Hugh Laurie – What’s in House’s First House?

Posted on June 2, 2012 by ohioastrology

British comedian and House actor Hugh Laurie’s chart both surprised and didn’t surprise me.

Laurie is über-hyper talented. Not only is he an actor, but he is a musician, writer and athlete. I bet he also has additional hobbies in which he excels.

Sun in Gemini and moon in Leo is both versatility and energy. Gemini hates boredom and since Laurie is excellent at about 100 things, I’m sure he’s never bored.

Or maybe he is. With Gemini, there is never enough stimulation.

Moon in Leo is dramatic, self-centered, loving and expressive. If all moon in Leo people could be actors, the world would be a calmer place.

Laurie also has Venus, Mars and Uranus in Leo.

What surprises me about Laurie’s chart is that to me he appears to have a serious, reserved demeanor and his chart is almost totally extroverted. Extroverts can be shy, but reserved?

I also recall seeing a TV special on Laurie that revealed he suffers from depression.

Leos don’t often acknowledge depression when they suffer it and are one of the signs I see that engages life so depression appears to be event oriented (after a breakup, for example, rather than for no reason).

Gemini, with its dual nature, seems to contract a bi-polar type of depression rather than an existential angst. When you constantly change personality, you can become a little lost, actor or non-actor.

Oh, but wait, there is Saturn in Capricorn. I wonder where that is in Laurie’s chart? Currently Pluto is transiting Capricorn crossing over that Saturn this very minute.

Chart Rectification

To cast an accurate horoscope, one must know time of birth. I don’t know Laurie’s time of birth. But I’m going to guess that his serious demeanor and vulnerability to depression stem from Saturn in Capricorn in the first house.

That would move Mercury into Cancer (from Gemini). It would also put his sun in the region of sixth/seventh houses. I’m not so sure if that makes sense for an actor, but maybe acting is a way to overcome health issues, which are ruled by the sixth house.

Saturn in the first house I’ve found to be an extremely difficult placement. When I see this placement, usually the person has encountered serious problems at a young age, adult problems, problems that others who have more stereotypical upbringings don’t hear about until they are much older.

Saturn in the first house for an individual with Gemini sun and Leo moon would be like putting a plant in a closet or wanting to lie in the sun but having to wear heavy armor, ready for battle.

Wearing armor is a burden to the self and body. Who put on the armor?

Saturn is a father figure. Some authority or father figure created or imposed a heavy burden of responsibility.

If Laurie had a Saturn-less chart (not possible, talking like a Pisces moon here), he would probably be so impulsive that he couldn’t walk a straight line (moon / Uranus in Leo, sun in Gemini).

Possibly someone or something contained Laurie’s energy because without some external constraint, he might have shot off like a rocket into outer space.

Depression for Laurie, then, might be the effort needed to contain incredible amounts of energy. Sports, then, are an excellent outlet.

Current Transits

Pluto is transiting Capricorn and is conjunct Laurie’s armor, I mean Saturn, right now.

Whatever created in Laurie a sense of restraint is going to be challenged and fought with. Laurie might use this transit to take on something of great responsibility or he might finally shuck off a responsibility that he was given unfairly at an early age.

Mars is finishing its long haul through Virgo. It was conjunct Laurie’s Pluto in Virgo last year.

Lots of Pluto energy, so Laurie is probably fighting with someone.

Maybe the current ending of his show House is the result of some battle or power struggle. With Pluto in the room, I hesitate to believe it was an amicable break up.

Neptune transiting Pisces is opposing Laurie’s Pluto in Virgo. He’s learning something about unconditional love, spirituality and belonging.

Neptune and Pisces are confusing and if you accept you don’t know, it’s a lot (a very, very lot) easier.

Having to know and making a list are not supported by Neptune in Pisces which makes sure you don’t really know and makes you list blow off the counter and into the sink full of dishwater so that it’s soaked beyond recognition.

Sun in Gemini is an analytical mind so Pisces energy is extremely uncomfortable. Gemini likes stimulation and facts and prizes in the cereal box and new coffee shops. Pisces provides stimulation but you don’t always know where it’s coming from.

Why do I feel uncomfortable here? Is it the lights? The person giving me the evil eye?

Gemini is not fond of emotional vagueness. Gemini, like Virgo, needs to tack a label on everything. Vague feelings of uneasiness or spontaneous bursts of love for humanity are not easy to categorize.

Saturn will soon move from Libra to Scorpio and will conjunct Laurie’s Neptune in Scorpio. There will be confusion about the emotional aspects of relationship. As Laurie goes through the Pluto on Saturn (in Capricorn) transit, he may start opening up a little emotionally.

Emotional changes may lead to a different sense of responsibility. He may be learning that bringing home the bacon is one type of responsibility. Giving someone a flower might be all that is needed sometimes so responsibility can be a small “r” and not a capital “R” Responsibility.

What’s after House?

The word “house” represents a structure, which is more evidence for a strong Saturn.

If Laurie is leaving “house,” maybe he’ll go to one of his other placements like “heart” (Leo) or “sibling” (Gemini).

Maybe his next acting effort will have Neptune in Pisces characteristics and he will play a spiritual man.

I’m sure with his many talents, Laurie will have a new creative product soon.

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US Politics – The Rambunctious South and Melancholy North

Posted on May 30, 2012 by ohioastrology

Today I received an email that shocked me. The email announced that next Monday is a state holiday in Alabama. Next Monday, June 4, Alabama is commemorating Jefferson Davis’ birthday. If he were a Biblical character, he would be 204 years old.

Jefferson Finis Davis (born June 3, 1808) was the President of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War.

The “other” President and the one we recognize today in textbooks (at least up north) was Abraham Lincoln (born February 12, 1809).

Both men were born in Kentucky. Some pictures of Davis, if you aren’t familiar with him, could easily be confused for pictures of Lincoln.

The Rambunctious South

Davis had Mars, sun and Mercury in air-sign Gemini with moon in air-sign Libra. That’s a lot of air and creates a social, changeable, quirky and unusual person.

Now I see why Newt Gingrich with Mercury, Uranus, Saturn and sun in Gemini does so well where Jefferson Davis is popular.

Uranus was in Gemini during the Civil War, hopping all over Davis’ Mars, sun and Mercury. Like Gingrich, he probably traveled all over, talked up a storm and said whatever came to mind.

Luckily for Davis, there was no TV or Internet so folks wouldn’t know that he promised moon colonies in Florida and log cabins in Maine. But then again, he would never have gone to Maine.

Like Gingrich, Davis was probably a persuader and charmer. Tossing around crazy ideas, like seceding from the Union, is a lot more fun than talking about how the wood panels in your log cabin are warping from the humidity.

The Melancholy North

Lincoln had sun in air-sign Aquarius and moon in earth-sign Capricorn. Lincoln’s melancholic nature isn’t just from Capricorn moon alone. He also had Mercury, Pluto and Jupiter in Pisces and Neptune conjunct Saturn in Sagittarius.

His Mars was in air-sign Libra.

The north, with dark, gray, cold, sleety, rainy, drizzly, snowy, bleak and icy winters breeds people who like serious, somber politicians.

I know Lincoln had his detractors at the time. But today we north-folk are taught to admire the man who freed the slaves in the south.

We are taught to admire his growing up in a log cabin (cold, cramped like our houses) and his reading of law books by the fire at night (poor and humble).

Mitt Romney and Barack Obama

Romney with sun in Pisces and moon in Scorpio is astrologically a creature of the cold, melancholy north. Scorpio moon loves to hold grudges curled up in a corner like a hurt animal.

Obama with sun in Leo and moon in Gemini is astrologically a creature of the sunny, spontaneous south. Leo likes people and attention like a lizard likes the sun.

Politically, because of our silly two-party system, both Romney and Obama have to swim in waters outside of their natural temperatures.

Romney and Obama are night and day.

Let’s see how our candidates spend their June 4. Not only is it Jefferson’s Birthday holiday in Alabama, but across the world people will commemorate the June 4 protests in China’s Tiananmen Square.

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Saturn in Scorpio for Obama and Romney

Posted on May 28, 2012 by ohioastrology

Saturn in Scorpio may bring contraction of lending, judgment in regard to sexual matters, changes in tax code, changes in inheritance law, more conscious spending of money and more sharing of financial resources in groups.

AIDS became a household word (according to Wikipedia history), just before the last transit of Saturn in Scorpio (December 1982). Because the gay community was hit hardest, I recall there being some judgment from some quarters when the illness was first discovered.

Today HIV isn’t always associated with homosexuality and the news stories seem to report on HIV without discussion of sexual preference.

The last transit of Saturn in Scorpio also brought Reagan Administration tax cuts.

Saturn enters Scorpio on October 5, 2012 and will be in Scorpio through December 2014.

How will this energy affect the presidential candidates?

Barack Obama

Saturn in Scorpio will square Obama’s Mercury and sun in Leo. The square to Mercury will technically begin before Saturn enters Scorpio while it’s in the last degrees of Libra.

Scorpio energy is a big heavy for the fun-loving, gregarious Leo. Obama also has a Gemini moon so Scorpio is the wet blanket at the party for this personality.

Wet blankets will arrive and the first stop is communication. Mercury in Leo communicates in a grandiose, exaggerated, fun and colorful way. Scorpio wants to know if the stories are true and tries to read more into the fanciful tales than exist.

Mercury in Leo tells a story about the time he ate 15 hamburgers on a dare at the family picnic. Saturn in Scorpio sends out a detective, reports that the hamburger patties were in a box of only one dozen and that Obama is seen in photographs eating hot dogs.

Obama better watch what he says these days as even fun-loving banter will be taken out of context and into the court of law.

Later Saturn in Scorpio will square Obama’s sun and Uranus which will be the least fun portion of this two-year trek. The heat will be on. Any slights, especially sexual, will be the focus of attention.

After the Mercury square will be the Neptune conjunction. Neptune in Scorpio already forms a T-square to Mercury in Leo opposing Jupiter in Aquarius which adds a couple extra hamburgers every now and again to the 15-hamburger story.

Saturn on Neptune, especially in Scorpio, can indicate depression. At the end of the Saturn in Scorpio transit, Saturn will sextile natal Saturn in Capricorn indicating Obama will be “sadder but wiser.”

Whether Obama wins the election or not, it will be a rough couple of years.

If Obama wins the election, something will dog him for a good two years.

If Obama does not win the election, it will take him two years to recover from the loss.

Mitt Romney

Romney is a watery, emotional man with Mars, Mercury and sun in Pisces and Jupiter and moon in Scorpio.

Pisces and Scorpio are already serious signs. Romney’s Saturn conjunct (wide) Pluto in Leo suggest lack of confidence and a serious nature.

If you like bitter coffee and someone offers you a dark roast, you probably say yes and enjoy it.

While I wouldn’t say Saturn in Scorpio will be “good” to Romney, he is organically able to deal with this type of energy.

First stop with transiting Saturn in Scorpio is a tight T-square with natal Saturn in Leo opposing Venus in Aquarius. This indicates some issues with the love life, especially sexual issues.

With Romney’s Jupiter/moon in Scorpio, I’ve been wondering if Saturn in Scorpio will bring any skeletons from his closet. I admit as a political junkie that it’s difficult to believe anyone with the ego to run for president hasn’t an egregiously arrogant affair from the past.

The media is digging up boring story upon boring story of Romney being a prankster and beating up kids in high school (which may make him more than less fit for the US presidency).

I’m still wondering if there aren’t any Scorpio stories that will arise – sexual escapades or kinky happenings. Hey, the guy was 19 years old during the summer of love. I’m not judging him; in fact, I hope he did have some fun.

But with Saturn in Scorpio, there will be judgment regarding sexual issues. There may be an “I didn’t inhale” moment in Romney’s future.

About a year into the transit is when Romney will be hit hardest – that is when Saturn will be conjunct his natal Pluto.

Saturn conjunct Pluto is a really unpleasant time, regardless of sign. It’s a time when it feels the world is against you (look for this type of aspect in those with a persecution complex). Everyone is angry with you, everyone is tailgating and pushing you out of the passing lane.

In the sign of Leo, Romney will struggle to maintain self-respect and pride as his personal matters are invaded (Pluto feels like invasion).

When Saturn conjuncts Jupiter and moon at the end of the two-year transit, Romney will feel emotionally spent and may simply retreat emotionally. His emotional retreat will include a financial retreat and may even indicate some financial trouble.

With Jupiter and moon in Scorpio, there is a sexual charisma. Saturn brings contraction and limitation so the old sexual and charm tricks may not be as effective.

While Saturn can be a damper to any energy, it does trine the Pisces energy. Romney is a serious individual to start so he may not feel that Saturn is cramping his style but may rise to the need for more responsibility in projecting sexual energy and in financial matters where he controls the money.

Romney may also (continue to) feel it’s more responsible to hold back money than to give money – the old “Let Detroit go bankrupt” idea.

For Romney, there are challenges in the next couple years, but overall he can handle this type of intensity. Romney can weather very big emotional storms.

If Romney wins the election, he will feel that he is not liked and have to deal with a sense of being lonely at the top.

If he does not win the election, he’ll recover from the loss somewhat quickly but his finances will be unsteady for the next couple years. He will still feel lonely, but possibly from abandonment, as though he doesn’t exist anymore.

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Saturn in Scorpio

Posted on May 26, 2012 by ohioastrology

While I’ve been anxiously counting the minutes until Saturn leaves Libra, and my tenth house, I realized I may be Mars-transiting-Virgo impatient and not thinking about what Saturn in Scorpio will bring.

Saturn has a 29-year cycle so I don’t have to experience tenth house issues for another few decades. Whew!

If Saturn in Libra (with Uranus in Aries and Pluto in Capricorn forming a T-square) brought partnership breakups, then Saturn in sexual, emotional Scorpio will bring highly-charged, long-and-drawn-out divorce proceedings.

Saturn enters Scorpio on October 6, 2012, about one month before the US general election.

Will there be a last-minute sexual scandal in the US election?

Sex and money

Scorpio rules sex, emotional connection, death, inheritance and taxes – fun stuff. Now you know why your Scorpio friends get a little intense sometimes.

Taurus, the opposite sign, rules money one makes. Scorpio rules other people’s money.

I find those with sun or moon in the eighth house (which is ruled by Scorpio) prefer not to be the breadwinner in the family.

To learn more about Saturn in Scorpio, I consulted my favorite astrologer –Liz Greene. In her book “Saturn: A New Look at an Old Devil,” she says “the eighth house [and Scorpio] deals primarily with emotional exchange.”

Other excerpts:

“Here money becomes a symbol of emotional dependence or freedom, for in our society it buys freedom or bondage in marriage, and our sexual values are largely coloured by our finances. So often in the eighth house there exists the enactment of a struggle which appears purely material and which is really emotional in origin.”

“It is common to find the individual with afflicted planets here tied to a difficult financial situation following upon a broken marriage or chronic problems with partners who take advantage of him financially.”

Saturn in Scorpio

As Saturn transits Scorpio, we all will feel this energy in a part of our charts – and lives. Saturn is contraction so there will be contraction of money given to us, especially where there is emotional connection attached.

The last transit of Saturn through Scorpio was December 1982 to November 1985 (it went retrograde in Libra during that time).

At minimum, I’m speculating that lending will contract even more than it has today. And when someone gives you money, expect to provide a lot in return besides interest. Lenders will want to know more about you than ever – and not just your financial history.

The stock market crash of 1929 occurred during sun in Scorpio (October 28). Saturn was at the tail end of Sagittarius, moving into Capricorn (moved into Capricorn December 1929).

The stock market crash of October 1987, which occurred during sun in Libra (October 14) also had Saturn in Sagittarius. Saturn did not move into Capricorn until February 1988.

Sagittarius expansion was followed by Capricorn contraction. Saturn rules Capricorn and is the contraction squared.

It’s important to remember that Capricorn always follows Sagittarius. Astrology teaches that expansion is followed by contraction in an endless cycle. Possibly to remove the “crash” from the contraction, we must expand with some constraint.

Or maybe we shouldn’t. Maybe wild expansion is necessary to learn and grow and contraction says, “Good job with all those ideas. Now I’m tossing out the ones that aren’t realistic.”

I bring up Sagittarius and Capricorn because another planet – Pluto – has recently moved from Sagittarius to Capricorn (early 2008).

Our lessons on expansion and contraction are now way beyond Saturn and they will last for years. Saturn in Scorpio is just another two-year mini-message about a larger message as the world rebuilds its economies.

I believe the Saturn in Libra period broke up marriages and partnerships because those partnerships had underlying unfairness or were not truly balanced. Both sides were able to say, “This just isn’t working.”

Now Saturn in Scorpio will ask, “If I take your money (for work or whatever), what do I really owe you?”

The other side says, “If I lend you money or resources, I want more than a material payback. I want you to share my values and truly care about me.”

It’s going to be a tense time. I do imagine there will be more contraction of banking, lending and financial speculation. I really don’t like being an astrologer-naysayer so I want to emphasize that the energy doesn’t just visit us willy-nilly – it’s a pattern and the effects vary based on how we dealt with the energy patterns up to this point.

I personally believe the Pluto in Capricorn contraction hits Americans so hard because we didn’t save. Wild lending convinced us we didn’t need to. But other countries, such as some Asian countries, save much more and might weather a financial storm better.

A positive manifestation of Saturn in Scorpio is 100 percent emotional honesty about how, why and where we spend or accept money.

I think of the “think global, act local” movement as bringing awareness of what our purchasing behavior means to people all across the globe. Saying I’m going to spend my money supporting my local community is saying I understand that my money projects my values and so I’m not going to put money into businesses that don’t support those values.

Deciding not to buy a shirt because we believe it was made using unethical practices I see as a manifestation of Saturn in Scorpio.

Saturn contraction – why?

I’m learning now that my Saturn tenth house transit is almost over that some of my work issues were a result of not rising to a certain responsibility.

Saturn brings responsibility. Saturn’s contraction seems to remove what is unnecessary (but may be fun and interesting) to get us to focus on what truly matters.

Saturn in Scorpio will force responsibility in sexual activity, shared money and probably the government’s role in using our money.

Hopefully we’ll have some Saturnian contraction of taxes – like paying a smaller tax rate. That’s a Saturn contraction I could live with.

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Angela Merkel’s New Playmates

Posted on May 22, 2012 by ohioastrology

Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany, has some new playmates. The Arab Spring seems to be moving to Europe to become the Caucasian Summer Solstice.

The Western World loves revolution in the Middle East but generally hates it in other places – China, Central & South America, Greece, France, Los Angeles . . .

Merkel has Mercury, Jupiter, Uranus and sun in Cancer, moon in Aquarius, Mars in Sagittarius, Saturn in Scorpio, Neptune in Libra, Venus in Virgo and Pluto in Leo.

Let’s see who’s now in the European sandbox with Merkel and whether they will play nicely, throw sand or steal all the plastic shovels.

Francois Hollande, France

Merkel is about one month older than French President Hollande. While they share generation, they share little in terms of personality.

Hollande’s sun (Leo) is opposite Merkel’s moon (Aquarius) and Hollande’s moon (Capricorn) is opposite Merkel’s sun (Cancer).

Hollande will be throwing sand at Merkel, not building sand castles with her.

Moon in Capricorn is cold and sun in Leo is proud, so Hollande will be beating his fists against his chest while the Merkel tries to relate emotionally (Cancer) and intellectually (Aquarius).

Merkel’s Cancer and Aquarian energy is about pleasing and incorporating others while Hollande’s Leo and Capricorn energy is about number one.

Hollande is in the corner of the sandbox alone making his own castle. When it’s done, he does want Merkel to look at it.

Alexis Tsipras, Greece

The news stories currently say that Tsipras, leader of the Syriza coalition, is not meeting Merkel but I would not be surprised if she extends an offer.

Merkel’s Mars in Sagittarius is conjunct Tsipras’ moon and Neptune in Sagittarius. Merkel can support and energize Tsipras’ vision, even in its wackier Sagittarian-idealistic moments.

Tsipras will probably continue to reject Merkel as his Venus/Saturn/Mercury in Cancer means he lacks a sense of belonging. He can dream and lead, but rarely feels at one with a group.

Merkel ‘s attempt to bring Tsipras into the “family” will fail because Tsipras has an inner insecurity about being accepted. He doesn’t feel good enough and yearns for something more transcendental (moon/Neptune in Sagittarius) than simply being part of a family. He wants to wander the universe.

Merkel is willing to share the sand pail with Tsipras, but he wants to build sand monsters and dragons and fanciful creatures which will make Merkel wander off to build something more realistic.

Hannelore Kraft, Germany

Kraft is Governor of Germany’s North Rhine-Westphalia which recently voted and strengthened her party, the Social Democrats.

Kraft and Merkel have little in common. Kraft is a Gemini sun and moon.

In US politics, Gemini doesn’t fare well. The last double Gemini in presidential politics was John Edwards who is now on trial for activities from his not-public life.

I can’t look double Gemini in the face without thinking that there is a hidden second life.

Merkel’s Cancer sun and Aquarius moon wants to include everyone in structured, group activity. Kraft’s double Gemini-ness loves people and fun and stimulation, but does not do well with structure, habit or consistency.

Merkel’s Pluto is conjunct Kraft’s Mars/Uranus in Leo so expect some dramatic, hair-pulling fights.

Kraft’s Saturn in Capricorn means that she feels a compulsion to be successful. Gemini lacks the consistency that drives Capricorn. I see some trip ups in the future for Kraft.

Merkel and Kraft may try to build a castle (with moat) in the sandbox, but then Kraft will change her mind and want to build an igloo instead, then a dressing table and then a road. Merkel will take her pail and finish the castle by herself.

Tomislav Nikolić, Serbia

President-elect Nikolic of Serbia has sun and Mercury in Aquarius and Saturn/moon/Neptune in Libra.

Aquarius and Libra are air so Nikolic is a social being with a love of beauty who likes to play the rebel but has an emotional need (moon in Libra) for you to like him.

Wanting to be liked is a weakness in politics.

Merkel, with moon in Aquarius, will like Nikolic in the same way she liked Nicolas Sarkozy.

Nikolic’s Uranus in Cancer stimulates Merkel’s stellium in Cancer. These two have a spark and will get along well. There will be chemistry.

Cardinal signs are bossy and like to fight (Cancer, Libra) but the fighting is more like bantering than hatred.

Merkel’s Saturn (in Scorpio) is conjunct Nikolic’s Mars. Merkel may not approve of Nikolic’s extracurricular activities. There may be a little judgment on her part.

Merkel likes to play in the sandbox with Nikolic but is jealous when other kids come along and Nikolic’s interest moves to the new playmates.

Pluto, in Capricorn

Pluto is transiting Capricorn and opposing Merkel’s Mercury in Cancer. That means while playing in the sandbox, the earth is shifting below.

While Merkel might want to critically assess the playmates in her sandbox, she also must look at the ground on which the sandbox resides.

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What sign is Harold (of the Purple Crayon)?

Posted on May 21, 2012 by ohioastrology

In “Harold and the Purple Crayon,” Harold creates a world for himself with his purple crayon.

The Amazon.com review describes the story:

“’One night, after thinking it over for some time, Harold decided to go for a walk in the moonlight.’ So begins this gentle story that shows just how far your imagination can take you. Armed only with an oversized purple crayon, young Harold draws himself a landscape full of beauty and excitement.

But this is no hare-brained, impulsive flight of fantasy. Cherubic, round-headed Harold conducts his adventure with the utmost prudence, letting his imagination run free, but keeping his wits about him all the while.

He takes the necessary purple-crayon precautions: drawing landmarks to ensure he won’t get lost; sketching a boat when he finds himself in deep water; and creating a purple pie picnic when he feels the first pangs of hunger.”

What sign of the zodiac is Harold?

Imagination

Harold creates an entire world with his imagination – this is Pure Pisces.

Not only does Harold create his world, but he reacts to it. Harold is providing a message that takes years of meditation to understand.

We create stories, react to those stories, then create more stories in response.

At the end of the tale, Harold goes to sleep, turning off his stories. Or were the stories part of his sleep?

What is reality?

Pisces, more than any other sign, lives in its imagination. Pisces has an “otherworldly” quality and sometimes just isn’t in the room with you (or on planet earth with you).

Purple

Purple is the color of the crown chakra, which, according to this site, “represents that part of our consciousness concerned with perceptions of unity or separation.”

That’s Pisces.

Pisces, being the last sign of the zodiac, is about merging in contrast to Aries, the first sign, which is about assertion of self.

I find that both the first (Aries) and last (Pisces) signs of the zodiac have a certain naïveté. At the beginning and end of the zodiacal cycle, it appears innocence is needed.

Harold casts no judgment on his creations. He organically and impulsively creates them then creates a way out of them into the next imaginative sequence. But he doesn’t judge. In fact, he doesn’t talk at all.

When your Pisces is quiet, he/she has retreated to the world of the “purple crayon.”

Crockett Johnson

The writer of “Harold and the Purple Crayon,” Crockett Johnson, was a Libra sun and probably Sagittarius moon.

Sagittarius is the great wanderer of the zodiac. No wonder Harold wanders in his imagination.

Johnson had Saturn in Pisces squaring that moon (and Venus) in Sagittarius. Saturn is where we lack or feel restriction (and subsequent insecurity). Crockett felt insecurity in a Pisces way, about his imagination and merging with others.

Johnson the Libra probably mated early, as Libras do, but had a desire to wander off into the void, alone, like Harold, with only his imagination.

I almost added Harold in the blog on nomadism as Harold is clearly not restricted by physical reality. While it isn’t easy to be a physical nomad in our society, we can still be an imaginative “nomad.”

Johnson probably had a little nomad in him, wandering off physically (Sagittarius moon) and imaginatively (Saturn in Pisces).

The desire for more imaginative worlds than three-dimensional reality can lead some to drugs. I don’t know if Johnson had this desire.

Pisces

Harold is an undifferentiated Pisces. While Harold walks, he has an infant-toddler look. He’s at the age when differentiated reality (Virgo) is being just being learned.

Virgo says “This is a sidewalk. It is where we walk. This is a dog. This is a cat.”

Sound familiar?

Pisces says the teacher is really an alien being and the classroom is a spaceship. Calvin of Calvin and Hobbes was also a Pisces. Calvin’s tiger was real, but no one could see it but Calvin.

We’re encouraged as children to use our imaginations. We read books where Harold and others imagine beautiful, ugly and magical realities.

And somewhere it stops. We are then told our imaginations are fantasy.

Harold is special because he uses imagination to create reality. Imagination and reality are not separate in his purple-crayon world. He flows in and out of his self-created images like water flowing downstream between rocks.

Harold teaches us that when we are in the unknown alone, we have only our imagination.

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Who is the Nomad of the Zodiac?

Posted on May 20, 2012 by ohioastrology

The May/June 2012 issue of Archaeology magazine has an article about past herding nomads titled “Rethinking the Thundering Hordes.” In the article there is a 1907 quote attributed to sociologist Jerome Dowd where he says, “Nomadic people are generally the invincible opponents of civilization.”

What is civilization?

Dictionary.com defines “civilization” as “an advanced state of human society, in which a high level of culture, science, industry, and government has been reached.”

Wow, that’s a subjective definition. What’s “advanced?”

Nomadism doesn’t exist in our society because all land is owned. If you do not own (or rent) land, at some point in the day you will be loitering or trespassing.

But does everyone desire a sedentary life? If we had a choice, how many would reject it?

What sign of the zodiac would be most interested in a nomadic lifestyle?

Modern Nomads

By nature, it is difficult to identity a nomad. But there are two that come to mind – Bruce Chatwin and Christopher McCandless.

Bruce Chatwin

Chatwin was a novelist and traveler writer. In one of his works titled “The Songlines,” Chatwin walks the dreaming lines of the Australian aborigines.

Publisher’s Weekly in its review (via Amazon.com), “praised Chatwin’s ‘entertaining’ and ‘resonant’ reflections on the distinctions between settled people and wanderers, and between human aggression and pacifism, as he searches central Australia for the pathways along which aborigines travel to perform their cultural activities.” Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

“. . distinctions between settled people and wanderers,” the review says.

I smell a nomad.

Chatwin had Saturn, Mercury, Uranus and sun in the fixed earth sign Taurus. Moon was probably in Leo with Pluto hanging all over it.

That’s an awful lot of fixed signs.

Taurus is a materialistic, grounded, practical earth sign.

What’s an earth sign doing wasting time with dreaming nonsense? Why wasn’t Chatwin at home balancing the checkbook and building a bookcase?

His moon/Pluto in Leo squared Saturn in Taurus.

Chatwin, a man of the earth, probably felt material existence was both a sensual delight and a mud-brick prison.

Chatwin may have turned dreamy-nomad in reaction to his own material addictions.

I’m guessing that no matter how far and long Chatwin traveled, he had some comfort item that he carried with him at all times like a gift from a grandparent or childhood toy or comfortable bed item.

Moon in Leo is about attention and needs an audience. Nomadism is quite contrary to establishing a famous and known “self.”

Again, the square of that Leo energy with the Taurus energy makes me wonder if Chatwin wasn’t trying to escape from himself or simply lose himself through nomadism.

Christopher McCandless

You may not recognize the name but there was a book and movie based on McCandless’ nomadism – “Into the Wild.”

McCandless openly rejected sedentary life and traveled across the country in search of adventure, mostly physical.

McCandless donated his money to charity prior to setting out to become a modern-day “drifter,” doing odd jobs to fund wandering, rafting and living in the wild. McCandless’ goal was to spend a winter, alone, in the Alaskan wilderness.

McCandless fulfilled his dream but did not survive it.

McCandless had sun and Mercury in Aquarius and moon probably in Leo.

Leo, again. Fixed signs, again.

Aquarius by nature is a rebel. McCandless may simply have chosen the wandering life because it is 100 percent contrary to what every single parent in America wants for his/her child.

Leo, once again, needs attention so at some point, had McCandless survived, he may have documented his experiences. He wanted to experience solitude, but I’m guessing he wanted to share his experience of solitude post facto.

McCandless was born during the Uranus/Pluto conjunction that brought hippies and “anti-establishment” sentiment. He definitely carried that energy.

Mars in Pisces opposed the Virgo energy making McCandless by turns a dreamer and at other times a picky critic.

As Jon Krakauer writes in his book, McCandless did make it through most of the winter, an awesome feat. While we don’t know what happened, McCandless may simply have misidentified and eaten a wrong plant.

Who is the nomad of the zodiac?

For me, the physical wanderer of the zodiac is Sagittarius and the emotional wanderer of the zodiac is Pisces.

Sagittarius wanders off in search of meaning. Pisces wanders off emotionally and imaginatively when life makes too many emotional demands or just for fun as imagination can be much more fulfilling than daily life.

Neither Chatwin nor McCandless had much Sagittarian energy (unless with rising sign which is unknown) but McCandless had Mars in Pisces.

Our modern day nomads had moon in Leo and a lot of fixed signs in the chart. It may not be that the moon in Leo created the nomadism but that because of moon in Leo we know about it.

These two nomads may have had a “stick it to the man” mentality that made them opponents of civilization.

Chatwin was famous by his own effort but McCandless could have been a truly unknown nomad had Krakauer not written about him.

To be a nomad today, like Chatwin and McCandless, you need dogged, persistent fixed-sign strength in which resist pressure from all of society to conform to a sedentary lifestyle.

The nomads, then, of the zodiac are the fixed signs who have the strength to reject civilization.

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Joe Biden’s Slip of the Tongue

Posted on May 18, 2012 by ohioastrology

On the May 6 edition of Meet the Press, Vice President Joe Biden expressed his support of gay marriage. According to the news, such as this CNN story, Biden’s vocalizing of his support “forced” Obama to publicly declare his support of gay marriage.

Or so the story goes.

Neither the astrologer nor political viewer in me buys this for one minute.

If Newt Gingrich, on the other hand, had gone on Meet the Press and had one of his Gemini sun/Sagittarius moon opposition Manic Moments and announced a position on a previously taboo subject, I could have bought it.

It still may have been theater, but it would have been plausible theater. I could have suspended disbelief.

But Biden? With Mars, Mercury, sun and Venus in fixed Scorpio and moon probably in fixed Taurus, I can’t for one minute believe this was a slip.

Scorpio and Taurus are fixed signs. Taurus is the most deliberate and methodical of the signs. Moon in Taurus means one’s reactive nature is like Taurus – slow and methodical and well-conceived.

Scorpio, in contrast, is intense and private constantly scanning the room in CIA-like fashion for people’s motives. Mercury in Scorpio is the detective. Mars and Mercury together in Scorpio create a personality destined to win or cause the winner some big trouble.

Could Biden’s Uranus/Saturn conjunction in Gemini created this slip of the tongue?

As Mars transits Virgo and squares this conjunction, it’s possible. But the slip-up would have been more convincing to me if it had a Virgo or Gemini quick-and-nervous tone to it. Biden should have hemmed and hawed a bit, with a couple “umms” and “ohhs” and maybe some shifting of the eyes to show an inner torment of wanting to speak the truth.

True Motive

I’ve spent almost two weeks thinking of a political motive for this position. While I can truly believe that both Biden and Obama support gay marriage, announcing it right now probably has a more numbers-oriented political motive.

Since Biden was the bearer of the news, let’s look at the transits to his chart.

On Sunday, May 6, the moon was in Scorpio and Jupiter opposing in Taurus.

Taurus and Scorpio are about sensuality, material goods and money. Politicians are always looking for financial donors so I’m guessing that Biden/Obama have done the math and discovered how much money can come through the gay community.

Jupiter transiting Taurus opposes Biden’s stellium in Scorpio suggesting he’s grabbing at dollars.

I already mentioned Mars in Virgo was squaring Biden’s Saturn/Uranus in Gemini. Saturn in Gemini creates insecurity about learning and friend-making. With Uranus attached, Biden’s friendships may come and go suddenly (which is in contrast to his fixed nature which is loyal).

Venus was in Gemini that day, but had passed the Saturn/Uranus conjunction. Venus passing over that conjunction suggests that maybe a friend or loved one encouraged Biden to speak up. Venus would have passed that conjunction mid-April.

That same Venus is now retrograde through late-June. This story probably won’t go away until about that time.

Saturn transiting Libra squares Biden’s natal Jupiter in Cancer. Family problems? But how does this relate?

Ok, if it wasn’t 100% politically motivated, then maybe a friend or family member recently announced he/she was gay. Possibly Biden decided independently to take a stand at something near his heart.

Regardless of motive, Obama/Biden are now open supporters of gay marriage and possibly increased gay marriage campaign donations.

Liberalism in the US is not dead yet!

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Miguel Bosé is Numero Uno

Posted on May 16, 2012 by ohioastrology

Miguel Bosé’s CD “Papito” is a beautiful compilation of his works sung as duets with different Spanish-language singers and even includes one track with Michael Stipe of REM.

Bosé has also been active with Juanes in political issues, such as hosting a concert for peace in Cuba.

All that humanitarian work gave me the scent of Aquarius. Unless he has an Aquarius rising, there is no Aquarius in Bosé’s chart.

Aries / Capricorn

Bosé is an Aries sun and Mercury with moon conjunct Mars in Capricorn. Bosé is one ambitious hombre.

Makes sense – According to Wikipedia, Bosé began his career as an actor and later turned to music. Wikipedia also says that Bosé had an Italian actress mother and Spanish bullfighting father.

Bosé clearly picked up this intense energy fully in the cardinal mode. Bosé always, and I mean always, gets what he wants. Aries and Capricorn are pushy and bossy (I said pushy and bossy, stop fidgeting while I’m talking) so time spent with Bosé is time spent productively.

He’s got a schedule and he sticks to it (unless he impulsively changes to a new schedule).

Cardinal signs change things. They walk into your house tell you to move the spider plant to the corner and that the wall could use a new coat of paint.

Then they say hello.

Pick, pick, pick.

With Aries sun and Mars on the moon, Bosé could easily have been an athlete. Mars is both energy and competition.

Uranus in Cancer and Neptune in Libra create a cardinal grand cross.

Did I mention Bosé was bossy?

Mars in Capricorn is in its exaltation – it’s a good place for Mars. Mars likes action and goals and Capricorn is ready to set the plan in motion to check the goal off the list.

Jupiter and Pluto in Leo add more strength to an already commanding and domineering personality.

Venus in Taurus is stubborn and likes its physical pleasures.

Hey, there’s one mutable sign in Bosé’s chart – Saturn in Sagittarius. Saturn doesn’t add to the personality, it usually subtracts and is an area of development.

Bosé is one headstrong dude. Don’t bother arguing.

Humanitarian or Leader?

Rather than humanitarian, Bosé is a leader. These two terms are not mutually exclusive but Bosé clearly is meant to accomplish goals. He’s good at leading because he’s quite poor at following or “getting out of the way,” as the saying goes.

Moon in Capricorn can lead because it can stomach facing unpleasant situations.

Bosé’s gathering together of the most famous Latin singers to create a CD of duets speaks to his ability to lead and earn respect and explains the album title of “Papito.”

Moon in Capricorn is not nurturing, won’t feed you in bed because you have a paper cut, but will support productive, practical plans.

Moon in Capricorn will lend you a $1 million to open a hospital for sick ferrets, but won’t lend you $5 because you didn’t feel like working today.

If God helps those who help themselves, then God has moon in Capricorn.

Pluto in Capricorn, Uranus in Aries and Saturn in Libra

I feel almost obsessed about Pluto in Capricorn . . . For those not fully familiar with astrological humor, Pluto rules Scorpio and is obsessive.

Pluto in Capricorn, Uranus in Aries and Saturn in Libra (soon to pass) are activating that tense grand square in Bosé’s chart. Bosé may be feeling like he has ants in his pants right now.

Even when Saturn moves to Scorpio in October, Bosé will continue to feel both energized and agitated with Pluto in Capricorn and Uranus in Aries. Something is getting in his way right now and he wants the barrier to be removed.

Frustration in Bosé’s life will increase before it gets better, in about seven years.

Uranus will be conjuncting Bose’s Mercury in Aries in a couple years so impulsive, headstrong talk with become more frequent.

Pluto will conjunct Bose’s moon/Mars conjunction in several years. Some intense power struggles are on the way. Maybe Bosé will move his activism from the musical stage to the political stage and cause some trouble?

Papito

Michael Stipe may also be looking for a new job and this sun in Capricorn singer may also raise the stakes on his political involvement.

If Bosé and Stipe can sing together, maybe they can politick together?

I’m guessing there are more Cuban peace concerts in Bosé’s future. Pluto in Capricorn says those concerts will provoke response from people who fear losing control.

Would an Aries want anything less?

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Pluto in Capricorn by Generation

Posted on May 15, 2012 by ohioastrology

Whenever a planet transits a sign, that sign and its polarity are directly affected. For example, right now Mars is in Virgo. Mars provides assertive energy. So your keep-a-list Virgo friends are now keeping ten lists.

The opposite sign Pisces is being forced from the opposing Mars in Virgo to keep a list, stick to it and show up on time, all things that are difficult for the dreamy, otherworldly Pisces.

Pluto in Capricorn

Pluto is currently transiting Capricorn and will be for the next 15-20 years. Capricorn sun individuals will find themselves at the other end of a black hole when the transit passes over their suns.

All of us have a house with Capricorn as its ruling sign. If you also have a planet in Capricorn, expect changes to that energy in that house.

While we are all affected by any transit, certain generations are born with certain configurations that may be more strongly affected than other generations. That means a certain transit will affect them as a group in a particular way.

Currently while Pluto is transiting Capricorn, Uranus is in Aries and Neptune is in Pisces.

Early 1930s Generation

Those born in the early 1930s have Saturn in Capricorn, Uranus in Aries, Neptune in Virgo and Pluto in Cancer.

The current transits affect each one of these planets. This generation is about 84 and having its Uranus return.

Neptune transiting Pisces is opposing natal Neptune saying it’s not about the details and little bits of information but about the spiritual meaning. It’s not about analyzing, it’s about being.

Every generation at the age of 84 will have a Uranus return and Neptune opposition. The generation is learning to let go, to be free. Really, at a certain age you just don’t care what others think.

This generation is also experiencing Pluto transiting natal Saturn in Capricorn and opposing natal Pluto in Cancer (widely) which creates a destructive attitude toward worldly rules and structures. If this generation is holding the pillars of our society in any way, they will soon let go.

Late 1960-Early 1961 Generation

The generation born late-1960 through early-1961 has a Jupiter/Saturn conjunction in Capricorn.

Both Jupiter and Saturn relate to social structures. Jupiter defines a society’s belief structure and Saturn defines society’s rules and laws.

This generation struggles with belief through a system. Some may find comfort in beliefs that have firm rules and order. Others may reject this entirely and hold no beliefs or decide that their beliefs do not have to be within an established institution.

The rejecters may choose atheism. The non-rejecters may choose life in or around an organized religion.

The very term “organized religion” sounds like a Jupiter/Saturn conjunction in Capricorn.

As Pluto comes along, this struggle will erupt into a critical issue that must be resolved. Pluto no longer will allow this generation to peacefully co-exist with religious structures in which it does not participate.

The Jupiter/Saturn conjunction was in the later degrees of the sign (17 degrees +) so the crisis won’t reach fruition for another four to five years.

Expect this generation to challenge rules of organized religion. Expect in the next few years new rules for organized religions (taxes?).

The Late 1989-Early 1990s Generation

The generation born in late-1989 to the early-1990s is the generation that must reinvent the world economy. Let’s give this generation our full support – they have quite a job ahead.

This generation is still young and will be most affected by the current economic collapse. Like the generation that lived through the Great Depression and pinched pennies for the rest of their lives, this generation will form habits in the coming years that will last through the rest of their lives.

In late 1989, Saturn/Uranus/Neptune were all conjunct in Capricorn. Later, Saturn passed into Aquarius but Uranus/Neptune continued for four more years to travel side-by-side through Capricorn.

Capricorn is definitely a heavy sign. This generation must have some karmic debt that brought them into the world to create an entirely new world order.

Uranus in Capricorn upsets social structures. Neptune idealizes social structures.

This generation appears to have come into a world where those around them fully and totally believed that the structures of society were not only safe and solid, but entirely trustworthy.

Pluto in Capricorn is saying otherwise. This is a rough lesson that we are all experiencing but this generation is going to feel the changes in the marrow of their bones.

Pluto in Capricorn Generation

As Pluto transits Capricorn, children being born today have this placement. They are being born during a changing world order and will become their own generation with their own characteristics.

Their parents may have been born in 1960 and their grandparents 1930.

And so the world evolves. That’s what Pluto rules – evolution.

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