Some Genius or Spirit (Ch.9) with Patrick Curry & Jodey Collorick.
Patrick will be discussing two interlinked phenomena: the nature of the daimon and the practice of divination, both in relation to divinatory astrology as against a Machine of Destiny model. The ideas of Alby Stone, quoted in TMoA chapter 9, will figure strongly.
Jodey will take up the theme of the machine of destiny as the curse on astrology.
Please read Chapter 9 in advance.
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Since the adoption of the 20th amendment to the US Constitution in 1933, the Sun is always in Aquarius for our Presidential inauguration. The Sun in the sign of its detriment perfectly symbolizes the ultimate sovereignty or source of supreme authority for that office (indeed for the entire government), which resides in the Constitution’s opening phrase “We the people…”. This year, the Sun’s applying conjunction to Pluto symbolically suggests Trump’s naked grab for power and desire to dominate his opponents. Pluto in Aquarius aptly symbolizes a deeply divided public, the splitting of the body politic in a process that is rapidly accelerating. This transformation of Presidential power also reveals the American Id, another Plutonian concept: ugly urges to annihilate or eliminate the Other, those people or institutions which are perceived as a threat to national unity. This is seen in the demonizing of immigrants, gay and trans people and anyone opposing Trump’s extreme agenda.
It is hard not to see the rising Uranus in Taurus as the tech bros: Musk, Zuckerberg, Sam Altman (Chat GPT) Bezos, Cook, et al, as using this moment to further enrich themselves: Mercury trine Uranus with Gemini on the 2nd. Within one day, Trump announced the US government would be investing $100 Billion in AI, specifically to build large data centers. Jupiter in Gemini on the cusp of the 2nd house is the perfect symbol for this undertaking. Among the tech giants, there is an implicit understanding that tech can be used to remake social norms and erase the line between public and private. The Venus/Saturn conjunction seems key, since Saturn disposes the Sun (also Mercury) and Venus disposes Uranus. Tech and the Executive Branch merge; Tech has become socially conservative with Venus/Saturn in the 11th.
Mars in Cancer on the IC symbolizes both nativism and isolationism.
Mars sextile Uranus suggests the opportunity to employ AI to fashion a Cancerian shell to protect the US, like the “Iron Dome” of Isreal. The ultimate Cancer fantasy is the notion that we can be shielded from all of our enemies.
Lastly, the cardinal T square with the Moon/Chiron opposition squaring Mercury suggests a re-wounding of women in the social sphere, but intercepted Aries/Libra in 6th/12th means it is kept out of sight, denied. The female Bishop who asked Trump to reconsider the effect his actions are having on marginalized groups embodies the 9th house Mercury in Capricorn as social and moral conscience. The Moon is separating from Mercury and moves to the opposition to the 12th house Chiron. Her words will have no lasting effect on the President.
Sun conjunct Pluto Aquarius. “The Golden Age of America has begun”. Has it? Sun, planet of gold, detrimented in Aquarius, heading to Pluto’s underworld.
Venus conjunct Saturn Pisces. “I was saved by God to make America great again”. Venus exalted, chart ruler, possible significator of Trump, conjunct Saturn, lord of deity 9th and authority 10th, in Pisces, sign of Christ and salvation. Lilly suggests an exalted significator can “present a person of haughty condition, arrogant, affirming more unto him then his due.”
Mars Cancer on IC, southern point. Emergency on southern border – send troops. Mars retrograde and in fall. Mars at 24 Cancer falls between Trump’s Saturn-Venus conjunction at 23/25 Cancer. Note also: Mars transits Mercury at 24 Cancer 11 in the Sibly America chart. This Sibly Mercury is opposite Sibly Pluto at 27 Capricorn 31. The Sibly Pluto is conjunct the Inauguration MC (26 Capricorn 31).
Each month an astrologer will present and discuss a chapter or extract from Geoffrey Cornelius’ book, The Moment of Astrology. Published in 1994, Rob Hand thought it to be “one of the most important astrological books of our time”. Historian Patrick Curry recognised it as “an extraordinary book … within the astrological tradition it is the most important since the great flowering of European astrology more than three hundred years ago.”
Throughout the text, Geoffrey asks the question “What is the moment of astrology?” When astrology comes to life for its practitioners, when it works, they are obliged to confront anew the problems of time, objectivity and the interpretation of symbol. The Company of Astrologers welcomes experienced astrologers and astrological historians to lead discussion on these themes.
SCHEDULE
12 Jan Astrology as a Gift of the Soul (Ch.16) Maggie Hyde
2 Feb The Question of Horary (Ch.6) & Appendix 3 Pat Blackett
2 Mar An Anti-Astrology Signature (Ch.2) Kirk Little
6 Apr Some Genius or Spirit (Ch.9) Patrick Curry & Jodey Collorick
4 May Science and the Symbol 1: Humpty-Dumpty (Ch.3) Garry Phillipson
1 Jun The Fourfold Symbol II: Water into Wine (Ch.15) Jan Seward
No meetings July and August
7 Sep The Fourfold Symbol l: Divination and Allegory (Ch.14) Jane Farrer
5 Oct Case Study: Stella (Appendix 7) Simao Cortes Plus Mark Flaherty (Ch. tbc)
2 Nov Appearances: The Symbol in Context (Ch.11) Graeme Tobyn
7 Dec Katarche: The Line of Descent from Augury (Ch.7) Dorian Gieseler Greenbaum
Geoffrey Cornelius (1945-2024) was a founding member of the Company of Astrologers and a past president of the Astrological Lodge of London. He helped develop MA programmes in divination at both the University of Kent and Christ Church University, Canterbury. His major work, The Moment of Astrology, seeks to establish astrology as a form of divination.
TO BOOK: £10 per month (£7 unwaged), online at coa.org.uk after 1 January 2025.
From teaching you how to spot the major and minor constellations, to revealing the fascinating starlore from around the world, this stunningly illustrated reissued hardback will bring star-gazing vividly to life.
Originally published as The Starlore Handbook but recently lovingly repackaged by the late Geoffrey Cornelius for a new generation of budding and experienced stargazers, discover the mysteries of celestial mythology with this comprehensive introduction to the constellations and the stars that comprise them. This fascinating practical guide unveils the myths, legends and symbolic significance that the stars have assumed in many cultures and ancient civilizations across the world. No craft horoscopy, readable by non-astrologers.
Sarina Wiegman is favoured by the exact conjunction of the Moon of the match with her dignified Venus. Her own Moon should benefit from the Jupiter-Uranus-Fortuna combination in Venus-ruled Taurus, and her earthy and ambitious Mars-Pluto trine is reflected in transit Mars and Pluto. The day looks difficult for Wiegman’s counterpart, the Spanish head coach, Jorge Vilda. Awkwardly squaring the Mars-Neptune of the match, he has a close opposition of Mars and Neptune (23 Gem-Sag) with Mercury at 27 Gemini (July 7th 1981 Madrid, time not known).
