Where in the world? The art of astro-locality

New Moon in Cancer, 25th June 2006, 17.05am

This month, as the Sun moves into the sign of Cancer and we pass the Summer Solstice, the point in the year which marks midsummer and the longest day, New Moon Messenger brings you another edition packed with astrological information. We’ll be exploring “astro-locality” techniques, which tell you where in the world you can go to bring out the best - or worst! - in your birth chart, as well as considering some famous examples of well known figures who’ve had a brush with destiny in different parts of the world. First, though, let’s look at some characteristics of the sign of the Crab.

The sign of Cancer

Cancerians are often perceived to be shy and retiring – and it’s true they do have their moments of hiding in their shells! However, Cancer is a cardinal sign, which means it likes to be pro-active and dynamic, most notably in the area of caring for and nurturing other people. Cancer could be described as the archetypal stage mother, fiercely fighting for the rights of her offspring to express their talents and be recognised for them. The question Cancerians need to ask, though, is “what’s in it for me?”, for whilst they’re happy to push others forward, they may be basking in reflected glory at the expense of pursuing their own dreams. Ruled by the Moon, which completes its journey through the 12 different signs or expressions of energy, in just one month, Cancerians can be more subject than most to the highs and lows of the lunar cycle. This is why they sometimes need their own space or seem to pull back when they’ve been outgoing and confident only a moment before. The Moon also symbolises the eternal feminine and mother, as well as attitudes to emotional and physical security, which means Cancerians are often strongly attached to home, family and their past. Sensitive and caring, this sign is not beyond subtle tactics of emotional manipulation to get what it wants: moving sideways towards a goal can be just as effective as charging at it head on!

Famous Cancerians whose sensitive, caring nature is readily recognisable include Diana, Princess of Wales, who had the Sun and Mercury in cancer in the 7th house. This placement means that she needed to project her caring and nurturing side onto a partner, although with Sun in the 7th house giving over one’s personal power to another is also a common pitfall – Sun 7th house people are effectively journeying to claim back their sense of self identity rather than living it through others. Interestingly, Prince Charles’ second wife, Camilla Parker Bowles, is also a Cancerian. Camilla has the Sun, Moon, Mercury and Venus in Cancer, but all of these planets fall in the 12th house of secrets and self-exploration, perhaps highlighting her less public background presence in the lives of the Royal Family for many years. Other sensitive souls in touch with their Cancerian side include George Michael, Meryl Streep and Robyn Williams. One famous politician who you might not credit with so much sensitivity is none other than US President George W. Bush! More on him later in the newsletter, but first, a look at astro-locality.

“Where in the world?” The art of astro-locality

As I mentioned in my last newsletter, I’ve just been on holiday to Spain. Whenever I’m going somewhere new, I have a look at my astro-locality to check that the location I’m travelling to will be positive for me, and to check any potential pitfalls I need to beware of. Let me explain.

When an astrologer casts your birth chart for a consultation, they use the co-ordinates for the location in which you were born. However, you can transfer the birth chart to a different location using its unique geographical co-ordinates, to see if any strengths or weaknesses indicated in your birth chart will be made more prominent in that location. A very good, albeit extreme example of this “relocation” technique is the chart of John F. Kennedy. Kennedy was born in Brookline, Massachusets, USA. His birth chart shows the Sun in the 8th house in the sign of Gemini, with Saturn on the Midheaven symbolising the responsible, prominent public role he was groomed for by his family for most of his life. Pluto, lord of the underworld, planet of death, rebirth and transformation is tucked away, nicely hidden in his 9th house of travel and higher education. If we re-plot his birth chart for Dallas, Texas however, it immediately becomes apparent that this guy should be ready for some pretty full-on experiences when he visits that location. This is because his somewhat innocuous 9th house Pluto gets plonked right onto the Midheaven there, and becomes a full on public display of the life and death principle in action. In his case this took the form of his assassination in November 1963! Note that this isn’t the same as looking at his astro-weather or forecasting work (although that would provide extra insight at a crucial moment such as this), we’re talking about a seed in his birth chart that’s not germinating in one place, but sprouts alarmingly in another. Of course, this is only one way in which this energy could have played out for JFK: one might reasonably expect Pluto to express as power struggles, challenges, strong confrontations and political machinations in Dallas, given his status and profession. But it’s a very good example of how where you go can affect and bring to the fore what is already present in your birth chart.

The second technique we can use is astro-mapping, which consists of using a computer programme to transpose your birth chart onto a map of the world. This can again highlight where in the world certain traits in your birth chart might come to the fore, this time by tracing the lines made as certain planets influence certain places on the world map. For this example, we return to Cancerian US President George Dubya.

The Cancer energy in the chart of this US President comes out in his protective attitude towards home and hearth, namely the country he presides over. (Interestingly, his Sun is in the same position as the Sun in the birth chart of the USA, suggesting their “life path” and goals are very closely aligned.) When President Bush was inaugurated, the chart for that moment shows Mars, representing the male archetype and typically billed as “the God of War”, was on the Descendant, or point of other key players or countries where world affairs are concerned. Transpose this chart onto a map of the world, and we find the locations where this president is most likely to wage his wars: lo and behold, the Mars line on this map passes through Afghanistan, Iraq and runs close to Baghdad! Even more amazingly, George Bush senior’s Mars line also runs in the same area, with the legacy of war on this part of the world passing down from father to son via presidential office. Want to have a guess where 80’s Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s Mars line runs on a global map? Blow me, it’s the Falklands!*

So these examples serve to illustrate in a rather extreme fashion how planetary energies in our chart might play out in different parts of the world. As an astrologer, I wouldn’t be telling anyone with a Mars line running through their next holiday destination that they’re going to be starting a war there! But I might caution them to be careful about personal safety, the possibility that they might attract more anger than they otherwise might elsewhere, and to use the line positively by being active and energetic. Similarly, we could look at Venus lines to see where you might fall in love or make money, Mercury lines indicating where you’d do good business or be a successful communicator, and so on.

Both of the techniques described above work best when you’re looking at a location which is a good way away from your place of birth; for instance if you’re moving from Leeds to London, the distance isn’t really sufficient to make a major change to the characteristics of your birth chart. But moving from Leeds to Leningrad could be a whole different story!

Astro-cartography and your chart

Going anywhere nice on holiday this year? Or even considering making that trip abroad a more permanent move? Find out which parts of the globe hold positive connections for you, where you’ll have most success and where you can find happiness. Contact me for further details, caroline@star-maps.co.uk or via the form on the feedback page at www.star-maps.co.uk

*Reference: "The Financial Universe", by Christeen Skinner.

Back to Articles Home