The Da-di-da of Uranus

Without as much time as usual to research and prepare an Arty Farty Friday post for yesterday, I posted something else. I've since dug out this post from 2007, it was really about art, but there's brief mention of Uranus transits in Aquarius, Pisces and Aries. At that point in 2007 our current Uranus in Aries transit was still to come. I had to grin as I read my 2007 words "...Rebellion needs a hard edge - Uranus in Aries could well bring it forth in future years." I experienced that hard edge myself recently - see Thursday's post! My Saturn and Moon in Aries were not doing me any favours this week, courtesy of my Sun's ruler Uranus!

Here's the archived 2007 post:

A recent short article by comedian Richard Belzer, "I Want My Dada" led me to Google-search Dada, and wonder about Uranus in Aquarius transits.

I'd heard about Dadaism before, but had never fully understood its significance. The Dada movement was short-lived. It survived roughly from around 1915 to 1920, founded by a group of European artists, writers and creative thinkers with the basic intention of protest against the World War then raging, the establishment and current bourgeois attitudes and values. ArtLex defines Dada thus -

"An early twentieth century art movement which ridiculed contemporary culture and traditional art forms. The movement was formed to prove the bankruptcy of existing style of artistic expression rather than to promote a particular style itself. It was born as a consequence of the collapse during World War I of social and moral values which had developed to that time." ("Republican Automatons" by George Grosz, right)




From Belzer's article:
"All (so-called) modern thought was called into question. It was reasoned that at that point in history we had become so barbarous that precious human life was chillingly expendable for the most ill-conceived and deceptive purposes."

Astrologically I think it's very significant that during those years Uranus was transiting the sign of its own modern ruler, Aquarius. This is the planet of rebellion, invention and revolution, much strengthened in its home sign. That Uranus transit through Aquarius coincided almost exactly with the time-span of Dadaism, also, of course, with the first World War (1914-1918).

I'm not sure that Richard Belzer's call ("I implore, I compel, and I all but beg those in the creative community to once again question and challenge") to follow in the footsteps of Dada is going to get very far. Uranus is now (2007) transiting the more philosophical, softer hearted sign of Pisces. I doubt that a new and improved Dada movement can be expected anytime soon. Rebellion needs a hard edge - Uranus in Aries could well bring it forth in future years.

The more recent Uranus in Aquarius transit which occurred between April 1995 and March 2003 included the fateful September 11 2001, and events which reverberate still. As far as I know, there was no movement comparable with Dadaism during that transit. There were protest marches against the proposed invasion of Afghanistan, and later, Iraq but no definable movement which could be labelled as an "ism". We are still too close to that period to see it properly in focus, and importantly, in context with what is to come next. Historians of the future may detect things in that period which are invisible to us now.

More examples of Dada art can be viewed via Google Image.

A few words more to add, now, about Dada art in general:

From HERE

Dada and Surrealism were two movements that developed as a reaction to the confusion following World War I. Dada started in the neutral city of Zurich in Switzerland immediately following the end of the War. Dada, however, was not intended to be a new art movement. According to Tristan Tzara, one of the founders of the movement, “The beginnings of Dada were not the beginnings of art, but of disgust.” People were confused and angry after the Great War, and their rage fueled their artistic creativity. They sought to break down conventions in the arts in order to bring forth a new, improved culture. Even the name “dada” mocked the time period because the name for the movement was decided upon by randomly choosing a word from the dictionary. The Dada movement made thorough use of obscenities, satire, humor, puns, and everyday objects (usually with a little tweaking) to evoke feelings of rage or shock. It was whimsical and original, which is perhaps why the public enjoyed the movement while it lasted. One of the most famous artists of the Dada movement was Max Ernst. One of his most famous pieces was called “Celebes,” painted in 1921 (see below). The painting is of a creature that somewhat resembles an elephant. It shows darkness (via the colors) and mockery (disfigurement of the creature), which are key aspects of Dada art. The Dada movement subsided around 1923, which gave way for a similar movement to prosper in its place: surrealism.

It seems the idea for this painting originally evolved from a smutty German short poem about an elephant- read the poem HERE.

Celebes

[Dada] Participants claimed various, often humorous definitions of “Dada” — “Dada is irony,” “Dada is anti-art,” “Dada will kick you in the behind” — though the word itself is a nonsense utterance. As the story goes, the name Dada was either chosen at random by stabbing a knife into a dictionary, or consciously selected for a variety of connotations in different languages — French for “hobbyhorse” or Russian for “yes, yes.” (HERE)

Waxahachie Woes (or Uranus the Unexpected Strikes Again)

Why do I believe that astrology works, at least some of the time? Bitter experience.

"Some of the time" mainly involves times when the the outer planets, from Saturn outward (Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto) connect in their transits with a personal planet in one's natal chart....and, to a (perhaps) milder extent when, in the course of their transits they make sharp angles to personal planets.

My latest example:

Our recent trip, meant to celebrate my birthday, didn't follow exactly, or anywhere near, what we had in mind when we set out from home - for a variety of reasons. But that's not the story. We chose to stay around several interesting mid-Texas towns we'd hoped to visit during previous trips, but had missed for one reason or another. We'd intended being home by last Wednesday at latest, but didn't arrive until Sunday, yesterday.

Last Tuesday, on what should have been our last afternoon away, our car was damaged, pretty badly. My husband was forced to drive over a biggish metal/steel object lying in the road. Due to blinding late afternoon sun he didn't see the object in time to stop and warn vehicles behind. To have swerved could have caused something even worse than what happened. As it was the car lurched around, loud clanking and scraping ensued. Fortunately we were near a place where he could drive into the parking lot of a convenience store/gas station. The power steering went off just as we reached the parking area. Smoke emerged from near the steering wheel - very disconcerting!

To make a long story short (as they say) husband used our cellphone (at last - we found out why we have a cellphone!) to contact the AAA and our insurance company back in Oklahoma. They got a tow truck to us in about an hour. The truck took our car and us back the 12 or so miles to Waxahachie, the town where we had a motel room; and to a repair shop at the local Chevrolet dealership. Luckily there was also a Hertz rental office on the same lot. They were about to close, but stayed behind to sort out a rental car for us, so we could get back to our motel.

A couple of days later, when we'd hoped the car would be ready to take home, we were told the repair is going to take at least a week, maybe two, due to necessary visits by insurance inspector, ordering of parts, etc. Costs will be pretty steep - the majority, but not all, to be paid by insurance company. Damage incurred must be far more extensive than we had supposed!

Where's the astrology then?

Transiting Uranus was, and is, conjunct my husband's natal Sun. Uranus is famous for being around when the unexpected happens.

To add spice to our "adventure" I managed to pick up a stomach bug of some kind, which lasted, quite painfully, for a couple of days or more.

There's more.

Interested readers can refer to my post from last September, when Uranus was in much the same position; also to a re-run of an old post outlining my own experiences during Uranus (and other) transits some years ago:

Trouble, Trouble, Trouble Since the Day We Set Out

and

TRANSITORY ADVENTURES with Uranus, Neptune, Pluto and Saturn.

As I wrote, back in September, I refuse to become paranoid about astrological transits to the extent that I allow them to interfere with life and plans. In the case of the outer planets, transits to personal planets can cover a long period of time. If something unexpected is going to happen, then it'll happen wherever one happens to be. The situation we encountered could have been much worse. Very much worse! Who knows what shape it could have taken had we stayed at home? If one has to experience an unexpectedly difficult event, this was the kind to have. Nobody was hurt, nobody else's property was affected, only our own poor, faithful 2006 Chevvy Monte Carlo, which has never once let us down. Not ever, not in the slightest way during the 4 or 5 years since we bought it, new. We've driven many thousands of miles with complete confidence.

In a week, maybe two, we shall await a call to drive the 250 or so miles back to Waxahachie, Texas in the rented car to collect our own, fully healed (we hope) vehicle.

And that's why I believe astrology works, at least in some respects. "Events such as the above happen all the time, to all kinds of people", a skeptic might respond. However, it's in the timing of such events that the touch of astrology can oft be sensed.

Music Monday ~ The Jazz Age: That Other Uranus in Aries Era

It's often written that The Jazz Age, in the mid 1920s, coincided with the last transit of Uranus through the zodiac sign Aries, which is true enough. Thing is though, the artists who brought about the Jazz Age had almost all been born while Uranus transited Sagittarius, with Pluto transiting Gemini - in the opposing sign.

So, although when jazz burst onto the scene it represented all that was new, unexpected and sounded more than a little eccentric to unaccustomed ears, it was more than simply the result of Uranus transiting Aries. Jazz was really the result of a generational pull from Sagittarius/Gemini reacting to Uranus in Aries.

Does that make any sense?

Here's a video overview from YouTube:



And in Europe - Paris, France ~



This current transit of Uranus in Aries will not see a generation of young(ish) people with generational Gemini in their astro-blueprints. Some will have generational Sagittarius, in common with the earlier Uranus in Aries crowd, but this time coming via Neptune. Generational Pluto in Libra (as it was in the 1970s and early 80s, instead of in Gemini, as in the 1920s, is a big difference. That generaion is now of an age to be making waves of some kind, as Uranus transits Aries. Libra tends to be laid back, maybe even lazy at times, hardly the ones to be interested in communicating vibrant new ideas. That's not to say they won't have something good to offer in some other area, a calming influence upon a worried world perhaps?

We owe a lot to that old Pluto in Gemini generation - we really do. They left us treasure troves to cherish in every sphere of the arts.

1066 and All That; Magna Carta, Human Rights, Democracy, Uranus/Jupiter/Saturn, Cathar Eclipses.

Today, 14 October, in 1066 saw the Norman Conquest: Battle of Hastings – in England. It took place on Senlac Hill, seven miles from Hastings. The forces of William the Conqueror defeated the English army and killed King Harold II (Wikipedia).








The Norman Conquest was a pivotal event in English history. It largely removed the native ruling class, replacing it with a foreign, French-speaking monarchy, aristocracy, and clerical hierarchy.

Pupils in English schools have this date, at least the year 1066, engraved on their hearts - it's often one of few dates to be so well remembered. So much so that a couple of 20th century humourists, W.C. Sellar and R.J. Yeatman wrote a series under the title 1066 and All That, for the famous Punch magazine. The series, later developed into a play and a book, is a parody of English history. I have a copy of the book on my shelf and immediately reached for it when faced with Wikipedia's reminder of the date.

I'll not go into much detail of the book's content because it truly is an acquired taste, and to the uninitiated, those unused to this type of humour, it'd sound just silly. You really had to be there (in England over many years) to "get it".

I did notice something which might go down well here though, and there is an astrological link to be made.

Skipping through the years from 1066 to what's known as the Tudor Age (or Middle Ages), we come to King John, noted in the book as "An Awful King". During his reign, in 1215, came the Magna Carta, which I guess could be likened to the US Constitution and Bill of Rights.

The book parodies the intent of the Magna Carta, which King John was compelled to sign by the Barons (members of the nobility/aristocracy, mainly of French descent).
The Magna Carta, as described in 1066 and All That said:

1. That no one was to be put to death, save for some reason - (except the Common People).

2. That everyone should be free - (except the Common People).

3. That everything should be of the same weight and measure throughout the Realm - (except the Common People).

4. That the courts should be stationary, instead of following a very tiresome medieval official known as the King's Person all over the country.

5. That no person should be fined to his utter ruin - (Except the King's Person).

6. That the Barons should not be tried except by a special jury of other Barons who would understand.

Magna Carta was therefore the chief cause of Democracy in England, and thus A Good Thing for everyone (except the Common People).

The Common People in most countries, even nowadays, are still in the category "except for"! And Number 6 sounds eerily familiar too. Things do change, but remain much the same.....as the French are wont to say, but more prettily.

On a more serious and astrological note. Is there anything in astrology that ties into Magna Carta? My Googling finger found two articles of interest. One concentrates on Jupiter/Uranus and Saturn/Uranus cycles; the other on an eclipse series. From Astrology for the 21st Century
http://www.astrology21.co.uk/c1humanrights.html

and an article on The Cathar Eclipse at Astrology Portal
http://www.harmonicconcordance.com/__CatharEclipse.htm

From the former:

Human Rights: The planetary cycles of human rights

In astrology the development of human rights is often associated with Uranus and Aquarius, and the periods of history that coincide with the rise in awareness of human rights and human wrongs are usually linked with the Jupiter-Uranus and Saturn-Uranus cycles. But does this stand up to scrutiny?

This article examines landmark events in human rights in the UK, the USA and France, as well as major political thinkers/philosophers whose work influenced the way human rights were thought about and practised, and looks for correlations between these and the Jupiter-Uranus and Saturn-Uranus cycles.

Landmark events
These are said to be some of the major landmarks in the development of the current Western thinking on and practice of human rights :

Magna Carta
15th to 19th June 1215
Saturn conjunct Uranus (approaching)


USA - State of Virginia's Declaration of Rights
12th June 1776
Saturn trine Uranus


USA Constitution
4th March 1789
Jupiter conjunct Uranus (the aspect is wide but approaching and growing in strength)

USA Bill of Rights
15th December 1791
Jupiter just past sextile Uranus
Mars on the midpoint of Jupiter/Uranus

(Many other examples are listed. )

The astrological observations about Jupiter-Uranus and Saturn-Uranus seem to hold true. Awareness of human rights, and the relationship between the establishment and the people, does seem to correlate with the cycles of these planets.

Looking ahead, from 2008 to 2010 Saturn will oppose Uranus. We can expect this to resonate with the Magna Carta (agreed when Saturn was conjunct Uranus), France, Liberty, the European Court of Human Rights, and the UK's Human Rights Act (HRA).

The Saturn-Uranus opposition represents a point of confrontation and potential turbulence for these issues, and so perhaps it's not surprising that the UK government as well as the official party of Opposition, the Conservative Party, have already indicated that it will not shy away from altering or removing the HRA. In other words, they have already begun their 'drip-feed' of their intention to do so, to ready the public for a potential future action that they would like to take.

If the public want to disagree then people would be wise to alter the course of events now, rather than leave it until later when there is the potential for a tense confrontation between 2008 to 2010.

From the second link:

The 1210 Astrological Chart
This is the initial lunar eclipse in the Saros series 126, dated 8 July 1210, of which the "Harmonic Concordance" eclipse of 9 November 2003 is the last 'total' manifestation in the chain. (The chain finishes in 2490). The initial Moon should hold clues as to the energy spread throughout the 1280-year chain of eclipses and especially to the special eclipse in November 2003.

England was under an Interdict for 5 years at this time (1208-1213) from the same pope (Innocent III) who ordered the annihilation of the Cathars. Celebration of the Mass was prohibited in all churches and the dead had to be buried in unconsecrated ground. This was because King John had refused the Pope's choice for the next Archbishop of Canterbury................

The 1210 eclipse is also close to another more famous historical event: the signing of Magna Carta in 1215. Obviously the Magna Carta didn't suddenly spring into being one morning in 1215, it was the end result of work and discussion of the previous years. It is claimed that a Templar Grand Master was standing next to King John when he signed Magna Carta.

On one level this may suggest that this November's eclipse, the Harmonic Concordance, has a bearing on human rights, or basic human freedoms - things which are generally associated with Magna Carta.

I prefer the connection to Uranus cycles, I can't remember anything in 2003 which might link to the Magna Carta.....Anybody?

Change of Pace for Mañana

During the past week my husband had a pacemaker fitted to regulate his heart rate. He hadn't experienced any of the problems normally associated with a low heart rate which, to some extent, has been his personal "style" for most of his life. However, his family doctor at annual check-up, and a second opinion from a heart specialist, dictated the current need of a pacemaker.

Astrologically there's an interesting correlation between Uranus/Jupiter's current transit over husband's natal cluster (Sun, Mercury, Saturn) in first degree Aries and last degrees Pisces. Astrologers would translate such a transit over personal planets as an indication of a change of some kind. And so it was!

The fitting of a pacemaker is a fairly common and routine procedure. Actual surgery lasted almost exactly an hour, with additional time for preparation and recovery, then 24 hours of monitoring hooked up to all manner of electronic devices. Classic Uranian stuff!

Husband's eldest daughter drove us the 90-ish miles to the specialist hospital on Monday evening, to be ready for a 7:00 AM start to the proceedings on Tuesday. We both stayed 2 nights at a nearby hotel; husband's eldest son drove over to be with us for most of the day of the operation. The waiting time, which could have seemed tedious for both patient and a single visitor alike, passed pleasantly in mutually supportive company. All four of us had probably been harbouring secret worries and doubts. Knowing first-hand from the surgeon that the procedure had gone well, with no serious hitches quickly relieved any lingering fears.

His carefully chosen tee-shirt for the trip bore the words Carpe Mañana (Seize Tomorrow). He has done just that - and many, many tomorrows, I trust.

Back home by late afternoon Wednesday, equipped with pacemaker manual, lists of instructions, and prescription for some whack-a-doodle painkillers (he refuses to take them), Himself declared, "I really didn't want to do this!"

"Why?" asked yours truly, dutifully. Her own hatred of medical matters, doctors and hospitals is legendary, her answer ought to have been a different single syllable: "DUH!!!"

"It makes me feel old", he replied.

"You'll never appear, or feel truly old though, with a whacky nature like yours. This pacemaker will just embellish your humour with better timing."

"You reckon? ......That's alright then."

TRANSITS of URANUS and other adventures. Part 2.

Part 2 - Uranus into Pisces, Neptune into Aquarius, Pluto in the wings.

Soon after moving to the bungalow on the coast, my partner's health began to fail, both mentally and physically. He was much older than me, and we'd been together for more than 30 years. From 2000, until he died in the first weeks of 2003, I looked after him, heart breaking, knowing that I'd lose him painfully and slowly. Throughout this time, transiting Pluto was approaching my natal Venus at 19.59 Sagittarius, 6th house.

To help things along (or not) Neptune conjoined my natal Sun exactly from September to December 2001, and wasn't far away for months after that. Looking back, I can see that Neptune acted somewhat like an anaesthetic, or some kind of drug which, along with the computer I'd just bought, helped me through what was, without doubt, the worst period of my life. I'm pretty sure that from time to time I acted as if I were under some kind of intoxication - which WAS purely astrological!

That first home computer of mine arrived along with Neptune in Aquarius. Because I was tied to the house, caring for my partner and unable to go very far for very long, the computer became something of a life-raft. I made a few on-line friends via message boards, and instant message programs, who, bless 'em, along with Neptune's intoxication, kept me afloat through those bad times. I doubt that I could have coped without the computer.

Uranus didn't leave Aquarius until late 2003 and before Pluto left its conjunction with my natal Venus another adventure awaited me. Still reeling from the loss of my partner, I met my (now) husband, aka HeWhoKnows. At first he was an e-mail penfriend, then, during a short holiday in the USA we met in person. He later came over to the UK, spent time there, and we eventually married. I sold the bungalow, went through the rigmarole of visa and immigration hoop-la, arrived in Oklahoma, USA late in 2004. Events seem rapid, with hindsight, but at the time it didn't feel that way. Life seemed to be proceeding in ultra-slow motion.

Uranus conjoined my natal Jupiter at 6.03 Pisces in February 2005, just after we had bought a house in Oklahoma and moved from my husband's previous home. I'd already bought a new computer, soon afterwards astrology software followed, and a boxful of secondhand astrology text books. Much study and experimenting ensued.

As for blogging - last November, Jupiter, the publishing planet, danced around the vertex in my chart (natal Mars conjoins this sensitive point). Last November was when other astrology bloggers were kind enough to notice my blog, and later Elsa added it to Astrology News. I'd been writing the blog previously purely for my own amusement, but around this time I had submitted it to Technorati. Jupiter the publishing planet gave my vertex, and me, a boost.

That's the story so far.

Summing up: the transit of Uranus through Aquarius was a little like a tornado passing through a small town. When that planet first entered Aquarius I had a Mum, a long-standing partner, a home of many years, and a job. When Uranus left, none of those remained.

Amidst the chaos in my life, Uranus, ruler of technology,left something for me to hold on to - the computer, which became my life raft, eventually guiding me across the Atlantic to a new way of being and, incidentally, to blogging.

What shouts "astrology at work" to me in all this is the timing, and the way events dovetail with transits. Skeptics migh respond that there are "ordinary" reasons for these events. Maybe so, but there are no ordinary reasons for such exact timing.

I feel that I must add, in case a passing reader feels nervous about an impending transit, that I'm pretty sure Uranus transits to natal Sun do not usually result in the amount of havoc I experienced. These adventures were the result of multiple astrological events affecting my own individual chart and personal circumstances, in a way peculiar to me. It has been my experience that astrology never acts in exactly the same way twice.

TRANSITS OF URANUS, and other adventures.

Chrispito at Astroturf commented, after one of my earlier posts, that perhaps transits of Uranus are connected with my feeling that the computer has changed my life. Uranus, modern ruler of my natal Aquarius Sun also rules technology, which includes computers. Yes, I believe she's right, but it's a long story. Uranus arrived in my life long before I had a home computer.

I guess this will be a 2-day blog job!

Uranus transited Aquarius from mid-1995 to late 2003. Uranus' transit of Pisces commenced March 2003. My natal Sun is at 6.46 Aquarius, natal Jupiter at 6.03 Pisces.

I actually received a "multiple-whammy" during these Uranus transits. My second Saturn return happened within that time span, as well as a transit of Pluto to natal Venus, and Neptune's transit of natal Sun. In addition, as I mentioned HERE in January, Comet Hyakutake, in May 1996 passed close to natal Uranus which conjoins South node of the Moon in my chart. I did tell the first part part of this story briefly, back in January, but it's re-told now with a more astrological detail.

At the time of these adventures, I was unaware of any planetary transits. With hindsight, I'm very glad of that ignorance.

PART 1.

The story begins on 21 April 1996 (11 years ago this week),on a Sunday evening, in a big northern English city, at around 9.20 pm. Uranus on this date was a little past 4* Aquarius, 2* from my natal Sun. A partial solar eclipse had occured on 17/18 April at, I think, 28 Aries. My natal Moon is at 24.40 Aries. Transiting Mars was at 21 Aries.

My long-time partner watched TV in the living room as I prepared to take a bath. A fire, which had started, unknown to us, in an adjoining empty building spread close to our second floor apartment. I heard a strange crackling noise, went to the kitchen to investigate. Flames licked the window. We realised what had happened, grabbed coats (I was only semi-clad), thankfully I grabbed my handbag (purse) as well. We hurried down two flights of stairs, as fire engines drew up outside. As we reached the ground an explosion occurred above, probably from gas boilers in the building. We stood with two other tenants, all thankful to be alive, and watched everything we owned, in our home for the past 23 years, disappear in an horrendous fire. The whole block of buildings later had to be demolished. We still had our car, parked in a nearby garage, the few clothes on our backs and my handbag containing credit card and a little cash.

That was the start of a difficult phase. Three days later my partner, probably still affected by shock, fell in the street and damaged his hand so badly that he needed plastic surgery and was admitted to hospital. I remained in a bed and breakfast place.

My workfriends and my mother were a great help to us, both with contributions, and moral support. Our insurance helped a lot too, as did the result of legal proceedings against the owner of the adjoining building - but not until some years later.

Within a month or so we found another apartment, which proved not ideal. We had one break-in during the year we lived there (those burglars were unlucky, we owned next to nothing!) Then, early spring 1997, as Uranus exactly conjoined my natal Sun, we moved into a rented house in a nice area . The whole episode had come to seem like a nightmare turned adventure.

More changes were to come, however. That summer of 1997, Uranus started its retrograde movement. My mother was diagnosed with terminal illness. This happened very rapidly and unexpectedly, and affected me deeply. My second Saturn return was exact in April 1997. Mum seemed fine when she visited us at Easter, by mid-August she died. She left me a bungalow on the coast where she and my Dad had spent a good part of their retirement. On the day Mum died retrograde Uranus, was at 5.59 Aquarius, one degree from my natal Sun, 8th house.

I was nearing retirement. We didn't want to live on the coast, but after trying unsuccessfully to sell the bungalow, we decided we'd have to move there after all. In March 1999 we moved home, as Mars hovered at 13 Scorpio, Moon's North node in my chart which opposes natal Uranus/South node. Transiting Uranus had moved on now and lay 7* away from natal Sun, but Neptune was inching slowly towards it.

End of PART 1. To be continued.