Free Astrology Advice – Horary Astrology: Should I Go into Acting?
October 19, 2006 by admin
Question:
I’m thinking of changing careers, I really want to get into acting, or that sort of thing, but I am not sure, because I am a single mother to three kids and a divorce behind me. I work in administration at the local health department in a very small community. I have always wanted to be an actress; as a kid it was my dream. Everything about me tells me it’s what I should do, and my dreams are very important to me but I’m afraid. Can you help?
—B.
Nina Gryphon:
Dear B.,
Perhaps because I have friends and acquaintances in such a wide variety of jobs, it is always very interesting to me to look at questions regarding vocations. Acting or the arts is commonly inquired about, as many people would like to get into it, but know that it is a very competitive field, and one in which it is not easy to make a decent living. What we have to do in this horoscope is to look at the planet and house that is significator of acting, and see whether it is strong. If the planet or planets have strength, we can confidently say that acting will be beneficial for you. If not, it would be best to keep it to a hobby.
As I always do for the advice column on this blog, I cast a horoscope for you using horary astrology, which is a method that casts a chart for the moment of your question. The idea is that the answer to your question is contained in the horoscope of your question. It is as though the question is its own birth chart, but just for the “birth moment” of your concern. The time and date are set for the moment and place where I received your question.
Your horary chart regarding your vocation is below:
Many horoscopes give us the answer in several different ways; this is an example of such a chart. In this horoscope, you are shown by Saturn, Lord of the first house itself. Saturn is not doing terribly well, as it is in Leo, the sign of its detriment. This can simply mean that you are discouraged and unhappy about your current life situation and are looking for a way out. Acting may be the dream that you have always held in the back of your mind, and now, in times of difficulty, you are turning to it.
Even though acting may at first seem Mercurial (Mercury being the trickster god), it is ruled by Venus, which rules actors and plays, and presumably, the movies. In this horoscope, Venus is not very strong. It is in Virgo, the sign of its fall, and in the malefic eighth house. This is one testimony that acting will not give you the satisfaction or financial support you need. Of course, this does not mean that you shouldn’t try it as a hobby, on a part-time basis. That would be an excellent way to test out the waters, both in terms of making it a career, and in seeing how satisfactory it would be as a pursuit.
Now, to confirm this testimony, we would also look to the fifth house and its ruler, which naturally rules acting, being the house of pleasure and entertainment. The fifth house is ruled by Mercury, because the fifth cusp is in Gemini. Mercury is somewhat better off than Venus, but still not great. Mercury is Peregrine, which means that it is in a degree in the sign where does not have dignity. That is rather better than being in fall, but would not promise an amazing career.
The nice thing with Mercury is that it is in Libra, where it exalts Saturn. So this shows that while acting may not be an amazing profession, it is one that will treat you reasonably well. Note, however, that the antiscion of Mercury opposes our fallen Venus. So even though Mercury is reasonably good, there will still be some kind of hidden problems with your acting career.
As far as making a living from acting, we would have to look at the second house from the fifth, which shows money from entertainment. This is ruled by the Moon, which is in Virgo. The Moon does not have a lot of dignity where it is, which makes me think that you will not be able to have a solid, reliable income from acting. Again, this does not preclude you from picking it up as a hobby.
Free Astrology Advice – Horary Astrology: When Will I Get a Full Time Job? Is This the Right Career?
October 17, 2006 by admin
Question:
In the next few days I’ll have a job interview for a position as a video editor, with no promise for the long-term, but I would like to know when I’ll get a full time job. Is this the right choice for me, career-wise? I’m sort of that creative pearson who’s still searching for his final profession.
—T.
Nina Gryphon:
Dear T.,
My sense, T., is that most people today are still searching for their final profession. Very few people come into this world knowing exactly what they are going to do, because they do not have one overwhelming talent. This puts me in mind of a four year old I know who is basically a child savant, and knows everything there is to know about entomology. This is a kid who started lecturing a presenter at the local Science Center about the fine points of difference between two species of insect, at which point he was seriously invited to come back and give talks. What do you think he is going to be when he grows up? Most of us are not like this, of course, and our talents are more diverse. In the old days you would not have the problem of choosing, as you would simply pick up the trade your parents did, or something similar. The horoscope reflects this basic reality, and will show whether creative work, for example, is appropriate for you. While you can parse between a video editing job and a director job, in the universe of all possible jobs, these are not terribly different from a macro perspective.
I cast a chart for the moment, date, and place that I understood your question. This technique is called horary astrology, and is a very ancient method for answering specific questions such as yours. Some people do not know their time or date of birth, so for them constructing a natal chart would be difficult. However, many questions are answered just fine using horary astrology. If you are more interested in looking at the bigger issues in your life, such as “what career am I meant to do,” then a natal chart is better. The horary chart for your question is here:
As you can see, you are shown by the ruler of the first house of self, Saturn in Leo in the eighth house. Saturn in Leo is in its detriment, so we can see you’re not doing too well for some reason. The reason will be shown by the ruler of Saturn’s sign, which is the Sun. The Sun rules the eighth house of fear, so you’re obviously freaking out a little bit (or a lot) about not having work, and are fretting about what will become of you. Your co-significator is the Moon, which is in 29 Leo, on the fixed star Regulus, and is about to move into Virgo. At this point, the Moon is void of course, meaning that it will not make any more aspects while in its current sign. This can mean that there will be no change in the situation, but because the Moon is about to move into a new sign, this tells us there is no change in the short term but there will be change in the future. Also, Regulus is a Royal star also called the Heart of the Lion. This tells me one, possibly two things. You have a pretty darn good shot at getting the position you are interviewing for in a few days, because Regulus bring success. Two, if you choose, you can have a full-time position in a relatively short time. However, this would be expedited if you stopped freaking out so much, because it makes you somewhat less appealing.
Lest we forget, the job you asked about, the full-time job, is ruled by the 10th house of career, and its ruler, Mars in the ninth house. There is no immediate aspect between Mars and your significators (Moon or Saturn), but we know that eventually you will get a job. So the answer is in here. The most likely time looks when Mercury sextiles Saturn; and this is for two reasons. Mercury has recently separated from Mars, so it will translate the light between Mars, the job, and Saturn, you. Mercury will aspect Saturn in about 9°, which will give us a timeline of about nine weeks. It may be nine months, but I think nine weeks is rather more likely. Do not forget that this is counted from the time I got your question; on September 19, so you have to count forward from that date. The other reason is that Mercury, being in Libra, exalts Saturn; so the job thinks you’re just peachy. This is great news, so don’t forget to ask for a hefty raise when you’re being interviewed.
You ask whether this job is what you’re meant to do. I would say in the universe of all possible jobs, you’re on the right track. Anything that requires working with computers, special analytical skills, and general technological wizardry would be a good match for you. I would not go too heavily into purely artistic endeavors, because we see that Venus in this horoscope is in its fall. I am sure I do not have to tell you that physical work is out of the question as well, as Mars is in its detriment. This leaves Mercury. It is not an utterly fabulous choice, because it doesn’t have a whole lot of essential dignity at 11 Libra, but it is far better than the other alternatives. So yes, I think being a video editor will be fine for you.
—Note to all readers: If you liked this short reading, you can schedule a full private consultation with Nina Gryphon at nina@gryphonastrology.com. zm.
Free Astrology Advice – Horary Astrology: When Will I Leave My Job? Apply for Another Job?
October 16, 2006 by admin
Question:
I was just wondering when I will get a new job. I am working at the moment and am really having a hard time with my manager. Each month it always looks like my last month on the job. I have applied for jobs but to no avail. My preferred ones(with UN organizations) have neither acknowledged nor told me I was unsucessful. Wishful thinking, though they must have thousands and thousands of applicants and the selection process is slow and tedious. I’ve seen the same post advertised again and wondering if whether I should go for it and what the outcome would be.
—N.
Nina Gryphon:
Dear N.,
If I had a dollar for everyone who writes to me who is unhappy with their job and is frustrated at the lack of control in their career, I would be a rich woman indeed.
I have cast the chart for the moment that I understood your question, a technique known as horary astrology. This technique is quite ancient and is excellent for answering specific questions such as yours. You will notice that the birthdate or birthtime are not needed for this, only the time, date and place where I understood your question. The horary chart for your question about your career is below:
You are shown by Mercury, ruler of the first house of self. Mercury is in Libra, the planet that rules your second house of money. It also rules the second house of self worth. So we are looking at issues of value here, both tangible and intangible. How is your money and your self-worth? Not so good, and it’s very much undermined. It is shown by Venus in its fall in Virgo just outside of the first house. Venus’s location just outside the ascendant shows that this issue is heavily weighing on you.
Your job would normally be shown by the 10th house of career, but this house is also ruled by Mercury (you), so we have to take the next sign as showing your job. Therefore, your job is shown by the Moon, ruler of the sign following the 10th. The Moon is void of course, which means it will not make any more aspects in the sign where it is, in this case, Leo. All things being equal, this can mean that there will be no foreseeable change in your situation. However, because the Moon rules your job, and the Moon will shortly enter the next sign, we can also take the Moon as showing your change in jobs. The Moon will enter the next sign, Virgo, in 5 1/2 degrees. Therefore, you will change jobs in 5 1/2 somethings (months or years, depending on the context of the situation), or not at all.
You’re also asking whether you should try to apply for one of the UN positions which you had your eye on. If the Moon shows your current job, the next sign, or Leo, and its ruler the Sun, will show your next position. The Sun is in Virgo, which is ruled by Mercury. Therefore, the UN job really likes Mercury, or you. The difficulty is that the Sun is about to move into Libra, the sign of its fall. So it may be the job will turn out to be much less than you expected. It may still be worth applying for it or investigating it further, if only to learn more about the requirements and potential benefits. You may well end up deciding that after all, it is not the job for you.
Spiritual Work for Jobs:
Looking for work can be a demoralizing experience, because one gets rejected so frequently. Before starting any new venture, frequent readers of this blog know I always recommend a series of cleansing baths. The 13 herb bath is the best for general cleansing because it breaks old conditions and jinxes, whether they are placed on you by someone else or by your own long-standing negative thinking. The 13 herb bath contains herbs such as eucalyptus that are known for their protective and cleansing qualities.you can purchase the 13 herb bath by e-mailing nina@gryphonastrology.com.
These baths are to be taken starting at the full moon for 14 days, around dawn. This makes it easier to do in winter than summer, at least if you’re not an early bird. I always recommend that job applicants put some “steady work” herbal powder on the resumes and applications they are sending to prospective employers. They can wear the steady work oil when they go to apply for interviews, and they can apply a little to their clothes as well. While at the interview, it is best to burn a steady work candle (a candle with the appropriate herbs and oil applied, that has also been prayed over). All of these supplies are available from Nina Gryphon.
–You can schedule a private consultation with Nina Gryphon by emailing nina@gryphonastrology.com
Free Astrology Advice: Will My Memoir Be Successful?
September 14, 2006 by admin
Astrology Advice Question:
I have been writing a memoir about having had a profoundly life-changing enlightenment experience that is connected with astrology. I do not have much experience in writing nor astrology, but I want to know whether the memoir will succeed? Success, to me, means reaching as many people as possible and influencing their lives for the better with my book.
—S.
Nina Gryphon:
Dear S.,
I love getting questions on writing, as I enjoy writing myself, and definitely sympathize with the anxiety underlying all writing: Will they like it? Will it absolutely change their entire world-view? Of course, we hope the answer is “yes,” but you can never tell until you actually get your work out there.
As always, I set the horoscope for the moment I received your question.
You are shown by the Lord of the Ascendant, Mars in Libra on the 7th cusp. Since the 7th is “other people,” or your readers, we can see that you are really, really interested in what they have to say about your work. This is understandable, but I can see that because Mars is in its detriment, this focus on “what will they think” is bothering you a bit. The best advice here, and I know it’s easy to say, is just let it go. Do your best writing and don’t worry about the public’s reception – your writing will be better that way.
How is your memoir itself? It is shown by the 5th house (your creation), and is shown by the Moon in the 1st house in Aries. In the first house, the Moon is very, very, very strongly placed, so it is very well placed to be noticed by the public. The Moon is peregrine (without good or bad essential dignity in Aries – the word peregrine means “traveling”), indicating that the writing could use some more tightness and focus right now.
And finally, for the most important question. How will the audience like the memoir? We know the audience is ruled by the 7th, so they are Venus in this chart. The memoir is the Moon. So how does Venus like the Moon? Venus is in Virgo, in the triplicity of the Moon. The triplicity reception, according to John Frawley, is like a good friendship, where you see the other for who they are and like them anyway. That is how the audience will view the memoir – like a good friend, whose kind and timely advice they can turn to when needed.
- To schedule a private, in-depth reading, email Nina Gryphon at nina@gryphonastrology.com.
Arabian Part of Spirit and the Guardian Daemon in the Horoscope
September 3, 2006 by admin
Dear Readers,
I have decided to experiment with a new way of blogging, not unlike the way in which most bloggers out there do it. Yes, Gryphon Astrology joins the 21st century at last. That is, I will write a lot more astrology posts that are shorter, to keep the momentum going on the blog. I’ll be shooting for one post a day, to have some kind of quality control. To get the ball rolling, here is one such short post about the astrological Part of Spirit (the opposite of the Part of Fortune).
My best, and happy reading,
Nina
Earlier, I had written on the astrology blog about the connection between the Guardian Daemon and the Lord of the Geniture. To quickly recap, the Guardian Daemon is the ancient Greek name for what we now call our Guardian Angel. In the article above, I wrote about how the Lord of the Geniture, our strongest planet in the horoscope, is a symbol of our Guardian Daemon. The best planet we have will always bail us out of the mess in which we manage to get ourselves. So, to get a sense of what the Guardian Daemon is for us, what is its nature vis a vis ourselves, we must look toward the Lord of the Geniture. Is it nurturing? Aggressive? Disciplinarian? Those are the qualities that will always save us when we are in a tough spot.One ancient astrologer made the direct connection between the Guardian Daemon (also known as the Eudaimon, or the Good Spirit) and The Part of Spirit. The Part of Spirit is calculated in the opposite way from the Part of Fortune, so Asc + Sun – Moon. Note that for reasons explained in an earlier article, I do not reverse the Part of Fortune and its associated Arabian Parts by night. Firmicus links the Guardian Daemon and Part of Spirit in one sentence:
After these four cardinal points, that is the Ascendant, Descendant, Midheaven and IMC, there is another set of four points in the nativity which are also of following and favorable power. These are Dea, Deus, Bona Fortuna (Good Fortune) and Bonus Daemon (Good Spirit) which the Greeks have called thus Thea, Theos, Agathe Tyche, Agathos Daemon.
So there you have it, the Part of Spirit IS the Agathos Daemon. But what do we do with this information? As with any Arabian Part, it is best when it is aspected by its sign ruler, and that sign ruler is essentially and accidentally strong. But it doesn’t always work that way in real life. Any planets aspecting the Part of Spirit will tell us of the nature of our Guardian Daemon. Then, we would inspect the sign ruler of the Part of Spirit.
For example, imagine a horoscope where the Part of Spirit is at 7 Libra. It is trined by the Sun at 4 Gemini and squared by the Moon at 6 Cancer. The two aspecting planets rule the 10th and 9th houses respectively. Does this bode well for the native’s spiritual career? It certainly does, indicating that not only is the Part of Spirit in play, as John Frawley puts it, but it is also going to be used at its highest capacity (strong Moon). Especially more so when we know that the Sun, though essentially weak, is in the sign of Mercury in Gemini. Our hypothesis is confirmed when we see that the temperament is overwhelmingly phlegmatic, with the most “phlegmatic” planet, the Moon, in strong essential dignity, ruling the 9th house. We have here no ordinary character.
This horoscope belongs to Padre Pio, a 20th-century Catholic priest and saint.
The Great Hunt: Finding the Lord of the Geniture
July 16, 2006 by admin
[This Greek statue is the best representation of Mercury I know of. Look at that smile, those eyes - would you buy weapons from this boy?]
This article came from a wild and vibrant discussion on an email list (thanks for the idea, Caro!), and I wanted to use this format for explaining my use of the Lord of the Geniture (affectionately known as the LOG). As became clear from our discussion on the list, not everyone uses the LOG the same way, or attributes the same meaning to it.
What is the LOG?
The LOG is the planet that we should listen to, though typically do not. It is the planet which represents the qualities to which we should aspire, but it is more than just a bromide for the self-help crowd. When we seek good luck, ease, and general goodness in life, we should turn to the LOG. Are we tired of always picking the wrong spouse (spouses 1-4 were sort of okay, but that #5 really took me to the cleaners!) or the wrong job, or the wrong pet? Just go with the LOG for any of the above, and things will be more or less okay.
Why only more or less okay? Well, the level of okayness you may achieve depends on the quality of the LOG. Sometimes, we will see a chart where all possible candidates for the LOG are somewhat…lame. And the best we can do is a planet that is peregrine (neither in positive nor negative dignities) – it doesn’t mean the person will never find success in what they do (look at Karl Valentin’s chart, for instance), but it appears from anecdotal evidence that in such cases of a weak LOG, there will always be a drop of bitterness mixed in with any success the person achieves.
From my work with natal charts, I found that the house of the LOG will often be a place where things are a bit easier for the native. A person with the LOG in the 10th house, for instance, would have an easy time with jobs. Or they might have an especially good relationship with their mother. The LOG in the 2nd house might bode well for the finances. And a person with the LOG in the 5th will never be…lonely or cold at night. However, these broad sweeping statements all depend on the nature of the LOG (Saturn in Capricorn as LOG in the 5th, anyone…anyone?), its overall strength, receptions, house rulerships, etc.
William Lilly defines it as the planet with the most essential and accidental dignities in the chart. The idea is that you want to find the planet with the most essential dignities (the best-looking good guy in the chart), that will hopefully have some accidental strength so that it can throw its weight around. But what if the most likely candidate has little or no accidental strength? In my practice, I still take the most essentially dignified planet, but with the awareness that the native may have to work a bit harder to get to the LOG.
An example
Let’s look at the chart of Margaret Thatcher, which does not have very many good candidates for the LOG:
Margaret Thatcher, 9 a.m., October 13, 1925, Grantham, England, 15 Scorpio rising.
To determine the LOG, we first cast our eye about for any planets in essential dignity. The pickings are rather slim; the best we can do is Mercury in its term at 23.46 Libra. As far as accidental dignity goes, this is hardly an optimal candidate; it is a little too close for comfort to the malefic 12th house, and even worse, it is combust by the Sun in its fall. Yet, despite these serious handicaps, this Mercury may well hold one of the keys to Thatcher’s political ascent and longevity as PM.
Mercury rules the 10th house of career and fame, and is on one of the royal stars, Spica, promising an illustrious career. The prenatal eclipse Ascendant picks up this Mercury (with Spica), emphasizing its extreme importance in the nativity. However, because of the serious problems with Mercury (and Mercury’s nature, which has unique notions of honesty to begin with), Thatcher’s legacy has been controversial and generally regarded as deeply problematic. For instance, a 1996 inquiry revealed the Thatcher administration’s weapons dealings with Saddam Hussein to the tune of $2B (1B GBP).
This is exactly what we would expect from a combust Mercury (indicating secrecy and shady dealings) on the cusp of the secretive 12th house. The tincture of bitterness is present even here, in the greatest of achievements. There is no other planet here that will save Thatcher from Mercury’s bad doings; the dispositor is peregrine Venus. Being peregrine means that Venus will not rap Mercury’s knuckles when it is up to any nefarious doings; rather, it will ask if it can please join the party.
But such is life. The LOG must be the best card we have; it does not have to be an ace to give grand success, and very often it won’t be. But the quality of that success does depend on the quality of the LOG.
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