023—Axis Astrology Podcast: “The Sun” (August 10-23, 2014)

In this episode, Alison and Arwynne discuss the transits, aspects and moon phases for August 10-23, 2014. Our 360 topic is the Sun, so we discuss the astrological history and meaning of the Sun and some of the notable people from history with strongly solar charts. Arwynne reviews “SunShines” by Michael Lutin and Alison reviews her new self-published eBook, Introduction to Natal Chart Analysis.

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• Venus in Leo 11-Aug-2014: Demonstrative, affectionate, charming, generous, expressive & romantic.
  
• Mercury in Virgo 15-Aug-2014: Analyzing, studying, editing, correcting, cataloging, sorting, archiving.
  
• Venus Conjunct Jupiter 17-Aug-2014: Optimism, extravagance, overspending, expressing affection.
  
• Mercury Opposite Neptune 18-Aug-2014: Clouded judgment, nonlinear thinking, deception, illusion.
  
• Mercury Trine Pluto 21-Aug-2014: Powerful words/ideas, conviction, research, probe, investigation.
  
• Sun in Virgo 22-Aug-2014: Get focused, commit, filter nonessentials, study, refine, practice, perfect.
  

 Full Moon 10-Aug-2014 Full Moon in Aquarius

Last Quarter 17-Aug-2014

Note: This period we are in the waning half of the Moon’s cycle where the light of the Moon is getting less. Things are diminishing and quieting down. It is a period to wrap things up and let things go.

Arwynne reviews “SunShines” by Michael Lutin, a slightly disguised-for-beginners look at the North Node in the various houses, depending on your sun sign. In the back, he explains the reasoning behind this method and offers a more straightforward approach (actually two more) for readers who already know the sign and house placement of their North Node. Intermediate/advanced readers may be annoyed by the slight convolution, but reading his insightful, incisive, acerbic interpretations, it’s hard to stay mad. He’s a gifted writer. You’d have to try hard not to get something out of the wisdom and understanding of the human psyche he packs into every page. (His other book mentioned briefly in this podcast is called Childhood Rising: The Astrology of Your Mother, Your Father and You.)

Alison reviews her new self-published eBook, Introduction to Natal Chart Analysis, an Intermediate Course Workbook Includes Questions and Answers. A Level 2 astrology book.

This eBook is the second in a series and supports the class room teaching in my Introduction to Natal Chart Analysis course. This course assumes some astrology knowledge and the ability to read the glyphs for signs, planets, house and aspects. This eBook build your knowledge and is a valuable resources for a deeper interpretation of a chart once you get past the Moon in 5th, 6th etc.,

For more information on the classes Alison is teaching starting September 2014 there are details on her website.

An appropriate subject for summer in the northern hemisphere, in which we discuss:

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• What the Sun means in your chart.
  
• Why we consider the sun a “planet” in astrology.
  
• How Alan Leo popularized “sun sign astrology” in the early 20th century and how this resulted in the conflation of astrology with the sun sign alone. This was good for astrology in terms of popularizing it, but bad in terms of radically simplifying a complex and ancient science. It has meant that we must constantly try to educate the public if we want to gain respect and understanding of the true nature of what astrology can do.
  
• Celebrities with strongly solar charts usually have a lot of Leo, frequently with the Sun conjunct the ascendant, making the Sun the ruler of the chart as well as the first house. Two such notable figures are discussed in this episode.
  

Andy Warhol, Self-Portrait

Andy Warhol (August 6, 1928 at 6:30 am in Philadelphia, PA — February 22, 1987) was an American artist who became the central figure in the movement known as Pop Art. Warhol became famous worldwide for his work as a painter; an avant-garde filmmaker, a record producer, an author and a public figure known for his presence in wildly diverse social circles that included bohemian street people, distinguished intellectuals, Hollywood celebrities and wealthy aristocrats. A controversial figure… generally acknowledged as one of the most influential artists of the twentieth century. (Wikipedia)

Warhol famously (probably) opined that, “In the future, everyone will be famous for 15 minutes,” which is as fitting an epitaph for someone with so much Leo in his chart as one might hope for. His most lasting contribution transcends the art world, however, in that he changed the way we think about fame as well as art. His ideas challenged the very idea of authorship and ownership (anyone could drop by in his “Factory” and create an “Any Warhol original”) and the debate continues today. The Internet has made us revisit the meaning and motivation behind copyright laws, opened up new avenues for self-publication and micro-financing, and provided artists and fame-seekers of every kind with countless platforms for self-promotion.

Cecil B. DeMille (August 12, 1881 – January 21, 1959) was an Academy Award-winning American filmmaker in the first half of the 20th century, known for the flamboyance and showmanship of his movies. He directed dozens of silent films during the late 1910s and early 1920s, when he reached the apex of his popularity. DeMille was one of the first directors in Hollywood to become a celebrity in his own right. He had a reputation for being a tyrant on the set and there are stories about actors and actresses who were all but blacklisted after clashing with him on the set. He is probably best known for his 1956 film The Ten Commandments, which is also representative of his penchant for the spectacular, as was the 1952 production of The Greatest Show on Earth which gave DeMille an Oscar for best picture. The Golden Globes’ Lifetime Achievement Award is called the Cecil B. DeMille award. (Wikipedia)