Magic Monday

[ecosophia]

It's getting on for midnight, so we can proceed with a new Magic Monday. Ask me anything about occultism and I'll do my best to answer it. Any question received by midnight Monday Eastern time will get an answer. (Any question received after then will not get an answer, and will likely just be deleted.) If you're in a hurry, or suspect you may be the 143,916th person to ask a question, please check out the very rough version 1.0 of The Magic Monday FAQ here. 

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With that said, have at it!

***This Magic Monday is now closed. See you next week!***

Comments

[ecosophia]

Depends on the natal chart. A grand cross where the four planets aren't especially strongly placed, essentially or accidentally, needn't mean a great deal. A grand cross where they're strong is another matter. The crucial thing to remember is that squares and oppositions (which is of course what a grand cross is made of) are sources of strength to the personality; a chart that's all trines and sextiles often results in one of those vague ineffectual personalities that drift through life in a warm blur. Look in the charts of people who accomplished great things in the world and you'll usually find squares and oppositions, and quite often a grand cross.

[(Anonymous)]

In my chart I have Mercury and Venus in Gemini, Mars in Virgo, Jupiter in Sagittarius, and Saturn in Pisces in a grand cross, with all but Saturn angular, and Saturn ruling the chart. Does this sound like it could become a source of intense strength?

How do you go about making hostile aspects into a source of strength?

[ecosophia]

Nice. With Mercury in Gemini and Jupiter in Sagittarius you've got two of the planets in their rulerships, so strong and positive, and nobody in their detriment or fall. That could be a very strong chart. You'll need to work on controlling your enthusiasm with clear thinking and careful attention to the details, but that should be doable. More generally, you make hostile aspects into sources of strength by learning to balance the forces they represent, holding them in equilibrium in your life and going to one side or the other only when you choose to do so, to the degree that you choose to do so.

[(Anonymous)]

Oh, also, Neptune is in Capricorn, which I think means there's mutual reception, but I'm not sure what that means exactly. Does that matter?

[ecosophia]

Mutual reception is when two planets are in each other's rulership. They act as though they've swapped places and each is in its own rulership. So you've got the equivalent of Saturn and Neptune in their own signs, thus strong and balanced. Go do something spectacular with your life.

[(Anonymous)]

"Go do something spectacular with your life."

Does my younger sister then have the kind of chart which suggests a world changing individual? Sun in Leo, squaring Jupiter, Moon, and Saturn in Taurus; Mars in Scorpio squaring all of the above; and Uranus in Aquarius finishing a grand cross with Saturn and the Moon. And all of them are angular....

[ecosophia]

What a fine topic for meditation!

[(Anonymous)]

Does this also mean I have the equivalent of Neptune in the Grand Cross as well? Reading Neptune opposite Mars, or square Venus, Mercury, and Jupiter I always found those would fit really well.

[ecosophia]

Yes. You literally swap the planets, giving each the other's aspects.

[(Anonymous)]

How does that work if you have two planets in mutual reception forming different aspects to the same planet?

[ecosophia]

All those aspects affect the final result. Chart synthesis is always complex!

[(Anonymous)]

Would meditating on each of the aspects they form be a good idea?

[ecosophia]

If you're going to meditate on your chart, start with general meditations on each of the planets, signs, and houses. Then meditate on each planet in your chart, considering it in its sign and house. Then meditate on the aspects they form. Reflect on how each of these expresses itself in your personality and the circumstances of your life. You can learn an extraordinary amount about yourself that way.

[d_mekel]

To piggy back off an astrology question, what is a good starter how to astrology book that you would suggest

[ecosophia]

Parker's Astrology by Derek and Julia Parker is a good intro.

[(Anonymous)]

Is that another name for Eyewitness Companions: Astrology by the same authors, or a different book?
What do you think about Sepharial's Manual of Astrology?

[ecosophia]

It's a different book. I haven't read Sepharial's book, but you might give it a try; he has a decent reputation.

[booklover1973]

JMG, do you happen to know what it means when someone has in his or her natal chart quite a few conjunctions between planets, but no squares and oppositions?

[ecosophia]

Planets that are conjunct in a natal chart indicate that the energies they represent are hard for you to keep separate in your life, because they're so thoroughly blended together.