At the Lodge - 28th April 2003

Lodge Lecture | Charts Discussion

Lodge Lecture

Claire Simms started the new term with a bang! Her lecture, entitled Toys of the Cosmos, set the scene for what promises to be a good summer at the Lodge, which will end on its final day with a party.

Her lecture posed more questions than gave answers. Do we control our own fate? Are we pawns of the Gods? Can we make a difference? Do the tides history pick up individuals to play parts which are already cast? Do extraordinary individuals have a chance to make a difference? According to Claire we forget that the chart for the moment of our birth is not our exclusive property and that the chart contains potentials greater than one human lifetime. It seems that the outer planets play a very large part in all of this. Who makes history or does history make us? Do great men/women appear when the time is right? Do people with close outer planet aspects have a destined or fated life? As we know astrology is all to do with cycles. Astrology is the study of time. So our chart is part of the steam of time.

She then went on to analyse the cycles of Saturn/Pluto as in the charts of Israel, India, Pakistan and the UN. It is important to look for the last time the transit occurred and the last phase of the cycle, 1993 for a square, 1983 for conjunction. 1993 Sharon was Defence Minister. 1983, invasion of Lebanon. Echoes across time. Longer cycles map out significant periods of history, shorter cycles intermingle with these adding emphasis.

Planetary cycles go from conjunction to conjunction. Long term-outer planets to each other, Medium term - outers with Saturn, short/medium term - Jupiter with outers. The inner planets punctuate these cycles. Mars/Pluto particularly can track terrorist activity. She then went on to look at Neptune/Pluto - so many dates and historical moments. Then the Neptune/Uranus cycle. The last conjunction was in 1993, prior to that in 1821. The concoction of these two planets brought about the development of science. Claire then went through everything that came into being from 1821 to the present day taking in in particular the work of Marie Curie, Robert Oppenheimer during this important cycle (see the data page for her details).

Claire Simms is the current President of the Lodge. She is a Member of the Faculty of Astrological Studies and has is certified by Continuum, the Jim Lewis Foundation as a practitioner of Astro*Carto*Graphy. She has studied Horary Astrology with Olivia Barclay and has recently started the DMA with Robert Zoller. More details can be found on her website

Carole West

Charts Discussion

The first of the Summer Term, and Venus was trining Jupiter (or going to at 3.29 GMT 29th April) So I felt we should have an evening that aptly symbolised the luckiest and jolliest of aspects.

Firstly Mavis Klein represented a chart of a person who she believes should have been more famous than he was. We had to try a guess what who he was, or what he had done. We knew he had made something that was of great convenience. Especially to Londoners and tourists alike. Perplexed, mystified. Well it was the man who invented and produced the Tube map of the London Underground. His name was Harry Beck. Although there was a plaque at Finchley Station, he did not warrant an obituary in the Times. He was paid the princely sum of five guineas for his trouble. You have all sorts of charts at the Lodge.

I, then, in true Venus in Leo fashion, showed charts of four Hollywood Greats and asked the audience to guess their personalities, and what was it in their charts that made them so famous.

The first was that of George Clooney. Here was the chart of a man voted the sexiest man alive. Leo rising, with Uranus on the ascendant shows his love of his freedom and independence. Mavis looked at the Moon conjunct Jupiter in 6th house in Aquarius and stated that he would make a good comedian. This was very apt as his most recent film release 'Welcome to Collinwood' is a comedy and has had very good reviews. In the clips I have seen, gorgeous George is very funny. His Sun, in Taurus, in the 10th house is on the midpoint of his Ascendant/Descendant which Claire Simms, our President, pointed out is indicative of success.

His Mars in Leo, showed an interest in sport, as Lois Blake our Vice President pointed out and in his biography we had it stated that early on he could have made a career in baseball. Lois stated this before I revealed who he was and before I read the biography so well done Lois! George's Venus is unaspected in the 9th House in Aries (so coming to a Venus return shortly) This Venus is weak which, can or cannot be surprising with his reputation with partnerships. However as it was well spotted Saturn will station at 12 deg Cancer this year in square to his Venus and it was predicted he would not be happy this time in his love life. All together now, I can hear you men say AHHHHH.

Next chart presented was that of Old Blue Eyes himself, Frank Sinatra, and I was duly tickled as Les pointed out, on seeing Neptune on the Midheaven and Jupiter in Pisces in the 5th house, and Moon in Pisces - 'this man was known for his drinking capabilities!!!' (Remember the Rat Pack and the legend of Las Vegas.) This would also have shown, of course, his creative ability in the music sphere (a bit of an understatement). Libra rising, yes he was attractive. Sun in Sagittarius, gave him the relaxed personality, albeit in charge. Saturn opposition to Venus, both in weak signs may have presented itself in his cool confidence on stage. The original Mr Cool. Again I went through his biography and we looked more in depth at the chart.

Next on the agenda was quite a different Hollywood great. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Conan the Barbarian and The Terminator. To everyone's surprise this man has Cancer rising, and Mercury is on his Ascendant, remember 'I'll be back!!! His was the only chart whose biography I could not find on the Internet, so I had to rely on the audience for what they knew, his finances, Planet Hollywood, his political aspirations. Well his interest in food has to be Cancer on the ascendant with Venus in the first house. The chart showed his shrewdness with money. Saturn/Pluto in the second in Leo, focused, transformative, manipulative, this would also show his interest in politics. Part of Fortune in the 8th house shows luck with investments etc. that he certainly has had. Moon in Capricorn in 6th house shows his focus and hard work. But what shows his body, if not the ascendant? Ascendant trining Jupiter in the 5th house, this perfectly shows his bodybuilding and his physique. Saturn is now moving forward from the Mars/Uranus conjunction in Gemini so the lull in his career may finally be over.

Finally I showed the chart of Sean Connery who everyone guessed very quickly. Superstar, Scottish, famous for one particular personality. Had to be him really (sorry to all the other Scottish actors). The first thing you see is that Ascendant, 6 deg Capricorn with Saturn conjunct. He was described as very serious, (OK before the audience knew who, he was the word was dour) Moon conjunct Mercury in Virgo - that voice, perfection. Situated in the 8th house he is well known for his thrifty attitude. I love the Sun/Neptune conjunction in the 7th house in Virgo - the conjunction for acting especially in the movies and others (7th house) enjoying it. It would also show a loving, caring marriage. Part of fortune in the first house, he is his own fortune, a lucky life through hard work. Mars in his 6th house shows the drive at work. I think the main comment was this amazing actor with his lovely voice has played a Spaniard (Highlander) An Arab (The Wind and the Lion) An Irish cop (The Untouchables, for which he won an Oscar) A Russian (The Hunt for Red October) King Arthur (First Knight) Robin Hood (Robin and Marion)- all with a Scottish ascent. It was stated that that this is truly the sign of great presence on the screen when you can make people believe and enjoy your performance. Oh yes, and he played King Richard the Lionheart, who was King of England who had a French ascent and spent only 6th months in England during his reign. (So OK we will let that one go) I believe this is shown as both of the lights are in Virgo, so are ruled by Mercury the planet of communication, of the voice.

It was over all too quickly. Venus trine Jupiter had shone down upon us and everyone appeared to have enjoyed the evening and we continued to enjoy these auspices down the pub.

Gill Dorren

Lodge Lecture | Charts Discussion