At the Lodge - 3 March 2003

Lodge Lecture | Members' Classes | Charts Discussion

Lodge Lecture

Cat Cox took us on a journey through The Twelve Gates of Heaven, and what a trip it was! The Western mystical and astrological tradition run alongside each other and our horoscopes are really maps for the journey of our soul. A beautiful 15th century woodcut showed the planetary spheres, through which the soul descends and ascends from the divine into the material and back.

Cat illustrated how the twelve gates of heaven, symbolising the twelve signs of the zodiac, appear not only in Judaeo-Christian scriptures, but are described in religious mythologies the world over. She also explained the hierarchy of the elements, i.e. fire being closest to the spiritual realm, followed by air, water and earth. The solstice points traditionally form the entrance/exit to and from the earthly sphere. The southern gate (Cancer) is the doorway of the gods, the northern gate (Capricorn) is reserved for humans.

These gates are also mirrored in the sacred architecture of the great Christian cathedrals, where the south gate is open to the descending soul coming into material existence, while the north gate leads the ascending soul back to the sphere behind the stars. And finally, Cat took us on a tour through the zodiac, showing how each sign, in its own way, reflects and expresses part of the divine. Thanks for reminding us!'

Helene Schnitzer

Cat Cox has been an astrologer for 20 years. She has a Diploma from the Faculty of Astrological Studies and is a member of the APA and the AA. She began with an interest in psychological astrology and eventually moved into more traditional astrology in the western field. She also has an interest in spirituality. Cat is a part time astrologer and runs her own courses.

Members' Classes

Richard Swatton presented us with his second class, this week focusing mainly on the Sun and Saturn. We were asked to look at what the planet does for us psychologically. The Sun makes things grow It represents needs and urges and the present moment in time. Whatever the need will lead us into action. Paul was interested in his unaspected Sun. Richard explained that unaspected planets seem to meander around. It is difficult to define a person with an unaspected Sun. They can be a bit disconnected. Depends also on the house position. The path of the Sun is the path of yourself. The Sun is your central control pattern. All aspects to the Sun need to be integrated into your life. For example the sun in Aries can mean to get things moving - needs to make a mark. He then put up a list of words and statements relating to the Sun, leading with the ego, purpose, drive to become oneself etc. and the image and the character of the Sun.

Then we moved on to Saturn and all that we know of Saturn, earthly reality in incarnation, limitation, restriction etc., the image of Chronos, the Grim Reaper, wise, grumpy old man, the boundaries of the ego and of the body, skin and bone.

Finally we looked at the Sun opposition Saturn. I knew what that meant, I have this aspect in my chart and although it is not exact I have lived with not getting my own way throughout my life. Having the Sun in Sagittarius in the 10th house, ruled by Jupiter and always aspiring to a life in the public eye and travelling the world - and Saturn in the fourth house of home and finding that home and family always got in the way of big success and achieving the dreams. Because Saturn is the teacher I have had to learn to love my family and accept that my responsibilities lie with them - but I can still dream.

Carole West

Charts Discussion

Another lively debate tonight with:

Mr Robbie Williams, we decided has a twofold personality. The face he shows to the world is that of one who loves to be the centre of attention, Leo rising of course and with Sun conjoining Jupiter, the excess, the wealth, the optimism, the grandness of everything. He has a T square with Moon / Mars/ Sun/ Jupiter in fixed signs, this shows the troubles he has dealing with the fame, especially emotionally, Moon in Scorpio, which shows secretiveness and not showing all he feels. He gets easily hurt; bless.

However he has a grand trine with Sun/Jupiter - Saturn - Uranus in the air signs and as Mavis Klein always advises us at the Lodge, the problems with a T square can be easily worked out with a grand trine giving a person a most interesting Life and he has certainly got that at present. Sun Trining the Saturn shows his focus, hard work and I believe his chart shows staying power. I think he will be around a long time.

Elijah Wood (alias Frodo) has again a Sun trine Saturn which again shows focus and a hardworking person. Capricorn is rising with Venus on the ascendant. Now I always thought Capricorn rising people were tall, thin and very serious looking, sanguine-featured etc. This man plays an elf like creature, is 5'6 I have on good authority and has such a lovely kind face. So Venus has had a strong influence here. Again like Robbie Williams his Moon is in Scorpio, showing a secretive nature, he does not reveal all of himself emotionally. Mars/Mercury conjunction in Aquarius in the first house shows a dramatic way with words and they have such a wonderful trine with Pluto.

Speaking of Pluto this will soon begin to transit his Neptune in the lucky 11th House - watch out for the big epic film, which really makes him a Star. This also sextiles that Mars/Mercury conjunction. There are rumours that the final film in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy will be the best of all, with that transit I have no doubt it will be the best film for him.

Finally, Sir Isaac Newton as there had been a TV documentary on BBC2 the previous weekend. The programme described at length his alchemical studies, which he laboured for 30 years. Scientists seem to ignore this part of the great man's life. The programme also detailed his strong religious convictions, which bordered on the heretical. (He did not believe in the Holy Trinity, although he studied at Trinity College Cambridge!!!) Scorpio rising indicates a man who is secretive. (We did have a lot of this tonight with the other 2 having Moon in Scorpio) Scorpio rising (personal experience here as I have it myself) can also show someone who can be easily hurt, a bit of a loner but also tenacious with great survival instincts which he needed as he did have heretic beliefs.

Also at one point he was suppose to go into Holy Orders at Cambridge and he asked the then, King Charles 2nd, to be exempt from this and it was granted! Which was a surprise for the times he lived in. He has Uranus in the first house, and the narrator did indicate that he was odd, however this makes a wonderful trine with his Jupiter/Saturn trine Pisces, in the creative 5th house, and this I believe shows his interest in alchemy and his work to discover the secrets of God and creation which indeed drove him. Well it is said it is not the destination but the journey which is important and in this man's drive to understand the Cosmos, his discoveries changed the World.

Not political this week but the way things are going I believe there will much discussion in the weeks ahead regarding Tony Blair, George Bush Junior etc. Next week is very special - Uranus enters Pisces on Monday 10th March at 20.52 and we will be there at charts discussion to herald its arrival. What great timing - Thank you Uranus. Click here for data.

Gill Dorren

Lodge Lecture | Members' Classes | Charts Discussion