Are you destined for fame?

With TV reality programmes such as big brother and the x factor having such an impact on young people today it’s not surprising that we have created a generation that just aspire to become famous. To me fame is an exaggeration of people who want to feel special, unique, gain recognition and above seeking love and attention.

However, I thought it might be a good idea to start a discussion about the significant astrological factors in the birthchart that may indicate fame. First let’s look at some early scientific evidence that was produced in the 1950’s by Michael Gauqelin a psychologist and statistician. Although he took an interest in astrology at a very early age he was opposed to the use of astrology. In his research into astrology he studied the diurnal distribution of the planets in thousands of accurately timed birthcharts. His work in the mid fifties demonstrated that people who were well known for their success in a particular profession would have either the Moon, Mars, Jupiter or Saturn placed in a specific area of the birthchart e.g. 3^rd, 6^th, 9^th and 12^th houses. The conclusions of this study indicated that cadent houses (3^rd, 6^th, 7^th, 12^th) were more significant than angular houses (1st, 4th, 7th and 10^th) when determining the career or character than previously suspected.

1.    Moon was found in cadent houses in the charts of writers and politicians

2.    Mars was found in cadent houses in the charts of military leaders, physicians, top sports people and executives.

3.    Jupiter was found in cadent houses in the charts of actors, playwrights, politicians, military leaders, top executives and journalists.

4.    Saturn was found in cadent houses in the charts of scientists and physicians.

Through my experience as an astrologer I have found specific factors in people’s charts who seek fame. The planet Neptune is usually strongly placed in the birthchart because it is connected with unreality, illusion, glamour, seduction, fantasy, music, dance, acting, modelling, the arts or the dreamer personality.  Many famous people have found fame difficult to live with having their life exposed 24/7 to the public and due to its illusionary and deceptive nature. When it gets too much to handle self-destructive tendencies (Neptune) emerge through addiction, excessive alcohol or through a scandal. The nature of fame increases pressure on individuals to perform to perfection. This is to ensure they have a high profile position in society, however, this can be very challenging to maintain 24/7. Neptune is like fame due to its illusionary nature - one moment your famous the next you’re forgotten like yesterday’s news! There is also strong link to people who become famous and have Sun-Neptune in aspect in their birthchart. People with this aspect have a very vivid imagination, are creative, attracted to glamour or a spiritual ideal, a dreamer, artistic or saviour...but can also be self-destructive through drug use, playing the victim due to an absent father, abuse or neglect. Some famous people who have Sun-Neptune aspect: Susan Sarandon, Christina Aguilera, Michael Douglas, Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Costner, Cameron Diaz, Sheena Easton, Mick Jagger, Farrah Fawcett, Muhammad Ali, Paul McKenna and Amy Whitehouse.

Apart from Sun-Neptune the sign Leo can be associated with fame especially if the moon (popularity) is placed in Leo and near a critical angle of the birthchart. For example Margaret Thatcher has Moon-Neptune conjunct in Leo (cadent house 9^th) but conjunct her MC indicating fame...while Saturn on her ascendant in Scorpio (authoritarian/dictator). Sometimes fame can be shown through the planet that rules the ascendant sign (e.g Pluto is rulership for Scorpio). Paul McKenna has Scorpio rising and Pluto conjunct his Midheaven (MC) which could signify a rise to prominence. Tony Blair has Mars-Jupiter in Gemini conjunct his ascendant an excellent placement for a lawyer, politician, military leader and communicator.

However I have only covered about 1% of this interesting yet complex subject plus have only provided a few examples to whet your appetite. To provide and accurate assessment you need to know your full birth date, exact time of birth and place of birth. The astrologer then needs to assess the different planetary configurations in your chart. Usually I find that if you have a planet near the ascendant or midheaven (MC) it will transform your life when activated by planetary transits, (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto) or progressions and converse directions (Sun, Mercury, Venus, Mars or ruling planet). The late Ronald Davison states in his book Technique of prediction that only permanent fame can be achieved under solar progressions and converse directions.

Let me know your thoughts or astrological experiences.

Sources:

Micheal Gauquelin                     http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michel_Gauquelin

Sun-Neptune Famous People   http://www.cafeastrology.com/natal/sunneptuneaspects.html

Margaret Thatchers Birth Chart http://www.astrotheme.com/portraits/8W2x2Yp4Qr7y.htm

Sasportas.H., The Twelve houses 1985 Thorsons, London

Davidson.R., Technique of Prediction 1955 Fowler, London

Astrology in action - Rupert Murdoch’s Media Empire - Will he survive?

Will the biggest media scandal destroy Murdoch’s media empire? In this blog using Murdoch’s astrological chart I will attempt to unravel the underlying problems of Murdoch’s empire through key progressions and potential timing of key events. First let’s look at some of main factors of his chart. With Capricorn rising and ruler Saturn conjunct the 2^nd cusp shows someone who will work very hard to accumulate money and possessions through fear of  not having enough...when we see that Saturn opposes Mars - Pluto it presents a tough, determined and ruthless person in the pursuit of power. It also represents his tough childhood even though his family were wealthy...His parents would have been very strict, authoritarian and would have had his life planned out... I doubt whether his parents showed much affection - the age of 3, 6 and 9 would have been very challenging (Saturn-Pluto-Mars) for his family (Cancer). His father died when he was 22, progressed Sun (father) conjunct Uranus (Sudden change). He then took over the family business News Limited which was very successful.

Personality wise he has great survival (Mars-Saturn-Pluto) instincts (cancer) and will fight (Mars-Pluto) to the end in a determined and perhaps ruthless and confident fashion (Mars – Pluto) while making enemies during the process 7^th house (relationships). This planetary combination is intensified through Jupiter’s influence. Pluto makes a conjunction with Jupiter in Cancer (family) in the 7^th (relationships)..this exaggerates (Jupiter) the need for power (Pluto) within the family (Cancer). It’s not surprising that he is ranked 13th most powerful person in the world in the Forbes' The World's Most Powerful People list 2010. With a net worth of US$6.3 billion, he is ranked 117th wealthiest person in the world.

It will have be interesting to know the type of experiences he encounters when Jupiter (expands), Saturn (limits), Uranus (reforms), Neptune, (dissolves), and Pluto (transforms) influenced this dynamic planetary combination of Saturn in opposition to the Mars-Pluto-Jupiter conjunction. His Jupiter-Pluto combination is about thinking big, being the speculator and gaining big investments. It is likely to be found in successful entrepreneurs charts because is the contact is about risk and expansion (Jupiter) and beginnings and power (Pluto).  Ok so we have explored some of the key aspect patterns that provide the platform for Murdoch’s media empire and global domination. What might surprise people is that he is very talented in negotiations and has great intuition (Sun-Mercury in Pisces trine Jupiter and Pluto). His worldwide fame (Neptune-Midheaven) comes from Moon (Public) rising in Sagittarius (Entrepreneur).

Ok so what’s happening now and why is his empire involved in such a big scandal? Let’s go back to 6 and 3 years ago when his progressed Sun in Gemini (media/communications) made a square to Neptune (deception) in Virgo (employees). It’s very possible that he may have been aware of the problems occurring within his own company and decided to cover it up (Neptune). In 2011 Neptune opposes his progressed ascendant in Pisces...this type of aspect is very likely to appear when deception is exposed. What is interesting is that he may believe that he is above criticism and can brush away the problem due to his position of power and influence (converse Mercury opposing Jupiter and Pluto conjunction). President Nixon had his Mercury-Jupiter-Pluto combination activated during the Watergate crisis. I am sure that when the investigation has been completed we will find some kind of cover up (Neptune opposition Ascendant).

We can also look back at the lunar Eclipse in June 2011 at 23 degrees Sagittarius which conjuncts his Moon (public) in the 12^th house (self-undoing, hidden) - also Cancer on the 8^th cusp (Police investigation). The Neptune opposition Ascendant is activated in October 2011 so expect more revelations around the autumn 2011 and in 2012-13..yes it not finished yet! The problem that may occur is that his other interests may be hit hard which could impact the Sun, Sunday Times, Times and his takeover of BSkyb.

In fact  new scandals may appear during the next 12-18 months plus his health may suffer (Neptune-Ascendant) so in all he will find the next 18 months the most challenging of his life...especially with all his enemies (Mars-Pluto) trying to put oil on the fire.

Please not I have not looked at all the different planetary configurations but focussed on some of the most obvious ones. Let me know if you want to know more...or even if you have other theories would be great to hear from you

Neptune in Pisces - Who should advise you in a crisis Psychologist or Psychic?

This blog is about practitioner ethics and how psychology and psychic phenomena are connected by the same symbol Neptune. Although most people may recognise this three-pronged fork or trident as a symbol of the Roman god of Neptune, many might be surprised to see it as a recognised symbol for the social science psychology. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychology.

I want to discuss how psychics and astrologers should use ethics in helping and support people in need as I believe this is going to be a contentious issue when Neptune settles within its own sign of Pisces. This blog has been inspired by people I know who have spent hundreds of pounds consulting psychics and astrologers on a regular basis bordering on addiction with feelings of frustration that their problems are still active and present in their lives.

My initial thoughts are will Neptune in Pisces improve this situation or make it worse. Psychology is based on scientific evidence/experiments and pragmatic tools for the client to break free from negative behaviour patterns, depression and other mental illnesses, while psychic phenomena has no scientific boundaries and anyone can set up as a psychic taking on clients without any formal training or ethical process.

Neptune in Pisces could mean novel developments in the field of neuroscience/cognitive science, greater understanding of the unconscious, dreams, collective consciousness and new alternative therapies. At worse, people could become dependent on psychologists, psychics, astrology, counsellors for answers to their problems with an unobtainable wish list or requesting a magic wand (Neptune) as a solution. With psychic phenomena more popular than ever combined with easier access to psychics through telephone and online services, psychics, astrologers and alike are perhaps more likely to be the first port of call for people who are in a crisis. However, from an ethical perspective will they assess people first to see if a client would be better of seeing a psychologist/alternative therapy or will just give them a reading?

Don’t get me wrong both psychic and psychologist can be beneficial and damaging it really depends on the problem. As an astrologer, master practitioner of neuro-linguistic programming and life coach the first thing I learned as a coach was ethics and my limitations in helping people. A coach can help people reach their goals, an astrologer can identify and assess patterns of behaviour that release potential or repeat negative cycles/experiences. A psychic can gain a vision/insight of what may happen in the future. However, when people are sucked into turmoil of a personal crisis there may be underlying issues where a psychic, astrologer or coach needs to direct their clients to alternative practitioners such as a psychologist who can provide a framework and set of tools e.g. cognitive behavioural therapy which allows the individual to break through problems rather than becoming a victim of the planets or dependent and addicted to psychic readings - getting more frustrated because they don’t get the answers they want.

Therefore, as a coach and an astrologer I always assess people to see whether I am best suited to helping clients or refer them to another profession be it psychologist or even a psychic. I hope that when Neptune travels through Pisces there is a blurring of the edges between psychologists and psychics working together in tandem...but in particular psychics and astrologers recognise the need to refer people to another discipline who may have better tools so clients help themselves rather than become a victim to their fate worse still addition (Neptune) and reliance on their favourite psychic or astrologer.

Uranus-Neptune The Social Network – Connection, Illusion or Isolation?

It’s probably not surprising that the internet was commercialised in 1995 the year Uranus (technology) entered Aquarius (11^th house connection to society, social groups and friends). Perhaps with Pluto (new beginnings) entering Sagittarius (knowledge) in 1995 made a serious contribution to a worldwide cultural shift with mass appeal and obsession (Pluto) in using new ways to obtain knowledge and communicate (Sagittarius) through technology (Uranus in Aquarius).

At the same time the internet was on the commercial radar the first social networks were launched Theglobe.com (1995), Geocities (1994) and Tripod.com (1995). By the late 1990’s there were a new bred of social networking sites. User profiles were introduced which allowed you to add friends (Uranus in Aquarius). In 1998 Neptune entered Aquarius; Neptune’s role in the social network has been critical in creating illusion and addiction.

Do you really know who your friend is? Is their profile a product of someone’s imagination or fantasy? Through an avatar or personal profile we can be anyone. It’s socially acceptable to add a photo of yourself or remain anonymous using image of something else (Neptune). The culture of Second life is to create an avatar that is more fantasy than reality (Neptune) you can choose from sex, age, appearance, clothes etc - be slim, attractive or whatever you want to be. Although Second life was launched in 2003 (Uranus in Pisces) the project was initiated in Linden labs in 1999 when Neptune (Fantasy) entered Aquarius (Technology) for the final time.

MySpace, LinkedIn and Bebo were also launched in 2003 when Uranus entered Pisces and Neptune in Aquarius. While Facebook was introduced in February 2004 (Sun conjunct Neptune in Aquarius and Uranus at 1 degree Pisces). Facebook has since driven the social networking phenomena.

So if we are more connected now than ever how come we have become more isolated? Ok when did you have your last quality face to face conversation? – do not include Skype, although you can connect face to face you can still multi task, use email, instant message etc while speaking to your beloved aunt Mable from Australia, without her knowing as she can’t see your keyboard! You only have to go to a restaurant these days and watch a young couple who spend more time texting on their phones rather than engaging together in conversation..or even communicating together at home through Facebook! With social networking we tend to communicate addictively (Neptune) in isolation (Neptune) and emotional detached (Uranus) through email, instant messaging and texting. Instead of talking face to face we have become attached to the screens of our mobile phones, PC or other digital devices (Uranus) rather than the people we want to connect with. Technology was suppose to make our lives less stressful, reduce work and easier communication...instead we are busier than ever and that trend may increase with Uranus (technology) in Aries (action).

While Uranus in Aquarius signifies technology and perhaps an unconscious desire to connect in a new and different way to society. Neptune has added the elements of illusion, fantasy, addiction and isolation. Perhaps as Uranus now moves into Aries we shall see more radical technological advances, while Neptune in Pisces will drive the illusion and addiction of connecting to family and friends through social networking. Therefore, creating a new reality for ourselves, family and friends and blurring of boundaries between life and fantasy. At the same time will we become more isolated in fear of engaging in face to face social events and conversation?