Today’s Moon: The Moon is in Aries. There is no void Moon period today. The Moon is waning and in its Full phase. The Full Moon occurred on the 2nd. Retrogrades: Mars is direct and in its pre-retrograde shadow (Mars will retrograde from September 9th to November 13th). Current retrogrades: Jupiter Rx, Saturn Rx, Chiron…
Astrology of Today – Friday, September 4, 2020 — Astrology Cafe
It is of course far too simplistic to assert that we are all typical of our sun signs. Logic implies that we are all rather complex, with our own particular strengths and weaknesses.
However, an individual birth chart analysis, where many other factors as assessed, can help to give a clearer picture of what we are made of, astrologically — and even throw light upon which health issues may affect us through our lives.
Nevertheless, the sun’s position by sign will always be a key factor and general indicator of our health.
So let’s begin with Aries, the first sign of the Zodiac. Aries is the Ram, symbol of vibrant, ardent spring, ruled by virulent Mars. The Ram is the cardinal fire sign, which means it is dominant, energetic and courageous.
With Aries traditionally being the first sign, it is always assigned rulership of the head. It’s said that typical Aries people are headstrong; think of the phrase ‘a sudden rush of blood to the head’.
Strongly Aries characters make natural leaders, often leading by example in such physically demanding arenas as sport and the military. Clearly this can lead to greater danger of injury — including the head. Traditionally, Aries people are also said to be more prone to cuts, scalds, headaches and migraine.
Astrology is also about polarities. The opposite sign of our sun sign can also be a factor in our health due to reflex action. Libra is Aries’ opposite and rules the kidneys. Aries dominant individuals can also be prone to kidney issues.
Interestingly, the adrenal glands are located just above each kidney and they produce adrenaline, the ‘fight or flight’ hormone, as well as some other steroids. The function of adrenaline is very Aries or ‘Martian’ by nature.
So as can be seen, there is a certain logic to the traditional correlation of sun signs to parts of the human body. Nevertheless, it is not logical to make assumptions of our general health based solely upon the position of the sun. A full assessment of a birth chart, based upon the the time, date and place of birth of the individual, must be carried out to get a more detailed picture.
Copyright Francis Barker 2020
Today’s Moon: The Moon is in Aquarius until 5:34 AM, after which the Moon is in Pisces. A void Moon period occurs from 12:56 AM to 5:34 AM today. The Moon is waxing and in its Waxing Gibbous phase. The First Quarter Moon occurred on the 25th, and the Full Moon will occur early tomorrow.…
Astrology of Today – Tuesday, September 1, 2020 — Astrology Cafe
It could be argued that pianist and conductor Sergei Prokofiev was the most popular composer of the 2oth Century. Writing such entrancing classics as ‘Peter and the Wolf’, ‘Lieutenant Kije’ and the ‘Romeo and Juliet’ ballet, there’s little wonder he is so loved now, even if he wasn’t appreciated all the time in his native USSR.
Based on his known birth data, can we begin to deduce what made this musical genius tick?
Born in Ukraine in 1891, Sergei’s musical ability was discovered early. In 1900 aged only nine years he wrote his first piano score for opera.
In 1904 he went to the prestigious St Petersburg Conservatory where he was to shine. He established an early reputation for thinking outside of the box. He was an innovator of music, a revolutionary not afraid of change.
He was brilliant at many forms of classical music too, writing seven operas, seven symphonies, eight ballets, five piano concertos, two violin concertos, a cello concerto, a symphony for cello and orchestra and nine piano sonatas. Yet of all these disciplines, opera appears to have been his favourite.
Prokofiev was a sun Taurean in basic terms, the major luminary being placed in the eighth astrological house of shared security. The Bull is ruled by musical, creative Venus and has produced many a great composer.
Yet Taurus is traditional, not a radical at all. Mercury’s presence in Taurus in the same house indicates that his basic mentality worked along similarly practical, functional lines, with an interest in investing his time profitably.
Prokofiev’s choice of subject was certainly traditional, yet if his instinct for melody and beauty may partly derive from his Taurean essence, what drove him to such heights of innovation?
When he was born the cardinal air sign of Libra was rising, which is also ruled by Venus. Libra is diplomatic, generally courteous, often with an artistic flair, so we may assume that Sergei was rather pleasant to meet and easy going.
His Moon is also in this sign, indicating a strong need to be liked socially and keen to meet people. However, Uranus the ‘Magician’ is close to the Moon in his first house, and this may give us the first clue to his revolutionary personality and approach. So whilst being an attractive person, he was also somewhat unusual, eccentric, disruptive in some way.
Let’s look at the important planet of Venus, ruler of the chart and of his sun sign. We find Venus in Pisces, sign of its exaltation, where the uniting principle works at its most selfless.
Venus is in the sixth house of work and efficiency, so this is where this beautifully placed Venusian energy expressed itself, in his day to day activities, bringing beauty in the form of sound to everyone who may care to listen. I am particularly reminded here of Prokofiev’s lovely ‘Peter and the Wolf’ and how effective his choice of melody and intrument are in telling the old tale.
We find another intriguing layer to this complex man in his ninth house of the higher mind and travel. Here are housed Mars, Neptune, the Moon’s north node and Pluto, all within five degrees of early Gemini.
This conjunction is an interesting vibration. Neptune, as I have discovered previously, is very often prominent in some way in the charts of creative people, particularly musicians and composers. Music does, after all, have ways of touching the soul that other creative forms cannot.
This coupled with Mars in Gemini lends much mental and dexterous energy and expression to Neptune’s other worldly inspiration. Add Pluto to the mix and we have a higher mind of much depth as well as creative diversity.
So here too is a man whose philosophy of life is crucial to him, yet difficult, for the north node’s position here indicates that contemplating wider issues did not necessarily come that easy to him but was one he had to embrace. We know he left Russia during the 1918 revolution, living elsewhere, including the USA and France, until he finally returned in 1933.
I think the close opposition of Jupiter to Saturn on his sixth/twelfth house axis also reveals the deeper ethical problems he must have encountered on leaving his native land in 1918, probably feeling that circumstances were hardly going to be conducive to his livelihood.
This strongly hints of periods of intense loneliness and isolation, especially when being ‘out of favour’.
Indeed, several of his works were banned by the Soviets after his return, they being deemed not suitable for the new communistic philosophy and culture. Nevertheless, a few years after his death in 1953, his general reputation at home in the USSR was restored.
The twelve signs begin with Aries and end with Pisces. Logically, when you visualise a human form, we start at the head and end with the feet, top to bottom. From that simple correlation, we can, for example, deduce that Aries ‘rules’ the head and Pisces the feet.
Interestingly, the Ram, or Aries, is known for butting heads – a battering ram, so it may not be surprising to find out that the head is often a weak point of this sign.
Similarly, if you look down at your feet, maybe you can imagine the glyph of the Fishes, or Pisces, which bear the whole weight of our bodies. Poor Pisces has to take on so much!
In this series of short articles, I will explore the health associations with each sign, plus how health issues can relate to factors in our far more individual birth charts.
*** It is very easy for us to neglect our health but during times like these it is especially wise for us to stay healthy and watch what we eat.
Ciscography 