Saturday, 24 September 2022

Phillip & Holly - What Lies Beneath?

There's no doubt that Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby are the best of friends. Her natal Sun is conjunct his natal Moon, he has Mercury and Mars in Pisces and so does she. Her Sun is sextile his Venus, and his Sun is sextile her Venus. All very harmonious and exactly what you wou would want - or expect - to see in two people who are very close.

However, this is not, as appearances would have you believe, a sugary-sweet cosmic connection. There are dark undertones to this partnership with Phillip's Sun in an opposition aspect to Holly's natal Jupiter Saturn conjunction. This can symbolise difficulty in tolerating differences in each other, such as opinions, outlook, lifestyle, etc. A lot of patience and self-discipline will be required to reach a compromise. 

Holly's natal Mercury Mars conjunction in opposition to Phillip's Pluto indicates certain patterns of thinking may clash and will have to be faced head on. There is some sort of unconscious power struggle going on between these two and they both have a need to prove themselves right. Interestingly, there's a sexual component to this aspect which often sustains a relationship despite the fermenting hostility between the two people involved. The problem with this partnership is that Phillip is gay, so there is no sexual attraction to prevent the emotions between them turning into a battlefield. It will be important that they both learn to accept the other's points of view - but have they, or is there simmering resentment lurking beneath the surface? 

Holly's Venus is quincunx Phillip's Pluto and his Venus is opposite her Pluto which suggests there may be a certain amount of coercion involved. Her Nodal Axis is squared by his Neptune which suggests guilt, regret, or betrayal. There's also a hint of sacrifice - but who is suppressing their true ambition and who is making them feel as if they have to?

With Holly's natal Pluto conjunct Phillip''s natal Midheaven, these two are on some sort of power trip. This is a very symbiotic connection as both of them will have seen their careers rise to great success. If one of them decides to leave, there will be a definite power struggle and a ruthlessness of epic proportions. This planetary influence tends to bring stratospheric gains followed by a calamitous fall in popularity.

Coming soon..... Queue-gate and Beyond

Wednesday, 7 September 2022

My Top Tips For Astrology Beginners - Part 2

TAKE THE CIRCULAR ROUTE

In my first article - My Top Tips for Astrology Beginners - Part 1:

Link: 

https://ephemeralarc.blogspot.com/2020/05/my-top-tips-for-astrology-beginners.html

I wrote this:

"Get to know what an astrology chart really looks like. I know this sounds silly but you have to be able to identify every detail in every chart you'll ever encounter as a professional astrologer, so it's important to become comfortable and efficient with the actual layout. The chart is, in effect, a map of space and time with you (or whoever you're studying) at the centre. The more up-close-and -personal you can be with this map, the better. Don't just skim the surface, absorb every detail - the signs, houses, planets, aspects, degrees, etc. In astrology, everything is relevant."
 
What I have come to realise since then is that this advice was far from silly as many amateur astrologers don't actually have a clue what an astrology chart really looks like. Reading social media comments from people who are trying to learn astrology and are posting messages such as, "I don't have an 8th house!" and then seeing the 'chart' which turns out to be nothing more than a list of numbers and symbols. This is NOT an astrology chart and you won't learn anything from it. You must use a round chart - it's called the Zodiac Circle for a reason. That's how the signs are arranged and that's how the planets move - in a circle. A proper chart illustrates the actual positions of the signs, houses and the planets within them. It also shows the angular relationships between those planets, i.e the aspects. Please be wary of astrology apps as that is where these lists come from. It's garbage. 

This is an astrology chart


This is not an astrology chart


TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Memorising the associations of the signs, houses and planets is a fundamental part your astrological study. They each symbolise people, places, objects, feelings, etc. A good way of testing yourself is to choose a random letter of the alphabet and name one thing connected to each zodiac sign which begins with that particular letter. So, for example, choose the letter C for meanings of the planets and you may end up with something like this:

Sun = Creativity
Moon = Compassion
Mercury = Communication
Venus = Comfort
Mars = Courage
Jupiter = Community
Saturn = Control
Uranus = Chaos
Neptune = Confusion
Pluto = Corruption

Obviously you could do this by using any word beginning with any letter but this method  makes it more difficult and therefore really focuses your mind on what you know. Memorising astrological information is crucial to becoming a professional astrologer. I know this seems like a pointless chore, but just as with any other subject, the more you practise, the more you'll learn. Eventually, if someone asks a question such as "What does Moon in Pisces mean?", you'll be ready with an answer. Knowledge is power.

FIND A MENTOR

Not an easy task, I know, but if you can find someone who is already a well established genuine astrologer and is willing to give you advice, then please accept the opportunity. Remember, although it seems like a good idea to look for astrologers online, be careful who you trust. There are many fake astrologers out there. Avoid  those who want you to pay for their expertise - being a mentor is not the same as being a teacher and does not take up too much of any astrologer's time, so there's no reason for them to request payment. If they won't answer your question for free, ask someone else. In case you're wondering - yes, I'm available.