waybread
Well-known member
The question of whether alcohol and problem drinking can be seen in a chart is important for astrologers trying to understand human behaviour. Normally I would look to hard aspects between a person's Neptune and sun or moon. But it occurred to me that asteroids Dionysus (3671) and Bacchus (2063) might also play a part. They were named for the Greek and Roman gods of wine and drinking; and our word "dionysian" specifically refers to the kind of abandon and release that occurs for some people when they are drunk.
For example, I checked out the charts of two family members with drinking problems. Person "A" has been a heavy drinker most of his adult life, but recently is working very hard to control it. Person "B" turned to alcoholism only later in life. With asteroids, I would use a narrow orb, but it can be widened slightly where midpoints or other planets are also involved.
Person "A" has a natal moon/Neptune square, with Bacchus conjunct his moon. Dionysius squares his Neptune. Both asteroids make favourable aspects to his sun, suggesting the "feel good" quality of drinking that a lot of alcohol brings to some people.
Person "B" [deceased] had a natal sun/Neptune square, but no close Bacchus or Dionysius aspects to these planets. In her progressed chart, at a time when her alcoholism was full-blown, Dionysius closely squared her natal moon, her progressed sun and Bacchus were conjunct, and transiting Bacchus conjunct transiting Black Moon Lilith opposed her natal Neptune.
I would like to encourage you to check out these asteroids in the charts of people you know who have alcohol abuse problems. To find them, go to www.astro.com and log in. Go to the "Free charts" page, the "extended chart" selection, and then plug in your data. At the bottom of the chart construction page, you will see a blank space where you can input the asteroid numbers 3671 and 2063.
Oh, and we should probably look at charts of people without alcohol issues for comparison. Millions of people don't drink for religious reasons, so it is by no means an exercise in astrological determinism.
For example, I checked out the charts of two family members with drinking problems. Person "A" has been a heavy drinker most of his adult life, but recently is working very hard to control it. Person "B" turned to alcoholism only later in life. With asteroids, I would use a narrow orb, but it can be widened slightly where midpoints or other planets are also involved.
Person "A" has a natal moon/Neptune square, with Bacchus conjunct his moon. Dionysius squares his Neptune. Both asteroids make favourable aspects to his sun, suggesting the "feel good" quality of drinking that a lot of alcohol brings to some people.
Person "B" [deceased] had a natal sun/Neptune square, but no close Bacchus or Dionysius aspects to these planets. In her progressed chart, at a time when her alcoholism was full-blown, Dionysius closely squared her natal moon, her progressed sun and Bacchus were conjunct, and transiting Bacchus conjunct transiting Black Moon Lilith opposed her natal Neptune.
I would like to encourage you to check out these asteroids in the charts of people you know who have alcohol abuse problems. To find them, go to www.astro.com and log in. Go to the "Free charts" page, the "extended chart" selection, and then plug in your data. At the bottom of the chart construction page, you will see a blank space where you can input the asteroid numbers 3671 and 2063.
Oh, and we should probably look at charts of people without alcohol issues for comparison. Millions of people don't drink for religious reasons, so it is by no means an exercise in astrological determinism.