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Transit March 2002 |
Contents:
The New Transit by Kim Farnell - Editor
The first issue of Transit was published 1st February 1971, with Patrick Harding as its editor. It carried the blessings of John Addey: “May I send a Presidential blessing upon the launching of Transit and my best wishes for its future welfare and usefulness. I have no doubt that the great potential value of a regular, and fairly frequent, news letter will be quickly realised by everyone. Something less formal than the Journal has been needed for a long time and I hope that Transit will soon became a medium of free and spontaneous exchange in which all members feel they have a stake. We are much indebted to Patrick Harding, not only as one of the champions of a newsletter, but as the man who has turned it into a reality by taking on the Editorship. Bon Voyage!” Patrick Harding continued to edit Transit until14 May 1974 when he was
followed by Pam Bennett. Her assistant editor, Martin Freeman became editor from 1975-6. At this time Transit carried news of local branch activities, examination results from the Mayo school and Faculty, book reviews, requests for research data and other short news items. In November 1974 £4 would buy you a ticket to the AA’s annual Christmas dinner! By 1975 information sheets were available on courses and lectures and a speakers list was published to aid local groups. Membership lists were published so that members could make contact with each other. Pleas for help with the AA and its publications continued throughout. Some of the in jokes that appear in early issues of Transit are unintelligible to us now. Though they seemed to involve a lot of Guinness drinking! The first six months of 1976 saw a temporary death
in Transit. Janet Augustin became editor between 1976-8 followed by Charles Harvey, who edited a couple of issues in 1978 and then David Potter, who was the editor from August 1978 to February 1980. Although not featured on the cover, Anna Estaroth also worked on Transit during this period. Regular meetings and Christmas gatherings continued. Transit was appearing only every quarter at this time – at 15 degrees of each of the fixed signs! I can’t help but wonder what happened to the novel set in an astrological conference including “cameo appearances of a number of Familiar Faces” mentioned in the November 1976 issue. 1977’s conference in Cambridge would have cost you £27.50 and enabled you to listen to Michel Gauquelin, John Addey, Dennis Elwell and Alexander Ruperti amongst others. The AA’s postal library continued to operate.
The May 1979 issue reported the death of Patrick Harding, the originator of Transit. Local groups continued to increase and pleas for data for research were frequent. It would be interesting to know what became of some of these projects. Douglas Donleavy was editor from February 1980- February 1981. The tenth anniversary issue in 1981 carried a note from Charles Harvey:- “With our greatly expanding membership at home and abroad Transit seems destined to play an increasingly important role as an open forum for the free exchange of news and views…Through Transit each and every one of us can contribute our part.” The same issue carried a short note from an Olivia Barclay who wished to form a group to include “classes in simple astrology”. Mike Harding took over editorship in January 1982.
His last issue was November 1985 when it was decided to end the life of Transit. In 1989 it was decided that the AA needed a Newsletter and Tina Whitehead edited what became the AA Newsletter from 1989 to 1991. Your present editor took over in November 1991, with the help of Jackie Holding, and I produced my final issue in 1996. Nick Campion was then Transit editor from March 1996- November 1998. It was decided to reclaim the name of Transit with the July 1996 issue. Adam Smith took over as editor in January 1999 and produced his final issue in January 2002. At its meeting on 15th December 2001, at about 3 pm , London, the AA appointed me as editor. And that brings us to where we are today. This is the first issue of Transit online. While I’d clearly like everyone who reads this to be going “oooooh….”, I’d also like as many people as possible to be going “there’s my bit!” Transit can only exist with your contributions.
Please see the end of this issue for details of how to send in anything you’d like included. Or feel free to send in any comments you may have. With the new format we have plenty of space and can include illustrations, photographs and charts to accompany the articles. Letters, comments, requests for help, news about research projects, reviews of astrological events you’ve attended-practically anything related to astrology and astrologers is welcomed. My apologies in advance to anyone who has worked on previous issues and is not included above. Or for any errors – I’ll gladly carry any necessary corrections in the next issue.
Media Watch by Nick Campion
Please send any clippings, cassettes and videos relating to astrology in process in the media for the archives to me at 51 Bellevue Crescent, Bristol BS8 4TF, UK. You can email me at ncampion@caol.demon.co.uk All tapes will be copied and returned. Also, please let me now if you are yourself doing anything in the media concerned with astrology.
January saw its share of high profile uninformed criticism of astrology. There's nothing wrong with criticism of astrology, but it's a shame that astrology's most prominent critics often get the wrong end of the stick. Some, though, are more relaxed than others. The first article was penned by Martin Rees, Astronomer Royal, in the Sunday Times New Review (p. 4.8) on 6 January 2002. In an interesting departure from the hard line taken by Richard Dawkins he was quoted as saying that 'I think the scientific basis of astrology is non-existent, but unlike some of my colleagues I'm relaxed about astrology's pervasiveness. It seems a near-harmless frivolity and to crusade against it would simply reinforce the view that scientists are over-solemn'.
Compared to Rees' measured tones, journalist Thomas Sutcliffe's full page denunciation of astrology in the Independent (9 Jan 2001, Review, p. 1) was a howl of rage. Sutcliffe's primal scream hit every clichéd target: Jonathan Cainer earns millions, the planets are too far away to influence us, and so on. It's worth pointing that Sutcliffe did absolutely no research beyond reading a few sun sign columns and talking to a sceptic or two. Evidence-free journalism! Still, no doubt Sutcliffe is very pleased with himself. The complete disinterest of most astrologers in replying to these attacks may be an indication of the fact that they are perceived as irrelevant. The Independent published one response - by John Etherington on 11 Jan.
While the ' up-market broadsheets' were running new-year attacks on astrology, the Daily Mail revealed tabloid support for it by running a substantial extract from Derek and Julia Parker's latest volume.
Light news reports on astrology included the story that two lottery winners had their wins 'written in the stars' (Daily Telegraph 29 December 2001, p 13) and that, (and we don’t know if this is true), within the last decade a jury tried to reach a verdict using a defendants birth chart (Sunday Times, 6 Jan 2002). Many astrologers, though, would say that a birth chart cannot decide matters of guilt and innocence.
Celebrity acceptance of astrology was revealed by Penelope Cruz, star of the movie Vanilla Sky, who confided to the Sunday Times magazine (6 Jan 2002, p. 33), that 'I'm more tough than sweet'. The reason, she said, might be because she is Spanish and a Taurus, a star sign known for its stubborness'.
Royals have long been devoted followers of astrology, and never more so than in southeast Asia. According to a Reuters press release dated 30 Jan, a recent issue of the Bangkok post reported that Thailand's Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn married in secret last year, wearing a tracksuit and slippers after his astrologers, Buddhist monks, told him to hold a low-key wedding. The forty-nine year old prince has two daughters from previous marriages and a pretty bad public profile due to his philandering ways. He said that the astrologers had warned that putting too much effort into the wedding would backfire, so he married Srirasmi Mahidol na Ayudhya, 30, in a secret ceremony. In his own words, 'That day we were dressed very casually in T-shirts, tracksuits and slippers at the Nonthaburi palace. We were sitting on the floor in the living room when the district chief came in, also dressed very casually, with papers for us to sign'. The prince, who rarely speaks to the press, said the marriage ceremony, performed by the king, was kept secret and still refuses to name the date, presumably because his rivals' astrologers may use it to find weaknesses to use against him.
From the Australian newspaper The Courier-Mail comes a story that Geminis are 'most accident-prone drivers'. The story reports that 'A new survey of Australian accident insurance [by Suncorp Metway, based on 160,000 car accident insurance claims over the last three years] suggests that Geminis are the most likely to have a crash. The survey of Australian accident insurance claims shows Taurean and Piscean drivers come in second and third place. The survey shows that Capricorns are least likely to have accidents. "Geminis, typically described as restless, easily bored and frustrated by things moving slowly, had more car accidents than any other sign," Warren Duke, Suncorp's national manager of personal insurance, told The Courier-Mail. Taureans are thought to be stubborn and inflexible, Pisceans are risk-takers and dare-devils, while Capricorns are generally thought of as patient, he added. The full list, starting with the most accident-prone star sign, is as follows: Gemini, Taurus, Pisces, Virgo, Cancer, Aquarius, Aries, Leo, Libra, Sagittarius, Scorpio, Capricorn. The company isn't planning to base its premiums on people's star sign, we are told. (see http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_518078.html?menu=news.latestheadlines )
A big story in the USA, which the British tabloids missed, concerned the case of astrologer
Vicki Hill, who testified against the 'astrology-bomber' in Fremont, CA, and is in line to share a third of a $90,000 reward. For a report on this story see
http://www.theargusonline.com/Stories/0,1002,1968%257E364071%257E83%257E%257E,00.html
And lastly, from the Archers, the popular BBC Radio 4 soap opera, February 2001 (we didn't get the exact date).
The scene: Jolene, mother of Fallon, is reading the horoscopes for Gemini out to her lover, Sid Perks, the pub landlord.
Sid: 'If astrologers are so clever how come there's nothing in there for Fallon. She's a Gemini. "There's no activity in any house. You are suffering from a hangover"'.
Jolene (defensively): 'It's just a laugh'.
World News March/April 2002 by Jenni Dean Harte
Pluto retrograde
Pluto’s Rx stations occurs just hours before the Spring Equinox opposite Moon/Node and square Mercury—but it’s also trine Venus who played a big part in the first two months of 2002 (see below)…seems Pluto’s got some serious reviewing in mind this year and women will be very much involved. Doncha think it’s interesting that Pluto is the only retrograde planet in March and April? All the other planets are going ahead full speed…just Pluto retrograde…a powerful kick-off to the celestial year.
Celestial Seasonings – Venus and the Sun
Venus’s stint as a running buddy with the Sun in Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces during first two months of 2002 kept women in the headlines and item after item that followed in all the media. Mars in Aries from middle of January took a beating during the Capricorn stint—as Jupiter (in Cancer) moved back to oppose Chiron (in Capricorn)—including lamentation of the ‘devaluation’ and ‘downsizing’ of men, blamed for the most part on the resurgence of feminism in the mid 20th century and the fact that 20 and 20 something women—whose mothers were the pioneers this time—no longer have to rely on men for money or conception. In March she begins to pull away from the Sun but as a cosmic reminder, whenever Venus gets too far away from the Sun she turns back on her tracks almost as if to give the Sun a chance to resume the superior position—so to speak.
So what’s Venus been up to while she was still cozying up to the Sun…no problem finding it, there was page after page of women in the news around the Full Moon on 28th January…like: Debra Veal 26, the English woman who completed rowing the Atlantic Ocean alone in late January after her team-mate-husband, Andrew, got seasick, freaked out and abandoned ship in October two weeks into the journey; Wafa Idris 27/28?, a dedicated Palestinian care worker and the first female suicide bomber who killed herself, an 81 year old man and injured 100 others in Jerusalem on 27th January; and 26 year old Amy Gehring, a small-town Canadian supply (temp) teacher working in England who, in early February, was acquitted of sexually assaulting a teenage male student (the jury was not told she’d already had similar problems after being dumped by her rich fiance)..Soon after her acquital but soon after, she admitted to the tabloid press (no doubt needs the money, she can’t teach any more!) she DID have sex with another student. Couldn’t find data for any of these 3 but they’re all in their late 20’s and all the action end of January or early February 2002! Still, interesting from the Sun/Venus (conjunct Neptune, trine stationary Saturn) point of view.
Women’s Rights in Turkey
Turkey: 29th October 1923, 20:30 EET (-2), Ankara, 39 N 56, 32 E 52. Asc 8 Cancer. Source: Book of World Horoscopes Campion
As the press remained focused on the war against terrorists, Turkey quietly modified its civil laws concerning women’s rights—laws regarding their status have changed dramatically. Since 1926 the husband has been recognised as the legal head of household and his word was law but new laws now grant equal status within marriage, allows women to seek employment without a husband’s consent and, if she wishes, to retain her maiden name (hyphenated with the husband’s). It also raises the age for marriage from 15 to 18. However centuries old traditions mean that it’s unlikely many women will benefit from the changes, especially with regard to divorce—very rare in Turkey. And there’s a catch—the new laws apply only to those married after 1st January 2002 and then only if the husband agrees to the new provisions. Women in the largely Kurdhish south-east are probably unaware of their new rights, even less so if
they don’t speak Turkish. On 1st Jan 2002, the tr Moon was in the last degree of Cancer Turkey’s solar arc Saturn-0-Mercury opp natal Pluto from the 7th house. But the transits on the day show the tr Sun in the 7th and tr Venus exactly on the Des with tr Mars exactly on the MC so while these laws may in theory give women new rights they’re more likely to have been implemented because of Turkey’s desire to join the European Union. Most likely, tradition will prevail.
Euro News
It’s here but may be struggling soon after the Equinox. A potent Full Moon at 8 Libra on 28th March picks up the angles of the Euro (and the UK)—the Sun Moon opposition falls exactly on its Asc/Desc axis. This in itself is probably be cause for worry but it indicats the public mood about the common currency in those EU countries not yet using the Euro. But with tr Chiron closing in on the Euro’s IC and nearing conjunction with it’s Sun, it’s problems are just beginning. Tr Jupiter on the MC (and the mundane Full Moon MC) opposing tr Chiron is bound to heighten concern about over-valuation and inflation and parity with the $.
Where?
If I didn’t know better (?) I’d swear an astrologer had given advice to the Economist Forecast 2002 section (22nd December 2001). Some pretty remote places, not in the news eye at all, have been singled out as hot spots and their list looks a lot like the one I’ve complied of countries hit by eclipses and other lunations or major planetary activity (more of which in WN May/June).
Naru
Fer instance…Nauru (ever hear of it?) a tiny, remote island in the Pacific Ocean east of Papau New Guinea, once a natural paradise. The people of Nauru—who have been serial-colonised by Germany, Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Japan since 1888—finally achieved independence in 1968 (with special commonwealth membership). In 1968 there was plenty of money to go around and the locals didn’t have to work—phosphate mining, a natural resource, was a rich provider. Now, with tr Neptune on it’s Sun—after a century of strip-mining for those phosphates—the island is almost uninhabitable (strip mining is unusually destructive). The New Moon on 14 March falls near natal Chiron opp Nauru’s Pluto at 23 Virgo followed by the loaded Full
Naru: 31st Jan 1968, 0:00 (-12) 00 S 32, 166 E 55, Asc 28 Libra. Source: Book of World Horoscopes – Campion
Moon on 28 March, which picks up Nauru’s natal Venus in Cap (3rd) (tr Chiron conj Venus) square Saturn in Aries (6th) and tr Sun conj Saturn, the money’s finally dried up. Expect to hear more about Nauru in 2002.
Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend?
Years ago WN mentioned advertising on the bottom on a pint glass (Neptune in late Capricorn)…but that was nothing compared to this latest wheeze. Graff, a company known for large diamonds (Saturn), has teamed up with De Beers, the diamond mining (Pluto) company and LVMH, the luxury goods company to produce the ultimate snob advertising. The team intends to invest $400 million (!) to create a new brand name which will be etched on diamonds! But Time Magazine, 4th February 2002, says it doesn’t think even rich people will be terribly interested in a flash logo that can only be read with a magnifying glass. This is surely a signature of the current transiting trine between transiting Saturn and Neptune and perhaps we’ll be hearing more about this trendy new advertising—Pluto in Sag/Saturn in Gemini—ploy at their next opposition in May. Personally it just sounds like another way of god telling people they’ve got too much money. $400 million would go along way to alleviating suffering in plenty of places around the globe…but no…and who’s their market?…those young successful athletes and show biz types dumb enough to waste hard cash on pointless expensive trinkets—who else would buy ‘em?
Speakin’ of Big Bucks
On 11th February early in the morning as Mercury was rising, Saturn trined Neptune/Moon, Mars trined Pluto and Venus was with the Sun and Uranus square the MC, something like $4 to$6 million worth of currency was stolen from a British Airways Van at Heathrow Airport after it was unloaded after a flight from Bahrain. The general consensus is that is musta been an inside job and very well planned too…although the burnt out van’s been found, there’s no sign of the money. (Maybe when tr Jupiter opposes the Asc with the Sun and Mercury in July?) C’mon horary people, we’ve got all the data…maybe there’s a
juicy reward! Big Bucks Boosted: 11th February 2002, 6.20-6.25, London, 51 N 30, 00 W 10, Asc 25 Capricorn. Source: BBC 1 TV and Evening Standard
Conjoined Dilemma
I don’t know how many cases of conjoined (Siamese) twins have been reported elsewhere in the past couple of years but several have made the news in England during that time. Perhaps Saturn in Gemini is the calling card but in the Daily News 5th Feb, there was a heartening article about the Mowatt Twins and it was loaded with useful data. The twins were delivered on 13th September 2001 by caesarean section, happily sidestepping the publicity frenzy that might otherwise be expected due to the attacks on the WTC and Pentagon filling the news. The girls were joined at the spine but as they shared no organs it was decided they could be separated when they were strong enough. On 10th December 2001 the op began at 9.30 am and was successfully completed at 7.30 pm. Needless to say their parents were delighted. The transits are lovely stuff…at separation, the tr Moon had crossed the Asc and tr Asc exactly conjunct their Moon and tr Venus was exactly opposite tr Saturn. Natal Venus was a in exact conjunction to natal Sun and tightly opposed natal Uranus. The couple of months between their birth and separation allowed Mars (conj South Node at birth) to move past the natal IC, Neptune and Uranus, oppose natal Venus and move gently into Pisces (trine natal North Node). Now that’s a success story! Sanchai and Eman Mowatt: 13th September 2001, 10.02 am, Birmingham, 52 N 30, 01 W 50, Asc 25 Libra 04. Separated: 10th December 2001, 19.30, Birmingham.
Welcome Back! – Liza Minelli
—who you may remember suffered from a number of serious health problems a year or so ago (including a stroke, first Jupiter then Saturn on natal Uranus)—has returned with two new titanium hips, her indomitable personality and plenty of laughs. Graham Norton, Channel 5’s camp, fast-mouthed presenter scored major kudos when she appeared on his show in late January. But the real reason she’s making the rounds as pr Saturn has reached the IC is to talk about her upcoming marriage in March—as tr Venus crosses her Sun, Venus and Mercury—to concert producer David Gest. One media wag described the wedding attendants as the Munster Family—it includes Elizabeth Taylor (matron of honour), Michael Jackson (who’s giving the bride away) and Whitney Houston’s gonna sing.1200 others have been invited. Good luck to her. Liza Minelli: 12th March 1946, 7:58 PSt, LA, 34 N 04, 118 W 15, Asc 1 Taurus 19. Source: Frank Clifford
Goodbye
Princess Margaret: born 21st August 1930, 21.22 (BST), Glamis Castle, Scotland, 56 N 36, 03 W 00, Asc 6 Aries 08--died 9th February 2002, 6.30 GMT, Buckingham Palace, 51 N 30, 00 W 08, Asc 26 Capricorn.
More Goodbyes from Theatreland
Death also comes to things and in the first 6 months of 2002 three of the longest running stage productions will come to an end: Cats and Starlight Express, both Andrew Lloyd productions, have entertained and delighted audiences for decades as has The Fantasticks, the longest running musical in history. Saturn trine Neptune opposite Pluto. They’ll be gone but not forgotten.
Letter of Thanks from Branka Stamenkovic
October
5, 2001.
TO: Chair of the AA of GB
Dear Sir,
I'd like to express my deepest gratitude for the scholarship that the Astrological Association of Great Britain gave me for attendance of the AA Conference in Cirencester this September. If it wasn't for this gracious act of help, my dream of
attending an astro conference, for the first time since my astrological studies started 14 years ago, would have stayed on the level of fantasy for at least another decade. My country has been through hell, and is only making its first small steps towards leaving it. Thank you for helping me make a big leap instead.
I enjoyed every minute of my stay in Cirencester, regretting only the impossibility of cloning myself to be able to attend ALL four lectures at once, but had to choose just one at the time.
Astrologers I've met there were incredibly hospitable and generous, making my suitcase half a dozen of gifted books heavier on my way back to Belgrade.
Upon my return to Belgrade, I've "reported" about my Cirencester experiences in front of some 40 Belgrade astrologers that regularly meet every Friday. I also had some very good news for them, since my stay in Cirencester resulted in agreements for some American and UK astrologers to come and lecture for us at the next Balkan Conference.
Again, thank you. This has been the most valuable and generous gift I have ever received in my life from anyone. I only hope that one day I'll be in a situation to repay all the wonderful things you've done for me.
With love and traditional Serbian three kisses,
Branka Stamenkovic
Belgrade, Serbia, Yugoslavia
Data Section by David Meadows
Prince Harry
Who’s been a naughty prince then? The latest episode in the Windsor saga is the news that Prince Harry has recently been indulging in drink and drugs, despite being carefully (?) chaperoned by bodyguards. Since the death of his mother, Princess Diana in 1997, he has had some rather harsh progressions and transits and, if one cares to look at what is happening to his birthchart at the moment, one might say he’s “not quite out of the maze” just yet.
PRINCE HARRY 15th September 1984 Paddington, London 51N30 0W10 16: 20 BST (15:20 GMT). Ascendant 11 Capricorn.
Source: Announcement from Buckingham Palace.
Bee Gees
The Bee Gees, brothers Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb, were each awarded the CBE in the recent New Year’s Honours List. They first came to our attention in the 1960’s when they returned from Australia, whence they ahd emigrated in the 1950’s. In the late 1970’s they wrote the music for Saturday Night Fever and the soundtrack album, the most successful ever, sold over 30 million copies. After many ups and downs they are riding the crest of the wave once more, having discovered a successful hit formula. Like David Bowie and Cliff Richard they have managed to stay in the spotlight for a very long time because they have constantly reinvented themselves.
BARRY GIBB 1st September 1946 Douglas, Isle of Man 54N09 4W28 9:00 BST (8:00 GMT) Ascendant 4 Libra
Source: Tashi Grady quotes his mother for birth record.
ROBIN AND MAURICE GIBB 22nd December 1949 Douglas, Isle of Man 54N09 4W28 Robin at 3:15 GMT Ascendant 0 Scorpio and Maurice at 3:50 GMT Ascendant 6 Scorpio.
Source: Edwin Steinbracher from birth certificates. Note that the twin’s Suns are at 29 57 and 29 59 Sagittarius respectively.
Iris Murdoch and Judi Dench
The film Iris, the story of writer Iris Murdoch and her marriage to critic John Bayley, seems set to scoop many awards. Murdoch as a young woman is played by Kate Winslet and the older Murdoch is played by Judi Dench. Iris Jean Murdoch was educated at Badminton School and Somerville College, Oxford. She worked in the Civil Service before becoming a lecturer in philosophy. Her first novel Under the Net was published in 1954 and this was followed by other successes such as The Bell (1958), A Severed Head (1961) and The Sea, the Sea (1978), which won the Booker prize. Hre novels have been described as psychological detective stories, although some critics found her later work a little pretentious. She was made a Dame in 1987 and eventually succumbed to Alzheimer’s Disease, dying on 8th February 1999.
IRIS MURDOCH 15th July 1919 Dublin 52N20 6 W15 8:00 GMT Ascendant 29 44 Leo (although her sharp, clipped voice would suggest Virgo rising).
Source: Tim Eshelman quotes Astrological Journal August 1967, “data from her”.
JUDI DENCH 9th December 1934 York Time not known.
Source: Various reference books give the same information. (I wrote to her some years ago but she never replied – DF).
Nigel Hawthorne
We say a sad farewell to Sir Nigel Hawthorne (died 26th December 2001). Fame came to Nigel Hawthorne rather late. He shot to success as the urbane civil servant Sir Humphrey Appleby in the comedy series Yes, Minister, which was Margaret Thatcher’s favourite TV programme, and its sequel Yes, Prime Minister. He also had a huge success as King George III in the film The Madness of king George, for which he won an Oscar nomination.
NIGEL HAWTHORNE 5th April 1929 Coventry 53N25 1W50 7:00 GMT Ascendant 26 Taurus. Died 26th December 2002 (data Guardian 27 Dec 2001).
Source: Birth letter from him to David Fisher. Death The Guardian 27th December 2001.
Peggy Lee
Another sad farewell. Peggy Lee (born Norma Deloris Egstrom) was one of the greatest popular singers of the 20th century. She appeared in films during the 1950’s but her acting career was rather short-lived, in spite of receiving an Oscar nomination for her role in the 1920’s based jazz/gangster film Pete Kelly’s Blues. She wrote (and sang) the songs for Walt Disney’s The Lady and the Tramp and in later years there was an acrimonious court case against the Disney Corporation over unpaid royalties from those songs. The song one most associates with Peggy Lee is Fever, but she was equally as good with wistful songs such as The Folks Who Live on the Hill.
PEGGY LEE 26th May 1920 Jamestown, North Dakota 46N54 98W42 12:45 CST (18:45 GMT) Ascendant 13 Virgo. Died 21 January 2002, 20:00 (PST), Bel Air, CA, 34 N 05, 118 W 27
Source: Birth Contemporary American Horoscopes from birth certificate. Death her official website.
The Federation of Australian Astrologers International Conference
Review by Chris Turner, Overseas Liaison Officer, FAA Inc.
The
Federation of Australian Astrologers' 14th Biannual International Conference
was held in Sydney from 17 January to 21 January 2002. Held at the magnificent
St. Joseph's College, a prestigious boys' boarding school in one of the
prettiest areas of Sydney, the weather and the ambience were perfect.
It was warm, and if in the middle of the day it got too hot for some of
the visitors from colder climes, the magnificent gardens, fountains and
courtyards of the college always managed to provide a cool quiet private
nook as an escape.
One hundred and twenty delegates from all over the world took advantage of the accommodation, and a further one hundred to one hundred and fifty attended the lectures each day. There were three streams to choose from, plus pre and post conference workshops.
The lectures were all above standard, and there was not a single complaint about either the lectures themselves or the lecturers. The organisers could not keep up with the tape sales before the end of the conference, and I suspect will be filling orders for the next six months.
From the US we were educated and entertained by Michael Lutin, Ray Merriman, Dennis Harness, Kim Rogers-Gallagher, and Jeff Jawer. From Europe we had Lyn Bell, from the UK Deborah Houlding and from New Zealand (whom nobody knew whether to classify as local or overseas) came Hamish Saunders and Carol Squires. Of course the cream of Australian astrologers, such as Brian Clark, Glennys Lawton, Alia Ryder, Christine Broadbent, Jessica Adams Lynda Hill and many others also lectured.
The Trade Fair was a huge success, and perhaps the most popular "stall" was that of a pair of young masseurs, whose chairs were constantly occupied. A tattoo artist (temporary tattoos) also had a constant stream of clients, and the banquet seemed to be filled with dragons, rune figures and cleavage. A costume shop around the corner from the college, meant that Arthurian knights and damsels delighted the eye wherever you looked.
There was only one Southern Cross Award given this year, and I was the truly) honoured recipient. Awarded for "Community Service", the conference organisers were caught short and did not have an actual award to hand to me.
Instead to everyone's delight, I was presented with a stuffed toy monkey in recognition of the work I have done with chimpanzees. Michael Lutin who presented me with the award, remarked, "Don't laugh! All those chimpanzees now have very successful practices!" My eight-month old granddaughter thinks it is by far the best trophy I could have been given.
This year for the first time, instead of taping the lectures, they were cut straight to CD. This has meant higher quality, better keepability, and all the beginnings and endings of the lectures are intact! Visit http://www.faainc.com.org/ for a full list of CD's and an order form. Tapes are also available, if you haven't yet caught up with technology.
All in all, this was a laid back, relaxing rewarding conference, as only can be experienced in Sydney, and I am sure I am not the only one who hopes it is not too long before we are able to play host again.
The 15th Biannual FAA Conference will be held in Melbourne, in January 2004.
Harvey Day Review by Dione Smith
June 22, 1940, at 8:16 AM GMT, in Little Bookham, England, 51N16; 00W23.
In bright spring sunshine we met for Charles Harvey Day. The sun shone at 27 Aquarius, an astrology degree, and it conjoined the Sun of the first Urania Trust Conference organized by Charles. With Venus in Pisces trine Jupiter in Cancer there were happy reunions of friends and a loving remembrance of Charles' qualities and interests.
All the talks were of high quality with affectionate anecdotes about Charles. After being bitten by a dog he arrived late for a meeting; 'Thank goodness the bite was to my
right hand so I could look at my watch and see the time!' said Charles. Julia Parker recalled Charles receiving his Diploma in 1966 and democratizing the Faculty.
Tim Addey discussed Charles Platonic Philosophy and affiliation to the Universal Order, which led Charles to adopt Plato's phrase 'Time is a flowing image of eternity'. Mike Harding gave an outstanding talk about what makes one language more real than another. Nick Campion spoke of Charles and the Mundane, and Roy Gillett of World Developments in Financial Astrology to both of which Charles made such an important contribution. Christeen Skinner remembered the encouragement Charles gave her over marrying her musical skills with astrology and spoke of the importance of our using different techniques.
Babs Kirby discussed Jung's view of Astrology, the subject of her MA dissertation, in which Charles expressed enthusiastic interest; Pat Harris spoke of the importance of accurate birth times in astrological research; Nick Kollerstrom gave us the alchemical meaning of Sun and Gold. Charles' psychological interest was splendidly recognized by Darby Costello on the importance of Mars when Pluto erupts; Clare Martin on the Astrologer as Magician/Alchemist and Sue Tompkins on how we speak and enact our chart.
A star in the Constellation of the Great Bear has been named after Charles for which Suzie Harvey thanked the UT. Charles was always keen to have astrologers come together; he brought us together again and we had a memorable day.
Astrologers Memorial Website by Donna Cunningham
One of my volunteer projects is The Astrologers' Memorial Website, a virtual museum/biography collection on the internet, which preserves the memory of 20th Century Astrologers who have passed on. The memorials for various individuals, some 200 of them, include their photos, a record of their work, and their birth information.
Naturally, many of the classic British astrologers are included, but because of my geographic distance, I am at a disadvantage in finding their photographs. That is where I wondered if someone in the AA would be willing to lend a hand. Those whose photos are missing from the collection include Margaret Hone (the very first astrology book I and many of my generation worked with!), Jeff Mayo, Vivian Robson, Bessie Leo, Rupert Gleadow, and Isabelle Pagan.
In case you would enjoy a look at the Memorial,
you can see it at the link:
http://solsticepoint.com/astrologersmemorial/
It is a massive site and done all in my spare time, thus it is in no way comprehensive, but I welcome additions from others, including tributes, suggestions of names, and corrections of errata. Thank you for your time and any help you can give me. Please forward this information to anyone who might have some of the materials needed.
Death of Zach Matthews
We are very sorry to report the death of Zach Matthews on 19 January 2002. Zach was a leading light in the early days of the AA and was editor of the Journal from 1972 to 1991 (sometimes with collaborators, such as Joyce Collin-Smith, Pam Crane and, latterly, Suzi Harvey, who succeeded him). Zach won profound respect for his principled opinions, admiration for his skilful editing, and deep affection for his unswerving loyalty to the AA. We would like to invite all those who have fond memories of Zach to submit them to the editor, Gerasime Patilas, at gerasime@patilas.freeserve.co.uk for publication in the May Journal. Deadline 18 March 2002. If you can send your contributions earlier all the better.
Research Data Request
A researcher hoping to begin unravelling the genetic code embedded in natal horoscopes seeks timed birth data of men together with the information as to whether or not they are colour blind. If you can help please contact Mavis Klein on 01223 412 830 email mavisklein@onetel.net.uk
Submissions to Transit
All contributions to Transit are welcome. We will publish
information about groups, societies and course as well as more general
news about astrology – and your opinions. If at all possible please submit
your contribution by email to kim@kimfarnell.co.uk.
Alternatively contributions may be sent through the post to Kim Farnell,
Transit Editor, 54 Sprules Road, Brockley, London SE4 2NN, preferably
on disc as an ASCII or Text only file. Otherwise please make your contribution
as clear and neat as you can.
Copyright of signed articles and correspondence remains with the author, except that the Astrological Association retains the right to republish the material in full, on one occasion, without further permission of the author. Any opinions stated are those of the author, not of the Astrological Association.
Transit aims to publish articles of general and specific
interest to all astrologers. It is published bi-monthly and available
free to all members. Contributors are at liberty to express such opinions
or advocate such astrological techniques as they wish. The publication
of these does not imply that they are endorsed by the editor or the Council.
The deadline for contributions to the May 2002 issue is 10th
April 2002. Genuinely urgent or newsworthy items may be submitted for
publication at a later date.