The later summer sky -- astrology programs in the autumn --preliminary remarks on the planet controversy – Mel Gibson further
examined As the waning days of the summer are upon us, we notice that it becomes darker much more quickly. Night seems to arrive not long after dinner; summer evenings continue to be gorgeous but are now significantly shorter.

When you look up in the summer sky, what might you see? At this time many planets are too close to the Sun to be visible to us, and if we look closely we might see Venus as a thin speck that appears before sunrise (which is also getting a bit later).

When the Sun goes down at night, Mars may appear faintly in thewestern sky, followed by Jupiter, which will set a few hours later. To the southwest of Jupiter is the alpha star of the Virgo constellation, Spica, which is the star of the harvest and a bestower of abundance. If you look directly, up in the sky from Spica well past Jupiter, you would find Arcturus of the constellation Bootes. Arcturus is the Bear Guard and has connotations of adventure and protection.
We should enjoy this display while it lasts, for each evening these bodies will become closer to the western horizon at sunset and will soon fade from view.

Classes this autumn. It seems that we have three different kinds of students these days.
There are beginning and intermediate students, who I have been meeting with individually. When a “critical mass” has arrived, we will find the time and place to have an astrology group. In the meantime I am teaching an introductory program down here in Barrington, RI.

This week we conclude a summer program on secondary progressions and different kinds of directions. People are mostly advanced with an interest in astrological technique. My plan for them is to finish this autumn
with a display of Ptolemy’s primary directions and to commence with skill building in horary and electional astrology. These branches of astrology have for a long time been a special love of mine.

There is also interest in the spiritual and philosophical origins and implications of astrology. Last summer was a course on Plato’s philosophical contribution to astrology, I wish to continue with Plotinus, who lived at a time when astrology was flourishing and has many things to say about it. He made several contributions what we now know as humanistic astrology. Most recently is a posthumous work by Anthony Damiani, Astronoesis, which attempts to put many Plotinian (and Vedantic) ideas in the context of astrological technique. My plan now is to restart this material down here in Rhode Island something during the autumn.

If you may be interested in participating in some of these programs, please let me know. Things are still in the planning stages and your feedback counts for a lot.

Preliminary Comments on the Latest Planet Controversy
Before some official committee of astronomers conclude their work defining and listing the bodies to be designated as planets, I weigh in as a professional astrologer.

Astrologers are now at a crossroads we should have predicted years ago. First I supply some background:

Aside from the visible planets, astrologers routinely use Neptune and Uranus, large gas giants that are invisible to the naked eye but massive and astronomically similar to Jupiter and Saturn. Uranus and Neptune are also close in their orbit to the line of the ecliptic. Astrologers have found them indispensible for their interpretative work.

In the early 1800’s the asteroid belt was discovered. The largest asteroid, Ceres, is the size of Texas and is solid rock. Others are smaller, more angled from the ecliptic, and there are now hundreds of them. Many astrologers use the four asteroids Ceres, Pallas, Vesta, and Juno. An asteroid-like body but not on the asteroid belt, Chiron, was discovered in
1977, Chiron is between the orbits of Saturn and Uranus. Astrologers often use some of these planetary bodies for interpretative purposes. Some use very many of these bodies.

In 1930 Pluto was discovered and since then has been incorporated into astrology’s interpretative system as a full-fledged planet. Although most astrologers have also found Pluto indispensable, two problems have loomed. Pluto is much more oblique to the ecliptic than the other planets we use. In other words, Pluto can be quite a distance away from its position on the zodiac, making one wonder about the legitimacy of using solely its position in the zodiac. Nor is Pluto a large gas giant like Uranus and Neptune but a much smaller rock. Pluto has a moon called Charon: both seem to form one binary system and the center of gravity appears to be between them.

This has raised the possibility of other bodies being discovered that are like Pluto, and this is what has happened. Some decades ago the Kuiper belt was discovered, consisting of many smaller bodies orbiting around the Sun further away than Pluto. Some astrologers have included some of these bodies into entities they call “Centaurs.”

In January 2006, a new heavenly body was discovered which (for now) is called “Xena.” This body seems to be larger than Pluto, and it is even further from the ecliptic than Pluto: forty-four degrees compared with Pluto’s seventeen. “Xena” is also much further from the Sun than Pluto. In 1900 this new body was late Pisces and now is only well into the sign Aries. Pluto, in the faster half of its orbit, has moved half the zodiac, from Gemini to late Sagittarius, during this time.

There’s a new possibility, from this committee of astronomers, that our list of planets can grow from nine to twelve by adding Pluto’s companion Charon, the asteroid Ceres, and “Xena.” (I’ve seen no mention of Chiron.) There’s also been talk about keeping the definition of “planet” tight and excluding Pluto from the list.

What is the astrologer to do?
Well, I am finishing an astrology book that uses only the visible planets, with barely a mention of Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. Instead of modern planets and asteroids to accompany the visible planets, I use fixed stars. That’s one solution. Most astrologers, however, want more.

My publications to the contrary, I have found the modern planets meaningful – but not as sign rulers – from aspects and midpoints made to the visible planets and to transits. Although Pluto may or may not officially qualify as a “planet,” most astrologers consider its array of meanings critically important in depicting many important human situations. I, and most astrologers, would continue to use Pluto as a full-fledged planet, regardless of what any committee of astronomers says.

What about “Xena?” Since its movement is very slow it would be very easy to trace in various birth charts and one might see some kind of effect. The name itself, reminding most of a rather campy TV show from a few years ago, seems inappropriate for this planet.

The discoverer of “Xena” had wanted to name it Persephone or Proserpine, after the wife of the god Pluto. Importantly, this planet is near Pluto for half its orbit and away from Pluto for the second half, just like Pluto’s spouse. Although the name Proserpine was given to a minor body and could not be used for this one, perhaps this astronomical group could
make further adjustments. Dane Rudhyar, who posited a planet Proserpine in An Astrological Triptych, who died in 1985, would be delighted -- wherever he is.

I am less thrilled than either Ceres or Charon being considered a planet. Ceres lets the host of asteroids through the gate, and Charon has the same position in the zodiac as Pluto and would not serve astrologers at all. I wait for what this committee of astronomers decides to do, yet to me, and to perhaps most astrologers, this may not be so important.

However, astrology is an art and one’s art does evolve. I have gone from Placidus/Koch to Whole Sign Houses. As my Saturn is oriental to an angular Sun in Capricorn, perhaps simplicity will eventually get the better of me and I will only use visible planets in my consultative work.

Is Mel Gibson Yet Ready for Redemption?
Amidst a rather depressing summer of news has been the Mel Gibson story. He was arrested for Driving While Intoxicated in Malibu in late July. He compounded his difficulties by making offensive anti-Jewish and sexist remarks to the investigating officers. To many people, his 2004 movie blockbuster “Passion of the Christ” perpetuated the myth that Jews were responsible for the death of Jesus of Nazareth. Gibson’s remarks upon his arrest, taken down and publicized worldwide, solidified his reputation for anti-Semitism. Since then Gibson has made his rounds of apologies, promised the world he would get treatment, and was sentenced to probation and mandatory alcohol treatment

Astrologers would wonder at the character of the man and whether this incident could be redemptive for him. The odds do favor public redemption: in America there is no such thing as “bad” publicity, and we tend to celebrate the lives of erring popular figures who put their lives together again: note the success of movies about Ray Charles and Johnny Cash.

First we need to look at Gibson’s natal chart. By now the whole sign format shouldn’t surprise you. I have included the standard outer planets but no Chiron, asteroids, Charon, or “Xena.” Although I am a modern astrologer I will supplement modern interpretative factors with some Hellenistic considerations.

Where Gibson gets his charm and winning disposition (this behavior at his arrest excepted) is clear from the Ascendant in Cancer governed by an angular Moon in Libra. (I also note that Venus in Aquarius is in trine by sign to Moon and neither Mars nor Saturn behold Moon.) A Hellenistic look at Venus would note that although it is in the difficult eighth place (or house) from the Ascendant, it is conjunct his Lot of Exaltation and its“twelfth-place” or thirteenth harmonic position is rather close to the Ascendant, and thus made more dominant.

As the actor who played the goofy but sensitive lead role in “What Woman Want,” and in comic moments of his action movies, Gibson has charm and even courtliness. The man can act.

However, there is much more to him. Toughness and rigidity shows forth elsewhere from his chart. The obvious indication is Saturn and Mars in Scorpio (governed by Mars) with a square from Pluto. (Jupiter, having moved into Virgo, would not effect this combination directly.) One also finds that Gibson has Pluto in sesquiquadrate position (square and a half) to his Sun in Capricorn.

It is interesting to note the planet in charge of his character. According to Ptolemy’s method, winner is hands-down Saturn. How? The planet disposing of his Moon is strongly Saturn (although Venus is the sign ruler), and Mercury is in Capricorn, where Saturn is its sign ruler. If we look at Saturn itself, we see it dominated by Mars in Scorpio, governing it and next to it. One may also note that Saturn and Uranus meet at 00 Libra/Aries: this means that they are bound together by being contraantiscia but their midpoint is his Moon.

What is the significance of Uranus in his life? Consider the culture of Hollywood and Malibu, California, and the fact that Gibson is a conservative Catholic with no affection from Jewish people and, presumably, liberals. Gibson is an odd duck even in Hollywood’s strange pond. Uranus strongly impacts his tough – or should I say aggressive – Saturn. He is definitely and defiantly a man of strong conservative beliefs.

But is Gibson a bigot? Traditional astrologers would take note of the exact sextile between Mercury and Saturn. I look more toward his Moon inthe Fourth, the house of family and the ancient place of one’s father. Gibson has a strong sense of family heritage and in many ways has followed in his father’s footsteps, even if their personal relationship has been a stormy one. I round out this brief natal analysis with a look at his Lots of Fortune and Spirit. Lot of Fortune is in Libra, in his Fourth and governed by Venus. This repeats much of what we have said about these planets already: their connection with the Lot of Fortune suggests how wealthy and famous he has become from his acting gifts.

Gibson’s Lot of Spirit, which tells us about his intention and “free will,” lands in the third degree of Aries, in his Tenth and disposed of by a strong Mars that is with Saturn. His angular Capricorn Sun is also in the tenth place from the Lot of Spirit. Gibson is a man on a mission that he takes grimly seriously.

Okay, now for the present and future.

Usually when there’s a discrete event with a time I begin with the chart of the moment. He was pulled over on July 28 at 2:36 AM in Malibu, Ca. (Thanks to Joyce Levine for supplying the data.) I have found only one thing interesting in the event chart: the Midheaven of the moment is 29 Aquarius, exactly square Gibson’s Saturn. It tells us the impact of the
moment upon him.

Joyce Levine rightly points out that transiting Pluto was in square to Gibson’s Midheaven degree. I would add to this that Saturn in Leo was also in opposition to his Aquarius Venus at the time, although Jupiter had been in square previously from Scorpio. This might suggest a difficulty in Gibson’s

Two factors seem significant. The Moon with Neptune in his eighth may indicate his drinking lifestyle, that he had gone “off the wagon.”. There is also a grand square in this chart. If one looks at the Midheaven degree, this is Pisces governed by Jupiter. This great benefic has aspects from Saturn, Mars, and Neptune. If one uses the Midheaven point as indicating the disposition of the individual toward the world, it bodes not well at all. Noting that Mars is the lord of Gibson’s tenth house (i.e. tenth sign from the Ascendant), and considering the tenth as indicating more outer circumstances, one sees the fall from grace (Saturn and Neptune aspecting Mars) as well as the benefits of even adverse publicity (Jupiter opposing)

Next year’s solar return seems more positive but a bit less in the limelight, as Mercury, lord of the year’s Ascendant and Midheaven, is under the Sun’s beams and it is his fourth that is emphasized.

It is Gibson’s progressed chart that gives the most interesting longterm indications. Here are his progressions for the day and time of his arrest.

Note how close Moon is to Uranus, telling us about the sudden event in his life.

The more lasting change we see is with Jupiter and Pluto arriving to
the Ascendant --Jupiter and Pluto rising in his progressed chart. (This is
according to the Naibod progressed Midheaven; progressing the Ascendant
according to the solar arc Midheaven yields approximately the same results.)

If it were simply Jupiter on the Ascendant, I would think that redemption was a great certainty. Pluto, however, might indicate that another bottom may have to be reached for Gibson. As Pluto follows Jupiter, we may see him rehabilitated but following will be another major set of difficulties. It is possible, however, for Jupiter to indicate a transformation from the outside followed by Pluto’s transformation from the inside.

In early 2009, Gibson’s Jupiter will have been conjunct the Ascendant, Pluto is within range, and he has a progressed Full Moon. His progressed New Moon was at the beginning of 1995, the year Braveheart gave his work epic status: one might expect something stunning for his progressed Full Moon. Might he as an actor and a launch into a literary or
political life? (No – he’s not Australian and he can run for President.) I doubt that, following a joke currently circulating on the Internet, he will change his name to “Gibstein” and begin wearing a yarmulke.

To nobody’s surprise, Gibson’s life is in public view for the long duration. Whether one is a fan of his or is not, he is an important person in American culture and this fact should not change for a long time.