Fairytale Astrology Part 3
"Day followed day, and it came to
be known to the Queen that the princess was carrying a child of her own. The
Queen stormed and raged in the privacy of her own rooms. “This is intolerable!”
she spat. “Shall I have the priest killed? No, that will make him a martyr. I
will send him away before he kn It was decided that Kerry was to
leave the castle. “I’ve taught you about the beasts
and monsters of the forest,” the Queen said coldly as Kerry was leaving (Moon
co-ruled by Pluto and Mars), “you should be just
fine.” Remarkably, the Queen was right.
Kerry saw clearly that it was
within her to find an end to her loneliness. “Uhhh…maybe later,” Kerry
said. “Suit yourself.” he said. There was silence. “Can I help
you?” he asked kindly. “I don’t know…” “Well maybe I should put that
another way. I can help you,” said the man. “You can? Then tell me why I
always fail in love!” Kerry wailed in desperation. The man considered for a moment
then gestured Kerry to another chair by the vat. She settled her baby on her lap
and watched the man stir the liquid. “I sure like the way this takes the pain
away! Well…it doesn’t really but it’s fun trying anyways,” he joked. Kerry
couldn’t help but feel sorry for him (Venus square Chiron in Pisces). “Now…where were we…ohh yes. I was
going to give you some tips about Love….hmmm….Let us begin with your mother,
yes. Well she is so different from your father, isn’t she? I mean she wants to
be close, REALLY CLOSE, and he likes to keep away. He just loves his freedom
doesn’t he? Did you notice how often he went gallivanting off here, off there…?”
Kerry nodded glumly. “That’s because he has the urge
to know. There is nothing wrong with that. He just didn’t think of your
feelings. But he was a pretty good father to you, don’t you think?” “Oh yes! I learned heaps from
him.” “But from your mother you learned
other things. You learned to be hungry in your needs, how to feel. You learned
that it could be dangerous to trust, that others can hurt or betray you. You
might even be able to sense rejection coming. And long before it hits you might
choose to separate from someone rather than experience the full pain of actually
being rejected.” “Oh no!” exclaimed Kerry. “I left
them because they were boring!” “I think if you use
that wonderful mind of yours to examine your feelings, you would find that
boredom is masking fear. And you need to peer into that realm with some
objectivity. Because your feelings are subject to a confusing influence which
can cloud their fine-tuning capabilities (Moon conjunct
ows what his irresponsible lust has
done!” (Jupiter co-ruling the 7th in the 12th, opposing Mars) “And as for the princess…”
Kerry discovered within herself an enormous capacity for survival. At times she
was very lonely for companionship, but when she gave birth to her child (alone)
she found a great joy in the little one (Sun in the 5th House of children).
She spent much time talking to
the baby and making up future lesson plans in her head (Saturn ruling the 5th House cusp and co-ruling Mercury in Aquarius). But
she couldn’t help thinking that it would be nice to have someone else around to
talk to, argue with, make love with…”But not to be your Daddy, little one.” she
said to the baby. “You don’t need a Daddy! After all, I did just fine without my
own Daddy---even when he was there he wasn’t there! I more-or-less brought up
myself.” (4th House ruled by Jupiter in the
12th, Sun co-ruled by and sextile Saturn) “But
still…”
Her great faith and
optimism had sustained her many times through the darkest days (Venus in
Sagittarius, Jupiter on Ascendant). She prayed for clarity, and at the end of
the prayer she suddenly heard a horse whinnying from deeper inside the forest.
“That’s a sign, I just know it!” she exclaimed.
Collecting up her baby
she rushed toward the sound. It wasn’t long before she came into a clearing. At
the centre sat a man, looking into a vat of inky liquid. He welcomed her with
great warmth, but Kerry noticed that he was missing a leg and was trying not to
wince as he shifted in his chair. “Oh! Is that a scrying pot?!” she asked with
interest, pointing at the vat.
The man laughed good-naturedly. “Oh no
Miss, just a bit of moonshine I brewed up meself. Care for a cup?”
Kerry frowned. “What’s wrong with
that? It sounds pretty lovely to me.”
“Well that is part of the
problem. It is just too lovely, an impossible state
to maintain. Cruel reality will always butt in. You will be left yearning for a
conjunction with someone, longing and aching. All the while you will be sending
out psychic signals (Neptune in the 3rd, Jupiter
in the 12th both co-ruling the 7th) that will resonate with someone else’s yearnings.
Ahhhhhh!” he sighed. “Such beautiful energies. But they must be handled
wisely.”
He was silent for a moment.
“Miss, I have to tell you
something. I’ve suffered terrible agony in my efforts to find love. I think you
have too (Chiron in Pisces in the 7th). Yes we
have suffered. But along the way we have also made others suffer for loving us
when we didn’t or couldn’t love them back…don’t you think?”
Kerry thought about this. She
didn’t like to believe she had hurt anybody but it was probably true. It was
logical. Reasonable. Given how many men she had picked up and dropped over the
years. “I guess I’ve been a bit critical sometimes,” (Jupiter in Virgo co-ruling
the 7th and Mars on Desc.) she admitted.
“Understandable really when you consider what you are truly
crying out for in another human being---a continuous sense of the
Divine…but…Miss…you carry the Divine Flame around with you wherever you go. It
never never leaves you so you have no reason to mourn its loss or punish the man
you are with when he shows himself to be disappointingly mortal.” (Chiron in
Pisces trine
Kerry nodded slowly. “You might
have a point there.”
“It’s all about wholeness,” the wounded man said. “It’s all
about mother and father coming together inside a person, because from our
parents we learn what we really want in a relationship.” (
Suddenly Kerry wailed, “But my
father is invisible!”
The old man smiled. “Here. Have
some wine. I really do insist you try it.”
And Kerry obliged by taking a few
sips. “How curious this wine is…it doesn’t make me at all sleepy. Just the
opposite.”
“Yes, and soon you shall find
yourself in a new world, you and your baby. And I hope you will share the
happiest lessons of your life with your own child. Because you are sure to find
great fulfilment as a kind and nurturing teacher. Farewell!”
“But…but…wait...what do I need to
do to have lasting relationships?! You haven’t said anything about that!”
The man with one leg waved her
goodbye. “Oh but I have. You need to follow the Sun and worship the Moon…make no
compromise and be only yourself…remember that the story of your life is about
the freedom. Keep the flame of divine love in your heart---when you stop trying
to extract it from others you will find peace, and allow others to be their
human selves…” His voice faded.
And Kerry began to wake up.”
When faced with the
challenge of having to give difficult advice, it can be helpful to place the
chart in the context of a fairy tale. As the magical words of “Once upon a time”
are spoken, we can immediately be transported into an archetypal world where
contemporary issues can be quickly described in broad strokes.
Kerry’s chart presents several potential
difficulties in relationships. By placing her into this fairytale world, it is
hoped that she can see the archetypes at work. I have played around with the
ideas, and in person the client would be workshopping the chart with me as we
explored its energies. The nexus in this example is in the Freedom-Closeness
dilemma.[29] Its resolution lies in balance, and self-knowledge.
We launch ourselves out
into the world accompanied by a confusing chorus of voices from inside. In the
birth chart the planets are the voices and each has their own agenda based on
placement and aspect. Kerry hasn’t created her relationship problems out of pure
choice; certainly the inner confusion has had its effect as to the kinds of
choices she has made.
What she needs to know most is how much
independence she must have within relationship.
Without feeling free to live her life as suits her nature, she will continue to
find relationships stifling. Some sort of situation where she and her partner
can lead busy lives separately, yet together, would be ideal. This means being
extremely upfront right from the beginning about her character so there is no
acrimony later. In terms of attracting someone else with similar needs, I can
only recommend that she practice to be herself, freely expressing her
uniqueness. To forge her own way in life is a desirable path, as seen in her
chart. By honouring this aspect she is closing the door on ambivalent,
co-dependent relationships. She is then more likely to gain the notice of
someone who lives with the same philosophy. Others take us at face value---this
is natural---and so Kerry has the option of presenting herself consciously, and
gaining exactly what she wants.
Copyright: Margaret Penner Choinski
Earth Elephant Astrology
Arroyo, Stephen, Astrology, Karma, and Transformation, CRCS Pub.,
1978
Birkbeck, Lyn, DIY Astrology, Element, 1996
Bolen, Jean Shinoda M.D., Goddesses in Everywoman, Harper Perennial, 1984
Burk, Kevin, Astrology: Understanding the Birth Chart, Llewellyn
Pub., 2001
Camilleri, Stephanie, The House Book, Llewellyn Publications, 1999
de Vore, Nicholas, Encyclopedia of Astrology, Astrologic Research
Soc., 1947
Dreyer, Ronnie Gale, Venus, Aquarian, 1994
Ebertin, Reinhold, The Combination of Stellar Influences, AFA Inc.,
1940
Greene, Liz and Sasportas, Howard, The Development of the
Personality, Samuel Weiser Inc, 1987
Greene, Liz and Sasportas, Howard, Dynamics of the
Unconscious, Samuel Weiser Inc, 1988
Greene, Liz and Sasportas, Howard, The Inner Planets, Samuel
Weiser Inc, 1988
Greene, Liz and Sharman-Burke, Juliet, The Mythic Journey, Simon
& Schuster, 1999
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Pub., 1993
Houlding, Deborah, The Houses:
Leonard, Linda Schierse, On the Way to the Wedding, Shambhala, 1986
Murdock, Maureen, The Heroine’s Journey, Shambhala, 1990
Sasportas, Howard, The Twelve Houses, Thorsons, 1985
Star, Gloria, Astrology: Woman to Woman, Llewellyn Publications,
1999
Tierney, Bil, Dynamics of Aspect Analysis, CRCS Publications,
1983
Tompkins, Sue, Aspects in Astrology, Rider, 1989
Software used: SolarFire v.5, Placidus Houses, Tropical zodiac,
True node
FOOTNOTES
[1] Houlding, Deborah, The Houses: Temples of the Sky, Ascella
Publications, 1999, p.68
[2] The Descent of the psyche, or the soul, follows in spirit
the descent of the Goddess Inanna into the Underworld. Along the way down she
had to divest herself of everything that was of value, until all she had left
was she herself. When we ourselves undergo this ordeal (characteristic of a
Pluto transit) we are meant to emerge with a new sense of what is genuinely of
value in our lives.
[3] Houlding, p.78
[4] Ibid, p.70
[5] Ibid, p.72
[6] Ibid, p.74
[7] Tierney, Bil, Dynamics of Aspect Analysis, CRCS Publ., 1983, p.
160, The remainder of the quote goes on to say, “and thus is forced to turn
inward and question why this is.”
[8] Ibid, p.84
[9] Ibid, p.70
[10] The term astrodrama is given to describe a form of acting
out the planetary energies. I have used a variation of this by creating
imaginative narrative through storytelling. There are times when this form is
more appropriate or easier to use. The imagination is inspired to actively
respond to the symbolism, encouraging insight. For more information, from the originator of
astrodrama Barbara Schermer:
http://www.astrologyalive.com/ChapterJuly.html
[11] “Accidental” dignity relates here to the natural house
system of signs overlaying houses, for ex. Aries = First House etc. The planet
ruling the sign overlaid is said to be accidentally dignified if placed in that
same house.
[12] Leo, ruled by the Sun, naturally overlies the 5th House.
[13] Tompkins, Sue, Aspects in Astrology, Rider, 1989, p.107-110.
“…patronising and paternalistic…Jupiter exaggerates the solar principle of
pride…”
[14] Ibid.
[15] Houlding, p.78
[16] Ibid, p.72
[17] Mutual reception is based on essential dignity, where two
planets receive each other into their rulership, i.e. Mars in Gemini is mutually
receptive to Mercury in Aries. This connection allows the two planets to help
each other; the quality of the help depends on the strength of the dignity each
already possesses.
[18] Houlding, p.84 “Those which serve as a mount for men.”
quoting Ibn Ezra
[19] Ibid, p.82
[20] A planet in Fall denotes one in opposition to its
Exaltation, and where its own essential energies are inimical to the
characteristics of the sign. A cadent position is “falling away” from an angle
through diurnal motion, and thus is weakening in effectiveness to act
purely.
[21] Houlding, p.80
[22] Ebertin, Reinhold, The Combination of Stellar Influences, AFA, Inc.,
1940, p.121. “Mercury/Jupiter is gift of speech.
[23] de Vore, Nicholas, Encyclopedia of Astrology, Astrologic Research
Society, 1947, p.238. “Said of a planet that is less than 17 degrees distant in
longitude from the Sun.” Thought to render the planet lost in the glare of the
Sun’s light.
[24] The Sun is opposite its rulership Leo, and so in
Detriment. In Aquarius the Sun loses the pride of individualism, of being
special and taking centre stage in order to showcase its talents.
[25] Jupiter is opposite its traditional rulership Pisces, and
so in Detriment. In Virgo, Jupiter cannot grow and expand. Virgo encourages
micromanagement and this can greatly pervert the natural Jovian urges.
[26] Houlding, p.80
[27] Burk, Kevin, Astrology: Understanding the Birth Chart, Llewellyn
Publications, 2001, p. 143. Saturn is opposite its Exaltation and so in Fall in
Aries. “The ultimate lessons of Saturn in Aries have to do with taking
responsibility for our actions and impulses---particularly for our physical
actions…”
[28] Houlding, p. 76
[29] Greene, Liz, and Sasportas, Howard, The Development of the Personality,
Weiser, 1987, p.214-216
Organic Divination for the
Urban Jungle
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