‘…All of the remarks here are 14 years old, so I don’t know if you still exist… I was in effect asked that headline question today, via this morning’s comment on an archived blog post from July 2008. Rather apt, Saturn’s currently being opposite where he was when I set up Writing from the Twelfth House in May 2008. I do not know who Fhyre Phoenix is, but their question certainly jolted me. One, because I am the only other person who has ever asked me that question! ( …and not infrequently, to be honest: see answer above…). Two, because I was so moved by the life circumstances implied by the co ..read more

Next to Twins, one of the most popular questions for beginners learning astrology centres on the – at times – hotly-contested question of House Systems. Here are my thoughts… Sooner or later, it dawns on the student or budding astrologer that the method of dividing the inner space in a horoscope into twelve sectors or spheres of life, known as Houses, poses some problems. The Astrological Houses Firstly, since there are a number of different house systems – click HERE for more detail on this – which should you choose? Secondly, to a varying degree depending on your chart, plane ..read more

In her 2014 book “Cosmos, Chaosmos and Astrology”, a rethinking of the nature of astrology, Dr Bernadette Brady makes the following point: ‘…the real result of …eighty years of research into the possibility of astrology being a science is the evidence that it is not…’ (p 69) Well – what is it then? In this wide-ranging discussion, Victor Olliver and Anne Whitaker discuss that very question with fellow astrologer, Ana Isabel. 100 words ©Anne Whitaker /Victor Olliver/Ana Isabel ..read more

Yesterday, 60 year old John Swinney was sworn in as Scotland’s seventh First Minister: twenty five years since the establishing of a Scottish Parliament in May 1999 for the first time since 1707. No doubt in days and weeks to come, there will be much speculation re how events in Scotland are going to unfold under its new leader, and Swinney’s horoscope will appear to be duly commented upon. However, in this post I am confining myself to an analysis of Scotland’s chart – and the few comments, prescient as it has turned out, which I made following the Scottish Parliament’s inauguration in 1999 ..read more

More of that in a moment. In the meantime…Well, another book is on the way, it seems…this time, as transiting Neptune squares my tenth house Mars/Uranus conjunction and Pluto begins a very long opposition to a twelfth house stellium of planets in Leo. Not to mention the 10th house progressed Moon in Gemini ( well, I just have!…). And Jupiter/Uranus squaring the twelfth house Sun… Not without trepidation, I appear to be returning to explore and describe what can best be described as a ‘night sea journey’: ie the long and very frightening opposition Neptune made to that Leo Stellium during his 1 ..read more

I really enjoyed this conversation with Ana Isabel! We delved into the depths of what the relationships are between psychological complexes, Fate, free will – and explored how working with the insights offered by in-depth psychological astrology – here, as practised and taught by Dr Liz Greene – can help us to make positive conscious choices in how we live our lives as constructively as possible. Says Ana: “In this conversation with Anne Whitaker, we discuss how we can break free from generational complexes as we discuss Liz Greene’s book, The Horoscope In Manifestation.” And – many thanks ..read more

To mark this Fest, I thought I’d put together a list of ten quality in-depth posts, events and interviews by leading astrologers and organisations, compiled over the last few weeks as excitement and anticipation builds re what this new 14 year Jupiter/ Uranus cycle may bring. Immerse yourselves – and when you surface, feel free to leave comments on your impressions and personal experiences of any dimension of this exciting, challenging, disturbing and liberating planetary conjunction as it continues with its ancient symbolic task of seeing no limits – challenging old frontiers and re ..read more

We really had a good time at The Yoga Extension in Glasgow on 10th February 2024: I offered an open Questions and Answers session on Astrology – taking enquirers way beyond the popular Sun Signs – and was really impressed with the range and depth of the questions as well as with attendees open-minded attitudes. The Big Why? I told those present that I had had the typical astro-dismissers attitude ie willingness to rubbish a subject with a 6000 year old pedigree from a standpoint of little or no actual knowledge – until I encountered an astrologer in a launderette (in Bath, England, of all pla ..read more

Total solar eclipses really get people going: the internet is currently awash with opinion and prediction as well as stunning images from the recent eclipse. This ranges from the pragmatism of pointing out that (as with all astro-events), the potential for shadow and light co-exists, to outright doom-mongering. This 19 Aries solar eclipse – which was exact at 18.21 GMT on 8th April 2024 – is no exception. Given its line up with the North Node, Chiron and Eris all in Aries at a time in the world which no-one could describe as peaceful and harmonious, one can understand why. However, we have be ..read more

Excitement is now building as we approach a major symbolic event in the astrological calendar: the most exciting, disruptive, dynamic planetary conjunction of the whole pantheon: the meeting of Jupiter and Uranus. As we advance towards the conjunction on 21st April 2024, Jupiter/Uranus is now preparing to settle into a new 14-year cycle, continuing with its ancient symbolic task of seeing no limits as it challenges old frontiers and reveals startling new vistas of experience and discovery.  As a human community, we are beginning a new voyage into the Unknown. Comfort and securit ..read more