At the Lodge - 29th September 2003

Lodge Lecture | Members' Classes | Charts Discussion

Lodge Lecture

This evening we were treated to a lecture on one of many of the Lodge Members' favourite subjects - Oscar Wilde. Our speaker was one of our committee members Gwen Eastwood, who also runs the second hand bookstall at the Lodge on a Monday evening.

Gwen spun a marvellous web of information and charts of the man who was in his time both famous and infamous. She spoke of his family - a father who was famous in his own right as an eye and ear specialist and who opened his own hospital, two sons and and two daughters (who met a tragic death at a ball when their dresses caught fire). Oscar's father died on his own second Saturn return and on Oscar's first.

His mother dressed him in girl's clothing for the first 10 years of his life, thus creating their most unconventional relationship. He grew to 6'3" tall by the age of 17. He could read a book in twenty minutes and spoke French, German, Italian and Russian. His first essay was published in 1877. He was very popular with all the leading ladies of the day. He always wore a green carnation (which Gwen wore tonight) and had a passion for lilies.

He married Constance Lloyd in 1884, who bore him two sons. But by 1886 he was seduced by Robert Ross. After the ill-fated meeting with Lord Alfred Douglas, son of the Marquis Of Queensbury, his life took a downward turn. He died in 1900 in Paris at 1:50 am on Nov. 30th 1900. Gwen quoted many of his famous quotes and I for one was sad to see this one come to an end.

Carole West

Members' Classes

This was the first of a series of four classes on Cycles given by Claire Chandler. We learned to appreciate that our scientific idea of time is linear and is not repeated whereas astrology is cyclical. It could be said to show the structure of time. Cycles are not a simple repetition of events, they are intertwined with other cycles which are all unfolding at different rates so do not repeat exactly.

The cycle starts at a conjunction of two planets and gradually unfolds (like a growing plant from seed) through the gentle aspects of sextiles and trines, to the challenges or a crisis at a square aspect to some kind of achievement at the opposition of whatever the cycle is creating and at the descending square will come another crisis - the consequence finishing off at the the next conjunction to start the next cycle.

You can divide the circle into as many sections as you like (harmonics). We covered planetary synods and the precessional year of 25,000 years. Also the 500 years of Pluto/Uranus, 172 of Uranus/Neptune and 127 years of Uranus/Pluto cycles. Saturn/Uranus - 45 years, Neptune/Saturn - 36 years and Pluto/Saturn - 33 years. We will discuss more next week.

Carole West

Charts Discussion

It was a lively discussion this week.

We looked at the chart of Johnny Cash, and read his biography. 'The Man in Black' as he was known. A giant in the music business. A man who described himself as having 'Demons'.

Born 26th February 1932 Kingsland Arkansas at 07.30 CST (+6.00), Rodden rating A - he was a double whammy Pisces with a Sun/Mercury/Mars conjunction in the 12th House. So apt for inner conflict which would express itself in the dark lyrics in his music ('I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die') Venus conjunct Uranus in the first hours shows his individuality.

When everyone in Country music wore rhinestone outfits - he wore black and thus his name. Moon in Scorpio in the 8th house was also deemed apt for a dark man with demons.

But it was generally decided that with that plethora of planets in Pisces and the Ascendant that this man would easily take to drugs, music and finally religion with a passion.

Next was Arnold Schwarzenegger 30 July 1947 in Graz, Austria at 4.10 EET (-2.00), Rodden rating A - I was interested to see if his chart would indicate him becoming Governor of California. It was decided that he is definitely connected with the US chart with his ascendant at 19 of Cancer close to the US Sun and we all know that Saturn is approaching these degrees - however it gets to 13 and goes retrograde so it is so apt there are delays in the election in California so the opinion was - he is going to have to wait and then when we know the date of the election will again look at the chart and the transits of the day.

We then had a bit of mundane astrology - France and Portugal and how the hot summer had affected these to countries. Well Pluto is slowly coming to the French natal Saturn so that does not bode well but it was decided that it was the Mars effect as the Mars/Uranus conjunction opposing Jupiter causing a T square with the natal Mars was quite apt. The Mars/Uranus also hit the natal Pluto in the sixth house of services showing the intense stress on the countries health services. 7000 people died due to the heat mostly the old - Saturn in Cancer squaring the Sun.

Next Portugal and the forest fires. That appeared more difficult to see as Saturn had passed the Mars and the Mars/Uranus/Jupiter dance did not seem to transit - but it could be that Mars trined Mars making it all too easy to ignite - The jury is still out and we are to debate further.

Last but not least Tony Blair- just to see what was going on - but the general consensus was albeit with Neptune on his Moon (disillusionment of the people and his own fantasy of himself) he will survive, he will talk his way out - Mars and Jupiter in opposition producing a T square with his natal Mars, difficult but luck and drive to succeed.

For next week we are all going to try and bring the data of the power failures and New York/London and Italy. Should be very Mars/Uranus that!!!

Gill Dorren

Lodge Lecture | Members' Classes | Charts Discussion