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A Word from the President - Autumn 2007 |
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| Writers' Guidelines | Archives | Articles | Book Reviews | Word from the President There are several notices which I need to update everyone on. The first is to report the death of Archie Affleck Graves, shown to the right. Archie, a regular to the Monday meetings, died on 2 November 2007. He had been battling motor neurone disease. He also worked as a Blue Badge tour guide and his website is being maintained in his memory: www.archiesguidedtours.com. If anyone would like to write something there is a contact email on the site. I would like to quote from the site as it seems to say what I feel:
Good night Archie. My second parish notice is to remind you that we now have a PO Box as our postal address. We decided to adopt this for two main reasons. First, we were unsure if some of our post was being mislaid. Having everything go through one address which is accessed separately. Second, we are able to pick up our post during the holidays. Collecting post from Gloucester Place was a bit of a trek. The address is:
Third notice is to remind you that UAC—United Astrology Congress—the massive American conference will be taking place in May. This is a joint conference hosted by NCGR, ISAR, AFAN and CVA. You can find the full details on their website: www.uacastrology.com. Several “Lodge astrologers” will be speaking: myself, Kim Farnell, Deborah Houlding and Nicholas Campion, and other friends of the Lodge who will be speaking include: Roy Gillett, Darby Costello, Melanie Reinhart and Branka Stamenkovic. UAC only happens every few years as it is a major organisational undertaking and brings speakers and attendees from all corners of the globe. To make this as inclusive as possible the steering committee have granted us some financial aid packages. Details are as follows:
You will still need to pay for your flights and accommodation. This offer is open to members who think they merit assistance only. Applications should be made by 21 March to Claire. Applications must be processed by 15 April. I look forward to hearing from you. My fourth announcement concerns the annual History of Astrology Conference. This will be the 25th conference/seminar and to celebrate we will be expanding over the whole weekend. As always, it will be on the last weekend in October and we are in the final stages of confirming the venue. As we have had so many comments that the TS is not really big enough to accommodate the number who now attend we are investigating other suitable places. We’ll keep you up to date with progress through the website and through Astrology Quarterly. Please keep this weekend free as we have some very special speakers lined up. Issue number five bring us to the Sophia Centre. The Sophia Centre was established at Bath Spa University College in 2002 but has now secured a move to Lampeter College, part of the University of Wales. Staff took up positions in Autumn 2007 and the first intake of MA students will take place in Spring 2008. This is great news as Nicholas Campion and everyone involved with the Sophia Project have worked extremely hard to secure the future of the Sophia Centre.
Inner Wheel It is interesting to see the move reflected in the astrology. The progressed Moon, which is natally conjunct Uranus, is now making an exact sextile to progressed Uranus and transiting Mars is exactly sextile to it on the other side and exactly trine to Uranus. This shows a healthy energy, kicking away from old baggage and looking forward to the new. The course will be delivered using state of the art distance learning techniques. This removes the need to travel to a particular place and opens up the possibility of study to anyone who can make a connection with Lampeter. The scope for guest lecturers is mouth watering. Other positive connections are the movement of Pluto into Capricorn on the 9th cusp and the movement of Jupiter towards the MC and the fact that it will station at 22 Capricorn later in the year which is conjunct the progressed MC. I thought for a while that the Sophia Project—the aim of getting astrology into UK universities—was a peculiar product of Pluto in Sagittarius. The idea was born in the late 1990’s and looked as if it would not go much further but these ninth house transits give hope for the future and an indication of something really special taking place. The Sophia Centre has held annual postgraduate research conference and the details of their third are as follows: The Sophia Centre for the Study of Cosmology in Culture 3RD POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH CONFERENCE
2008 brings us to a double anniversary year. Two of the Lodge’s “offspring” have “big” birthdays this year. The Faculty of Astrological Studies will be 60 and the Astrological Association will be 50 and will host their 40th conference in September. Interestingly these are both Gemini organisations. Perhaps you can have too much Capricorn? Both of these organisations have had their share of Pluto transits over the past few years and both have put their houses in order admirably. I take comfort in this as the Lodge is next in line for the firing squad but more of that in a while.
Inner Wheel The AA have not quite completed their Pluto story as he dips back into the end degrees of Sagittarius which brings him into opposition with their Sun for one last time. By the end of 2008 Pluto will be in Capricorn to stay. The Sun is both the identity of the organisation and their leader. Final changes to the essence of the organisation will make themselves felt and it is fitting that their conference in September is a truly international affair.
Inner Wheel The Faculty have their MC at 28 Virgo so will also receive the last touch of Pluto but they also have a Saturn story going on. Transiting Saturn is square their Asc/Des at the time of their birthday and it also stationed on their Mars in December. Given the comprehensive overview that the Faculty has been given I’m quite positive about this Saturn transit. It speaks of—especially as Mars is involved—of direction and purpose. The Faculty continue to keep the standard of astrological education extremely high. They keep the rest of us on our toes. So we’ve talked about our sister organisations but where is the Lodge at the moment? Those of you who know a little of our chart will remember the pile of early Cancer and think of Pluto’s opposition with dread. There is also a deeper story. There are also significant progressions unfolding: our progressed Sun is square itself. This is a major event which we don’t get to observe very often and will almost certainly bring significant changes within the identify and public face of the Lodge. Alongside this is progressed Jupiter is trine the natal Sun and progressed Moon is conjunct the ascendant. Casting your eye around bring the conjunction of progressed Uranus and progressed MC, transiting Saturn square natal Mars and transiting Uranus trine natal Sun.
Inner Wheel These are all indicative of deep change but with great promise. The changes I’ve made since being president were intended to put the Lodge in a position where its underlying administrative systems were in as robust a condition as possible. I’ve tried to make the tasks we all do as independent of the people who do them as possible. When I took over I knew that there were big changes ahead but had no idea how they would play out. I have no doubt that the Lodge will survive, you don’t get this far without building up momentum independent of the people involved. We have ideas which we’re investigating which we think you’ll like and enjoy. We hope they’re not too radical but what’s that Uranus conjunct the North Node if not radical? We always need people to help but you don’t need to make a huge time commitment to make a difference. Volunteering to make tea and wash up on a Monday takes the pressure off the committee who have already put in a significant amount of time and effort. Joyce is unable to continue as secretary and Membership Secretary past September so I’m putting out the call for organised volunteers who might be able to help. It would make sense for a new Membership Secretary to get involved with this year’s renewals so they would start getting involved in June/July. I know my perfect admin people are out there, please let me know if you’d like to help out and make a direct contribution to the Lodge. Writers' Guidelines | Archives | Articles | Book Reviews | Word from the President |
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Archie
will be much missed by the committee. I found him a constant source of
support and honest feedback. I know other members of the committee feel
the same.
