Hi everyone,

I cast a chart today for a woman who asked if she would ever find a happy and sustainable relationship. At first glance, I was very happy to see that not only was L7 applying to conjunct L1, but the Moon was also translating light between them. No nasties on the angles and the Moon also applying to a distant trine to the Sun. Nice chart in other words.

Here's the rub. Venus at 10 Libra was L7 and Mars at 11 Libra was L1.

Does Vindemiatrix always put the kibosh on the possibility of a happy outcome to relationship questions? Even if there are no other negative influences in the chart to speak of?

Chart data: August 17, 1:55 pm EDT, Toronto, Canada. (Sorry I can't figure out how to post it.)

Interesting side note: In Deb's article on fixed stars on this site, she writes, The name (Vindemiatrix) is a feminised Latin deviation of the original Greek name, Provindemiator, meaning 'the Grape Gatherer' Here's the kicker -- one of the men my client is interested in is the owner of a large commercial vineyard!

Might not Vindemiatrix be in this case a reference to this man's profession, especially given that, as I say, there really aren't any terrible nasties in this chart to support the tragic implications of Vindemiatrix as the "Widow Maker"?

Tara

'the Grape Gatherer' Here's the kicker -- one of the men my client is interested in is the owner of a large commercial vineyard!

Well you know, if you hadn't looked at the star contacts then the potential of this would never have even existed. But you did look, and then what you noticed was a meaningful connection to her situation. I think that the way we notice these meaningful details is never irrelevant Tara. Maybe this means that particular man is the one for her, and she will marry him, and be happy ... (and then he has a nasty accident and makes her a widow ?? ).

Hi Tara,

It's wonderful when the connection is so clear as with the grapes and Vindemiatrix, isn't it : )

I am trying to paste in an image of the Visual Astrology (Starlight software) showing the sky for this date. I hope it comes out okay:


Vindemiatrix is the star by the right hand of Virgo. The heliacal rising of this star used to indicate the beginning of the grape harvest. Virgo is the fruitful goddess of harvest - reap what you have sown.
I know some people like Robson thought it was an evil star and connected it to becoming a widower but Bernadette Brady disagrees and states that history does not support that idea. Instead, it is a star indicating people who collect and gather things.

If you look at the image, you'll also see the Venus Mars conjunction in the constellation Virgo. Venus is very bright (44 deg. from the Sun!) and she is empowering that which she radiates, so this is adding extra power and strength to Mars and to Virgo. Very good indicators indeed.

: ) Helle

Oops - the image came out a bit larger than I expected
I'll figure it out - hopefully next time it'll be a better size.

: ) Helle

Thanks Deb and Helle.

That puts my mind at rest about what I will tell my client.

Yes I've read Brady's newsletter about the triple conjunction, which plays a key role in another horary I had last week. I saw the conjunction on August 12 - a most unusual looking "star" in the evening sky.

As a general rule then, even if there are no actual grape gatherers in the picture, I would say that Vindemiatrix does not necessarily sour an otherwise pleasant looking relationship horary.

Tara

Hi Tara,
I have another lovely example of Vindemiatrix connected to a planet: in a horary chart of buying a house, the signifcator of the house was Saturn conjunct Vindemiatrix. The house was covered with... grapevine!
regards,
Tienka

the signifcator of the house was Saturn conjunct Vindemiatrix. The house was covered with... grapevine!

Thanks Tienka, that's quite wonderful. Was it an old grapevine?

Tara