Mars in Cancer, You Can't Squeeze Blood Out of a Turnip

Just yesterday I was thinking that I've got to check when Mars will move into Cancer. I tend to have eyesight problems at that time -- among other things. So, this ingress promises to be a real shit because Mars is already kind of a drag when in the sign of Cancer. This is the Summer that many people will remember their divorce or their parents' divorce. The little Capricorn kids will be super power trippy and sabotagy. Even the little late Sagittarians whose Suns are progressing into Capricorn will get in on this act.

So on August 2 or 3, that's either tomorrow or the next day Mars will be in a Grand Square with all the planets that it tends to get into trouble with most easily. Mars opposite Pluto (Power) 6 Capricorn and squaring Moon (Reactive) in Libra opposite Uranus (Rebellious) 5 Aries.

The Moon will hit Saturn at 13 Libra just afterwards and Mercury will be stationing Rx so someone is going to hit the brakes but everyone else is probably going to go through the windshield. I guess I could write about the Debt Crisis Bell which is the time when the U.S. Credit Rating goes down. Or I could call it the Bigot Bell, although I'm not sure which side is most bigoted because if you've ever been gang stalked by Mexican, East Indian and Chinese Immigrants you get really confused about these things.

Or I could call it the Playing Chicken Bell.

Maybe the Liberty Bell was made during one of these transits. That's why the Liberty Bell is cracked. And that's why they hung it anyway. A little Wabi Sabi in the Political Arena, either that or the Bell maker moved out to California right after. Okay, I can't turn this into a good story.

President Obama needs to hang out in the basement bunker for a while. He has a Solar Return in there somewhere. Hopefully, they will give him a cake with the kinds of candles that don't blow out and it will just take him an extra long time to figure out that that's the problem. And then everyone will laugh and it will be all over.

So, the potential for accidents is pretty strong in the next couple of days. And some of the accidents won't be accidents. Lots of people are getting divorces right now.

World's Most Boring Day

NPR hosted an interview with a Cambridge Computer Scientist who has determined that April 11, 1954 is the most boring day of modern times so far. Nobody (so far) famous was born or died on that day. And nothing happened.

Apr. 4, 1954 GMT (I used noon time to set chart)

Sun 22 Aries; Moon Cancer/Leo; NN 20 Capricorn

Well, people born on this day were likely born with a Cardinal Grand Square in their charts. Grand Squares hit a lot of road blocks in life and that doesn't always lay out the easiest path towards success. The Aries Sun opposition to Neptune-Lilith squares the Nodal Axis with Uranus conjunct the South Node.

Looks like a bunch of hippies who born on got lost at Woodstock. These people would have been very idealistic and had Grand Dreams about how we all get along. And then nobody wanted to be around them. The ones born around Noon have a t-square with apex Moon in Leo squaring stodgy Venus in Taurus opposite constipating Saturn in Scorpio. If these people ever came down off their 60s high they probably spent all their money at the therapist's office. Or they skipped Woodstock and became dentists and real estate agents and are content to have a nice practice and an annual trip to somewhere exotic. Nothing fancy. Venus in Taurus is the final dispositor of the chart, they just want to be comfortable.

Kind of interesting to notice that Mars is at 29 Sagittarius. Along with Gemini Sagittarius is probably the sign that's most conceited about not wanting to be boring. Interesting that Mars is on the last degree of Sagittarius which happens to be the Aries Point, assuring that at some point it will become known for something big, even if it is for something, well, not big. And the Announcement has been exposed just as Pluto (Fame) and the North Node are just hitting each other within very close range (4 or 5 degrees).

It's also a Nodal Return in Capricorn.

And the day's progressed Mars has turned Retrograde and is at 8 Capricorn (Rx) so it hasn't moved much since that day.

And who knows what people will be saying about that day in another 100 years, history being what it is, assuming that Progressed Mars will have turned direct.

Back to School in the Silicon Valley

Wow, CNN isn't even mentioning this story, but yesterday a 17-year old boy went into a local high school near the Silicon Valley, California and started setting off bombs. Rich politically correct liberals always know how to suppress their own news. All talk; no walk -- or actually more accurate description in this area: no talk; pill the brat.

So, yesterday morning I was looking at the current transits, a Grand Square involving Mars, Saturn, Pluto and Uranus, and Sun opposing Jupiter-Chiron-Neptune in Pisces, and I was thinking, why isn't the world blowing up today? Well, I guess that Athens is burning down. That's as bad as it gets. And certain gun carrying jerks in New Hampshire and Arizona ought to spontaneously combust on their own and they are running around on all fours, free as birds. This morning I found a couple of local WOW stories in the papers so in a really sick way I am vindicated.

If the article I'm reading is correct, a kid named, get this, Alex Youshock, went to his old High School armed with 10 pipe bombs, a sword and a chainsaw. Two of the pipe bombs went off before one of the teachers jumped him and tackled him to the ground. Nobody was hurt, but, geez, that was ballsy of the teacher. That's a grand square of Mars-Saturn-Uranus and Pluto for you, especially since earthquake season in this area doesn't start until next month, I guess.

First Day of School at Hillsdale High
Aug. 24, 2009 8am San Mateo, CA

Sun 2 Virgo; Moon 28 Libra; ASC 19 Virgo; MC 17 Gemini; NN 29 Capricorn

The Bases (i.e. Angles) are loaded in this chart with the Grand Square. As with all subject matter on the first day of school this is bonehead astrology. First of all, Mars is up in the 10th house in Gemini. Mars in Gemini? Kid blows up school, or tries to, nobody was injured and only two of the bombs actually went off. Mars is opposing Pluto down in the 4th House which is at the prominent Capricorn Point. That's mean and violent. Very bad timing to have these two opposing each other on the angles at opening bell. Freddie's back.

Meanwhile, Mercury and Saturn are in conjunction with the Virgo Ascendant from the 1st House (29 and 23 Virgo respectively). Uranus is opposing from the 7th House. With a last name like Youshock I suppose in this case the bomber is represented by Shock-Jock Uranus in the 7th House.

Mercury, ruler of lower education, rules both the Virgo Ascendant and the Gemini Midheaven. It is super strong right after 8 am because it is rising over the Ascendant. Mars in Gemini, Kid blows up School.

The Sun and Moon are also heavily afflicted in this chart. The Sun is at 2 Virgo opposing the Jupiter-Chiron-Neptune in Aquarius conjunction from the 12th-6th Houses.

The Moon (H2) is squaring Venus and the Nodal Axis (H11 and H5).

That's pretty crazy. Would be difficult to figure out a motive because it would look like there are multiple problems. Looks like there's a bad female influence here. With Pluto in H4, family secrets. Either way, with Virgo rising conjunct Saturn this boy can look forward to years and years of straight jackets, electro-shock and pills courtesy of the Dispensaries at Stanford.

Also in the paper is a report that the area had its 3d suicide of the year by a teenager. A 14 year old girl (Saturn opposition) walked onto the tracks in front of a commuter train. The pros are confirming that this is kind of like a localized epidemic. You thought the swine flu was bad, you should see how rich liberals treat their kids, more Virgo/Pisces.

I suppose that the Palo Alto area would suffer more than most when Pluto hits Capricorn, since the area is filled with repressed control freaks obsessed with their own career tracks. These kids would rather do anything than face getting a "B" in AP Chem.

(And nobody's reporting it, shame on you CNN).

RIP David Carradine

Eccentric genuis actor David Carradine tragically passed away in Bangkok, Thailand while working on a film. His body was found hanging in a closet in the hotel where he was staying. The Thai authorities at first said this was a Suicide and have since decided that it was an accident due to auto erotic asphyxiation. Carradine's family feel that Foul Play is involved and that another person would have been involved in the death.

Looking at the chart I can see that Carradine would have been vulnerable to having an accident during this time. The chart also shows that an encounter with another person, possibly a sexual encounter or one that brings up intense taboos and feelings of revenge could have a "Fated Destiny" during this time. He could even have been researching for his role.

David Carradine
b. Dec. 8, 2009, Hollywood Beach, CA

Sun 17 Sagittarius; Moon is probably in Libra, possibly Scorpio; NN 25 Sagittarius

First thing I notice here is that Carradine's Sun is conjunct his natal North Node, path of destiny. The Sun rules a person's Vitality and so is related to their health and life. Komilla Sutton describes this as one of the most difficult aspects for a person to have because these two elements are in constant competition to outshine each other in the life.

Carradine's Sun is further involved in a challenging and tight Mutable Grand Square to a Saturn-Neptune opposition and is opposing Chiron in Gemni. I suspect that Carradine went through very heavy times about every 7-8 years when Saturn would have touched this Grand Square. Saturn is in conjunction with natal Neptune right now and is opposing itself. So, needless to say, Carradine's Sun, or basic Vitality/Life Force, was being challenged. Further, it was changing Signs by Progressions, something which shows a major 30 year shift in how a person handles his vitality. Pisces requires receptivity and gentleness. Pisces is also ruled by Neptune which rules Asphixiation (rex bills, hanging not included in book). Saturn, in conjunction by transit and by natal opposition, would have a stifling effect on his Neptune. Pisces, or House 12, is also involved in end of life issues and Drugs which Carradine had had problems with in the past.

With regards to the events of Carradine's death, I'm not sure how long Carradine was passed before he was found. I also don't have a birth time for him so don't have a Moon placement or Angles. Exwives have come forward and made public comments about his Sex Life which indicate that he experimented with alternative forms of sexuality. Sagittarians are broad minded and can like to have a good time with regards to sexuality. Always looking for a new adventure, so to speak. Expansive, optimistic, and youth loving Jupiter sometimes doesn't know when to quit.

Carradine had a natal Venus-Pluto opposition which is in late Capricorn-Cancer. Venus-Pluto aspects can be difficult to read; the most obvious reading is to say that the person is really into kinky sex. Astrologers often abuse their clients trying to read this one. Venus-Pluto can also indicate that a person has strong feelings bubbling under the surface, either feels or understands motivations and compulsions in themselves or others. The feeling nature is often spent in areas unseen and they may not have practical application in the real world. Of course, it shows creativity of some sort but a creativity that doesn't flow easily. Because of that is can show "pressure build ups." (Geologists would do better in interpreting this aspect than Astrologers).

The big aspect here regarding the event: Transiting Nodal Axis was on Carradine's natal Venus-Pluto opposition and it was squared by transiting Mars conjunct Natal Uranus. This is layered over the fact that the planets of his Grand Square were in challenging transits.

When Carradine was found, the transiting North Node Axis was approaching and within conjunction of the Venus-Pluto opposition at 3 Aquarius/Leo. As I said, the opposition in event charts can show relationships with others. Carradine was getting up there in years and his Progressed Sun (vitality) had just changed signs into Pisces. Venus-Pluto can literally indicate prostitutes, especially with Venus in an earth sign like it is here.

Mars-Uranus aspects indicate Accidents. Here transiting Mars is conjunct natal Uranus in Taurus! And this is squaring the Nodal Axis (Fate/Destiny). The Moon may even have been opposing and that would certainly be a slam dunk indicator for a person to lay low.

Also interesting to look at, Carradine's progressed Sun had just passed into Pisces so he was dealing with a new energy for self-expression that he wouldn't understand quite yet (i.e., to be gentle and receptive). Pisces is ruled by Neptune and Neptune rules asphyxiation. Neptune here is squaring Carradine's natal Sun and is heavily afflicted by Saturn (stifling) both natally and by transit (Saturn opposition). I'd normally read that to indicate that he would be working very hard in film and this would be a very creative time.

Since there is the exact conjunction to the degree of Jupiter-Neptune-Chiron in Aquarius going on in the skies right now I assume that this was placed very prominently in Carradine's chart.

George Zinkhan, Why The Aquarians Kiling People These Days?

California Girl mentioned George Zinkhan in one of her comments. She pointed out that like the Medical Student who has just been arrested for murders and abductions, Zinkhan is a late Aquarius. This means that both men's Sun are receiving the Jupiter-Chiron-Neptune conjunction. Interesting that both are related to higher education, which are ruled by both Jupiter and Chiron. Thanks for making the connection and pointing it out, California Girl. Do you have a blog we can follow?

Zinkhan is a well respected Marketing Professor at a Georgia University in Athens, Georgia. Or at least he was until he apparently shot his wife and two other people at a reunion picnic. He quickly dropped his two children off at a friend's house and has disappeared. I think I read somewhere that the FBI suspects that he has gone to Amersterdam where he has a second home.

Wikipedia is offering his birth date and I don't have a place so I'm using Athens, Georgia for birth location. His moon placement might be in conjunction with his Mars in Scorpio which shows someone who holds things in and then explodes. Zinkhan's chart has two other extreme aspects in his chart which I noticed. I'm not really paying attention to this because I'm sort of too anxious right now to look at anything violent right now. I figure there will probably be some incredible interpretations. Zinkhan has a Grand Square which can be a source a great stress for a person. It also can give a person great drive to achieve. He also had a conjunction of Sun in Aquarius to his North Node at 1 Pisces. Hopefully I'm correct about this but I remember Komilla Sutton as saying that a Sun-North Node conjunction is one of the most difficult aspects as these two energies compete with each other to shine. There were definitely some ego problems going on here along with an ability to bottle things up.

What's interesting and pretty gruesome is the way that the Solar Arcs and Progressions are hitting Zinkhan's natal chart. Since violence is a Mars thing I paid attention to Mars. The Mars in Scorpio has now arced to conjunction with the Grand Square through natal Chiron 10 Capricorn. Since Zinkhan may have a Moon-Mars conjunction his Moon would also be setting off the Grand Square.

The Grand Square is made up of outer planets and Chiron: (Jupiter 14 Aries opposing Saturn 15 Libra-Neptune 22 Libra squaring an opposition of Uranus 11 Cancer to Chiron 10 Capricorn). Since Solar Arcs all progress about a degree a year in tandem with the Sun's Progression the Grand Square has arced and was passing over Zinkhan's natal Sun-NN conjunction. It would have been exact about 5 years ago and is past now. Of course, his Sun is just receiving the conjunction of Neptune-Chiron-Jupiter in Aquarius.

Additional sucky Arc: SA Pluto is on his natal Saturn-conjunct Neptune.

Interesting that Chiron is so heavily involved here. Chiron was the teacher-healer and maybe affects college professors more than others. I've read elsewhere on the Internet that one of his students suspected that he had a drug problem as his behavior was odd (well, he was an Aquarius) and one of his fingernails was kept long (possible Cocaine?). Neptune rules escapist tendencies that are the hallmark of drug addiction and Jupiter rules excess of just about anything so it would make sense that substance abuse could figure in.

That's about it. Oh yeah, Mars, Mars, Mars.

Zinkhan's progressed Mars is currently moving Retrograde which can always show a build up of frustration. Natally it is at 12 Scorpio. It progressed forward until around 1988 when it stationed Rx at 18 Scorpio (chart shows it in a Thor's Hammer with p.Sun and p. Pluto, repression of violent tendencies?). Wonder if something from the years around that time is connected with current action? Mars is currently at 15 Scorpio Rx. On Saturday there was a New Moon in Taurus the opposite sign of Scorpio which could certainly show an emotional trigger. Mars is associated with Scorpio because it was the ancient ruler of that sign before Pluto was discovered. It is associated with deep resentments and jealousies and boy would it be difficult to have a Progressed mars that is stuck on the same degrees like that through life. Granted it probably does explain the positive outlets of working in marketing and understanding people's hidden motives and drives to buy crap (Zinkhan's specialty).

The Moon was at 13 Taurus at 12:30 when the shootings occurred so the opposition was precise.

Guess now we know that New Moons that oppose our natal Mars (and maybe Moon) are maybe not the best time to go on light-hearted picnics.

Didn't get a chance to look up what Venus Rx in Aries has been doing to Zinkhan. I sort of remember that his progressed Sun is in Aries somewhere. Sorry, gotta go.

George Zinkhan
b. Feb. 17, 1952 somewhere

Sun 28 Aquarius; Moon Scorpio; NN 1 Pisces

The Boogeymen of the Inauguration

Obama's swearing in was a Miracle both in acceptance by the U.S. of an African American Leader but also in the peaceful control of a huge crowd. This shows the angular Sun in the 10th House and angular Moon. The Sun was conjunct Mercury and Jupiter (eloquent President born of an immigrant and mixed marriage). The Moon was at the last degree of Scorpio in the 7th House (Public's deepest desires working in harmony and cooperation). Those are my interpretations, at any rate. There were problems with the music due to the cold temperature. YoYo Ma and his Classical friends apparently played to a dubbed version of their performance because their instruments couldn't stay in tune. Aretha Franklin was on Larry King saying that she was unhappy with her performance. But, damn, her hat was the finest confection that ever graced a female head, my knitting forums were going ape face over it.

There were problems with both of these aspects, the Mercury and the Moon as would be interpreted. With Mercury both Retrograde and Cazimi the Sun and with the Void of Course Moon one would expect some snafus and we were not disappointed. The Swearing In happened a bit late at around 12:06pm rather than at noon on the dot. Then the chief Justice messed up the 35(?) words of the swearing in. This was redone one Wednesday but without the Bible. So the actual "words," the Mercury element, didn't quite jell. It doesn't matter, really, but it's always difficult to know whether it's God in the Details or the Devil. I suppose it's best say a Blessing for the Virgo's before all important activities because things like this can be real thorns in the side. I think this is Obama's natal Gemini Moon square Pluto aspect in action anyway.

There was another problem, which could be attributed to the Scorpio Moon. Some Texan politican refused to okay Hillary Clinton's election as Secretary of State until the next day.

I wanted to check out the charts of the two guys who sort of put a clinker in the day's activities to see maybe what are party pooper aspects.

Both are Aquarians, oddly enough (an Aquarian keyword). Both are also Conservatives trying to cope with the aftermath of the Neptune transit to their Suns I suppose. Neptune is the planet of formlessness. It's supposed to break down one's sense of boundaries, thus its normal rulership for compassion for others. Needless to say this is not a Conservative's favorite planet. Conservatives like things to stay the same, like structure, and simple plans and boundaries.

First Boyfriend, Republican John Cornyn from Texas had to input his negativity by ensuring that Hillary Clinton's appointment as Secretary of State was delayed a day. I wanted to see what the dude's problem is.

John Cornyn
b. Feb. 2, 1952 Houston, Tx

Sun 13 Aquarius; Moon Taurus; NN 1 Pisces

Cornyn's in that limbo space between his 2d Progressed Lunar Return and his 2 Saturn Return. The second pass is not as quite as big a deal usually. They happen farther apart in years than the first return does. And they say that if you screwed up during your first Saturn Return you don't often make it to your second Saturn return. That last interpretation sounds like office folklore wisdom and I have no idea if it's true or not. Probably it's true some of the time.

Cornyn's got a Cardinal Grand Square in his chart. His Saturn is at 15 Libra and opposing Jupiter at 11 Aries. These square a Venus-Chiron at 8-9 Capricorn opposing Uranus at 11 Cancer. Right now his Progressed Sun is on his Jupiter to the degree so he's outspoken about his opinions. This is sort of a double whammy Sun-Jupiter aspect as transiting Jupiter is conjunct Cornyn's Sun. This is reflected in the Sun-Jupiter conjunction of the event chart.

I'm sorry I can't offer a reasonable interpretation of what a Grand Cross means except that a huge amount of difficult aspects will be tripped off quite frequently in a person's life due to the squares (challenges) and oppositions (opposition, need for balance). Venus conjunct Chiron in Capricorn certainly seems to bring on some loveability & fear issues that are focused outward into the social Jupiter-Saturn-Uranus squares. If someone had thought to send Cornyn a box of See's candies maybe he would have mellowed a bit. Cardinal Signs begin projects, so this was perhaps the Republicans' announcement that they intend to fight everything.

Cornyn's progressed Mercury has begun moving in Retrograde Motion in Aries since he's come in to office. (sometime around 2005? I'm not real sure about date) so he's probably going to become all balled up over a lot of mercurial type of issues concerning getting facts straight and being a pest in general.

Chief Justice John Roberts also messed up during President Obama's Swearing In Ceremony by quoting the words out of order. I thought that Obama had fumbled due to nervousness but apparently it was Roberts who mis-spoke. Later on that night I heard the news trying to replay the Swearing In and realized what a loss this was. Well, there's Mercury Retrograde for you. This one was right on Robert's natal Sun which was close to going through a Return (Solar). And Jupiter was there. And the North Node was there. And Mercury was cazimi. And the Moon was Out-of-bounds. And, boy did he screw up. So, the Sun-Jupiter-Mercury Rx conjunction really points the astro arrows at these guys.

Chief Justice John Roberts
b. Jan. 27, 1955 Buffalo, NY

Sun 8 Aquarius; Moon Pisces; NN 6 Capricorn

While looking up his birth data I was reminded that Roberts had a seizure on July 30, 2007. This may have a result of an illness. Interesting that at the time of the seizure, his Sun was in the process of progressing in to Aries at the time. Aries and Mars rule the brain and inflamation. Right now his progressed Sun is exactly square natal Pluto and is 7 degrees away from a conjunction with his natal Mars. Boy, I hope he's taking a lot of Vitamin C because that's an inflamatory aspect.

Additionally, transiting Neptune is at 24 Aquarius moving into conjunction with Robert's natal Mercury 26 Aquarius. He has to be careful about any drugs he's taking because they could be causing Mental Fogginess. Either that, or it could have been a Freudian Slip of a super conservative white guy. Neptune rules the subconscious memory.

With these heavy transits to his Mercury and Mars it would make sense that he's really trying to maintain right now. Robert's natal Mercury is in a t-square with Saturn and Pluto so his normally sharp, conservative mind is getting a good fogging over, that's for sure. His thinking could also possibly be getting an opening up to new and better ideas.

There are many aspects to look at. I'll end here. Hope I've got this info right.

Dave Freeman

On August 17 of this year Dave Freeman died from a head injury caused by a fall in his home. Dave Freeman is the advertising executive who back in 1999 published the book "One Hundred Things to Do Before You Die." He was only 47 years old.

Dave Freeman
b. Feb. 21, 1961 Whittier, CA

Sun 3 Pisces; Moon Taurus; NN 7 Virgo

RIP, Dave Freeman. My condolences to Dave's family.

With Pisces Sun and Pluto conjunct the Nodal Axis in his chart one would expect Freeman to have a strong awareness of the impermanence of things. With North Node in Virgo it's very interesting that Freeman became Famous (Pluto, Sun) for making a List (Virgo, n.Mercury Rx c. Sun) of what he wanted (Pluto) to do with the rest of his life. One certainly can suspect that this awareness came about as a result of his Pluto Square which would have occurred about 2 years before he published the book in 1999. His natal Retrograde Mercury would be a bit unhappy about not being able to complete his list.

Freeman's chart was under siege by planets that rule accidents on the date of his Death. His natal Mars is at 2 Cancer and was being transited by a wide Grand Square transit of t. Mars (30 Virgo), t.Uranus (22 Pisces) and t. Pluto (28 Sagittarius). Mars rules the Head and Mars in challenging combination with Uranus and Pluto can certainly bring Accidents. Interesting that Mars is at the Aries Point of Cancer. Mars rushes to do everything and is very Restless especially in Cancer which rules the Home. Cancer also rules Long Overseas Travel. The Aries Point will bring these qualities out into public view.

Freeman was also approaching his Jupiter Return, a cycle which occurs about every 12 years. Jupiter also rules Long Distance travel and in Freeman's chart it is conjunct Saturn on the same degree in Capricorn.

There are other key aspects as well concering natal Uranus and Pluto which amplifies the effect of the Grand Square transit of these planets for Freeman in particular. For one thing, Freeman had a natal conjunction of Pluto (death) to his North Node (Destiny). He would have had a stronger awareness that things won't last than other people. His natal Sun-Mercury Rx-Chiron conjunction were conjunct his South Node at the other end of the opposition. Natal Uranus in Leo was being aspected by the Nodal Axis, Neptune and Chiron.

There's also an interesting story told by Freeman's progressed Venus. One of Venus keywords is "Leisure." I noticed Freeman's Progressed Sun had been passing over his Natal Venus in recent years. P.Sun passing over it would indicate that one must stop and smell the Roses. However, the aspect was in the sign of Aries which must also move on to the next thing, always looking for new experience. Perhaps it indicates that this person wouldn't want retirement to come late in life. Progressed Venus is interesting to watch in this regard. It went Retrograde (by Progression) back around 1987 right on the last degree of Aries and had moved back into conjunction with natal Sun and Venus (few degrees separation) this Summer.

Obituary from Los Angeles Times says that Freeman was born on Feb. 21, 1961 in Whittier, California. http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-freeman26-2008aug26,0,639371.story.

Betsey Johnson

The older and uglier I get the more I'm looking for a way out. How to retain my inner Hello Kitty. My Christmas Shopping expedition today brought me the answer. It's Betsey Johnson. I never really "got" her until today when I was looking for a drab white scarf and ended up with a pair of multi color mittens with strings and charms sewn on.

Betsey Johnson is a fashion designer most often described as "whimsical" and "fun." As I'm plowing through the Mall it was eating me up wondering what such a woman's Saturn would look like because from the clothes she designs it looks like she's never heard of that Planet. If Dr. Suess had been a fashion designer he would have been Betsey Johnson. Geez, I had to know....

Betsey Johnson
b. Aug. 10, 1942 Wethersfield, Connecticut

Sun 18 Leo; Moon Cancer or Leo; NN 5 Virgo

Sun in Leo, perhaps she's even got Moon in Leo. Leo is the sign of Fun and outlandish showmanship. As a young girl Johnson studied dance and she does a cartwheel at the end of every show.

There are two stand-outs right off the bat to her chart. First is the Bundle shape. All her planets are squeezed between a trine of Uranus in Gemini and Neptune at 29 Virgo. Both of these planets disposit to Mercury in Leo. Uranus and Neptune and Mercury together is a pretty whimsical combination. The other stand-out is the fact that she has so many unaspected planets. Venus and Jupiter are both unaspected in Cancer and there's a conjunction of Sun-Mercury and Chiron that's unaspected in Leo (Ptolomaic aspects).

Saturn's placement in this chart really is very clever. I knew it had to be strongly placed as she couldn't do business without it but couldn't figure out how it completely masks its dour nature behind her other planets. Turns out it's conjunct Uranus in Gemini just within the boundary of the bundle shape. And it's squaring her Mars-North Node conjunction and disciplines the nature of these two with work ethics and organizational skills.

Johnson ventured into fashion in 1964 and became immediately successful. Just about that time, her progressed Mercury was the first progressed planet to venture out of the Trine in her Bundle shape just about that time. It also had moved into Libra, sign of fashion. She was part of the Youthquake Movement of the 60s along with Andy Warhol. In the 70s she ran Alley Cat which was known for its Rock and Roll styles. She rose just as Uranus and Pluto were in conjunction in Virgo which were also transiting along with her Progressed Sun which was in Virgo.

Johnson was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 1999. Her Solar Return chart for that year really stands out at her birthday is the same date as the big August 11, 1999 Eclipse/Grand Square that occurred that year between Sun-Nodes-Moon-Uranus-Mars and Saturn. She didn't tell anyone except her daughter about her condition for fear of damaging her business, sought treatment and has been an advocate ever since. Without a birth time I can't really tell, but there is a chance that she had this Eclipse"New Moon" on a natal New Moon along with a Grand Square aspect. Transits which may have helped with recovery were the trines she was having that year. Jupiter was trining her natal NN-Mars conjunction in Virgo. And this was the year that she had t.Pluto trine natal Pluto. Pluto and Moon together are often indicators of breast cancer as Moon rules the Breasts and both Moon and Pluto rule Cancer. Instead of being defeated this seems to have only helped her to become even stronger. Her shop just took over the old Ann Taylor store at the mall. That's how I found it.

The Goddess Lakshmi

Lakshmi Tatma is India's latest Goddess. She's a little 2-year girl who was born connected to a twin body that only partly formed. Lakshmi has two sets of arms and legs and today has started going through an operation to have the limbs removed. The last report I read has said that the limbs are already successfully removed and her pelvis bones were currently under reconstruction.

The Doctors are working in 8 hour shifts starting at 7am today and expect that the operation could last as long as 40 hours. They began to anesthetize Lakshmi at 7am just as the Scorpio Sun was rising over the Scorpio Ascendant. (12th House Sun is a great placement for going under anesthesia, I just went through it myself.) I used the animation feature on Solar fire to forward the clock ahead in 8 hour increments and it turns out that the Grand Water Trine that is currently happening between the Sun, Mars in Cancer and Uranus in Pisces rotates around so that one of these planets is always placed just above the Horizon in this spot. Mars rules Surgery/Cutting and Uranus rules Individuality/Independence so this seems like a really great aspect for gaining freedom from one's co-joined twin while also receiving protection (Grand Trine).

Lakshmi was born in a rural town in Northern India and is thought to be Divine like the 4-armed Indian Goddess Lakshmi, Goddess of Wealth. I've actually read that she was born on the Celebration Day for Lakshmi which is the 3d day of the Diwali Festival. Lakshmi is celebrated on the New Moon of a day during October or November, so well, I had to check.... (I can't find her official birth date)

Lakshmi Tatma
November 1, 2005, Bihar, India

Sun 9 Scorpio; Moon Libra or Scorpio; NN 14 Aries

I'm not going to interpret a chart when I don't have any idea of whether it is accurate or not. But, um, well, the chart for this date shows a Sun-Jupiter conjunction trining Uranus and you can see what a cute little charmer she is from the photos of her on the Internet. If this were Lakshmi's birth date she is would be going through her Solar and Lunar Return right now. This birth chart would include a Grand Square that pits an opposition of Sun opposite Mars against the beginnings of the Saturn-Neptune opposition back in 2005.

The Saturn-Neptune opposition gave up the Ghost with its last Rx pass back in June and now today's chart has the beginnings of the Saturn-Uranus opposition. Saturn rules the bones, the Sun rules the Spine. Saturn opposition Neptune shows the bones being held in captivity in a way. Lakshmi hasn't been able to walk because of interference from the unnecessary limbs. Uranus rules the circulatory system and the nervous system. Connected with the Grand Trine to Sun and Mars hopefully this is an indicator of a successful operation to free up her spine. Saturn is conjunct the Virgo South Node which should be fortunate for bones, healing, reconstruction.

When Lakshmi wakes up it will be her special "Celebration Day" as the Diwali Festival has now once again begun in India and the New Moon is coming up on Nov. 9. If enough of us pray, the operation will be successful and Modern Medicine will once again have worked a Miracle.

A Love Supreme

It's a little intimidating to read John Coltrane's chart, he's so far beyond what I can understand. So I'm going to try to keep it simple and just mention a couple of simple things I see in his chart. Many think his greatest album was "A Love Supreme" so that fits my quest for True Love. I once went to a Sunday service at his Church where the regulars played music and sang for literally hours. My friend left early explaining that he had hit his "Acoustical Limit." When you look at Coltrane's chart you can see there's something that goes beyond most people's limits, or knowledge, for that matter.

John Coltrane
b. Sept. 23, 1926 5:00 pm Hamlet, NC

Sun 1 Libra; ASC 3 Pisces; Moon 30 Aries; MC 14 Sagittarius

Before anything else one just has to look at that Aries Point Sun in Libra. Coltrane was born just after a Full Moon while the Moon was on the last degree of Aries. His Sun is in Libra in his 7th House. That's an individual with a strong drive to live in relation to others, great aspect for a musician who plays with others. The Aries Moon throws the completely opposite vibe into the pot, of course, which shows a lot of emotional churning in relationships in order to express the Individual self. The person may just get married about 10 times before the age of 30 or if the rest of the chart shows an inclination for taking it out there beyond the human realms the person may look for balance in those ways. Coltrane did that through music, drugs, religion, intense practice, disciplined search for God who he thought was the same for all people (Sagittarius MC). Neptune opposing Coltrane's ascendant elevates these themes to the Pisces realms.

Behind this Libra/Aries relationship axis there is a struggle and drive shown by a Grand Square between Jupiter-Saturn-Neptune-Mars. Coltrane has a beautiful Jupiter in Aquarius in his 12th House which is opposing Neptune in Leo in H6. This shows the spirituality and far reaching Love for Humanity. But these planets are squared in a Grand Square aspect by an opposition of Saturn in Scorpio to Mars in Taurus. Saturn and Mars' need to find form for the Jupiter-Uranus, experimentation/boundlessness struggles with reality. The stress between these two very different energies may have been why Coltrane died so young at Age 40 of Liver Cancer. Jupiter (Liver) is in the 12th House of chronic health problems, couldn't recover from the earlier Heroin addition as easily as some others because stressed by the squares from Saturn and Mars. It's also opposing the ruler of his 12th house. (Since I love his Ballades the most, I find it fascinating that Saturn and Mars, which is in Taurus, are both related to slowness.)

Pluto was also conjunct Coltrane's North Node in Cancer in H5. That shows a creative/destructive urge, a drive to transform.

It's interesting to look at Coltrane's transits from the perspective of when he kicked his Heroin addiction. The time I have for this is "Early 1957." At that point Coltrane's progressed Sun was passing into Scorpio. Progressed Sun changing signs usually shows a big transition, the transition from Libra to Scorpio is often constructive because it releases a person from having to constantly be so aware of others and to gain personal power and control. It's interesting that transiting Neptune, Planet of Addiction was passing over his progressed Sun at the same time, though. I wouldn't think this would be the time that he'd quit drugs. Making matters even more difficult, transiting Pluto was passing over natal Neptune striking off that Grand Square. That's the dread Neptune-Pluto conjunction. And hitting the Grand Square, that's Noel Tyl's "Ego Wipe-Out" x 4. Makes sense for hitting bottom I suppose. The Wikipedia article says that he escaped into his practicing and actually started practicing on Violin and Harp as well as Saxophone. Jupiter, planet of excess, was hitting Coltrane's Sun which could show an "overdoing". Maybe a lucky partner came into his life who helped him find the Balance he was looking for. I'm not sure when he met his wife, Alice, but I do know she played harp. All these planets showing addiction, compulsion and excess were balanced out by multiple strong Saturn aspects, Saturn is the planet of discipline: t. Saturn c. MC; t. NN c. n. Saturn. Solar Return Saturn c. ASC square Pluto-Mercury.

When Coltrane cut the "Love Supreme" album in Dec. 1964, Pluto and Uranus were conjunct his natal Venus in Virgo in his 7th house. Saturn was conjunct his Ascendant.

Petrarch - True Plutonic Love

In Honor of Sun in Libra, I'm still searching for example charts of those who experience True Love. This isn't necessarily just a Libra concept, but it's what I'm curious about right now probably because the Sun is in my 5th House. Have noticed that my blog has been added to website review list that's trafficked mostly by "wealthy men" who are looking for porno which means that those guys are being led to this site. (So this is how I get to celebrate Jupiter on the DESC and the fact that I gave my blog a stupid title with a dirty word in it).

Let's get this clear, you horny wealthy men. Sex doesn't come until the Sun moves into Scorpio. Get your frigging Sun Signs straight. Libra is about Courtly Love, something you pervs should try.

Petrarch (Francesco Petrarca, for the Pervs it's just "Frank")
b. July 20, 1304 4:20 Arezzo, Italy

Sun 5 Leo; ASC 30 Cancer; Moon 5 Pisces; MC12 Aries; NN 16 Sagittarius

Okay, let me calm down. First off I'm having trouble understanding what was going on with the Calendar way back then and may be using the wrong chart. This is the Astrotheme chart time. I'm able to pull the same chart up on Solar Fire but astrodienst pulls up the "Gregorian" chart which gives a completely different chart. I'm not versed at all on what the Pope was doing to the Calendar, I think Julius Caesar was involved but who knows.

Petrarch is called the "Father of Humanism." I think this means that he thought that Man is the All-Glorious Center of the Universe, in direct contact with God, no Pope needed thank you very much. This is Good because it's been a very empowering force for Civilization's Progress. It's Scientific. I personally think it's also only sometimes true. Nature's just baitin ya if you really believe the Humanist POV. Everything the Humanists do eventually leads to black smoke coming out of factory pipes. Well, there are some good drugs, paintings and poems as well. This Love of Humanism also means that Petrarch hated Astrology because Humanists hate Astrology. That guy I talked about last month, what's his name, the Pisces Humanist, he's a Humanist/Skeptic too. The Amazing Randi is a Skeptic and he's a Leo like Petrarch. Well, that's neither here nor there, it's just the introductory ramble.

Leos are Romantics so Petrarch compensated for his big ego'd Humanism by having a neurotic, compulsive crush on a girl named Laura. He spied Laura in a Church in Avignon on April 6, 1327. He was Age 26 (after Chiron opposition, Minor Prog. Mars Return and Tertiary Prog. Merc. Return) and Laura was around Age 21 (Uranus square). Laura was married and unavailable, but Petrarch moved to a house in Avignon to be around her and for 3 years wrote more than 300 poems about his Love for her. This was True, Platonic Love. Love in its highest, most romantic form, i.e. without the clap. Plutarch kind of did for Love what Plato did for Form. Nowadays this behavior is called Stalking, Laura's husband would have called the cops on Petrarch.

Petrarch was a good note taker. He spied Laura across a crowded Church (I wish I could add theme music from "Some Enchanted Evening") on April 6, 1327 and recorded date/time. It was Springtime, Birds, bees, bunnies, poets all out doin Spring Break. On that day there was a Full Moon, Sun 24 Aries opposite Moon in Libra and we all know what happens on a Full Moon, especially a Full Moon in Libra.... Venus and Mercury were loosely conjunct in Aries in earlier degrees of Aries so the Moon would have opposed them first thus setting off Petrarch's mood for wine, women and song. Moon rules Petrarch's chart so he was extra vulnerable to its transits (and also women who are ruled by the Moon).

T.Mars was at 23 Gemini (intellect, compulsive poetry writing) jacked up by the aspects like the EveryReady Bunny. This Mars was involved in both a Grand Square and a Grand Trine. It hooked together a Mutable Grand Square with the Nodes in Virgo/Pisces, Pluto in Pisces and Neptune in Sagg with a Grand Air Trine of Mars-Chiron in Aquarius and Full Moon in Libra. This Grand Trine was also layered over Petrarch's natal Pluto in Aquarius and Uranus in Libra so his natal chart was set off. This is the perfect set-up for a poet. Petrarch found his Muse and created a new Sonnet Poetry form in the meantime. And another big transit: transiting Jupiter was conjunct both Petrarch's Ascendant and natal Sun-Mercury.

I looked for indicators for Courtly Love in Petrarch's chart. There are many. He was a die-hard Romantic. Sun conjunct Mercury both at 5 Leo is, of course, a major indicator as it rules Creative Love and Noble pursuits of a Romantic Nature and writing about them. Mercury rules his 3d House which emphasizes this.

Petrarch also had Moon in Pisces in the 8th House which indicates that the waters of his subconscious run a little deeper than most, perfect minefield for feelings that can never be fully expressed but also for a yearning to find creative expression for thme. There's also an interesting Yod here that hooks his Sun in Leo sextile Saturn (maybe also Moon) in Libra that are both inconjunct the Moon. The complicated nature of the Yod which has to find some super human way to combine influences that don't work well together. Sounds perfect for unrequited love that has some roots in emotional Insecurity that expresses itself best through professional means (Moon combined with Saturn).

There are all kinds of interesting stories about Petrarch "losing his Head." Mars ruled the head and the prominence of Mars in the transits on the day when Petrarch met Laura could show that he'd be vulnerable to losing his "head" over her. I wanted to find some big connection to the Fixed Star Algol but couldn't. Petrarch's body has been exhumed twice that is known about. The second time was in Nov. 2003. People wanted to know if he was really 6 feet tall and also to "borrow" his skull to make a replica for his 700th Birthday Celebration. The skull inside was cracked and was determined through DNA testing not to be his so at some point somebody stole his head. Sounds like more Algol stuff... The wikipedia article says that the rest of the bones were definitely his because they show indications of having been kicked by a Donkey at age 42, something which really happened. (LOL, that's so funny, I like anything an Ass does, after all). They don't say whether or not he was really 6 feet tall. The whole story is strange. People are strange. That's why I choose not to commit to Humanism. This search for Successful examples of True Love is really exhausting, I have to tell you.

Flamingo Rescue

This is a cute one.

Celebrity Zoo keeper Jack Hanna got stuck in an Airport Turnstile in Ohio with an 11-month old Pink Flamingo. The Flamingo was traveling in a 2' x 3' box and the square box just couldn't make it through the round turnstile. Hanna, who was traveling with a menagerie that included a mongoose, a leopard and 3 people, managed to free himself but it took 3 firefighters to get the Flamingo out.

Jack Hanna
b. Jan. 2, 1947 Knoxville, Tennessee

Sun 12 Capricorn; Moon Aries or Taurus; NN 12 Gemini

Rex Bills doesn't list rulerships for Flamingos. Large birds capable of flight are ruled by Uranus/Aquarius and Pluto rules Wading Birds. The color Pink is ruled by Venus and we can only assume that at 11 months the Flamingo is a Libra. Bird Cages are ruled by (Virgo). When you look at Jack Hanna's chart you see that he has an unaspected conjunction of Venus and Jupiter in Scorpio so it's the Pink feathery beasts dressed up like Showgirls that trap him every time. (The event chart has a glamorous t-square configuration of 5th House Moon in Scorpio to Venus opposite Neptune.)

The Columbus Fire Dept. logged their arrival at the Airport at 12:30 am on Sunday, Sept. 16, 2007. God only knows how long Hanna and the Flamingo were trapped in the turnstile. Let's assume about an hour? Zoos and Zoologists, according to Bills, are ruled by (Uranus, Saturn, Neptune, H6). Maybe it's significant that Saturn has just moved into Virgo because that's the sign that rules House 6 of small animals.

There's an Angular Grand Square in the Event Chart that pretty much sums it up. It could have indicated an earthquake but why not also turnstiles? Especially getting stuck in turnstiles with large boxes stuffed with a live wild birds that is probably squawking ferociously and spewing pink fluff out the air holes. Uranus is key here. It rules both Airports and Large Birds and is placed in H10. It's opposing the Virgo Sun (caged birds) and squaring Mars opposite Pluto which had just risen over the Ascendant-Descendant line. Mars and Pluto rule Firemen along with other distressing events.

Transiting Uranus and North Node in Pisces are widely squaring Hanna's natal Uranus and North Node in Gemini so this is just one of those unexpected, shocking Uranian types of situations. In the event chart, Uranus is also apex of a Yod to 3d House Venus in Leo and 5th House Mercury in Libra. That brings in the transportation and show business element.

Here's the link to the story: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20823108/. Maybe try using the door next time, Jack.

How to Fix a Bridge

Here's a very promising story about Saturn moving into Virgo: http://origin.mercurynews.com/ci_6791510. The Bay Bridge which spans from San Francisco, CA over to Oakland, CA was closed down for the Labor Day week-end in order to replace an entire section. The work was expected to be finished by 6am tomorrow (Tuesday) but was finished 11 hours ahead of time. The hydraulic equipment used to move the new span in place worked better than expected. And, obviously, the Contractor, C.C. Myers did an exceptional job planning (Saturn) the work (Virgo). Saturn moved into Virgo in the California Bay Area between 6 and 7 am on Sept. 2 (Sunday Morning). At the same time it was rising over the Ascendant. That seems like an exceptional coincidence to me as I'd expect Saturn in Virgo to be great for anything having to do with Precision Repair and Construction. This could be a great transit as the Infrastructure in the U.S. is crumbling and we could use a couple of good years to repair it.

As I was listening to the newscaster announce this marvel of engineering I wondered if the Moon was ever Void of Course this week-end (well, of course it was). On Friday night when traffic on the Bridge was shut down, (8:07 pm Aug. 31, 2007) the Moon was at the end of the 1st house at 29 Aries in a Grand Trine with Pluto-MC in Sagittarius and Saturn at 30 Leo. It passed into Taurus right after that -- no Void of Course Moon to slow things down! The demolition was slower than expected but the building part went much faster than expected. The Moon was never Void of Course as it moved into Gemini between 12am and 1am on Sept. 2. It was always squaring Saturn. What a good indicator for ambition to get a project done!

This is also an exceptional example of how a Grand Square can work wonders rather than wreak havoc as I sometimes see it. The Nodes, Uranus, Sun, Jupiter, Mars were all working together in a Grand Square. When the Bridge reopened at 5:49 pm tonight (Sept. 3, 2007) the Moon was joining the Grand Square, conjunct Mars in Gemini.

C.C. Myers, or the Contractor from that company (I'm not clear who's who at this point), said he couldn't have pulled it off without the use of computers. This is also a great chart for Technology. Uranus, Mars, Virgo and Gemini working together. Uranus was Rising just as the Bridge was shut down. Aquarius was Rising as the Bridge re-opened.

Rags to Riches!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yahoo!!!!!!!!! A Filly Won the Belmont Stakes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rags to Riches is the first filly to win the Belmont Stakes in 105 years! A girl called Ruthless (Love it!) won the first Belmont and a girl named Tanya won in 1905.

Rags to Riches
b. Feb. 27, 2004 Place? Lexington, Kentucky?

Sun 9 Pisces; Moon either in Taurus or Gemini; NN 14 Taurus.

I started by looking at RtoR's Venus to see where her Superhorsian Girlpower is Amped. Venus is at 23 Aries (Numero Uno) trined by Pluto (Power) 23 Sagittarius and square Chiron 24 Capricorn (Queen). Venus is further enhanced by her mutual reception with Mars (ruler of the 1st Sign) at 16 Taurus. Mars is conjunct the North Node in Taurus (disposits to Venus = girl power karma). In addition, transiting Mars is conjunct her natal Venus as well.

But it doesn't stop there. Rags to Riches' Sun is opposite Jupiter. This shows a great competitive spirit. It also shows a good relationship with Jupiterians. How fitting that her Jockey for today has 5 planets in Sagittarius and his Mars is conjunct her Sun. This vibe is super strong today as there is a Grand Cross pattern involving this Sun-Jupiter opposition. The Nodal axis is right on top of it. At the same time, it is being squared in turn by a Sun-Jupiter opposition!

Between the Mars-Venus and Sun-Jupiter-Nodes contacts, this is a high vitality day for RtoR. One interesting thing I noticed is that she was born with a Jupiter Retrograde and the Jupiter today is Retrograde. I've heard that people with Mercury Retrograde function better during Mercury Retrograde so maybe this applies to Jupiter as well.

Although a very successful jockey, Rags to Riches' Rider, John R. Velazquez, had never won a Triple Crown race so he's feeling extra lucky today. But, of course, it's his Jupiter Return! This squares his natal Mars 10 Pisces which, as I said before is conjunct RtoR's Sun and is conjunct the transiting North Node and is part of that big Grand Square transit in the Sky. He would have had a special affinity for Rags to Riches as she is a Pisces Sun and he has Sun conjunct Neptune.

John R. Velazquez
b. Nov. 24, 1971 Carolina, Puerto Rico

Sun 2 Sagittarius; Moon probably in Aquarius; NN 8 Aquarius

Remember when Street Sense won the Kentucky Derby? He had the same North Node as his Jockey, Calvin Borel, and the Sun was conjunct that point on the day of the Race. I wonder if there has to be a strong North Node connection between Horse and Rider.

Here's a list of the top 100 Racehorses of the 20th Century: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood-Horse_magazine_List_of_Top_100_Racehorses_of_the_20th_Century. Notice that the top 5 are Sun in Aries. Also, horses are bred only at certain times of the year so some signs never race, as horses that is.

Friedrich Froebel - PeeWee's First Playhouse

While looking at the chart of Johannes Itten I came across the name of Friedrich Wilhelm August Froebel who was listed as one of Itten's major influences as an educator. Froebel also influenced many other modern artists and designers such as Frank Lloyd Wright. He developed a new educational style for small children which talked to them at their level and he was the first guy to think to do this. He gave them toys such as blocks to play with that were shaped on the basic units of nature and let them "harness" their own natural impulses. Through this he felt that a child would naturally develop his own logic about creation. He's the guy who coined the word "Kindergarten" which means "Children" and "Garden" in German based on the school that he opened.

Friedrich Wilhelm August Froebel
b. April 21, 1782 Oberweissbach, Germany

Sun 2 Taurus, Moon either in Cancer or Leo, North Node 17 Aries

Cardinal Grand Square: Jupiter 29 Sagg-Saturn 2 Cap opposite Uranus 30 Gemini (Aries Points!); squaring Mercury 7 Aries opposite Neptune 7 Libra

Froebel had a tough childhood. His Mother died when he was 9 months old. His father sent him to live with an Uncle and then died when Froebel was about 20. The Cardinal Influence shows an ability to start a whole new trend in thinking. He grew up in a forested town in Central Germany and was very connected with Nature and natural medicines.

Air Grand Trine: Mars 12 Gemini trine Neptune 7 Libra trine Pluto 9 Aquarius.
A strong intellect that maybe enabled him to see the need to develop a sense of play and the need for a child to develop his own thoughts organically through the experience of singing, dancing, gardening and playing rather than through mechanical means of memorization and repetition. His specially made toys called Froebel Gifts naturally exposed a child to the basic units of Nature rather than forcing learning through rote.

North Node is in Aries; directness and play are obvious avenues of development. NN is unaspected by planets which puts extra stress on its influence. It is, however, conjunct Pallas which is a strong indicator for recognizing patterns and is thought to be common in designers' charts. From 1811-1815, Froebel worked in a University Museum categorizing minerals by their crystal shapes. Perfect job for his Pallas-NN. He eventually correlated these geometries with his ideas about the growth of children, adults and even cultures. In 1811, t. Pallas was conjunct his natal Sun and his prog. Venus was conjunct his NN-Pallas conjunction. His Grand Square was lit up by his Saturn Return and by his prog. Mars which was conjunct n.Uranus and opposite n.Saturn. Saturn rules Minerals and Form and Shape. His job was probably pretty dull but just what he needed to form his future ideas.

Froebel opened his Play & Activity Institute in 1837. Lots of North Node and Chiron action. Transiting Pluto was c. his n. NN-Pallas and the t. NN was c. his natal Sun. Chiron, the Wounded Teacher, is strongly aspected at this point. His natal Chiron in Taurus was receiving a conjunction from prog. Venus and Pallas and t.Chiron was conjunct his natal Mars in Gemini. Also, he was going through the very mystical transit of t. Neptune c. n. Pluto. It's interesting that he seems to have been doing so well. Natally his Pluto is in Aquarius and squaring his Sun which would indicate some kind of defeat of his ego but he seems to have just been coming into his own. But here, Neptune and Pluto are working together at their highest levels. Both planets are involved in the natal Grand Air Trine with Mars.

When he coined the word "Kindergarten" in 1840 Froebel was going through his 2d Saturn Return. Opposite that, Progressed Sun was 2 degrees from conjunction with his natal Uranus at 29 Gemini which is an Aries Point. His revolutionary (Uranus) ideas about Children's education (Gemini) came to the attention of the world.