Some Guidance

[voodoochild]

http://www.visperas.co.uk/new/chart.gif


Hey there, i am new to interpreting natal charts, and i would like some guidance as to where to start my research.

I have decided to do this now as i am currently feeling a little directionless; i have dropped out of university to focus my energy on my band, which is what I always thought i wanted to do, but i still feel as if i am missing something. I hope that by learning more about my chart i can begin to understand myself more, and work on my deficiencies to become a more rounded person.

Any guidance as to where to begin would be greatly appreciated,

Thankyou,

Luke

[Lunar Pisces]

I'm sure Tim will be around to give you some insight. A chart like this is prefect for his preferred way of interpretation.

Anyhow, I'd like to point out that you have Mars in Aqua, which is a peregrine placement for Mars. While that's not bad, it's not easy either (I'm a Aqua-Martian myself). Peregrine means "wandering" and refers to a planet that's not "dignified" (strengthened) in a sign, yet isn't quite in "detriment" (weakened) - a sort of "neither/nor" situation. Long story short, Aqua isn't the easiest sign for Mars because it has a very different "agenda" than Mars, and this lack of common ground can give Aqua Mars a lack of focus and direction. Mars is all action, impulse, subjectivity, control, ego and sex. Aqua is all about thought, reason, objectivity, independence, egolesssness and even sexlessness. Good news: Aqua Mars makes you very cerebral, a "thinker" with great problem-solving skills and an independent, forward-thinking spirit. You can be very rational, fairminded, and levelheaded (on most days). It even gives you a very open and keen mind about other people and good control over your sexual drives. Bad news: becuase Mars is impulsive and ego-driven, regardless of sign, Aqua Mars can make you stubborn, authoritarian, condescending and arrogant, keeping you from listening to the wise counsel of others. It can also make you overly cerebral to a fault, making you too detached from your emotional, spiritual and even physical self and needs.

The two big issues for Aqua Mars is 1) not just living in one's head, but getting in touch with one's heart, spirit and body as well, 2) intellectual humility (basically, accept that while you're smart, you don't know everything). This is mainly why many Aqua-Martians, including myself, feel they're "missing" something, especially where they're younger. This makes us a fairly restless bunch. We are guided by our thoughts and ideals, and tend to be overly confident in our intellect, even if we're insecure otherwise. Basically, we start out thinking we know what we want, and go charging out to get it, only to find out reality isn't quite what we expected it to be. It's not uncommon for Aqua-Martians to change their path often throughout life, looking for something that is genuinely fulfilling and gives us a strong sense of purpose. Ultimately we need to do this to "find" ourselves, and to realize that life is about living in reality and not about chasing after high-flung, abstract ideals. Aqua Mars is eternally idealistic and constantly searching - and that is a very good thing, provided we set realistic goals for ourselves. Aqua Mars is a very sincere and earnest placement, and does not lack energy. The key is to work on the "big" issues I mentioned above so all that sincerity and energy has proper direction to be productive.

[wilsontc]

Luke,

Here I am! ;) Lunar is correct, since I am a holistic (big picture) astrologer, your very tight grouping of energy clearly shows the strengths and challenges you have in using your energy. First, the strengths:
- Strong Sagittarian (wisdom, also expansion) energy: the need to know
- Strong Capricorn (duty, structure) energy: the need to structure and build something

In my opinion the biggest challenge is your North node (future goals - the upside down "U" in the chart) is all alone by itself in the top left of the chart. Your North node is where you are trying to "go to" in life, but your energy keeps you focused on where you have been (with the South node -the past). You can develop more of a sense of purpose (and direction) in your life if you start focusing on other people's values (since North node is focused in the 8th house - other people's values). Think about and focus on the values of those around you and pay attention to them.

Your energy is focused at the bottom (inner world) of your chart, indicating that you tend to focus on your inner world. But your North node is in the top right of your chart, an area about using relationships with other to do things for them in the outer world. Your challenge is to change your focus from your own inner world to understanding and working with other people's values.

Valuing others,

Tim

[voodoochild]

thankyou both for your advice, it rings true in so many ways...

thanks tim... i am looking at your webiste at the moment and it is very informative and well set out... with my strong saggitarian urges i can see myself trying to learn my way into how to interpret these things myself, even as you explain that is what i want to do. crazy eh?

Are there any books you would recommend in particular in order to begin to explore further?

[wilsontc]

voodoo,

I am pleased that you are finding the "big picture" approach of my astrological website useful! :) I also have a reading list, "hidden away" on the front page:
http://www.geocities.com/wilsontctc/Author_list.htm

As mentioned, Steven Forrest's books are the best basic books on astrology I know of.

Opinionating astrologically,

Tim

[Empath]

Tim,

I understood more in your six pages than I have learned from many books. The big picture view of how the wheel is segmented is elegantly portrayed in your graphics. Thank you for sharing!