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On Feminism and Astrology

January 31st, 2017

The article below was written in late 1996/early 1997. I’m a lot older and so is my daughter. But, the need to acknowledge both masculine and feminine as equal and powerful is our only way to wholeness.

Every once in a while (usually when she’s not getting what she wants) my daughter will remind me that “you are turning into your mother.” There was a time, not so long ago, that the very thought of that happening would make me cringe. Perhaps it is a function of my increasing age (45 on my last birthday) and, hopefully, wisdom that I now look upon that as a compliment. More than a compliment, it is comforting — it is as it should be. And, I don’t need to come back with a quick response to my daughter’s chiding — I know I will have the last laugh because some day, she will realize, much to her surprise, that she has become me.

I grew up in a very female household. My father was the only man and he essentially revered all the women in the household — me, my mother and her mother. I realize now how fortunate I was to grow up in a home where women were treated well. My own mother worked, probably earned more than my father for much of their marriage and, yet, I never got the sense that she made him feel any less masculine. She wasn’t typical of the women of her generation — she didn’t ask for permission to do this or that; they would discuss things and reach consensus. So, when the early feminists began to make waves, the whole idea seemed superfluous to her. My mother was quite amused at women demanding equal rights. She thought that the idea of demanding equality was ridiculous; it is a matter of self-esteem — that if you honor and respect yourself, you will be treated that way.

Even with those words of wisdom, I thought she was missing the point. Women were treated unfairly and even abused in our culture. They were second class citizens and men were to blame. I became a charter subscriber to Ms., an early member of N.O.W. and I stopped wearing a bra. She warned me that my breasts were too big to go bra-less and that I’d be sorry one day when they sagged. I told her she was a victim of her environment and she needed “consciousness-raising.” She laughed and reminded me that I came from a long line of strong and independent women and that someday I would understand that neither bras nor men were the problem.

It took awhile but she was right. And, it was the study of astrology that finally provided me with a rich understanding of the words masculine and feminine, active and passive, positive and negative, yang and yin, sun and moon. And, it was astrology that taught me to accept and realize that those opposing forces were equally powerful — one was not better than the other. At first, I was offended that the feminine signs were also called negative — it was a knee-jerk reaction. It says in Genesis that God (who has no gender) created the sun to rule the day and the moon to rule the night. This does not mean that the sun is better than the moon (sorry, you Leos out there); they are equally powerful and have their own unique purpose. Our culture just hasn’t placed much value on the feminine things, the things that belong to the night. But, hopefully that is all changing.

As Pluto went through Libra, the distinctions between men’s and women’s roles began to blur. Because of the high divorce rate during those years, many women were forced to toughen up, to be aggressive and to compete with men in the workplace. Men also had to deal with the havoc Pluto wrought on their relationships. Men, too, became single parents and had to learn how to comfort their children as well as cook the bacon they brought home. Married or unmarried, men were urged to develop their feminine side and to talk about their feelings while women went through assertiveness-training and started getting jobs that traditionally belonged to men. Thus, the transit of Pluto through Libra seeded the possibility to achieve spiritual wholeness through understanding and honoring the masculine and the feminine as equally important and powerful.

Pluto moved into Scorpio and, in some ways, the gulf between men and women, especially the single ones, seemed to broaden. It became increasingly apparent that there was real economic fallout from divorce and it was easy to blame each other for monetary woes. AIDS brought the sexual revolution to a jolting halt and forced men to look at their own sexuality as they buried brothers and friends. The sexual and economic realities seemed to further fuel an already malignant distrust between the genders. Man-bashing became a sport wherever women congregated, while men’s violence against women escalated.

With Pluto in Sagittarius, there is a resurgence of a belief in angels, those glorious entities that unite the masculine and feminine. Perhaps this is symbolic of our being able to honor and value both the masculine and feminine as equally powerful and important. Women who have mastered independence and self-reliance now are beginning to reconnect with the real power of the feminine that they hold inside — the ability to be nurturing, intuitive and loving. Perhaps, women have made it to the so-called man’s world so that they can contribute the very special spiritual gifts that they have to offer. And, a man in touch with his inner self is also empowered by the same spiritual joy of finding wholeness. What’s more, these men are realizing that understanding their emotional side has not weakened them but rather fostered their achievement and success in the things of the world.

After 30 years (18 of them in astrology), feminism has new meaning for me. It has little do to with who does the dishes and everything to do with acknowledging and valuing the spiritual and emotional side of both women and men. To be a feminist means also to respect the masculine; nowhere in nature does one exist without the other. My hope for my daughter and son is that they will appreciate the importance and power of both the masculine and feminine and understand that the future is about men and women enabling each other on the road to wholeness.

In Their Own Words

September 13th, 2016

 
These enduring and endearing words of singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder in his hit song Sir Duke remind us of the power of music to express our thoughts and feelings in a way that transcends language barriers and cultural differences. We share our common humanity through song: our joys and sorrows, our highest aspirations and our lowest moments of despair and defeat. And, we often mark the milestones of our life through popular songs.

Join me on a trip through the zodiac identifying the traits of various signs in the words of some of today’s most popular singer-songwriters. Since the sun sign is not the only influence in our personality, there is no one example of pure “Aries” or pure “Gemini” in our collection. And, as artists and poets, they not only express the most positive qualities of their respective sun signs but, from their unique perspective, they are most qualified to take aim at the more negative attributes of their sign as well.

 
Aries is the first sign of the zodiac and the Aries individual will be the first to tell you that they lead the pack. At their best, they enjoy this position of prominence and are sure about what they believe and, as a result, lead with confidence. Just as typically, however, they may struggle with issues of self-esteem and wonder if they can ever meet their own high expectations. Their life purpose is to know themselves, and, even when in service to others, the focus for the Aries person is their own self-individuation. Ruled by the planet Mars, the Aries individual moves through life with a fiery passion that can easily turn to anger when their will is thwarted.

Eric Clapton, born March 30, 1945, purportedly once referred to himself as “an egomaniac with an inferiority complex”. He is probably best known for his powerful and pleading love song Layla written for Pattie Boyd, wife of his good friend George Harrison and the woman Clapton also married. But, we see Clapton’s Aries quest best in the chorus of his song Find Myself in which he repeatedly asserts:

 
Clapton, who never knew his father, painfully reflects his distress at those unanswered questions and the resulting hole in his life in the song In My Father’s Eyes where he asks: “How did I get here?… When will all my hopes arrive? … When I look in my father’s eyes?”

Fellow Aries Marvin Gaye (born April 2, 1939) spent the early part of his career singing other people’s songs. In typical Aries fashion, he fought for the right to write and produce his own songs, leading the way for other artists like Stevie Wonder to do the same. Gaye’s original songs centered on the ills he saw in society like Mercy, Mercy Me (The Ecology) and, most especially, in Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler), he echoes his anger and frustration in typically impatient Aries fashion when he wails:

Singer/songwriters Elton John and Aretha Franklin also have Sun in Aries.

 
In the second sign of the zodiac, Taurus, we find an individual that is interested in using all of the resources the world has to offer, including money. Their life quest is to prove themselves worthy of the substantial talent they’ve been given. Ruled by Venus, the goddess of love, Taurus seeks beauty and often finds in nature the peace and serenity they so crave. Determined and stubborn, they believe in love and will persistently pursue whatever they desire. They are earthy, creative and refined and are known for their ability to appreciate life through all five senses – sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste.

Bono, born May 10, 1960, leader of the Irish rock group U2, tells us of tortured but determined love in typical Taurean fashion in the song With or Without You:

 
As one of today’s leading advocates for wealth redistribution, his efforts at seeking debt relief for African nations have earned him a place as Time’s 2005 Person of the Year along with Bill and Melinda Gates and an invitation to address the U.S. National Prayer Breakfast in 2006. The popular song One states his beliefs most eloquently:

 
Bono exemplifies the Taurean issue of money – how we acquire it and what we do with it once we have it. In his address at the National Prayer Breakfast he closed with these words, “There is a continent — Africa — being consumed by flames. I truly believe that when the history books are written, our age will be remembered for three things: the war on terror, the digital revolution, and what we did — or did not to — to put the fire out in Africa. History, like God, is watching what we do.”

Other Taurus singer/songwriters include Cher, Judy Collins, Donovan, Art Garfunkel, Billy Joel, Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison.

 
The third sign of the zodiac, Gemini, brings communication to an art form. Airy and light, Gemini loves to make the social scene. They have a way with words and use them often and in great numbers. Since they have a flair for adapting to any situation, they may seem faithless and fickle. Lovers of travel, they crave variety and change, finding it hard to stay put. Ruled by Mercury, they are the consummate story-tellers of the zodiac – curious, witty and clever. Eternally youthful, they are often thought of as the Peter Pans of the zodiac. Their dualistic personality has a dark side though and they often drift into the solitude of their own minds. While it’s easy for Geminis to use their mouth, their challenge is to find their voice and to use it wisely.

Probably the greatest songwriter of our generation, Bob Dylan, is a Gemini, born May 24, 1941. His songs have been covered by thousands of artists ranging from Jimi Hendrix to Johnny Cash. As you might expect from a Gemini, Dylan’s music spans a variety of genres from folk to rock and roll, from Celtic to rockabilly, from country to Broadway. In the song Hurricane, Dylan served both to immortalize the story of Rubin “Hurricane” Carter and to symbolize the injustice of racism. Though he is considered to be the master of protest songs, Dylan never saw himself as political. Known as the poet laureate of rock and roll, his most famous song, Blowin’ in the Wind is filled with the imagery you might expect from a Gemini:

 
There are numerous examples in Dylan’s work of his understanding of the dualistic quality of life especially in Gotta Serve Somebody where he points out:

 
Other Gemini singer/songwriters include Melissa Etheridge, John Fogerty, Paul McCartney, Stevie Nicks, and Brian Wilson.

 
Individuals born during the fourth sign of the zodiac, Cancer, love their home, family and their homeland. Blessed with excellent memories, Cancers remember both the highlights and slights of every encounter. Sensitive, intuitive and imaginative, Cancers are creatures of their feelings and often act from their heart rather than their heads. Despite this, they are usually excellent business-people and have an instinct for understanding what the public wants or needs. They are ambitious and need both emotional and financial security. Ruled by the Moon, they may often be moody and retreat into themselves. While they are the nurturers of the zodiac, their greatest challenge is to take care of themselves.

Carly Simon, born June 25, 1945, is an academy-award winning songwriter for Let the River Run, her song of empowerment from the movie Working Girl. Using watery Cancer-like symbolism, she beckons us to realize our collective potential in her words:

In her earlier works, we get a glimpse into the dependent side of the Cancer nature. In You’re So Vain, we identify with lost love and betrayal:

 
With maturity comes the ability to honor the Cancer need for home and security as we hear in The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of:

Other notable Cancer singer/songwriters include Cat Stevens who wrote an instrumental piece called Crab Dance and Woody Guthrie who wrote the patriotic This Land is Your Land as well as June Carter Cash, Mark Cohn, Arlo Guthrie, Cyndi Lauper and Phoebe Snow.

 
Lovers of the spotlight, those born during the fifth sign of the zodiac, Leo, are aptly ruled by the Sun. Like the Lion who is king of the jungle, Leos like to be treated royally and to treat others that way as well. And, also like the lion, they are identified by their mane. They are enthusiastic about life and epitomize the phrase “living large.” Generous, proud, loyal, creative and ambitions, they are dripping with personality and magnetism. Those around them are happy to bask in their glow and usually don’t mind when Leo takes center stage. However, like all fixed signs they can be stubborn and unmoving once they have taken a position. And, they need to have a strong sense of self in order to display the best qualities of their sign. Without that, they can simply be arrogant, brash and painfully self-centered.

Born on August 16, 1958, Madonna is the reigning queen of rock and roll. In typical Leo-like fashion, she reportedly once said, “I always thought I should be treated like a star”. Her importance to the music scene is summed up in this statement by Susan Sarandon: “The history of women in popular music can, pretty much, be divided into before and after Madonna.” There’s nothing shy or retiring about Madonna and she encourages everyone to strike a pose with her in Vogue:

And, in Express Yourself, she voices the way a typical Leo feels about love:

 
Though the material girl has grown into a deeply spiritual, maternal figure who won’t let her children watch MTV, she still commands huge audiences and engenders controversy with every move, both on and off stage.

Another Leo singer/songwriter David Crosby famously penned Almost Cut My Hair in which he explains: “…but I didn’t and I wonder why I feel like letting my freak flag fly.” Rockers Mark Knopfler and Robert Plant were also born under the sign of the Lion.

 
Considerate, disciplined and precise are all characteristics of Virgo, the sixth sign of the zodiac, ruled by Mercury. And, like the other Mercury-ruled sign Gemini, communication and the workings of the mind is of paramount importance to Virgos. Often thought of as perfectionists, Virgos heartily believe in doing the right thing. Because they have a keen interest in service coupled with an extraordinary capacity for compassion and empathy, they naturally make excellent physicians and healers. However, they may be self-sacrificing to a fault and feel victimized when they are not duly appreciated. They often hold themselves and others to lofty standards and their quest for perfection often leaves them feeling disappointed.

Virgo-born Van Morrison (August 31, 1945) is a prolific singer/songwriter whose career has spanned five decades and whose work has influenced many artists including Bruce Springsteen, Bob Seger and U2. Even the Counting Crows “sha-la-la” sequence in Mr. Jones is a tribute to Morrison’s greatest hit, Brown Eyed Girl. Though Virgoesque lyrics abound in Morrison’s work, what better place to start than with a song called Virgo Clowns in which he deftly elucidates Virgo’s need to ease the pain in others:

 
In Waiting Game, Morrison speaks to Virgo’s ability to be patient and their never-ending quest for perfection:

However, it is in Till We Get The Healing Done that we really see Virgo in its highest, purest expression:

Another Virgo singer/songwriter Leonard Cohen famously sang in Suzanne that “…you’ve touched her perfect body with your mind.”

 
Individuals born under the seventh sign of the zodiac, Libra, are usually blessed with considerable charm and grace. Ruled by the planet Venus, Librans love the idea of love and seek beauty in all its forms. As you might expect from this sign, which is symbolized by the scales of justice, Librans are very interested in fairness and their life is a quest for harmony. It must have been a Libran who came up with the idea of a win-win solution. Yet, they may sometimes their display a hard-edged side, a trait that is also curiously Libran. They often need to go to extremes, including anger, so that they can eventually learn to strike the delicate balance that the scales demand.

John Lennon, born October 9, 1940, was no exception. After all, it was Lennon & songwriting partner Paul McCartney who penned All You Need is Love, a chant that became an anthem for a generation of flower children. And, Lennon later typified Libran philosophy when he wrote in the song Love:

 
And, remember Lennon’s famous honeymoon “bed-in” with Yoko Ono. While the media watched, the pajama-clad couple enthralled the world with their antics, all designed to showcase the couple’s message – Give Peace a Chance. You can’t get more Libran than that! The roots of war and injustice are further examined in Imagine, the song that is probably Lennon’s most famous solo effort:

 
Another Libra, Bruce Springsteen, is especially identified with the ideal of justice for the workingman with songs like My Hometown and The River. And, in Youngstown, he wailed:

 
The similarity between Springsteen and John Cougar Mellencamp, another Libran singer/songwriter, is unmistakable. Mellencamp is known for championing the cause of the family farmer, especially in the album Scarecrow. In Graceland, Libra Paul Simon, focused world attention on apartheid, while showcasing the talents of many black South African musicians.

 
Powerful, intense, unswerving, and idealistic, those born under the eighth sign of the zodiac, Scorpio, can also be fiercely opinionated and cuttingly sardonic. Co-ruled by Mars and Pluto, Scorpios want to be the masters of their destiny. More than that, they strive for self-containment and abhor weakness in themselves or others. Their convictions are deep and well-founded and during their lives, they will likely experience soaring heights and abysmal depths and alternate between altruism and self-absorption. Unafraid of exploring the dark side of life, they will often be the first to point out hypocrisy when they see it. An enigma that seeks to be understood, an empathizer who sometimes refuses to understand, they are infinitely intrigued by this mystery called life.

Joni Mitchell, born November 7, 1943, is sometimes referred to as the “female Bob Dylan.” In the movie Love Actually, Emma Thompson’s character declares to her husband that she loves Joni Mitchell and that she “taught your cold English wife how to feel”. Her songs are rich with illusion yet surprisingly earthy and coarse. In Borderline, she makes no attempt to hide how she feels about all that divides us:

 
In the Magdalene Laundries, she takes a hard, accusatory look at the abuse endured by unmarried pregnant women at the hands of the nuns who were supposed to care for them:

 
One of her most popular songs, Both Sides Now, talks about seeing life and from both the upside and the downside. But, it is in the lesser known Black Crow that we are treated to really authentic Scorpionic imagery:

 
Neil Young, another Scorpio whose repertoire includes many songs that explore the deeper and darker aspects of our culture, especially takes a scathing swipe at both presidents Bush in his songs Rockin in the Free World and the more recent Shock and Awe.

 
The currently popular bumper sticker that reads “not all who wander are lost” seems especially appropriate for those born under the sign of Sagittarius, the ninth sign of the zodiac. Ruled by Jupiter, these individuals are philosophical, carefree and generally optimistic. Fond of travel and exploration, they have a wide variety of interests and may find it difficult to stick to one pursuit. They can be visionary but often overlook the important details of everyday life. The search for truth and knowledge moves them as does championing social causes. But, they can also be blunt, self-righteous and intolerant of any opinion other than their own.

Harry Chapin, born December 7, 1942, typifies many of the qualities associated with Sagittarius. Famous for flying high in his Taxi, his songs always included some philosophical thrust, ironic twist or moral lesson. In Flowers are Red, he poignantly points out how society crushes creativity and originality through the story of the little boy who saw things a little differently:

 
A Congressional Gold Medal of Honor winner for his work in highlighting the issue of world hunger, his epitaph, taken from his song I Wonder What Would Happen to this World sums up his Sagittarian philosophy quite well:

 
Another Sagittarian, Jim Morrison of the Doors, was greatly influenced by Native American culture and wrote poetry and lyrics that touched on life and death, the soul, religion and mysticism. He famously proclaimed at a concert that he was a Sagittarian and, once the applause died down, he mocked, “Astrology – I don’t believe in it.” Yet, in pure Jupiterian/Sagittarian manner, he warns his listeners in the song The Wasp:

 
And, as if he knew his time on earth would be short, he wrote in An American Prayer:

 
Capricorn, the tenth sign of the zodiac, is the sign of the achiever. Ruled by Saturn, these individuals are relentless in pursuit of their goals. They seem serious from the moment of birth and, interestingly enough, they seem to grow younger with age. Perhaps, it is because they finally feel secure enough to enjoy life a bit. These are the people who build for the future, save for a rainy day and plan to leave their children a dynasty. Ambition and status mean a lot to them but they are always willing to put in the necessary hard work too. However, they can often be pessimistic, cold and calculating, and, at worst, social climbers who will mercilessly step over their grandmothers to get to the top.

Born January 9, 1967, Dave Matthews is a contemporary songwriter who is the leader and founder of the Dave Matthews Band as well as a director of Farm Aid and co-owner of a record label. Though he was born and raised in South Africa, he considers himself part of the “American venture”, and even stated in a 2004 Rolling Stone interview that he is “more American than George Bush and Dick Cheney”. His songs often deride the American venture though and he seems to see the futility of the Capricorn quest for money and power. Here’s an example from the song Seek Up:

 
In one of his most popular songs, Ants Marching, Matthews’ cynical view of corporate culture is unmistakable:

 

He continues:

 

Jimmy Buffett, whose devoted legion of fans are called Parrotheads, is a Capricorn as are Eddie Vedder, leader and founder of Pearl Jam, Jimmy Paige, Joan Baez, and Dolly Parton, all of whom understand quite well that music is a business as well as an art.

 
Individuals born during the time of Aquarius, the tenth sign of the zodiac, are a curious mixture of conservatism and futuristic thinking. Co-ruled by both Saturn and Uranus, Aquarians can often be boldly original and hopelessly conventional, both establishmentarian and revolutionary. They are ready to lead a revolt against the status quo but then impose their own regime that no one dare overthrow. Eccentric and intelligent, they believe in friendship, loyalty, democracy, tolerance and, above all, freedom. The humanitarians of the zodiac, they find it easier to empathize with the plight of the underdog than with the shortcomings of those close to them. As we learned in the rock opera, Hair: “I’m Aquarius, destined for greatness, or madness”.

Born February 9, 1942, Carole King is one of the most prolific songwriters of our time. Her career spans five decades, making her mark in the early 1960’s in a dominantly male profession, leading the way for many female songwriters to follow. The Aquarian principle of friendship is idealized in her song, You’ve Got a Friend:

 
The Aquarian desire for a utopian existence is evident in Been To Canaan:

 
Another Aquarian songwriter, Neil Diamond, born January 24, 1941, wrote of the hope of immigrants for a better life and freedom in America:

 
In Don’t Think, Feel, Diamond expresses the dilemma of most Aquarians who find it easier to live in the mind to avoid their turbulent emotional natures:

 
The twelfth sign of the zodiac, Pisces, is a delicate blend of idealism and illusion, of optimism and pessimism. Co-ruled by Jupiter and Neptune, Pisceans walk a delicate balance between victim and savior, enlightenment and delusion. They are dreamy and romantic, sensitive and alluring, visionary and introspective. Since they have a deep understanding of their fellow man, they can often feel as if they are drowning in a wellspring of emotion. They need to establish boundaries and find their own sense of self, rather than allowing themselves to be defined by others. Symbolized by the fish, Pisces are the original shape-shifters and will adapt to any situation.

Known as the “Quiet Beatle”, George Harrison, born February 24, 1943, typifies Pisces mystical leanings and need to transcend the earthly constraints and taste a little piece of heaven. It was Harrison who introduced the other Beatles to Transcendental Meditation and gave the world the Concert for Bangladesh. One of his most beautiful songs, Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth), tells the Pisces story simply yet eloquently:

 
Pisces romanticism is certainly in full view in Something, the song Frank Sinatra once called the greatest love song of the last fifty years. But, Harrison who once said, “Everything else can wait, but the search of God cannot wait; and love one another”, is probably best remembered for My Sweet Lord:

 
James Taylor, born March 12, 1948, uses Pisces imagery in abundance in his songs. He reminds us to “Shower the people we love with love” and tells us in Sweet Baby James that “Deep greens and blues are the colors I choose” and then asks “Won’t you let me go down in my dreams?” And, quite ironically, Pisces Kurt Cobain of Nirvana, whose rock star success turned grunge into trendy fashion and who committed suicide because he had become the opposite of what he had hoped to be, penned in Something In The Way, a song about his life, that “It’s ok to eat fish ’cause they don’t have any feelings.”

What is Uranian Astrology?

June 24th, 2010

The Uranian system of astrology, also known as the Hamburg School of Astrology, had its origins in the early part of the twentieth century. Alfred Witte (1878-1943), the founder of the system, was a renowned astrologer in Germany as well as a surveyor. He, along with his student and colleague, Friedrich Sieggrun (1877-1951) were members of the famed Kepler Circle. During World War 1, Witte tried to use the prevailing astrological methods of his day to time battles. He found these methods to be quite lacking and it was during this time that Witte developed his revolutionary way of looking at astrology. After the war, he introduced these ideas to his contemporaries in the Kepler Circle. Witte’s Uranian astrology is differentiated from other schools of Western astrology by a variety of factors including the use of dials, the cardinal axis, hard aspects, midpoints and symmetry, the use of eight hypothetical planets, and its concentration on six personal points and their houses. There is a movement afoot, led by Gary Christen, David Beazley and myself to rename the system Symmetrical Astrology, a term which very aptly describes the basic principle of the system.

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