Monday 16 August 2021

Quincunx, Aversion & Venus in Libra

I always have great fun recording the Academy of Astrology UK weekly podcast, hosted by the wonderful Rod Chang. It's never scripted, we simply pick our topic in advance and then run with it.


This week, Rod, Marcos and myself discussed the 'awkward' and 'frustrating' Quincunx aspect and the traditional concept of aversion, plus an appreciation of Venus in Libra.

And if you enjoy our musings, please subscribe.

https://youtu.be/gYDFrRtqXFM

Friday 30 July 2021

How did we get here from there? The Jupiter Saturn Cycle

Happening tomorrow (31st July)!

Mandi Lockley is discussing the relationship between the Jupiter-Saturn cycle, the rise of globalism and extraordinary breakthroughs in human development and I ask How Did We Get Here From There?
It's a timely topic, as we started a new 20 year cycle at the end of last year during a period of turmoil and change. This new cycle also heralds over 200 years of Jupiter-Saturn Conjunctions in the Air signs.
The written word, the Enlightenment, industrial revolution, tech revolution, climate change and global pandemic, are all examined through the lens of the Saturn-Jupiter mutation cycle.
Join us on Saturday 31st July, 5pm UK time (convert to your local time here)

Suitable for all levels




Saturday 24 July 2021

Venus in Virgo and the Rise of Globalism

Hi there, don't worry, I'm not suggesting a link between Venus in Virgo and Globalism, it's two separate topics in the latest Academy of Astrology Podcast.

First Rod Chang, Marcos Patchett and myself discuss Venus in Virgo, including Marcos' explanation of why and how Venus in Virgo is traditionally in its Fall (a better explanation than you'll read in any book)

Then, I give a taster of my upcoming talk on Jupiter and Saturn and the Rise of Globalism. I am so excited for this talk, it was such fun to put together and full of fascinating insights and connections.

It's on Saturday 31st July, 5pm GMT.

Suitable for all levels of astrology knowledge and recordings available if you can't participate live.

Here is the link, with more information and booking details.

http://www.academyofastrology.co.uk/how-did-we-get-here-from-there-the-jupiter-saturn-great-mutation-cycle/

See you there!

Lots of love, 

Mandi

P.S. Venus is in Virgo from 22nd July to 16th August 

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Saturday 3 July 2021

How Did We Get Here from There? The Jupiter Saturn Cycle & the Rise of Globalism

I'm very excited for my upcoming talk for the Academy of Astrology UK on 31st July. Here are the details:

How Did We Get Here from There? The Jupiter Saturn Cycle & the Rise of Globalism


The Conjunctions of the Jupiter and Saturn cycle, as they move through the four elements, are a reliable witness to how ideas and potentials become reality and the backdrop for humanity's most important developments.

Our journey begins thousands of years ago in ancient Sumer, when the seeds of our modern global connectedness were sown. Tracking the Jupiter Saturn Conjunctions through the elements, we will seek to answer the question: how did we get here from there?  

Along the way, we’ll look at how history has been transformed by developments in how we communicate and spread information. We’ll also consider how the speed of global change has dramatically increased over the last 40 years as the Conjunctions transitioned from the Earth signs to the Air signs. And we look at how the 2020 Aquarius Conjunction found the world battling an airborne virus and wondering: what is the new normal? 

Here's the booking link:

 http://www.academyofastrology.co.uk/how-did-we-get-here-from-there-the-jupiter-saturn-great-mutation-cycle/

It's part of the Academy of Astrology's Mundane Series of Lectures and it's a fabulous opportunity to hear some of the world's top astrologers discuss world astrology, the big outer planet cycles and much, much more...

https://www.academyofastrology.co.uk/mundane-astrology-series/

While we're here... here's the AOAUK's latest podcast where we have a very lively conversation, with loads of examples, about the current Venus-Mars Conjunction, triggering the ongoing Saturn-Uranus Square ... enjoy!

With love,

Mandi xxx

Saturday 26 June 2021

Mundane Astrology - a crash course + Nodes on Zoom on YouTube & more

Sue Tompkin's talk at 5pm UK today kicks off the Academy's mundane lecture in style and there are a few places left if you're quick: https://www.academyofastrology.co.uk/mundane-astrology-a.../

While you're there, you can check out all the upcoming lectures, including my own on Jupiter, Saturn and the Great Re-Set: https://www.academyofastrology.co.uk/mundane-astrology-series/

Lots of new and up to date content on our YouTube channel to catch up on, including:

Here's Rod, Marcos and I discussing the mysterious Moon's Nodes:


Last night's Podcast on Venus in Leo and Jupiter Retrgrade:


And finally, Rod Chang and myself interviewed Sue (who is our former teacher and one of the very best) earlier this week ahead of her talk this afternoon (Sat 26th June):

Saturday 22 May 2021

AoA Podcast: Gemini, Mercury Retrograde, Mercury Square Neptune and more

In case you missed the live stream, this week's Academy of Astrology Podcast is now on YouTube.

Rod, Sue, Marcos and me discuss the Sun in Gemini, Mercury Square Neptune and share our tips for the upcoming Mercury Retrograde.

You can also catch up with previous editions on our channel: Academy of Astrology (the discussion on Jupiter in Pisces is not to be missed).

And while you're here, we're now taking bookings for the Academy of Astrology's lecture series on Mundane Astrology. Top names including Sue Tompkins, Lynn Bell, Darby Costello and Dr Bernadette Brady and many more, share their knowledge and insight on how astrology is reflected in world events.

I'll be talking about the Jupiter - Saturn cycle on Saturday 31st July. I'll be examining the big elemental cycles of these two most important planets in world astrology and how they have influenced our culture, our climate and how we work and connect. 

Join us! Full details here: http://www.academyofastrology.co.uk/mundane-astrology-series/

And here: http://www.academyofastrology.co.uk/how-did-we-get-here-from-there-the-jupiter-saturn-great-mutation-cycle/

Tuesday 27 April 2021

Academy of Astrology Podcast #2 - Mars in Cancer

This week's AoA Podcast, with Rod Chang and Marcos Patchett, offers fantastic insight into Mars' current journey through Cancer, a sign where Mars can feel particularly uncomfortable. 

A highly recommended watch, they also discuss the implications of  the intense Scorpio Full Moon both personally and on a world level.

Since this Podcast was recorded, now that Mars is in Cancer and currently in a short-lived mutual reception with the Moon in Scorpio, news reports are alleging that the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson may have unethically funded the £££££ refurbishment of his private downing street flat. 

It's notable that Johnson has Cancer on his MC (the public/status/reputation angle) in his natal chart AND Moon in Scorpio!  Also notable is that when the story broke, it was during the Scorpio Full Moon opposing the stellium of Sun, Mercury, Venus and Uranus in Taurus, the sign of money.  Full Moons of course shine a light on things, the Scorpio Full Moon in particular can show up things we'd rather stayed hidden. Johnson is also suffering a challenge to his reputation after un-named sources alleged that he said, in a fit of rage, that he'd rather the dead bodies piled up than go into a third lockdown. It will be interesting to see how this one plays out over the next few weeks.


Mars moved into Cancer on April 26, staying until June 11. 

Monday 19 April 2021

Academy of Astrology Podcast #1

I'm excited to share the Academy of Astrology's new Podcast...

Edition #1, features Academy Tutors Rod Chang, Sue Farebrother, Marcos Patchett and myself, Mandi Lockley.

We discuss Mundane Astrology, take a peek at the chart for the late Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and share a few thoughts about Uranus in Taurus...


Subscribe to our channel to watch the Podcasts live and ask questions, or to watch the recording available immediately afterwards: Academy of Astrology YouTube Channel

Join us for #2 - we'll look at the upcoming Full Moon in Scorpio. Friday 23rd April, 8pm BST. 

We'll also soon be announcing the Academy of Astrology's Mundane Lecture Series - featuring fascinating ideas and topics from some of the best and most popular astrologers, as well as some exciting up and coming voices. 

With love, Mandi x


Monday 5 April 2021

Empathy in the Birth Chart, Part 2

 In Part 1, we defined empathy and saw how, when we are in defensive mode, empathy is not always possible. Concluding that empathy itself can’t be seen in the birth chart, we discussed, with an illuminating case study, how our chart aspects suggest where our empathy-blocking defences can kick in. In Part 2, more signifiers for defence mechanisms in the birth chart…

Saturn aspects suggest defence mechanisms because Saturn tests, blocks and controls. It represents where we have fears and doubts and lack confidence. All of these are fuel for our defences.

With Venus-Saturn, for example, there might be defences against getting hurt in relationships, manifesting in a fear of letting others get too close. The Venus-Saturn person therefore might un-empathetically hurt and reject someone else before it can be done to them. (See Part 1 for a case study example of how a generational Mercury Square Saturn played out).

Lack of empathy can also come through some of the aspects we might think of as easier. Jupiter types, for example, who are confident, upbeat and optimistic, can sometimes lack tolerance and empathy for those who are struggling with low self-esteem or who, for whatever reason, lack the faith, courage and self-belief to pursue their dreams and ambitions.

Aspect patterns are also a good place to look for defences, especially T-Squares, which so often describe the nitty gritty issues in a person’s life. Grand Trines are also associated with defence mechanisms, because they represent where we hesitate to step out of our comfort zone.

If we think about the zodiac signs, Aries types might lack empathy for those who aren’t fast-paced go-getters; Taurus or Libra might disapprove of Aries' need to be numero uno and label them as aggressive or selfish, not understanding the Aries mission to go through life as a warrior. A Gemini type might be unfairly labelled as someone who can’t commit to one thing, with others not getting that Gemini is here to experience variety and needs to keep their options open. And so on, through the signs…

Back to those sensitive Water signs mentioned in Part 1 and why they might not always necessarily be empathetic. It’s because that emotional sensitivity, if it gets too much, can be defended against to protect the Water person from pain and suffering. I recently watched a Netflix show about teen fairies learning to harness their powers. One of them was an empath, who wore headphones constantly to protect herself from becoming overwhelmed by the feelings of others. Sensitive humans can also feel overwhelmed by their empathy at times and that’s when their psychological defences can kick in, which while offering protection, but can also block empathy.

The Cancerian retreating into their shell is a well known astrological symbolism. Cancerians need to feel safe and at home. They are drawn to people who help them to feel comfortable and once they find them, they seek to keep them close. Whether it’s their blood family or the ‘family’ they choose, Cancerians need to feel cushioned by their relationships. However, this can lead to clannish cliques and those who don’t make it into Cancer’s close circle might feel rejected. This is where a defence might make someone else feel the hurt that the defended person is trying to protect themselves from. The hurt doesn’t go away, it’s just passed on.

Scorpio of course has its famous defensive sting. Using that sting to point out others’ flaws, often with merciless honesty, is Scorpio’s way of protecting themselves from such searing scrutiny. Last of all, we have compassionate, empathetic Pisces; but feeling everyone’s emotions as if they are their own can make porous, sensitive Pisces retreat into victim mode. When Pisces feels that nobody’s problems are as bad as theirs, it’s hard for them to feel empathy. Conversely, Pisces, with a genuine desire to stop someone’s suffering, might go into full rescue mode, but if this is done with pity rather than real empathy, the support they offer can feel dis-empowering.

These examples show that while you can’t judge levels of natural empathy from a chart, you can see areas where empathy might potentially be blocked. Astrology can help with self-understanding and the recognition of where we fall into our defences. We all need defences of course, they are very useful, but by becoming more aware of them we can potentially see where they have become unhelpful and where we might be unwittingly hurting others or not recognising when they might need support and compassion and empathy.

Click here for Part 1 - Empathy in the Birth Chart?

Wondering about life post-pandemic?  A consultation can help you clarify what it might look like and better understand your opportunities, stumbling blocks and options.  Details here: Consultations and Other Services  

With love,

Mandi

 

Tuesday 30 March 2021

Empathy in the Birth Chart?


I’ve been wondering lately; can the birth chart tell us how empathetic someone is?

Collins Dictionary describes empathy as “the power of understanding and imaginatively entering into another person’s feelings.” In other words, it’s the ability to imagine yourself in someone else’s shoes, regardless of whether or not you have experienced what they are experiencing.

There are different kinds of empathy. Emotional empathy is how we commonly think of empathy, as per the dictionary definition above. There is also cognitive empathy, which is the ability to see things from someone else’s perspective without necessarily feeling their feelings. Then there’s compassionate empathy, which is when empathy is followed through with helpful action.

Emotional empathy is most easily associated with the Water element (Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces), because qualities associated with Water are emotional sensitivity and connection. However, when Water dominates a chart, it doesn’t necessarily guarantee empathetic responses to the feelings of others (I’ll explain in Part 2 why this might be). It’s also not the case that those with a lack of Water in their chart or with a dominance of Fire (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius), Earth (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn) or Air (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius) don’t have as much capacity for empathy, although we might surmise that an Air type is likely to have more cognitive empathy than emotional, for example. However, I’m focusing on emotional empathy here and everyone, whatever the element balance in their chart, has feelings. It’s my experience that most people with any element emphasis or deficit in their chart are capable of this kind of empathy, but are also capable of showing a lack of empathy at times.

So, the question remains, can you determine empathy from the birth chart? I think not and nor, I believe, can you tell if someone lacks empathy from their chart. Lack of empathy/callousness is defined as one of the characteristics of psychopaths and I don’t believe you can spot one just from a chart, any more than you can spot an empath. But let’s assume, for the purposes of this essay, that most people are capable of some degree of empathy and look at the question from a different angle.


I was walking down a residential street this morning (heading for my local park) and got to thinking that perhaps the birth chart can tell us something about what might get in the way of empathy.

As I strolled, in a moment of universal synchronicity, something random happened that made me feel no empathy, followed by a distinct empathetic response just moments later.

Called out of my thinking head by shouting, my automatic conscious response was curiosity. What’s happening, where is this noise coming from? Meanwhile, unconsciously, my brain would have been trying to figure out if this posed any danger to me. So, no empathy here, just my natural, selfish, survival response with a measure of inquisitiveness. I discovered where the noise was coming from when a young woman ran yelling out of an open front door, swiftly followed by two police officers. As she crossed the road and started running directly towards me, the officers still in pursuit, again I felt no empathy. I only feared for my own safety, so moved out of the way pretty sharpish.

Once they’d passed me and I was safe, I again became curious about what was happening. The woman had been caught up by the police who were trying to restrain her. She was terribly upset; crying and begging them to let go of her. Now, witnessing her obvious distress, I felt upset and had the beginnings of tears in my eyes. I didn’t know the background of her situation, whether she’d hurt someone else or herself, or if she was having some sort of breakdown. Nevertheless, I had a fleeting emotional upset in response to this stranger’s anguish. In other words, I could empathise, despite the fact that I didn’t understand what was happening and that thankfully I’ve never myself been chased and restrained by the police. However, it was possible for me to imagine feeling so scared that I would need to run away from capture.

It would have been impossible for me to empathise when I felt I might be in danger in this uncertain situation. My automatic response was to defend myself, to make myself safe, nobody else mattered at that point. So, if it’s impossible to be empathetic when our defences are up (physical or emotional), we can explore how the defence mechanisms suggested by our birth chart, get in the way of, inhibit or delay our emotional empathy.

Where do we see our defences in our chart? A safe bet is that they are suggested by our aspects and aspect patterns. First, what do we mean by defences? Ego defence mechanisms “are psychological processes people use, in order to protect themselves against extreme discomfort and tension. They are also effective in maintaining mental composure and self-esteem in a variety of what might otherwise be very painful situations. Defence mechanisms operate at an unconscious level, and all of us use them occasionally. However, prolonged and persistent use of them is counter-productive, because such defences serve to distort reality and falsify experience.” (Hough, p85).

Square aspects between planets are an obvious candidate for showing potential defence mechanisms in the birth chart. This is because squares often impel us to act, but the tension of the Square means that that action might be the activation of a defence mechanism.  Take, for example, Mercury Square Saturn. This aspect suggests a fear of not being clever enough or a fear of being wrong and usually this fear stems from early life experiences. Perhaps the child was ridiculed or punished when they made a mistake? Perhaps their defence was to give up trying and live with the ‘story’ that they are stupid. Or perhaps they arm themselves with the ‘belief’ that they are right about everything and everyone else is wrong. This might feel like a safe place to sit and in the short term it protects from the threat of further punishment or ridicule. But to be wrong, to make mistakes, to allow ourselves to fail is how we learn and ultimately how we succeed. If someone beats themselves up over failing a test (or even for failing to get top marks in a test), how are they able to show empathy to others who might be struggling on that test and could perhaps use a little support and encouragement? And the subtle message the Mercury-Saturn person gives to others is that they think anyone who gets lower marks than them really is stupid.

A lady with this aspect who, while bright, for socio-economic reasons, was unable to get the education they wanted. Their child, however (also with Mercury Square Saturn) was able to access higher education. Throughout their years at university, the mother constantly denigrated and ridiculed the child’s desire to get educated, telling them they were lazy and a failure for choosing to get a degree over going straight into a job, marriage and children. Because the mother unconsciously felt envious and threatened by their child’s education opportunities and defended themselves accordingly, there was no empathy for the path their child had taken. Unaware for many years that their mother’s response was a defensive one, born of disappointment from their own childhood, the child was also unable to empathise with their mother’s insecurities and ended up feeling like the failure their mother said they were, while at the same time, emotionally disengaging from the mother, thus confirming the mother’s fears that they would lose their child if they got educated. 

This example, shows how, if we become aware of the issues of our challenging aspects, we can also become aware of our defences and ultimately understand what is behind them. When the child (as the well-educated adult they became) understood where their mother was coming from, they were able to forgive, rebuild the relationship, feel proud of their academic achievements and finally share them with the world without fear (or rather feel the fear and do it anyway - old habits die hard).

Part 2 coming soon... more examples of how defences in the birth chart can block empathy.

In the meantime, if  you enjoyed this article... you might also enjoy Jupiter, Saturn and the Superego

Wondering about life post-pandemic?  A consultation with Mandi Lockley can help you clarify what it might look like and better understand your opportunities, stumbling blocks and options.  Details here: Consultations and Other Services  


Reference: Hough, M. (2019) Counselling Skills and Theory. 4th Edition. UK: Hodder Education.


  Important Update   I have now moved my content to YouTube & you can view my channel,  On Purpose Astrology, by clicking on this link  ...