Gryphon Astrology Blog

Horary Question:

I am at a life and career crossroads. I’ll be 50 years old this year and have work experience in many areas: managerial and administrative positions (in finance and academia), dressmaking and design, and writing (teaching; creative and expository writing). I also have considerable experience in reading and teaching tarot and astrology (modern western), and counseling and teaching women’s mysteries.

At this point in my life, I do not want to be “split” like this anymore. At 50, I am beginning to understand the need to conserve and focus my energy. And as far as work is concerned, I would like to create a situation where I am able to focus on one area of work which will put my developed skills to good use and also allow me to work into my elder years (I have no intention of ever “retiring”).

The choices I’m considering are:

1) to add to my astrological knowledge (take courses in horary and tradtional astrology) so that I can offer consultations and contribute through writing and teaching in this area,

2) to continue developing my tarot reading and teaching practice,

3) to focus on creative writing (poetry, fiction, and erotica) and publishing

Which of these areas is most likely to provide a good income as well as a sense of purpose into my elder years? (income and purpose are equally important to me here)

—D.

Nina Gryphon:

Dear D.,

Thank you for writing to me. Career questions are always very interesting, as the horoscope shows very clearly where the person’s talents and strengths lie. As always, I cast a horary chart for your question, and your horoscope for this is below:

First, we have to figure out which of your three options is represented by which planet or house. Both astrology and tarot would be represented by Mercury, which is linked with the divinatory arts, and also with the ninth house, which represents higher knowledge. So, to the extent it’s necessary, we will need to distinguish further to separate these two. Creative writing is also represented by Mercury, but the concept of producing creative works is really a fifth house activity. The fifth house rules all of our creations. The third house is also associated with writing, but it really represents the act of writing, of putting letters together on a page. Writing in the sense of composition, of creating written works, is properly a fifth house activity.

So we have two planets that we are examining; Mercury, which rules both tarot in astrology here, and Mars, which rules the fifth house of creativity. Both planets are very strong essentially, because each is in its own sign. So we see that you definitely are gifted to do any of these three. So in terms of satisfaction or the sheer ability to do this work, you could choose any of those options. Similarly, as far as fulfilling your soul’s purpose – any of these choices would put you where you need to be. As long as you are using your gifts, which you clearly are, with such strong planetary placements as these, you are on the right track.

However, not all of these fields will present the most opportunities for your growth and worldly success. For that, we have to see which of the planets is strongly placed such that it has maximum influence over its reality. This will show us which of your talents are in the best place to manifest strongly in your life. Mars, representing creative writing, is it. It is just inside the Midheaven, the house of career/fame, and in its own sign. Clearly, this Mars is in control. Mercury, on the other hand, could not be more weakly placed. It is in the cadent 12^th house, tucked away in the back of the garage, as it were. It will be easier for you to make yourself known for your writing, and to make it into a career, than for the other two areas of endeavor.

Now, as far as money, the writing will do it for you. The second house from the fifth, indicating money from writing, is ruled by Jupiter in its own sign, Sagittarius, where it is strong. The income from writing looks positive, then. Jupiter is retrograde, so there might be difficulty getting the income stream going, but it is in the 5^th house of creativity as well, so we get a strong sense that money will come from your creations.

—Readers who wish to get a reading from Nina Gryphon may purchase one at top left, or learn more at http://www.gryphonastrology.com/astrologyreadings.html.

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