debramoolenaar

Black & White – always in fashion, right?

March 30, 2020by debramoolenaarLeave a Comment

Astrologically, Mars symbolizes your passion, your drive – how you go about getting that which you want.

Since mid-February, Mars has been in Capricorn, where he was doing very well indeed in a dark, earthy ambitious way. One of the downsides of Mars in Capricorn, however, is that he can get so focused on winning that he becomes ruthless, oblivious to all those to whom he has laid waste on his way up to that coveted mountain top.

But now in Aquarius, Mars comes up for some much-needed fresh air and takes a more considered, egalitarian view of his ambitions and their place in the world.

Over the next month and a half, we can expect an uptake in idealistic, innovative approaches to develop and deliver new solutions to old problems especially when it comes to getting what we want.

But as with any planet in Aquarius, there is an inherent oppositional tension between the way things are right now and the way that they ought to be and if we are not careful, this will lead to a dangerous black and white approach.

The human mind is a categorization machine, taking voluminous amounts of messy data and simplifying and structuring it in order to make sense of the world. Studies have shown that this happens unconsciously in a matter of milliseconds after first being presented with the data.

Clearly this has its upsides. For example, when on a walk through the woods you need to be able to tell in a single glance whether something is a snake or a stick.

But categorical thinking has downsides too, ones that we often fail to fully appreciate:

Compression – treating members of a group or category as more alike than they really are. This is the bane of marketing demographic studies that present us with complete fabrications like households with 2.75 kids.
Exaggeration – amplifying or blowing up differences between members of different categories which in turn results in misleading stereotypes.
Discrimination – favoring certain categories of people, places, and things over others by distorting how we interpret what we see and hear. This limits the range of potential options and opportunities too early in the process.
Fossilization – treating categories created as if they were static, invincible to change. This leads to a fixed world view which impairs our ability to adapt to a fast-changing world, virtually ensuring that our approach will quickly become obsolete.

Remember that at is very best, Mars in Aquarius is about innovative thinking – finding new solutions to old problems. But if you allow yourself to fall into the trap of black and white thinking, you’ll not get nearly as far as you might.

To avoid this trap, you can employ various mindfulness techniques to help you to focus more clearly on the ‘here and now’ and avoid snap (unconscious) decisions. You might also enlist the aid of trusted others to remind you when you’re taking too narrow a view. The trick here, however, is not to turn for help to those who naturally think the same as you but instead seek out someone with whom you usually disagree.

Aquarius, Saturn

No pain, no gain, right?

March 28, 2020by debramoolenaarLeave a Comment

Many believe self-isolation to be an imposition, an affront to daily life. But imagine what might happen if you were to see this differently?

Saturn has moved from Capricorn into Aquarius, where he’s giving us a unique opportunity to gain much-needed CLARITY not only about what has been but also what might be. Ruled by both Uranus and Saturn, Aquarius is wildly idealistic whilst at the same time wonderfully realistic and concrete. So to make the best of this time that Saturn will spend in Aquarius, we need to first slow down, contemplate, and learn from our mistakes.

Isolation is the gift that Saturn is now offering us – yet so many chose to see it only as a curse?

Saturn does not easily symbolize a quality and power common to the human race, but a person cut off from others – divine or bestial , blessed or overwhelmed with extreme misfortune.
Marsilio Ficino (1433-1499)

As Ficino reminds us, this doesn’t feel good. It isn’t supposed to do. Remember – No pain, no gain (or “No gain without pain”) – a popular 1980’s exercise motto that promised greater value rewards for the price of hard, painful work?

Symbolically, Saturn is associated with the melancholic, a sense of powerlessness in both our inner and outer worlds. At least on the surface, it would appear there is nothing the melancholic can do, not the least because all his energy and ability to focus seems lost, dissipated. But what you see is not always what you get.

(Melancholy) denotes a time of external inactivity and internal labor. Deep within, out attention is take from the outer world and applied within.
Sigmund Freud

Recently, I reminded a client in her Mini-Astro-Coaching session that Saturn’s change of sign meant that he was refocusing her attention to a different area of her life. This meant that no longer did she need to worry about 8th house stuff like joint resources/finances (she’d been through a nasty divorce), but instead she could concentrate on 9th house stuff like philosophy and learning. Better yet, because in the next 12 months, Saturn in Aquarius would conjunct her (9th house) MC, or the point traditionally associated with career and social status, she had a unique opportunity to consolidate her efforts career-wise with a view to finally seeing rewards. As the result of that session, she said that she felt positive and motivated, just at at time when it was needed most.

Mini-Astro-Coaching Session

In ancient Roman myth, Janus was the god of gates and doorways – he was usually depicted as having two faces because he could simultaneously to both the future and to the past. With the planet Saturn, having just moved into Aquarius, we’re all in the unique position of being able to do the same. This 45-minute mini-reading (by ZOOM) focuses on helping you to identify, seize, and make realistic …

£60.00

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Sun

Healing in the wake of the corona virus

March 24, 2020by debramoolenaarLeave a Comment

Marsilio Ficino (1433-1499) was the consummate Renaissance man. He was a physician, musician, priest, astrologer, mystic, and vegetarian. As the protégée of Cosimo de Medici, one of the most powerful men in Renaissance Europe, Ficino’s work had a profound impact on the direction of the Italian Renaissance and on European thought in general.

But Ficino was more than a scholar and philosopher. He was also an accomplished magician. In these times of crisis, we can do no better than to heed his step-by-step plan to care for our body and soul using the healing powers of the Sun.

According to Ficino, the Sun is the image of the ‘heart’ of all life and especially that of our psyche. As such, the Sun symbolizes insight and imagination, those qualities considered to be uniquely human. Thus solar energy is associated with consciousness, rational thought, and the pursuit of honor – the ‘higher Self’ –the wind vane that directs our key decisions. Most importantly, the sun is associated with the divinity of spirit in all things, bringing them to life, fertilizing them, and providing all that is necessary to thrive and grow.

To cultivate solar energies, avoid all things sad and dusky.

Instead, take care to warm your heart with cordial and joyful things. Overexposure to the sun can dry you out, so please do use it with caution.

Cultivate solar energies through solemn music, all things gold colored, nutmeg, heliotrope, myrrh, honey, crocus, corn, cinnamon, aloes, lions, swans, beetles, and chickens. Visualize a king on a throne in a yellow garment, along with a raven and the form of the sun.

Light is prized above all else.

‘Nothing recalls the nature of goodness more than light.’ Plato compared the Sun to God himself, and Ficino agreed, teaching that man could best know the virtue and divinity of God through the light of the Sun.

astrology

Astrology in the time of the Corona Virus

March 21, 2020by debramoolenaarLeave a Comment

The ancients viewed the natal chart not as a detailed blue-print on how to navigate your future to best advantage but more like a fortune cookie bearing a pithy observation of a generalized ‘truth’ relating to you. For the ancients, how this ‘truth’ unfolded remained always in your hands even though sometimes it might appear as if ‘fate’ of some kind was involved.

In reading Greek tragedy, we cannot escape the constant repetition of words like necessity, fate, chance, and destiny, as well as ‘ills given by the gods’. Certainly these might describe how we’re feeling about the corona virus – the ‘fate’ which we are faced right now – the ‘fate’ we so did NOT deserve!

Yet in Poetics, Aristotle reminds us that the cause of tragedy is attributed not to ‘fate’ but instead to personal character flaws: excessive pride, lust for power, cruelty, ignorance and/or uncontrolled passions.

When faced with a difficult situation such as the corona virus and the hardships following in its wake, the victims of Greek tragedy were forced to make a choice, take a decision. But if in making that choice – taking that decision – the character was unable to gain control over his/her character flaw, then inevitably he/she became the victim to some bitter and gruesome end.

Aristotle reminds us that if only this character had been better prepared regarding his/her flaw(s), he/she could have fared better. As he noted in Poetics, to see a virtuous man face unmerited misfortune is not tragic, but shocking; no good play has used such a situation nor relied on mere chance for its outcome.

This is where that fortune cookie comes in.

The advent of the corona virus has made it clear that however much we like to think that we are in charge of our own fate – our future – we remain tethered to that of the collective. This does not mean that your choices no longer matter. Indeed, during times when the collective is struggling as is the case now, they matter even more. But if, as in the Greek tragedies, the choice(s) you make stem from your inability to get the upper hand on your own character flaw(s) – the one(s) so aptly suggested in your fortune cookie – then you risk becoming an unwitting, unnecessary victim.

What fortune might that cookie hold for you?

debra@astrology-coach.com

447881821498

Aries, astrology, Cancer, Capricorn, Gemini, Jupiter, Leo, Libra, Mars, Mercury, Moon, Neptune, Pisces, Pluto, Relationships, Sagittarius, Saturn, Scorpio, Sun, Taurus, Uranus, Venus, Virgo

Stage Set / Through the Houses

March 8, 2020by debramoolenaarLeave a Comment

Shakespeare once wrote that the entire world is a stage and all the men and women merely players. In a sense, one’s natal or birth chart is a metaphor for his or her personal play, complete with stage set, cast of characters, plot, or the story line, and of course both character growth arc and theme.

Introduction

This post is about stage set ; astrologically there are twelve of them, known as ‘houses’. Each of these correspond to one of the twelve pie -like slices that divide up your natal chart. Just as with one of Shakespeare’s plays, each of the characters/planets act out their own part in the story these stage sets.

It goes without saying that those individual parts will be as greatly colored by the stage set (or house) inhabited as it is by the clothes/manners/customs each player brings to the stage, (determined by the Zodiac sign in which the planet is located). For example, Venus in Virgo will always dress and behave very differently than would Venus in Leo. But both will be challenged when play on a stage set run, for example, by Scorpio and it goes without saying that they will be challenged in different ways.

Also note that each of the player shares scenes with certain players but not others. In this sense, planets/players only interact with other planets/players when they form aspects with each other. If that Venus in Virgo makes an aspect to Mars in Taurus, then they have an opportunity to work together. But if Mars were in Libra, then chances are they’d pass each other without making contact, like ships in the night.

Sometimes, even when planets/players share the same stage/house they may not interact because they are not in aspect – for example Venus in Virgo stares off blankly into space whilst the remaining players including Mars in Virgo are engaged in a heated argument.

The twelve houses are divided up into four elements, which tell much about the nature of that stage set:

Fire Houses show us how we ‘show up’ in the world; how we format, express, and assert ourselves as separate individuals, different from the crowd.
It’s no accident that Fire Houses always follow Water Houses, where our personal identities have to some extent been compromised or even completely dissolved. In Fire Houses ,we ‘find’ ourselves again.
Fire Houses offer opportunities to expand ourselves, to be joyful and creative. Planets in Fire Houses provide important clues as to how we express our vitality, our vision of self and the world.
Planets in Fire Houses are always about potentiality although some are able to express this more easily than others. For example, Saturn in a Fire House may fear personal expression, thinking that his vision is not good enough, not worthy. Jupiter, on the other hand, is more likely to do better as is Mars although both might get carried away. If you know someone who is always ‘in your face’, then you’re probably experiencing this kind of fiery over-exuberance.
Finally, it’s worth remembering that planets in the Fire Houses tend to be idealistic, similar to planets in Air Houses. The primary distinction between planets in Fire Houses and Air Houses is that those former usually take physical action whilst those in the latter, tend to caught up in their heads.

Traditionally, planets in the Earth Houses show us how best to make money. From birth, we’re told the ‘sky is the limit’ but at some level we all suspect that might be true. But such understanding comes as absolutely no surprise for planets in Earth Houses; planets in Earth Houses are all about working tirelessly to produce results in the here and now.
It’s through the planetary energies in our Earth Houses that we give form and definition to our personal values and surprisingly, given all the societal hype to the contrary, we must do this for our own benefit, expecting (and receiving) thanks from none.
Similarly, planets in the Earth Houses are not concerned with giving form to the values of others. It’s nothing more than a happy coincidence if the outside world values our efforts.
Unlike planets in the Fire Houses, that are concerned with pure potential, planets in Earth Houses are both immediate and practical. Unlike with planets in the Water Houses, there is no connection to past or future. Similarly, unlike planets in Air Houses, planets in Earth Houses are not concerned with the ideal.
Finally, it’s worth remembering that in regards to the Earth Houses, values are not the same as morals or ethics. This may be difficult to comprehend for those with lots of Air in their charts, but in Earth Houses possession is prevailing ‘the law’; for planets in Earth Houses, there is no concept of ‘share’.

Astrological air is about discerning patterns as well as words and ideas.
In the Prologue to the Gospel of John, we learn that with the ‘word’, God created the universe from the formless dark, taming chaos through organization of matter according to the blueprint of His ‘idea’.
Words have power, as every good magician knows. Once something is named, it is identified as separate from us and can be controlled and manipulated accordingly.
Plato believed that timeless archetypal ‘ideas’ or ‘ideals’ format our everyday experience. Little wonder that planets in Air Houses are predisposed to to operate through ‘preconceived’ ideas of the ‘perfect’ world of Plato.
Little wonder then that planets in the Air Houses are involved with informing our ‘idea’ (i.e. blueprint) of the world as well as debating with others who fail to hold our same ‘idea’. Planets in the Air Houses (especially the 11th) are also involved in bringing our ‘ideas’ to a wider audience.
Finally, planets in Air Houses are often restless and discontented, and unless well controlled and focuses, act rather like the senseless ‘chatter’ you might expect from a group of adolescents on a school trip.

Water Houses always follow Air Houses, dissolving (or at least unsettling) our thoughts and ideas. Let’s face it – we all love to cling to our beliefs but at some point we realize they no longer serve us well.
Contrary to popular belief, planets in Water Houses are not unconscious so much as they feel ‘fated’. The problem isn’t so much lack of control over the energies represented by Water House planets but instead that we feel uncomfortable expressing them in the rational, everyday world.
‘Fated’ does not necessarily mean that bad things will happen. What it does mean is that we will have to work harder than usual to ensure things go well.
Water House planets never operate alone; they are always about connections of some kind. In this regard, they represent our ‘inheritance’ – i.e. family background/patterns – and let’s face it not all of those are going to be nice.
Thus when dealing with Water House planets we must always remember that their energy is not our own. In this respect, it may be better to think of then as sacred gifts from another realm, gifts that if we fail to give they due respect and honor, they may well prove to be our undoing. This is especially the case with 8th house planets.
When dealing with Water House planets, look for compulsive behavior, impulses and urges that are extremely difficult to control.
Finally, Water House planets crave a creative outlet so ensure that you develop some sort of structure/or form for that creativity to express itself. Perhaps it’s time for painting or pottery classes or even a course in interior design.

House	Explanation	Example	Quadrant
1st / House of Self / Natural ruler is Mars	It's in this house that you find symbolised how you first met the world when you were born; this imprints on your entire life. Also how you present yourself to the world as the uniquely special individual that you are. Imagine the baby chick hatching from the egg and announcing his/her presence with his/her first chirps. Planets found in this house colour the first impression that you make on others, which may or may not be in keeping with the person that you ‘really’ are. Also the way that you INITIATE things. The natural planetary ruler of the zodiac sign on the cusp of this house determines your chart’s ‘ruler’ which in turn suggests much about how you’ll live your entire life as well as your physical appearance.	Those with Mercury in their 1st house will present themselves as curious and how they satisfy that curiosity depends much on Mercury’s zodiac sign. Mercury in a water sign will approach the world through emotional connections whilst Mercury in an air sign would operate by expressing his/her ideas. Those with Saturn in their 1st house may be reluctant to approach life at all, cautiously venturing out expecting to be met with criticism. By contrast, Jupiter in the 1st house will arrive on the scene accompanied by fanfare and a drumroll. Mars in the 1st house may present themselves as angry and argumentative. Uranus in the 1st house may manifest as being highly original and inventive whilst Neptune in the first house may manifest as being dreamy, confused, and potentially gullible.	Awareness of Self - Cardinal
2nd / House of Resources / Natural ruler is Venus	It's in this house that you find symbolised your personal values - that which you find beautiful, desirable, and of worth. This is also where you'll get in touch with your special gifts & talents. You'll need to cultivate a good working relationship with your 2nd house these planets and the energies they represent. If you don't, they can turn against you, most probably by negatively effecting your bank account.	Those with Neptune in their 2nd house, may be perpetually perplexed as to why their money just seems to slip away. Those with Pluto here may need to their resources in more constructive ways. For them, money may be a way of wielding power over others and with this placement, eventually that will backfire. With the Moon in this house, the individual may struggle with fluctuating financial circumstances. By contrast, Jupiter in this placement may achieve significant wealth only to unexpectedly lose or give it away. Equally, they many find themselves constantly on the verge of financial disaster, relying on luck to save the day. The Sun in the 2nd house meets her financial situation with vitality and courage. Developing their personal talents and gifts may take on much more importance than the size of their bank account.	Awareness of Self / Fixed
3rd / House of Exploration / Natural ruler is Mercury	It's in this house that you find symbolised how you explore your world and gather information about it that will format your ideas and beliefs. This house also symbolises the way you communicate your ideas/beliefs, especially with those who live nearby. Planets here benefit from a good education that provides exposure to multiple points of view.	Those with the Moon in the 3rd house will explore their world through feeling what others are thinking. The problem is that the impression of that world and the people who populate it maybe have much more to do with their own emotional balance than what is really ‘out there’. Jupiter in the 3rd can quickly make a proverbial mountain out of a mole hill, blowing everything they find during their explorations out of proportion. This placement can also indicate someone who travelled or changed residence many time during childhood. With Pluto in this house, early education is a deeply transformative experience during which even a school trip to the museum turns into a murder mystery worthy of thorough investigation. Saturn here may leave the individual struggling to express themselves in a wqay that can be understood and Neptune might manifest it what appears to be confused and scattered thinking whilst at the time providing uncanny insight.	Awareness of Self / Mutable
4th / House of Father & Fatherland / Natural ruler is the Moon	It's in this house that you confront your family inheritance, usually from your father's side. Planets here suggest how you can constructively deal with and build upon this inheritance. Dreams and memories may play a vital roll here. If you try to ignore the 'family ghosts' symbolised here, they will likely continue to haunt you with a vengeance.	Some with Jupiter in the 4th house are born into aristocratic families or at least had a few well-known ancestors in their paternal blood line. Often there’s a significant influence of a foreign culture. Others might travel from country to country, trying to find their spiritual home. By contrast, those with Mars in their 4th house may struggle with an inherited anger at the world. Whilst those with Venus in their 4th house may enjoy a positive family inheritance, both psychological and material. Those with the Sun in the 4th house may struggle to avoid identifying too closely with their family inheritance whilst those with the Moon find refuge by ‘going back home’. This is not to suggest that this is easily achieved and sometimes those with this placement wander restlessly in search of someplace that feels like ‘home’.	Integrating with Your Environment / Cardinal
5th / House of Creative Expression / Natural ruler is the Sun	It’s in this house that you find symbolised how you take joy in life – in being who you uniquely are and sharing what you uniquely have to offer. Planets found in this house suggest the hobbies or similar activities in which you fine most pleasure. They also suggest what and how you need to be creative (i.e. painting, playing a musical instrument, or writing novels) in order to show self and others that you are special. This house is also associated with children and love affairs – both of which are often perceived as avenues of pride and personal expression.	Those with the Sun in the 5th house will revel in creative self-expression, whether it be for professional purposes or just for fun. Romance is highlighted. Those with Saturn in this house also experience the urge for creative self-expression but often hesitate worrying if how they’re doing it is good enough. With the Moon in the 5th house, creative self-expression may feel effortless, innate, and natural. Often the creative potential of the 5th house Moon appeals to the general public. With Jupiter in the 5th house, creative self-expression is done with panache although it could become excessive. Pluto in this house adds an element of obsession whilst Uranus adds an air of unconventional.	Integrating with Your Environment / Fixed
6th / House of Perfection / Natural ruler is Mercury	It's in this house that you find symbolised how you can best be of useful service to self and others by honing in on and refining your special gifts and talents through the symbolism of your 2nd house. Planets here suggest how best to accomplish this. It's also the house associated with health and everday routine.	Those with Venus in the 6th house take pleasure ensuring everything in her life is neat and tidy. It’s not good enough to simply do a job; that job must be beautifully done. Jupiter here may feel cramped when forced to settle down to a daily routine but he does add an air of honest pride in any job well-done. Mars might approach honing his skills and talents like the proverbial 7-day wonder, pushing herself hard to get the job done. With this placement, an exercise routine is essential; aggression that fails to find a satisfactory outlet can lead to headaches and/or other illness. Neptune here suggests a sensitive nervous and/or weak immune system that may well benefit from alterative medicines like homeopathy, whilst Saturn here prefers a more diet/exercise regime.	Integrating with Your Environment / Mutable
7th / House of Partnerhip / Natural ruler is Venus	It’s in this house that you find symbolised what you’re looking for in your partnerships with others, business or personal. It also suggests how, in your partnerships, you’re likely to behave. While the 1st house is all about ‘me’ and how ‘I’ related to the world, the 7th house is about ‘we’. Given that the 1st and 7th houses are in opposition to each other, it’s a given that ‘me’ and ‘we’ will not always agree. It’s for this reason that the 7th house is also knows as the house of ‘open enemies’; for there are bound to be times that the tension and conflict inherent in this house, fail to be satisfactorily resolved. The 7th house is always known as the house of marriage.	Those with Mercury in the 7th house want their partners to be intellectually stimulating, albeit not necessarily faithful. By contrast Saturn in the 7th may attract controlling partners and then spend their time together complaining how their partner has tied them down. Pluto in the 7th may find their partnerships fraught with crisis and transition, although what they learn from these personal experience can often be translated in helping others in a similar position. Neptune in the 7th suggests some level of co-dependence as well as significant pain and disillusionment when their partner leaves or otherwise lets them down. Uranus in the 7th may find it difficult – if not impossible to commit. Equally, however, they may choose an unconventional partner of whom family and friends do not approve.	Awareness of Others / Cardinal
8th / the House of Shared Resources /Natural rulers are Mars & Pluto	It’s in this house that you find the natural extension of partnerships formed in the 7th house – shared resources and sex as well as the power both can wield. Like the 4th house, the 8th house is also associated with inheritances, albeit of a different kind. Sometimes these inheritances relate to financial assets. More often, however, they reflect the rewards and punishments that come as the result of family patterns operating over decades and even centuries. This is the stuff of Greek tragedy. It is also the stuff of what esoteric philosophers call the ‘astral plane’, where invisibe but powerful emotions collect and circulate often causing havoc here on earth. Finally, this house is often associated with death. Planets in this house might be taken literally to symbolise your physical death.	Those with the Sun in the 8th house are tasked to connect with something greater than self. Money and possessions are merely at the surface level of what is shared with others. A desire for deeper intimacy is what the Sun in the placement confers whilst with the Moon in the 8th struggles with this kind of intimacy. It can be so overwhelming that it threatens the Moon’s sense of security, without which the individual cannot be happy. By contrast, Mercury here is keen to explore the mysteries of life reflected in the 8th house. Venus in the 8th places great value on the more intimate exchanges between people. She’s a natural in the bedroom and also has a flair for make good business deals. She is likely to do well financially from marriage/partnership. Likewise, Jupiter in the 8th often benefits financially from marriage although he’s much more likely than Venus to take good care of it.	Awareness of Others / Fixed
9th / Natural ruler is Jupiter / The House of Exploration	In this house you will find the natural progression from that which you’ve learned in the 7th and 8th houses; the 9th house offers light at the end of the tunnel if you’re experiences in the 7th and 8th were bleak. It also offers understanding through expanding your horizons either through travel, advanced schooling, or reading. You might even become the ‘teacher’ in the sense that you’ve got wisdom gained through your experiences to offer. Because the 9th house is a Fire House and the Fire Houses are a conduit for bringing joy and creativity into our lives, expect whatever you choose to make of planets in this house to make you at least somewhat happy.	Those with the Sun in their 9th house may view their entire lives as a journey or pilgrimage; indeed they may never stay in one place for too long. Those with Venus in the 9th house may find great aesthetic beauty and value in all that which is foreign; likewise they may spend significant time contemplating the meaning of life. Mercury in the 9th may likewise travel or even study abroad and find his thinking and belief systems greatly affected by it. Uranus in the 9th is always looking for ‘truth’ and may hold progressive views on the nature of ‘truth’ and where it might best be found. Mars in the 9th may also be in pursuit of ‘truth’ and/or the meaning of life but may take a more personalised and perhaps aggressive approach.	Awareness of Others / Mutable
10th / The House of Status / Natural ruler is Saturn	It's in this house that you find symbolised how you make your mark on the world and for what you will be remembered. The nature of this mark will be reflected by the zodiac sign on the cusp of this house as well as planets that inhabit it. It is also in this house that you’ll discover where and through what mechanism you seek public recognition, keeping in mind that this is not always the same thing as your personal achievements. The planets in this house are highly visible to the world at large and difficult to hide even should you wish to do so. It’s worth keeping in mind that which for you will be remembered is not always the same as that for which you would like to be remembered.	Those with Saturn in the 10th house will probably have to work hard to achieve the respect and status that the desire and it may take much longer than they could have imagined. Those with Jupiter in this house may appear larger than life and enjoy more than their fair of luck achieving their ambitions. With Mars in this house, ambition is strong and possibly even ruthlessly asserted, Likewise, with Pluto in this house. With Pluto in the 10th house, the individual be a serious power broker, albeit sometimes behind the scenes. Uranus in the 10th house needs to contribute some original and progressive to society. Whatever that might be, they are unlikely to be remembered as ordinary.	Integrating with Others / Cardinal
11th / House of Shares Interests / Natural rulers are Saturn & Uranus	It's in this house that you find symbolised how you come together in groups with otherswith whom you share common ideas and beliefs. Planets in this house describe how and why you come together in these groups as well as where you might need to compromise in decisions regarding your group's common ideals and beliefs.	Those with Mercury in the 11th house, might be keen to join organizations that promote a common belief, concept or cause. With the Sun here, this cause, concept, or belief is likely to bring personal recognition, not the least because the individual identifies so strong with it. Mars in the 11th house brings with it deep passion for that cause, concept, or belief although this could well lead to disputes and arguments with other group members. Saturn in the 11th may similarly struggle fitting in; perhaps they are too black and white or insist on too much structure. By contrast, Neptune in the 11th is likely to identify so closely with the those causes, concepts, and beliefs, that she loses her sense of self. Venus in the 11th brings the ability to encourage a sense of co-operation amongst group members whilst Jupiter brings a sense of inspiration and well-being.	Integrating with Others / Fixed
12th / House of Seclusion / Natural rulers are Jupiter & Neptune	It’s in this house that you find symbolised how you are in touch with that which you share with the rest of humanity. In Jungian terms, this is referred to as a collective unconscious. Being too closely connected with this energy (or in some instances, lost in) carries serious dangers. Hence this house is often referred to as the house of self-undoing. To avoid disaster, you must always remember your personal responsibility with working this power. Planets found in this house should be expressed not for personal benefit alone, but instead of the greater good. But at the same time, you should never help others when to do so causes damage to yourself. Likewise, you must also never allow yourself to play the role of the martyr.	Those with the Moon in the 12th house may bind that like psychic vacuum cleaners, they ‘suck in’ whatever is in the atmosphere. They may think they are experiencing their own emotions when instead, they have absorbed those of another. The Moon in this placement might also suggest unfished emotional business from prior lives and/or a complicated relationship with their mother. Venus in this house suggests the love of that which is subtle hidden, or hard to grasp. In some cases, you may fall for someone who is not free and your love must necessarily remain hidden. Jupiter in this house may convey the sense of having guardian angel; the ‘get-out-of-jail’ card that shows up at just the right moment. It is also a placement oft-associated with gifted counsellors, psychics, and healers. Likewise, with Pluto in the 12th house although the energy involved will be more intense and in some cases, much darker.	Integrating with Others / Mutable

astrology, Moon

The Moon & Jung’s Anima

February 29, 2020March 1, 2020by debramoolenaarLeave a Comment

This is the third of a series of blog posts designed to help you to understand how your astrological Moon drives the ebbs and tides of your everyday life as well as your most intimate relationships. This post explores the relation between Jung’s archetype of the Anima and your astrological Moon. Beware, the jury is still out as to whether the Anima works differently for men than for women.

In simplest terms, Jung’s anima represents the feminine aspects of both men and women.

Jung believed that for men, the astrological Moon represented the unconscious – hunches, moods, and intuitions – aspects of which he was challenged to integrate into his psyche. In keeping with tradition stemming back to Ptolemy, in ancient Greece, Jung entertained the idea that in certain cases, the anima represented the manifest expression of a man’s mother as well as his ideal wife. By contrast, the animus, symbolised by the astrological Sun, that represented the natural mode of a man’s expression.

Jung further suggested that the anima was symbolic of the conscious – the mode of natural expression for women. It was the animus, symbolised by the astrological Sun, that women were challenged to integrate into their psyches. Also in keeping with Ptolemaic tradition, the Sun symbolised the manifest expression of a woman’s father as well as her ideal husband.

Regardless of whether we now believe Jung’s assignment of animus and anima to women and man is outdated – anachronistic, we can still learn much about the anima (for both men and women) by examining Jung’s own explorations of the astrological Moon in the Red Book (Liber Novus).

In the Red Book, the astrological Moon represents the entire spectrum of the lunar myth and cycle, from the dark of the new moon and back again. Unlike classical astrology that divides the planets into either malefic or benefic, Jung’s astrological Moon at once both and neither. She can be dangerous – even treacherous. Moreover, the Moon as a fluid, living principle, always in flux. Indeed, Jung saw the astrological Moon as both deeply complex and ambivalent – the archetypal core of which equates to the triple-bodied lunar goddess of antiquity, Hecate.

Consider four of the Red Book’s female personages:

Questions to consider:

How might these images have formatted Jung’s perception of the real women in his life?
If you’re a woman, how might similar images formatted by the astrological Moon in the chart of important men in your life effect how you relate to them?
What, if anything, might you be able to do about it?

References:

Greene, L. (2018). The Astrological World of Jung’s Liber Novus; Daimons, Gods, and the Planetary Journey. Abingdon: Routledge.
Greene, L. (2018). Jung’s Studies in Astrology: Prophecy, Magic and the Qualities of Time. Abingdon: Routledge.

Aquarius, Aries, Cancer, Capricorn, Gemini, Leo, Libra, Moon, Pisces, Sagittarius, Scorpio, Taurus, Virgo

Lunar Needs

February 24, 2020by debramoolenaarLeave a Comment

This is the second of a series of blog posts designed to help you to understand how your astrological Moon drives the ebbs and tides of your everyday life as well as your most intimate relationships. This post is about some basic astrological symbolism involving the lunar needs.

Sign	Needs
Aries	Needs to be constantly ‘doing’ – preoccupied with finding a worthy challenge or other avenue to self-gratification – tendency to be pushy, impulsive – even reckless – when threatened, likely to be provocative and argumentative. Potential place of sanctuary – a sports stadium, battlefield, or boxing match.
Leo	Needs to be noticed, admired, and appreciated – preoccupied with one-upsmanship (“I can do it better than you can”) – tendency to be generous and loyal – the ‘life of the party’ – when threatened, can quickly become the quintessential ‘drama queen’. Potential place of sanctuary – a party, playground, or theatre.
Sagittarius	Needs everything to be light and lively – preoccupied with travel and finding adventure – tendency to teach/preach and share ideas – gregarious – when threatened can become arrogant and haughty. Potential place of sanctuary – a university, church, airport, or courthouse.
Gemini	Needs constant stimulation (chaotic and curious) – preoccupied with drawing conclusions and making connections – tendency to be a ‘jack of all trades and master of none’ – scattered – when threatened, can become gossipy (even traitorous) and cynical. Potential place of sanctuary – a classroom, newsroom, or bookstore.
Libra	Needs to be pleasing and harmonious – preoccupied with attractive surroundings – tendency to redress imbalances – play ‘devil’s advocate’ – when threatened can be critical and judgemental – especially when there appears there is no way to be ‘liked’. Potential place of sanctuary – an art gallery, interior design centre, or beauty salon.
Aquarius	Needs to learn and discover – preoccupied with what makes people tick – tendency to spout own views and beliefs as ‘the truth’ – especially when it comes to politics – when threatened, likely to become disruptive and/or seek an abrupt change of scenery. Potential place of sanctuary – convention hall, conference room, political rally.
Taurus	Needs to feel physically safe and comfortable – preoccupied with retaining control – tendency toward possessiveness – ‘what’s yours is mine but not vice versa’ – when threatened, can become vengeful especially if feeling betrayed. Potential place of sanctuary – a restaurant, farm, or massage parlour.
Virgo	Needs to feel useful and productive – preoccupied with health and well-being – tendency to feel nervous or ill-at-ease when everything is not ‘just so’ – when threatened, can become supersensitive and highly critical. Potential place of sanctuary – the workplace, health clinic, lab, employment agency.
Capricorn	Needs structure and boundaries – preoccupied with clear-cut guidelines and rules – tendency to feel responsible and do his/her duty – when threatened, takes up the drawbridge and retreats behind the castle walls. Potential place of sanctuary – the corporate boardroom, top of a mountain, or in a walled (well-tended) garden.
Cancer	Needs to feel emotionally connected with everyone – like a chameleon, instinctively blends in to his environment – tendency to take up role of caretaker – “Here, have my homemade chicken soup.’ When threatened, clams up and/or gets seriously annoyed. Potential place of sanctuary – home or museum.
Scorpio	Needs to keep a close watch on the situation – like a sharp-eyed eagle, always on guard – tendency not to reveal underlying motivations but anxious to fully comprehend those of others – when threatened, can provoke ‘crisis’ as smokescreen. Potential place of sanctuary – a trauma centre, operating theatre, or brothel.
Pisces	Needs to be in a sympathetic, understanding environment – preoccupied with helping others – tendency to fantasize and day dream – when threatened, melts down and/or disappears. Potential place of sanctuary – rest home, bar, or spiritual retreat.

Aquarius, Aries, Cancer, Capricorn, Gemini, Leo, Libra, Moon, Pisces, Relationships, Sagittarius, Scorpio, Taurus, Virgo

Healing Fictions in Your Most Intimate Relationships

February 20, 2020by debramoolenaar2 Comments

This is the first of a series of blog posts designed to help you to understand how your astrological Moon drives the ebbs and tides of your everyday life as well as your most intimate relationships. This post is about healing fictions.

Each and every ‘story’ that you relate to self and others is a ‘fiction’ – at least it is a ‘fiction’ in the sense that it is your personal interpretation of your experience of an external event or series of events which may or may not correspond to the interpretation of the same event(s) by others.

These stories or fictions are not only central to life but they are also essential to our sense of ‘self’

According to James Hillman, noted Jungian psychologist and author of the acclaimed (and amazingly accessible) book Healing Fiction, coming to grips with this process of ‘fiction-making’ is healing. Not only does it promote self-acceptance but also self-understanding. This in turn gives you the chance to assert conscious control over your affairs especially in respect of your most intimate relationships.

Astrologically, your Moon is the key to this process

In the Neoplatonist cosmos, the Moon stands at the gateway of your psyche and the material world. Thus your Moon not only mediates between events, experiences, and the meaning that you ascribe to them, but it also gives you a wealth of information about the archetypes, symbols, and metaphors that inform your (inner) world.

For example, my Moon is in Gemini. My stories – or ‘fictions’ – must be light and lively. It’s only to be expected that I will embellish and embroider the facts to make it so. If there were to be dark and/or seriously scary bits, I’ll be obliged to ignore them. It’s a given that to the extent difficult emotions are involved, I’ll avoid them like the plague.

However, if my Moon were in Scorpio, the scary bits and difficult emotions would be just my cup of tea; they would probably even dominate my story.
If my Moon were in Capricorn, my story could take on a paternalistic, moralizing tone – don’t do that again, else bad things will happen.
With Moon in Pisces, my story would center on my (confused) emotional response to whatever has happened.
But with Moon in Leo my story would center on what most flatters me.
With Moon in Aquarius, my story would center around talking about how I’m feeling about something in order to avoid actually feeling.
If my Moon were in Aries, I’d focus on the action of who did what to whom especially when it was the result of someone’s loss of temper.
With Moon in Taurus, I might focus my story on how things felt to my touch and/or tasted and how this contributed (or not) to the overall experience.
But with Moon in Virgo, I might focus on what went wrong and how, in the future, it could be fixed.
If my Moon were in Cancer, I might focus on how the overall experience either strengthened or weakened my emotional connection with others.
However, if my Moon were in Sagittarius, I’d probably focus on the importance of what I’ve personally learned from the experience.
Finally, if my Moon were in Libra, I might focus on how the experience was fair (or not) to those involved.

Not only does your Moon’s sign effect your fiction-making, but also its house placement

My Moon is in the 12^th house. When I sense rejection or criticism, I clam up and slip away. By contrast, if my Moon were in the 1^st house, I would be so self-focused that I wouldn’t even care if you were listening; my overwhelming need is to dominate the situation.

Finally, the aspects your Moon makes to other planets in your chart necessarily also colour your perception. For example, I have Moon square (hard aspect) to Mars. My fiction-making is often peppered with anecdotes belying my anger and frustration. Everything that I experience isn’t quite right’ – if only, if only? But if my Moon were, say, in an easy aspect (trine or sextile) with Jupiter, my story would be warmly optimistic; my default perception is that all is ‘right with the world’. But if my Moon were in a difficult aspect (square or opposition) to Jupiter, my story would be wildly unrealistic; my default perception would be that when it comes to luck, I always draw the short straw.

Now, after paying close attention to my own stories, I’m more aware of how -without conscious intervention – I’m most likely to experience any event, especially in regards to my most intimate relationships.

Say, for example, that I have an argument with my husband

With my Gemini Moon, I will automatically avoid difficult emotions. With his Scorpio Moon, my husband will automatically interpret this as purposefully ignoring his feelings. The moment he expresses criticism in this regard, I will clam up and slip away. With his Moon in his 5th house, my husband might well take pleasure in this result. This leaves me to fuss and fume (anger/frustration) in private.

But if I can accept that regardless of how I’d like to perceive the event, difficult emotions are integral and inevitable. Now, at least I am able to acknowledge such emotions exist thus allowing my husband to feel that at last, he’s been heard re: his feelings. Hopefully, this will circumvent the rest of what was once an inevitable and ever-repeating cycle.

How best can you use your stories to improve your world and relationship?

Spend some time analyzing your stories

Notice which character you adopt as your narrator of the story? For example, do you tell the story through your own eyes & ears or instead through the eyes & ears of someone else involved in the event/experience?
Notice whether you are the subject or the object of the story. For example do you say ‘I did XYZ to him’ or instead, ‘he did ABC to me’?
Do you sound enthusiastic when you tell the story or are you more subdued or even unhappy?
Which verb tense do you choose to use? For example, is everything in the past tense or do you also introduce the future tense? ‘My boyfriend dumped me but I will get even.” Maybe the story remains 100% in the present tense – ‘My boyfriends dumps me and then I say…”
What important themes or motifs recur or are missing from your stories? For example, do you constantly throw in certain words but not others like failure, success, temptation, resistance or luck?
What labels recur (good, bad, nasty, nice) and to whom or what do they attach?

Consider how best to rewrite the story/fiction so that it serves you better both now and in the future

Interestingly, there’s lots of leeway here because although story line (plot) must move forward (cause and effect) in time, narrative does not. You can start at the end of your story and how you’d have liked it to end and work backwards in time like with a typical murder mystery where we start out knowing who got killed and maybe even who did it but we don’t know all the essential ‘why’ and ‘how’ until we track back though the crucial events from beginning to end. Your goal is to open up space for a new and different story to develop – giving yourself full opportunity to fill in the gaps and ambiguities or flesh our and develop certain characters and/or motives.

Aries, astrology, Libra, Mars, Relationships, Scorpio, Taurus, Venus

Dignities & Debilities of Mars & Venus

February 19, 2020February 19, 2020by debramoolenaarLeave a Comment

Each planet in your chart has a job to do but some planets are better placed than others to do it (albeit not always without some risk).

Consider that Aries is the zodiac sign associated with confidence, courage, bravery, assertion, and competition. Since the job or planetary purpose of Mars is to compete and win, it’s not difficult to see how, in Aries, Mars is well-placed to achieve his aims.

But in Libra, where Mars is considered to be in detriment (i.e. struggling), he might not fare so well. In Aries, Mars was free to disregard the needs and feelings of others when in pursuit of his goals. But in Libra, the needs and feelings of others are shoved in his face.

This is because Libra is associated with achieving balance and harmony, especially in romantic relationships. As most marriage counselors would agreed, typical Libra traits like diplomacy, tact, and a willingness to compromise are useful to further relationships. Yet compromise (much less tact and diplomacy) does not come easily to Mars. Remember how Mars is hard-wired to win by any and all means? How on earth could that ever play out well in Libra?

Equally, Venus in Aries (the zodiac sign where she is in detriment), will struggle. Imagine how difficult it might be to achieve harmonious relationships through the guise of egotistically fueled assertion and constant competition?

For an example how this might play out, consider the Greek myth about Jason (typical Aries) and the Argonauts and the disaster wrought in his marital relationship with Medea.

By contrast, Venus is very happy in Libra, the sign opposite Aries and one of the two zodiac signs where she is considered in dignity.

The planetary purpose of Venus is to both attract and be attracted ‘the other’, especially when it comes to romantic relationships. In this regard, a willing to compromise is clearly a bonus. Yet all too easily compromise can turn into paralyzing indecision.

For an example how this may play out, consider the Greek myth, The Judgement of Paris.

Venus also does well in Taurus, the other zodiac sign in which she is in dignity. Like Libra, Taurus is characterized by romantic relationships albeit of more earthy and sensuous nature. Taurus adds to the mix her famous loyalty and dependability; such traits usually considered to promote harmonious relationships. Yet when it comes to the pursuit of pleasure, another important of job for Venus, things can get quickly out of control in Taurus.

For an example of how this might play out, consider the Greek myth about the wife of King Minos and her dalliance with the Minotaur.

The sign opposite Taurus is Scorpio, where Venus is in her detriment. Although like Taurus, Scorpio is also loyal, Scorpio is also notorious for being distrustful and suspicious, traits not usually associated with happy relationships. Like Aries, Scorpio is also ruled by the planet, Mars. This means that the relationships of Venus in Scorpio are in many respects like those of Venus in Aries – fraught with competition. Add to that the propensity to be jealous, hold grudges, and seek revenge, and it’s not difficult to see how Venus in Scorpio may not enjoy same quality of relationship as might Venus in Taurus .

Not all is lost, however.

As noted earlier, another key purposes of Venus is to full her desire for sensuous pleasures. In Scorpio, sexuality is not taken lightly are passion and intensity are the order of the day. The problem comes when in the pursuit of pleasure societal taboos are ignore and broken. This is always a risk with Venus in Scorpio.

For an example of this how this might play out, consider Greek myth about Medusa.

astrology, Relationships

The Gentle Art of Persuasion

February 2, 2020by debramoolenaarLeave a Comment

For success in any meeting or conversation, the following four steps are essential:

Build rapport – the easiest way is to assume you have it already. Imagine the person in front of you is a dear old friend. The subtle changes in your approach will soon set them comfortably at ease.
Know your desired outcome – be precise about what behaviour you want from the other by the end of the meeting/conversation and ensure everything said & done is aimed at bringing them to that result.
Deliver a personalised hook:
- Aries – appeal to his need to take action now.
- Taurus – appeal to her need for simple, practical solutions.
- Gemini – appeal to his natural curiosity.
- Cancer – appeal to her need to feel safe & secure.
- Leo – appeal to his need to take centre stage.
- Virgo – appeal to her need to get it done right.
- Libra – appeal to his need to maintain harmony.
- Scorpio – appeal to her need to get to the bottom of things.
- Sagittarius – appeal to his need for freedom and adventure.
- Capricorn – appeal to her need to take responsibility and earn respect.
- Aquarius – appeal to his need to challenge the status quo.
- Pisces – appeal to her need to help someone.
Choose your words carefully:
- Develop ‘yes’ sets – get them on a roll with answering a series of simple questions in the affirmative and chances are they’ll keep on rolling with the same.
- Anticipation Loops – keep them paying close attention by delivering partial explanations with a promise to later, explain in more detail.
- Agreement Frames – everyone feels better when others agree with them so meet objections with a smile and the following phrase – ‘I agree with you and (not but) I add …
- Awareness patterns – innocuous little words like NOTICE, REALISE, EXPERIENCE, and SEE are fantastic for slipping in ideas under the radar. For example, ‘I’m certain that you realise that XYZ happened and that means ABC.’ If they question anything, it’s more likely to be (1) whether they did realise XYZ had happened or (2) whether or not in actual fact, XYZ as portrayed is true. This leaves them much more likely to accept, as a given, whatever comes next, your real point – i.e. ABC.