This recent consultation I did is such a wonderful example of the deep wisdom, clear guidance and beautiful poetry of using astrology as divination. A perfect blending of technical craft with mystical art that has very grounded, real world use. A combination my Virgo Sun and Piscean Jupiter loves!
Whenever I reflect on how it is possible that the planetary positions at the moment of asking a question can so precisely describe the situation in a person’s life I am always left awestruck, dumbfounded and with the recognition that the intelligence of life operates in a manner far beyond anything I could ever hope to understand. A deep understanding of horary will shatter even seasoned astrologers understanding of what astrology is, and how it works.
One of the common understandings of astrology is as a kind of ‘cosmic clock’, describing the changing flow of energetic signatures and expressions through time. It is this. But this is only a fragment of the power of astrology. This idea is still linked to a sense of linear time. A deep relationship with horary astrology has the potential to shatter that notion, and leave one in direct communion with the Great Mystery, beyond all concepts of cause and effect, rhyme and reason, past and future. For me astrology, like poetry, is a language of the Soul, and it speaks in ways that the human mind simply cannot fathom, but that is felt and experienced as profoundly true.
Question: Should I Keep Working With My Craniosacral Practitioner?
(shared with client’s permission)
The querent had been working with a craniosacral practitioner for some time, but was doubting whether it was in their best interests to continue with them, and so asked this question. The issue was that, while good at the actual bodywork, there had been several unhelpful incidents in their communication at the beginning of the sessions. 1) The client was sharing what had been going on for them in order to a) assist the cranio practitioner in their bodywork, and b) simply to be heard, met and acknowledged with regards to the deep emotional process they were in the midst of.
The problem was that rather than just listening, the practitioner was apt to offer advice, opinions or tell the client things that they already knew. The client was in an on-going very sensitive emotional place, dealing with deep parental wounds and the practitioner’s behaviour was very reminiscent of the client’s mother, adding to the triggering. The practitioner had also in the past been quite confrontational – when the client had expressed that their advice had triggered anxiety, the practitioner responded by explaining why they had offered advice, rather than acknowledging the impact on the client, and made the whole situation even worse. So a session that was about feeling safety, trust and letting go, had started to bring up a lot of anxiety and irritation.
The querent wasn’t sure whether this could actually be beneficial in helping to work through deep mother issues, or if it would hinder their healing journey, and so this question was asked.
Unlike many horaries, this one is relatively straight forward, with the symbolism rich and the answer clear.
Libra is rising, fitting for a question about a relationship, and the querent, as always the ruler of the ascendant, is Venus in Leo in 10th. Venus’ previous aspect was a square to Jupiter, in 7th and ruler of 3rd. So the question came out of communication problems (3rd house, square) with another person (7th)…
The quesited (that which is being asked about) is Mars, also in Leo in 10th. The quesited is Mars since the question is about the practitioner – and so is a 7th house question (‘the other’), which has Aries on the cusp.
The Moon, which very often sums up the whole situation, is in Gemini in 8th. The crux of the matter is communication (Gemini) about deep emotions and wounds (8th). So the chart is radical – i.e. symbolically fitting. 2) Further radicality is shown by the practitioner being in the 10th house – the querent’s mother – symbolically describing how she is playing out this dynamic. And also Chiron being right on the Descendant indicates how the practitioner has triggered the querent’s wounds.
So, to get a ‘yes’ answer, we need to see a coming together of significators (Moon to Venus or Mars, or Venus to Mars) by harmonious aspect (conjunct, sextile or trine). The Moon’s next aspect is a square to Saturn – a ‘bad’ aspect to a malefic. That is generally about as clear and strong a ‘no’ as you can get in a horary. Further to this, as ruler of the 4th, Saturn is symbolic of the end of the matter. There is no getting beyond cold, hard Saturn, which blocks any benefit to the querent in the matter at hand.
Saturn by nature also represents craniosacral, with its link to bones (cranium and sacral), and so this is a specific ‘no’ to this work with this practitioner (it’s important to remember that the symbolism of the chart is relevant only to the specific question being asked – it is not saying ‘no’ to cranio treatments in general, since that was not the scope of the question).
Venus, by virtue of being closer to the Sun, usually moves faster than Mars, and so it does appear that these 2 planets will conjoin in the near future, suggesting the potential to bring the relationship back into harmony.
And the client attempted to move back towards the practitioner by clearly stating in an email their need to simply be listened to without comment. However the practitioner is Mars in Leo – fiery, confrontational and unable to take in the client’s perceptive. This description was shown to be accurate a few days after asking the horary by the response to the email, which once again left the client feeling unheard and unmet.
This unfolding is shown in the chart by the fact that Venus is soon to turn retrograde, and hence the conjunction doesn’t perfect. Another very clear expression of ‘No’ to the question asked.
This is symbolic of the client turning away from the practitioner following the email exchange.
And one last thing to note: other than Saturn in Pisces, there is no water in the chart. Which shows a lack of empathy, compassion and emotional sensitivity in this relationship, the main thing that the client needs.
