort courteous". Tends to shun conditions that are liable to upset it.

Libra (rising)....Seldom the first to quarrel. Easily appeased.

Scorpio (rising)....Hot-tempered, especially when its affections are touched. Implacable and rarely forgets.

Sagittarius (rising)...Good tempered.

Capricorn (rising)....The temper is generally cold, and the tongue controlled.

Aquarius (rising)...Courteous.

Pisces(rising)...Good tempered.

In cardinal signs the temper is usually sharp; in mutable nagging, and in fixed, sudden and violent. The above remarks apply, of course, to ordinary everyday persons. Mercury and to a somewhat less extent the Lights or ascendant afflicted by malefics usually corrupts the temper. Fiery signs are usually the most explosive. Mars afflicted by Uranus in Fire generally causes bad temper, and Mars and Saturn are also often evil. On the other hand, Venus conjunct Mercury, the Lights or ascendant will usually cause the moods to be harmonious and equable. Jupiter in similar circumstances, inclines to good spirits and bodily health.

It must not be forgotten how often a bad temper is really the direct result of some functional disorder, such as liver trouble or nervous derangement.

Often the signs of good and bad temper are contradictory and in such cases a person's disposition will vary."

I have Cancer rising, natally. That description is accurate for me, though I'm no longer timid, I probably was though, back in the mists of time. Obtuse is a better description these days!

HWK (the husband) has Leo rising. He has been known to flare up, but temper comes and goes very quickly. He also has Mercury conjunct Saturn, and a tendency to use sarcasm as a defence, rather than frequent hot temper.

Me an' Dick Cheney ? Say it isn't so!

Astrology has a part to play in every facet of life, so it must have some bearing on how we think politcally - or, indeed, if we do think politically at all. Even so, it's doubtful that the most skilled of astrologers could exactly pinpont the way a person thinks politcally from their natal chart. Too many outside influences come into play both in childhood and in adulthood. I'd still be very surprised though if a person with heavy Capricorn and Saturn natally were to become a rebel socialist, or a heavily Aquarian/Uranian person leaned far to the right politically.


The spectre of Dick Cheney keeps haunting my mind as I type this. We are of the same generation, early Sun Aquarians, but our politcal views could not be further apart. He's on the left below (odd, that!)



Cheney has Sun at 10.48 Aquarius, Mercury in Aquarius too. Uranus in Taurus, square Mercury.

I have Sun at 6.46 Aquarius, square Uranus in Taurus, with Mercury in Capricorn widely trine Uranus in Taurus.

I'm desperately seeking differences! His Virgo ascendant and Pisces Moon belie the person we see in public life. I have Cancer ascendant(but Aquarius relocated) and Aries Moon. Hmmm. Nothing there provides much evidence.

I'll try putting our two Suns under the astrological microscope. Decanates and duads break down each zodiac sign into "cells". Decanates are 3x10 degree cells within each 30 degree sign, and duads are tiny 2 and a half degree cells within each decanate. Each decanate and duad has its "sub-ruler" which imparts an additional subtle tone.

My Sun falls within the first decanate of Aquarius (the Aquarius-Aquarius decanate), and the third duad of Aquarius (the Aquarius-Aries duad). Supposedly this indicates the true revolutionary, impatient for action and social change. Yep!

Cheney's Sun is just into the second decanate of Aquarius, the Aquarius-Gemini decanate and in the fifth duad of Aquarius - the Aquarius-Gemini duad -so it's a more communicative version of Aquarius. ( Thinks....the fourth duad, Aquarius-Taurus would fit him better - more fixed and in keeping with his chart - and his Sun is just barely into 2nd decanate and fifth duad).

Cheney's chart has a Grand Trine in Earth (Venus/Uranus/Neptune) There's a similar configuration, in mine, but it involves Mercury, Uranus and Neptune. In my case Mercury is hooked up harmoniously to Uranus by element, in his case Mercury argues with Uranus, Sun's ruler. This may be the key, together with the fact that Cheney has 3 planets in stubborn and somewhat old fashioned Taurus (Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus) adding to the fixed nature of his Sun.

He has 6 planets in fixed signs, 1 cardinal, 3 mutable.
I have 3 cardinal, 4 fixed, 3 mutable - an easier balance.

The differences I've found are not enormous, but they are significant.

After I'd gathered my own ideas I looked for an astrologer's thoughts about Dick Cheney and found them at star IQ - see Pat Lantz's assessment about the VP, from 2000.

Snobbery

Once upon a time it was thought that people in the USA were less prone to snobbery than those in the UK and Europe. I suppose this idea originated due to the fact that many European countries remain monarchies. A monarchy underpins an eschelon of aristocracy, which in turn used to spawn class consciousness and its close cousin snobbishness.

Snobbery isn't just related to bloodlines though. Snobbery can be found in many circles. Sport, music, art, literature, entertainment, food, wine, etc. etc. In a nutshell, snobbery entails looking down on others in an attempt to make oneself feel superior - about anything at all.

“True individualists tend to be quite unobservant; it is the snob, the would-be-sophisticate, the frightened conformist, who keeps a fascinated or worried eye on what is in the wind” said writer Louis Kronenberger.

C.E.O. Carter had this to say in his Encyclopedia of Psychological Astrology (and, for once, I have to remark critically, in places, on his words!)-

"Snobbishness is characteristic of Leos and Capricorns (tsk, tsk, Mr Carter - judging by Sun sign?)who are still centred on the material aspects of things. It is probable that the better sort of Capricorn (tsk tsk!)is conscious of, and a believer in, class distinctions, but is quite ready to pay each man his due according to his own view of what ought to be accorded to a man in such a position (erm....eh??) This belief in the value of caste is part of the love of orderliness which Saturn gives; there is a feeling that every one has, and should have, his right place in life, and should keep there, unless he can raise himself by worth, expressed in such terms as Saturn can respect.

The snobbishness of Leo is due to the enhanced idea of their importance which some members of that sign possess."

I do get the gist of what Mr Carter says, and I have to remember that he lived in a different era from me, with slightly different attitudes. I'm pretty sure that he would not tar all Sun Capricorns and Leos with the same brush, but was using a kind of shorthand, which those writing about astrology in brief fall into now and again (myself included).

Summer and winter born people are likely to have some Leo and Capricorn planets in their charts. The key factor is how strong are those planets, what aspects are made, and from whence, and what kind of snobbery?

Regarding Capricorn: it's quite common for Sun Capricorns to have planets in Aquarius - probably the least likely sign to embrace class snobbery, and vice versa -Aquarians often have Capricorn planets...so where does that leave us?

Instead of wondering "am I (or some other person) snobbish?", a better investigation would be "what am I (or you) snobbish about?" This assumes that each one of us has a whiff of snobbery somewhere within our personality.

I'd better put up my own hand to something here. I'd like to think that in general I'm not snobbish, but I guess I AM a bit snobbish about writing and speaking correctly. Not with an elegant accent - just correctly. In my younger dating days, if a would-be boyfriend was a sloppy speaker and unable to string a sentence together, I'd turn up my snobby nose. In my natal chart Mercury (planet of communication)is in Capricorn, ruled by Saturn and almost on the descendant, so in a strong position. One victory for Mr Carter, then!

HeWhoKnows feels much the same as me about correct writing and speaking. He has Mercury in Pisces, but it is conjunct Saturn, ruler of Capricorn. I have to suspect also (whispering) that he's a leeetle bit of a music/jazz snob, and in his natal chart Saturn/Mercury sextiles his Venus(music)/Uranus conjunction in Taurus. He also has Moon and ascendant in Leo....nudge nudge, wink wink. Another tick for Mr Carter!

I found this video on YouTube. "How to be a Pretentious Snob". The presenter is just 19 - from New Zealand I think. It made me laugh. I reckon he has talent.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORm4jhitPxM


(Illustration from http://www.georgwilliams.com/gallery_of_pets.htm)

Memory - Digital and Human

At the weekend we upgraded my computer's memory, known to geeky types as RAM, I think. HeWhoKnows manfully donned an anti-static wrist strap to plumb the depths of my trusty Dell.

256MBs of memory had proved adequate for my modest needs until I started mucking about with Windows Movie Maker, and wondering about more software for the future. Delly now boasts a big 2 GB. HWK carefully inserted two new memory sticks, obtained via the internet, et voila ! My computer gives a quicker, cleaner and crisper performance than ever before!

I got to thinking about human memory, and turned to astrologer C.E.O. Carter's Encyclopedia of Psychological Astrology to see what he had to say about it:

"Memory depends chiefly upon Mercury. If this planet is strong, especially in fixed signs, the memory will be good. The Moon and Cancer should also be considered; they often bestow a very retentive memory if strong; and attention should be directed to the third house........Mercury afflicted by malefics in cadent houses or mutable signs generally impairs the memory and a strong Pisces element in the nativity often has the same effect."

I've read elsewhere that Cancer can bestow a retentive memory, I'm lucky enough to have one, so perhaps I should thank my Cancer ascendant for it. I'm not convinced that the ascendant sign is mainly involved in "how others see you and how you see the world" - I've come to the conclusion, from experience and observation, that the rising sign simply becomes part of the personality mix, the recipe - colouring, augmenting and modifying other factors. My natal Mercury, strong near the descendant angle in organised Capricorn, is likely to be helpful to memory too.

HeWhoKnows has Mercury in Pisces, conjunct Saturn - and he is pretty absent minded and forgetful. C.E.O. Carter nailed that one! I have to say though, when it comes to remembering anything connected with jazz HWK is amazing. He might not know what day it is, or even what month, or what he had for breakfast, but he knows who's playing trumpet and who's on piano, etc. the minute he hears a piece of jazz !

Perhaps one day humans will be able to go to the store(or hospital),for new memory sticks to upgrade what Mother Nature bestowed. That'd be fun!

Intuition

British Astrologer C.E.O.Carter had this to say about intuition in his "little green book", An Encyclopaedia of Psychological Astrology:

"In a general sense intuition, or the power of perceiving certain truths without the ordinary process of investigation and reasoning, would probably come under Uranus and Neptune, especially in connection with the 9th house."

He goes on to warn that "truths" intuitively grasped are subjective - what may be a truth to one person can be a fallacy to another. He also says "The word "intuition" is often used when "instinct" is meant, as when it is said that someone is "intuitively" disliked". He considers that heavy afflictions to Mercury, and, in religious and occult matters, to Jupiter Uranus and Neptune, will cloud intuition "the native will only reach the truth, if at all, after many mistakes".

I suspect that there are various levels of intuition, ranging from a quite rational but rapid analysis of a situation or person, based on minute details subconsciously perceived by extremely sharp observation, processed in a nanosecond - that'd be at one end of the scale. At the other end of the scale, truly psychic insights arising from exceptional, almost clairvoyant skills. Both levels, and all those inbetween, will involve Mercury, that's for sure. A strongly placed Mercury, challenged by few or no difficult aspects must surely be a basic requirement. After that, I'd say a lot depends on the sign/element placements of Sun and Moon, maybe ascendant too. Water or Air are going to be the easiest elements in which intuition can blossom well. Earth and Fire seem too direct and outwardly active. Yet the analytical skills of Virgo might be instrumental in that first level of intuition, the kind arising from minute, almost unrealised observations.

C.E.O. Carter specifies Uranus and Neptune as other significant planets involved in intuitive ability. Easy aspects between those planets and Mercury will be a definite "plus", especially if one or both lie on or near to the angles (ascendant, midheaven, descendant and nadir) or conjoining one of the Moon's nodes. These are all extra-sensitive points in the natal chart.

Chatting about this subject with HeWhoKnows brought up the comment that females are generally more intuitive than males. HWK thinks this stems from a male dislike of being thought "limp-wristed" or feminine. I pointed out that intuitive ability can be masculine too. Any sportsman in a team, or in a sport involving others can, and probably many do, gain great advantage from using intuition - perhaps they just don't call it that. HWK reckons we all have the potential within us, but some people don't accept it, and therefore fail to use it. I agree, and I believe that astrological placements and aspects are probably instrumental in such lack of acceptance. Difficult aspects, in most cases, can be worked on and overcome, but the wish to do so must be strong.

As for me, I might actually have some lower level intuition. In my natal chart Mercury is near the descendant angle, in trine to Neptune and also, widely, to Uranus. All three are in Earth signs though, had they been found in Water signs I'd probably be a psychic phenomenon! I'm not psychic, but I do sense things from people and situations, and more often than not, my intuition(or instinct), is correct.

Intuition: going your way without inquiring about the way.(Source unknown)