Lessons of Independence for the Aquarius Full Moon

I have a friend with cerebral palsy.  Or rather, he is more of an acquaintance.  We met after chatting online for a little while, and he is a nice and friendly guy.  We had only actually hung out three times ever when he up and moved to California with his full-time caretaker a few months back.  BUT, he came back to town this past week to attend his brothers wedding, without his caretaker. 
When I say caretaker, I mean the person who cares for him 24 hours a day, every day, all the time, for everything he needs.  My friend has limited use of his left arm, and that is about it.  He is otherwise confined to a wheel chair and must rely on others for everything aside from feeding himself and wiping his own ass. 

A few months back, he called me up to ask if I would like to accompany him to his brothers wedding.  I knew what this would entail at that point.  I would have to pick him up, lift him into my car, get his chair folded up in my back seat, get him and chair back out of the car at the venue and wheel him around for an evening.  I agreed happily and willingly because it sounded like a good time. 

Then, just before his flight back across the country, he called and asked if I could pick him up at the airport and bring him to his fathers house.  I figured, why not?  It's not like I've got anything else going on right now being unemployed.  So I go to the airport and pick him up.  As soon as we get into the car he says that he needs to go pick up his tux before going to his fathers house.  It was on the way, so..  whatever.... 

We get the tux and start heading to his fathers.  As it turns out, his father lives a lot further away than my friend had originally said. But, I'm used to driving..  so..  again, whatever.

Then we get to his fathers house.  His father is an angry and gruff bigot who treats his son like shit.  I did not know this.  Nor did I know at the time that my friends caretaker refused to come with him for the trip because he didn't want to see the father.  Upon getting him in the house, his father informs me that he is unable to lift his son in and out of his chair and I can sleep in the back bedroom......

WHAT!?!?!

My friend never told me part of the plan was having me stay with him and his family.  I started to panic.  I told them I would stay with a friend who lived nearby and frantically started txting so as not to have to drive 2 hours home, or worse, sleep in this strangers house.  But I had no luck..  my friend nearby had lost his phone earlier that day, and as time wore on i saw my situation getting more and more grim.  By nightfall, my friends father told me i needed to pull my car into the driveway for the night because he didn't want it to get hit int he street.  This made no sense to me, but not wanting to offend him I went and pulled my car in the driveway.  He then pulled his car in behind mine claiming he had to be up early to bring my friends step-mother to work early the next morning, and he didn't want to have to wake me up to move my car.

I was trapped.  I started freaking out, but silently and without letting them see how uncomfortable I was because that's just the Libra in me.  But this was the night of the full moon in Aquarius, and these strangers had suddenly stolen my independence and lain captive my ability to escape..  There was no way I could get my car out even if I tried.  And if I did escape, then I'd be leaving my friend with people who refused to help him. 

I told them I was tired..  helped my friend into bed, and excused myself and went to bed myself.  It was still hours before I normally go to sleep, but I couldn't sit there watching VHS taped daytime soaps any longer.  As I lay there trying to ignore the menagerie of bobble head dolls lining the walls in this strange place, I ended up overdosing on benedryl just to pass out.  What the fuck had I gotten myself into....?

The next day involved waking up to my friends father trying to get him ready for the day..  his father pulled off all of his clothes as he lay in bed, and then started yelling at him for not bathing properly.  He told him he stunk, and he had better find someone to give him a bath before the wedding.  I just stood there trying to not look at my embarrassed friend, who was now naked, wondering why he came back to this. 

After my first ever micro-waved egg and margarine breakfast, I loaded my friend in the car and left the house as soon as possible...  As we drove around all day, I didn't know what to say to him.  Did he just assume that I had offered to help with everything?  ..or was he just taking advantage of my willingness to help?  I didn't know..  and I didn't know how to ask without making the situation even more uncomfortable. 

Many hours and miles later, we returned to the house to find the extended family there for dinner.  I spent the evening sitting with them at the dining room table listening to them talk about their family, how much they disliked the bride to be, and how their small town had gone to shit.  I had nothing to add to the conversation, and just sat there until i could once again banish myself to the creepy back room with all the bobble-heads, because no, I had still not heard from my nearby friend and resigned myself to the horrible situation. 

The following day, we were to check into a motel closer to the wedding venue, and then attend the rehearsal dinner.  This had already been planned without my knowledge, and at that point I just accepted it.  But first, there were errands my friend needed to run...  go to the bank, buy a wedding card, visit an old friend...  Several more hours of driving with just as many piss breaks as the day before.  Pulling into the back of a parking lot and waiting outside the car as he urinated in a bottle, which I then had to dispose of. 

Finally, we get to the motel.  It's nasty.  It's not the same place the rest of the family is staying at because my friend couldn't afford to stay there..  this is a place downtown where sleazy shit goes down, and scary people hash out a living.  And there was only one bed.  He expected me to sleep next to him.  I started to break. 

I ran outside and frantically started calling friends..  finally getting in touch with one about 45 minutes away who I could stay with for the night.  I felt slightly better.  When I got back inside, he told me that he was going to have someone he knew come to the room after the rehearsal dinner to bathe him.  I definitely felt better.  But then I had to dress him for the dinner... not fun.
So we go out to the rehearsal for which I was told I needed to dress up in full garb because it was at some fancy place.  Nope.  I could have worn shorts and a polo and been fine.  We eat.  It goes quickly.  I'm happy for that.  But as we get up to leave, my stomach cramps up.  The family dinner from the night before was preparing for it's second appearance and it wasn't going to be pretty.  I almost shit myself trying to lift him into my car.  His whole family stood by and watched without even offering to help.  Now angry and frantic I sped back to the sleazy motel and somehow managed to get him in the room and myself on the toilet before I ruined the one pair of dress pants I had with me. 

That trial done, he then told me that the friend who was coming to bathe him needed a ride.  I had to go pick up a stranger off some random street corner on the other side of town before I could leave for the night.  Awkward and annoying indeed.  But I made it to my friends just a few minutes after midnight...  and he was standing there waiting for me with a big hug and a stiff drink to calm me down.  I needed them both, and that one night I actually slept like a rock. 

The next morning I got back to the motel to find him still asleep..  the guy who bathed him gone.  The wedding was that night, and I told him we were going to relax and take out time.  No running around.  No panic.  No surprises.  I got what I wanted for that little bit of time.  It was nice. 
Then off to the wedding.  I spent the night being directed as to where to push him and escaping to chain smoke on the deck.  I didn't know anyone aside from him family I'd met the night before, none of whom spoke to me.  The music was awful;  the food, not much better;  and I couldn't drink because I had to drive us back into town at the end of the night to bring him to that sleazy motel.  Over the course of the evening I devised a plan to stay with another friend who I needed to get keys from as I am now house sitting for her..  not entirely true.  But not a total lie either..  and it got me out of sharing a bed with someone I was really quite angry with at that point. 

When we left the wedding, I loaded his drunk ass in the car and he immediately started crying.  He said he wanted his family to treat him better..  he was angry that he was left out of so many things his other brothers did as part of the wedding party..  he told me that he had always tried to be so considerate of others knowing how much of a burden it was to care for him, but he needed to think about himself now.  With that statement I almost hit him.  I was so angry I seriously wanted to shove him and his chair out into an intersection and just drive off.  No one in his family wanted to help him because they had been doing it for his whole life.  I had volunteered to go to a wedding and been roped into a weeks worth of personal care.  I turned the music up as loud as it would go and started singing to drown him out.  He kept crying.  I didn't care. 

Back at the motel, I put him to bed and asked why he ever came back knowing his family would treat him this way and he would have to rely on an unsuspecting me to help him through everything..  He said he may need them one day.  I told him that they most likely won't be there when that happens and I left. 

When I got to my other friends, she sat and talked with me for two hours to calm me down before going to sleep.  The shit show still wasn't over yet.  I had to get up the next day and get him out of the motel before checkout, then drive him back down to his fathers.  I told him I had a job to do that night (which was true) but just very quickly dropped him off.  As I was leaving he said, "You can pick me up tomorrow around 10." 

I said, "I will get here when I damn well get here.." and left.  I then went and sat in a parking lot for 3 hours to kill time before work.  I still had to go back the next day and pick him up again to bring him to the one other person in this state who was willing to help him out..  but it was almost over.
The other friend who was willing to help had been away all week and was supposed to get back around noon.  It was a half hour drive from where I stayed after working with one of my buddies, and then an hour drive back up to where his only other willing friend lived.  I took my time.  The other willing friend was late.  We had three hours to kill.  He offered to buy me lunch...  having not gotten anything out of the deal so far I accepted. 

He mentioned some chinese restaurant he wanted to get take out from..  I didn't want him eating in my car after seeing the mess he made at every meal all week, so I said we should just go in and eat there.  The place had no wheelchair ramp.  What The Fuck.  One of the waiters offered to help lift his chair into the building..  the only time in the entire week that anyone else touched that chair. 
Finally, as this stupid saga started to come to an actual end and I was pulling up to his friends house, he pulls a twenty dollar bill from his wallet.  "This is for gas..."  I couldn't even say anything......  I just left.  His other friend was bringing him to the airport the next day and I was just done. 
In all, from the moment I left home to pick him up at the airport until getting back home after dropping him with his friend, I spent five and half days being his caretaker.  Granted he did thank me obsessively all day and every day for the duration, but I also put 660 miles on my car driving half way across the state and back more than once for him.  The whole fiasco actually ended up costing me sixty dollars for the gas he didn't otherwise pay for. 

The next day, I woke up with a raging fever, aches and chills..  a throbbing head and dizziness.  I've been in bed since, aside from a quick run to the store because I needed liquids and pain killers. 


At the time, i just kept telling myself, "if i don't do this, no one else will.." .....the truth is, that isn't true.  The afternoon I dropped him off and left, his father and step mother had to have done everything for him, because i didn't find him in the same spot the next day.  I was used by his family as much as I was used by him.  But I still did it. 

I did it because I felt like I had to.  And the whole while I knew it was a life lesson.  I pitied him for his reliance on others, but it made me value my own independence so much more.  It was the initial shock of having my car blocked in..  here I was helping someone who couldn't help himself, and my freedom was stripped from me.  Most of you here know how much I drive (or at least how much I drove for my previous job), and the truth is that I love it..  I am in control.  I can go where I please, when I choose.  Without that option I felt crushed and defeated.  I imagined that is what it must feel like to be confined to a wheelchair and the assistance of others. 

It was no mistake this all occurred around the full moon in Aqua.  This was life showing me how important Independence is. 

This was also life showing me how important family is...  and as many problems as I have with my family right now, I know I can still count on them.  I also know I can count on my friends..  my close friends who are extensions of my family.....  the people who have put me up in their homes for days on end over the past few weeks.  Knowing that I have people to rely on is a powerful thing. 

He does not have the network of family to rely on..  I don't think it was originally his intention for me to care for him all week, but rather, everyone who said they would help bailed.  The friend we visited lent him money.  The guy who bathed him is a home health aid who had worked with my friend before, but offered his services freely.  The guy I left him with was willing to get him out of bed at 3.30am the next morning to get him to his flight home on time.  But none of them devoted themselves to him.  None of them were asked to do so much. 

The night that I picked up the guy to bathe him at the motel..  when I left, he said "Enjoy your night off!!"  -jokingly.  But he knew I was doing a job..  a job I wasn't getting paid for.  I bit my tongue and kept the scathing remark to myself that night, because that's how Libra plays...  but damnit, I was pissed. 

I imagined that if anyone came up to me at the wedding and asked who I was I would tell them I was the UNhired help.  No one asked me anything except some drunk chick at the end of the night...  she asked if I wanted to dance.....  I wanted to leave. 

He thanked me and the three other people who helped him in a facebook post this afternoon.  It was upsetting to think that he could simply group me in with the others after my days and days of effort.  But it was also upsetting to think that twenty dollars might be sufficient to cover all the miles I put on my car because of him. 

At one point, I took the piss bottle he uses and threw it in a sink full of bleach water, because it stunk so bad of rotten urinal that it made my car smell.  His own father just sprayed cologne on him as he wandered past. 

My father caught me attempting to shower with the hose behind the barn at the farm the day before I went to pick the friend up at the airport..  I'd been couch hopping for three weeks or so by that point, and was trying not to impose on anyone too heavily for fear of wearing out my welcome and being selfish.  My father told me to go home and shower, he would deal with moms temper...  I still used the hose so as not to intrude on troubled situation I myself had caused.  I can't be so selfish as to ignore the feelings of others. 

I suppose my inability to be so selfish makes me oblivious to the selfishness of others..  at least, until it's too late and i've been duped.  This certainly isn't the first time my willingness to help someone has gotten me abused.  Anyone remember the xfriend and the feather endeavor from two years back?  ...yeah..  she still works for my former employer.  They just gave her a raise.  how about the scorp?  he used me whenever he wanted, and i played along for 9 months like his little dog oft left in the cold.... 

So.  I want a life lesson from this?  Boundaries.  That is what I need to learn.  I need to learn to recognize when I'm being taken advantage of and when to put a stop to it.  But it's like lying and backstabbing..  I would never do either, so I never expect them from others.  I never think anyone would use me for their own selfish needs, because I would never do that to anyone else.  It's foolish, I know..  but sometimes I think that little bit of innocence may be the only thing keeping me from being the truly spiteful and vindictive person I know I can be...  and letting that part of me out would be worse than falling victim every now and again. 

Natal Chart Interpretations

  excerpt from a natal chart analysis..

A Whole Host of Self

Joe Jr's Aries Sun is in the 5^th house. This is a pleasurable house, where fun and enjoyment happen, games and friendship. As it is related to Leo (which is ruled by the Sun), to have one's natal Sun placed here lends a bit of comfort. He will love to have fun, and is potentially a very creative individual. There is a love of entertainment associated with this placement. He is a showman. He will be proud of his achievements and driven towards self-expression. He will be happiest as a leader, and will revel in having an audience. To be truly happy, he must shine.

Being an Aries Sun only accentuates his need to be a leader. Being the first sign of the zodiac, an Aries loves to give that first push – to get the ball rolling. Aries are never shy, and often are pioneers breaking through uncharted territory. The ram will climb to the top of the mountain simply because he wants to be the first to see what is there.

Aries and Mars go hand in hand, and Joe Jr has his Mars almost exactly conjunct his Sun. So imagine if you will, all the energy that is an Aries Sun and multiply it by an exponential level. He will be a force to be reckoned with. He will be forceful and commanding to the point of aggressive and overpowering drive. Nothing will keep him down, and nothing will stand in his way. This could prove troublesome if he cannot learn to bridle his passions.

Of all the aspects in Joe Jr's natal chart, Sun conjunct Mars is the most powerful and exact of them all. Not only are they a already joined in with similar and paired vibrational energy, they are less than a single degree away from one another. They are also moving closer together, so the culmination of their energy is just about to happen. This is action in motion (redundancy intended). He has to move. He may never stop. He knows what he wants, and he wants to win. Sports and athletics are going to be a necessity. Martial Arts could be particularly engaging, and work well to bridle the exploding energy within him; especially at a young age. Team sports will be a great pastime for him if he can remember to be a team player as well as team captain.

Joe Jr also has Venus in Aries, just a few degrees away from his Sun/Mars, making for a stellium. The concentrated energy of a stellium is such that all individual players meld to form a new character. With Mars less than one degree ahead of the Sun, and Venus another four degrees past Mars, She is blazing the trail. There will be very little difference between his Sun and Mars (his ego and drive), and likewise they way he loves and sees beauty. Venus riding up front will give him an engaging charm that very few will be able to deny. It is often said that 5^th house Suns would make great performers; with Venus here as well it is almost inevitable. He will be attracted to visual and artistic endeavors that comprise a group effort, leading said group to a cutting edge experience. Where there is a beauty in the structure of martial arts, there is also beauty in the emotion of dance. Copoeira and stunt acting come to mind.

As Venus imprints of on way he views beauty, instilling his perception with a need for elegance and appeal, she also lays her hands on the affections he will express towards other. He will love fast and strong; and when his heart is set, there will be no stopping him. His passion will start with a spark that instantly rages into an inferno.

Venus and Mars together are a blending of feminine and masculine energies. Sex and romance will be like second nature, and he will have plenty of both in his life. Partnerships and relationships will be heated and furious as they need to be passionate to keep his attention. He may in fact crave a bit of a tumultuous affair, but act in a charming manner so as not to crush his opponent. He will be charasmatic and others will feel the warmth of his glow.

Added to this mix is the minor planet Eris. In most cases asteroids and minor planets are left out of natal chart interpretation, but they add bits of nuance to a chart, especially when found in close aspect to major players in the chart. In addition to her close proximity, I have included this demigoddess in the discussion because of the mythology associated with her – She is the sister of Aries. As kin to the god of war, Eris is often seen as full of rage and sorrow. She strikes down any and all who are untrue and lie under oath. Her story is told as a vengeful plight of being the uninvited. Rejection quickly escalates to scorn and malice. Dis-invited from a wedding party, she fitfully throws an apple into the festivities marked “to the fairest”. The ensuring battle to claim the most beautiful maiden was said to be the cause of the Trojan war.

With all of his power and force, Joe Jr will be fully capable of vengeful acts. Though they are not likely to manifest, the spark will be Eris. He needs to be included, and rejection will very likely bring about a want for retaliation. This is an energy he will need to learn how to control. Having compassion will be the key to keeping vengeance at bay.

There are few aspects formed with this collection of heavenly bodies, and each of them stems off Venus. They are not tight aspects, meaning the power they exhibit will not be as strong, but they are worth mentioning none the less because of the other players involved and the types of energy manifested. Primarily, there is an opposition with Saturn and a sextile with Neptune. Saturn and Venus energy is difficult to mesh in any circumstance, but with an opposition they simply do not understand one and other. Joey may have trouble aligning what he wants from love and beauty, and what he needs from love and beauty. On the other hand, Neptune may keep him mystified in love well enough not to notice a difference. The fact that Saturn is in retrograde motion disrupting his energy may aid in the illusion as well. But the one aspect formed that is almost exact is a semi-square with Jupiter. Though the semi-square is not as powerful an aspect as the conjunction, trine, or square; not really even as powerful as the sextile; the fact that this aspect is formed within only several minutes may lend it a more poignant notion. Like the square, the semi-square is an energy that is not fully compatible. It isn't detrimental as can be a square, but it is none the less confused. Since Jupiter is the expansion tool of the solar system, Joey's already radiating personality and forceful lust for life may be overwhelming for a good number of people. But his expression is his love, and with Jupiter tied to the Moon, it won't matter if he scares away some or a few; he cannot be contained. He will have to learn to understand aversion and accept rejection. 

This is mere a small part of a 15 page report going over every detail of the natal chart.  If you are interested in purchasing something along these lines, please message me at raliberti2@gmail.com for more information.  Thank you.  

SaturnRx will rip things apart in order to get them back on the right path for when he turns direct. I know so many people in the same position.. (myself included) who just had enough and put an end to the madness. Remember, Saturn isn't nice about what he does, but he always acts with best interests in mind. Now we have until November (when Saturn returns to the position at which he started retrograde) to rebuild. Being relieved that a situation is that hint of inspiration dealt by Neptune telling you that it's all OK! The panic will fade... and as Saturn gains speed you'll start moving forward to a better place.

Pluto

Pluto is always shifting, but more slowly than most of us can notice, I think. From what I've gathered, he needs a spark to ignite a shock-wave. It is when any of the other transiting planets hit both pluto and a natal point that the circuit completes and Pluto strikes.  Most likely it will be nothing that will amount to more than tiny imperceptible shifts resulting in a much improved situation down the line. It is actually pretty rare to have a full Plutonian circuit align.  That rarity is why we associate him with the "axe murderer" archetype;  ruler of the underworld;  dark, violent and unforgiving.  When he makes himself known, Pluto is terrifying and horrific.. the truth is always unsettling; but it is still truth. no matter how horrifying, it is still positive energy.

focusing on digifotos and "photoshop" ... I'm really enjoying this creative outlet

Introduction to Astrology: Interpreting the Natal Chart for Psychological Empowerment

Astrology is the study of energy; the influence of heavenly bodies in our solar system exerted upon the Earth. Much like the gravitational forces of the Moon over our oceans, our neighboring planets all stress a particular thread of energy. In ways not yet tangible to the measurements of modern science, the energy of a single moment in time can impress upon that of an entire life. The energy has been explained for eons across mankind, in lore and mythology. Mythological beings were brought to life by exemplifying the attributes of each; and they interact within us by following our own personal blueprint.

The Map of ourselves is not a guarantee. The energies exchanged at an individuals moment of birth are not definitive, but rather, show only what is available. The Natal Chart gives us an image of what could be within a personality; the characteristics that will make that person possible and actual. Everyone has good energy, and everyone had bad energy. Some people use more of what they have on hand than others.. and some don't use any of it at all.

One of the most interesting applications of astrological interpretation comes as a psychological implementation. Understanding the possible elements of ones personality, and using that understanding to benefit ones mental health. If negative energy exists and has a detrimental effect on ones consciousness, then there must be a way to circumnavigate that negativity with a positive route of passage. It is the acknowledgment of why we are the way we are, and the willingness to change who we are into something better. Astrology can show the path to a better being.

A persons Natal Chart shows the positions of planets at the exact time of their birth based on their location. The concept of the circle chart is simple: at the center of the chart is the Earth. “AC” (ascendant, or rising) is the point on the eastern horizon. Following the horizontal line across will give you the “DC” (descendant) which signifies the western horizon. Above this line is the sky over our heads, and below is on the other side of the planet.

The chart is divided into 12 houses, each spanning 30 degrees of the wheel. These stay stationary in relation to the chart and are numbered 1-12 counterclockwise starting at the AC. There are also the 12 signs of the zodiac. These are sections of the heavens that manifest the energies of each sign. Throughout the course of a day, the outer ring (sectioned off into zodiac symbols) will appear to rotate as the Earth spins. It is this rotation that makes timing so important.

Each house relates to a particular facet of one's life and personality, and is ruled by the zodiac signs in succession:

1^st Ascendant: the self, how you present to the world and how the world perceives you (ruled by Aries)

2^nd the material world, sentiments and associations with money and possessions (ruled by Taurus)

3^rd your intimate environment, siblings, colleagues, local travel, communications and primary learning (ruled by Gemini)

4^th Immum Coeli, the “IC” or lowest point in the chart signifies ones roots: ancestry, family, home (ruled by Cancer)

5^th children, creativity, leisure and hobbies, love on a surface level and luck in gambling endeavors (ruled by Leo)

6^th everyday life, work, obligations, subordinates, general health and medicine (ruled by Virgo)

7^th Descendant: the other, unions, marriage,partnerships and contracts; how you perceive the world (ruled by Libra)

8^th passions, transformation, death and new beginnings, sexuality, inheritance, power and secrets (ruled by Scorpio)

9^th travel, foreign and exotic relations, higher learning, abstract concepts, spirituality (ruled by Sagittarius) 

10^th Medium Coeli, the “MC” or Midheaven is the highest point in the chart, signifying the greater society, career, professional ambitions and achievements (ruled by Capricorn)

11^th friends, group efforts, social support and humanitarianism; the collective (ruled by Aquarius)

12^th the ethereal and subconscious. This is the realm of the unobtainable, where past lives and future lives mingle. Solitude and silence. Karma, transcendence and psychic energy. Spirituality. The unknown self (ruled by Pisces)

Planets in the houses will show how these energies will manifest. A lack of planets in any given house does not mean that the energy isn't there, it is simply transferred through another part of the chart. As each house is ruled by one of the signs, a planet rules each sign as well.

Aries is ruled by Mars (the driving force)

Taurus ruled by Venus (perceptions of beauty and manifestations of love)

Gemini ruled by Mercury (mental capacities and communication)

Cancer ruled by the Moon (emotional self)

Leo ruled by the Sun (ego self)

Virgo ruled by Mercury (intellect and reason, pureness of being)

Libra ruled by Venus (partnership and equality)

Scorpio ruled by Pluto (sexuality, passions, secrets)

Sagittarius ruled by Jupiter (joviality, luck, expansion, progression)

Capricorn is ruled by Saturn (rules and regulations, boundaries, wisdom and teaching)

Aquarius is ruled by Uranus (independence, surprises, technology, upheaval and disruption)

Pisces is ruled by Neptune (dreams, illusions, the subconscious, psychic energy, ethereal realms)

Each of the signs is also granted one of 4 elemental attributes. Fire, Earth, Air and Water. Fire signs tend to be ferocious and excitable. Earth is steady and unwavering. Water is malleable and intoxicating. Air is light and free. They will interact in much the same way you would expect each element to act in nature. Fire will get Water excited and heated up; but if Water gets too hot, he will boil over and squelch Fire. Air can feed Fire and whip him into a frenzy, but also blow him out. To play in the Air, Water must evaporate and become light, but he will also fall back to the ground eventually. Earth may be immovable, but Water can wear him down over time; Fire can melt the hard facade, and Wind can carry the pieces away. It is the combinations of each that help generate the overview of one's personality.

Aries is a Fire sign. (Ferocity of the Ram)

Taurus is Earth. (Immobility of the Bull)

Gemini is Air. (Communicability of Twins)

Cancer is Water. (Sensibility of the Crab)

Leo is Fire. (Gusto of the Lion)

Virgo is Earth. (Solidarity of the Virgin)

Libra is Air. (Reciprocity of the Balance)

Scorpio is Water. (Seclusion of the Scorpion)

Sagittarius is Fire. (Flamboyancy of the Centaur)

Capricorn is Earth. (Firmament of the Goat and Fossil)

Aquarius is Air. (Lightness of the Water-bearer)

Pisces is Water. (Fluidity of two Fish swimming in tandem)

As the elements progress through the chart, they relate to previous iterations. In this thought: Aries is the spark; Leo maintains and radiates; Sagittarius adapts and spreads the flame. Taurus is the surface, exposed and defiant; Virgo is the fertile soil beneath, unblemished and untainted; Capricorn is the bedrock holding everything up. Gemini is communication; Libra is understanding; Aquarius is soaring above. Cancer is the crest of a wave; Scorpio the unseen current; Pisces the depths of the abyss.

Along with the Elements are the three Modalities (or methods) of the zodiac: Cardinal, Fixed and Mutable. Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn are Cardinal. Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius are Fixed. Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces are Mutable.

Cardinal signs are the beginners. They get things started and are associated with the beginning of each season; the equinox and solstices. The sun crosses into Aries on the spring equinox; into Cancer on the summer solstice; Libra on the fall equinox; and Capricorn on the winter solstice. They are associated with impatience, forcefulness, power, and initiative. They make things happen. Aries initiates, motivates and opens up new territories. Cancer nurtures and cultivates for a sound footing. Libra forces relationships continue the process, and Capricorn brings to fruition what Aries had started.

The Fixed signs are steadfast. They have been charged with a task and will follow it through. They are driven and unyielding, pushing the process forward to the next step. Taurus will not be stopped by any barrier. Leo is ferocious and forces onward. Scorpio toils and manipulates to succeed. Aquarius is stubborn and resistant to change.

The Mutable signs allow for progression. They let one cycle finish and another begin. Gemini spreads the word of what has passed and yet to come. Virgo makes note of the progression and lays a framework for the future. Sagittarius networks the pieces. Pisces shares with all.

Along with the Elements, the Modalities add further depth to the full range of perspectives and possibilities within a persons development of character, and the energies available to them throughout their life. Activating these possibilities are the planets that progress through the zodiac, passing from one sign to the next with fervor or laziness depending in their orbital cycle. From our perspective, each heavenly body moves at a different speed based on how fast they are actually moving through the solar system, how far away they are from us and our vantage.

The Sun passes through every sign through the course of a year. The moon goes through each sign every 28 days. Mercury takes about a year to go through the zodiac, but will never stray more than 30 degrees from the sun, as his orbit is so close to our star. Sometimes he's ahead, and sometimes he's behind. Venus is similar, taking two months to pass through a sign on average, never getting more than about 45 degrees away from the sun. On the other hand, Mars takes about 2 years to move through the zodiac.. Jupiter takes 12 years. Saturn takes 29 years. Uranus takes 84 years. Neptune takes 164 years, and Pluto takes 248 years to progress through all 12 zodiac signs.

Because of their relatively rapid progression through the zodiac, the inner planets (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars and Jupiter) are considered personal planets. They are the true builders of one's personality and possible characteristics. The outer planets (Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto) are conversely considered generational, as they will hold a position in the zodiac long enough to influence entire generations. It is in this instance that house placement becomes important, as a generational planets energy can then be assigned to a particular aspect of one's self, rather than the zodiac sign associated with his or her generation.

As the planets progress through the zodiac, we perceive their movement at different rates. The Sun and Moon move at a constant rate, but the other planets do not. They appear to speed up and slow down. Sometimes they even look like they are moving backwards. This action is called Retrograde. It is the illusion that a planet is moving in reverse in relation to the surrounding heavens. This is not actually the case, but merely our perspective. It does though have an affect on how the energies of that planet manifest.

The most common retrograde action is that of Mercury, who retraces his steps about three times per year. During this time, energies ruled by Mercury will tend to unravel. Communications become confused and jumbled; travel is hampered by delays; technological glitches will manifest. But babies are still born.. and people born under a retrograde cycle have different interpretations of each characteristic. For example, someone born under a Mercury Retrograde may communicate in a very different way than others. The person may find it difficult to understand the energy of a Retrograde planet. But, they may also persevere and excel in that area because they had to try harder to understand it.

Whether moving Direct or Retrograde, all of the heavenly bodies interact with each other. These interactions are called Aspects. This is where the idea of sacred geometry comes into play. Aspects are based on angles of geometry around the chart. It is when an angle divides the circle into equal pieces that the energy is most powerfully manifested, and these are the points that create aspects.

A Conjunction is like the circle divided by 1. You end up right back at the same spot. This is when two bodies are right next to each other. The energy of conjunct bodies combines them into one. They become more powerful and noticeable in ones personality.

An Opposition is like dividing the circle by 2. This will give you two points 180° apart, on opposite sides of the circle. The energy of two bodies in opposition is one of contrast. There is this side, but also that side. Oppositions create a duality an complexity within a person. Opposite may be different, but they are also balanced and work in harmony. The two sides may not always understand each other, which can be stressful, but they can get along. The trick here is to use the opposing forces to regulate rather than differentiate.

A Trine is when the circle is divided by 3. At 120° the full aspect forms an equilateral triangle, or grand trine. This is known to be a very positive energy within a chart. But a trine can also be just one side of that triangle. Planets in trine will understand each other inherently, and are able to coexist in harmony. This aspect can denote natural talents and abilities up for grabs. To use them or not is ones own decision.

A Square is the circle divided by 4. 90° angles are difficult to navigate in the heavens. There is a disconnect here that can create confusion and disillusionment. This is known to be a more negative energy within a chart. Difficulties from a square will seem to manifest over and over again until the energy is circumvented. Their influence is often not a choice.

A Sextile divides the chart by 6. Much like the trine, this is a gently facilitating energy. Not as powerful as a trine, but still beneficial.

A Semi-square is the circle divided by 8. At 45° apart, this aspect acts similarly to the square.

Aspects continue to fragment to smaller pieces or more vague interactions as follows:

Sesquisquare: 135°, disharmonious.

Semisextile: 30°, neutral.

Quincunx: 150°, neutral.

Quintile: 72°, harmonious

Biquintile: 144°, harmonious.

Neutral energy is that which exists without conflict or charge. It just is.

The Quintile aspects are less significant, but none the less special. They are formed by dividing the circle by 5. It is believed that these aspects are the gifts of an innate talent. There is a hint of something magical in the works whenever this aspect appears. It is a raw and spontaneous vitality that shows itself like the guidance of a higher power.

Considering that each planet moves at it's own pace and independently of all the others, it is actually rather rare to have an exact aspect. For this, the notion or Orb is put in place. The orb of an aspect is an estimation of how close the bodies need to be for the energy to express. The smaller the orb, the stronger the energy.

Each type of Aspect also has it's own orb depending on the power of the aspect itself. A conjunction will have the largest orb (about 9-10 degrees), and still be acknowledged. A trine on the other hand, will have an orb of between 5 and 7 degrees. Square will function in much the same manner. Particular aspects, such as a quintile will only have an orb of a single degree.

The orb will also be determined by the body itself. The Sun and Moon, being Luminaries (those which illuminate) are considered to be more powerful than all others, and thus have a larger orb allowance. It is also worth noting that these measurements will change between astrological schools of thought, and personal preference. There is also the influence of the chart itself that comes into play. In one instance, a conjunction of 8 degrees may be very poignant.. in another, it could mean nothing at all.

Aspects can happen “in sign” (for example: the conjunction of two bodies in sign, or trine within the same element), or they can be “out of sign” (conjunctions from the late degrees of one sign to the early degrees of the next sign). An aspect, “in sign” may be more powerful than and “out of sign” aspect because the relationship between signs. In the same respect, an aspect that is almost exact, may possibly still fall “out of sign” and lessen it's power.

Then there is the concept of applying and separating aspects. This concerns whether an aspect is applying towards exact, or separating away from exact. An aspect in application will be more powerful than an aspect that has already peaked. In this respect, the action of aspecting is instant. Rising to a crest and then falling off against quite quickly. Since the interpretation of a Natal Chart is of a particular moment, the location of that peak (exact aspect) must be taken into consideration.

The formation of all a chart aspects combined will create the general feel for the chart. This can be assessed through the “shape” the aspects form. Some charts have everything bundled tightly together in one section. Other charts will have all of the heavenly bodies spread across the full wheel. Some charts have everything above the horizon, while others have everything below. These differences demonstrate the overall characteristics of a personality. A bundle being intense, a “splay” being spread across all facets, a bilateral chart being a single sided viewpoint.

When more than two planets are conjunct in a sign and house, they are considered to be a Stellium. This is an extra added punch to the energy of that sign and house. In some cases, a person may have their sun and moon in respective signs, but be overshadowed by the energy of another sign due to a powerful stellium.

Confounding the situation even further is the concept of Essential Dignity. This is the understanding of how a planet performs in a particular sign. There are positions in which each planet do well, and some in which they do not. This relates to the interplay between the energy of the planet and the energy of the sign. The simplest implementation of this concept is the standard of house rulership discussed above. The planets are happiest in the signs and houses they rule.

Exaltation, triplicity, term and face are the different instances of dignity. When a planet is exalted in a sign, the combined energy of sign and planet forces positive action from the planet. Triplicity is like a stroke of luck, where the energy comes without effort. Term is a weak dignity that shows the possibility is there, but needs help to be fostered into fruition. Face makes an individual aware, but doesn't back up the acknowledgment with any desire for pursuit.

Detriment, fall and peregrine are the instances of debility for a planet in the signs. When a planet is found in detriment, it is in a sign that hinders its energy and prevents proper expression; the individual most likely inflicts the negative energy upon his self. Fall is only negative in that is does not bear fault; the individual is helpless to resolve a situation without external assistance. Peregrine is a planet without positive or negative influence; un-aspected, wandering aimlessly.

And finally Accidental Dignity, when the power of a planet is enhance due to reasons unrelated to house or sign position. This may be anything from merely forward direction, or a moment when the planet is moving more swiftly through the chart. Having close placement to one of the angles (AC, IC, DC or MC), or being in good aspect to a similarly beneficial planet can have a similar effect. Even being conjunct a fortunately powered fixed star can elevate the energy of a planet.

The Dignities are not as commonly involved in Natal Chart interpretation, but for the purposes of circumventing negative energy, any and all possible routes to a positive outcome must be examined.

With all this in mind, the Natal chart can be examined for moments of weakness and possibilities of greatness. We can discover the reasons for our faults and figure out ways to get around them. There is no need to suffer with an unsatisfactory result. Negative energy can be counteracted and absolved. There is a positive answer for everything. If the roads lead us to a dead end, we must find a detour to achieve our destination.

i find it amusing that all the ads that roll before each webisode of Yahoo!s MANSOME [the guide to being a man] <<yes, that is the actual title of the series>> involve domestic cleaning, and star women/dishes/mops/feather dusters. The women presenters in each actual clip openly roll their eyes at the guys comments, and the guys themselves are all overly coiffed metrosexual douchebags.

boys don't need lessons on how to be men.. they need to get the fuck out of the city and use a muscle they didn't make in a gym, so their balls drop back into place. (though, i did enjoy the lesson on breaking out of a choke hold.. just in case.)

CHEERS