Join Us: Retracing our Astrological Roots

Pres. Cory Aquino's Letter to An Astrologer

Considered by writer/editor  Sylvia Mayuga as a sweet historical footnote.
You may read Tita Cory's letter to Serafin Lanot here.

http://ph.she.yahoo.com/was-tita-cory%E2%80%99s-presidency-written-in-the-stars--073210103.html

When People Power Stunned The World

By Angela Stuart-Santiago

Cover of the author's new book on EDSA

All through EDSA, the words of Carl Jung, Swiss psychiatrist and occultist, kept ringing in my mind: “Whatever is born or done this moment of time has the qualities of this moment of time.” An astrological dictum on the significance of beginnings in the context of cycles and recurrence. As the awesome four days of People Power unfolded, culminating in Cory’s oathtaking and closing with Marcos’s flight, I was seeing it as a birth moment for the nation, a new pattern set, of a people breaking out of the old and trying out new ways of being and behaving for the sake of the common good.  [EDSA Uno...page 329]

The unexpected display of People Power when Filipinos stopped the tanks in EDSA-Ortigas was mirrored dramatically in the map of the heavens at the time.  The moon stood alone in the eastern hemisphere, while the eight other planets, led by the sun, were gathered in the western hemisphere. In mundane astrology, the moon signifies the people, the sun and planets signify the government and its support systems.

Ordinarily, the people could, would, have been easily overpowered by the dictator's forces.  When the planets are preponderantly positioned in the western hemisphere, the native (whether individual or nation)  is one to whom things happen rather than one who makes things happen.  

Alan Oken puts it this way:

A majority of the planets in the east (rising and culminating bodies) indicates a strong desire to initiate every phase of life activities.  It shows the need to learn cooperation with others, but it bestows the ability to set up personal life circumstances. Planets in the west (those setting or approaching the Nadir), however, cause natives to become extremely dependent on other people's activities in order to integrate their own motivations and drives.  A western predominance gives a natural cooperative sense, but it is through such joint efforts that a western-oriented individual may succeed in life.  The difference between east and west in the astrological sense, as Marc Edmund Jones puts it, "it's like comparing an "a la carte" dinner with a "prix fixe" one.  With the former, one can choose the dishes one prefers,but the expense if often greater than the "prix fixe" meal, which is already selected but costs less.  We could say that the eastern preponderance represents Karmic sowing, while the western preponderance is indicative of Karmic reaping. [The Horoscope, The Road and Its Travelers. Bantam Book, 1974.  286-287.]

Dane Rudhyar also cites Jones: 

"The zenith meridian divides the universe (all experience) into realms of rising things (East) and setting things (West). . . . If all planets are East the native is called upon to make his own choice in every issue, and to create the issue at will; whereas if West he must accept the choices and issues of life as these are placed before him." (Marc Jones) This is a division of "outer volition."  [The Astrology of Personality. Doubleday Paperback edition, 1970. 377.]

However, when, as in our chart, there is one planet in the east, a singleton, it can serve as a powerful balance to the weight of the nine other planets in the west.

If nine planets are found in one hemisphere and the tenth in the other hemisphere, this tenth stands out powerfully, from a form point of view.  A pattern is constituted in which one planet, because of its position, is seen balancing the nine others.  It becomes an absolutely "outstanding" factor; and, to a considerable extent, destroys the implication of all the other planetary factors in the other hemisphere. Marc Jones compares this formally isolate planet ("singleton") to an aching tooth which dominates the whole consciousness.  It is a type of accentuation which is "irrational," which tends to destroy the sense of wholeness of the personality.  It is an autocratic factor dictating its singular will to the rest of the organism, which by contrast appears inchoate. [379]   

Indeed EDSA Sunday was all about the moon, the Coryistas, the people, standing out, taking the initiative and taking control simply by their presence in huge numbers, willing to die for the cause of freedom, and thereby rendering inchoate not only the Marcos camp but also the Cory-Enrile camp.  

When the people stopped the tanks, it was the end of Marcos; it was only a matter of time.  Between Cory and Enrile, however, it was masalimuot. Cory who believed she had won the presidency didn't really want to deal with Ninoy's former jailer; Enrile, who had been planning a coup to himself replace Marcos with a junta was really loathe to give way to a mere housewife.  But after that grand nonviolent display of  People Power that rendered the Marcos military helpless, Cory and Enrile had no choice but  to reconcile their differences and bow to the people's Will that they, too, join hands against the dictator.  

It helped that the isolate planet was the moon, second only to the sun in the hierarchy of powers.  It helped that the moon was rising in Leo, a commanding presence, in the first house, a most powerful house.  It helped too that the moon was waxing, approaching a full opposition with the sun, crackling with potential.  And the moon was separating from a trine with mars (the split military) in the fifth house, and applying to a trine with Uranus (rebellion), also in the fifth house, the natural house of the sign Leo, the sign of creativity and play.  The people had been happily in the throes of nonviolent revolution since February 16 when Cory called for a crony boycott, and EDSA was the unexpected and dramatic climax, helped along by the defection of Enrile, Ramos, and their security forces.

Click here for the Chronology of a Revolution: edsarevolution.com.

The Extraordinary Cosmic Vibes Of February 1986

By Angela Stuart-Santiago

Excerpts from “Deconstructing EDSA,” the closing chapter of the book 
EDSA Uno, A Narrative and Analysis with Notes on Dos & Tres (2013) 
by Angela Stuart-Santiago. 
[http://stuartsantiago.com/edsa-uno-the-book-in-solidaridad/]

February 1986 was a rare time for the Philippines and the planet. From February 3 to 7, six solar flares were observed that gave rise, February 7 through 9, to a very intense magnetic storm, said to be the largest observed in 26 years.[i] 

Also on the 9^th, Halley’s Comet, hurtling through our solar system on its 76-year orbit, reached its closest point to the Sun, this as Moon and Sun, seen from planet Earth, exactly aligned.[ii] 

A rare confluence of cosmic events that wreaked havoc on Earth’ magnetic fields, instruments rendering off-scale variations said to set off weather and atmospheric disturbances, affecting even electric power grids,[iii] and, no doubt, our bodies and psyches, too.[iv] 

And as Halley’s Comet swang away from the Sun toward Earth’s orbit, it grew brighter and seemed to change structure around the nucleus, this as Cory’s protest campaign took off and Enrile et al coup-plotted; by the 22^nd of February the comet was sporting not just one or two but a phenomenal seven tails![v] 

It was also, in the 12-year cycle of Chinese astrology, a time for revolutionary change.

Wrote National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin, as Quijano de Manila, in The Quartet of the Tiger Moon: “Chinese New Year 1986 fell on February 9 when the new moon of the springtime inaugurated the Year of the Tiger. The Chinese say that the tiger in astrology signifies rebellion, upheaval, reform. The events of the four days that toppled the Marcos dictatorship in the Philippines occurred when the New Year moon of the tiger was achieving fullness.”

It is remarkable, but not unexpected, that Filipinos proved receptive to the extraordinary cosmic vibes. It is not only that we had been (and had not stopped) working up the nerve for change since Ninoy Aquino’s assassination.  

It is also that, given our religiosity as a people, our belief in supernatural forces, no wonder that the cosmic vibes worked positively, transformatively, on our neurons, and brought us in touch with our higher selves. We discovered a capacity for, and the joy in, thinking out of the box, breaking out of patterns, blazing a new and radical non-violent path towards change.

All through EDSA, the words of Carl Jung, Swiss psychiatrist and occultist, kept ringing in my mind: “Whatever is born or done this moment of time has the qualities of this moment of time.” An astrological dictum on the significance of beginnings in the context of cycles and recurrence. As the awesome four days of People Power unfolded, culminating in Cory’s oathtaking and closing with Marcos’s flight, I was seeing it as a birth moment for the nation, a new pattern set, of a people breaking out of the old and trying out new ways of being and behaving for the sake of the common good.

*

Going to EDSA was like stepping into another world. Altered states. In the unified field of consciousness that was EDSA, the people found themselves easily rising above religious, political, and class differences, and willfully daring new ways of thinking and acting, relating and bonding, for the sake of the whole. 

EDSA was an unexpected treat, a taste, a glimpse, of a happier kind of existence. Life can be better, kinder, fairer. People can be selfless, caring, and cooperative. Resources can be shared. Differences can be reconciled. Indeed, it was a smiling revolution. 

The people were feeling great, feeling affirmed by every other one’s presence, for the first time experiencing, and enjoying, a sense of connectedness with one’s fellow Pinoys and Pinays, a sense of unity and harmony and wholeness, which spirit lifted and expanded and enlightened every self, rendered it strong and steadfast and brave and, as it turned out, powerful enough to “disarm” Marcos’s soldiers.

*

It was a fascinating four days, but the storyline was full of holes. Things were happening so fast, as though life were on fast-forward mode, Radio Veritas and the mosquito press kept getting overtaken by events. When it was finally over I eagerly awaited a definitive account of the four days from the information arm of the revolutionary government, thinking that it would be the first to want to know, and to share with the people, what really happened in EDSA and how much of it was the work of People Power, the better to keep the spirit alive. 

It wasn’t until much much later, as I was fleshing out my chronology, that I realized why it had not been in the interest of the Cory government, the new armed forces, even the militant Left, to look too deeply into the dynamics of People Power. Far easier, smarter, to paint it a miracle-made-in-heaven, or mob-rule, or orchestrated-by-America. 

That a united people could destabilize an economy, “disarm” battle-hardened combat-ready Marines, and frighten away a deeply entrenched dictator without the use of force was simply not to be acknowledged, much less encouraged. 

People Power would change the game, patronage poltics and the rule of the elite in cahoots with foreign interests would come under threat; armed might and armed struggle would become obsolete.

*

A pattern, a blueprint, having been created in ’86, my fearless forecast in Himagsikan was of another, even more stunning, EDSA one fine day in some bright future when enlightened Filipinos would come together not only to change a president but to change a failed socio-economic system. 

I was so sure that the people would not waste time and energy on another EDSA until we were prepared to demand more than a change of president and to sustain the vigilance beyond four days.

As it turns out, we have had two Edsa exercises since: Edsa Dos in January 2001, that saw Estrada ousted by EDSA Uno moralists of the upper and middle classes; and Edsa Tres some three months later, mounted by the lower classes that voted for Estrada and wanted him back, which uprising was frustrated but gave the government and the ruling classes the fright of their lives.

***

[i] SAO/NASA Astrophysics Data System. “The solar flares of February 1986 and the ensuing intense geomagnetic storm” by Howard A. Garcia & Murray Dryer. Solar Physics Journal, vol. 109, no. 1. 1987. 119-137. Online.  <http://adsabs.harvard.edu/full/1987SoPh..109..119G> See also “Super Storms” by J.T. Bell, M.S. Gussenhoven, and E.G. Mullen. Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 102. No.A7, pages 14,189-14,198. July 1, 1997. <http://solar.gmu.edu/meetings/cdaw/data/cdaw1/papers/Bell_Superstorms.pdf>

[ii] Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. “Solar Flares Mar Data on Halley’s Comet.” 6 February 1986. <http://articles.latimes.com/1986-02-06/news/mn-4756_1_comet-data-halley>

[iii] Midwest Reliability Organization. “Grid Vulnerability to Geomagnetic Storms: An Overview” by John Kappenman Storm Analysis Consultants. <http://www.midwestreliability.org/00_events/2009_cip_workshop/10._kappenman_mro_dec1_2009.pdf>  

[iv] Global Coherence Initiative. “Solar Activity During 2012” by Annette Deyhle, Ph.D. February 2012. Online. <http://www.glcoherence.org/monitoring-system/commentaries.html>

[v] The Sunday Times . "Halley sports seven tails."  23 February 1986. “Halley's comet suddenly grew brighter this week and now sports seven tails, a phenomemon never seen before in the cosmic voyager, astronomers in Chile said Friday. The comet's behavior was measured and photographed from the European Southern Obervation (ESO) at La Silla, among the desert mountains 150 km north of the city of La Serena. "The tails are getting bigger and there are more of them and they are covering half of the circumference of the comet, which was not what we expected," Danish astronomer Holger Pedersen told Reuters by telephone.  "There's no way that one can tell how the comet will behave and the way it has appeared in the last few days is surprising." The comet, a dirty snowball of ice and dust, has just rounded the sun and is heading for the outer edges of the solar system again on its elliptical, 76-year orbit round the sun.  It will pass closes to the Earth on April 11. Richard West,another astronoer at la Silla, said telescope measuring infra-red light had detected an "outburst" around the comet's nucleuus three or four days ago.  "On Feb 18, it appeared quite a bit brighter," he said.  "A few hours later, we noticed a change in structure around the nucleus. there was much more material than the day before. It is quite likely that this has now gone to the tais," West said.  "Most comets have only one or two tails and, as far as we know, Halley has never been observed this way before," he said.

Juno Parungao's astrological portraits on exhibit this February 2014

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Astro-portrait of astrologer-artist Heber Bartolome
by Juno Parungao

Three artist-run initiatives converge in an exhibition called "As Yet Unwritten." The project is organized by Art Tempo Manila, founded by artist Juno Parungao.

The uniqueness of Parungao's astrological portraits has endeared many patrons-- among which include actor Jeffrey "Epi' Quizon, multi-awarded writer Lito Casaje, and maestro Fernando B. Sena.

Another luminary in the Manila art scene who has his own portrait by Parungao is musician and Astrological Friends member Heber Bartolome, who inaugurated Parungao's solo exhibit of astrological portraits in 2011.

The artist creates the portrait based on the individual's circumstances of birth, personal color preferences, and philosophical ruminations.

Astro-artist

Astro-portrait of artist Fernando Sena by Juno Parungao

As a child, Juno Parungao collects crystals, reads astrology and tarot books. She got interesed more in studying astrology after attending the seminars of Charley Barretto at Science of Mind and Man in Greenhills.

Parungao is a self-taught astrologer guided by a senior astrologer, Archie Corteza, in 2003.  Parungao has been doing astrology consultations since 2006. Now she has merged horary practice with painting.

As an astro-artist, she merges wisdom of Western Astrology and Cartomancy in her philosophical visualisations.

Juno is known for non- objective painting such as the Astro-Portraits and crystal inspired paintings which have been around galleries since 2008. Guided by astrological charts the commissioned works capture each client's personality in distinctive colors, forms and textures.

Exhibit collaborators
Collaborating with Parungao is Kristian Jeff Agustin, an independent publisher and poet who recently returned from his studies in Westminster, London.

Agustin contemplates on how the skies may mean to mortals. For the exhibit, he uses video and performance with spoken word to give voice to celestial bodies or introspective personas.

On the other hand, Jean Pierre "Dyani" Lao proves that tattooing is an art form on skin worthy of recognition. Lao garnered the Gawad Dominador Castaneda Award in year 2000 for his thesis entitled "Ritwal" from the College of Fine Arts in the University of the Philippines Diliman.

His intricately rendered tattoos of mythical beings and celestial bodies are the results of his solid research on Filipino indigenous practices. These are then rendered in limited-edition prints and captured in photographs.

For guest curator Laya Boquiren, "As Yet Unwritten presents three contemporary artists' visual articulations of place-based myths and the residual elements of pre-colonial interactions. The artists and I are interested in how these may be juxtaposed with ancient myths that examine the influence of celestial bodies on both individuals and shifts within the history of humanity."

For the collaborators, the exhibition as a whole underscores how destinies that are as yet unwritten intersects with oral histories and narratives that have been passed on across time and places, as interpreted in images and the spoken word.

Hosted by the GSIS Museo ng Sining, the exhibit will be launched on February 20, 2014 at 6:00 pm and will run until March 12 in celebration of the Philippine National Arts Month.

For more information, see the exhibit page through Facebook.com/asyetunwrittenexhibit.


Juno Parungao paints the blueprint of your soul
LIVE FEED
By Bibsy M. Carballo
February 7, 2014
The Philippine Star
From: http://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2014/02/07/1287519/juno-parungao-paints-blueprint-your-soul

We became aware of the name Juno Parungao first in relation to an exhibit at the Shangri-La Mall when she held an exhibit of Gem Stones together with Prof. Lito Casaje of La Consolacion College in 2009. She also told us that she appeared in a play of  Casaje's Dramatis production, on the subject of possession.

Later, we saw her at the SMX Convention Center in 2012 and at another exhibit; then at the election of the Director's Guild of the Philippines officers at Sequioa Hotel; and more recently at the Solidaridad Bookstore honoring Prof. Casaje's writings.

It was obvious that Juno moved around in different circles - showbiz, theatrical, scientific and psychic. Her latest interest seemed to be the most interesting of the lot. It involved astro-portraiture with Juno as the astro-portraitist.

Together with a friend, we met with Juno and asked for a demonstration of her art. Instead of working the traditional way, Juno paints what she calls the blueprint of the soul. And how she comes up with this blueprint is as interesting as the final artwork itself.

Juno possesses psychic power but doesn't read minds, nor casts spells, or sees ghosts and other apparitions. Her powers come from reading astrological birth charts. All of her astro-portraits begin with a reading of her client's birth charts with a process known as charting.

"It's very scientific," she explained to us. "Companies abroad use charting for hiring. Its methods have been around for the longest time. Popes have been using charting; disputes and conflicts, even wars have been scheduled according to the stars."

Juno was introduced to charting by the owners of the Art Circle Gallery, after which she devised her own system of combining art and science. Through charting, Juno is able to address her subject's current struggles and issues.

"In the past, charting required lots of trigonometry," she claimed. "Today, it is simpler because of the new technology. Through charting, the location of certain heavenly bodies in the sky at the moment of birth, Juno discerns her client's predispositions and tendencies. "I use that as a springboard for my conceptualization and abstraction of the soul - as I call it."

After reading the chart, Juno would commune with her subject. "I get vibrations from the chart, calm myself and meditate. Then I sketch." This is where the art comes in. At first glance, Juno's portraits share a common element - circles. "Circles are sacred," Juno maintained, "They represent the wholeness of a person while the smaller circle represents the location of the sun in the birth chart." Each artwork has come out as varied and unique as are her clients.

Juno credited her astrologer friend Kitten Alcantara for giving her the idea to combine astrology with an art form. She helped Juno open her first exhibit at Art Circle Gallery. To date, Juno had done close to 50 astro-portraits, including various names from show business, the arts and business. Her next exhibit at the GSIS galleries will feature Prof. Casaje, Epi Quizon, Fernando Seña, Conrad Benitez, Heber Bartolome, Gavi Evangelista, among many others.

We viewed a CD of some astro-portraits and asked Juno for comments. One of Quizon's attracted us with its combination of bird, water and sun, with the colors green and blue. Juno said Epi is an Aquarian, therefore a bird (griffin) diving into the waters. The  mythological creature has the body of a lion, and head and wings of an eagle. It is thought to be the King of all creatures. We thought, what a wonderful reading to combine strength in art.

Another astro-portrait was that of Juno's friend writer- novelist Casaje, who found him, born under the sign of Taurus the bull, to be firm, committed, dependable and many times stubborn.

Evangelista's astro-portrait attracted us because it appeared to be a tree that was dancing in the wind. Born under the sign of Sagittarius at 12 noon, Juno saw him to be full of enterprise and versatility (Evangelista owns a gym), ambition and optimism.

These works and all the rest will be on exhibit at GSIS Galleries beginning Feb. 20. For more information, visit www.arttempomanila.com.

E-mail your comments to bibsyfotos@yahoo.com, or text us at 0917-8991835.

Join us on the first Astro-night of 2014

https://www.facebook.com/events/512169645570227/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming

The Cross of Matter (Part 2)

By Mari Garcia

Read Part 1

The Sun then continues to climb high into the sky and reaches the zenith of its path and gains maximum strength and heat. It is this point which in astrology we know as the MC. It is associated with power, glory, honour and distinction. It is the pinnacle of the chart hence its association with status, rank, profession, success, public life and social acknowledgement. It was seen to show where the individual succeeded as a result of their own efforts as opposed to position or status which was inherited, as symbolised by the IC. The MC was also the Mother, the public parent as opposed to the IC, the Father.

Manilius says it:

"…holds sway at the summit of the sky and divides heaven in two with imperceptible meridian; enthroned on high this post is occupied by Glory (truly a fit warden for heaven’s supreme station), so that she may claim all that is pre-eminent, arrogate all distinction, and reign by awarding honours of every kind. Here comes applause, splendour, and every form of popular favour; hence the power to dispense justice in the courts, to bring the world under the rule of law, to make alliances with foreign nations on one’s own terms, and to win fame relative to one’s station." 

After reaching the zenith, the Sun then starts its downward journey to the west and this was where the Sun died and descended into the underworld. Egyptian philosophy saw this as the diminution of strength, of vitality and of life. The point at which the Sun disappeared past the  horizon is what we define as the Descendant. Manilius saw it as:

"… concerned with the consummation of affairs and the conclusion of toil, marriages and banquets and the closing years of life, leisure and social intercourse and worship of the gods."

Here we see how we have derived the meanings of the Descendant where we place marriage and partnerships as well as enemies, foes and opponents. If this is puzzling consider that the Descendant is opposite the Ascendant but also the symbolism of light (Ascendant where the light is born) vs dark (Descendant where the light disappears). The hero is always white (Ascendant) strong, vigorous with right and might on their side—it is masculine and diurnal while those that oppose him are black (Descendant) indirect and obscure – it is feminine and nocturnal.

As discussed earlier, the east was associated with the right and has the qualities of might and light. It is direct, strong and benefits the individual self. Its opposite, the west was associated with the qualities of strength and benefit given over to others. Any union or partnership demands cooperation but also compromise and therefore the individual has to hand over some of their power and influence. Therefore there is the association with marriage, partners and associations but it also indicates a weakness to the individual self and factors which may be harmful or which ‘oppose’ it.

These four angles make up the Cross of Matter and they define the life cycle: conception occurs at the IC, birth at the Ascendant, middle age and maturity at the MC and the descent from the MC t o the Descendant is old age and eventually death at the IC. This is the representation of the diurnal motion of the earth, the primary motion that brings life.

If we look at a chart and see it as a fourfold unfoldment of an individual’s life, or a moment of time, it makes a powerful statement especially if we remember that what we are looking at is the literal representation of the earth’s movement.

How then can we use this? If we apply to any chart we can consider the following:

IC - what is the root, cause or origin of the person or the matter in question. It describes that which lies hidden beneath the surface and the foundation on which it rests.

Ascendant - the person’s view of life and how others see them. They way they start endeavors and the drive that impels them to meet life.

MC - the person’s aspirations and goals and the nature of their success.

Descendant - the partners and associates as well as the nature of relationships and their opponents or foes.

The strength of the individual houses was also directly related to this model which attributes to the Ascendant the source of light. The houses associated with the Cross of the Matter, the 1st, 10, 7, and 4 are considered to be the strongest of  houses as they had a direct and strong relationship by aspect to the Ascendant. Therefore, a planet in these angular houses was considered to be strong, potent and effective in realising the matters of the houses it ruled.

Read Part 3

Copyright Mari Garcia. Mari Garcia is a consulting astrologer who has been involved with astrology since 1990. She has lectured widely both in Australia and the USA and has published articles in Australia and overseas and writes for several local and national publications. She runs a consulting practice in Adelaide and is co- principal of ASTRO MUNDI, which offers a four year course in astrology as well as special interest workshops. Mari can be contacted via the website at www.astromundi.com.  

To know more about Mari Garcia click here.

Life Matters: the Cross of Matter (Part 1)

By Mari Garcia

The Cross of Matter is a fundamental principle of Astrology and as such is the backbone of any chart. Its components are the four angles: the Ascendant, the MC, the Descendant and the IC. The concept is based on divisions of the circle described by the path of the sun and planets across the sky as seen from the earth.

Indeed, the Greek word ‘horoskopos’ means the ‘watcher of the hour’ describing the fact that originally, the celestial observers would record what stars or planets were rising at different hours of the day. These were used as markers in the construction of calendars for religious observances.

The earliest records of natal astrology go back to the Babylonians whose astrology we would describe as ‘omen’ astrology, in the sense that they used not only the planets and the stars, but the winds, the flight of birds, comets and other phenomena. These were recorded on stones and were used to describe the nature of the time in which they appeared. There was no Ascendant and therefore no other division of the celestial circle.

The Babylonians had a strongly developed system of heaven-earth correspondences. Orientation and division of space was very important. They used the four cardinal points and the notion of associating right and left with east and west are the same qualities which underpin most of the ancient world philosophies where east and right are associated with the masculine, diurnal principle while west and left are associated with the feminine nocturnal principle.

The marking of the eastern horizon has always been important and the ancient Egyptians marked it with the rising of particular stars, most important was the helical rising (rising with the Sun) of the star Sirius which signified the beginning of the Egyptian year and heralded the annual flooding of the Nile.

The East point was seen as the birth place of the Sun, the giver of life and the west was seen as the ‘dying place’ where the Sun slipped below the horizon to the place ‘of rest’ in the underworld. The underworld was the place where east and west came together and when the Sun reached the nadir, the centre of the underworld it would transform itself from the ageing deity into the newborn babe ready to be reborn at dawn.

The centre point of this underworld is what in astrology we refer to as The IC or midnight point and it is where the Sun god was transformed from an old to a new god ready for rebirth the following day. The Egyptian underworld was not a place of suffering and damnation like the hell of Christianity. It was the afterlife where the soul went for rest and renewal and prepared for reincarnation into the next life. The underworld was known as the Source from which all things emerged and that is how the IC derives its connections to beginnings and endings of all things, to the source of our lives, to parents, and to home.

Marcus Manilius the 1st century writer tells us:

"It controls the foundations of things and governs wealth; it examines to what extent desires are accomplished by the mining of metal and what gain can issue from a hidden source." 

The IC was also seen as the repository of resources of the earth e.g. metals, mining, hidden treasure and wealth. Other classical writers added reputation and lineage, family wealth (that which we inherit from family and parents), land (as most wealth would have been linked with land ownership), old age, ancestry, beginning and end of life. Father is also represented here because father is the ‘hidden’ parent – paternity was not something which could be established as obviously as maternity, hence its hidden nature but also the foundation of genetic structure.

As the Sun then began its ascent towards the horizon, the Sun god was seen to emerge into the upper world at dawn, bringing life and vitality, shedding light and warmth on the world. With the appearance of the Sun, the Egyptians saw this as the birth of the god and in astrology this ‘marker of the hour’ of birth of the individual is the Ascendant -the moment in which the child makes its entry into the world.

Manilius says:

"Within its domain lies the arbitrament of life and the formation of character; it will grant success to enterprises, open up the professions, and decide the early years that await men from their birth, the education they receive, and the station to which they are born…." 

Hence we have the Ascendant’s association with the life force, the source of character and physical appearance. It describes the person emerging into the world hence it also describes impressions, image, will, strength and vitality. The Ascendant as the beginning of life also represents beginnings generally i.e. how a person starts things, the impressions they make on others as well as their impact on the external world.

Read Part 2

Copyright Mari Garcia. Mari Garcia is a consulting astrologer who has been involved with astrology since 1990. She has lectured widely both in Australia and the USA and has published articles in Australia and overseas and writes for several local and national publications. She runs a consulting practice in Adelaide and is co-principal of ASTRO MUNDI, which offers a four year course in astrology as well as special interest workshops. Mari can be contacted via the website at www.astromundi.com.

To know more about Mari Garcia click here.

Will Aquino remain loveless in 2014? Astrological forecasts for the coming year

Astrologers Resti Santiago and Renato Bisquera were interviewed by Maricar Brizuela, a writer for Philippine Daily Inquirer, for an article that was published on Dec. 31, 2013 that highlighted astrological forecasts for 2014.

The title of the article is
"Will Aquino remain loveless in 2014?"
and can be read here:
http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/145281/will-aquino-remain-loveless-in-2014

Will Aquino remain loveless in 2014?
By Maricar B. Brizuela
Dec. 21, 2013
Philippine Daily Inquirer

President Aquino will remain loveless in 2014.

That is what the stars and the planets say about the bachelor President, whose last known romantic relationship was with former Valenzuela City Councilor Shalani Soledad and it ended three years ago.
Astrological researcher Renato Bisquera said Aquino would still have no chance to find a new love in 2014.

"If there is any chance of romance, it will be very expensive because he attracts gold diggers and he can marry for money," said Bisquera, who is also a magazine editor and an astrological writer since 1975.

"His marriage star will show up late 2015 or in 2016," he said, noting that the President's zodiac sign, Aquarius, is also the sign of the current astrological age, which, according to him, is a very unusual period marked by uncertainty.

Astrological ages change every 2,000 years, according to Bisquera.

Bisquera said the President would have no time for love in 2014, as he would be doubly focused on the country's financial security.

"The President should not lose focus on making the country a viable place for investment," he said.

Investment
Well-known astrologer Resti Santiago said the new year promises luck expansion and vision, especially during the last quarter when the dominant planet will be Venus, a symbol of better and beautiful things.

"It will be good to invest in businesses involving entertainment, fashion, jewelry, apparel, energy and fuel, financial services and banks," Santiago said.

Bisquera added that there is also luck in businesses related to anything liquid like oil, water, shipping and juices, and also liquid resources like insurance, casinos, lotto.

He explained that since the Philippines is a Pisces ascendant (associated with the water element), there will be luck in anything liquid.

"The misuse, abuse and lack of water, however, will bring the opposite fate to our country," he said.
Women will occupy prominent roles throughout the year, according to Santiago. He said women would bring success and recognition to the Philippines.

Bisquera added that women in such businesses as food, housing and spas will also succeed in 2014.

Rough times
Both astrologers, however, said Filipinos should be prepared for difficulties in the coming year, noting that these will have to do with peace and order and the economy.
Santiago said the Philippines would go through rough times, especially during the first two quarters.

"The planets that will have dominant influence [the first] half will be Mars and Saturn, both planets of conflict and hardship," Santiago said.

Santiago, 42, said he began to study the relationship of astronomical phenomena and the events on earth when he was in high school.

In 2011, he focused on medieval astrology, and he made a chart of the changes of the seasons and made his forecasts using that chart and observing planetary positions.

He said that based on the positions of the planets, the conflicts with rebel groups in the country will continue, making peace and order the major concern in 2014.

Security of commercial and residential establishments should also be improved, as the year would breed more thieves, he said.

"On a personal level, the planetary positions say that there will be more breakups and relationship conflicts in 2014," he said.

Economic hardship
In economics, he said Filipinos would be more practical, because of possible hardship during the new year.

Santiago said the peso could be generally weak in 2014 and that a sharp movement might occur in March and November.

"Because of these, more Filipinos will continue seeking jobs abroad," Santiago said.

Filipinos should be prepared for more disasters like typhoons and earthquakes, he said.
"Planetary positions reveal that there be will be strong typhoons in the country in August and November," said Santiago, who predicted a year before Supertyphoon "Yolanda" hit central Philippines that a powerful cyclone would devastate the Philippines on Nov. 6, 2013.

With maximum winds of up to 350 kilometers per hour, Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) slammed into Eastern Samar then plowed through the rest of the Visayan region on Nov. 8, killing more than 6,000 and flattening entire communities.

Santiago said there was a high possibility of earthquakes in January and March.

Astrometeorology
He said he used a medieval astroclock to formulate his forecasts.

The astroclock, which uses the positions of the planets to tell future events, is the main tool used in astrometeorology, Santiago said.

Santiago said astrometeorology could be helpful in the Philippines, especially in preparing for natural disasters like typhoons and earthquakes.

He said meteorological forecasts were more accurate and specific because these could determine good and bad periods.

"It will be good to combine this science with weather forecasting, as this will allow people to plan [because] they know when weather disturbances are coming," Santiago said.

Details like rainfall and typhoon speed are beyond the scope of astrometeorology, however, but these could and will be provided by meteorologists, he said.

Enthusiasts
Santiago said he was sharing his knowledge and expertise with a group of astrology enthusiasts who call themselves Astrology Friends Philippines.

The group holds occasional get-togethers to discuss various astrological topics.

"Everyone is welcome to join our discussion. No prior knowledge of astrology is necessary," Santiago said.

Astrology Friends Philippines announces its meetings and shares its forecasts through its blog, http://astrologyphilippines.blogspot.com.