I think of this primitive Ares, stupid and uninformed and without adequate planning, as being let loose in Iraq in a blind rage but with faulty intelligence and no concern for the innocent bloodshed. To me, he is still very active in our psyche. He drives the freeways of Los Angeles in the form of road rage and he shoots an innocent nun for a statement by the Pope. He is very different from Athena, the strategist, a warrior with some humanity.

There is some of this dual nature about war in the character of Achilles, portrayed even as recently as 2004 by Brad Pitt in the movie Troy. Achilles has no loyalty to the King and refuses to fight at Agamemnon’s will. It is a memory of the old Thracian god, Ares, the nearly perfect warrior, invincible but who fights without loyalty to any higher principle. At the same time, Achilles is actually more noble than rapacious Agamemnon and has loyalty to his own moral sense, his own inner King. He chooses his fights. He is smarter than the brutish Ajax, another throwback to Ares. He loves Briseis and Patroclus and it is because of them that he finally takes action.

Don’t you find it amazing that Homer’s story has not grown tired? We are still making movies about it. The characters are still meaningful to us, although in the movie the gods are pretty much left out of it. For contemporary man the gods have become silly. We use the word myth to dismiss some concept as irrelevant and not real. We are becoming unconscious of the gods. At one point a very contemporary Brad Pitt says “the gods live through us.” But I agree with you, we modify the old stories to fit our contemporary understanding but there is something eternally true in the original story that still resonates in us as much as it must have resonated in the psyche of Alexander the Great.

People like Joseph Campbell, Freud, Jung, Bruno Bettleheim, Marie-Louise von Franz, Emma Jung, and James Hillman remind us that the most ancient gods and the original myths are as contemporary as ever. They are the material of the collective unconscious and nightly appear in our dreams. They show up in the analyst’s consulting room in the drives and character of modern people. We disown the principles for which they stand at our own peril.

We began this discussion about the naming of 2003 UB313. The IAU named the dwarf planet Eris. She is the sister of Ares, known to instigate war by the spread of rumor or jealousy. The Trojan War has its roots in the marriage between Peleus and Thetis, a sea-goddess. Peleus and Thetis had not invited Eris, the goddess of discord, to their marriage and the outraged goddess stormed into the wedding banquet and threw a golden apple onto the table and said the apple should go to whomever was the fairest. Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite each reached for the apple. To settle the matter, Zeus proclaims that Paris, prince of Troy and thought to be the most beautiful man alive, would act as the judge. Hermes takes the message to Paris and Paris agrees to act as the judge. Hera promised him power, Athena promised him wealth, and Aphrodite promised the most beautiful woman in the world. Paris, a Libran, chose Aphrodite, and she gave him Helen, wife of Menelaus as reward. We all know the rest of the story. We know it because it is close to the foundation of our Western culture. Even the most uneducated hillbilly isolated in some hollow in Appalachia America knows about the face that launched a thousand ships even though he has forgotten about Eris.

I would like to thank you for our relationship horoscope which we recieved on Sunday and read it together with my partner. It took us a few hours to go through it. As we read it, we disccused what was written and I have to say that it went to great depth. It was so good to read it together, to see each other's immediate reaction, to hold each other when the old wounds re-opened. I think that we both know now where we are coming from, why we behave the way we do, where we can support each other, how to create an open and understanding relationship.

Thank you very much again and take care

Would be most appreciative for any info. I've been haunted for years and would love to bond with another.

I can't imagine that it would be such a stretch to conceive that our society today must be somehow evolved or augmented in some way from original Greek society (as Roman society had evolved in some way past the original Greek) calling for new definitions or at least augmentations of original Sopheclean archetypal definitions. Rather than multi-layer and force fit these new emerging trends into our ancient lexicon, what I thought would be relevant and interesting would be to use newly discovered astral bodies to define these trends with current iconography. Much as the ancient Greeks did, as examined by Graves, as they continued to write, define, and expand their mythology as new facets and trends in their society grew and emerged.

I plan to buy your yearly horoscope but there seems to be no field to indicate this change in your astroshop area.

Thank you very much

Bonjour,
Je voudrai s'il vous plaît trouver les données (heure-jour-lieu) de naissance du Pape Benedict XVI. Quelqu'un aurait la gentillesse de m'aider?

Merci beaucoup.

You are doing such a fantabulous job for us all...the feedback/replies these days are a joy to read...

Muchos Gracias
Love, Peace, Happiness

I just want to say thank you for your answer and additional help. I really appreciate it and your additional help has given me much more insight into my personallity.

I am still wondering about my previous question though, which is
am I not making decisions on my own and just floating, since everything matches so perfectly? I was wondering if you could elaborate a little more or get the opinnion of one or more of your OUSTANDING astrologers. It's incredible how one event has the power to completely alter our reallity. If you don't have the time, I'll understand. Please know that I am very grateful for what I've learned. Thank you! You have no idea of the transformation I am going through.

I came across this comment, while surfing around your site:

**any force in one direction always creates an opposite force with equal intensity.**

My question is, how does the development of man fit in with this? We were once cavemen... etc...

I'm love Astro.com and am particularly impressed with the accuracy of Forecast, as well as Portrait and Partner. I do have a question about Partner: Are their any plans on doing a Synastry Chart partner option in the future for Astro.com? I am a novice, at best, when it comes to Astrology, but by most accounts, Synastry is preferred over Composite for depth and accuracy when looking at relationships. I'm thrilled with my composite chart, but I am very curious what a Synastry Chart would reveal.

Let me start by saying that I know nothing about astrology.

I am overwhelmed by your horoscopes. In several instances, the forecast matched exactly what happened in my life in extreme detail. It feels like someone has seen my life in the future and wrote it down. Your horoscope predicted all my relationship problems, including the day my girlfriend and I broke up AND REASON why, previous fights we had (when I looked back in the horoscopes) and EXACTLY my moods.

How is that possible? For as awesome as this is and powerful as this is it is a little bit scary. I know you say that we as individuals have the ultimate power of decision. Does it mean than, that I am floating and not making my own decisions, since everything matches so accurately? Is that a good/bad thing?

I have also ordered my personal profile and every single aspect of my personallity in described accurately and in detail. That was incredible and that is allowing me to see aspects that I need to improve upon.

The first comment(s),
I have been studying astrology since 1994 or so,
when there was a Neptune/Uranus/ conjunction
with Capricorn (which I am). AND, my life, and many
of my capricorn friends, experienced a MAJOR radical
shift in our inner/outer lives. Nothing was the same,
during or after this conjunction. And many of my
(lets say about 20) capricorn friends, could not take
the shift, and committed suicide. Too much rapid change.

I looked to astrology, to try to understand the very
large pattern that was occuring.....then I relaxed, and
gave in to it. An unusual rapid inner/outer transformation.
............................................................................... .......................

Since then, I look at Astrodienst every day...
(now I am a professor of ART), and I need to
know when the rattty-assed moods will come,
through-out the day (since I deal with students).
So that I am more aware of MOOD SHIFTS.
............................................................................... .........

Your site, the info here, has helped me, understand
in so many ways, the flux, the flow, of my lived experience.
I cannot really thankyou appropriately with words, how much
the information on your site, has helped me...in my life.
THANK YOU ALL, SO VERY very much.
............................................................................
The 2nd comment, is this: I have learned that looking at
this site, many times, the aspects for certain days, are in
the NEXT DAY...so I usually look ahead several days, to
see what might transpire...on a given day.
............................................................................... .....
Is this a misunderstanding on my part?? Or is it the
um, complexitiy of computer programming??
(the aspects for the 13th are sometimes listed on
the day of the 14th.?? or so) Not a problem, just...um,
curious.
............................................................................... .................
Whatever, nonetheless, I heartily, sincerely thankyou,
for all of our efforts. Astrodienst IS the only valid
astrology site on the web. I know, I have looked
at ALL OF THEM. (being an MFA ARt nerd).

So, from my heart/life/mind thankyou.

the square Saturn transits are difficult. They always strip what's not pure and try to lead you there.

My guessing about your transits would be: the squares to Venus and Mercury helped you to restrain yourself on the giving side and helped you to communicate and think facts. The square to your Sun in 7th house may have altered your relation. Or made it harder to connect to others/customers and there might have been a change about how you now do artistic work, perhaps initiated by other people feedback? And I guess you may have had a beginning emotional crisis about your appeal or of your work when Saturn was heading conjunct Moon.

Saturn square Saturn in Taurus/8 might change your way again. 8th house is also connected to the possesions/money of others (opposite house 2). It may therefore also be about giving and taking again. Some questions to think about: Does your work and your pricing reflect the highly spiritual constellation you have with Jupiter conjunct Neptune in Sagittarius and Venus in 6th house? Do you make same prices or does price vary depending on prospective customer? Do you give a part of your earnings to the needy/charity? Do you use it all for yourself? Or for shopping to look good? Do you help other artists, family and friends in their struggle as well? Have you ever tried to support a charity organization by your work? Are you satisfied with your earnings? Is it enough to pay the rent and make a living? Are you thankfull? Do you enjoy your work? Or do you long for something different? And so on.

Your square Saturn mustn't put the finger onto these topics at all. Sometimes Saturn just 'checks'. But those 'checks' may go under the skin to the bone. Since Saturn is the custodian between the inside and the outside world and how they relate to each other.

Your earning capacity IS really good but it does not help to take a few planets and look at them, the overall picture ( the whole chart) should be considered.

If a professional job is not possible, treat yourself to Liz Greene's book on Saturn (A New Look at an Old Devil) or Saturn in Transit (Erin Sullivan). Best wishes.

regarding your interpretaion of the T-cross in my birth chart. I see it a bit wider spread because there is also Saturn and Jupiter directly connected to the Sun/Mars square Uranus/Pluto and square Chiron. Saturn mirrored to the Sun (nearly equal distance from Capricorn axis) and trine Virgo ascendant and also linked to Chiron (semi-quintile). Jupiter sextile Sun and Jupiter quintile Mercury. And center of Jupiter/Saturn quincunx Uranus.

Actually I had enough chaos in childhood already. But I like creative chaos
setups (e.g. brain storming) very much. I am attracted to the sea and sailing ships (the first and only clean-energy vessels, even today!).

thank you very much for your kind reply. I was hoping to get an idea of the meaning of chiron in house 6 and pisces for itself. My opinion about explaining planets in a book is that one better should distinguish between sign qualities and house qualities. House qualities and sign qualities are different, sign qualities are fix, not so house qualities because they depend on the sign quality of ascendant (first sign) and thus cannot be intermixed or equaled.

About Chiron, my first interpretation of the Prometheus story was that he finally found a healer who took over his pain/disease and freed him. But the healer Chiron had no general cure to vanquish and eliminate those energies from himself. He should have had developed a way to clean his own energies in a ritual manner. Today, everyone working in healing should use those techniques to reconnect with one's own center - Yoga, Tai Chi, Qi Gong, breath meditation aso.

Some Chiron in 6th house themes:
Control, either too much or too little. Life, body may be controlled rigidly.
Need to organize (control?) thoughts, life and others to ward off chaos.
Relief through finally allowing for chaos, chaotic emotions. At odds with Apollo (Chiron square Sun)
Emotional issues mirrored thru physical symptoms.
12th house activities facilitate healing: solitude, activities by the sea, being drunk or chaotic, finding a way to honor Dionysus, uncovering ancestral inheritance, guided meditation.
Being open to hearing the wisdom of the body
Black Madonna as integration of body-spirit split. Make a pilgrimage to the cathedral at Notre Dame and the Black Madonna inside, imaginatively if not literally.
D.H. Lawrence’s “religion of the blood.” He’s a good read. See his poem Snake. Also Healing. Chiron is half animal - half god, an integration of the instinctual nature and the eternal, like much of Lawrence.

I've always viewed astrology as a more a source of potential (and often only half-relevant) insights, a self-indulgent source of entertainment and an emotional pacifier than anything particularly 'mystical'.

Liz Greene has changed all that.

Her powers of interpretation and divination border on the prophetic. It's downright spooky. As they say, it's not the method of divination but the diviner.

'm still not sure if I believe in 'astrology', but I believe in Liz Greene.

Liz, I'm a huge fan. Thank you. - M.

All my planets are in the sky except the Sun which is rising in 1st, closely conjunct the Ascendant. Other Fire elements include Sun is trine Mars at the 9th cusp ( air signs but fire houses and fire planets) and sextile Jupiter (fire planet angular in fire sign - Leo). Jupiter is part of a lunar stellium in Sun-ruled Leo in the 10th house (Moon, Pluto, Jupiter, Node). Among other things Liz said that is sort of a hybrid between Mozart, Sarah Bernhart, and the hero in a fairy tale. The Leo planets are sextile both ends of the Air trines at the various midpoints between planets in Gemini and Libra.

When I enter Rilke’s birth data (Dec 4, 1875, 00:15, Prague) into My Astro and get the Astrodienst chart it shows 20Virgo03 rising. When I enter the same data into Solar Fire Deluxe which uses your ephemeris it gives me 0Libra26 rising. Do you know if this is due to a local time correction that Astrodienst uses that Solar Fire may not?

you could just have meant me as well! But I have to admit that I am not Pluto in Leo generation. And if I hadn't come to terms with my parents I wouldn't have written such things about me at all. I am wondering why you get so upset about discussions about these topics? My feeling about astrology is all about this, helping people to get a better view of themselves and clearing up things from the past.

Putting all the blame to ones parents isn't a solution that is future-oriented because it doesn't solve anything and it doesn't prevent from doing exactly the same things in the same situations as ones parents did - former victim often becomes committer. A real healing can only happen inside oneself. And only after the happenings in the past are consciously processed and not repressed, declined or diverted any more (and ones survival as a child may have just required exactly this). And one has to develop/learn alternative ways of (re)acting - hardly done subliminally.

LATE SPEECH WITH MY BROTHER
Sharon Olds

my impression is that moon and jupiter are indeed some keys. Since the violence in childhood where the flow of my left side was completely blocked (because of those beatings or because I couldn't take what was on on emotional side in my family?). The quest I found myself on was (and still is) to reintegrate the emotional energies (blocked heart chakra, often missing confidence) and to get into closer contact to my inner child. Since I have that 'lack of confidence' I always tried to come up with better solutions to 'problems'. And I am focused on solutions.

Reagarding the emotional side I must have a basic confidence from the time from birth to about 3/4 years (my grandmother was very fond of me and I guess there was a deep emotional bond) when my parents moved to another town (job) and I stayed with my grandma for several weeks. Then I was taken to the new home and my grandma did not come with us. At about 1 1/2 there were two weeks in hospital (closed ward) because of a life threatening digestion problem. I guess violence did start short before. This was also the time when my mother was pregnant with my brother. Later as a child I really couldn't stand the warm emotional charisma of my grandma any more. And I escaped at around 8 or 9 from the situation reading books all over the time, mostly adventure and science fiction later more technical. I wanted to become astronaut, maybe to follow the heros of my childhood (interestingly most of these literature heros were lonely and didn't know where they belonged). Oh and I think I survived because there always was a deep love from within.
And to come back to the story you mentioned about the brothers searching for the cure for their father. I do not search (any more) for such a cure because I believe (now) that I have been put under a massive projection from my father who declines and rejects his own father even today (his parents got divorced when he was less than 3) and the emotional block of my father was so strong and his social skills so poor that it nearly killed me in childhood. My mother, too, didn't give protection bu