Konrad, this debate has been over for decades for modern astrologers. If you or other orthodox neo-traditionalists do not wish to use Pluto, nobody insists that you should.
But you will do better to make a strong case for the accuracy of your own methods, rather than attempting to discredit astrologers who use Pluto, by inference. And also, please explain why many astrologers who essentially use traditional techniques will nevertheless use the modern outers as supplementary data points.
Your challenge is patently unequal. You gave a completely blind chart for us to read, yet you are unwilling to take up the same challenge yourself. Obviously the chart of a public figure, replete with biographical information on-line, can be read as an exercise in confirmation bias. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confirmation_bias Are you willing to take up the same challenge that I accepted from you?
And why couldn't a good orthodox neo-traditional astrologer say something about the native's inner state? Surely with a public figure, you will find interviews and autobiographical materials to consider. Or is this something orthodox neo-traditional astrology doesn't do very well because it precisely lacks the modern outers?
I am beginning to sense a trick in the chart that you posted: did you deliberately post the most un-Plutonian Plutonian chart you could locate because you knew you could shoot down any interpretations focusing on that Pluto conjunct ASC? Is the birth time an AA rating? (See Astrodienst Astro-DataBankfor the definition.) Say that I am merely imagining things, Konrad.
And then, please tell us more about the man behind your mystery chart, and your relationship to him. For example, what was his occupation, socio-economic class, and education level? How well do/did you know him? I say this because I would like to see more convincing evidence that Pluto is inoperative in his chart than I see in your laconic responses.
I'd be happy to have you read my father's chart, posted above. I will be as honest and as accepting as I can be about your interpretation. Unlike your "blind" chart, I've already dropped a few clues in previous posts. Unfortunately I don't have a birth time, but IMO a good astrologer can read a chart without one; or use one of the rectification methods espoused by Valens or other astrologers.
Waybread, way to miss the point. The only one trying to discredit anyone here is you. The reason I posted the chart is because Monk wanted one with Pluto bang on an angle, it is the only one I had. I'm glad your true feelings are out now, but you shouldn't be so bitter about being so wrong in regard to the chart I posted. As I said, reading a chart blind is hard and completely unnatural and I respect you for doing it, but to try and insult me and rather weirdly, Vettius Valens, should be beneath you. I thought we were getting on so well too!
Your suggestion of practicing Horoscopic astrology without a horoscope doesn't interest me. Anyone who claims to be able to read a Horoscopic astrological chart without a horoscope should be avoided. I never suggested a public figure, by the way, only that the information about the native could be revealed publically. In truth, I was not happy with how my own chart offering went. But forget about it, I will just go back to my blog and talk to myself on it. It is much less fun, but at least I can get some chart-reading done.
As for the chart I posted, I have already said I won't talk about deeply personal things, and I said that before you delineated it, so the sour grapes now is a bit of a surprise. As for picking an "unplutonian" life, that would be impossible since I do not know what a "plutonian" life would look like. Your responses outside of Pluto were wrong frankly, it isn't a big deal, we are all wrong, but accusing me of lying isn't going to make you right. If you didn't like the level of detail in my responses, you should have said instead of thanking me. Ultimately, I couldn't care less about what anyone else practices astrologically or what they think of my own practice. I'm not looking for converts or followers, just some nice chart reading which is what I thought we had. Honestly, I am a little disappointed you have resorted to this, but I will survive.