The Astrological Significance of Vesta - David Cochrane

After extensive research, David Cochrane shares a fascinating presentation concerning the astrological significance of asteroid Vesta:

July 1799: The Rosetta Stone is found

The Rosetta Stone; photograph © Hans Hillewaert; https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rosetta_Stone.JPG

224 years ago on July 19, 1799, history was made by Napoleon Bonaparte's troops when the Rosetta Stone was found. Rightfully so, Egypt wants its antiquity back, and This Day In History tells us all about it.

But you know, the Rosetta Stone, which made possible the translation of cuneiform writing, has turned up on JCAstro previously along with a few notes concerning the intriguing Rosetta pattern in Astrology.

For more details, try The Rosetta Stone and Astrology's Rosetta Pattern, video included.

The Importance of Centaur Pholus in a Natal Chart

File:Beldam_Painter_-_Herakles_and_Pholos_-_Walters_48229_-_Left_Detail.jpg

More Details Concerning Centaur Pholus in Astrology

by Jude Cowell

Having the centaur Pholus conjunct a natal 5th house planet, it seems necessary that I follow up on previous research into Pholus since it had resulted in a post here in April 2022, Astro-Genealogy Can Reveal Ancestral Trauma. At that time, we focused on both Pholus (#5145) and Nessus (#7066) in order to study traumas that are handed down through the generations of families via DNA, oral myths, memories, unconscious or otherwise.

Because most, if not all, families have one or more such past events, or ancestors whose "baggage" may be inherited and eventually turn up on a descendant's to-do list to be 'improved' upon. Similar to a Saturn Return, there may be mistakes that need correcting if karmic progress is the objective. Heal ourselves, we heal our families.

Therefore, we in the present are wise to work on these difficult familial issues (sometimes involving violent acts--or not) with more skill and knowledge than our ancestors had in their day. And where do we find such information? In natal horoscopes, of course, and through the expertise of a consulting astrologer if need be, for a different perspective can only aid our quest. Progressions and Solar Arcs may also be useful particularly for timing purposes.

Then in our natal charts, it helps to familiarize ourselves with the Water houses: 4th (ancestral family of origin), 8th (ancestral legacy), and 12th (the cosmic family soul), and the signs and planets posited therein. Of course, the Nodal Axis comes into play as well with the South Node a point of inherited traits and talents. Recommended is Erin Sullivan's book, The Astrology of Family Dynamics (#ad) for it contains fascinating information about such topics.

In addition, natal Moon (the past; the unconscious; childhood; family; emotions) reveals family legacy for obvious reasons with some signs lending themselves to generational research more easily than others. I'm thinking of the Water signs, of course: Moon in Cancer, Scorpio, or Pisces, with the gift of psychism possibly involved--a sense of "knowing," or strong intuition. A link to the Collective Unconscious (via the personal unconscious) is indicated.

Pholus: Decision-Making and The Consquences of Our Actions

Discovered January 9, 1992 @00Leo36 Rx, the highly impactful centaur Pholus symbolizes turning points in our lives, plus, signifies a way to determine and awaken to our life's path (true purpose), and how to alter it, if necessary. Pholus can act as a force that triggers life-altering events and is significant in our decision-making process. Its contact with a natal planet or planets identifies prominent events and/or people in our lives.

In fact, next to centaur Chiron, Pholus is second in importance, and informs us of how we can move beyond the limitations of our past. Naturally, this is invaluable information for dealing more successfully with present events which may actually be unconsciously influenced by inherited material--ancestral traumas and negative events that are passed down from family members of recent or more distant generations. The position and condition of natal Pholus can also provide us with details about how others see us. Why, Pholus even resonates harmoniously with transformative Pluto in our charts, and in Synastry (relationship astrology) is considered to be a love asteroid!

Now there's much more about Pholus worth studying so if you're interested, follow the cosmic deity link, above, for additional details. And if you want to know where your own Pholus is located, simply search for the centaur at serennu.com by plugging in your birth data, then in the Astrological Ephemeris type in object #5145 and the position of your Pholus will appear on the list!

Something's Fishy at Jude Cowell Astrology!

An Art-and-Astro Musing by Jude Cowell

While searching my several blogs just now I floated across my very first Dreamyfish Art entry of December 19, 2005 which opened with my all-time favorite botanical fish portrait of a Breaksea cod ensnared within his favorite dream scenario. In fact, here he is now, all the way from the waters of Western Australia. He's one of my Saturn-Neptune depictions of real plus imaginary using Prismacolor oil pencils on paper:

Now 2005 was quite a few years ago, as you may agree--18 years ago to be exact! So naturally, with Pisces the sign of the Two Fishes, I looked to see which planet or planets, if any, were in the visionary, dreamy, oceanic sign of Pisces at the time I created a new blog, my Dreamyfish Art gallery on Blogspot dot com.

Unsurprisingly, there was one such planet on December 19, 2005, a planet that often turns up when new or novel ideas are set in motion or are put into form. In this case, it was Uranus @7Pisces. And of course, you know that Uranus is also the planet of Technology and Science, plus, 2005 was back in the olden days when (personal web) blogging was in an early phase.

Now obviously, techno things have rapidly developed through the years until in 2023 'Artificial Intelligence', aka, A.I., is knocking at humanity's door - or as some might say, the call is coming from inside the house. So I confess that typing this post feels quite old-fashioned in a 2005 way especially since it features an ancient creature from The Deep. Meanwhile, here in Raleigh, a thunderstorm has just rumbled through the 'City of Oaks' so perhaps I'll shut off electricals lest a lightening bolt from the quiver of 'sky god' Uranus rents the air and shuts things down for me!

Happy Father's Day 2023 to an Ancient Great-Grandfather!

We're All Descendants Now: Richard de Clare, aka, "Strongbow"

by Jude Cowell

Because today in the US it's Father's Day when we honor, celebrate, and/or pay tribute to our earthly fathers, and because my Dad is no longer with us, I went searching for my ancestral grandfathers on my Dad's side to see if one might inspire the creation of this very post.

Well, thanks to my paternal Strickland grandmother's line, I soon landed upon my illustrious 25th great-grandfather known to history as "Strongbow" although the grand nickname was only attached later, via mistranslation, to the name of Richard de Clare. Therefore, during Richard's lifetime, he was never called "Strongbow."

Then happily for the purpose of writing this meager post, there exists multiple sources, articles, and videos about warrior Richard de Clare's exploits as the man who married Ireland's Princess Aoife MacMurrough (aka, Eva of Leinster), and who transformed Ireland in an extraordinary way. Of course, their marriage was an integral part of the transformation!

Here's a famous image of "Strongbow" dating from the year 1189:

"Strongbow" by Gerald de Barri, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons; 1189

And now perhaps you'd enjoy a view of the very detailed painting by Daniel Maclise (1806--1870), The Marriage of Strongbow and Aoife--which, for me, symbolizes the union of my 25th great-grandparents, besides its well-known historical significance:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Marriage_of_strongbow_and_aoife.jpg

So Is Astrology Part of the Cosmic Picture?

Yes! Having no exact birth data for either Richard or for Aoife, I consulted their marriage/wedding horoscope (August 25, 1170 at Christ Church Cathedral) and discovered that three or four planets conjunct my own natal planets. But the closest conjunction, the cosmic time link that amazes me most is their marriage's Chiron in early Sagittarius for it conjuncts my natal Chiron. So basically, I might say that yours truly came along during a Chiron Return to the marriage and relationship of my 25th great-grandparents, Richard and Aoife.

And while it's true that Richard de Clare's status as a warrior is legendary, I wish only to post this tribute to him as a great-grandpapa on this, Father's Day 2023 and add, May Richard and Aoife R. I. P. - he perhaps at Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland where many folk believe his effigy rests.

Now in closing, here's a 12-minute video presented by the TopTenz channel Facts You Didn't know About the Norman Invasion of Ireland.

Plus, you'll find additional info at Richard "Strongbow" de Clare's find-a-grave listing if you wish!

Astro-Profile re: Queen Catherine de' Medici

by Jude Cowell

Have you ever consulted the Wikipedia page of Catherine de' Medici, Queen consort of King Henry II of France? Well, here's an interesting video concerning Catherine de' Medici, a 16th-century monarch sometimes labeled as, The Black Queen of France, and she's featured in a 2022 Starz presentation, The Serpent Queen.

Now as per historical record, Catherine married King Henry II of France and served as Queen from 1547 until 1559. Born April 13, 1519 in Florence, Italy, Catherine passed away on January 5, 1589, age 69, at the Chateau Royal de Blois, Loire-et-Cher, Centre, France (lithograph shown, below):

Chateau Royal de Blois: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Charles-Ca%C3%AFus_Renoux,_Chateau_de_Elois.jpg

Full discloure: geni dot com informs me that Catherine de Medici is my 9th cousin 15 times removed, but don't judge me--she could very well be your distant cousin, too--or closer! This connection, although distant, is the sort of discovery that inspires me to look at her natal chart and write about it, may she R.I.P.

Astro-Notes: Catherine de' Medici's Natal Chart Is AA-rated!

Happily, I find that there exists an accurate natal chart for the Queen consort of France which may be accessed at astro.com. Her chart reveals a rational Earth-Air combo of a Sun Taurus-Moon Libra personality blend along with a dynamic T-Square between her Mars-Saturn opposition of aggression and resentment pointing its energies toward her Moon-Jupiter conjunction. Here are a few astro-notes concerning the natal planetary placements of Catherine de' Medici as I see them; you may, of course, disagree as you wish:

Sun Taurus-Moon Libra is a charming, harmonious blend of conscious (Sun) and unconscious (Moon) energies with a strong aesthetic sense, and suggesting vibes of an "incurable romantic" as well. Bringing genuine concern to all social gatherings, Queen Catherine may have been quite a flirt! Having a knack for diplomacy, she impressed others with the practicality (Taurus) of her views and opinions through the "sheer force of her personality," partially due to the fact that Taurus is a fixed sign of rigidity and stubbornness; meanwhile, Venus-ruled Libra is the sign of diplomacy and balance, but also of war being opposite Mars-ruled Aries.

(For more details, see The Harvey's Sun Sign-Moon Sign #ad).

So as you see, the gentler indications within her personality blend are in direct opposition to critiques of the much-maligned Catherine de' Medici who's been labeled through the years as poisonous, venomous, malevolent, and vicious. Well, she did act with desperation and intrigue in order to hold on to power when events seemed to call for it, and undoubtedly she had been 'schooled' by the venomous personalities within her dog-eat-dog environment. Now who do we know who's ever done such a thing, or attempted to? Because unsurprisingly, those who attain power tend to become determined to hold on to it, especially those harboring malevolent or sinister motives (except for President George Washington!). Certainly, the world is experiencing current-day examples of such desperate, violent behavior, as autocratic despots and dictators grab, or try to hold on to, the reins of power. And naturally, high finances are involved.

A Famous Portrait of Queen Catherine de' Medici:

Workshop of François Clouet, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Her Complexity of Character!

So it seems to me, centuries after the fact and with her natal planets before me, that Catherine's capacity to act in such a vicious manner must involve her T-Square since the Mars-Saturn pairing relates to the death axis (R. Ebertin) of fury, rage, destructive urges, and "the intervention of a higher power" (R.E.). Plus, we expect a Mars-Saturn opposition to provide an individual with potentials for poor timing, rashness, and obstacles in their paths as they attempt to achieve their ambitions. Well, there we go. And these difficult energies are aimed at her rather pleasant, happy-go-lucky Moon-Jupiter Conjunction which, on the negative side, can denote one who tends to overdo or overreact even while providing an abundance of contacts with people from around the world, plus, many travel opportunities.

Then with Catherine's complex Mars and Saturn squaring Moon and Jupiter, potentials for restlessness and going overboard emotionally are indicated, plus, she may have taken offence at the slightest provocation along with a measure of selfishness and what we today would call, nitpicking. Then with a square from karmic Saturn, frigid feelings and a tendency to brood may also have been in evidence. Obviously, difficult childhood issues such as feeling unloved must have affected her into adulthood thanks to her parents.

Well, there's my brief astro-profile of Queen Catherine de' Medici, so let's close this post with two quotes from a historical figure closer to our time, a man who shares the Sun Taurus-Moon Libra personality blend, philosopher Bertrand Russell who was fortunate enough to be born with a Mars-Saturn trine, the aspect of The Master Builder (A. Oken):

"Every time I talk to a savant I feel quite sure that happiness is no longer a possibility. Yet when I talk to my gardener, I'm convinced of the opposite." And, more famously--

"What is matter, never mind; what is mind, no matter."

A note to all dear readers: if you enjoyed this post, please feel free to share for it's very encouraging! jc

The Life and Death Horoscopes of Franz Kafka

gl:User:Kikooo1984, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

When Bohemian novelist Franz Kafta was born on July 3, 1883 in Prague, Czech Republic, an exact birth hour for baby Franz was left unrecorded. In large part, Kafka novels are studies in anxiety and they continue to resonate into our anxiety-prone era. An interesting fellow, a giant of 20th century Literature, Kafka died of tuberculosis in an Austrian sanitorium on June 3, 1924, and his natal horoscope sports several versions due to his uncertain birth hour. Possible timings include: 7:00 am (the most often cited time, chart shown, below, but it could be a rounded-off approximation), 6:20 am, 9:20 UT, and the Starkman rectified time of 4:30:32 LMT.

Check out Kafka's natal planets and their aspects here.

Now for the purposes of this post, you see that Kafka's natal horoscope, below, lower left and his Death Horoscope (upper right) are set for speculative hours (7:00 am and 12:00 pm) and are displayed here for your consideration. Please enlarge the dual image to read my study notes which include the difficult 11 South Saros Series into which Kafka was born ("systems and methods fail; sudden reforms are needed") and his "Death Eclipse" in the 16 South Saros Series which occurred @14Pis49 ("wasted or misdirected energy"):

In closing: Franz Kafta 1883--1924; May he R.I.P.

(For more eclipse info see Brady's 'Predictive Astrology' #ad.)

Sir Isaac Newton: Unhappy Scientific Genius | Full Doc | Biography - w/ his Solar Eclipse

Whenever I hear or read an assessment of Sir Isaac Newton such as the title of the Biography presentation, above, this novice astrologer must wonder: are unhappiness and scienctific genius revealed in his natal horoscope?

Well, one prominent factor along these lines is that Newton's 5 North Prenatal Solar Eclipse @00Scorpio arose at his birth which identifies him as being destined to have an eventful life. Additionally, 5 North themes are significant and, in my estimation, do relate to 'scientific genius' and perhaps to the depressive weight of the eclipse's unusual implications as karma came knocking, whether he was ready for it or not:

5 North Themes: 'Sudden flashes of ideas that have a psychic or unconscious flavor; hunches, visions, prophetic dreams; a truly creative and enriching series with ideas that can be acted upon' (paraphrasing Brady's Predictive Astrology #ad).

The last 5 North eclipse occurred June 10, 2021 @20Gemini; the next will manifest as the Summer Solstice Eclipse of 2039 @00Cancer, and by degree (a Cardinal World Point of global events) will resonate with the Summer Solstice Eclipse of June 21, 2001, a solar eclipse which perfected in the 3 North Saros Series with themes of "news that transforms" or may involve young people; worries become obsessive and large plans are wanted but for best results, we "must not get carried away."