A Young Man

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A YOUNG MAN'S CHART

Dane Rudhyar

This is the chart of a young man, J.A., who was born in Southern California on September 25, 1949. The exact birth-moment was said to be 7:55 a.m. but because of the crucial early death of his father at the exact age of 7 (arc of Mars to Mid Heaven and also of Saturn forming by direction a semi-square to Mid Heaven 7 years after birth), it seems necessary to rectify the birthtime to 8:02 a.m. His appearance is more typical of Libra than of Scorpio; but with the Sun in Libra and a rising Venus, it is expectable that the Libra character would have marked rather deeply his features and to some extent at least his character.

I have known him for several years, at first through his family, and for at least three years as an individual with a rather outstanding intelligence and sensitivity. His development became particularly accelerated and significant when Uranus, then Jupiter passed over his natal Sun in November 1968. When, last Fall, I thought of using his birth-chart in this essay and I asked him his permission to do so, we talked a little more than before about his chart. He had just reached the age of 21, the beginning of a very important 7-year cycle which assuredly will establish more definitely what can be expected of him during his mature period as an individual. I made a horary chart at the time and I am using it much as I might have used it then if he had come for a consultation. (I no longer give such consultations.) We shall presently see that this horary chart was quite significant, as he was then just entering a new phase of his emotional unfoldment. But before we come to this, let us examine the young man's natal chart.

We see at once that most planets, except Uranus in the ninth House, are located in the "eastern" half of the chart. However, Jupiter is separated from the closest planet by a 66 degree angle (sextile) and by an empty second House (I do not count the Part of Fortune or the Moon's Nodes in evaluating the overall planetary pattern, or gestalt); moreover this Jupiter in Capricorn is in too wide a relationship to allow us to speak of an opposition; and there are no other opposition aspects in the chart. Thus while at first sight the chart gives the impression of belonging to the Hemispheric Type defined in a previous essay First Steps in the Study of Birth Charts, nevertheless it would perhaps be better to consider it as a Funnel Type. If we place the natal planets in the frame of Houses of the symbolic horary chart above-mentioned, it will be seen that Jupiter stands most definitely isolated. The planets on that September 26, 1970 showed also a Funnel Pattern with an isolated Saturn in the fourth House.

In the essay just mentioned I gave as an example of Hemispheric pattern the chart of Harold Wilson, the Ex-Premier of England, and this chart and that of J.A. have a common appearance; but Wilson has a planet in the second House and thus all Houses were occupied east of an opposition of Mars retrograde to Uranus. The difference between the two patterns is quite real, and of course the planets themselves have very different positions by House and sign. Still, there is a certain similarity due to the five empty Houses and I shall suggest, after a while, what this situation implies.

If, however, one interprets the chart as a Funnel Type then Jupiter in the third House can be considered as a point of release for the energies, and the tensions, generated in the grouping of planets between Uranus and the Moon. Jupiter in Capricorn is supposed to be "weak" as it is in a Saturnian zodiacal sign, and interestingly enough it is located on the north node of Saturn; one could also consider the two planets of the social consciousness as being in a very broad trine aspect, especially as both form sextiles to the Moon which stands very close to the mid-point of this trine.

Moreover if one calculates the "center of gravity" (or mid-point) of the planetary grouping between Uranus and the Moon - a grouping occupying about 131&1/2 degrees, thus a sesqui-quadrate aspect - this center of gravity falls at Virgo 101&1/2° quite close to Saturn and about 132 degrees away from Jupiter - a sesqui-quadrate aspect. The sesqui-quadrate between Uranus and Moon divides itself into a square of Uranus to Sun, and a semi-square of Moon to the Sun. Thus in terms of the Lunation Types, J.A. belongs to the Crescent Type, the Moon to Sun angle being so close to 45 degrees. Theoretically the new release of power at the preceding New Moon, which occupied on September 22, 1949 at Virgo 29°08' had reached, at J.A.'s birth, a level of intensity at which it was ready to challenge the remaining structures of the past cycle - unless the aspect should operate in a negative aspect as a result of "a failure to repolarize one's capacity for personal or social relationship." (cf. The Lunation Cycle page 64-65, first edition, p.50-51 new edition). J.A. may have to watch lest this negative attitude develop because of strong Neptunian "influence" over the twelfth House Sun and Mercury. However, the conjunction of Mars and Pluto in the tenth House in constructive sextile aspect to Neptune and Mercury suggests that sooner or later J.A. is most likely to take a very positive approach to social situations - an approach tempered by a practical and objective Saturn, yet not without great emotional (square to Venus and Moon). But planetary squares and tensions are needed to generate forcefulness, and in "fixed" zodiacal signs (Leo and Scorpio - also the signs of Mid Heaven and Ascendant), they show a fixed determination to overcome obstacles, including those provided by one's subconscious "ghosts."

The chart offers a tight interweaving of squares and sextiles, the latter producing rather broad trines. All categories of Houses (angular, succedent and cadent) are represented, but cadent Houses are emphasized (ninth, twelfth, and third); and zodiacal signs of the four "elements" are accentuated by planets, but cardinal signs (Cancer, Libra and Capricorn) are stressed then come fixed signs. One should consider Venus and Mars as ruling planets; but they are in square aspects, and the planets close to them, respectively Pluto and Moon, are also in square aspect. The first aspect which the Moon made after birth was indeed a square to Pluto - then a sextile to Jupiter. However, these tense aspects are balanced by sextiles. The "forming" square of the Sun to Uranus is perhaps the symbol of the greatest tensions in the chart - together with the square of the Moon to Pluto to in angular Houses.

As the Sun is on its way to meet Neptune, we see that the two Lights are in quite intensified relationship to the most distant planets, which represent the action of transcendent forces - or of catharsis-producing factors in the depths of the psyche. As Uranus dominates the ninth House, the influence of philosophical and/or "exotic" ideas is stressed. This may lead to long journeys and contacts with "foreigners," and these Uranian factors may produce basic challenges to the psychic depths - to the "Unconscious."

The retrograde Mercury, rising after the Sun (as Venus also does) can be considered a symbol of an "inward turned" mind, seeking guidance and/ or confirmation from a source within - or in terms of some kind of broad socialcultural Movement. Historical objectivity should be favored. Mercury's closeness to the Moon's South Node could be interpreted in several ways, especially as the Moon is quite close to Mercury's South Node (17°42 Scorpio) - an interesting interchange which may suggest a "past" of intellectual achievements or a strong reliance on intellectual concepts, as a means to insure emotional security.

There might be also a tendency to develop some subtle kind of psychic dependence on a Mother-Image; but here one has to consider the rising conjunction of Venus and the Moon in Scorpio - a somewhat ambiguous aspect, in terms of whatever Scorpio may represent in J.A.'s temperament, inasmuch as the two celestial bodies square the "elevated" conjunction of Mars and Pluto.

This could refer to difficulties with the mother. A strong relationship with a sibling may also be implied. Some kind of psychological or even psychic involvement in which the Woman Image plays a role is possible. But the intuition, or psychic sense should be very strong, if it can be held within a clear mental structure.

The symbol for the Moon's degree (Scorpio 17°) suggests a capacity for receiving spiritual energies of a fecundant nature; and the Venus degree symbol pictures a capacity for carrying a creative work to its completion. The symbol for the Sun is "Dawn"; and birth occurred in the morning. The possibility for expansion of consciousness and vivid realizations of a larger order of realities (cf. Ascendant degree-symbol) is certainly evident. But there will be obstacles (social as well as personal), inner tensions to overcome, and perhaps confrontations with "the Establishment" at whatever level it might be.

With most planets located on the Eastern side of the chart, problems dealing with the self and the place one occupies in society are almost inevitably to be experienced. But, from the Humanistic astrology point of view, the challenges are there to be met "squarely" - not to be avoided. In other words, the natural pull of the personality is toward a strong concentration upon what is required for self-unfoldment and there would be no sense in resisting it; but this leaves the field of interpersonal relationship and partnerships all open as a kind of void; or, let us say, as an unconscious demand for fulfillment through relationship in order to balance the urge toward self-development. As, moreover, the sign Libra in the 12th House and Venus rising are emphasized (and Venus rules the House of relationship), this gives added power to this demand for fulfillment through relationship - and even more perhaps for seeking to touch the deepest psychic depth of "man's common humanity" through whatever Scorpio represents in this individual instance; which may mean far more than sexual experiences. This may lead to some kind of mysticism or capacity for "transpersonal," contacts or communications. Neptune being a strong presence in the unconscious - or, we might also say, in terms of a subconscious "memory" of past lives.

The horary chart I erected provides a strong confirmation of what has just been stated, even though it be a purely symbolical one. The emphasis in the chart is reversed - and, if one inscribes the natal planets in the horary framework of the Houses, the same result is found; that is, a concentration of planets in the WestSouth sector of the chart. It is indeed very interesting to compare this chart with the natal one, and to see what happens to the natal planetary pattern when placed in the new framework of Houses with the first degree of Aquarius rising. This places the natal Jupiter in the twelfth House and the over-all planetary picture definitely reveals a Funnel pattern.

As already mentioned, J.A. was at the time entering a new phase of unfoldment which has been generating profound development of his feeling-nature. In the horary chart, the Sun and Uranus are in "forming" conjunction in the House of "regeneration," with Mars behind them; and indeed the transit conjunction of Uranus to J.A.'s Sun in the fall 1968 did mean a deep arousal of new values and the development of an unusually mature and intuitive mind.

The difficulty an astrologer would have met if he had been definitely asked in the summer 1968 what kind of opportunities such a Uranus transit could bring, and how best to meet them, refers to the rather ambiguous character of any twelfth House. This House symbolizes the last phase of a cycle of individual and conscious experiences; but it represents also the preparation (the "seed sowing") preceding a new one. One speaks of it usually as the House of the subconscious, of Karma, of social bondage, etc.; but I have often stressed the fact that it could also be the field of experience in which one reaps the social rewards of a "successful" cycle of activity in one's community. One may "retire" with honors and wealth, or end the cycle in jailor a hospital; and there is no reason why the twelfth House should mean the latter alternative rather than the former. In most cases, of course, the situation falls in between the two extremes.

Another difficulty is also that if one would use, say, the Placidus House system, J.A.'s natal Sun would fall in the eleventh instead or the twelfth House; but, as I stated in a previous essay, the astrologer should abide by what he considers the most valid and sound system, and no amount of "research," statistical or otherwise, can "prove" that one system is better than another - except perhaps in rare cases. The individual himself, if thoroughly familiar with the language of astrology, may feel definitely inclined to use one system rather than another; and this ambiguity is in itself an indication that every man or woman has the privilege of giving his or her own meaning to the "words" astrology spells in his or her birth-chart. Astrology is certainly not an exact science; but even in supposedly exact sciences like physics the results of an experiment can often be interpreted in several ways, and other results might be obtained if the technique used would have been different.

This is why a chart should always be interpreted in terms of the present situation and the vital need of the client - and of one's own need if one studies one's own chart. And in 1968 as Uranus was about to cross his natal Sun, J.A.'s need was presumably to arise and transform within his subconscious nature the end-results of what in the broadest sense I would call his "past."

One may look at the matter by considering the chart of the New Moon which began the lunation cycle in which he was born some three days later. This New Moon occurred, as we already saw, at Virgo 29°08'; and the Sabian symbol for this 30th degree of Virgo is rather intriguing. Marc Jones has interpreted in a curious way what he originally recorded; and it is this interpretation which I followed in 1935 when writing The Astrology of Personality as I had just begun to study the set of symbols. However, the original record (cf. Marc Jones Sabian Symbols) was different and what the symbol seems to refer to is a final test before the process of self-transformation - or one might say "initiation." The individual ready for the great step has succeeded in developing such a onepointed attention to what is, potentially. at least, ahead of him that he has become impervious to illusory demands made upon him. He simply does not hear or acknowledge them. Nevertheless this is still only a preparatory state of consciousness, and the momentum of that state must complete its appointed course. The course, in the situation now being discussed, is the full lunation cycle which, having begun on September 22, 1949, ends in the next New Moon on October 21, at Libra 28°48'. The symbol for this twenty-ninth degree refers to man's essential drive toward knowledge - at last, knowledge at the particular level which can be attained by a collective, cultural effort.

In terms of the progressed lunation cycle J.A. will reach this progressed New Moon in December 1975 - thus at the age of 26. The progressed Full Moon of the cycle which began before his birth occurred in 1961 - age 12. The progressed last quarter occurred in 1969 and may correspond to a more definite break away from his family and cultural traditions. It may be worth noting that his father (who died accidentally on September 22, 1956) had his natal Uranus at Leo 5°52' very close to J.A.'s Mid Heaven. The Mid Heaven represents the father, or at least the Father Image in a psychological sense, and in a more spiritual sense, the "Father within" - the divine Presence within the total person, but also the "star" that is not in the zodiacal field but at the true zenith of the birth location.

In 1962 the progressed Sun crossed natal Neptune while Neptune moved by transit over the natal Moon; this was a time of inner confusion. But the sextile of the progressed Sun to Pluto in 1965, and the conjunction of this progressed Sun to Mercury in 1966 began to dispel the psychic fog. The square of the progressed Sun to Jupiter in the winter-spring 1970 - prolonged through the first part of 1971 (progressed Sun squaring progressed Jupiter) - very likely gave an added incentive to the development of the mind, and also led J .A. to a new environment.

The most interesting period ahead is that which will correspond to the crossing of his natal Ascendant by the progressed Sun. This may help to clarify further the matter of the most correct ascendant. It should happen in mid 1978, if the Ascendant I suggest is verified. But before this occurs the first progressed New Moon after J.A.'s birth will have occurred at the very close of 1975. The 1978 date is interesting because he will then be in his twenty-ninth year, having reached the age of 28 on September 25, 1977; and this twentyeighth birthday begins not only a 7-year period, but the second of the great 28-year periods which - at least today - divide a human life into three basic cycles, in a kind of "dialectical" sequence of thesis, antithesis and synthesis.

These dates should mark the successive phases of an interior process of "self-actualization"; but giving power and momentum to this process, we can see the transits of Uranus and of Pluto over the very sensitive areas of the twelfth and the first Houses. We saw that Uranus (backed by Jupiter) crossed J.A.'s Sun during November 1968 and lastly in August 1969. As I am writing these pages Uranus is retrogressing over his natal Neptune; it will cross Mercury in 1972 and 1973. Then the most important transit over the Ascendant will occur at the end of November 1974 and again in September 1975; thus nearly at the same time as the progressed New Moon; quite an extraordinary coincidence and J .A. will then begin his twenty-seventh year. That fall period will also be the opening of the last quarter of the century, exactly one hundred years after the beginning of the Theosophical Society in New York - very likely a crucial 25-year period for mankind.

Then there are the less easy to interpret (or to understand) transits of Pluto. About the time this brief analysis is made public, Pluto will come close to crossing J.A.'s natal Sun, repeating thus the series of transits made by Uranus (The exact transit will occur a year later). The two planets, Uranus and Pluto, were conjunct in 1966 just on J.A.'s "Part of Spirit" (which I have discussed in my book The Lunation Cycle); and it could be that this marked the reestablishment of an ancient spiritual pattern, or the breaking up of it in connection with a friend, or some inner influence. In any case this conjunction of Uranus and Pluto has certainly been the "Signature" of the present phase of revolutionary upheaval which has spread from California - and more precisely Berkeley - to the whole youth of the world. In J.A.'s case that time presumably started him off and out of a confused period and I already mentioned the progress ions of the Sun to Pluto and Mercury during 1965 and 1966 (age 16-17).

Pluto, then, is slowly, and I believe far more definitively and irrevocably, deepening up the pathway which Uranus opened in 1968. Whether or not the transit will correlate with important external events is, in a sense, quite unimportant. The traditional effort which countless generations of astrologers have made to show the correlation between astrological motions and physical plane events is, to a Humanistic astrologer, beside the point. There may be events, and there may not be. What counts is only whether or not one understands whatever is happening, and one uses the situation being formed in order to make more conscious, more complete, more radiant and/ or creative the process of self-actualization.

Pluto will pass over J.A.'s Mercury in 1979; and it will cross his Ascendant in 1983-84. But it is hardly worthwhile to speculate on what these fairly distant transits may indicate. What is more relevant is the coming transits of Uranus over J.A.'s Mercury in October 1972. This could mark a highly stimulating period at the intellectual level. There are obviously many lesser transits which should be studied in a detailed analysis, but this present study aims merely at indicating main lines of enquiry.

I have not spoken yet of the Moon's Nodes, but these constitute a factor which can be very significant. In this case, if we consider the chart as being divided into two zones, one containing all the planets, and the other empty, we see that the South Node is placed close to the center of gravity of the planetary mass which is located in mid-Libra very near Neptune in the twelfth House. This could be interpreted as signifying a strong tendency toward introversion, conceivably based on practices or at least attitudes subconsciously "remembered" from some ancient past - thus as a somewhat "automatic" type of response to life-situations; and this could mean in certain circumstances, a withdrawal into Neptunian abstractions or psychic glamour. On the other hand, it could mean, according to the positive sense of the South Node, a kind of "genius" at developing transcendent (psychic or spiritual) faculties. In either case, it suggests that J.A.'s conscious attention is drawn toward such twelfth House matters, and this according to the Libra temperament.

Interestingly enough Uranus has been crisscrossing this "center of gravity" of the occupied half of the chart throughout 1971; and this could indicate a transformation of this center of attraction within the inner or psychic life - one might say a drying up of Neptunian waters (fantasies of the unconscious perhaps, or utopian dreams.) By "drying up" I do not mean that the Neptunian waters should be considered as a negative factor; even though they can be negative in many instances, if the mystical or abstract urge is not balanced by other influences. The balancing factor and the point of self-exertion - and as a result of "Providential" assistance - are represented by the North Node in the House of work, retraining and in some cases discipleship.

While speaking of "balance" I cannot help restating what I have repeated many times, i.e. that Libra and its symbol "the Scales" do not refer to what is so commonly and superficially called "balance" by astrologers. It is true that scales balance one thing against another, but the important factor is the purpose and meaning of the operation. When an object is weighed, it is weighed against a collectively agreed upon standard of measurement and value. What an individual brings to society (for instance, to the market place) is being evaluated according to a social standard. The important factor in the weighing is not that the two sides of the scales are "balanced," but that, for instance, the product of an individual's work (such as vegetables he has grown, or piece of gold he has discovered) is given a collective value. Libra therefore refers to all processes which lead to ascertaining the value to society of an individual and his work - and thus to the first active integration of an individual person in the collective patterns of the group, culture and nation to which he belongs, or which he wishes to join.

This, to me at least, should be obvious; but astrologers are so traditionalistic in their response to symbols, and particularly to the superficial aspect of what a symbolic situation depicts, that the idea that people born with the Sun in Libra are "balanced" people - when there is no real evidence for this at all - will undoubtedly persist. People born with the Sun in Libra are rather persons whose vital energies, and often life-purpose, are deeply conditioned by a basic urge to assess their value in terms of social or group responses. In the case of J.A., the group could be a transcendent more than a social collectivity, and his interest in occultism, astrology and the development of psychic or intuitive faculties is evidence of this possibility. The presence of the Moon's South Node in the midst of his Libra planets and between Neptune and Mercury could well indicate that he had brought such an interest from the past.

One of the problems he may face is what to do with the rising Venus-Moon conjunction in Scorpio. This problem may have to be faced when Uranus will transit these two planets during 1978. He will then be 29; and such a period has already come up in this study, for it is then that J.A.' s progressed Sun will. reach his natal Ascendant. This could be a time of decision, with life-long consequences.

A factor which I discussed long ago in an article and more recently in a lecture for an astrological organization in Chicago might be validly considered in J.A.'s chart. It is what I have called "the Point of Redemption." This Point is very logical as it is the extension of the technique which gave to astrology the Part of Fortune and the Part of Spirit. It is found by adding the longitudes of the Moon and the Sun, and by subtracting from the sum the longitude of the Ascendant.

In order to evaluate significantly the meaning of such a point we have to realize that, if we consider the relationship of the Sun, the Moon and the Ascendant in terms of time, the Sun stands for the present, the Moon for the past, and the Ascendant for the future. The Sun is the "present moment," for it is solar energy that makes us alive now. The Moon represents the "past," because the patterns of distribution of solar energy and the capacity we have to adapt to everyday situations is conditioned by our culture, our ancestry and in most cases by our relationship to our mother, for the mother (the past of the race and the womb from which we emerged) gave us our first example of how to adjust to cold, heat, hunger and in general any biological, and perhaps later on psychological needs. The Ascendant represents the "future" because it refers to the set of individual potentialities which it is our task to actualize as we live and grow.

Now, when we calculate the Part of Fortune, we actually add the arc between the forward moving Moon and the Sun to the Ascendant; and this is a way of showing what the phase of the solilunar relationship is in terms of the framework of the Houses (especially the Ascendant). As the relationship of the Moon to the Sun deals with the nature of the vital energies and with the way they are being distributed, this relationship applied to the Ascendant reveals the best way we can use these energies in order to actualize what we potentially are.

If now we consider the relationship of the Moon to the Ascendant we see that it can be interpreted as the relationship of the past to our individual future, i.e. to the person we are meant actually to become. This relationship plays at all times upon our "present," i.e. it affects the solar and vital forces which we constantly use. We obtain the Point of Redemption by applying the distance between the Ascendant and the Moon to the Sun. The Moon, however, does not merely represent the past; it indicates as well the potentiality of overcoming, or of coming to terms with this past - because indeed every factor in a birth-chart indicates how best to approach the function to which this factor refers. The same thing applies to what is so often misunderstood as "karma." Any so-called karmic event or contact gives us the opportunity to harmonize a past failure - a fault of omission as well as of commission.

The Moon therefore shows us by implication how we can best handle our past karma; but this handling of the past inevitably affects what we think of as our "dharma" - i.e. as the process of fulfilling our individual purpose (Ascendant). The relationship between these perhaps conflicting directions affect our solar-vitality; it makes demands upon it, and these may be crucial. It is to this whole situation that the Point of Redemption refers. In a very broad sense, it should reveal to us the nature of our basic opportunity to "redeem" the past, i.e. to neutralize our karma - or at least the general approach which we should best take in order to understand and meet this karma. At Moon-rise the Point of Redemption is conjunct the Sun; thus when the karmic factor arises in the consciousness, the position of the Sun (basic life-purpose or spiritual Will) represents the way of overcoming.

In J.A.'s chart the Point of Redemption falls at Libra 17°59' exactly conjunct to Mercury retrograde. Considering the quite emotional squares between Leo and the Scorpio planets, one may see in this position a suggestion that mental objectivity and a deep inner search for values and motives are the best ways to handle karmic problems. But as the Point of Redemption is located in the twelfth House it suggests that it is in the very subjective depths of the being that the confrontation with the "ghosts" of the past is likely to be met. This implies the need to develop a strong capacity to deal with factors referring to the inner life and the subconscious mind - and referring also to the collective mentality of the age and of mankind in general. However, I have found that in a number of cases, the position of the Point of Redemption is more significant in a solar House (i.e. in its aspect to the natal Sun) as in a natal House. In J.A.'s case this would place this Point in the first solar House.

In the chart of the Russian Czar Nicholas 11 whose execution by the Bolsheviks had a socialpolitical character rather than a personal one, the Point of Redemption falls at the cusp of the eighth solar House (i.e. 210 degrees ahead of the natal Sun.) He had become a political symbol and in his death he, as it were, assumed a national karma - which, from the individual point of view, is a great spiritual achievement! The Point fell in his fourth natal House, again suggesting identification with the land, in which he was rooted. Interestingly, Lenin's natal Saturn was within one degree of the czar's Point of Redemption.

Space forbids to go into more detail concerning J.A.'s chart, though it is quite evident that many factors have been left untouched. The position of the Part of Fortune could have been discussed, and far more attention should have been given to the symbols of the degrees on which planets and angles are located. Also, charts should have been made for the New Moon before birth, and the one following birth. This last one is important in that J.A. is still living within the lunation cycle it opened up. A close study of the progressed New Moon which he will experience at the close of 1975 may reveal more information concerning the essential character of the 30-year period - and especially the period until the next progressed Full Moon - which will follow.

The progressions of every planet should be studied; but one should remember that only the progressed Moon makes a complete cycle around the birth-chart, and astrology deals essentially with factors capable of making complete circuits in the sky (i.e. wholes in time and space). For this reason I feel that the progressions of the planets should be studied within the frame of reference provided by complete progressed lunation cycles. Each progressed lunation cycle in the lifetime of an individual is given meaning, not only by the position of the progressed New Moon (and secondarily by the chart erected for the exact moment of this progressed New Moon at the place where the infant experienced it - i.e. most likely at his birthplace), but also by the aspects between progressed planets (Both progressed-to-natal and progressed-to-progressed aspects can be used).

I personally do not use the "progressed horoscope" popularized by Allen Leo; but it may prove valid. I prefer to keep the framework of the natal horizon and meridian as a permanent frame of reference; partly at least because the daily motion of the horizon and the progressed movements of the planets belong to two different frames of reference. For a similar reason I do not feel that the transits of actually moving planets over the positions of symbolically moving progressed planets should be considered. At best the transit of a planet over a degree occupied by a progressed planet might be said to emphasize the symbolic character of this degree; it has nothing to do with the planets so related.

It may nevertheless be significant to indicate in some way the place occupied each year by the "progressed" Mid Heaven and Ascendant. But I prefer to use what I called in The Astrology of Personality, the 28-year cycle of the Point of Self, or AUM Point. In J.A.'s case this Point is now passing through his tenth House because he is 22 years old. It is conjunct Pluto, as Pluto is nearing a conjunction with his natal Sun (October 1972). It was still close to Uranus when Uranus was transiting this same natal Sun (1968). The progressed Moon was also conjunct Pluto to during this last winter 1971. The Sabian symbol for Pluto's natal degree is " A teacher of chemistry." This could mean a deeper awareness of the powers and opportunities locked in matter; and to a person whose attention is strongly drawn to subjective factors and abstract concepts related to the self, this awareness would indeed be most valuable.

With this I must close this study hoping that it will indicate a general line of approach to the birth-charts of individuals. The more intimate and definite possibilities of strictly individual meaning can only take verbal form in the presence of the person himself and in terms of his ability to accept and to constructively assimilate what might be said - thus of his response to more general and formal statements such as this study contains. Because of this inevitable fact the study should not be taken as revealing the essential value which a truly "humanistic" or person-centered interpretation can release. What I have talked about are natural tendencies. These should be clearly seen by the client, but this is only the foundation of a process - a vital and psychological process. It is what you do with these "natural tendencies" which is important - or, I might say again, how one comes to understand, then apply the "instructions" contained in the coded message of one's birth-sky.

Person Centered Astrology