Astrology Institute Newsletter 02-2007
by Joseph Crane

Hello All;

Yes, Mercury turned retrograde.
Sorry not to have been in touch during this winter. My personal life has taken me away -- as is the case with many of who are about my age (52 y.o.), my father was ailing and he died in late January of this year. Further travel took me well out of town -- to Seattle for Kepler College's Symposium and to London for a conference on ancient astrology. (The work of both journeys will be the topics of my next two courses -- see below.)

This month our topics are Mercurial Mercury -- Upcoming Classes -- Tracking the Constellation Orion during the Winter -- Dick Cheney's Astrological Indicators

Mercurial Mercury

By "Mercury station" I mean that Mercury is not changing its degree until it changes direction, in this case means going direct in three days. Mercury went retrograde on the inauspicious day of February 14. At that time Mercury was twenty-five degrees behind the Sun, meaning that Mercury set in the west after the Sun set: Sun was 25 Aquarius and Mercury 10 Pisces. From that time on the Sun gets closer to a retreating Mercrury and then Mercury becomes a morning star -- would be seen in the morning sky before the Sun would rise. Now, at its station, Mercury is at 25 Aquarius -- where the Sun was when Mercury went retrograde three weeks ago -- and the Sun behind at 14 Pisces. In three days Sun will be at 18 Pisces and Mercury still at 25 Aquarius and Mercury will change directions but be very slow for several days.

What is the effect of Mercury being retrograde, Well, I had no trouble with air travel, although one friend's car broke down twice on Sunday morning. My computer is having intermittent internet connection problems, but I do not see that happening with others. There is some confusion settling my father's affairs, but that has less to do with Mercury retrograde and more to do with normal complexity that happens after somebody dies.

Upcoming Classes
One of the courses I have been working with at Kepler College has been on Greek and Roman Mythology. This was an unanticipated project which took me back to material I hadn't taught in some years -- the relationship of the symbols of astrology to the mythology in the ancient world. I will be presenting much of this during the spring, and will be a good course for beginners and for advanced students of astrology. You will be reading much more of this soon, especially as I plan to begin this course next month.
This brings me to this summer, which brings me to the other work I've been doing lately -- astrology and musical harmony. I had begun doing some research into how ancient astrologers gave an account of the aspects -- the relationships between planets -- and found myself in the thicket of music theory! Although my attention has been focused on the ancient tradition of astrology, Johann Kepler wrote a major work on this topic during the Renaissance, and the twentieth century has made further contributions understanding symmetries and harmonics in astrology. This course will be designed to be practical as well as theoretical, and will discuss planets and aspects between them in new and exciting ways.
I am beginning work locating these classes, and if you have some leads or offerings, that would be greatly appreciated.
Now for a look at seasonal constellational changes.

Upcoming Appointments
Now that I am back in the saddle, I am eager to resume my quota of first-time and update astrology consultations.
First, where: As usual, I can meet with people in Cambridge on Fridays during the day. If that day or time is not convenient for you, please let me know, so we can come up with alternatives.? My first choice, however, is in my tastefully appointed office in Rhode Island overlooking the water. Now that winter is (will be) loosing its grip, you might want to take the trip to lovely Rhode Island. Last -- but not least -- we can always talk by phone with two-way recordings and you get a CD of our conversation.
Second, how much. I would like to offer a temporary discount for my services: $80 for an update ($85 if we're on the phone and I have to mail you the CD) and $120 for first-time sessions.
You might want to see me before the global economy or political situation gets any worse!

Orion Through the Winter
Now for a look at seasonal constellational changes. On a clear night, many major stars and their constellations shine brightly in the sky. One can see Aldeberan, the eye of the bull, although it's more difficult for us to make out the other stars in Taurus. Not so far away are two stars together, the leading lights of the constellation Gemini: Castor and Pollux. Even more easy to find are the three stars of the belt of Orion, and thus the stars above and at least one star below.
What is the pattern of these constellations appearing in the winter sky. Here we will look at the constellation of Orion as a whole, but will also focus on Rigel, the left knee -- or left toe -- of Orion the hunter. This star is at the bottom of the constellation and is considered a fortunate star.
Rigel's closest zodiacal position is 16 Gemini. This means that once the Sun is moving close to Gemini in the late spring, its rays will make the constellation impossible to see. This also means that when the Sun is in the opposite signs, this star, and the entire constellation, will be most bright. This will happen during the winter months in the northern hemisphere.
To make a fair comparison, it is necessary to compare images of the constellation in the sky at the same time at night (9:20 in the evening EST) from the same location (Boston).
Here's an image of the constellation in the winter sky in February.

Now compare the above to early March.

You will notice that between early January and early February, Orion is further West and is lower in the sky.? We see changes with respect to the horizon, as in the sky their positions are fixed.? We measure along the horizon by azimuth?and up and down by our more familiar altitude.? 0 degrees of azimuth is compass direction exactly north, so that it is 180 degrees compass south.? Here Rigel has passed the southern place and in February was 201 degrees, but in early March 231 degrees.? Rigel's altitude has declined from over 37 degrees to just under 25.? This means that, over the course of that month, Rigel has gone further west than due south and is lower in the sky.

Here is Orion next month:

You can now see that Orion is closer to due west (Rigel's azimuth is 254 degrees) and much closer to the horizon (Rigel's altutude is a mere 5 degrees)

What happens during the spring? Just as you would think. The constellation Orion is seen further in the west, is lower in the sky, and, as the Sun gets closer to Gemini, fades away completely, much later to become faintly visible toward the east before the Sun rises. In fact, if you get up at 3 AM in late July, Orion will be visible due east, ready to go on its seasonal journey across the night sky.

The Incomparable Dick Cheney

Why Dick Cheney and why now? For years he has been the power behind the throne in Washington, although his highly secretive style and cut-throat political nature has earned him the name of "Darth Vader" by at least Maureen Dowd. Secondly, his power and public standing has diminished over the past year, and this will probably continue. Increasingly, Cheney has been found on the opposite side of the national consensus on various important issues. Since accidentally shooting a friend of his during a duck hunt, Cheny has not left the sights of late night comedians.
I have always found his chart to be difficult to understand -- as I have found Cheney himself. However, his importance and current changing status merit another look at his chart. There are some ancient and some modern techniques that can add light to his natal chart -- then we will look at the next few years.
Here is his chart. I render this using whole sign houses, because I do this with all charts. I give this chart without aspect lines, because there's less visual congestion that way.

We begin with an Ascendant in Virgo. This brings us to Mercury, in a weak house (the sixth) but otherwise in strong position. One might notice that Mercury is emerging from the Sun, as Mercury moves swiftly and is escaping from the Sun's beams to have western visibility. Mercury is also in its own triplicity in Cheney's nocturnal chart. Mercury is also heavily aspected but not by Venus, which might have given him some charm. Instead we see a strong sextile from an angular Mars and a square from Uranus. Together influencing Mercury, Mars and Uranus are neither charming nor delicate but head-strong and aggressive. This combination gives Cheney the possibility of pursuing his own ideas and his own path doggedly in the face of great opposition, or one who is unyielding and stubborn in spite of the facts. That Mercury is in the fixed sign Aquarius can give him even more fixity. To a supporter he is a profile in courage (see his angular and oriental Mars); to a non-supporter he is proud and totally wrong.
Of one thing there is no doubt or argument: Cheney is a very articulate and compelling presenter. I have often been very impressed by these qualities, although not frequently the content of his message.
If we're looking for more fixity, for more we need look no further than his Sun and the planets that aspect it. Sun, as with Mercury, is in Aquarius, with very strong squares from Jupiter and Saturn in fixed and earthy Taurus. After Watergate, when most of America was grateful the country escaped further constitutional crises, Cheney bemoaned the diminishing of the power of the Presidency, which he has attempted to restore now during his tenure as Vice President. The Sun and the planets aspecting the Sun tell us about Cheney's fixity and also his view of leadership -- definite, secure, unchanging.
Cheney's natal chart also indicates the strength of his personal life. Moon is angular and in mutual reception with Jupiter -- Moon is in Jupiter's sign Pisces, and Jupiter is in Moon's exaltation. This helps show a strong and emotionally engaged marriage. (You might also notice a mutual reception between Venus and Saturn, being in each other's signs. This is a sign of longeivity of marriage, although not necessarily its happiness.) That Mars is in square to Moon may say some things about Cheney's wife but also his fighting stance with the public around his personal life -- particularly his daughter, who is gay.

A modern excursion: in my pursuit of good information about Cheney's chart, I checked some of his midpoints and symmetries. What I found emphasized the outer planets, particularly Pluto -- which is still an astrological planet. For help with this I consulted Reinhold Ebertin's Combinations of Stellar Influences, usually referred to as COSI. When I notice the symmetry between Pluto and Midheaven, connecting at the Cancer/Capricorn axis, I read about the desire to be important and about having personal strength, as well as an ability to create resistance and vindictiveness in others: the main concept of this combination is acquiring and maintaining power. A clue to Cheneys' secrecy is found in that the midpoint of Neptune and Node is the Aries/Libra axis, the "world axis." Ebertin, no lover of Neptune in his work, talks about anti-social behavior, lack of social (or political) judgment and common sense. This is because the node represents meaningful contacts with people and Neptune tends to distort things, which may make him a bit paranoid.
Let's now look at Cheney's T-Square, with Saturn and Jupiter at the apex in Taurus, with Pluto on one side and the Sun on the other. This would add to the desire to exercise power, particularly when noting that Jupiter is the midpoint of Sun and Pluto: once again we are concerned with the attainment and use of power. Cheney is clearly one of the more dominant personalities of our time, for good or for ill.

Cheney also has had some physical problems, particularly heart problems. This may be indicated by the sixth house Mercury, the lord of the Ascendant, and that Moon in the seventh has a strong square from Mars. (The seventh is also a place of ailment, as its sign opposes that of the Ascendant. Yet I'm not sure his favorable Mars placement could contribute to illness.)

There is much more to say about Cheney's chart. A little bit of investigation seems to yield great results. Let's move on -- to the predictive material.
First of all, nothing I've seen gives me any indication that he will have another heart attack that could incapacitate or kill him.This doesn't mean that it will not happen, only that I have found no indications. Cheney probably has the best cardiac care in the world -- "from an undisclosed location."
I supply his triple wheel: his natal chart is innermost, the progressions surrounding that, and the current planets, indicating transits, on the outer wheel.

His progressions are not that interesting now -- previously they were more interesting, probably pointing to the high water mark of his power.
In 2005, before things began to become difficult politically, Cheney's progressed Mars was opposite Pluto and he had a first quarter Sun/Moon square. However, in the summer of 2005 Saturn entered Leo, transiting his fixed planets over two and a half years: things have become difficult for him and for his boss. (In case you were wondering, Mars was in Taurus when Cheney accidentally shot his friend, just having left a square to his Sun.) Saturn in Leo is difficult for him in 2007, as the profection from his year brings everything seven houses. How This brings the profection for Sun into Leo, again transited to by Saturn. Because of these seventh house profections, Ascendant and Moon are brought closer together this year. This may manifest in personal or medical issues, but chances are that we will know about neither at the time they occur.
At this time Saturn is about to oppose his Mercury, and later this year will cross his Ascendant and go into his first house.
When I look at his Hellenistic predictive indicators, I see more Saturn. His Decennials featured Jupiter/Venus when he became Vice President. In mid-2004, however, it moved to Saturn, and it is Saturn/Moon from February 2007 until early in 2009. Interesting, the Quarters of the Moon went to Saturn as its general time lord in July, 2005, and it has been Saturn/Saturn during this time. He has the combination, once again, of Saturn and Moon from next month until September 2008.
This Saturn/Moon dominance points to situations that are constricting. Neither Saturn nor Moon are in sect in his nocturnal chart, and it is difficult to get a good time out of this combination. Because Moon is fairly strong in Cheney's chart, times will be difficult but probably not awful.
For both Cheney and Bush, things will continue as they have been: difficult but not cataclysmic. Cheney, in particular, will feel that future events and the positive judgment of future historians will vindicate him. As Mars is in his fourth house, governing one's enduring reputation, chances are that he will remain controversial.

That's all! Stay tuned for the next newsletter -- by March's end or April's beginnings -- and further news on the myth and music courses, this spring and summer.

Joseph Crane