“Is my idea to start a new business a good one; will it be successful; should I pursue this idea?” The idea to start a second business, one far removed from the client’s normal line of work, was nothing more than a creative idea at this stage. A seed had been planted and she wished to know that if she pursued this line of creative thought, if it would be beneficial for her financially and emotionally. It is advisable to assess these matters before investing money in the extensive preparation required to launch a new venture. Here the focus was primarily on the idea or brainchild of the client and we needed to determine whether or not she should invest anything more, including time, in putting her thoughts on paper and if there was merit in formulating a business plan, corporate identity, and everything else that is required when launching a new business.

We tend to focus on personal tenth house matters only when imminent activity requires it such as when we change jobs or receive a promotion or an award. We all have a tenth house in our natal chart, immaterial of where we are in our working-life hierarchy and the manner in which we allow this potential to manifest in the world impacts on those around us. The ripple effect of ‘acting out’ our tenth house has far reaching consequences both internally and externally on a holistic level: our physical, emotional, mental and spiritual wellbeing is altered through tenth house interaction, for better or for worse. The chart is dominated by the tenth house cusp or Midheaven and the significance of this is more profound than simply assessing the manner in which we can earn our daily wage.

This delineation depicts the true beauty of horary astrology - it really is poetry in motion. It was simple and fun to do and it highlights the necessity to honour the chart and not what the querent tells you!

The message for 2011 is about balance between what has gone before and what is yet to come; we will need to strive for equilibrium between what is tried and tested and which has stood the test of time, and that which is new and innovative and which may be more beneficial or effective. The adage of not throwing the baby out with the bath water will hold true for 2011, with the baby being either the old, with its firm, solid and secure parameters or the new which possibly still has to define its boundaries. 

The horary astrologer is the practitioner to consult when life's events make no sense: you are unable to see the wood for the trees or you have reached a crossroads; far better to know the pitfalls and propensities that lie ahead in order to choose the appropriate course of action.

This section contains articles on a variety of topics - from relationships and health to politics and sport - which provide enough scope to be of interest to a broad spectrum of people. These articles should instil a respectful attitude towards the craft as it is meant to be applied, as well as pique the curiosity.

The investment in human resources yields a higher return on the bottom line, immaterial of the nature of the business. These workshops offer credible, practical and invaluable tools to maximise the individual’s potential, which results in the maximisation of the company’s potential in its entirety. Team building on a physical level is one dimensional; listening to someone else’s unique experience is surreal: personal body, mind and spirit interaction must be experienced for optimal results. 

The birth chart, in the hands of a qualified and skilled astrologer, yields the essence, the very core of the person: this information, coupled with the external context of the life, determines relationship compatibility with others: intimate, familial and business; an understanding of this relationship realm allows the person to derive maximum benefit and enjoyment from all existing relationships. The natal chart depicts how the individual is perceived by others, a factor often overlooked when engaging with others; in many cases it is this perception that needs to be addressed first in order to transform relationships. Astrology is the oldest psychological assessment tool known to man and a skilled astrologer is able to apply this ancient craft to the most complex of life’s realms: relationships.

An astrological sport assessment ensures that the individual potential provided at birth is maximised and that the person is able to select the appropriate sporting modality when young. The potential for success in the sporting arena is depicted as well as the obstacles on that path: knowledge of these opportunities and pitfalls assists in making the right decisions and streamlining the sports career. The correct training methodologies, nutrition and supplementation programmes can be derived to ensure optimum performance. Positive and negative psychological factors and the potential for physical injuries can be pin pointed and addressed, assisting in alleviating any unnecessary trauma.

The natal chart is the palette of colours provided at birth: identify and maximise this potential to paint the most beautiful picture with this gift of life. The natal chart is able to provide insight into self-defeating behaviour on all levels: all facets of the person and the life are contained in the chart together with the solutions to these sensitive points. Astrology is a superior navigation tool and the natal chart is the road map of the individual life within which free will is contained: natal charts can be directed into the future and these forecasts are weather reports; if heeded, and the free will is applied prudently, unnecessary suffering can be alleviated - man does not only have to learn by trial and error. 

Everything that is ‘born’ can have a birth chart: while we do not play God, if the event in question will occur anyway, election astrology provides the entity with the best possible chance of success by assessing the potential depicted by the movement of the planets, enabling right action to occur at the right time. The optimum time is found for the birth of future entities such as a marriage (providing a psychological tool for solutions to possible potential problem areas) or the launch of a new business (having a birth chart for a business facilitates prudent future planning and strategizing). The optimum time to undergo surgery, host an event, travel or immigrate can also be derived.

Horary means ‘on the hour’: the horary chart is the birth chart of the situation, providing specific answers to specific questions which cannot be obtained from the natal chart. Horary is also the ideal astrological tool for those who do not have their birth time. While horary is seen primarily as a tool for prediction, its greater value lies not in its ability to forecast the outcome of any situation, but in its ability to provide a clear and succinct analysis of that situation, empowering you to act accordingly. Any question may be asked provided it is specific: location of missing items/people, career choices, financial investments, relationships questions, medical questions, the outcome of sporting events, etc. Horary is practical, accurate and provides deep insight into murky situations.

I recently joked with my students that if I had bothered to glance at what was afflicting my own nativity, I would never have attended a certain conference in Cape Town and would have remained in bed with the duvet pulled firmly over my head. Fortunately my birth chart is rarely given my attention, and as a result of what ensued in Cape Town, together with negative post conference activities, AORTA was conceived. In my heart I knew that a group for astrologers of The Tradition in South Africa was long overdue, but I needed a proverbial kick up the backside to withdraw misplaced loyalties and get on with it. I received a rather harsh prod from all sorts of astrological quarters, some that I had never encountered before or knew existed, and as I am not particularly dense, the message was unmistakably clear – multi “Church” organisations cannot function coherently, and to believe they can is naive and rather idealistic. Please refer to my article “The culture of your craft” for more insight into this topic.

I am currently receiving many questions pertaining to the status of businesses and properties – this is indicative of the current economic climate. The delineation below is interesting due to the fact that to find the significator of the businesses, I had to think out of the box – this is the root of the Tradition – to know the rules and to know when to break them – at all times using common sense, and all things being equal.

“Am I going to be successful with these current businesses that I opened at this new shopping complex?” and “Where is my relationship heading as I am unhappy?”

I recently accepted a project to assess the birth charts of 25 staff members from a corporate perspective, the results of which make for a fascinating study. As astrologers, it is only when we delineate charts on this scale, that we begin to see definite trends and to realise the true efficacy of astrology. What appears to be random at the outset slowly crystalises into a pattern that the astrologer can then assess and the subsequent information can be utilised by the client in a practical manner. Although the individual charts were interesting and my client was then able to make decisions based on this information for the betterment of the business, that is not the aspect of this task that fascinated me - it was these 25 charts in relation to my clients' natal chart that proved to be the study - one of these threads is discussed below.

The myth of Mercury

The son of Maia the coy daughter of Atlas, and Zeus, the father of gods and men, Hermes was conceived in secret during one of Zeus’ many clandestine affairs. (1)

Hermes was active and precocious from the outset. Born at midday in the deep cavern in Mount Cyllene where his mother resided, he immediately set about inventing the celestial-sounding lyre from a tortoise shell. By nightfall that same day he was already bored with his toy and so ventured forth into the meadows where he proceeded to steal fifty of Apollo’s best cattle and subsequently hide them in a high ceilinged cave near the Alpheios River. Craftily he erased the trail he had made, retraced his steps home, donned his swaddling clothes and climbed back into his crib. His mother spying the infant god entering the cave, prophesied “trouble you are going to be to the gods and men”.