Natal Study: Queen Victoria

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Victoria.png Victoria.png Viewed 2933 times 173.21 KiB
The birth data is from Astrodatabank, from a BC, rated AA. Edit: On realizing she was actually born in Kensington Palace redrew the chart with the full GPS coordinates; makes a minor difference to the cusps OA values with no real change to their degrees and minutes but might as well use the best available coords for the place.

Analysis of the Radix

Over the years I've come to think of the birth chart as a 3D-snapshot (microcosm) of the cosmos as it existed when viewed at a particular time and from a particular place on Earth. The resulting map contains three perspectives (equatorial, ecliptic, and horizontal) which describe three levels of planetary conditioning (planet orbits, Earth's orbit, Earthly event) and three levels of predictive motion (primary, profection (maiora esse), and minora esse).

As a result, I've decided a basic analysis of the chart begins first with the examination of the three levels of conditioning the planets experience: their condition as they are in and of themselves, as they are found in the zodiac, and as they are found in the houses. Essentially, the conditions in themselves are defined by each planet's orbit around the Sun, and their condition in the zodiac is defined by where they appear to be in the sky for anyone on Earth, and are common to everyone on Earth for the particular time the chart is drawn. The third level of conditioning of the planets is described by the houses which locate the signs and planets “in the world” and are specific to the birth of the person born at that specific moment, and in that specific location on Earth, and to whom that specific microcosmic copy of the larger cosmos has fixed itself.

Condition of the ­Planets in Themselves

According to Al-Qabisi, planets have conditions in themselves, largely defined by their relationship to the Sun, who establishes order in the whole of our solar system. The conditions in themselves define the planet's speed, motion, and their ability to be seen.
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General Astrological Interpretation

The following interpretations are drawn from
  • [AA] Ancient Astrology, Volume I: Part 3 The Solar Phase Cycle by Demetra George, Rubedo, 2019
  • [ITA] Introductions to Traditional Astrology trans. by Ben Dykes, Cazimi, 2010
  • [PA] Paul of Alexandria trans. By James Holden, AFA, 2012
  • [BG] The Beginning of Wisdom trans. By Meira Epstein, ARHAT, 1998
Combust
A planet that is combust is “weak...there is no usefulness nor anything of the good for benefic planets, nor anything of evil for the malefic ones” (ITA p95) and when separating from its conjunction with the Sun (as occurs in this chart) is like someone who has been sick but “the fever breaks, and the sickness diminishes as it moves out of the 9-degree combustion zone” (AA p277)

And Ibn Ezra says “A planet under the light of the Sun is like a person in prison” (BG 136)

Fast and Direct

A planet that is fast, and direct tends to be “more active and better able to accomplish positive outcomes...in a forthright manner” (AA p269) and can “easily take advantage of opportunities to manifest its significations....The planet proceeds swiftly and directly towards the accomplishment of its objectives” (AA p267)

Paul of Alexandria says that if they are at their morning rising “they must be considered to be effective and active from [the time of] youth with regard to their own proper significations” (PA p22) which I take to mean their general significations. The related Scholia 23 warns that “their action is blunted” (PA p94) if the planet is not angular and in their own domicile; something to keep in mind when later considering the planet's condition in the world and in the zodiac.

And Ibn Ezra says a planet that “is swift in motion is like a young man running” (BG p137)

Slow

A planet that is moving slower than its average motion is “thought to be lethargic, to have low energy, to take longer to accomplish its objectives, to have fewer events, and to be hesitant to act (thus missing advantageous opportunities” (AA p267)

And Ibn Ezra says that “a planet slowing down is like a person who is exhausted and has no strength to walk” (BG p.136-7)

Retrograde

A planet that is retrograde (retracing its steps, called back, going backward) will “progress through obstructions or hindrances...There exists some kind of hindrance or obstruction that inhibits the expression of its significations, or which provokes rebelliousness against the norms of consensus behavior” (AA p.268) and that “significations take a longer time to fully mature, bringing forth their objectives at a later time in life” (AA p.268)

Paul of Alexandria says a retrograde planet's “influences are useless and unfavourable for action and insignificant” (PA p22)

Ibn Ezra says “A retrograde planet is like a rebellious and defiant person.” (BG p136)

The next step is to examine how the planets basic inclinations are modified by their positions in the zodiac which establishes their relationships with reference to the Earth's orbit around the Sun.
Last edited by janegca on Tue Jan 09, 2024 2:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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"I can calculate the motions of celestial bodies, but not the madness of people.” —- Sir Isaac Newton
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Re: Natal Study: Queen Victoria

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Condition of the Planets in the Zodiac
A planet's condition is accidentally modified by its position in the zodiac (dignity) and its angular relation (aspect) to the other planets.
Victoria-Radix-Condition-of-Planets-in-Zodiac.png Victoria-Radix-Condition-of-Planets-in-Zodiac.png Viewed 3013 times 141.89 KiB
Dignities
The astrological interpretations referenced below are mainly from “Al-Qabisi (Alcabitius): The Introduction to Astrology” trans. By Charles Burnett, Keiji Yamamoto, Michio Yano, Warburg Institute, 2004 and Ibn Ezra's “The Beginning of Wisdom” trans. by Meira Epstein, ARHAT, 1998.

Domicile
Al-Qabisi says “A planet in its house with its (the house's) power is like the man in his home and estate; in a powerful condition” (p.389)

Victoria has one planet in domicile, Mars. Mars is active, forthright, and effective from youth so being in domicile further strengthens him. He is very familiar with his environment having both the capability and the means to achieve his goals.

Term
Al-Qabisi says a person in his own term “is like a man among his kinsfolk and his people” (p.33).

Jupiter and Saturn are both in their terms, both are forthright and effective from youth although Jupiter is on the lethargic side. Being in their own terms indicates they are comfortable in their environment and, in general have what they need to operate effectively.

Decan
Al-Qabisi says a planet in its own decan “is like the man in his profession” (p.33); Ibn Ezra says it “is like a person with [fine] ornaments and clothing” (p.136).

Mercury's actions will be forthright but he will be somewhat hesitant and lethargic in fulfilling what he signifies; although, being in his own decan, he is capable of getting things done adequately.

Peregrine

A peregrine planet, according to Ibn Ezra, is like someone who is “not in their own country” (p.136).

Technically the Sun and Moon are peregrine as neither are in their domicile, exaltation, or decan and the lights have no terms although we could say the Moon has a dignity similar to being in term as she is in her own half of the zodiac (from Aquarius to Gemini) where Al-Qabisi says she will have “the same kind of lordship that planets have in their terms” (p21) so we would expect her, even though she is weak, to be competent in fulfilling her tasks when she must. The Sun is neither helped nor hindered but his command, one would think, is taken for granted as the Sun rules everywhere by a natural right.

Detriment
Ibn Ezra says “A planet in its house of detriment is like a person fighting with himself” (p136)

Venus is in her own decan (and indication she is capable of producing her specific significations) but being in detriment means she's fighting an uphill battle trying to get what she desires. In Aries she is like a person wanting to take a quiet, pleasant stroll in the park only to find it full of marathon runners and their noisy supporters urging her to get a move on.

I've skipped the dignity of triplicity here as it's determined by the chart sect which depends on how the lights fall “in the world” (the houses). I've also included the outer planets; they are not assigned dignities but they are involved in aspect/testimony relationships.

Aspects & Testimony

Robert Schmidt, in his Planetary Configurations Intensive said that the Greeks considered true aspects to be only those within 3º of perfect (13º for the Moon). Planets applying to sextile, square, trine, or opposition by sign have a testimonial relationship but only if they perfect the figure before either planet leaves its sign. These aspect and testimony connections are the one's most likely to colour the life and produce prominent events.

According to Schmidt, Maltreatment and Bonification can only occur between planets within 3º in an applying aspect or while the two are still connected (from partile to 3º, although some say 1º); not by testimony.

Bonification
  • Venus is applying to the trine of Neptune and as Venus is a benefic, she improves Neptune
  • Mars is separating (45') from the sextile of Jupiter, Mars can only maltreat by square or opposition; as this is a sextile and Jupiter is a benefic, Jupiter is bonifying Mars, improving a planet that is already quite strong
Maltreatment
  • The Moon is separating (33') from the conjunction of the Sun; they are neighbouring as both are in the terms of Mercury, which intensifies the Sun's maltreatment of the Moon
  • Saturn is separating (45') from the square of Neptune and so maltreating Neptune or possibly they are two malefics who will act to make each other worse (?)
  • Saturn is separating (1º22') from a conjunction of Pluto; they are both malefics so they are possibly maltreating each other (?)
  • Neptune is in a partile square with Pluto, a malefic; the maltreatment is intensified as they are neighbouring, both being in the terms of Mars
The next level of conditioning is described by how the signs and planets are determined to the houses; from which, hopefully, it will be relatively straight-forward to draw a clear picture of where and how the planets will most likely express themselves in the life.
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"I can calculate the motions of celestial bodies, but not the madness of people.” —- Sir Isaac Newton
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Re: Natal Study: Queen Victoria

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Condition of the Planets in the World

Sect Conditions
The Sun is above the horizon so the chart is diurnal; in Gemini, the triplicity rulers are Saturn and Mercury with Jupiter being the participating ruler; checking for who is in and out sect as well as in their own triplicities gives:
Victoria-Sect-Conditions.png Victoria-Sect-Conditions.png Viewed 2918 times 146.86 KiB
House Conditions
Victoria-House-Conditions.png Victoria-House-Conditions.png Viewed 2918 times 139.33 KiB
Overview

All of her planets are above the horizon indicating everything she does draws public recognition yet with only four of them in the public houses and the five in the 12th slightly more of her energy would have gone into personal rather than public pursuits, particularly as the three personal (Sun, Moon, Mercury) and two social planets (Venus, Mars) are in the 12th. Her public activities were dictated by her sense of duty (Jupiter, Saturn) and what the public expected of her (Neptune, Pluto).

The 12th is the house of confinement and sorrows. It encompasses three signs: most of Aries, Taurus, and part of Gemini. These signs are all signs of the 1st degree of emanation, indicating that what motivates her, behind the scenes (12th) are her own interests but that she will be restricted (12th) in her attempts to fulfil them actively (Aries-Fire), practically (Taurus-Earth), and mentally (Gemini-Air). The restrictions will largely be beyond her control (cadency).

With two planets in angles and two conjunct an angle the chart is quite powerful.
Drats, just realized I should have done the elements and qualities in the post on Conditions of Planets in the Zodiac...oh well, better late than never:
Victoria-Elements-Qualities.png Victoria-Elements-Qualities.png Viewed 2918 times 133.96 KiB
So she has 4 in Fire, 3 in Air, 1 in Earth, and 2 in Water; indicating a very active, zealous and enthusiastic (Fire) temperament with an interest in learning and communication (Air), she was capable of sympathy and compassion (Water) but she was not the most practical (Earth) person .

The bulk of the planets are in Mutable signs so she would have been highly adaptable and probably too also easily deflected from her initial purposes although with two planets in Fixed signs she could also hold her ground when she put her mind to it. She would have been most active (Cardinal) in initiating new social relations (Venus and Mars in Cardinal Aries).

Most of her energies were focused on her personal concerns (five planets in the 12th, 1st, 2nd, 3rd) but as already stated, most of her energy was likely absorbed in dealing with the highly restrictive situation she found herself in. The rest were focused on public activities (4 planets in the 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th) with a little left over for her marriage (1 planet in the 7th).

No planets actually in the 1st, 5th, and 9th indicate little to no energy was spent on living life for the sake of life itself; her income, children, education and travel did not absorb her energies. Nor did the accumulation of wealth (2nd, 6th, 10th) except as it related to her public persona which was unlikely a problem with such a strong and well placed Jupiter. She did have some energy taken up by her husband (1 planet in the 7th) and her cabinet (1 in the 8th).

Next step is a closer analysis of the individual planets, their aspects and house relationships.
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"I can calculate the motions of celestial bodies, but not the madness of people.” —- Sir Isaac Newton
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Re: Natal Study: Queen Victoria - Eminence Conditions

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Eminence Considerations
Decided to first take a look at elements that contribute to the “basis” of the chart before doing a deep dive on the planets and aspects. There are general techniques, based on the sect light, the sect light’s triplicity rulers, the Lots (Fortune, Daimon, Basis), and the Places of Exaltation and Acquisition that are used to establish a baseline for the degrees of eminence, prosperity and happiness the native is apt to experience over their lifetime.

The main sources I'm relying on for this are:
  • Valens Anthologies, Riley trans. Book II.2,3,22-24
  • Dorotheus Carmen Astrologicum Pingree trans. Book I.22-27
  • Spear-bearing guidelines as summarized in Demetra George’s Ancient Astrology in Theory and Practice Vol I Ch. 52.
As whole sign considerations have a bearing on eminence and equal-cusp houses may also have a bearing (given that events often play out according to profected positions) here's the equal-house chart:
Victoria-EH.png Victoria-EH.png Viewed 2892 times 176.37 KiB
Spear-bearing

The chart is diurnal with the Sun and Moon in the 12th but the 1st whole sign and closely conjunct the Asc (Moon within 2º, Sun within 4º) which, I believe, makes them both eligible for Type II spear-bearing. All of the 5 original planets are physically rising ahead of the Sun/Moon conjunction (they span a 107º); technically they are all acting as spear-bearers for the Sun (to qualify as spear-bearers for the Moon they would need to rise after her).

According to Anitochus §53 (Schmidt trans.), these spear-bearer planets will make Victoria:
Saturn - “specious and deceitful” but happy and “many possessions from the father”
Jupiter - just, kindly, boastful, bright, dominating, very wealthy, and effective
Mars - manly, hot, bold, reckless, violent, terrible, contemptible accomplishments
Venus - famous, charming, well-skilled, sweet, well-married, effective
Mercury - well disposed, reasonable, skilled

She inherited her position because of her father, was quite wealthy, and all the Venus and Mercury traits appear to apply. So far I've have not come across anything in biography to support the negative Saturn and Mars traits but I'm barely into it.

Antiochus also tells us that if the lights are angular and the spear-bearers cadent (which 3 of them are here) “the natives will be nothing less than kings and sovereigns”. And if the spear-bearers are contrary to sect (which Venus and Mars are), they will be more friends of kings and sovereigns than such themselves.

This chart meets both conditions so Victoria is a sovereign herself and is a friend of sovereigns.

The Lights

Valens advises us to look at both lights with special attention to the sect light; if they are in good places, attended by rising planets and unopposed by malefics the person with be “fortunate and noble...governors or kings”. Here the two lights are on the Ascendant and while the Sun is maltreating the Moon, neither malefic is maltreating either light so the “fortunate and noble” reading stands.

And, just to punctuate the indications as given by Valens, Hephaisto II.18 (Schmidt trans.) tells us the person will be a King if one light (preferably the sect light) or both lights are angular, in masculine signs with all 5 planets acting as spear-bearers; and if the spear-bearers are pivotal, the native will be “great and powerful,” a world-ruler. Victoria's lights are angular in the 1st whole sign house in a masculine sign; all five planets are acting as spear-bearers and one, Saturn, is also angular. She may not have had the power of a king during Hephaisto's time but she certainly was “great and powerful” and ruled over a large part of the world.

The SAN

Valens says the person will be “noble and famous” if the SAN is angular and its ruler aspects the benefics. The chart is conjunctional with the SAN at 1 GE 59, angular in the whole sign 1st, conjunct the two lights, and in a testimonial relationship (mitigated square, doubled in power) with Jupiter well placed in the whole sign 9th (the place of kings in the older texts) and Placidus 10th.

Triplicity Rulers

Valens says the triplicity rulers angular make the person “notable and illustrious” and the closer they are to the angles the higher the rank, eminence and fortune.

The Sun's triplicity rulers are Saturn, Mercury, and Jupiter. Saturn is angular in the 10th by whole sign but not near the cusp; Jupiter is cadent by whole sign and angular in the Placidus 10th but again, not near the cusp. Mercury is cadent in both the whole sign and Placidus houses. This shows a high rank and some degree of power but not personal power (Mercury being her Asc ruler); possibly it is indicating her rank is due to her position rather than her own being or efforts and this would be more obvious in the second half of her life as Mercury is the 2nd triplicity ruler. Jupiter may also be showing something similar; he is in a state of “generosity” with Saturn (the two are in each other domiciles but not in aspect so technically not in mutual reception); Saturn is in the Placidus 11th, Jupiter in the Placidus 10th would indicate her authority (10th) and wealth (Saturn, Jupiter) relies on the generosity of parliament (11th).

Valens gives a table of winds based on the planets moving towards or away from the degree of Exaltation and he says planets in the same wind will work together while those in different winds will work against each other. According to the table the Sun, Moon, Venus, and Mars are all moving “down” from North and so will work together although at cross purposes with Mercury and Jupiter who are both moving “up” from South while Saturn works against them all moving “down” from South. It's interesting here that Mercury, the Ascendant ruler, is “moving up” towards the Exaltation point and being supported by the greater benefic, Jupiter who rules the Placidus 7th (marriage), 8th (cabinet), and co-rules the 11th (parliament).

If I extend the "wind" logic to the outer planets using Zain's exaltation assignments (Horary Astrology Chapter 2) then Uranus and Pluto are both moving “up” from South and will work with Mercury and Jupiter while Neptune is moving “down” from North with the Sun, Moon, Venus, and Mars.

Valens goes on to say the planets will operate best if they are angular, in their own triplicities or in profitable degrees. He marks off profitable degrees as 30º degree segments from the angles; Dorotheus uses 15º segments. By these standards, Jupiter is in profitable degrees (between 2 AQ and 2 PI), Saturn is in middling degrees (between 2 PI and 2 AR), and Mercury is in weak degrees. By Dorotheus' standards, Jupiter is in profitable degrees (between 2 AQ and 17 AQ) and both Saturn and Mercury are weak.

The texts say that unless both the 1st and 2nd triplicity rulers are angular the prosperity and happiness indicated will not be enduring although a well-placed participating ruler can act to assist the main rulers; which appears to be the case here as Victoria's prosperity (if not her happiness) was both enduring and remarkable. Jupiter is angular in the Placidus 10th, disposits Saturn (who is angular by whole sign) who is in turn disposited by Jupiter and Jupiter is in a mitigated square with Mercury, helping to raise him up. As well, all three planets are of the same sect as the chart and each other, diurnal, and so all are inclined to work together in support of the life. In fact, Dorotheus claims an angular benefic, direct, and oriental, (as Jupiter is) can, on their own, make the person “illustrious and famous”.

Excellence of Fortune (Dorotheus)

Dorotheus claims the “best conditions” for “excellence of Fortune” are shown by the triplicity ruler being in a good place and square, trine or opposed to the Moon (which Ben Dykes says is the general significator of the family background and status and shows support from the family when configured with a triplicity ruler Carmen Astrologicum p107 fn184). By whole sign, Saturn is in the 10th (a good place) and square the Moon and Jupiter is in the 9th (a good place) and trine the Moon spoiled somewhat by Mercury being averse.

He also says that if Fortune is in the 1st connected to the lights or the benefics he will make the person “noble distinguished and fortunate” and Victoria has Fortune in the 1st at 7 GE conjunct the Sun/Moon and trine the diurnal benefic Jupiter although again, Mercury's position in the 12th reduces the fortune somewhat.

Accomplishment and Prosperity

Valens says this is shown by the place of Acquisition which is the 11th place from Fortune; in this chart, as Fortune falls in the 1st, the place of Acquisition also falls on the 11th. It is said that's its sign and ruler indicate the property and goods acquired during the life. The Placidus 11th has Aquarius on the 11th with Saturn in the 11th. Aquarius is a fixed sign and while Saturn is not in domicile, being in Pisces, he is in generosity with Jupiter who is strong and well-placed so one could expect her to have a good deal of property throughout her life (fixed=stable). Saturn in an effective place (11th) makes “rulers of estates and property” and Jupiter would indicate a great deal of property.

Level of Exaltation

The Place of Exaltation is found by counting, in sign order, the places from the sect light to its exaltation sign and then count the same from the Ascendant. Counting from the Sun in Gemini to Aries (where the Sun is exalted) takes us to the 11th; counting from the Ascendant gives the same. The Placidus 11th has Aquarius on the cusp, ruled by Saturn, who rules the 11th, 10th, and can have general significations for the father which would indicate her parents (10th is the mother) and parliament had a hand in her being raised in rank.

Lot of Spirit

A well-placed Lot of Spirit (Daimon) can make the person “illustrious and distinguished”; Victoria's lot of Spirit is at 4 Gemini, with the Asc, Sun, Moon, and Fortune so definitely well-placed.

What is unusual here, because the Sun and Moon are conjunct and the conjunction falls on the Ascendant, Fortune and Spirit occupy the same angles, strongly reinforcing the radix chart and its significations. And this also applies to the lot of Basis which is the shortest distance between Fortune and Spirit projected from the Ascendant. They are all together, all ruled by Mercury who, while admittedly in an unhappy house (12th) is at his morning rising, direct, in term, and strongly supported by Jupiter angular and ruling another angle, the 7th, marriage.

Overall, there is are numerous indications she will have an eminent and prosperous life although one marked by sadness or restrictions (Mercury's placement in the 12th as ruler of the Asc).
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"I can calculate the motions of celestial bodies, but not the madness of people.” —- Sir Isaac Newton
https://archive.org/details/@janegca

Victoria: Delineation Method (still a work in progress)

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Originally I thought I would go at this by looking at general significator techniques along with directions by OA and profections but on second thought, given the wide variety of timing methods and overall approaches to delineation, I doubt that approach will lead to anything but a muddle; so, I'm going to focus on Profections and directions by OA as the basic framework with an eye on how the Lord of the Year and directions within the profected sign itself (maiora esse) and the entire turned year (minora esse) fit the events; in essence, back to my initial approach to the Worsdale charts but this time focused entirely on how they play out in one life, Queen Victoria's.

As all the old texts speak of the term rulers playing a role when they “have a share of the times” I do plan to keep an eye on planets in the terms of the Lord of the Year, to see if their significations are meaningful in light of the actual events that occur during the period covered by the profection. But again, I'm going to watch them as they are emphasized in the above framework and not as they are usually referred to by “direction through the bounds” (I've tried this previously without consistent results).

The main positions and their term rulers are:
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As I have to keep reminding myself (to keep myself from falling down rabbit holes), the whole point of the exercise is to determine if the active directions are meaningful in light of actual events with the hope that a close examination of directions and events in one life will yield clues as to how the directions applied to any chart can be identified before the events play out in the associated life.

The biographical information given in what follows is drawn from Queen Victoria: A Biography by Sidney Lee, Smith, Elder & Co., 1903 unless otherwise indicated.
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"I can calculate the motions of celestial bodies, but not the madness of people.” —- Sir Isaac Newton
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Victoria: Profected 1st – Age 0 May 24 1819-1820

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One of the first things that first jumps out when looking at Victoria's chart is the Sun/Moon/Asc conjunction. The Ascendant signifies the person. The Sun is the general significator of the father in a diurnal chart and even more so here as he rules the radix 4th of the father. The Moon is the general significator of the mother and she is in a close trine to the MC, the cusp of the 10th, the house of the mother. The pair are posited in the 12th and are peregrine in Gemini and all three (Sun/Moon/Asc) are in the bounds of Mercury, the Ascendant, ruler also in the 12th but in a different sign, Taurus.

The lights being in the 12th indicate the parents were in unfortunate circumstances; her father, the Duke of Kent, was the third son of King George III; at the age of 51, he, along with two of his bachelor brothers, were induced to marry when the wife of the heir apparent died in childbirth; none of the surviving family, married or unmarried, had legitimate heirs.

At the time, Victoria's father, forced into retirement by the military in which he'd spent his life (Sun sextile Mars), was at loose ends and deeply in debt. He and his brothers (being Hanoverian) all looked to Germany for wives and on May 29, 1818 he married a widow, Mary Louisa Victoria, age 32, the youngest child of the Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Saalfeld. She had a son and daughter by her first husband and, at the time, was the acting regent for her son, the Prince of Leiningen; she accepted the Duke of Kent's offer of marriage at the behest of her family who wanted to maintain close ties with the English throne (it was her sister that had been married to the next in line for succession and who had died in childbirth).

The newly married couple settled in Leiningen, living on Mary Louisa's funds (the Duke of Kent's annual annuity being funnelled directly to his creditors);however, they moved to England when Mary Louisa became pregnant with the potential heir to the English throne; they were given apartments in Kensington Palace where Victoria was born; she was 5th in the line of succession.
While the Sun and Moon can be significators for Kings and Queens as well as fathers and mothers both do not hold true for everyone. Here, however, the chart has a number of eminence factors indicating a high social status and which are borne out by the context of the life; her parents were both 'royal' personages, if not actual kings and queens. Their royal connections permanently determined the shape of Victoria's life; the effect being shown by the close conjunctions of the lights with the two main angles: Asc and MC. The old texts often equate the angles, fixed signs, and close configurations with enduring conditions. While the Sun/Moon/Asc are in a mutable sign (her status in the first years of her life was constantly changing) the outcome (shown by the 10th) was stable and enduring (fixed Aquarius on the 10th). The eventual stability is also shown by Mercury (Asc ruler) in the fixed sign of Taurus.

What is interesting here, symbolically, is that her parents came together for the sole purpose of producing an heir to the English throne; at his age, 51, the Duke of Kent was a settled bachelor, it's highly unlikely he would have married if his family hadn't pushed him to it. Similarly for Mary Louisa, she appears to have been content acting as her son's regent. Both planets along with the Asc are in Mercury's term. And Mercury itself is the ruler of the Asc (and Victoria) and is in its own term. So, if the old texts are right, events in the lives of all three are most likely to occur while Mercury has a share of the time.

The Sun in the 12th (according to Firmicus 8.94 Bram trans.) indicates the “slavery, captivity, early death of the father...; also afflictions and serious illness”. Paulus also says “the [native's] father will be banished or will die early” (Holden trans. 58).

Victoria's first year of life was marked by two events that occurred within a week of each other and altered her place in the world: both her father and her grandfather (George III) died moving her from 5th to 3rd in the line of succession. The change also altered her mother's life, making her a widow but increasing her household income as the government upped the annual allowance to ensure adequate care for her daughter Victoria.

Dorotheus tells us, that in examining the parents condition, we are also to consider the 4th and the lot of the father as well as the 10th and the lot of the mother; we'll also want to look at the lot of the Grandfather and the 7th (4th from the 4th).

The lot of the Father (calculated from the Sun to the Saturn) is located at 2 AR 34, in the radix 11th, ruled by Mars, also in Aries but in and ruling the 12th. Mars is in the terms of Mercury. The cusp of the 4th is in Leo, ruled by the Sun, who is in Mercury's terms. The Father's lot of Death (from Saturn to Jupiter) is at 27 AR 08, ruled by Mars, who is in the terms of Mercury.
The lot of the Grandfather (from the ruler of the Sun to Saturn) is at 25 AR 45 ruled by Mars in the terms of Mercury. The cusp of the 7th, at 5 SA 48, is in the terms of Jupiter.

The lot of the Mother (calculated from Venus to the Moon) is located at 13 CA 03 in the 2nd, ruled by the Moon in the 12th. The Moon is in the terms of Mercury as is the cusp of the 10th at 2 AQ 24.

The first year of life is equated to the rising sign, Gemini, ruled by Mercury.
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The profected 1st and 4th (father) are ruled by Mercury who is located in the 12th with the Sun and Moon (parents) indicating an unfortunate (12th) event involving her home and parents. Mercury is sextile the profected 10th (mother, status), square Jupiter in the 9th, sextile Saturn and Pluto in the 10th.

The following post has the directions for the two events.
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"I can calculate the motions of celestial bodies, but not the madness of people.” —- Sir Isaac Newton
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Victoria: Events Father and Grandfather's deaths

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Event: January 23, 1820 Father dies

The event took place (365-144)+23=246 days after birth which gives an Age Arc of 246/365.25=0.6735. The following directions took place:
Victoria-Directions-1820-01-23-Father-dies.png Victoria-Directions-1820-01-23-Father-dies.png Viewed 2812 times 268.91 KiB
Without looking at the active aspects it's immediately apparent that there is likely to be an unexpected (Uranus critical) event involving the father (the Sun and the lot of Father are critical, with the lot also changing degree). The two planets (Sun/Uranus) are in a mitigated inconjunct, with the power of an opposition and the directed Sun is square the directed lot of the Father.

Directed Mercury, the term ruler of the Sun and the lot and Lord of the Year, is conjunct directed Pluto indicating a drastic change of some form involving her mother and/or status (Pluto is in the radix 10th, Victoria went from 5th in the line of succession to the 44th in line). The foregoing is reinforced by Mercury being critical in the maiora esse and Uranus being critical in the minora esse, as is the lot of the Father's Death. As well, the North Node in the maiora esse is conjunct radix Mercury while Neptune (in the radix 8th) is at the bending of the radix nodal axis.

Of note is the radix MC (2 AQ), Sun (2 GE), and lot of the Father (2 AR) closely connected and, in the maiora esse, all three have moved into the same degree (22) that the directed lot of the Father's death holds (22 AR).

Event: January 29, 1820 Grandfather Dies

The event took place (365-144)+29=250 days after birth which gives an Age Arc of 250/365.25=0.6845. The following directions took place:
Victoria-Directions-1820-01-29-Grandfather-dies.png Victoria-Directions-1820-01-29-Grandfather-dies.png Viewed 2812 times 286.27 KiB
Her grandfather, King George III, died roughly 6 days after her father died; the directions are almost the same with the key difference being the SAN (which Valen says indicates the level in life one attains) turning critical and Neptune (an 8th house planet) changing degree. The directed 11th, which changed degree on her father's death, is sextile the lot of the grandfather. The 11th is in Aquarius which is also the sign on the 10th and is on the profected 9th (law). Legally, her status increased again, as she went from 4th in the line of succession to the 3rd in line.
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"I can calculate the motions of celestial bodies, but not the madness of people.” —- Sir Isaac Newton
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Queen Victoria: Profected 8th - Age 7

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Profected 8th – Age 7 1826-27
The next eventful year in Victoria's life was when she was 7 years old and the profection was in the 8th whole sign, Capricorn with Saturn as Lord of the Year.
Victoria-Prof-8th.png Victoria-Prof-8th.png Viewed 2738 times 74 KiB
The profection in the 8th indicates she will be affected by a death or matters involving her inheritance at some point in the year. Saturn rules the radix 10th and 11th signifying people in authority and friends, an indication events that happen during the year involving an ongoing matter (Capricorn is a solstice sign) will effect her life (Saturn rules the profected 1st) and income (Saturn rules the profected 2nd). As Saturn is in the 3rd of relatives conjunct the 4th (family) and with Pluto there are indications of activities she is compelled (Pluto) to participate in that involve older (Saturn) members of her family in positions of authority connected with travel (communications, travel) 3rd.

Venus, Saturn, and Uranus are in Saturn terms as are the 2nd and 11th house cusps. Venus and Saturn are in a mitigated semi-sextile (with the power of a conjunction) and Saturn in a mitigated, hence doubled, square with Uranus while Venus is trine Uranus; connecting the 3rd, 4th, and 12th houses in the profected chart.

Two key events occurred during the year; on August 17th she visited (at his command) King George IV and on January 5th, 1827 her uncle, the Duke of York, died, making her 2nd in the line of succession.

Event: August 17, 1826 Visits King George IV
Victoria-Directions-1826-08-17-visit.png Victoria-Directions-1826-08-17-visit.png Viewed 2738 times 266.04 KiB
Directed Neptune (an 8th house planet with the profection in the 8th) is critical but not involved in a direction by OA. Directed Venus (radix Venus is in Saturn's terms), ruling the profected 5th (pleasure) and 10th (persons of rank) is square the radix 3rd (short trip) indicating a possibly pleasant (Venus) trip although the square would indicate some stress was involved.

The directed 2nd is changing degree; the radix 2nd is in Gemini which is on the 6th of servants, injury, and uncles. It is semi-sextile the directed Sun (a person of rank?). Not quite sure what it indicates here. in the maiora esse the 2nd is semi-sextile the radix Moon (mother, travel)? Possibly being ordered like a servant?

Neptune is active in the maiora, being square the directed lot of Travel (Neptune can signify travel) and sextile the directed lot of Journeys while maiora esse Uranus (in Saturn's term in the radix) is critical and conjunct directed Neptune. Both the lot of Travel and the lot of Journeys in the maiora are conjunct Saturn (Travel by mitigation).

In the minora esse Neptune is conjunct Saturn (LoY and ruler of the profected Asc) and minora esse Uranus is semi-sextile (conjunct) the radix North Node indicating an important and unusual event for the little girl.

The minora esse Ascendant is critical and trine maiora esse Uranus and directed Neptune while minora esse Neptune is conjunct directed Saturn (LoY). And minora esse Venus is square the radix lot of Travel and trine the radix lot of Journeys.

The main directions appear to be highlighting the death of her uncle.

Event: January 05, 1827 Death of the Duke of York
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The directions are similar to those in August with the exception of the directed North Node now also being critical along with directed Neptune (in the radix 8th) and Jupiter, Pluto and Fortune are all changing degree. So the death of her uncle moved her to 2nd in the line of succession, critically affecting her life (North Node) and altering her status (Jupiter in radix 10th changing degree), her relations with her family (Pluto in the profected 3rd) and her overall Fortune. On the day in question, in the minora esse, the 3rd was changing degree with the profected 3rd holding Pluto and Saturn (LoY).

The general timing of both events can be seen by the profected 3rd, holding the Lord of the Year, equating to the period of July 24 to August 24, 1826 (her visit occurred on August 17th). And the profected 8th (with the profection being in the radix 8th sign), holding Neptune (critical by direction) equating to December 24, 1826 to January 24, 1827 (her Uncle died January 5th).

And if one day is equal to one house, beginning from the profected 3rd and counting off from July 24 to August 17 puts us back in the profected 3rd while beginning from the profected 8th and counting off from December 24 to January 5th puts us back in the profected 8th (which may well be a complete coincidence, but interesting).

Edit:
I should have checked the two lot of Deaths here as one or both often show up when the native is brought into contact with any death, or a situation that effects their inheritance. The Dorothean lot of Death occupies 22 Libra in the radix 6th (uncles), and the Olympiodorus lot of Death is at 10 Leo in the radix 4th (home, family); they were directed to 16 Libra (trine radix Jupiter) and 5 Leo (in a mitigated sextile, hence trine, with the radix Asc). Radix Jupiter is in the 10th of honour, career. The Profection is in the 8th which now occupies the profected 1st which is 8th from the 6th (uncles). So the death (8th) of an uncle (6th) affected her home (4th) and public (10th) life.

As well, in the maiora esse the Olympiodorus lot of Death was critical at 29 Leo and the same lot, in the minora esse, on the day of the death, was at 26 Pisces in a mitigated semi-sextile (conjunction) with radix Venus, ruler of the radix 6th (uncles).
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"I can calculate the motions of celestial bodies, but not the madness of people.” —- Sir Isaac Newton
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Victoria: Profected 12th - Age 11 May 24,1830-31

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Profected 12th – Age 11 May 24 1830-31

Another change in Victoria's position relative to the throne came in 1830 when her uncle, King George IV, dies, making her the heir presumptive as his heir, Prince William, has no children. The profection was in the 12th whole sign, Taurus, with Venus as the Lord of the Year.
Victoria-Prof-12th.png Victoria-Prof-12th.png Viewed 2641 times 74.49 KiB
Venus rules the profected 1st and the profected and radix 6th of uncles with the profected 1st being the 8th from the 6th. Venus herself is in the 12th in opposition to the 6th.

Event: June 26, 1830 George IV dies
Age Arc 11º 05'.
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OA Directions
  • no planets are critical
  • the directed 2nd is changing degree while in the square of directed Saturn (ruler of the profected and radix 10th) in the trine of radix Jupiter (a 10th house planet) while directed Jupiter is also changing degree, moving into a mitigated sextile (trine) radix Uranus in the profected 8th (death)
  • the directed lot of Death is changing degree, moving to conjunct the radix IC and oppose the radix MC and into a mitigated sextile (trine) with the radix Sun.
Maiora Esse
  • in the maiora esse the 11th, 2nd, along with Venus, Neptune, and Pluto are all critical. Venus is LoY and rules the 6th of uncles and the uncle's 8th; Neptune is in the profected 8th while Pluto is in the radix and profected 11th; the 2nd is reinforcing the indications in the OA directions.
  • The Dorothean maiora lot of death is in the trine of directed Jupiter while the maiora Olympiodorus lot of death is in the square of the directed Sun.
Minora Esse
  • in the minora esse, the 11th and 2nd are again critical as are Venus, Neptune, and Pluto, reinforcing the directions in the maiora and profection
  • the Olympiodorus lot of death in the minora is trine the directed Sun
The indications are for an event involving an important person (Sun), death (8th, lots), her public status (10th, Jupiter) and her hopes (11th). The squares and Saturn indicate a stressful event while the trines and Jupiter indicate she will benefit from it. The emphasis of the profection, with Venus ruling the 1st and 6th along with the lot of death's connection with the 4th point to the death of a relative with the uncle being a likely option.

Should note that Mercury, ruler of the profected and radix 2nd and ruler of the radix Asc is in the profected 1st conjunct the profected Asc and that Mercury is the term ruler of 1st, 6th and 10th cusps so while he is not involved in a direction himself his determinations and position in the profected chart gives added weight to his determinations, also indicated by the timing of the event as the period coincides to the profected 2nd (June 24 to July 24) which has Gemini, a Mercury ruled sign, on the cusp.
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"I can calculate the motions of celestial bodies, but not the madness of people.” —- Sir Isaac Newton
https://archive.org/details/@janegca

Victoria: Profected 1st – Age 12 – May 24, 1831-32

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Victoria-Prof-1st.png Victoria-Prof-1st.png Viewed 2640 times 74.04 KiB
Mercury is lord of the year, ruling the profected 1st and 4th, posited in the 12th; highlighting an unfortunate or restrictive (12th) event involving the home, parents (4th). Mercury is in its own terms, averse to the profected 1st, trine the profected 4th. It rules the radix 1st and 2nd, co-rules the radix 5th (where Virgo is intercepted).

The two highlighted events during the year involved her mother having a conflict with King William IV over Victoria's place in his coronation procession (she kept Victoria home, which made Victoria unhappy) and the death of her maternal grandmother.

The Sun/Moon (literally King/Mother) are in the 12th conjunct the profected 1st. Her maternal grandmother would be shown by the 7th (10th from the 10th) with the 2nd being the 8th from the 7th.

Event: November 16, 1831 Maternal Grandmother dies

Age Arc 12º 29'
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OA Directions
  • the directed Moon (mother) is critical but not involved in a direction. It rules the profected 2nd (grandmother's 8th)
  • Directed Saturn is changing degrees while in the trine of the radix 3rd (news, relatives?) and square the directed 2nd (grandmother's 8th) while it moves to inconjunct (opposition by antiscion signs) the directed lot of Death and trines the radix lot of the mother.
  • Mercury, LoY, is sextile directed Jupiter, ruling the radix and profected 7th (grandmother), in the profected 9th (foreign lands), radix 10th (mother).
  • Treating the directed lot of Grandfathers as a more general lot of Grandparents (there is no lot for grandmothers), it is in a mitigated (doubled) square with directed Neptune in the profected 7th, radix 8th; another indication of a possible death.
Maiora Esse
  • the maiora Moon is square the directed N. Node (critical event) which falls across the profected 4th/10th axis emphasizing the mother (Moon, 10th) and home or end of things (4th)
  • maiora Saturn is in opposition to the directed lot of Death and square the radix lot of the Mother
Minora Esse
  • the minora Moon is critical and in a mitigated inconjunct (opposition) with the directed Moon
  • minora Saturn is inconjunct (opposition by antiscion sign) directed Pluto and in opposition to directed Mars
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"I can calculate the motions of celestial bodies, but not the madness of people.” —- Sir Isaac Newton
https://archive.org/details/@janegca

Victoria: Profected 3rd - Age 14 May 24, 1834-35

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Victoria-Prof-3rd.png Victoria-Prof-3rd.png Viewed 2596 times 74.58 KiB
The year opened with a birthday celebration ball the King threw in her honour; she made a number of personal appearances throughout the year, touring the southern coast. On August 2 she inspected the Plymouth dockyards and on August 3 she presented new colours to the the Royal Irish Fusiliers.

The 3rd rules travel; the Sun is Lord of the year and is in the 10th (King, public) with Mercury, ruler of the radix Ascendant which is conjunct the MC and rules the 11th of friends, supporters.

Age Arc 14º 00'
Victoria-Directions-1833.png Victoria-Directions-1833.png Viewed 2548 times 189.47 KiB
Directions
  • Venus is changing degree, moving to the critical degree of 0 AR; planet of social activities, she rules the profected 10th (King) and 3rd (travel) and is in the 9th (ceremonies). She also rules the directed Ascendant which is sextile the radix 3rd
  • The North Node is changing degree with the nodal axis across the profected 3rd/9th of travel and education with the profection in a 3rd house year; possibly indicating a critical period in her life connected with her training as the future Queen
Edit: Replaced the directions graphic; original had the right calculations but the wrong year.
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"I can calculate the motions of celestial bodies, but not the madness of people.” —- Sir Isaac Newton
https://archive.org/details/@janegca

Victoria: Profected 5th - Age 16 May 24, 1935-36 Collapses from typhoid fever

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Profected 5th – Age 16 May 24, 1935-36 Collapses from typhoid
Victoria-Prof-5th.png Victoria-Prof-5th.png Viewed 2537 times 73.92 KiB
The dating of this event comes from an article How Princess Victoria’s holiday in Ramsgate nearly altered the future of the royal family; the biography I've been using only gave the year, 1835.

The year is in the 5th whole sign, Libra with Venus acting as the Lord of the Year. The 5th has to do with pleasures, entertainments; she was at Ramsgate, a seaside resort, when she became ill. Jupiter, ruler of the profected 3rd (travel) and the profected 6th (illness) is in the profected 5th. In the radix, Jupiter rules the 7th, 8th, and co-rules the 11th.

Venus, Lord of the Year, rules the 1st and 8th and is in the 7th (the setting place). Radix Venus is in and co-rules the 12th and rules the 6th (illness). The profected connections to the 6th, 7th, and 8th are reinforcing the radix connections. Venus and Jupiter are sextile in the radix with Jupiter in the overcoming position; a generally beneficial connection although the accidental connections to the 12th, 8th, 7th and 6th are less fortunate. Its possible there was a fear of death (Mercury, radix Asc ruler in the 8th ruling the 12th) rather than an actual death since Venus (ruler of the profected Asc) was averse to the 8th and protected by the Jupiter sextile.

Her doctors are most likely represented by Jupiter who is in the profected 12th from his domicile (Pisces) on the profected 6th; in his own triplicity (as participating ruler) and in his own terms (therefore capable in his own sphere).

Dorotheus makes a few interesting comments (Book IV, Pingree translation, Astrology Classics p.245-6) about the Lord of the Year (comments that are usually taken to refer to Solar Return positions but which I am interpreting as related to the planet's radix conditions as modified in the “turned” i.e. profected chart), saying that if it is western (as it is in this profection, being in the western hemisphere) “misfortune will reach the native” and if it is found “in the house of an enemy, then it will be worse for evil because he [the native] will be sick”; Venus is in Aries, Mars house.

As to Venus as Lord of the Year in bad condition, he predicts “injury...from women, and quarrels” and Victoria had a good deal of trouble from her mother during her illness, first, because her mother thought she was being “wilful” and later, once the seriousness of the illness was realized, because her mother tried to take advantage of Victoria's weak state and increase her own powers as Victoria's guardian.
“Victoria never forgave her mother’s lack of compassion and her attempts to manipulate her illness to her advantage, which would lead to an estrangement between the pair. “
Dorotheus also tells us to look at the profected 7th warning that if Mars is in it “there will be no good in it [the year]”; Mars (fever) is in the profected 7th with Venus and it rules the profected 7th (conflicts) and 2nd (money).

Looking at the directions for the period, the Age Arc was 16º 22'.
Victoria-Directions-1835-Illness.png Victoria-Directions-1835-Illness.png Viewed 2537 times 285.65 KiB
  • the directed 3rd (travel) is critical at 29 Gemini which is conjunct the directed lot of the Mother; the radix 3rd is in Cancer which is on the profected 10th with the lot of Death also critical at 29 Cancer; all three points are connected by being in antiscion signs (Gemini/Cancer) indicating a critical, possibly deadly situation, involving travel and her mother; as well, the lot of Travel is changing degree, emphasizing the likelihood of the problems developing while travelling
  • Mercury, ruler of the radix Ascendant is in the 8th with the directed Sun also changing degrees; in the profected 8th with the Moon (mother) reinforcing the indication of a life (Sun, Mercury as Asc ruler)-threatening (8th) event involving herself and her mother. The directed Sun is conjunct the directed SAN (position in life) and the problem with her mother occurred because of Victoria's royal (Sun) status
  • directed Jupiter and directed Uranus are both changing degree with the two connected by a partile mitigated sextile (trine), reinforcing their radix sextile by sign. Directed Mars (fever) is moving into a partile semi-sextile with Jupiter (expansion of the fever?) while in a mitigated square (doubled in power) with Uranus who has to do with the unexpected and is in the profected 3rd (travel) with Neptune (travel by the sea?) and Jupiter is in the profected 5th and, as mentioned, likely signifies her doctors who took a somewhat unusual step for the time, giving Victoria quinine (it had only been discovered in 1820 and was normally used to treat malaria)
  • in the maiora esse, the North Node had turned critical with the axis across the profected 1st/7th and in the minora esse the 3rd had turned critical as had the lot of the Mother
Looking at what had changed, by direction, on October 31st when Victoria appears to have recovered, or at least begun her recovery, from the illness, (Age Arc 16º 26') the key differences are:
Victoria-Directions-1835-Recovery.png Victoria-Directions-1835-Recovery.png Viewed 1988 times 284.83 KiB
  • Mars is now the only planet changing degree, it is no longer in a partile semi-sextile with Jupiter (fever stopped expanding/increasing?) while still in the doubled square with Uranus (continued unusual treatment?) [may have got things a bit wrong earlier; with Mars = doctors, Jupiter the illness?]
  • the lot of the mother is no longer critical (as Victoria was stronger her mother couldn't manipulate her as easily?)
  • in the maiora esse Mars is critical (emphasizing the changed situation indicated in the OA directions?) and the North Node has gone from 29 Aries to 0 Taurus (new condition?)
  • in the minora esse the Ascendant is critical at 29 Libra; Victoria coming to the end of the crisis?
Last edited by janegca on Tue Mar 26, 2024 3:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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"I can calculate the motions of celestial bodies, but not the madness of people.” —- Sir Isaac Newton
https://archive.org/details/@janegca