Part II - Astrology of the answers
My take on the astrology (tropical zodiac, WS houses with reference to MC-IC axis which are in the WS 11th/5th in this figure).
1. What was this man's occupation?
Important considerations here are:
- The figure is dominated by the t-square of Jupiter/Libra opposite a Saturn-Mars conjunction at the MC-IC axis respectively squared by the Sun/Capricorn. Jupiter/Libra signifies fairness and a balanced approach and an interest in seeing that justice is done. Saturn/Aries signifies attempts to quell violence. Mars/Aries signifies a vigorous and energetic approach to quelling the violence that often uses violence (i.e, a "fight fire with fire" approach). Essentially, this is a signature of "rough and tough justice" with Jupiter/Libra being "justice" and the Mars-Saturn conjunction in Aries being "rough and tough". This can also be seen in Branigan's role as a champion boxer noted for his toughness and also as an arbiter (Jupiter/Libra) of boxing matches (Mars/Aries) after he retired from amateur boxing. Sun/Capricorn translates Jupiter to Saturn further personalising this configuration also adding grit, determination and Branigan's reputation as a stalwart officer with such a reputation among the general public (the Sun being a general significator of being in the public eye). MC ruler Venus/Aquarius points to a humanitarian concern for the welfare of people, especially women - recall Branigan's role in dealing with domestic disputes. A lady who wished to remain anonymous gave her views on Branigan in 1985 to his biographer: "He saved a lot of marriages around here, son. More than any priest or those so-called social workers saved. He saved my marriage. My husband hasn't laid a finger on me since Mr Branigan gave him a last warning in 1959".
- The significators of the soul (rulers of Moon and Mercury) lead to the Mars-Saturn conjunction in Aries at the IC (the home - also
the homeland in figures of the eminent). This would signify an interest in matters related to violence, discipline and nastiness in general. The native would be tough, vigorous in pursuit of his objectives and demonstrate high energy levels. The configuration is tightly aspected by Jupiter/Libra (applies to Saturn by opposition) at the MC which adds the significations of justice, fairness and generally more positive outcomes.
- Moon/Scorpio/10th from Fortune brings to mind this quote from Branigan: "I know I was gifted with
some indefinable magic or psychology which commanded respect from them, because even on that May morning before my reputation as a tough guy had spread, I found I was able to approach the Animals, search them and talk down to them without being assaulted or subjected to verbal abuse." WS 12th ("bad spirit") placement makes him the recipient of negative behaviours (verbal abuse and violence) of certain sectors of the public (Moon) and the tough manner in which he dealt with this would form a key part of his reputation.
- Exaltation in Gemini appears to have manifested as the overwhelmingly positive media attention that Branigan was the subject of with ruler Mercury/Aquarius in the 3rd house ("Goddess"* also significations related to media/communications) applying to Jupiter/Libra at the MC (reputation for fairness [excerpt from newspaper article: "Sergeant Branigan, who is a Dublin man, is
one of the fairest and also one of the toughest men in the force"]).
* I have frequently seen a strong 3rd house in persons considered icons or legends (which would generally fit the traditional term "Goddess") in their own lifetime (of course, there would also have to be eminence indicators - see below). Another example would be Britain's Queen Elizabeth II who has Exaltation in Libra/10th ruled by Venus/Pisces/3rd (
http://www.astro.com/astro-databank/Eli ... of_England).
2. Was he famous?
I'm using Valens eminence indicators here.
First consideration is to assess the strength of the trigon lords of the sect light. That would be the Moon/Scorpio. Trigon rulers are:
- 1: Mars/Aries/WS 5th/IC - essentially angular and close to anticulminating at IC. Strong essential dignity (sign and bound) and in sect. 3rd from Fortune is moderately strong (a decline relative to the lot but aspects the lot).
- 2: Venus/Aquarius/3rd - Declining but witnesses the Asc. No essential dignity but in sect.
First house relative to Fortune.
- 3: Moon/Scorpio - In 12th but
10th relative to Fortune.. In sect, participating trigon lord of Scorpio.
In summary, I would describe the potential given by the above positions as moderately high (say 7 or 7.5 out 10 [10 would be an angular lot of Fortune with all trigon lords angular relative to both the Asc and Fortune]). Two of the trigon lords are placed in places of peak strength relative to Fortune (1st and 10th) and the other (Mars) is strong an angular by placement near the IC.
The next consideration is the lots used to determine eminence; that is Fortune, Spirit, Exaltation and Basis. If the rulers of these are in strong (or 'busy') places and hand over to each other, then eminence would be likely.
Fortune is in Aquarius and the ruler is in Aries which is the place of Basis. The ruler of basis is on basis (Mars/Aries). Spirit is in Libra with Jupiter (they are actually close by degrees and Jupiter (Asc ruler) lifts the native to a "larger than life" character) and the the ruler hands over to Fortune (Venus/Aquarius). The Exaltation in also hands over to Fortune (Mercury/Aquarius). All planets are in busy places (but this is somewhat mixed as described above) and the handing over of rulers of the lots is very strong.
Jim Branigan became a living legend in his own lifetime but he was only of moderate rank in the police force - his power was on the streets of Dublin and in the courts where his opinions carried great weight. The words of a Judge on the retirement of Branign were:
"I want it to be known that I consider you to be one of the pillars of the law who saw that justice was done." Interestingly, the lot of Basis is considered
a pillar of the natal chart (generally, not just in Branigan's) and all planets ultimately lead back to Aries (Mars/Aries) which is the basis in his natal chart.
3. What best describes this man's marital status?
7th is Gemini suggesting multiple marriages but the ruler Mercury/Aquarius aspects the place by superior trine from a fixed air sign. It makes marriage likely and secondly it inclines such a marriage to be stable. (Mercury is also in his own bounds and thus can effect from his own significations, one of which is marriage by rulership of 7th).
However, what seals the deal for a long and successful marriage is the application of Mercury to a superior trine of Jupiter/Libra (ruler of the 1st ? the native) at the MC/WS 11th. Venus/Aquarius in bounds of Saturn further indicates a long and stable marriage. Both Venus and Mercury are favourably aspected (WS) by the superior trine from Jupiter and witness the Mars-Saturn conjunction by a weaker inferior sextile.
4. Did he have children?
Here, I'll use Bonatti's approach which is succintly summarised by Dr. H (of Regulus Astrolgy) in his interview with Nina Gryphon:
"In Bonatti?s approach, children are promised if any significator of children (Jupiter, Venus, Moon, Mercury, Lord 5th, P.Fortune, P.Children & their lords) are located in houses favorable for children (1st, 11th, 10th, 7th). Significators must also be in the fruitful water signs or the rather fruitful signs of Taurus, Sagittarius, and Aquarius." (
http://gryphonastrology.com/blog/tag/bonatti/).
Jupiter: Located in house favourable for children (11th, Quadrant 10th). Libra not mentioned above but ruler in ?rather fruitful? Aquarius is positive.
Venus, Mercury, Fortune, P. Children: Not located in any of houses listed above (except P. Children) but are in a rather fruitful sign. Aquarius being the place of Fortune makes this sign ?busy?. Ruler is in 5th. P. Children is in 7th (8 Gemini) and ruler Mercury/Aquarius is in a rather fruitful sign, with Fortune, in own bounds and applying to a superior trine of Jupiter in a place favourable for children.
Moon: In fruitful sign of Scorpio, WS 12th but quadrant 11th. Ruler is in 5th.
Lord 5 is in 5 (WS). Mars and Saturn are here which does not look good for children (although one could argue that Mars/Aries delivers on its significations - one of which is children by house position).
We know that Branigan had four children, which I would consider as "rather fruitful". I would ascribe this "rather fruitful" status mainly to Jupiter at the MC and Mercury as ruler of Lot of Children favourably disposed.
Jumping back to Valens, he makes specific mention of the MC degree as a place signifying children when discussing a figure with Gemini rising and MC Aquarius:
"As with the H?roskopos in Gemini, the Midheaven in Aquarius by degree. This place [Aquarius], then, possesses the relation concerning activity and reputation and children, and also that concerning a foreign land and god since zodiacally it is found in the 9th from the H?roskopos . . . "
5. Which of the following best describes his health status?
Branigan was healthy and fit all his life with the exception of the period of illness that almost resulted in a leg amputation from an infection. He kept fit and active and lifted weights even into his later years.
A strong constitution can be seen a fiery rising sign whose ruler is strong (at MC, not particularly dignified but is participating trigon lord of air signs) in trigonal relationship (the Asc that is) with the vigorous and tough Mars-Saturn conjunction is Aries ? this also brought assaults from the public as part of his job (Mars ruled by Moon/Scorpio/12th).
I have seen delineations of South Node in Asc as signifying a weakening of the constitution but this was not the case here.
Looking at the Moon, its WS placement in 12th could signify Illness leading to confinement ? this only happened once ? the five week period he was in hospital recuperating from an infection after a woman kicked him in the leg.
However, Moon?s aspects are favourable ? especially the tight applying sextile to Sun/Capricorn.
Another consideration here is the Lot of Basis which concerns the foundation of fortune (see Robert Schmidt's good explanation of this in the 10th post of this thread:
http://www.skyscript.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5490 ). Branigan was clearly someone who did his job out of desire (Eros is Basis in his natal chart) despite it being dangerous (malefics on Basis) and resulting in him being assaulted occassionally. I would suggest that the ultimate effect on his health was minimised because Mars is the in-sect malefic (and rules Saturn) and Jupiter's tight opposition to Saturn.
6. Which best describes this man's longevity (for the era and economic status of the country in which he lived)?
Here I?m using the Hilaj (Hyleg/giver of life) and kadukhudhah (alcocoden/giver of years) method.
Hilaj: Moon/Scorpio
Kadukhudhah: Mercury/Aquarius
The chart is nocturnal and the Moon is in the quadrant 11th which is an acceptable position for the hilaj (although it is the WS 12th). Of the rulers of the Moon (domicile, trigon rulers and bound lord) that aspects (WS), Mercury has the greatest dignity (own bounds, trigon, in sect by position ahead of Sun in nocturnal chart) and is therefore the kadukhudhah. Moon is also separating from Mercury.
Mercury grants his greater years of 76, unaltered by a benefics or malefics (no aspects within traditional orb, trine with Jupiter is about two degrees short of being within orb).
Closely matches actual longevity of 76 years, 4 months and 16 days.
7. Did he die violently?
We know he didn't die a violent death so obviously there aren?t sufficient indicators of it in his natal chart. Indicators I'll look at are:
Moon?s configuration, 8th, 7th, 8th from Fortune and placement of the malefics.
Moon separates from Mercury/Aquarius/3rd and applies to Sun/Capricorn/2nd. Moon is in aversion to the malefics. Nothing to point to a violent death here.
8th from Fortune is Virgo and the favourable condition of ruler Mercury/Aquarius has already been described. Same for 7th.
The malefics are in Aries near the IC (WS 5th "good fortune") but neither are connected (by rulership or exaltation) to the 7th, 8th or 8th from Fortune, nor do they aspect the Moon.