years, staying in one sign an average of 7 years

Uranus travels from 0 degrees to 4 minutes a day, de­

pending on whether it is in retrograde or direct motion.

Figure 1 shows that my Uranus is in Aries in the 8th house. This position indicates that my death will be sud­

den. No lingering illnesses for me.

Because of aspects to my Sun, Pluto, and Moon, a great many other things are also indicated, which we will discuss later when we delve more deeply into chart inter­

pretation.

N E P T U N E

Neptune is the most difficult planet to describe be­

muse it rules anything that is difficult to pin down, define, i Inrify in specific terms.

Perhaps the best way to give you an idea of what Neptune is all about is to list some of the things it rules:

mysterious events, psychic matters, drugs, poisons, hos­

pitals, institutions, illusions, hypnosis, magic, fraud, i haos, comas, confusion, dreams, mystical matters, inde-i Ininde-ion, secrets, inde-illusinde-ive problems, extreme sensinde-itinde-ivinde-ity.

781 Astrology for Beginners

When Neptune is well aspected in a chart, it can sig­

nify great good fortune and protection that seems almost supernatural.

The Neptune influence on a person can bring great devotion or even the urge to martyrdom.

Persons with a strong Neptune in their chart often appear to be dreamy or to be frequently living in some other dimension.

The higher vibrations of Neptune are spiritual, psy­

chic, compassionate, understanding, self-sacrificing, and imaginative.

The lower vibrations of Neptune are feelings of pow-erlessness, sorrows, delusion, misplaced sympathies, and fraudulent conditions.

In general, Neptune functions more powerfully in Pi­

sces, Sagittarius, and Cancer.

In general, Neptune functions with more difficulty in Virgo, Gemini, and Capricorn.

In the other six signs (Aries, Taurus, Leo, Libra, Scor­

pio, and Aquarius), it seems to hit a happy medium be­

tween easy and difficult.

Neptunian types tend to be: psychic, idealistic,

crea-• rive, sensitive, impressionable, musical.

Some positive characteristics of Neptune's influence are: mystic experiences, especially clairvoyance; inspira­

tion, genius, devotion, reverence.

Some negative Neptune characteristics are: self-indulgence, chaotic events, immorality, negativity, black magic, delusion.

Neptune rules Pisces. It also rules feet and toes, toxic conditions, leakage (especially water), malformations, anything that is difficult to pin down.

Neptune moves through all twelve zodiac signs in approximately 165 years, staying in one sign approxi­

mately 14 years.

The Planets / 79 Neptune travels from 0 degrees to 3 minutes a day, depending on whether it is in retrograde or direct motion.

Figure 1 shows that my Neptune is in Leo in the 1st house. This is an extremely powerful placement in my chart, and we will discuss it in length later.

For now, make note that Neptune rules hypnosis, and the first house rules the person's body, character, and personality. Here are a couple facts about me: I am a certi­

fied hypnotherapist and have written two books about hypnosis.

See the connection?

P L U T O

The announcement of Pluto's discovery was made on March 12,1930. There is much about Pluto that is not yet known or certain simply because there has not been NUindent time to study it. All the other planets have had hundreds of years of study. It takes Pluto 248 years to I ravel through all twelve zodiac signs. At this writing, we h.ive only been able to study and observe it through the last half of Cancer, all through Leo, Virgo, and Libra, and through the early degrees of Scorpio. What docs seem evi­

dent is that the sign Pluto affects entire generations of peo­

ple and is not specifically significant in individual natal i harts.

However, the house placement and the aspects it makes with other planets are quite significant in individ­

ual natal charts. Pluto, like Uranus and Neptune, can at-l ract psychic experiences when strongat-ly at-linked with other planets.

A very strong Pluto in a chart generally indicates an outstanding person. This person will most likely be a non-nmformist who brings new developments into the world.

It can also indicate great amounts of money and power

be-hind the scenes for the person.

Pluto is the great transformer. It breaks down the old, and replaces it with the new. Pluto is associated with the most drastic changes, forced conditions, mass move­

ments.

In mythology, Pluto ruled the underworld and was the first kidnapper. It was discovered in the thirties when kidnapping ran rampant (e.g., the Lindberg kidnapping), when crime, gangsters, and racketeering (Al Capone) flourished, and the "underworld" became very powerful.

Also dictators (Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin and others) emerged into world prominence. Pluto rules all of these things.

Labor strikes involving masses of people also fall un­

der the domain of Pluto. Mass production in industry, also. The list of these sorts of things is quite extensive.

Pluto is no small-time influence.

On a more personal basis, Pluto rules work behind the scenes or in isolation, death and disappearances, re­

tirement, urge to tear down and rebuild, influences sexual behavior, and secret obsessions.

In general, Pluto functions more powerfully in Scor­

pio and Aquarius. In general, Pluto functions with more difficulty in Taurus and Leo.

In the remaining eight signs not enough is known to make knowledgeable statements about Pluto's function­

ing with regard to easy or difficult.

Some basic Pluto characteristics are: extrasensory perception, forcefulness, intensity, restructuring.

Some positive Pluto characteristics are: spirituality, transformation and revitalization, positive clairvoyance.

Some negative Pluto characteristics are: destruction, fanaticism, anarchy, atrocities.

Pluto rules Scorpio. It also rules the reproductive or­

gans, rectum, obsessions, deep-seated problems, the

pros-tate gland, and allergies.

Pluto moves through all twelve zodiac signs in ap­

proximately 248 years, staying in one sign from 14 to 30 years.

Pluto travels from 0 degrees to 3 minutes a day, de­

pending on whether it is in retrograde or direct motion.

Figure 1 shows that my Pluto is in Cancer in the 11th house. This house placement shows that I will deal with masses of people, which is exactly what I do as an author of books.

N O D E S O F T H E M O O N

The nodes of the Moon are not planets. There is a north node and a south node; they are calculated points in fipace based on the Moon's position. The position of the north node is indicated in the Ephemeris (refer to figure 3 lo refresh your recollection). The south node is always ex­

actly opposite the north node. The nodes are always in ret­

rograde motion.

We have a solar eclipse when both the Sun and Moon are exactly conjunct either of the nodes. We have a lunar eclipse when the Sun and Moon are in exact opposition and accompanied by the nodes.

The reason I include the nodes in this chapter on planets is because their influence can be interpreted as though they were planets. In my opinion, it is a minor in-Ihience and I usually do not bother to interpret them in a natal analysis unless the chart is so lacking in major as­

pects that 1 need to use all I can get. Other astrologers might disagree with my stance. When you start doing your own chart interpretations, use your own judgement.

Traditionally, the north node is viewed to have an in¬

I hiencc somewhat like that of the planet Jupiter. The south node is viewed to be somewhat like Saturn.

821 Astrology for Beginners

The north node in a chart represents the area where development of new talents should be directed.

The south node in a chart represents talents already developed. My north node is in Taurus in my 9th house conjunct my midheaven, and my south node is in Scorpio conjunct my nadir (refer to figure 1). 1 would interpret this to mean that 1 should concentrate on earning money (Tau­

rus) in publishing (9th house) because my writing ability (3rd house) is already developed. I should write about oc­

cult matters (Scorpio) which I already know. This, in fact, is exactly what I now do.

The nodes seem to have some association with the subconscious mind. Some astrologers regard the nodes to be karmic points or fated conditions. In experience, I have not encountered any evidence from which to draw my own conclusion about this karmic or fated aspect.

I try to keep an open mind, and I urge you to do the same. Enough said about the nodes.

P A R T O F F O R T U N E

Like the nodes, the Part of Fortune is not a planet; it is a calculated point in space that can be interpreted as though it were a planet.

The .Part of Fortune is said to be a lucky point.

If you will look at figure 1 near the bottom center you will see: PART O F F O R T U N E = 25CN11, which is the loca­

tion of my Part of Fortune.

When I study the cosmic events in my life associated