Algebra of the Soul

When an event as tragic as the January 12th Earthquake in Haiti happens professional and hobby astrologers always ask themselves if it could have been foreseen. Sadly, it is much simpler to see the harm after the event; after more than 40 years of study I still can’t decide if this is a failing of Astrology or astrologers.

The following is a review of the Mundane Cycle charts constructed for Port-au-Prince with an eye to the active elements in each chart. The system is described by Zain in his 10th book Mundane Astrology. While I use the charts he describes I tend to look at them as interconnected and layered.

The planetary cycle charts are erected for the moment a planet moves from South declination to North declination.  In each chart, the cycle planet is directed, by transit, to the other planets. Events indicated are described by the cycle planet determinations and transit aspect. The Sun Cycle charts are ingress charts for the Sun moving into each cardinal sign. The Aries Sun Cycle chart is descriptive of the year, the remaining Sun ingress charts modify but do not supersede the events shown in the Aries Sun Cycle chart. The Lunar Cycle chart is for the closest New Moon to the event.

On December 25, 2009 Pluto moved to conjunct Mars. Pluto in this chart is posited in the 2nd of people’s money and possessions in square to Mercury, ruler of the chart Ascendant. Pluto transits can be expected to create problems (square) and either financial risks (Mercury in 5th of risks) or harm to children (5th is children). As Mercury is in Aquarius, a human sign, the harm is more likely to be to children.

The conjunction with Mars is very harmful as Mars rules the 8th (people’s deaths) and it is with two violent planets (Saturn and Uranus) in the 4th House of homes and property; all three planets in an Earth sign, Capricorn. Mars co-rules Scorpio, with Pluto and it opposes the Moon (common people). The conjunction would indicate all these planets co-operating with one another to harm the people and their children in their homes. In a cardinal sign, the event would come on suddenly.

There are no active transit aspects in the Neptune Cycle chart.

On January 12th, the day of the earthquake, transit Uranus moved to conjunct Mercury and oppose Pluto in the Uranus Cycle chart. Uranus is in the 12th in the Uranus cycle chart so all his transits will carry some element of suffering for the people of Port-au-Prince. It co-rules the 5th House of children or the places where children congregate and Pluto co-rules the 2nd so the indications are similar to the Pluto Cycle Chart: harm financially and to children. It opposes the Sun in the 6th of injury and is conjunct the South Node; all these contacts increase the possibility of harm from its transits.  Mercury rules the 9th of foreigners and is in Pisces, an indication the event would be widely publicized and attract the attention of foreigners.

The only active aspect in the Saturn chart was Saturn parallel the North Node. Saturn is in Fall in Aries in the the 4th House of homes in partile opposition to Mars and partile square to Pluto; the parallel intensifies this destructive T-square, promising to harm the people (1st) and their property (4th). Pluto co-rules the 12th (suffering) and Mars rules the 5th (children) so again we see these elements being emphasized.

In the Jupiter Cycle Chart, transit Jupiter was parallel Mars. Jupiter is in the 1st house of the people, disposited by Mars who is in the 8th of death. An indication that a large number (Jupiter) of  people will be harmed, possibly killed, while this transit is active.

Oddly, the Mars Cycle Chart has no active transits. The trigger appears to be in the Mercury chart where we have Mercury in the 5th in partile opposition to Uranus and with Saturn. At 3:59pm Mercury moved into contra-parallel with the chart Ascendant. In the chart, the Ascendant is ruled by Venus posited in Virgo (Earth) in the 4th; transits of Mercury put the people, their children (5th) and their homes (4th) at risk (5th); high risk because of the violent nature of Saturn and Uranus.

Also of note in the chart is Pluto in Capricorn (Earth) in the 8th (death) sextile the Sun, ruler of the 4th (homes).

The indications in the cycle charts are, on the whole, violent, for Port-au-Prince. The Solar, New Moon and Eclipse charts are also not positive looking. The Aries Solar Ingress chart has Aries on the Ascendant and Scorpio on the 8th, both ruled by Mars who is with Mercury and Uranus in Pisces in opposition to Saturn in the 6th of injury.

The New Moon chart has Mercury in the 1st in Capricorn trine Saturn in the 8th with Uranus in the 2nd opposing Saturn. And the Solar Eclipse chart for January 15th has the eclipse in Capricorn (Earth) in the 2nd with Pluto, Mercury and the North Node with Pluto and Mercury conjunct and sextile Saturn and Uranus in and co-ruling the 4th sextile the eclipse. Mercury rules the 8th House of death and Pluto co-rules the Ascendant (people). There appears to be a layering of harmful indications beginning with Pluto down through all the planets and culminating with Mercury who appears to have acted as a trigger, releasing the energies of the upper planets.

Orson Welles was legally married on three different occasions:

December 20, 1940 to Virginia Nicolson
September 7, 1943 to Rita Hayworth
May 8, 1955 to Paola Mori

All three of his wives were actresses (note Jupiter ruler of the 7th in the 10th of career: partner through the career) with Rita Hayworth being his most famous spouse. The first marriag both occurred under an 8th House profection with Saturn acting as Lord of the Year.

Virginia Nicolson

The active directions for the 1st marriage, in 1940, were:

Moon square the 12th/6th axis (profected 11th/5th)
Mercury conjunct Mars sextile Uranus
12th conjunct directed Mercury sextile radix Uranus
Neptune conjunct Pluto

Lot of Men’s Marriage (Asc + Venus – Saturn) directed to trine of directed Neptune and radix Pluto
Lot of Marriage Contracts (Asc + 3rd – Venus) directed to square radix Neptune and sextile radix MC

The first thing to strike me here was “Why no directions to Jupiter, ruler of the 7th of marriage?” The answer is in the profected chart.

The profected 7th is the 2nd with Cancer on the cusp, Moon ruling and Neptune in Cancer.  The Moon is the general significator of the wife. She does not rule the radix 7th, aspect or disposit Jupiter, ruler of the radix 7th; however, she does throw a sextile (opportunity) to the 7th which determines her, at times, to the 7th and, by analogy, the wife.  The radix Moon is also in the radix 9th which is concerned with religion and law, so she is determined, in the 9th and by sextile to the 7th, to a legal marriage and she is in Aquarius, disposited by Saturn in the 1st House; another analogy to the native, at some time in his life, taking a wife in legal marriage.

During this year (1940), she rules the 7th and can act based on her radix deteminations to the spouse and marriage.  By direction she is also in square to the profected 5th (romance) and 11th (hopes and wishes); in combination, all these are strong indications, for the year, that the native will be romantically involved and possibly marry. We also find Mercury, ruler of the radix Ascendant conjunct radix Mars and sextile Uranus from the profected 5th. Mars is the planet of male sexual desire and haste, Uranus, the planet of unexpected, sudden events and this marriage was an elopement. Neptune, planet of ideals, was in the profected 7th while directed Neptune was conjunct Pluto, co-ruler of the profected 11th of hopes and wishes and two of the Lots of Marriage were involved in aspects with Neptune so odds are the entire marriage was begun with high hopes and romantic ideals.

As to why the marriage failed, the significations were only strong for the year. The radix indications are much weaker and the profected 11th/5th axis falls across the radix 12th/6th access or evil places in the chart with the profected year itself also in an evil house, the 8th. Once the year ended it is likely the planet significations turned to other ends and the underlying radix chart reasserted itself.

Rita Hayworth

His most famous marriage, in 1943, to Rita Hayworth, took place in a 5th House (romance) profected year involving similar connections plus an aspect involving Jupiter, radix ruler of the 7th.

MC sextile 11th trine 5th
Moon conjunct 9th
Sun conjunct Lot of Fortune and trine Neptune
Jupiter conjunct North Node
Saturn sextile Neptune, sextile Lof of Fortune
Uranus trine Pluto
Neptune trine South Node
Directed Mercury conjunct the directed 12th
Directed Sun sextile directed Saturn
Directed Jupiter trine directed Neptune
Lot of Marriage (Asc + 7th – Venus) sextile directed Moon

Once more we have  the Moon, general significator of the wife, active, being conjunct the radix 9th which, this year, is the profected 5th of romance. Plus, Jupiter, ruler of the radix 7th and the profected 7th, conjunct the North Node in the profected 5th; strong indications that romance is in the air. This romance received alot of publicity, as indicated by Neptune in the profected 10th, Moon conjunct radix 9th (publicity); possibly spurred by financial considerations as Mercury and the Sun are in the profected 8th of partner’s money, with the directed Sun trine Neptune and directed Jupiter trine directed Neptune. The Sun, in feminine Taurus, indicates an illustrious woman and Rita Hayworth was that, being a star and famous in her own right.

What’s missing here are the Venus and Mars contacts seen in the earlier marriage; instead we have Uranus in the profected 5th trine Pluto in the profected 9th. Uranus contacts can create strong sexual attraction and Pluto, planet of compulsion, in the profected 9th, may have compelled Welles to marry. Uranus attractions rarely last however and again, the underlying radix houses are not favourable as Mercury (Asc ruler) is conjunct the 12th, the profected 9th is in the 12th and Jupiter, ruler of the profected 7th, is in the profected 12th and as ruler of the radix 7th, is square Saturn in the radix 1st in opposition to the 7th of marriage.

Paola Mori

The directions in 1955 also happened under an 5th House profection but with different directions and chart emphasis and, as in the 1st marriage, no directions involving Jupiter, the ruler of the 7th.

The profected 7th is again in Pisces with the radix Moon sextile Mars in the profected 7th and the directed Moon sextile the directed Lot of Marriage Contracts and directed Mars square Mercury, ruler of the radix Ascendant and the profected Ascendant. We, again, have an aspect involving Neptune: directed Sun sextile directed Neptune. Of interest here is the status of the romantic interest; the Sun in the feminine sign Taurus, would represent a woman with an illustrious background and this was the case, Paola Mori, while an actress, was also an Italian Countess.

Romantic love is also indicated as the 11th (profected 7th) is conjunct Venus and directed Mars is square Mercury and the Lot of Men’s Marriage (Asc + Venus – Sun) while Saturn, Lord of the Year and signifying the native, is sextile the Lot of Men’s Marriage and trine the Lot of Marriage (Asc + 7th – Venus). The combined indications in the profected chart for the year lean towards marriage; legal marriage as Mercury rules the profected 9th (radix 1st).

Yet Welles chart presents a problem.  Looking strictly at the 7th, one would judge that he would marry as Jupiter rules the 7th and has a strong analogy favouring marriage. It is in the 10th so one could predict marriage to a woman involved in his career and also an illustrious (elevated) marriage. One could also predict multiple marriages as both Sagittarius and Pisces are mutable, not fixed signs. However, Jupiter in domicile in Pisces would seem to indicate a lasting or continuous relationship; yet none of his three marriages lasted. He did however have just such a relationship, with Croation actress Oja Kodar, whom he lived with for the last 24 years of his life without the benefit of matrimony; in fact, he was still married to Paola Mori when he died, the two never having divorced.

Oja Kodar

The two met in 1961 under directed Saturn square directed Jupiter, perfecting the radix square; so here, finally, is the promised relationship. Interestingly, none of the Lots of Marriage were active. The profection was in the 11th House, Pisces, with Jupiter ruling. The directed 3rd (profected 5th) was trine the North Node. There are far fewer aspects than those found active during the earlier marriages; however, the Saturn/Jupiter contact is enough to bring a wife (Juipter) to the native, even if no legal marriage ensues. In fact, one could interpret the square and Saturn’s rulership of the radix 9th as indicating an impediment from a past (Saturn) marriage.

Oja Kodar outlived Orson Welles and inherited his estate as Paola Mori, his legal wife, died a few days before her case contesting the estate reached court.

On June 29, 1940 Orson Welles began the filming of Citizen Kane, his greatest film success and nearly the ruin of  his career.  The film was loosely based on the life William Randolph Hearst, a powerful newspaper magnate; Hearst took offence not only at how he was depicted in the film but more so for the way his mistress, Marion Davies was depicted; he did everything in his power to stop the release of the film and destroy Welles, he nearly succeeded, almost ruining himself in the process.

Welles was 25 years old when he began the project, the profected year was in the 2nd House with Cancer on the cusp and the Moon in the 9th of publishing.  The 2nd contains Neptune which has an analogy to films and Cancer being a cardinal sign, indications are for a new (Cancer) film (Neptune) property (2nd). The Moon has significations for fame and notoriety and is sitting in the profected 8th, an indication any fame she brings him during the year will do him more harm than good, also shown by the Moon being inconjunct her own sign. The Moon is in Aquarius, a human air sign, and with Uranus (unexpected, radical); indications the notoriety will be connected with women and the public(Moon), involve publications (9th), and will be unusual in some fashion (Uranus). Aquarius is a fixed sign, an indication the notoriety will be long lasting.

The above is supported by directed Uranus conjunct the cusp of the 9th House, indicating something unusual and sudden connected with public opinion or publications will occur during the year, will having a lasting effect (fixed sign) and will most likely be unfavourable (9th is profected 8th). And the directed Lot of Forutne is conjunct Uranus, another indication whatever occurs will have a strong impact in the life and fortunes of the native.

Looking at the other directions, the 3rd House cusp is conjunct Venus in the 11th, Venus is in her detriment in Aries. The 3rd has to do with writing, communications, rumours; these will be connected with a woman (conjunct Venus) of less than stellar repute (Venus in detriment); this will out in the area of his career and reputation as the 11th is the profected 10th.

The radix 3rd is ruled by the Sun in the 12th and Venus rules the 12th; indicating a powerful (Sun) established (Sun in Taurus) enemy (12th); all this will impact whatever the native achieves during the year as the 12th is the profected 11th (achievements).  Taurus is a fixed sign so this is a persistent enemy and as the 3rd is the profected 2nd it is repeating the indications of the profected chart in that the matter will having something to do with a property belonging to Welles.

At the same time, directed Jupiter is trine directed Neptune. Radix Jupiter is in domicile in the 10th of the career, honours and reputation in trine to the profected 1st House showing good things for the native in connection with his career and Neptunian pursuits (films).  And we see the 9th House being emphasized again as Jupiter is in the profected 9th.  Directed Jupiter and the Lot of Secret Enemies (Asc + Mars – Saturn) are conjunct and square the Ascendant so this good is also a cause of problems in the life. Jupiter is also the ruler of the Lot of Fortune and sitting in 12th House position with reference to it; in domicile so having the ability to mitigate or release or reduce the harm caused by secret enemies. Perhaps this is why Hearst could not completely destroy Welles.

In the end, he creates his masterpiece but ends up with a powerful lifelong enemy, a magnate of the publishing business, primarily because of the way he depicted Marion Davies (Venus) in the film. As well, the initial push to stop the film came from two powerful Hollywood gossip columnists, both women: Louella Parsons and Hedda Hopper.

I chose this chart because the birth time is one of public record; however, all the texts tell us not to predict without checking the directions. As Mr Welles passed away on October 10, 1985 I decided to check the directions¹ for that date. The Age Arc is 70°26′ which puts the Moon at 23 ♐ 35, conjunct his Descendant, and Saturn at 23 ♓ 47, square the Asc/Desc axis.  If he was born slightly earlier, at 6:57, rather than the 7 AM recorded time, the Ascendant would be at 23 ♊ 40 and the directed Moon, when he was 70 years, 157 days old, would be at 23 ♐ 40, conjunct the Descendant with directed Saturn at 23 ♓ 48, square the Asc/Desc axis and the directed Moon. And his directed Lot of Death (Asc + 8th – Moon) was at 27 ♑ 47 in the 8th opposing Neptune.

He was in an 11th House profection, the 11th is in Pisces and Neptune co-rules. Radix Saturn is partile square to the 11th, I’ve usually found that such a planet usurps the natural ruler of the cusp (in this case, Jupiter) but that doesn’t appear to be case here as on October 10th, Saturn would be directed, in the profected chart, to (89 + 157d) 6 ♐, no hits but adding the same to Jupiter gives 27 ♌, conjunct the IC (end of life).  Jupiter is strong in this chart being in domicile and overcoming Saturn by square so, possibly, Saturn cannot usurp him.

One direction isn’t enough to verify the time but it will do as a starting point. It does raise the question of why the Moon would time his death rather than a direction to the Sun, given that this is a diurnal birth. Also, why didn’t Saturn in the 1st and ruling the 8th of death take his life when it was directed to the Asc? or conjuncted Mercury, Asc ruler? or when it conjuncted the Sun?

Technically, if the Greeks were correct, Saturn is not in aspect with the Asc as it is beyond 3°. Neither is it in the same terms as the Ascendant; this could possibly be why it did not cause difficulties at birth.

Saturn crossed his Ascendant when he was 4, at the same time, directed Jupiter was square the directed Ascendant and Saturn was in Jupiter’s terms so this possibly warded any harm.

In 1949, Saturn moved to conjunct Mercury. Radix Jupiter and Mercury are in a partile sextile so possibly this averted the harm although he did make a poor business decision that year, he was given an option to take a portion of the receipts for The Thin Man and chose a lump sum advance instead; the film was a smash hit. Saturn rules the 10th of honors as well as the 9th (foreign travel) and the 8th (partner’s money). He was overseas, in Britain, when he made the film.

In 1953, Saturn moved to conjunct the Sun. He returned to the US for a brief stint on CBS television, the IRS kept him confined (12th) to his hotel room, prevented him from making any purchases and took his earnings for taxes (8th). Welles returned to England when the broadcast ended.

In 1972, Saturn moved to conjunct Mars. He was given an honorary award by the academy which he had his friend (11th) John Huston accept; Huston upbraided the academy for giving Welles an award but not willing to give him work. In 1975, it conjuncted Venus and he was given a Lifetime Achievement award by the academy. In 1983 it was conjunct the Lot of Fortune and he was given an award by the British Film Institute.

During these periods there were no harmful aspects to the Moon or his Ascendant. All of Saturn’s directions involved honours, awards or work  of some kind (10th), combined at times with travel (9th) or other people’s money (8th), all areas of the life ruled by Saturn.  What is interesting is the way they combined.

Saturn is posited in the 1st House so he is a significator of the native. He rules the 10th and so has a signification of honours coming to the native but, being Saturn, always with difficulty and, being peregrine, of mediocre quality.  Saturn, by nature, works against life and against honours however he is overcome by the square of Jupiter in the 10th of honours so he cannot completely deny them.  He also rules the 9th of foreign  travel, publications and the 8th of death, taxes, partner’s money.  The directions always combined in a manner which directly involved the native (1st House). When the direction was to a 12th House planet, the planets combined the meanings of the 12th and 8th houses. The direction to Mercury (the ruler of the Ascendant) involved a bad (12th) decision (Mercury) with regard to partner’s money (8th). When it came to the Sun the native was confined (12th) by powerful men (Sun) who took his money for taxes (8th).

The directions to the 11th house planets involved honours (10th) for achievements (11th); to Mars, it involved a friend (11th) who battled (Mars) for him. When it came to Venus, the award was for life time  achievement (11th) from artistic (Venus) associates (11th).  The last aspect was to the Lot of Fortune in the 10th and was recognition (10th) from foreigners (9th).

The unfavourable signification applied only when the 12th was involved and the house position of the promittor trumped the significations of the houses they ruled; with the houses ruled appearing to be the source or reason for the event. For example, with Mercury, ruler of the Asc, the native was the source. With the Sun, ruler of the 3rd and 4th, the native’s homeland was the source; with Mars, ruler of the 11th and 6th,  his friends and work associates were the source; with Venus, ruler of the 5th, entertainments and pleasure were the source.

Looking at directions for two events in his life which affected him but did not directly involve him, the directed planets (significators) tended to combine there more general significations with those of the houses they ruled while the promittors did the same with the effects being felt in terms of the house the promittor occupied in both the natal and profected charts.

His father died when he was 15, at the time directed Uranus was square the Sun, ruler of the 4th (father) and the directed Sun was sextile directed Pluto (co-ruler of the profected 4th)  in the profected 11th (parents death). The directed Lot of the Father’s death was square Mercury (Asc ruler).

His mother died on May 24, 1924 when he was 9 years, 18 days old. Directed Venus was conjunct the 11th (parents death) and square Saturn, ruler of 10th (mother) while the directed MC was conjunct the Moon (general significator of the mother). Directed Moon was trine the Asc, directed Uranus (co-ruler of 10th) was square Mercury (Asc ruler) and Jupiter, ruler of 11th (parents death)  was square Ascendant.

In these two directions, if the directed planets are the significators and the aspected radix planets are the promittors, the promittors other than the Asc and Mercury, Asc ruler, produced events according to the houses ruled vs the houses they were posited in. For example, Uranus to the square of the Sun produced an event involving the father (Leo on 4th), Venus to the square of Saturn produced an event involving the mother (Aquarius on 10th).  The directions involving his father’s death reinforced the Sun’s connections as ruler of the father. The same occurred for the directions when his mother died,  the MC to the conjunction of the Moon occurs in the mother’s 12th and the Moon is the natural significator of the mother. That these events impacted the native is shown by the contacts with Mercury, the Asc ruler, in the 12th of sorrows but they did not resolve into events affecting his physical self.

A critical event occurred in his life with the filming of Citzen Kane, his most famous film. Next post, I’ll concentrate on the active directions for that period.

1. This is using the system I’m experimenting with [↩]

Rush Limbaugh, while vacationing in Honolulu, was admitted to hospital on December 30th with chest pains and the political blogs are having a field day; with many hoping he will die. The pure idiocy and meanness of those remarks is, imho, just another indication that we are no longer a civil society; I was raised with the notion that “civility costs nothing” which is, I guess, why we have lost it, who today values anything that costs nothing?

His chart, at the moment, has a number of directions active. At age 58 his profection is in the 11th, Jupiter ruling. The house contains Mercury in Capricorn, ruler of the radix 8th of death so it’s not surprising there is nasty (Capricorn) talk (Mercury) concerning his death (8th). This is being reinforced by the directed Moon (publicity) sextile directed Mercury and the 11th House Cusp (profected Asc) and the directed Lot of Death (Asc + 8th – Moon) at 14 ♉ opposing directed Mercury (ruler of the radix 8th). On the day he was admitted the profected Ascendant squared Jupiter, it’s ruler.

The health problems are shown by the directed 11th (profected Ascendant) conjunct Neptune in the radix 8th, the directed Ascendant conjunct the 12th (hospitalization) and the directed 8th conjunct Uranus (unexpected) in the radix 6th (illness). The 12th holds the Sun, general significator of the heart, Uranus is in Cancer (the chest).

The directed Lot of Spirit is conjunct the Sun. This may be an example of “spirit acting as fortune”. The texts tell us the Lot of Fortune can be directed for bodily harms; in this case it is Spirit that is being activated.  The chart is diurnal (Sun above the horizon) but it is cadent while the Moon is in the 2nd.  Is it possible that the Moon is the stronger light and Spirit is really Fortune? Is this a diurnal chart that should use the reversed formula rather than the diurnal formula for calculating Fortune and Spirit?

Luckily for him, he has the greater benefic, Jupiter, ruling his profected Asc and strongly dignified in Pisces while his directed Asc is sextile Venus, the minor benefic. His directed Lot of Medical Treatment (Asc + Jupiter – Sun) is conjunct Jupiter, an indication he is getting very good medical treatment at the moment. Saturn, the greater malefic, is not involved in any aspects. Mars, the lesser malefic, is sextile itself; in the radix it rules the 3rd (communication, travel) and 10th (career) or the profected 5th of pleasure and 12th of hospitals, confinement. Indications he may have been having too good a time while on vacation, possibly involving alcohol (Mars) although the 11th conjunct Neptune could also indicate drugs. There are no heavy afflictions to either of the lights or his radix Ascendant; however, on his birthday the profection changes to the 12th House, Saturn ruling; he may find himself confined to the hospital for awhile.

Update: Well, he was released from hospital on Friday, January 1st so no long stay in hospital. Will next year bring him more health problems?  His directed 2nd House Cusp is going to oppose radix Uranus, co-ruler of the Asc, during the next month and his profected Asc will conjunct Sun (heart) around the 27th; with the Sun ruling the profected 8th he may be in for another scare.

I’m not the greatest at systematically going through an entire chart so I’ve set myself the task of working completely through one over the next week or two.

I’ve chosen Orson Welles chart for a number of reasons; primarily because he’s a well known character whose chart has not been over worked elsewhere; second, his birth time is known from his birth certificate, being listed in The Gauquelin Book of American Charts; third, there is a decent amount of public biographical information available on his life: Wikipedia, Google Timeline, Guardian Timeline, BiographyShelf, Encyclopedia.

The method of analysis I plan on using is a mix of traditional and modern; I use the outer planets but am not particularly interested in the psychology of the native; I find the general shape of the life and the events that mark it far more interesting, astrologically.

The first thing of note in his chart is the majority of planets above the horizon; Zain says planets above the horizon  denote qualities that “receive full public recognition”.   The majority of planets in the Eastern half of the chart are an indication Welles would shape his environment, influencing the things that came into his sphere of activity vs being influenced by the activity of others; he would prefer to set the agenda.

There is, as a result, an emphasis on the public (8th, 9th, 10th, 11) and personal (12th, 1st, 2nd, 3rd) houses. An indication that most of his energies were directed towards personal concerns; reinforced by four planets in the trinity of life houses (1st, 5th, 9th) and that many of his actions drew public attention. He has two planets in the trinity of wealth (2nd, 6th, 10th), two in the trinity of associations (3rd, 7th, 11th) and two in the trinity of obligation (4th, 8th, 12th). With three angular and five succedent planets there is a better than average quantity of energy available to the life.

I’m going to use the temperament method described in Cornerstones of Astrology:Volume I Synthesis by Friedrich “Sinbad” Schwickert and Adolf Weiss. It involves classifying the planets and Asc by element and quality with 2 points being given to the Sun, Moon, Mercury and Ascendant, modified to also include the MC.

The emphasis is in the Air signs indicating an active, positive, sanguine temperament; intuitive, an inspired personality with a passion for life; inventive, subtle, quarrelsome with esprit du corps; witty, lively intelligence; artistic ideas and feelings; easily stimulated but superficial emotions; free, liberal spirit, skillful, magnanimous and given to sentiment.

The emphasis in Fixed signs indicates a sense of determination, rigidity, attention to detail, perseverance, patience, there can be a tendency to stubbornness. The Fixed quality corresponds to the heart and vitality; generally, the impression would be one of a character that could be trusted.

Overall, the above appears to fit the man. The brief biographical descriptions in Gauquelin describe him as having “a light hearted way of flinging money around”, being energetic, noisy, expansive, jovial, a bonvivant. Having virtuosity and wit. Although one entry describes him as “having spent himself in too many aimless tributaries”; this may possibly be due the influence of his Gemini (Air) Ascendant and Aquarius (Air) Moon and MC. Too much Air often leads to an overly active curiosity in all things; the person tends to have multiple interests rather than specializing in one particular area of interest. With the emphasis on the Fixed quality it is likely that whatever interest he did choose to pursue, at any given moment, he would pursue it whole heartedly and with dogged determination.

There were four highly active directions in OJ’s chart when Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman were murdered: Directed ♂ ☌Directed MC, ♆☌Asc,  Asc ☌☉,♄□ ☾, ☿△ ♆.

Neptune rising, conjunct the radix Ascendant

In the radix, Neptune sits in the 2nd House of possessions. She is given to idealistic, imaginative thoughts and, if damaged, fanaticism. She co-rules and opposes the radix 8th House of death and partners substance. Being posited in the 2nd, in opposition to the 8th, she has some signification for the spouse’s death (2nd is 8th from 7th). Neptune is in Libra (relationships), overcome by the separating sextile of Saturn. Saturn rules the radix 7th of the spouse and is posited in the 11th (hopes, wishes) from Neptune. The indications are that his life (Asc) was strongly influenced by fanatical, unrealistic hopes (Neptune) to reunite with a former (separating sextile) spouse (Saturn).

Neptune is in opposition to the fixed star Algenib which denotes “strong passions, sexual trouble, many enemies, sudden and violent death” and square to the fixed star Alhena which denotes “indiscreet actions, domestic disharmony, death brought on by own acts”.  The stars emphasize issues with the opposite sex and death. Radix Neptune is in exactly the same degree as Nicole’s radix Moon posited in her 7th of marriage. This strengthens the possibility that he had a possessively infatuated with her.

Radix Neptune is in the Terms of Mercury, an indication he will produce what he promises when Mercury has a share of the times. He is also in Mercury’s monomoira and triplicity with Mercury ruling the cusp of the 2nd (possessions, wife’s death) and 11th (hopes, achievements). Mercury rules Nicole’s 7th (spouse) and is posited in her 2nd in opposition to her 8th, an indication her spouse may be involved in her death; it is also an indication that her spouse has a strong interest in her substance or being.

Directed Mercury trine Neptune

Mercury is Lord of the Year (profected Ascendant having come to Gemini on the 11th); he therefore has a share of the times and represents the native. In the radix, he is posited in the 11th (hopes, wishes) within 1°  of the 12th, threatening imprisonment.  He is conjunct the fixed star Procyon which denotes “trouble and scandal through the opposite sex”.   He is sitting in the profected 2nd, indicating the native is concerned with his possessions, re-inforcing what was seen with Neptune conjunct his Ascendant. His trine to Neptune in the profected 5th (romance, children) emphasizes OJ’s infatuation (Neptune) with Nicole. He likely thought of her as a possession (2nd) that he hoped (11th) to regain. The 11th has Uranus, co-ruler of the 7th, conjunct the cusp; again, re-inforcing the concern with partners, spouse and indicating the year could involve unexpected, sudden (Uranus) events, brought on by a human agency and having a strong impact on the native’s life  (conjunct profected Asc). Uranus is parallel Venus (general significator of the wife) and Pluto (compulsion), the parallel would increase the intensity of events. As Uranus co-rules the 7th and is partile conjunct the 11th (profected Ascendant) the unexpected event will involve both the native and a partner or spouse.

Uranus is conjunct the fixed star Al Hecka denoting “legal difficulties; danger of imprisonment but help from friends; unfavourable for love and marriage” and conjunct Alnilam who denotes “enmity with partners relatives; many troubles and annoyances”.

Radix Mercury is trine the Moon (general significator of the wife) in the 8th (death), profected 10th, an indication that his career, actions (10th) in relation to his possessions (profected 2nd) will garner public attention (Moon, 10th).

Directed Ascendant conjunct Sun

The Sun rules the radix Ascendant and is conjunct the fixed star Wasat denoting “violence, malevolence and destructiveness”. The direction indicates the native will be concerned with his status and authority (Sun), his personal life (rules 1st), and, in the profected 2nd, his possessions.   Lilly claims the direction can lead to “the publishing of all the secret affairs of his life” which seems an apt indication as the Sun is with Mercury (writing, communications) as well as in his terms.

Directed Saturn square Moon

As stated above, Saturn rules the radix 7th of marriage, the spouse, partners; the Moon is the general significator of women or the wife. The square would indicate difficulties or obstacles because of a woman, or spouse being played out publicly (Moon in profected 10th, Saturn in profected 3rd) and involving death (Moon in radix 8th) and possibly imprisonment (radix Saturn in 12th, Moon rules 12th).

Directed Mars conjunct the directed MC

This is a strong indication of violent (Mars) action (MC). Lilly says, of this aspect, “It stirs up the wrath of powerful men, especially Martialists against him; it threatens banishment, imprisonment, hatred, miserable and fearful consumption of Patrimony by fire, theft, &c. In a Kings or Princes Nativity, it inclines them to war, to wrong their Subjects, to carry themselves proudly and insolently towards them; to murder or to be the occasion of the effusion of much blood.” While OJ is not a King or Prince, he was a well known celebrity and the aspect did produce murder and much blood.

The directions were quite strong and violent, coincided with two murders, involved the native in legal matters (Mars rules 9th) and threatened the native with imprisonment (Saturn, Sun in 12th). The event was widely publicized (Sun, Moon), played out in the media (Mercury, 1st as profected 3rd, news) for months and OJ was eventually acquitted. The radix 12th is ruled by the Moon who is trine Mercury (ruler of profected Asc) and partile trine the cusp of the 12th, he was threatened with prison (Mercury, LoY, conjunct 12th) but escaped it as the Moon is in the 9th (freedom) from the 12th.

He did eventually go to jail, in October 2008, for assault, robbery and kidnapping. At that time, the active directions were again MC ☌ ♂ but this time the Profected Ascendant was in the 1st, Sun Lord of Year. The Moon, ruler of the 12th of prisons, was not active. Directed Pluto (kidnapping) was sextile his radix position in the 12th, disposited by the Sun (LoY) and in aversion to him.

Nicole Simpson and Ron Goldman were murdered on June 12, 1994; OJ Simpson was arrested and charged with their murders on June 17; a long, public trial ensued and ended with OJ’s acquittal on October 3rd, 1995.  The influences active at the time of the murders and arrest were:

Profected Ascendant had come to the 11th House, Gemini on the cusp, Mercury ruling; however, Uranus is conjunct the cusp degree, usurping Mercury. Uranus co-rules the radix 7th (marriage, partners); the 7th is the profected 9th (beliefs, dreams, lawyers, journeys) indicating something unusual or unexpected (Uranus) in connection with one or both of these areas of life. Mercury, the ruler of the profected Ascendant, is in the 11th House (hopes, achievement), profected 2nd (substance, possessions).

The directions were:

Directed ♂ ☌directed MC, ♆☌Asc,  Asc ☌☉,♄□ ☾, ☿△ ♆

What is most significant about these aspects is the power they represent: all 4 chart angles and both luminaries are being activated. Mars is conjunct the MC and rules the IC, Saturn rules the 7th and is square the Moon, Neptune is activating the radix Asc and the directed Asc is conjunct the Sun; Mercury, ruler of the profected Asc, is trine radix Neptune. As well, both malefics are active and, although OJ and Nicole were divorced at the time, the Lot of Marriage (Asc + 7th – Venus = 17 ♈ 52) was directed to 6 ♒ 53 trine Mars, it’s ruler, and the Lot of Cunning of Men towards Women (Asc + Venus – Sun) is natally conjunct Saturn at 9 ♌22 and directed to 29 ♊ 10 in the square of the directed Mars/MC conjunction.

All of the directions were active on June 9th, except for the Lot of Cunning of Men towards Women, this lot moved from 0 ♋ 47 to 29 ♊ 16 between June 9th and July 9th.  The target date of June 12th was 338 days from the birthday; adding the same number of degrees to the Profected Asc and Uranus, who is conjunct the 11th, gives 1 ♊, conjunct the North Node;  nodal contacts often indicate crises or turning points in the life.  The NN is in the 10th and corresponds to the June 9th – July 9th time period in the profected chart. The profected Asc would conjunct Mars 5 days later, on June 17th, the day OJ was arrested.

Looking at Nicole Brown’s chart and directions for the same period,  directed Mercury and Venus are sextile with both planets inconjunct Neptune; this is a classic Yod configuration that is often seen as the Finger of God. Radix Neptune is in her 8th house of death and co-rules her Pisces Ascendant. Radix Mercury is in the 2nd, opposing Neptune and disposits Venus, co-ruler of the 7th (conflict, marriage).

The profected year is the 12th, with Mercury ruling her profected 8th (radix 7th). Her directed 11th is opposed to Mars; this opposition falls across the profected 6th/12th axis. The directed Sun, in the radix 2nd, profected 4th (family, end of things),  is trine radix Mars, ruler of the radix 8th. Directed Jupiter (Asc ruler) is trine radix Venus, with Mars in the radix 5th (romance) profected 6th (injury).

As in OJ’s chart, the rulers of all the angles (Jupiter rules Asc and MC, Mercury rules the IC and Desc) are active. The Sun is active by his trine to Mars and the directed Moon is semi-sextile the NN.

Her Lot of Death (Saturn + 8th – Moon = 29 ♑ 36 ) is directed to 22 ♐ inconjunct Mars and sextile to OJ’s directed Mars/MC conjunction. Her Lot of Fate (Asc + Saturn – Sun = 17 ♍ 01) is directed to 22 ♌18, semi-sextile Mars.

She died 24 days after her 35th birthday. Adding the same number of degrees to the profected Asc (0 ♒) gives 24 ♒, no aspect to her radix but in exact opposition to OJ’s radix Ascendant. Adding the same to Saturn, Lord of the Year, gives 0 ♒, conjunct her profected Asc.  Sadly, Nicole’s chart has both her Ascendant rulers in the 8th House of death, often an indication that the native somehow participates in their own demise. Both rulers are disposited by and trine to Mars. The news reports claim that when she answered the door that fateful night, she had a knife (Mars) in her hand; the knife that killed her.

The triplicity lords, in medieval and arabic texts, are said to rule over three periods of life: early, middle and late, yet this is not particularly clear from the Hellenistic texts. The triplicity lords are more often used to describe the native’s status in life or referred to as planet’s supporting the life.  I’ve often wondered how these lords were derived and came up with a possible scheme for their assignments. In essence, I believe the participating triplicity lords are derived from cardinal signs, the 1st triplicity lords from fixed signs and the 2nd triplicity lords from mutable signs. The Greek texts are full of nautical metaphors and one interesting practice they had was with regard to triremes, early Greek warships:

The ship’s captain was known as the trierarch (triērarchos). He was a wealthy Athenian citizen (usually from the class of the pentakosiomedimoi), responsible for manning and maintaining the ship for 35 years, which otherwise belonged to Athens. The triērarchia was one of the liturgies of ancient Athens, and although it afforded great prestige, it constituted a great financial burden, so that in the fourth century, it was often shared by two citizens, and after 397 BC it was assigned to special boards.

In effect, the Athenian state owned the ship and appointed a captain to maintain and run the ship for 35 years, after which time a second captain was appointed. Eventually the cost of maintaining a ship became too much for one individual and the practice changed; however, it was a common practice during the 1st and 2nd centuries in which the basic Hellenistic texts were written. It also fits nicely with my idea that the participating triplicity ruler corresponds with cardinal signs; they would equate to the state in that it was the Athenian state that decided who would captain the ship, they initiated the building and running of a ship. The 1st triplicity lord equates to the fixed signs and the 1st captain of the ship; the ship is established and begins its life. Thirty-five years later the state appoints a new captain who equates to the 2nd triplicity lord and the mutable signs. Of course, the assumption is that the ship will still be operable after 35 years, it also assumes the 1st captain continued in his ability to maintain the ship throughout the entire 35 years; obviously, if he went broke or died, the 2nd captain would be assigned earlier.

Whichever person is assigned as captain (1st or 2nd triplicity lord), the state (3rd triplicity lord) always participates and, if the analogy is accurate, it would appear the 1st triplicity lord is in charge until it hands over to the 2nd triplicity lord.  There is some support for this in the example chart given in Rhetorius. The birth is diurnal with the Asc in Aquarius, Sun, Mercury and Jupiter in Libra, Moon and Saturn in Taurus, Venus in Scorpio, MC in Sagittarius, Lot of Fortune in Virgo:

I see then  Saturn being ruler of the Asc and the first ruler of the triplicity of the asc and of the Light [of the Time], signifying the first age, in the cadent of the IC angle and retrograde and aspected by Mars with an equal-sided trine, but also Venus, ruler of it and of the Moon posited in opposition to her. How could he not have had a troublesome first age, but indeed also flights made in many places because of the Moon’s being opposed by its own sign ruler…And these things [occurred] in his first age down to his 25th or 30th year, i.e. down to the rising of Taurus or the Moon’s or of Saturn’s time period; but after these rises the second ruler of the triplicity, i.e. Mercury with Jupiter, [ruled] from the 32nd year. For the years of the period of Mercury are 20 and of Jupiter 12, which make 32 years, after which his fortunes began to look up.

His fortune was [due] to rise from his 32nd year, as I said before, because of the period of Mercury and Jupiter, and his fortune was to rise again in his 35th year because of the rising of Scorpio {Venus is in Scorpio} …and from 38 1/3 his luck revived, for it was [the time of] the rising of Virgo and Libra-Virgo, as having received the Lot of Fortune, and Libra, as having received the Sun and Jupiter and Mercury [which was] the ruler of the Lot of Fortune.

The triplicity rulers of Aquarius (Asc) and Libra (Sun) are Saturn and Mercury with Jupiter participating. Rhetorius assigns the first part of the life to the first triplicity ruler, Saturn, and says it rules until Mercury takes over.  The time of handing over occurs when the sign occupied by the planet, in this case, Libra, or possibly the rising of the sign ruled by the planet (Mercury rules Virgo) or when the periods of the planets are expired i.e. after 32 years, the combined periods of Mercury (20) and Jupiter (12). This last is a bit odd as logically you’d think it would change when Saturn’s period expired but that does not appear to be the case. At any rate, the triplicity lords are seen to rule the 1st and 2nd half of the life and the native’s fortunes are changed accordingly, which concurs nicely with the 2nd triplicity lord being assigned based on the triplicity’s mutable [changeable] sign.

I’ve been working with OJ Simpson’s chart, puzzling over what factors could indicate the abrupt change in his life. His is a diurnal birth with the Asc in Leo.  The triplicity lords are the Sun and Jupiter with Saturn participating. The Sun, ruling the 1st half of his life, is in the 11th, a good house, trine the Moon, his dispositor, with Venus, the lesser benefic and trine Jupiter, the greater benefic. Saturn and Mars are both averse. All this gives a favourable bent to the first half of life. Jupiter, the 2nd triplicity lord, is not so favourably placed. He is retrograde, in the 3rd conjunct the 4th, overcome by the square of Saturn and averse (inconjunct) to his dispositor, Mars.

Saturn’s period is 30 years while Jupiter’s is 12. Adding these together we 42 years and 1989 appears to be the first time OJ ran into legal problems, he pleaded no contest to a charge of domestic violence and Nicole Brown separated from him. From this point on, everything in his life runs downhill.

Looking at the triplicity rulers of the Sun, his Light of the Time, we find Venus-Mars-Moon. Venus is in a good house (11th), in the trine of Jupiter, the greater benefic, and of the Moon, her dispositor, with the malefics, Mars and Saturn, averse.  Mars is strong in the 10th in the sextile of Saturn, evilly placed in the 12th and in the sextile of the Moon, evilly placed in the 8th. He is averse to his dispositor, Mercury.  His condition, by placement, is much worse than Venus’.

Mars has a period of 15 years and the Moon’s period is 108; adding the two gives 123 years, half of which is 61.5. On December 5th, 2008 at the age of 61 years and not quite 5 months, he was sentenced to 33 years imprisonment for criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, kidnapping and assault. Note that Mars rules the 9th (lawyers) and 4th (end of life) and the Moon rules the 12th (prisons) with Mercury, Mar’s dispositor, conjunct the 12th House cusp and Mars himself is in the 10th (courts). Mars, himself, signifies assault, with Mercury, thieves, and is sextile Pluto (kidnapping) and Saturn (confinement) with both Pluto and Saturn in the 12th of prisons.

A planet’s relationship with its dispositor appears to be significant. The Sun and Venus are both trine the Moon, their dispositor. The Moon itself is in an evil place and while it did appear to cause an evil in the life re: it’s connection to the Sun as triplicity lord of the Ascendant, OJ was acquitted of murdering his wife; Moon being the general significator of the wife, in the 8th of death, and ruling the 12th of prisons. In the case of Mars, he is averse to his dispositor, Mercury; his sextile with the Moon did not help him escape prison (ruled by the Moon). Morin says the dispositor shows the end of a matter, in the first case, the Moon showed a death (8th) and the possibilty of a debt (OJ lost a civil case and was ordered to pay millions) but it did not land him in jail (trine with Sun). In the second case, Mercury, being conjunct the 12th and in the 12th sign, with no aspect to Mars, landed him in prison.

I started looking into this because of an article on Bob Makransky’s site titled A Baffling Problem. Below is the opening of the article:

During the total eclipse of May 29, 1919, A.S. Eddington and his colleagues made … photographs of a field of stars close to the sun.  The positions of the stars were shifted, demonstrating that light passing the sun was indeed deflected.  It was a confirmation that helped to make Einstein famous.” – Clifford M. Will,  “Gravitation Theory”,  Scientific American 11/74

This is the only historical instance of a solar eclipse having indubitably caused great changes in a native’s life;  moreover, the precise date on which those changes took place is known. Eddington required several months to measure his photographs, and it wasn’t until 9/27/1919 that Einstein received word that Eddington’s measurements had indeed confirmed his theory;  and then it took until 11/7/1919 for the press and general public to learn that Newton’s laws had been overthrown.  On this latter date Einstein went from obscurity to worldwide fame overnight (date from Einstein – the Life and Times by Ronald W. Clark).  Thus the “target date” which we wish to derive from the eclipse chart is 11/7/1919.

He then goes on to state:

Mercury in the eclipse chart is 2 degrees from natal Pluto, and Uranus in the eclipse chart is less than half a degree from opposition to natal Uranus.  But the only thing that is especially suggestive of imminent fame is the eclipse DESC falling smack on Einstein’s natal 10^th house Saturn – Mercury – Part of Fortune conjunction. Okay, so given that we know what kind of event to expect, how can we time it?

As far as the target date is concerned, it must be noted that on 11/8/1919 transiting Uranus turned direct on Einstein’s natal Jupiter, so this date is already demarcated without reference to the eclipse.

The only obvious eclipse referents are: 1) on 11/8/1919 transiting Mercury opposed the eclipse point, and 2)  on this date also transiting north node opposed the eclipse Mercury / natal Pluto conjunction. These scarcely seem to be powerful enough influences to have triggered the eclipse effect;  and even if they are, who could have predicted it?

The problem is, there do not appear to be any strong connections between Einstein’s natal chart and the Eclipse chart or any strong directions in Einstein’s natal chart. Bob compared the Eclipse chart erected for Berlin (Einstein’s location at the time).  I took a slightly different tack when looking at the problem.

First, I erected the Eclipse chart at Ulm, Germany (Einstein’s birthplace) and compared it to his natal. Here you can see the Eclipse Ascendant is directly opposite Einstein’s Lot of Fortune and trine Einstein’s North Node; the Eclipse Mars is sextile the Lot and also trine Einstein’s North Node while the Eclipse MC is square to Einstein’s Mercury and the Eclipse North Node is trine Einstein’s Mercury.  These are fairly significant contacts in that Fortune occupies the 10th (career, reputation), is being stimulated by eclipse Mars (it’s ruler) and is conjunct Mercury who rules the Fortune 6th (work) which is also being stimulated by the eclipse MC. To top it off, his Lot of Accomplishment (Asc + Sun – Jupiter) and his Lot of Exaltation (Asc + 19 Aries – Sun) are both at 7 Leo, sextile the eclipse point.

Next, I looked at primary directions in Einstein’s chart. The directed 3rd House cusp, between October 14th and November 14, moves into his radix Ascendant degree, 11 Cancer; an indication that his studies or news (3rd) will affect his life during this period.

At the same time, Mercury is moving into 14 Aquarius, sextile his radix Moon, ruler of his Ascendant and posited in the 6th of work.  Mercury rules the radix 4th (end of things), as ruler of the Fortune 6th he also has significations for work and is the general significator of news. The Moon has significations for fame, especially as she is trine the radix MC; is posited in the 6th of work and, as she is the Asc ruler, indications are for the native achieving recognition for his work. At the same time directed Mercury will sextile directed Pluto; all indications of dramatic (Pluto) news (Mercury) bringing fame (Moon, Asc ruler).

During the same period, directed Uranus is trine his MC, indicating something unusual connected with his career and reputation is possible. And his directed 2nd House (substance) is square his radix Sun (honour, reputation).

If we compare the directions to the Eclipse chart, the directed Moon (fame) is opposed to the Eclipse Mercury and square to Eclipse Saturn while directed Neptune is trine the Eclipse MC. His directed Jupiter is square the Eclipse 2nd/8th axis.

Looking at his Lots, his directed Lot of Work (Asc + Jupiter – Sun) was at 11 Aries, square his Ascendant while his directed Lot of Victory (Asc + Jupiter – Spirit) was at 18 Libra, conjunct the 11th house of Achievement. The directed Lot of Sudden Advancement (Asc + Fortune – Saturn) was at 27 Taurus trine directed Jupiter and directed Fortune, at 22 Capricorn, was sextile the directed Moon. The Lots of Accomplishment and Exaltation were directed to 5 Cancer, conjunct Eclipse Pluto in the Eclipse 10th; an indication of  dramatic world recognition for his work.

Looking at his profected chart, we find the Profected Ascendant has come to the 5th. Counting houses, his Asc for the year is 18 Libra. The target date is November 7th, 238 days after the birthday. Adding the same number of degrees to the profected Ascendant gives 16 Gemini, sextile radix Venus (Lord of the Year), in the radix 10th, profected 7th (by whole sign). Adding the same number of degrees to Venus we arrive at 14 Sagittarius, conjunct the radix Moon, ruler of the natal Asc and profected 10th (by whole sign).

If we use Scorpio as the 5th sign from the Asc with the profected Asc at 11 Scorpio the hits are not as strong; adding 238 to 11 Scorpio yields 9 Cancer, no hit. Adding the same to Mars yields 24 Virgo, a trine to Pluto in the profected 7th. Counting by actual houses and using the house cusp as the profected Asc but spinning the houses out by whole sign appears to yield better results.

Overall, the contacts with the Eclipse chart, in both the natal and directed charts, appear to accurately describe his sudden, world wide fame on November 7th, 1919. If we want to know why the news was delayed, directed Saturn was sitting at 18 Aquarius for most of the year, acting as a damper, being sextile the radix 11th House of Achievement. Between Oct 14 and November 14 he moved to 17 Aquarius; the damper was off.