Orcan Dialogues

My book on Orcus is nearing completion and I have to say it’s been a really incredible journey, I am so very much looking forward to sharing this important discovery and its many insights with the astrological community. I have no hesitation in proclaiming my belief that Orcus is not a minor planet, indeed, I am firmly of the view that he is indeed as important as Pluto, albeit with a more impersonal focus. I realise that this is a bold claim, but in the many hundreds of nativities I have studied in my research for the book, there is no question that many fundamental aspects of character and life-orientation could simply have not been properly understood without the inclusion of Orcan principles. Indeed in many cases, the nativity is simply undecipherable without it; it is an understanding to astrology not unlike the Rosetta Stone was to Egyptology. I hope it does not come across as altogether too bold to say that some of the conclusions that I have arrived at are so startling that they will undoubtedly revolutionise the study of astrology, in much the same way as the evidence of Pluto did in the latter part of the 20th Century.

Of course, the writing of a work such as this has altered my priorities a great deal. I have struggled especially to keep up with correspondence (an occupational hazard at the best of times for a professional astrologer), and this journal has suffered most of all. I look forward to the day (in the not too distant future) when the book is published and I can get back to writing articles on this journal with greater regularity.

In order to minimise some of the fallout from the change in priorities I have created a Facebook page for this journal where I will be writing daily updates and insights and I hope to be able to communicate more directly with everyone. I would be delighted to see you there.

Orcus, Vulcanus, Saturn-Pluto and Edwina Currie

The brilliant, amazing, awesome Edwina

Back in the late 80s I lived a rather feral existence as a busking, itinerant astrologer (of sorts), and I hung with the hippies, bad companies, clattered haphazardly about the long, dusty summers and tried not to get too embroiled in life. They were the good old, bad old days. Unsurprisingly, in those days, I didn’t have much sympathy for the British Conservative Party in spite of its very illustrious origins, it being the oldest political party in the world, and boasting several luminaries in its historical membership, including its founder Robert Peel (who invented the police), and Winston Churchill, a man of many admirable qualities, but whom I like best for the fact that he would have an afternoon nap every day, in his pyjamas. Truth be told, I still don’t have much sympathy for the Tory way, but times have changed.

The low point for the Conservatives though has to be that collection of scoundrels, hypocrites, criminals, oppressors and narcissists that formulated the bulk of the party’s front bench under Margaret Thatcher, arch Sun-Pluto destroyer of the working class and nemesis of all things meaningful and spiritual. I say this in a considered tone, because in contemplation of the  Sun-Pluto archetype, the understanding remains that while you might be vociferously opposed to nuclear weapons you can still appreciate, with a measure of reverence and awe, their sheer destructive power; their apocalyptic, majestic, naked, irresistible force.

Unfortunately, Mrs Thatch became a poster child for some fairly unpleasant metamorphoses; like the reinvention of avarice. Suddenly, by having a non-materialistic viewpoint you became – almost overnight – a loser. The disciples of Thatcherism weren’t greedy, selfish, exploitative and base of course; they were pragmatic, right-thinking, clear-sighted winners.

Of course it was a manifesto tailored to perfection for an extremely narrow astrological phenomenon and it changed this country irrevocably. Ironically, but not remotely coincidentally, the star pupil of the Tao of Me was among the front ranks, sans brown shirt perhaps, but pronouncing the doctrines with all the fervour of a newly installed town-crier. Edwina Currie, born within weeks of the Saturn – Pluto conjunction in Leo is the most remarkable astrological specimen; rare only in the extremity of her conditioning, but for that reason, remarkable nonetheless.

Edwina Currie, politician, broadcaster, author, superwoman: 13 Oct 1946, 23:30, Liverpool England

I don’t want to wax too long and lyrical about this nativity, but here are a few intriguing pointers:

• Saturn conjunct Pluto rises in Leo, just look at that picture at the top, isn’t she just too scarily perfect? Pluto supercharges Saturn’s drive for status (Saturn rules Capricorn, it’s ambitious, it wants to be respected, it demands respect, God help you.) Leo needs to be royal, nothing common-or-garden here thank you very much: Saturn-Pluto rising has to be the most respected in all the land, everybody is inferior.
• If you are still unconvinced, read her self-penned bio. She has rubbed shoulders with the Beatles, US Presidents and a plethora of Nobel Laureates; it raises name-dropping to something approaching an art-form. And look how she’s the most successful person that ever lived! Remarkable, but that, of course is the point.
• The closest aspect in the nativity and ruler of the Midheaven – therefore the big career driver – is Mars square Pluto. Here’s a woman that’s no respecter of men’s personal space, she gets in close, engages in inappropriate intimacy with them and therein lies the source of her power and impetus to control. With this aspect ruling the Midheaven though, there’s no question who Ms. Currie works for: Number One! I told you she was top of the Thatcherite class.
• And that Saturn – Pluto conjunction is squared by a stellium of Mercury, Mars and Jupiter, all in the 4th house: here’s some unfinished business in the early family home all right, women weren’t valued, that’s her recollection no doubt, Mercury and Jupiter rule intercepted signs, that energy is lost in the 5th and 11th, giving and receiving love and attention was for the menfolk only, mother wasn’t valued (Moon opposed by Venus, 5th to 11th) and the Saturn – Pluto conjunction manifests the 5th (love me!) and the 6th (all day, every day!)
• Intriguingly, the closest aspect of all is a quincunx between Astraea (on the cusp of the 5th) and Hygeia (conjunct Hades) in Aries and the 10th. Here’s an intimation of a slow decline in health, a health issue that one doesn’t ever properly recover from, it leads to a deterioration, it has its basis in the past, a genetic condition perhaps.
• Hopi conjunct Black Moon Lilith: there’s judgment and prejudice at being the other woman (in Norma Major’s life).
• Saturn-Pluto is also conjunct Urania, and this is extremely important in the context of the Uranus-Vulcanus conjunction in Gemini. She really does have a brilliant mind, a genius for structure. It’s interesting generationally though because the conjunction of Uranus (individuation) with Vulcanus (invisible force or drive) in Gemini, suggests a real impetus toward being considered to be delightfully, intriguingly brilliant, cerebral, mentally switched on, versatile and adaptable. It is, in context with the Saturn – Pluto and Urania the hallmark of the cerebral competitor, one who is special (Uranus) for being a super-achiever (Saturn-Pluto) in many fields (Gemini).
• And finally, to Orcus. I have a big article on Orcus coming up (when I have five minutes) but suffice to say, Orcus creates serious consequences for those who break solemn oaths. Bill Clinton (whom Edwina met at University) also has Uranus conjunct Orcus (sudden retribution for breaking promises), it’s an aspect that hunts you down, but unexpectedly, the fall from grace can be swift and spectacular (especially with Vulcanus configured). This is exactly what happened to Edwina when she uttered her ill-fated remark about salmonella and eggs, it ended her career as a politician (and the same effect was evidenced with Bill Clinton of course). They were both hounded out of office.

So much more to say, so little time. I have nothing personally against Mrs Currie, of course, but her astrology is fascinating. It must be tough being her, exhausting, and I wish her every success, which of course is the lynchpin of her existence. As ever though, with Saturn – Pluto in Leo, and the group born in 1946 have it worst: having a terminator ego might be great in terms of worldly success, but the ordinary mortals who have to share their lives are usually left broken by it.

Orcus awakens: help!

Okay, my day is piling up with the synchronicities. I have been having a tough few days, maybe – arguably – a tough few weeks. I want everyone who reads this to understand though, that this is quite possibly more than just astro-vanity, it is quite possibly insightful.

Orcus in red, Pluto in green

I have spent some time looking at this intriguing diagram which describes something powerful and rather symmetrically beautiful about the orbits of Orcus and Pluto. For those who are not yet aware, Orcus is a planet, technically in contemporary parlance a plutoid, it is somewhat smaller than Pluto, but its orbital period is identical to Pluto (248 years) and it follows a near identical path around the ecliptic, though offset, it was discovered 74 years to the day after Pluto was discovered and it was named by those atrologically-phobic astronomers Orcus after the Roman name for Pluto, who was later known as Dis Pater. Inevitably it ought to have something to do with Pluto. There are several theories about this and I shall quote them to save you trawling about:

From Planet Waves, by Eric Frances: “ Sedgwick proposes that this planet can symbolize “a person of one’s word, [one who] challenges broken promises, is aligned with a spiritual creed, [and is] accountable for personal thought, word and deed.” On the more difficult side, he suggests, “hypocritical, fault finding in the ways of others, blame assigning, ducks responsibility for word and actions, unable to keep promises.”

Francesco Sciavinotto suggests that this planet is involved in the fight for survival. I would add that there is a feeling of the ethics that one would apply or adopt when faced with such a fight, and the psychological and emotional steps toward getting there .”

So, just what the world needs, actually just what I need with an overdose of Scorpio, more life and death stuff. But I wasn’t worried, even though I have been feeling strangely compelled to look at Orcus more seriously; it has been striking me quite forcefully of late that I ought to find out more about this subject.

Bear with me.

So next I read about Orcus on the excellent Karmastrology: but it is not helping me because as the author says: “I’ve been following Orcus in the charts of my clients for over a year now, and it’s not altogether obvious what’s going on either by natal position or by transit. Orcus is holding tight onto his secret. So far, the most significant observation I have is that there is no dramatic observation to be made as yet. This is particularly true with transits involving Orcus. They’re pretty quiet, at least amongst the people I’m seeing.“

Now, you know the rule that says if you want to understand a planetary energy, wait till it contacts Jupiter in your astrology and you’re away; well I was looking at the placement of Orcus in the heavens right now, and guess what? Yep, smack at a conjunction with my Jupiter.

This makes me want to weep quite frankly, because I am struggling like crazy after I helped two clients in a row who were struggling themselves from some problems very similar to my own issues and difficulties (astrologically as well as subjectively); but I had developed a method of putting the lid on things, but since I have – if you like – made contact with the energies of another person who is struggling with symmetrical themes, it is as if I have let the cat out of the bag and I am in turmoil. Actually I am really struggling, I thought it was all Neptune, but of course now I am not completely certain. My Jupiter is conjunct Venus, Pallas and Pars Fortuna in a tight stellium on Regulus, so it’s a real hotspot for me and Orcus grinding over it all has really brought it all bubbling up; I feel like I am going to fall apart/explode/sob uncontrollably, it is just awful.

I am trying to keep myself centred and I am consoling myself with the knowledge that at least I am getting a feel for Orcus, at first-hand, but it is not fun.

BUT, all that aside, Orcus is feeling pretty intense to me right now, am I the only one? Did I get it wrong? It’s not my wisdom, the Jupiter transit trick is tried and tested right?