Frederick Alexander and "The Technique"

British Researchers have found that an alternative therapy really does treat back pain. This therapy is called the Alexander Technique and was invented by an Australian Actor named Frederick Alexander. Alexander began to lose his voice during performances and, unable to find a cure through his Doctor, found that by observing and modifying his posture and use of his body he could eliminate the problems. He regained full use of his voice and began to help other actors. Eventually he became known in obscure parts for his healing technique.

Yahoo story about latest research: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080820/hl_nm/back_pain_dc

Frederick Alexander
b. Jan. 20, 1869
Table Cape, Tasmania, Australia (I used Wynyard because Table Cape didn't get any results)

Sun 1 Aquarius; Moon Aries; NN 17 Leo

Sun in Aquarius automatically indicates an Innovator. This is doubly emphasized because ruler of Aquarius is a singleton by Element in the chart. North Node in Leo shows a destiny directed towards Leo type activities like being a Performer. For posture I was hoping to find a relationship between Saturn (bones) and Neptune (curves) and found that in Alexander's chart these two planets are involved in a Grand Trine with the North Node. Astrology Rocks.

I was also wanting to look at Mars because Mars indicates Movement and mobility. From the website www.alexander.ie/history.html I found the following description that Alexander "...revealed the mechanics of movement of the human being and the interference with muscles and reflexes that contriubtes to much of mankind's suffering in our modern civilization."

Alexander's Mars is Retrograde at 4 Virgo, the sign of Health through lifestyle. Mars rules Muscles. Mars Rx could certainly indicate needing to develop awareness of motion. Mars Rx can show problems in relationships, of course. I didn't read anything about Alexander's relationships so I don't know.

Alexander moved to Melbourne when he was 20 years old and decided to follow an Acting Career. His p.Mars had just Retrograded back into the sign of Leo, main keyword is the Actor as said before. It continued to progress in Retrograde Motion until 1929-30 when it Stationed direct on his North Node. That's pretty amazing for an Actor who teaches people to move properly through proper use of muscles and reflexes. His Moon is very likely in Aries and disposits to Mars. This could show a tendency to be able to care for others through the issues already discussed.

Since Alexander's conduit for developing his therapeutic technique was his Voice I had to look at the ruler of the voice, Venus. Venus in this chart is placed in Capricorn which is ruled by Saturn. Saturn tends to put restrictions on whatever it touches. Venus is squaring Chiron and Jupiter in Aries which shows the healing through Mars/Movement theme (Aries ruled by Mars). It may also be the only planet that aspects Mars through a trine which would mean that those two have an extra special bond with each other.

Alexander's ability to hook into the vibe of his generation in a powerful way is shown in his chart through great outer planetary placements to each other. There's the Grand Trine between Saturn-Neptune-NN already discussed which shows an ability to combine Form and Spirit with life's path. Saturn in Sagittarius is also apex of a Yod to a Uranus-Pluto sextile. Saturn and Uranus combine to rule Chiropractic Medicine (Rex Bills). And Jupiter is conjunct Neptune in Aries and squares Uranus in Cancer. that's just positive New Agey Feel Good stuff.

Uranus in this chart is a singleton in Water which puts special emphasis on innovations, independent thinking, science, foresight, etc. With Mars and Uranus placed in stand-out positions in the chart one can see why this person would place a great importance on keeping his mobility and freedom. Most others would give up and just move on to a profession that required less use of the voice.

In 1889, when Alexander began to act, Neptune and Pluto were in conjunction in Gemini. This is a very powerful combination of the two outermost planets and much extremely prophetic work in spirit/mind/body work manifested on earth around the time of this aspect.

Alexander's work, like so many others of this era has has never been well-received so it's really great that Science is finally catching up. Natally Alexander's Pluto 16 Taurus is squaring his 17 Leo North Node. His natal Mercury is at 12 Aquarius on the South Node. One can read that as "His message (mercury) had to germinate in the underworld (Pluto) before finding validity through research (Mercury, Pluto). But Fame (Pluto) is on the way." The Saturn-Pluto trine that has occurred this year has been transiting on top of Alexander's natal Venus-Mars trine. (And just for my own notes: He's going through a Nodal Opposition c. Neptune-Chiron.) Transiting Saturn is conjunct that natal Retrograde Mars and is probably very close to where it was when Alexander began to have the problems with his voice in the first place.

Mars-Saturn in Leo could signal a hampering of one's self expression while Mars-Saturn in Virgo would indicate scientific proof of healing methods. (In 1889, t. Saturn passed over P.Mars in Leo and then natal Mars in Virgo).