Varuna 2 wrote:
Bobby Fischer, a brilliant chess player had a Mercury conjunct ketu. In his case the intellect was distorted and magnified by ketu, but his ability for Mercury to act, certainly wasn't diminished by the south lunar node.
Actually, notions of both the nodes sharpening the mind in connection with Mercury are found in western traditional astrology too.
"Fifthly, when he (Mercury) is not afflicted, especially of Mars, but is well placed, and in an airy sign, especially Aquarius, and with North Node or South Node, he renders most acute and witty men, and good linguists, speaking many languages..." (Christian astrology, William Lilly p.545)
In Fischer's chart Mercury is at 27 Aquarius!
Fischer's Mother is reputed to have understood numerous languages ( accounts vary from 6-9) And Fischer himself was possibly one of the first American chess players to study Russian chess magazines. Remarkably, he was doing this in his teens!
Yes the nodes in connection with Mercury do seem to accentuate the mind , but don't forget all the fortunate prerequisites to the aphorism quoted above. I am sure that any indications of affliction would be exaggerated by the presence of the nodes too.
Looking at Fisher's life his brilliance was undeniable but it clearly brought him no peace or contentment. His mental health issues, and bizarre anti-semitism (his Mother was Jewish!) dont indicate a blessed Mercury to me.
However, I do think Fischer is an extreme case. Other people with Mercury conjunct the South Node seem less troubled. For example the film Director Steven Spielberg or the musician Bruce Springsteen.
We also have references to the nodes in connection with the Moon:
"Moon with North Node or South Node shows active spirits, prompt to any science; best of all when she increases in light, and is not far from the full" (Christian Astrology,by William Lilly, p.544)
Nevertheless, Lilly's work, in particular his chart work not just in Christan Astrology but in all his publications, shows a very strong and clear emphasis on the South Node as a difficult, troublesome, malefic point. From his own chart experience Lilly did not agree with the common medieval idea that the South Node diminished the effects of malefics. He always found it a troublesome influence.
Previous sources tended to focus on the south node reducing the effect of malefics. For example from the Picatrix:
Know that the nature of the Head of the Dragon is of increasing; if she is in conjunction with favourable planets, there is augmentation in their sovereignty and force; if she is in conjunction with unfavourable planets, therefore they augment their nuisance and unhappiness. In the same way, the Tail of the Dragon is of the nature of reducing. If she is in conjunction with favourable planets, she diminishes their advantage; but if it is with unfavourable planets, she diminishes their evils and their damage. I advise you to understand what precedes with care. The Picatrix", Book 3, Chapter 3, Para 10
Varuna 2 wrote:
From a jyotish perspective, ketu does not diminish a planet's power to act, rather the nodes can magnify and distort the planet, whether for good or ill, and this good or ill can be a matter of perspective and opinion, while at the same time it can be good for some aspects of life and bad for other aspects of life.
I thought it was a mainstream jyotish view today that both nodes are malefics?
The main difference being jyotish sees Rahu (North Node) as the more malefic of the two. The Indian notion that Ketu (South Node) is associated with spirituality and renunciation while Rahu (North Node) is linked to materialism and desire is interesting. This perfectly encapsulates the different cultural values of east and west. The west sees Rahu as positive with its focus on material success, progress and gain. Ketu is associated with things like illness, loss, death, etc.
Looking at things from a Hindu perspective though tied into reincarnation Rahu is a lot about desire and binding people to the cycle of rebirth. The malefic quality of Rahu seems to be rather one of excess based on over attachment to material success and sensual pleasures. On the material plane Ketu can be seen as unfortunate but on the spiritual level it can be seen as a potential catalyst for spiritual awakening reminding people of the impermanence of all human life and the vanity of material success in the ultimate sense. Ketu is therefore an opportunity for spiritual insight. However, Ketu?s energy is sometimes expressed in the behaviour of one who does not want to be involved in the material world and seeks out their own vision of reality. Hence they may seek to escape into a fantasy world.
Ketu has links to people who are unorthodox, unconventional and deviants. Fischer seems to fit this perfectly both in his highly original brilliant chess playing and his ultimate rejection of /and by his home country.
In any case looking at modern India the worldview of Rahu seems very much on the ascendant!
Varuna 2 wrote:
In Madoff's case Venus did indeed bring him a leader position, and the nodes did indeed distort his mind as well so he must have thought his was a legitimate method of business.
Why? What have the nodes got to do with his mind here? There is no connection to Moon or Mercury?
Mark
