Preface
If your birthday does not fall during the
Sagittarius timeframe for the year you were born, this DOES NOT mean that you
do not experience the energy of Sagittarius, because somewhere in your natal
birth chart, it is present. All twelve signs of the zodiac are expressed in
your being, although some signs, and therefore their corresponding energies,
may be more emphasized than others.
The Sun sign is about your essence, your
vitality (what makes you feel alive), and your self-image. Whatever your Sun
sign, you are on a life-long journey to discover and fully embrace this sign’s
energy. You may be tested in life to experience the meaning of your Sun sign’s
energy.
The Sun begins its transit
of the sign of Sagittarius on November 21, 2012 at 1:51 pm PST.
Sagittarians Speak
Daryl Hannah
Sagittarian Actress
and Environmental Activist
“If you're teaching today what you were teaching five
years ago, either the field is dead or you are.”
Noam Chomsky
Sagittarian Linguist,
Professor Emeritus, and Political Commentator/Activist
“At present, our country needs women's idealism and
determination, perhaps more in politics than anywhere else.”
Shirley Chisholm
(Deceased)
Sagittarian
Congresswoman and Presidential Candidate (First African-American woman in those
roles)
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| The actor (holding binoculars) surveys farmland in Chiapas, Mexico |
"We're at a turning point. We must change the system
to meet humankind's needs and take the pressure off the planet. Oxfam's GROW
campaign is calling on all governments to make practical positive changes in
how we produce, share, and manage food. In Brazil, a change in government
policy has already reduced hunger by a third. Join us to share solutions that
are in the interest of the many, not the few. Join us to GROW a fairer
future."
Gael Garcia Bernal
Sagittarian Actor
and Social/Political Activist (Oxfam Ambassador)
“Anybody who wants religion is welcome to it, as far as
I'm concerned--I support your right to enjoy it. However, I would appreciate it
if you exhibited more respect for the rights of those people who do not wish to
share your dogma, rapture, or necrodestination.”
Frank Zappa
(Deceased)
Sagittarian and avant-garde
Composer and Musician
“Here is just
one thing I loved about Frank Zappa: He chose freedom. In doing that, in every
moment, he was free. He was present. And that one thing that I loved about him
was in everything and
so it became everything. It was everywhere around him. Every disadvantage
became a challenge and a different opportunity. Saying yes to freedom means
saying no to anything else -- anything that is other. Anything that is a
disguise. Anything that is a lie… Frank said that democracy was our
greatest export. He said, ‘Democracy doesn't work unless you participate.’
Remember, voting ‘yes’ is also your chance to say ‘no.’ Choosing who represents
the people is also choosing who may not. Your vote can be the choice that puts
people out of office. Choose people who will represent a free people. Choose
freedom.”
Gail Zappa
Writer, Art Director, Provocateur and wife of the late Frank
Zappa
WHAT ASTROLOGERS SAY ABOUT SAGITTARIUS
SAGITTARIUS SYMBOLISM
AND RULERSHIPS
The glyph for
Sagittarius
The glyph for this sign, shown
above, displays an arrow and the central portion of a bow. In Latin, “sagitta”
means arrow and sagittarius means archer, personified in the medieval painting
that precedes this article The archer is a centaur, a mythological creature who
is part horse and part man, as well as part mortal and part divine. The centaur
holds the bow and an arrow pointed toward a target. The arrow of the glyph
points upward into the sky, representing high ideals and aspirations, says
astrologer Bruce Nevin. He explains that the disparity between the lower and
higher natures, between the limitations of the body and the freedom of the mind
and spirit are the dynamics experienced by the sign of Sagittarius. Nevin
points out that this disparity manifests in physical terms as an intolerance of
restriction and a love of travel or adventure. This disparity finds expression
in mental and spiritual terms as openness to new ideas and a love of learning.[i]
The planet Jupiter rules the sign of
Sagittarius. Through its influence, Sagittarius displays acceptance of
diversity, respect for freedom, broad vision, joviality, optimism, enthusiasm,
generosity, and aspirational vision. Less attractive qualities include
self-righteousness, arrogance, inappropriate bluntness, overextension,
excessive optimism, unhealthy indulgence, and unrealistic visions.
Sagittarius is a mutable fire sign.
The Sagittarian symbol of the dual-bodied centaur aptly describes the adaptable
nature of a mutable sign.
As the ruler of the 9th
House of the astrological chart, Sagittarius oversees institutions of higher
learning, publishing, religious institutions, travel, philosophy, as well as
foreign languages, foreign lands and foreigners. This house is concerned with
the activities of the social collective.
Sagittarius rules the buttocks,
thighs, hips, and sacroiliac region. Because of this anatomical correspondence,
persons influenced by this sign in key areas of the natal chart experience
vulnerability to illnesses and ailments in these regions of the body.
Often associated with the Temperance
card in the Tarot, Sagittarius from this perspective more closely reflects the
mature stage of development in this sign, where one’s adventures and
experiences have cultivated wisdom. This is Sagittarius the philosopher,
teacher, and sage. The mutable quality provides Sagittarius with ability to “balance”
the established energy of the fixed signs and the fast-moving direct action of
the cardinal signs. Nevin says that the angel depicted in the Temperance tarot
card moves between heaven and earth, symbolizing the effort of Sagittarius to
connect the spiritual realm with earthly existence.[ii]
THE TRANSITION FROM SCORPIO TO SAGITTARIUS
Sagittarius represents the final
phase of autumn, the realm of time bridging two seasons. Both Scorpio and
Sagittarius search for the truth, and both can be brutally frank, although the
Archer often conveys its blunt remarks with wit or humor. Both are keen
observers, but Sagittarius is more inclined to look at the big picture. Scorpio
relies on gut reactions, but may be more deliberate in its actions, while
fire-sign Sagittarius uses its intuition to behave spontaneously, often causing
the natives of this sign to act first, and think later.
While Scorpio concentrates its
energy inward and delves into the great depths of the mysterious, Sagittarius
explores the unknown as well, but it journeys in a more expansive way,
participating in a variety of experiences. Scorpio may explore the depths of
the psyche, while Sagittarius studies cross-cultural customs and religious
belief systems.
Astrologer Dana Gerhardt observes
that Sagittarius, by its position “sandwiched between Scorpio and Capricorn, …
separates the two most ambitious (some would say the grimmest) signs in the
zodiac.” Gerhardt continues with this analysis: “If Scorpio is the Dark Prince
and Capricorn is the Old King, Sagittarius is the Fool, the court jester who
tricks the world into dropping its chin so he can flick its nose. The Fool
Lightens things up so that wisdom can enter the room. With his merry allusions,
the Fool utters tough truths to the King without getting his head chopped off.
His playfulness saves the world from destruction. His perspective brings the
kingdom new life.”[iii]
While I am of the opinion that
adjoining signs continue a theme, I see them also reacting to the qualities of
the sign before them in order to balance personality weaknesses. In the
transition from Scorpio to Sagittarius, I can almost hear the Archer say,
“Enough already, Scorp. You have spent too much time down in the underworld
swimming in the cesspools of human depravity. Humanity should be better than
this. I dare you to look up into the sky, and dream big with me. I know human
behavior can be disgusting, but it is up to us to make it better. I have faith
that humans can take care of business here on earth with a higher purpose, if
they acknowledge their connection to the divine.” To survive as individuals and
as a species, I believe that we need faith and hope to carry us through life.
Perhaps I should say that I, as a Sagittarian, require this perspective.
THE PURPOSE OF SAGITTARIUS AND SOME MYTH-BUSTING
Sagittarius wears many guises in
living life as an adventure, whether physically traveling or engaging in the
internal journey. Astrologer Steven Forrest says that the common denominator
among the diverse expressions of the Sagittarian personality is the motivation
to engage in actions that expand awareness through the gathering of unfamiliar
experience.[iv]
He capsulizes the three destinies of Sagittarius as:
Ø The Gypsy: physical gathering of experience
Ø The Student:
intellectual researching of experience
Ø The Philosopher: intuitive collection of experience
My tongue-in-cheek take on this
hierarchy of Sagittarian personas would be something along these lines:
The
College Jock or Joe 6-Pack: acquiring physical experience via football and inebriation
The
Publicist or Salesperson: using cleverness to concoct a great spin for clients or a
sales pitch
The
Stand-Up Comedian or Writer: spontaneous insults earn you more than academic tenure
So what is the purpose of
Sagittarius? Forrest says that the native’s wandering represents the pursuit of
the ultimate meaning of life. The Archer is on a quest, he says, to uncover the
Truth, as well as personal destinies. Forrest maintains that Sagittarius uses
the strategy of living life as an adventure to reach this endpoint. The
Sagittarian characteristics of faith, adventurousness, humor, and enthusiasm
are resources in the functioning of this zodiac sign, claims Forrest.
Conversely, Forrest observes that traits like bad judgment, over optimism, and
overextension are the Archer’s shadow.[v]
The late astrologer Dane Rudhyar
says that with the sign of Sagittarius, the night-force has reached its maximum
intensity, and collectivism overpowers individualism, society dominates over
the individual personality, and the far takes precedence over the near.
Sagittarius becomes completely absorbed by social or mystical factors, and
yearns for distant connections. This, he says, enables the complexities of
society to operate satisfactorily.[vi]
Astrologer Deborah Houlding offers a
radically different theory about Sagittarius. She contends that modern
astrology downplays the bestial quality of Sagittarius. The Mars-like qualities
of Sagittarius are rarely recognized, says Houlding, and she proposes that the
fiercer aspects of this sign must be acknowledged to truly understand the
symbolism. As a fire sign, Houlding observes that Sagittarius reacts
spontaneously and intuitively, hence their love and talent at sports. This
sign’s instincts are to act first and think later.[vii]
With this tendency, Sagittarius expresses its bestial nature. Rudhyar, on the
other hand, sees Sagittarius as a mental sign. I have read only excerpts from
his works, so I do not know how he reconciles the traditional association of
Sagittarius as a fire sign with his assessment of its mental qualities.
Sagittarius is associated with the
centaurs of classical mythology, known for their crass and irresponsible ways.
Centaurs are warlike and fierce. Houlding says that Chiron, the gentle wounded
healer, has been associated erroneously with Sagittarius. She informs us that
Chiron extricated himself from the wild, savage, and lustful ways of his race
of centaurs. Houlding suggests that Chiron provided a “tempering” energy to
quell the natural bestial qualities of the centaurs.[viii]
Can these
astrologers all be right? As a Sagittarian, I personally identify with both
that ferocious quality of wanting to engage others in verbal battle. Yet, I can
also relate to that very mental place that Sagittarians go to frequently. I
think this reflects the “mental processing” that is needed for Sagittarius to
“make sense” of all of the diverse experiences in which they are engaged.
ENDNOTES
[i] Nevin, Bruce (1982). Astrology Inside Out. Rockport,
Massachusetts: Para Research Publishers, p.87.
[ii] Ibid.
[iii] Gerhardt, Dana
(December/January 2010). The Noisy Birds of Sagittarius. The Mountain Astrologer,
Issue #148, pp.11-15.
[iv] Forrest, Steven (1988). The
Inner Sky. San Diego: ACS Publications, pp.76-80.
[v] Ibid.
[vi] Rudhyar, Dane (1963).
Twelve Phases of Human Experience. The Pulse of Life: New Dynamics in Astrology.
Retrieved from: http://www.khaldea.com/rudhyar/pofl/pofl_p2s9pl.shtml
[vii] Houlding, Deborah
(February/March 2007). Sagittarius the Archer. The Mountain Astrologer,
Issue #131, pp.25-30.
[viii] Ibid.
PROFILE OF A PROMINENT SAGITTARIAN NATIVE
Ann Dunham Soetoro, Barack Obama’s mother,
is a quintessential Sagittarian. This short profile reveals her to be someone
who seeks the truth in exploratory, cross-cultural journeys. Notice the
language individuals who knew her use to describe her — very Sagittarian
adjectives!
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Ann Dunham Soetoro Born November 29, 1942 Died November 7, 1995 BRIEF SUMMARY OF HER LIFE
The public never knew Ann Dunham Soetoro, mother of
President Barack Obama, during her lifetime. However, when Obama declared his
candidacy for the highest office of the land, the press investigated the
biography of the woman who shaped the life of the future 44th
President of United States.
Stanley Ann Dunham was the single child of Madelyn and
Stanley Dunham, who lived at the time of her birth (1942) in Fort Leavenworth,
Kansas. Because her father wanted a son, she became his namesake. She later
dropped her first name and became known as “Ann.” During her youth, the family
moved from Kansas to California, to Texas, to Washington, and finally settled
in Hawaii. Her high school friends describe her as “unusually intelligent, curious,
and open.”
Although Ann Dunham had been accepted to the
University of Chicago, her father insisted that she attend the University of
Hawaii. As a freshman, young Ann met the man who was soon to become her
husband, Barack Obama Sr., a native of Kenya. They married in February of 1961,
and six months later, Ann gave birth to Barack Jr. A short time later, the
senior Obama was accepted to graduate school at Harvard University, for which
he eagerly left Hawaii. Ann decided to stay in Hawaii with her infant son and
parents. In 1964, she filed for divorce and her husband agreed to the
dissolution of the marriage. Ann knew that Barack Sr. was committed to
returning to Kenya to catalyze changes in that country.
Despite limited resources and the challenges of child
rearing, Ann Dunham decided to return to the University of Hawaii to complete
her studies. On food stamps, she juggled her family obligations with academic
demands. During her years at the university, she became romantically involved
with another man, Lolo Soetoro, a native of Indonesia. Ann married Lolo in the
late 1960s, and they relocated to his native land. In 1970, Ann Soetoro gave
birth to their daughter Maya. Dissatisfied with the routine of the life of a
traditional wife and mother, Ann kept herself busy by teaching English at the
American Embassy. She also diligently planned English lessons for her son
Barack, and exposed him to the biographies of prominent African Americans.
In 1971, Ann Soetoro sent her son Barack to Hawaii to
live with her parents and to attend a prep school. The following year, Ann also
returned to Hawaii with Maya. She enrolled in a graduate school program in
anthropology to study the Indonesian culture. Furthermore, her relationship
with Lolo grew distant, and in 1980, she filed for divorce.
After several years of graduate studies, Ann Soetoro
returned to Indonesia to undertake fieldwork for her doctoral program. This
time her 14-year-old son did not accompany her. With her extensive
experience and academic training, Soetoro was hired by the Ford Foundation to
study the employment issues confronting Indonesian women. In her work, Ann
Soetoro facilitated the development of a microfinance program in Indonesia in
which small business owners received small loans. Soetoro's research influenced
local fiscal lending policies, which put Indonesia in the forefront of
microfinance loan practices.
Maya Soetoro Ng says of her mother Ann: “She felt that
somehow, wandering through uncharted territory, we might stumble upon something
that will, in an instant, seem to represent who we are at the core. That was
very much her philosophy of life — to not be limited by fear or narrow
definitions, to not build walls around ourselves and to do our best to find
kinship and beauty in unexpected places.”
Before completing her doctoral dissertation in 1992,
Ann Soetoro moved to Pakistan, New York, and back to Hawaii. Her son Barack had
become an attorney and now lived in Chicago. Ann attended the 1992 wedding of
her son to Michelle Robinson. Two years later, Ann began experiencing stomach
pains, and was diagnosed with ovarian and uterine cancer. Terminally ill, she
died at the age of 52 on November 7, 1994. Following the memorial service at
the University of Hawaii, a small group of family and friends drove to the coast
on the island of Oahu. At the shore, Barack Obama and Maya Soetoro-Ng placed
their mother’s ashes in the ocean, steering them in the direction of Indonesia.
In his first memoirs, Barack Obama wrote about her
influence in his life. He said of his mother, “I think sometimes that had I
known she would not survive her illness, I might have written a different book
— less a meditation on the absent parent, more a celebration of the one who was
the single constant in my life.” He observed this about her character, “I know
that she was the kindest, most generous spirit I have ever known, and that what
is best in me I owe to her.”
SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE NATAL CHART OF ANN DUNHAM SOETORO
I found absolutely no surprises in my study of Ann
Dunham Soetoro’s natal chart, which appears at the end of this article. As one
might expect of someone so engaged in the outer world, the majority of her
planets appear above the horizon. The two planets, Venus and Uranus, which lie
just below the horizon, are conjunct the ASC and DSC, and conjunct planets
above the horizon. These placements indicate that Ann Dunham Soetoro was deeply
oriented to relationships with others within personal unions as well as with
the institutions of societies in which she lived.
In Soetoro’s chart, the transpersonal planets, Uranus,
Neptune, and Pluto, all form easy aspects with each other, conveying to me that
she felt at ease in the role of being someone who was ahead of her time. Her
friend Susan Blake remarked: “She had a world view, even as a young girl. It
was embracing the different, rather than that ethnocentric thing of shunning
the different. That was where her mind took her.”
Soetoro’s Sun, while sextiling Neptune and trining
Pluto, does oppose Uranus, which conjuncts Saturn. This suggests that as
unconventional (Uranus) as Ann may have appeared to others, she perhaps held in
check (Saturn) any tendencies toward rashness and quirkiness in her personality.
Her biography describes the authoritarian influence of her father (Saturn) in
key decisions about her life, and this may have curbed her rebelliousness. My
inclination is to say that Soetoro’s unconventionality was transformative
(Pluto) and transcendent (Neptune) in nature.
In Soetoro’s chart, Mars (assertiveness, pursuing your
goals and desires) squares (conflicting tension) her Moon (habits, her
emotional instincts, the past). Perhaps Soetoro was compelled to undertake a process
to unfold the quality of assertiveness that later allowed her to pursue her
desires. This planetary relationship also describes the challenges she had in
fulfilling her goals (Mars) while at the same time meeting the needs of her
children (Moon=Mother). Those who knew Ann Dunham Soetoro describe her as an idealistic
and exacting mother, who could display informality, intensity, humor, and
hardheadedness.
Soetoro thrived in her role as a spokesperson for poor
women (Sun conjunct Mercury and Venus), an activity that appears to have tapped
deeply into her sense of purpose. Ann demonstrated a commitment to maximizing
opportunities for women all over the world. A young colleague she met at
Women’s World Banking said about her, “She was not particularly concerned about
what society would say about working women, single women, women marrying outside
their culture, women who were fearless and who dreamed big.” The former
President of Women’s World Banking, Nancy Barry, commented, “I think she was
not at all personally ambitious, I think she cared about the core issues, and I
think she was not afraid to speak truth to power.” Her perspective about women
seemed to have influenced Barack Obama’s view of the value of women, and his
apparent comfort with strong women.
The seventh house in the natal chart tells us how the
native views and/or experiences relationships. In Ann’s chart, partner loving
Gemini is the sign on the cusp of the seventh house. The taskmaster planet of
Saturn occupies this house, indicating trials and learning that she will derive
from her partnerships. However, the avant-garde planet of sudden change, Uranus
is conjunct (within 10 degrees) of Saturn. Uranus shatters outmoded boundaries
(Saturn). Ann was known to readily accept that long-term relationships were
often not possible or desirable.
In Soetoro’s chart, the benefactor planet Jupiter
trines Mars. Additionally, Ann’s Jupiter (generosity, abundance) and Pluto (the
powerful) are in the eighth house of other people’s resources. Friends and
colleagues describe her as a very generous person who consistently gave to the
impoverished in Indonesia. Aside from her personal generosity, Ann worked for a
time for a philanthropic organization, the Ford Foundation and for Women’s
World Banking, a microenterprise lender for poor women.
Neptune, which represents spirituality, service, and
imagination, is the highest planet in Soetoro’s chart, in the 10th house of
social standing. Barack Obama made this observation about his mother: "For
all her professed secularism, my mother was in many ways the most spiritually
awakened person that I've ever known." Her daughter Maya said this about
her: “She gave us a very broad understanding of the world. She hated bigotry.
She was very determined to be remembered for a life of service and thought that
service was really the true measure of a life.”
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