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Astrologer's Notes: |
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Understanding Midpoints
– Part 2
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by Basil Fearrington |
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The main reason why so many practitioners of astrology are challenged by the use of midpoints in astrology is because of the bewilderment connected with the analysis of midpoint pictures. Please, please understand that reading someone else’s interpretation of a midpoint picture is not the same thing as understanding what you are looking at when you see a midpoint picture. Doing so is equivalent to using a calculator for math without understanding the processes of math that allows the calculator to perform mathematical tasks.
Delineating Midpoint Pictures
In any midpoint picture, a planet or Angle makes aspect contact to the midpoint position of two other planets or positions. For example, Sun=Ven/Mars says that the Sun is at the midpoint of Venus and Mars. In midpoint syntax, “at” means “makes aspect contact to.” What does this aspect say? What is it trying to tell you?
To understand how to delineate midpoint pictures, you must begin with an analysis of the planets on the right side of the equation and delineate their pairing. In order to do this, simply treat the planets involved as though they are in a hard aspect relationship to each other.
In basic aspect analysis, the planet that is farthest from the Sun conditions the other planet being aspected. It is customary to say, “Mars square Saturn” when, in fact, Saturn is squaring Mars. Yes, both planets are in a square relationship to each other but the factor of importance is that Saturn is squaring Mars. That is, Saturn is calling the shots in this aspect relationship because it is stronger than Mars by virtue of its slower movement. Mars will try to assert itself in a certain way but meets frustration because the Saturn factor says, “I am not going to allow you to do it that way because I am wiser. I am going to control you so that you can learn important lessons about how to efficiently manage your energy output.” Mars becomes frustrated and mistakes are made.
Another example: when Saturn is square to Mercury, any astrologer thinks in terms of depression, focus, wisdom, etc. Why? It is because Saturn represents the idea of control, controlling, or being controlled. It is this characteristic that modifies Mercury’s need to think and communicate in a certain way. This is astrology 101.
If you really, really understand the essence of each planetary archetype, working with midpoint pictures becomes very easy. When Pluto makes aspect contact, it magnifies the symbolism of what it aspects to an extreme. Please do not get caught up with the idea of regeneration and transformation when it comes to midpoint pictures involving Pluto. Neptune idealizes, weakens, or suppresses what it makes contact to. Uranus adds an intensity, usually in the name of individuation. Jupiter expands what it makes contact to. Mars heats up and energizes what it contacts. Venus beautifies or romanticizes what it contacts. Mercury almost always represents a cerebral dimension in midpoint pictures. The Moon reflects the emotional quotient and the Sun illuminates. The Node has to do with meetings with others, with groups and relationships. The Midheaven is career and world status while the Ascendant reflects conditions relating to the physical body and the identity.
If we go back to the picture, Sun=Ven/Mars, we first look at what happens when Mars contacts Venus. Energy and assertion heat up romance. The end result is passion. This picture represents an illumination of passion.
Mercury=Venus/Mars would suggest the idea of thinking about passion. Venus=Mer/Mars would suggest the idea of loving debate, loving to think or speak assertively.
In the Nep/Plu midpoint, Pluto acts as a factor of extremism in its modification of the Nepune archetype. In other words, everything about Neptune becomes super magnified. This is super idealism, the esoteric, the supernatural, etc.
You can also look at midpoint pictures in the same way that you analyze a T-Square. In a T-Square, two planets in opposition are squared by a third planet. The way to analyze a T-Square is to first analyze the opposition and give it the energy of the planet making the square. For example, a T-Square of Saturn in opposition to Venus, both squared by Pluto is the same thing as Plu=Ven/Sat. This would be a tremendous emphasis on romantic or sexual concerns because Saturn is operating as a control factor on the Venus need to relate a certain way. Pluto comes along and takes the controlled, structured romanticism to an extreme.
In summary, to analyze a midpoint picture, delineate the pair on the right side of the equation and give them the energy of the planet or Angle making aspect contact. Sun=Ven/Mars is an illumination of passion. Saturn=Ven/Mars is controlled passion. Uranus=Ven/Mars is intensified passion. Ven=Mars/Ura is explosiveness in terms of that which is relational or romantic. Mars=Ven/Ura is another reflection of passion because relational (Venus) intensity (Uranus) is heated up (Mars).
Example Sort
In the analysis of a midpoint Sort, try to make it a habit to begin with the positions surrounding the Aries Point first. This picture is usually quite revealing in terms of how it reflects a person’s projection into the world. Here, we have AP=Moon=Sat/Plu=Ura/Plu. This up side of this picture suggests great emotional discipline and productive individuation. However, the down side is very difficult. One way or the other, the emotional projection will stand out in the way this person projects himself. The Saturn/Pluto midpoint is the most challenging midpoint picture of them all, as it suggests extreme factors of control, hardship and loss. Uranus/Pluto is upsetting, revolutionary and rebellious. We can attach these qualities to the man’s emotional nature. He will certainly be “over the top” and extreme in his projection of himself, especially when it comes to his emotional nature.
In next month’s coverage of midpoint theory, I will talk about the midpoints that are important and unimportant. The Sun/Moon midpoint is absolutely the most important midpoint of them all. Planets that make contact to this midpoint become as central to an individual’s core identity as a planet on the Ascendant does. In fact, with any Sun/Moon picture, analyze the aspect as though the planet is in conjunction with the Sun and Moon. In other words, with Venus=Sun/Moon, it is the same flavor as when the Sun, Moon, and Venus are in conjunction natally.
The Sun represents the core life energy. The Moon represents the projection of the Sun’s energy in a certain personality. Together, the Sun/Moon midpoint represents both the inner and outer nature. Therefore, when a planet makes aspect contact here, the entire Self becomes integrated around the archetype of that planet. The greatest example of this that I can thing of is the Neptune=Sun/Moon in the horoscope of the late Jacque Costeau! His was a life spent on, in, and about the sea.
Asc=Sun/Moon is a reflection of strong ego concerns. MC=Sun/Moon is a reflection of ambition. Node=Sun/Moon is the team player or one who needs to be involved with the public.
Because the Sun and Moon symbolize male and female, together, planets making aspect contact to their midpoint are very much like that planet’s position in the 7th House. Both Bill and Hillary Clinton have Neptune=Sun/Moon. Both have been on different sides of relationship dishonesty.
In the example Sort that is being used here, Neptune is at the Sun/Moon midpoint and we can see from their positioning in the Sort that all three planets are in close aspect natally, emphasizing their relationship. There can be no question that the Neptune factor is powerful within this person. This can be a powerfully productive idealism (musicality, artistry, spirituality) or a deceptive, wasteful expression of Self. The person will be most centered when they are living within Neptune’s archetype.
Midpoint pictures surrounding the Ascendant suggest qualities and characteristics associated with the identity, self projection and, later in life, to the health of the body. Here, we have ASC=Sun/Plu=Mars/Sat=Mer=
Ven/MC=Nep/Plu=Moon/Plu=Mar/Ura!!!!!!! This is a very, very active Ascendant associating the identity/projection to power needs (Sun/Plu); the misapplication of energy (Mars/Sat); communication (Mercury); the use of art or creativity in the career (Ven/MC)’ the supernatural (Nep/Plu); emotional extremism (Moon/Plu); explosiveness (Mars/Ura). Sun/Plu, Moon/Plu, Mars/Sat, and Mar/Ura demand our attention because they are simply more emphatic. Mars/Ura, in particular is quite the same as finding them in conjunction on the Ascendant. When we combine these pictures with AP=Sat/Plu=Ura/Plu, we begin to sense something particularly assertive about this person. When we isolate Mer=Mar/Sat, we sense a way of thinking that is assertive when it should be cautious and vice versa. In extreme cases, this reflects the kind of depression that easily focuses on death and suicide. We can summarize this picture (which will be discussed in detail in next month’s essay) as one of “incorrect thought processes.” Let’s place this abbreviated information within the context of this person’s horoscope.
The first impression of the horoscope shows a western hemisphere emphasis. This is a person that is or needs to be others-directed, either beneficially or to his detriment. This is immediately corroborated through the Ascendant ruler’s position in VII, which suggests that he will find or lose himself in relationships. The Mars position there even further corroborates the emphasis on relating. This is where the man will need to apply his energies.
Mercury’s rulership of VII, squared by Mars, is the first indication that relationships are challenging. Remember, Mercury is at the Mars/Saturn midpoint so there is going to be a way of thinking about relationships that is incorrect or detrimental.
The midpoint Sort shows the close proximity of the Sun, Moon, and Neptune. We can easily see this relationship here in the horoscope. The New Moon birth (frequently self-isolating and self-indulgent somehow) is opposed by Neptune in the parental axis. There can be no doubt that parental factors, parental tension plays a pivotal role in this man’s being, particular with Neptune’s rulership IV. The Sun, Moon, and Mercury are quindecile the Node. Jupiter squares the Nodal Axis. This is an overwhelmingly maternal influence in his life and the multiple quindecile aspects bring in the sense of overkill, obsession, etc.
Mercury and Neptune are in Mutual Reception, which gives further corroboration to the idea of incorrect thinking, deception, and idealism, perhaps all centered upon incorrect ideals that have a foundation in parental tension.
All-in-all, the horoscope is not as “exciting” as are the few midpoints that have been pointed out. Yet, John Wayne Gacy was a seriously demented man who sexually assaulted and murdered at least 30 men and boys. The exact number of murders will probably never be known but it is certain that he buried 33 of them in the basement of his home. Others were killed and placed elsewhere.
Gacy came from a very dysfunctional home. His father, an alcoholic, was consistently abusive to his mother and siblings and there can be no question that this influence affected Gacy for the duration of his life.
The point here is that even the abbreviated analysis of the Sort that was given here gives us more important information about Gacy that is not seen in his horoscope, thus the reason why you should always work with midpoint Sorts with every horoscope.
In next month’s essay, we will take a look at the midpoints that should always demand your attention.
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Basil Fearrington,
Astrologer
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Basil Fearrington is the author of "The New Way To Learn Astrology." He has been a professional astrologer for 22 years.
Basil's articles have appeared in the leading astrological publications around the world. He was the Inaugural Chairman for the MilleyDome project in Johannesburg, South Africa and taught astrology there for one year.
Basil has twice been a faculty member of UAC and spoke at Astro 2000. In addition to his work in astrology, Basil is a professional musician who has toured with and/or recorded for artists such as Stevie Wonder and George Benson.
He was on a team of composers who did the music for a network show called "New York Undercover." The same team won a Grammy award in 1980.
bfearr@aol.com
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