Margot Fonteyn

Cinema is an educating media, not just entertaining, and BBC is especially invaluable in providing biopics of exceptional quality. I just watched a film about Margo Fonteyn, and her miserable family life attracted my “scientific curiosity”.

Even the brief wiki info speaks for itself. “During the late 1930s and early 1940s, Fonteyn had a long relationship with composer Constant Lambert which did not lead to marriage. In 1955, Fonteyn married Dr. Roberto Arias, a Panamanian diplomat to London and playboy. Their marriage was initially a rocky one due to his infidelities. In 1964, a rival Panamanian politician shot Arias, leaving him a quadriplegic for the rest of his life”. The relationship with Nuriev, who was “notoriously impulsive and did not have much patience with rules, limitations and hierarchical order”, ended up in separation. To pay medical bills for her paralised husband, Fontayn should go on tours at quite elderly age, and “during Fonteyn's absence from Panama on tour as a ballerina, a socialite named Anabella Vallarino would move into the house as his shadow wife and move out again before Fonteyn's return.”

Reading all this, I recalled Cardano’s aphorism about affliction of family life. In Lilly’s edition, it is N 2.75: “A prime cause of men leading single live is the combustion of the Moon in their nativities with Saturn, or eminently afflicted by him, so in women if a planet be combust or the Sun in Taurus greatly afflicted.”

My immediate hypothesis was that Fontayn's Sun should be afflicted as Cardano described. And here is her natal chart, with Sun in Taurus in conjunction with detrimented Mars on Algol and in square with detrimented Saturn.

Cardano's "plagiarism"

There is a known story how Tartaglia (shown above) accused Cardano of “plagiarising” his results on cubic equations that Cardano published in Ars Magna in 1545.

It is easy to find out that the solution was first obtained by Scipione del Ferro, and his pupil Antonio Mario Fiore met Tartaglia in a mathematical disputation in 1535 (those were popular and provided good income for scholars). Tartaglia derived his solution during that disputation and considered it as a great treasure and did not want to disclose when later Cardano asked him. Finally, in March 1539, Tartaglia told Cardano the derivation in an encrypted poem and required that Cardano would never tell this secret anybody.

However, later Cardano and his pupil Ferrari found Ferro’s work in Bologna, kept by Ferro’s pupil and son-in-law Annibale Nave. Furthermore, Ferrari solved quartic equations under Cardano’s supervision. After that, Cardano decided that there was no point in keeping the cubic equations secret, and he published the whole research in Ars Magna, giving proper credit to both del Ferro and Tartaglia.

Tartaglia protested publicly, with great anger and insults. Ferrari decided to protect his teacher and challenged Tartaglia for a public disputation. On 10 August 1548, the disputation was set to discuss 31 problems that contestants posed to each other in previously sent letters, and they met in front of governor of Milan, who had been named judge. Ferrari was declared a winner.

Here is the chart for the disputation set for noon in Milan. The birthdate of Tartaglia is unknown – however, we know that Cardano’s ruler of ascendent is Venus, which is strong in this chart, and his ruler of 7th Mars is here in detriment. Also, transit Saturn forms a square with Cardano’s natal Sun, in retro motion – this means that in the last months his life was not easy due to the unfair accusations.

In fact, modern academics admit that Cardano’s publication of the cubic equation solution, with given credits to both authors (del Ferro and Tartaglia) and his pupil’s results on the quartic equations (also with proper credit), are one of the earliest examples of honest citation and fair research, which became well and widely known for the common benefit – and nowadays this solution is named “cardano formula”. Tartaglia wanted to keep it for himself, probably for a profit in disputations. Who was an honest scientist?

Cinemundane-II

Yesterday, Jupiter moved from the sign of his detriment Capricorn into Aquarius. Jupiter’s transit in Capricorn took more than a year, and as I wrote earlier, I expected his influence on cinema to be rather disappointing: this was time to make money rather than create masterpieces.

One can hardly recall a masterpiece among all those hancocks of 2008, and even Mamma Mia, with great ABBA songs and ugly voices of the actors, was an artificial production whose main aim was to earn (certainly very favourable for ABBA sales).

All the major blockbusters came out to be too dark, secondary and unimpressive. In the BBC annual film review, I noticed phrase “failed to make much of impression”, which is quite indicative.

I might have called a masterpiece the film released last week, “The Reader”, but even this one is an illustration of the Jupiter in Capricorn: Cardano says on this constellation in aphorism 2.45 of Lilly’s edition about “power under pretence of justice” with “unfortunate issue” – come and see the film to understand how true this is.

Now, as Jupiter is in Aquarius (and weak, being peregrine yet), look at the oncoming movies to find which of them are weird enough to indicate the planetary change…

Update of February 23. I was glad to see Kate Winslet finally - and so well deserved - collecting this year's Bafta, Golden Globes and, today, the Oscar. Well done to her Venus on Regulus, at last!

Mars-Ketu conjunction

If you wonder about the recent strange events, like the fire in the Universal Studios or crazy pyroman burning 20 cars in Moscow or US army killing own allies in Pakistan, note that Mars in Leo is approaching conjunction with Ketu.

This transit is less heavy & long than Saturn-Ketu conjunction, but it is quite dramatic and violent, especially so because of the fiery nature of Leo.

It would be silly to list all the recent fires and tornados, and any opponent would point that there are always accidents around the world. However, Mars-Ketu should produce rather weird and noticeable events; therefore do not be surprised in the next week or two.

Since this is the time of Euro08, there might be fans’ clashes with unusual violence as well.

Later in June, Mars will be separating from Ketu and coming to Saturn. That time, a powerful earthquake is plausible. But locating it is another, more difficult task.

As Cardano said in his aphorism on weather, “whenever Saturn is joined to the Sun, the heat is remitted and the cold increased, which alone may be a sufficient testimony of the truth of Astrology”. I can only add that transits like the current one of Mars with Ketu too confirm the truth of the art. Watch the news.

UPDATE of June 30.

Just 2 days after the post on June 12, an earthquake of magnitude 7.5 occurred in Japan. The mean return interval for earthquakes above 7.5 is about 100 days, globally. It means that such a powerful earthquake happens once in three months or more, on average. Moreover, since the transit involving Saturn has not finished yet, I expect there will be another one, also powerful.

Let's look at other world events that happened in two weeks since I wrote the post about Mars-Ketu conjunction. Yes, accidents happen everywhere around the globe - let's look at the "unusual". There was a fire in the Universal Studios – that was unusual, because fire alarm systems in industrial estates (especially so famous and significant) are usually advanced. Yet, it burnt out. Then there was a series of car burns in Moscow, some crazy pyroman did it just for fun, dozens of cars in the capital. Then something worse started: ignited by dry lightning forest fires in California (later the same happened in Sakhalin). This is why I warned about the conjunction of Mars and Ketu (Ketu symbolically "amplifies" the power of the malefic). As now Mars is approaching Saturn (symbolic significator of ground and falls), I expect there might be landslides in relevant areas.

Furthermore, there was an unusual number of fires and explosions in factories (for instance, GoodYear factory incident, several factories and mines in Russia). Then there were massive floods (India, Mexico, China, Iova), and, in particular, in the central Russia – very unusual for this time of year. Also strikes, prison clashes (UK and Russia). When Moon joined North Node in opposition with Mars-Ketu, a ferry drown in Philippines (700 died) – Moon in mundane affairs signifies people (crowd) and Mars is violence – so this happened exactly on their opposition, with nodes, June 22.

Regarding my prediction of problems related to Euro08, first there were clashes with police and later, when Russia won the game with Holland, drunk happy fans run their cars at crazy speed and crashed – 11 died in one night. Later, due to the storm (Mars means violence, remember?) people in German stadium were evacuated and some got injuries. The Euro08 final took place yesterday, June 29, - under square of Moon (crowd) on Algol (the most evil star in the zodiac) with Mars (violence). The main violent events took place not in Vienna but in Madrid: 90 injured, 80 local fires, police had to use rubber bullets again (this information is from the Russian article)

I do not mention multiple local fires all around the world, nor do I list earthquakes like 6.5 which are more frequent now. Greek ferry evacuated on June 28 was, fortunately, only slightly damaged.

As fires are mentioned, for those who are in California during this harmful transit, I wish that smoke, dry lightning and massive forest fires affect neither them nor their family. I hope they just illustrate how powerful and straightforward the celestial influence.

Malta

Visiting this country, I was overwhelmed by its beauty and rich history. With some sites 7000 years old, with all Mediterranean folks transiting over the area, with Knights Hospitallers shaping it for 300 years, and later British ruling and protecting, - this small archipelago is truly unique.

In some places it looks like Venice

in others like Greece or Israel

or some Caribbean resort

[this is why one of numerious Monte-Christo films was shot here]

The St James Cavalier, which was a knight bastion, now hosts an art gallery

But the main treasures of the country can be found in the churches

that are so rich and exquisite

full of amazing artistic compositions

unusual in every detail

And all this beauty is just poor remains of the riches which were captured and brought to France by Napoleon…

I spent three days, a hard-working tourist waking up at 9am and coming back at sunset with heavy feet (Valletta is hilly!), but I couldn’t succeed to see everything in this compact town. Amazing place!

On the last evening I just rushed though the Grandmaster Palace

and had half an hour in the St John Cathedral

But that was too short time, given audio-guide for an hour or so, and the hall with Caravaggio’s paintings (he worked in Malta until expelled for brawls - Mars on Regulus!)

Although the extensive history of Malta encounters multiple cultural influences, the most impressive are those made in less than 300 years by Knights Hospitallers. The Order of St John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta exists for more than 900 years, and from 1530 to 1799 it resided in Malta. This brought to the place wealth, protection, and made this Mediterranean trade junction a jewel of the European culture.

When I was reading about the Order and Grandmasters, I recalled Cardano’s aphorism related to priesthood, which says that for this kind of vocation, one should have strong influence of Saturn and weak Venus. All 79 Grandmasters from 1099 until present are known, but, unfortunately, only for six of them the birthdates are available – yet they are consistent with the aphorism, having strong influence of Saturn and afflicted Venus:

Emmanuel de Rohan-Polduc (18.4.1725): square Saturn-Sun, Venus in detriment.

Ferdinand von Hompesch zu Bolheim (9.11.1744): sextile Sun-Saturn, Moon in Capricorn, square Venus-Mars.

Galeazzo von Thun und Hohenstein (24.9.1849): opposition Sun-Saturn, Moon in Capricorn, Venus with Rahu.

Ludovico Chigi Albani della Rovere (10.07.1866): trine Saturn-Sun, Venus in square with Mars.

Andrew Bertie (15.5.1929): trine Saturn-Moon, Venus in detriment.

Matthew Festing (30.11.1949): square Sun-Saturn, Venus in Capricorn (Mars' exaltation sign, see another Cardano's aphorism)

Certainly, not all people of such type become monks or priests (just get Jupiter in 7th and see if it would be possible to keep celibacy). However, this type is the prerequisite.

Usually I am not interested in visiting the same place twice, but…

Solar Eclipses

On 1st August 2008, a total sun eclipse will be visible over the western Siberia. Sun will be very strong, in fiery royal sign Leo. If we look at the chart of the coming eclipse,

it has heavily loaded 9th house (travel and research) and Jupiter in Capricorn in 2nd house of wealth. This signifies unusual regional activity, which might have been related (as we know the background of Siberia) to the oil industry. Probably yet another oil deposit will be discovered or one of the available start to develop.

Although eclipses are not rare events, a total eclipse in Leo in a particular location is rare. Moreover, according to English astrologer of the XVII century William Lilly,

“wonderful are those effects of an eclipse […] when it is in a fiery and regal sign; […] those people who are intended to be most sensible of this eclipse’s influence are in part kings, emperors, princes, dukes, magistrates of the highest rank and quality in every nation… and these so great alterations in this microcosm shall be so glorious, so conspicuous and apparent, that […] they shall stay amazed and wonder at the eminency of them.”

For instance, for the last sixty years of documented observations, only one such event occurred over the Central Russia - it happened on 11th August 1999, when at noon the Sun was in fiery royal Leo and got almost completely covered, such that the bright summer day significantly darkened. I remember I was watching it staying near the university gates, where I had just got a laboratory to head: no wonder, the eclipse fell into my 10th house of profession. But it was not my little promotion that was signified by the eclipse. On 9th August 1999, future president Putin was promoted to head the Russian Government. Symbolic, isn’t it?

There will be yet another total eclipse with Sun in Leo (and on royal star Regulus). This will happen on 22nd August 2017 over the United States, visible at noon in the capital. It promises a great leader for the country. Since this will be a presidency mid-term, watch then a vice-president or another elevated administrator.

Update of September 10, 2008. One month after the eclipse on 01.08.08, we can look at the immediate outcomes and compare with those of 1999. Very similar to 1999, the eclipse brought military actions (in 1999, it was the final clash with Chechen rebellions, and now it was Ossetian war with Georgia) that finished very shortly and too brought strengthening to the country and respect to its leaders. Cardano mentioned that eclipses in fiery signs bring wars, so with this short-term victorious campaign we have confirmation of both statements, by Cardano and by Lilly.

Moreover, the eclipse chart correctly showed 9-house related activity. On September 10th, the Udokan deposit in Siberia was purchased for development. No, this is not oil, this is the biggest in Russia copper deposit (3rd in the world, 20 million tons), and the tender sold this important licence for the next 20 years. This promises a lot of development to the area.

Elizabeth: The Golden Age

Just as I expected, this film is a precious gift of the current transit of the strong Jupiter in Sagittarius. The story is too well known to repeat it here, and I can only say - watch it and give your eyes and heart true cinematographic pleasure. Cate Blanchett is the right actress for this role, even after Bette Davis and Helen Mirren.

In the film, which is quite accurate historically, with those royal processions and views of the Cambridge King’s Chapel, the authors included the line of the court astrologer John Dee who advised the Queen throughout her reign. Unfortunately, the medieval master is shown too uncertain about his science, which is rather unconvincing, given his skills and fame. For instance, Elizabeth comes to him to consult whether she would win over enemies, and John Dee says something about his doubts, etc. Believe me, was he so weak in his art, he would not be granted his privileges in the XVI century. Even with my modest skills, I can assure you that Elizabeth, with her Saturn in 7th house having dignity in the ascendent, was bound to be a winner, whichever endeavour she pursued. Girolamo Cardano, in his aphorisms on nativities, says the following: “Infortunes peregrine in the seventh house, having dominions in the ascendent, denote the deaths of the native’s wives or enemies”. Here is the Elizabeth's chart to confirm the aphorism:

In fact, it was very silly of Spanish to attack the queen with such a chart. Very ignorant.

But the other side of this constellation is, indeed, solitude. It can be caused by death of a partner, by a very old partner, by a partner who is cold, adverse, stubborn, etc. One can speculate over her virginity or lovers, but this Saturn is never joyful in partnership. For instance, in her teens Elizabeth had a “tender friendship” (whatever it was) with Thomas Seymour, 1st Baron Seymour of Sudeley, who was 25 years older (and who was later executed) – the plain manifestation of the Saturn in 7th house.

This dual constellation deprives of happiness in any kind of relationship – and as a consequence develops strength close to invincibility. As she says in the film, “God gave me strength to bear my freedom”.

I know this myself. I too have Saturn in 7th.

Hot Fuzz

When incomparable English humour gets coupled with blockbuster funding in film production, one can expect an awesome result. This has happened to HotFuzz – and I give it 4.5 stars out of 5.

Idyllic provincial England painted with irony in the beginning of the film is as realistic as scary London. Then drama and horror are added to paint, and the finale promises to be serious. If it was made in Hollywood it would be so, but do not forget it is English, so the heavy fire kills nobody and even wounds are rather occasional, whereas the final ‘battle’ in the supermarket is a complete grotesque. The scene of the village fraternity meeting is terrific – just look at those typical faces of society pillars weirdly blaming the killed neighbours.

The actors are great, and the director’s work is worth compliments. Half a star should be subtracted for a rather non-realistic final impression. It is all fun, but where have you seen so crazy English as that supermarket manager? And after heavy fire there should be at least some corpses, no?

I wanted to learn more about director Edgar Wright and looked at his chart.

In XVI century Girolamo Cardano said that conjunction Mars-Saturn indicates violence, but in this particular case both benefics, Venus & Jupiter, are strongly dignified which makes the violence artistic and harmless. Shooting without killing – this is possible only in cinema. Lucky guy, he got the right way to release the influence of stars.

Go for it, just do not eat too much before attending and be ready to laugh into fits.

Entertainers

Happy news about the sequel of Borat reached me when I had finally managed to see the first film. I didn’t want to, really, but it happened.

In short, I do not like it: I find film insulting not to non-existing as they are shown Kazakhs, but first and foremost to Americans who were cynically used for this simple entertainment. As so many praise such humour, and awards pour onto Sacha Baron Cohen, maybe I am just an outdated jerk not understanding the modern art? Or there is some blind powerful force that supports happy Borat on his way, no matter what ugly things he is doing, running naked in a hotel or deforming the National Anthem?

The film reminded me another ‘joyful’ movie, Jackass, which I attended out of naïve ignorance and left in the middle of the performance. Yes, that one is even worse, without any sensible plot, but the style and level of jokes are quite similar.

Of course, I should compare the charts of the guys, Cohen and creator of Jackass Jeff Tremaine - to check by Mercury what my Moon had felt.

Similar people manage to get similar charts even if they were born on completely dissimilar dates. For that kind of talent, both got Jupiter in opposition with retro-Saturn, what a confirmation of Cardano’s wisdom once again: even an Oxford degree cannot change such a constellation. Both got Mars in Aquarius (to shock my poor Moon) and filled Libra and Sagittarius.

Mr Jackass has Jupiter close to Arcturus - otherwise he would die many times, with his extreme experimental fun. But Mr Borat is far luckier, as he has Mercury (multiplicity) on Spica – this is that blind power giving awards and appraisal. Favouring no matter what!

Seven Segments

I have written a book which I provide as a free download:

“Commentaries on the Seven Segments of Girolamo Cardano”

(pdf-file, 2Mb)

I had started writing it three months ago and planned to publish in the middle of December (yes, found a nice election which came out of no use – life is like this). Apparently the book has been finished by now, and there is no reason to postpone publishing any longer.

Here is the “birth chart” of the book:

The Cardano’s work influenced me a lot in my studies of astrology. The astrological principles are all the same after many centuries changing the face of the Earth, and this makes me a firm devotee of the Art.

I hope the book will be useful for those who are interested in traditional astrology.

King of Fears

Today in the morning, I was listening to an informal radio interview with Stephen King, in which some of his favourite pop/rock tracks sounded. I am not a horror fan at all, but human characters are of great interest to me, so I was listening with all attention to his voice, his ideas and especially to those surprisingly plain and monotonic tracks that he picked.

I had scrolled a couple of his books in the past and thought he should be rather a writing businessman with a little bit bigger luck than others. But the music which I was listening to appeared really simple and annoying creating yet another astropuzzle in my head. The chosen music tells lots about the character, doesn’t it? Okay, I didn’t like it, it just meant we are different and our charts are different… So, what was there, in his chart?

The info available on the internet claims an exact time of birth – let’s take it so. There are some articles where his love for horror is explained by Rahu on Algol, but this was not what amused me in this chart.


I found the explanation of his musical taste, this was simple. A more important issue arose though. I realised that it was not the case of cold-blooded businessmen in publishing. No. It was a disturbed mind releasing the fears in writing (look at his Mars and Jupiter). Funny enough, I then found a long list of his fears in a fan-site, from fear of insects to fear of darkness. This spoilt Mars is on Procion, and guess what topic appears quite often in his books? Yes, dogs – both as victims and as monsters.

And, of course, the financial state. Being not so sure in the birth time, I didn’t want to ponder over houses, part of fortune, etc. I looked at Jupiter which was in conjunction with direct (especially strong and erratic) South Node. Cardano said such a combination rarely gives prosperity, but here is $40 million annual income - puzzling!

Googling, googling… In the beginning of his family life, he lived on the wive’s loan and worked at a gas station. Then he got a teaching job, earning $7000 a year. Then he was involved with alcohol for a decade, then he got cocaine-valium-marijuana addictions, but wife saved him. And his care about money is expressed as follows: “If you wrote something for which someone sent you a check, if you cashed the check and it didn't bounce, and if you then paid the light bill with the money, I consider you talented”. Erratic enough? The good side of this constellation is his philanthropy in the later years. The guy is not a miser!

Well, I do not like horror genre. It is nothing about beauty and good. But whatever rubbish is there, he is at least Sagittaringly honest: “I am the literary equivalent of a Big Mac and fries”.

Gerard Philipe & Cardano

Last week, I read an amazing article about Gerard Philipe who had been my favourite actor for many years.

As a fan, I collected all available materials: photos, newspaper articles, books, CDs. I even visited Avignon where he performed with TNP. I read the book of his wife Anne Philipe (Le Temps D'un Soupir) written after his death of cancer in 1959, when he was just 37 and at the top of his fame. Their love story was so impressive and unblemished, that I was surprised, when started doing astrology, to see his Venus in Scorpio and retro.

Something was definitely wrong with astrology, I thought, if this youth with angelic appearance, with eight years of respectable family love and two kids, with his wife adoring him and mourning over him for many years after he had passed away, that this symbol of fresh post-war France had astrological indications, as Cardano said, of filthy lust.

Gerard Philipe was born on December 4, 1922 in Cannes, France and died on November 22, 1959. I rectified the chart, but actually only the Venus position is relevant to this post:

The article devoted to Gerard Philipe was published in the "Caravan", Russian 'glamour' magazine, which contains, in particular, stories about past celebrities - good source of data for astrological analysis. It was quite extended, mainly repeating the known facts of his biography, but then there was the most surprising 'personal' section. His father was a Nazi collaborator and escaped the execution moving to Spain. Gerard helped him to break away and often visited him in Barcelona as a made up anonymous - and too visited local brothels, where he became quite known for his harshness. Nobody suspected this in Paris, where he was a famous professional, loving husband and father...

Probably his Jupiter in own term was ashamed, and his dark passions were released occasionally and only in the foreign land.

I do not know whether I should be disappointed about the ideal hero or be impressed with wisdom of Cardano. After all, we are all mortals with our sins... And Gerard Philipe is indeed a great actor.

But the astrology seems to be as triumphant as ever.