a Conference in Cape Town

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I am delighted to announce I will be speaking at a very special upcoming conference: Astrology Restored in Cape Town, South Africa in November 2015.

PHOTOGRAPH BY CHRISTOPHER THOMAS/GETTY IMAGES

From the event website: 

Astrology Restored: Bridging Epochs and Traditions is an exploration of astrology’s roots and ancient history, its development and expression over the millenia of its existence, its ‘flowering’ in Arabic and Medieval astrology, parallel to the evolution of Vedic astrology, and then the new innovations and insights modern Western astrology has contributed.

The renaissance of interest in ancient methods, the growing popularity of Jyotish in the West, and the innovations of modern Western astrology confront us with the task of integration and synthesis of the vast array of styles, schools, traditions and unique cultural manifestations of astrology. This conference hopes to contribute in some measure to that process.

During the conference there will be panel discussions on a variety of themes, and a visioning of the astrology of the future.

Shamballah is hosting the event and the site and surroundings are breathtaking. 

During the conference I will offer a workshop on how to approach midpoints and symmetry in the natal chart and am pleased to be giving a talk on antiscia! I also plan to be available for personal consultations.

You can find the chart for the opening ceremony for the conference on the Astrology Restored website. I wanted to also include a version of it here on the 360 dial. 
 


I personally love that the Ascendant and Midheaven (the fastest moving points) in this chart tie closely to important points in my own chart. I expect I will find this to be a profound experience and a magical place. 

Would love to see you there! 

Impressionistic Pisces + Symmetrical Reception

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The Little House, Pierre-Auguste renoir 

I hope the current mutual generosity of Sun and Jupiter finds you well! I first heard astrologer Robert Hand use this term to describe when planets are in each other's domicile (sign or "home") but not in (Ptolemaic) aspect. When planets are in aspect and exchange signs they're in mutual reception. With Leo (Jupiter now) and Pisces (where the Sun resides until the Equinox on March 20), the signs are said to be in aversion -- meaning, they are turned away from one another and cannot see, therefore, support each other. Signs in aversion are signs that share no affinity. A mutual generosity is thought to add assistance however and lessen the lack of connection. I suspect planets in mutual generosity that are also in antiscia or contra-antiscia, for example [Jupiter in] Libra to [Venus in] Pisces, or Aries to Pisces in the instance below (especially when the aspect is applying) may be cases of perfect mutual reception. More on this in the future... 

While the Sun is in Pisces, I invite you to visit (or revisit) Deborah Houlding's stellar website and excellent resource: Skyscript. If you are new to the traditional concept of Jupiter as ruler of Pisces, I hope you'll take a moment to read about the qualities and inclinations associated with Pisces, like spirituality, impressionability, abundant creativity, boundlessness and so forth, and see how these unquestionably fall under Jupiter's domain. From Skyscript: 

"...pacifism only represents one element of Pisces' spiritual reputation. A deeper significance lies in the fact that the fish is a creature of the ocean, which since ancient times has been taken as the symbolic realm of emotional and spiritual energy that lies beneath physical existence, where all is connected and nothing moves without creating a tide of motion that pulls or pushes against another. The sea as the magna mater, the primary source, signifies the boundless essence of soulful creativity and elemental life force from which everything emerges and eventually returns. Fishes, as intrinsic parts of this fertile yet deeply mysterious realm, were regarded as sacred representations of the soul and the spiritual connection that animates society."

A Fence In The Forest


Today, February 25, marks the birthday of the prolific impressionist painter, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and I thought, while delivering monthly antiscia for March to you, I would take a moment to share an example of an upcoming contra-antiscia signature (and reception) we also find in Renoir's natal chart.

This planetary combination will occur March 4-5, when Venus in Aries reflects the Sun in Pisces. The contra-antiscion aspect (one of shared ascensional time) in Renoir's chart is applying, and so may be a perfect reception, and this particular reception is connecting planets to their places of exaltation: Sun connects to Venus in innovative and pioneering Aries (the Sun's exaltation), Venus connects to the Sun in romantic and inspired Pisces (Venus' exaltation). See Renoir's chart below. 
 


In his chart we also find Neptune, a planet of all things nebulous, placed dramatically on an angle: rising (see his chart on Astro Data Bank), and sitting at the all important 15 degree fixed point of Aquarius. These fixed points in the zodiac fall at the halfway point (or midpoint) of the 0 degree points of the cardinal signs (seasonal turning points), and, like planets in antiscia, they are strongly tied to the cardinal (world) axis. 

In addition to these planetary statements, you will notice while there are two planets in so-called detriment (Venus in Aries and Mercury in Pisces, also the sign of Mercury's fall) they disposit to two essentially dignified rulers: Mars in Scorpio and Jupiter in Sagittarius. In fact, all planets in Renoir's chart disposit to planets in their own homes! 
 

le poste at cagnes study

Hope you've enjoyed the more obscure and abstract landscape paintings I found by Renoir! See more than a thousand of his works here.. (...talk about abundance!) 
 

See the complete list of monthly antiscia for March.   

Antiscia in the Thema Mundi

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Most astrologers regard antiscia and contra-antiscia as a second-rate aspect; a connection that may have merit, but certainly comes after the general "Ptolemaic" five (conjunction, sextile, square, trine, opposition) in relevance and strength. I believe this exclusion may be in error, especially with degree-based connections.

In the diagram below I have arranged the planets in their places of exaltation and noted how those places connect to each planets' own domiciles. You can see both benefics, Venus and Jupiter, connect to one of their respective antiscia or contra-antiscia signs (known as seeing and hearing signs to the ancients). Each of the malefics (and Mercury) connects to one of its domiciles by square. The lights, Sun and Moon, connect by trine and sextile to their domiciles, which sets up a schema (diurnal = trine, nocturnal = sextile) for the other shared aspects: nocturnal planets Venus and Mars connect to their other domicile by sextile, and diurnal, Jupiter and Saturn, connect by trine. The shared square and antiscia aspects are obvious, and I believe meaningful. 
 


I hypothesize that aspects by antiscia are as powerful as other aspects, especially those in close degree-based situations. Like with the square, connections by antiscia and contra-antiscia cross boundaries and combine gender (female/male, yin/yang, passive/active, night/day). This makes the pairs dynamic and alive in the world, much like we see with a square. They are combinations that demand attention. We must do something with them. This co-mingling of gender along with the symmetry around the four seasonal turning points, or cardinal axis (see other articles), to me, is indicative of a very potent pairing, an energetic alliance that can be easily observed and/or experienced. 

"the cardinal points relate people to the world at large" 
 -Charles Jayne, crediting Alfred Witte


The antiscia connection here could also be viewed as a quincunx aspect, but it is undoubtedly relevant that the two exhibited are indeed an antiscia (seeing) and contra-antiscia (hearing) link. The ancients regarded these relationships as having sympathy and reception, and these are in fact signs which share equal daylight (antiscia) and ascensional or rising time (contra-antiscia).    
 

“And so, if any stars do not aspect each other in the orderly arrangement of the nativity, it must be inquired whether they are connected to each other by the associated aspect of antiscions. For when they have sent their antiscions thus, they are connected with each other through their antiscions just as [much as] by a trine or square or opposition or sextile aspect...”
-Julius Firmicus Maternus, 4th century astrologer 
in Book 2 Chapter 30 of the Mathesis (Holden translation, 2011)
 

“Signs that are disjunct but having sympathy for each other are all the equal-rising signs, and those having equal power, and those of like zone. For example, equal-rising are Aries and Pisces, Gemini and Capricorn, Cancer and Sagittarius, Virgo and Libra; of equal power are Gemini and Cancer, Virgo and Aries, Libra and Pisces, Sagittarius and Capricorn; of like zone are Taurus with Libra, Aries with Scorpio. 

...with the joint risings of the signs and the joint ascensions of the stars...
friendships and sympathies of men and women, and parents and brothers, and friends and slaves.”
-Rhetorius of Egypt, 6th or 7th century, Ch.16 (Holden translation, 2009)


The presence of these aspects in the planetary rulership and dignity schema (arising from the Thema Mundi) is an important reality which should not be dismissed or denied. It seems there is much more to uncover with antiscia! 

Share your thoughts or leave a comment if you like. 

(Updated: 12.12.14) 

A Course on Symmetry @ Kepler College

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This upcoming semester at Kepler College I will be teaching a 5-week course on how to apply symmetrical astrology to natal charts. The course is designed for astrologers who would like to incorporate some basic symmetrical techniques into their practice. It is scheduled to begin on October 15th. This course is open to anyone with the enthusiasm to take it, though a basic understanding of astrology, including use of transits, secondary progressions, and solar arc directions is recommended. Contact me here with questions or to receive updates! 

Lecture in Ashland, Oregon

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I am pleased to announce I will be giving a talk on symmetry at the Southern Oregon chapter of the NCGR (National Council for Geocosmic Research) on May 19, 2014 at 7:00pm. 
 

Symmetry in Steps of the Sun : Applying Antiscia

"The sun animates and supports all life on earth. The cardinal axis (i.e., the solstice and equinox points) thus in a sense becomes a living, breathing expression of the divine spark in matter. Antiscia and contra-antiscia are symmetrical arrangements around the cardinal axis. Planets and points in antiscion form an alliance that comes alive in the world. Observed for at least two thousand years, these connections and statements of affinity offer insight into the hidden qualities of each zodiac sign by illuminating its two partner signs. The word antiscia comes from the Greek “scia,” which means shadow, and ant, meaning “opposite.” Antiscia reveal a dialogue between planets, making them a simple and powerful tool in chart delineation and in compatibility and timing applications as they enhance understanding of relationships with others and the world around you. Please join us for what will be a very inspiring evening."


nothing lasts forever, or does it

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"The ability to create inner happiness in dark hours."
 

fallout.jpg


Sabian symbol 09 Taurus : A Fully Decorated Christmas Tree

 


Saturn Node midpoint (severed or 'serious' connections) = the eclipse 

 


Venus approaching height of exaltation (@ 26 Pisces here) At the midpoint of Uranus and Neptune = otherworldly love
 


Anything that is strange and beautiful but not expanded and visionary may need to be released now. 

 


Also Mars Neptune midpoint (passionate misdirection, weakness, or inspired action) = the eclipse and close to Venus

 

 

 


    Forgive or forget.

 

 


 

 


 

-brought to you by a solar eclipse @ 09 Taurus

 

L'Wren

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The only celebrity I follow on Twitter has gone away. I am sad. I liked her style and designs.  

There is an occultation tonight; the asteroid Erigone will pass in front of one of the brightest stars in the sky: Regulus. I don't find this a coincidence. Regulus, among the four Royal stars, pertains to fame and honors, and Erigone, discovered on April 26, 1876, was named for one of the two Erigones in Greek mythology. The story of Erigone knocked me out of my seat: 

Erigone, in Greek mythology, daughter of Icarius, the hero of the Attic deme (township) of Icaria. Her father, who had been taught by the god Dionysus to make wine, gave some to several shepherds, who became intoxicated. Their companions, thinking they had been poisoned, killed Icarius and buried him under a tree. Erigone, guided by her dog Maera, found his grave and hanged herself on the tree. Maera jumped into a well and drowned. Dionysus sent a plague on the land, and all the maidens of Athens, in a fit of madness, hanged themselves. Icarius, Erigone, and Maera were set among the stars as Boötes (or Arcturus), Virgo, and Procyon (Canis Minor, the Lesser Dog); to propitiate Icarius and Erigone, the festival called Aiora (the Swing) was instituted. During this festival various small images (Latin oscilla) were swung from trees, and offerings of fruit were made.

This occultation will be visible to the naked eye, which is very rare, and will last for fourteen seconds. The "ground-track" (locations in which it can be seen) is a 67-mile wide path that runs from the north Atlantic, through the New York metropolitan area, and up into Canada. Again, no coincidence. This is the language of the stars.