Preface
If your birthday does not fall during the
Pisces timeframe for the year you were born, this DOES NOT mean that you do not
experience the energy of Pisces, 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 began its transit
of the sign of Pisces on February 18, 2013 at 4:01 a.m. PST.
Pisceans Speak
Cristina
Fernandez de Kirchner
Piscean
President of Argentina
“The
utopias of a better world and a more just society have to do with words, with
the generation of dreams, with imagination, with a very important identity that
overcomes languages and is the identity of the human condition, to be able to
recognize our own image in every fellow man, in a different age. I believe that
the key to our time lies in this respect for diversity.”(Translated from her address in
Spanish to the Instituto Cervantes)
Ansell Adams
Piscean
Photographer and Environmentalist
“There
are worlds of experience beyond the world of the aggressive man, beyond
history, and beyond science. The moods and qualities of nature and the
revelations of great art are equally difficult to define; we can grasp them
only in the depths of our perceptive spirit.
Anis Nin
Piscean
Writer/Poet
"My
first vision of earth was water veiled. I am of the race of men and women who
see all things through this curtain of sea and my eyes are the color of water.
I looked with chameleon eyes upon the changing face of the world, looked with
anonymous vision upon my uncompleted self."
Source: Anis Nin. House
of Incest. New York: Gem or Press, 1947, P. 15
Rudolf
Steiner
Piscean
Philosopher and Educator
“Unless
we first permeate ourselves with the realization that only through the artistic
can we penetrate into the realm of truth, there can be no question of acquiring
a real understanding of the supersensible world in accordance with the present
age of the conscious soul.”
Harry
Belafonte
Piscean
Singer and Social Activist
“My
social and political interests are part of my career. I cannot separate them.
My songs reflect the human condition. The role of art isn't just to show life
as it is, but to show life as it should be.”
Wanda Sykes
Piscean
Actor and Comedian
“What drives the creative person is that we see it all.”
Pisces Symbols and Rulerships
The name for
this zodiac sign derives from the Latin word for fish. The symbol for Pisces is
two fish bound together by a cord and curving in opposite directions. In Greek
mythology, Aphrodite and Eros escape the monster Typhon by transforming
themselves into two fish, tying themselves together to ensure they do not lose
one another.
Astrologer
Bruce Nevin says the fish represent the higher and lower natures, with one fish
being the reflection underwater for the other fish swimming above. He explains
that in abstraction, these fish represent crescents of the moon, which
symbolize the path of subconscious unfoldment from the familiar world into the
realm of the unknown. Humans undertake this process from the conscious state into
the sleep state.[1] Piscean author
Jack Kerouac, spoke to this sign’s theme of dreaming when he said, “All human
beings are also dream beings. Dreaming ties all mankind together.”[2]
Piscean American mystic, Edgar Cayce, became known as the “Sleeping Prophet,”
gaining notoriety for his accurate readings in which he communicated medical
diagnoses and health recommendations while in a self-induced sleep state.[3]
Expanding
upon the symbolism, astrologer Dana Gerhardt posits that the two fish are
really gods in disguise. One fish travels toward the heavens for spiritual
transcendence while its partner travels a more secular path along the material
plane.[4]
Hence, we may conclude that the cord represents binding the paths of earthly
existence with that of the mystical.
On a more
practical level, astrologer Deborah Houlding sees this dualism of the bound
fish as a weakening principle, with the energy of the two fish at odds with
each other, rather than in unity. This represents the vacillation in the
thought processes of Pisces, yet, it also reinforces the sign’s receptivity to
multiple sources. Consequently, the Piscean remains open to external sources,
for better or for worse. The impressionable Pisces personality changes its
course depending upon the environment and its own moods. Because Pisces lacks a
purposeful self-will, they survive and thrive by developing their instincts. As
emotional creatures, Pisceans follow their intuition.[5]
In
astrology’s classification system, Pisces is a mutable water sign. The ocean is
Pisces’ home, and water symbolizes emotional and spiritual energy. The
ocean is vast and water has tremendous power to cause ripple effects with
everything else, thereby reflecting the connectedness of life. This perspective
of “oneness” is a key Piscean theme, both in the mystical realm as well as in the
way Pisces energy interacts on the earthly plane. The late Beatle
musician, George Harrison, a Sun Sign Pisces, expressed this desire for
transcendence and for living the divine within earthly existence. His
music, influenced by Hindu mysticism, speaks of devotion and peace, exemplified
in his works “Give me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)" and "My Sweet
Lord.”[6]
The planet
Jupiter is the traditional ruler of Pisces, while modern day astrology suggests
a rulership by the planet Neptune. Among Jupiterian urges is that of
freedom from restraint and earthly obligations. While Jupiter begins activities
with initial inspiration, this planet may not sustain steady energy over time
to fulfill objectives (unless earth energies come into play). On the other
hand, Neptune’s energy force brings the softening quality often demonstrated in
the Piscean approach. Neptune dissolves boundaries in order to bring about
greater equality and communality. With Jupiter’s tendency to move away from
mundane responsibilities and Neptune’s erasure of boundaries, persons with
Piscean energy may escape reality using drugs or dreams. While remaining
in a drugged or perpetual dream state can be problematic, the use of the
imagination is a necessary and healthy process. The Piscean writer of
children’s books, Dr. Seuss, utilized this energy constructively. Regarding
imagination he said, “I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is
a necessary ingredient in living; it's a way of looking at life through the
wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do, and that enables you to laugh at
life's realities.”[7]
Often
compared to the Wheel of Life, the astrological chart consists of 12 houses, with
the 12th, house ruled by Pisces. The movement around the
360-degree chart is one that reflects a shift from the individualism of the
first sign of Aries to the collectivism of Pisces. Traditionally the 12th house
represents service at a large institutional level, particularly ones characterized
by seclusion or removed from the mainstream. Astrologer Maurice Fernandez,
in his analysis of Pisces, Neptune and the 12th House, says the
Pisces archetype shows us how a person taps into the needs of the public and
collective consciousness. He encourages astrologers to consider this when
analyzing client charts as it relates to career and vocation.[8] It’s
interesting to note that Johnny Cash, the late singer with a Pisces Sun,
performed regularly at prisons, which corresponds to astrology’s definition of the
12th house.
In
traditional astrology, a zodiac signs rules particular parts of the anatomy.
The sign of Pisces rules the feet. Religions often view the touching of the
feet of a great teacher, like Christ, as an expression of devotion. As the
Avatar of the Piscean Age, Christ was symbolized by the symbol of the two fish.[9]
More about the Personality and Perspective of Pisces
Astrologer
Steven Forrest observes that Pisces often expresses through types represented
by the poet, the dancer, the musician, and the religious devotee.[10] However,
astrologer Dana Gerhardt cautions us against restricting our thinking that
Pisces is not suited for careers that seem counter to the Piscean
personality. Gerhardt believes that because Pisces is so good at sensing their
surroundings and adjusting to their environment that they can “go with the
flow.” Gerhardt views this “shape-shifting” quality as being central to an
understanding of Pisces.[11]
Scientist
Albert Einstein successfully solved major gaps in knowledge about physics with
his theories of relativity, in part because his “Pisces processing” allowed him
to see how disparate parts could fit into a whole theory. As a young
child, Einstein was known to daydream in class, apparently preferring ventures
into the realm of imagination than getting good grades in school. In fact, this
brilliant scientist once said, “I believe in intuition and inspiration.
Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas
imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to
evolution. It is, strictly speaking, a real factor in scientific research.”[12]
Many a
Piscean has been known to comment that they see no separation between the
unconscious state and the conscious state. The ultimate “Renaissance Man,”
Rudolf Steiner recalled in his writings, “…the reality of the spiritual world
was as certain to me as that of the physical. I felt the need, however, for a
sort of justification for that assumption.”[13]
Steiner’s scientific and philosophical training led him to synthesize mysticism
with science in a movement he called Anthroposophy, which promulgates knowledge
guiding the spiritual part of the human being to the spirit of the universe. Anthroposophy
synthesizes perspectives from Theosophy, Rosicrusianism, Goethe, Plato, and
Christianity. Steiner incorporated Anthroposophy principles into education
(Waldorf Schools), dance (eurythmy), biodynamic agriculture, and architecture.
Interestingly enough, Steiner’s architectural projects emphasize curvature and
rounded form, in contrast to most structures that are comprised of squares and
sharp angles. This architectural approach seems to reflect the gentleness of
the Piscean personality.
Pisces
extends the perspective of oneness and connectedness into the realm of everyday
existence. A Piscean belief system might incorporate the concepts of shared space
and interests between human beings, whether in living situations such as
communal living, or economic interests organized in worker collectives. This
may also be reflected in a local community’s identification of “the commons,”
and the sharing of online information in the public domain (e.g. Wiki), or perhaps
in the advocacy efforts on behalf of the “public interest.” As one
example, Piscean consumer advocate Ralph Nader has promulgated the public interest
concept in modern times.
The fluidity
of the Pisces personality, open to multiple external influences, can cause
vacillation in thinking and behavior. Pisceans are often characterized as
being sensitive and impressionable. Pisces energy often demonstrates
kindness, trust, and openness to limitless possibilities. Have you ever
had someone sit you down to tell you some “bad” news in a very compassionate
manner, perhaps filled with some palatable distortions in order to have the
least painful impact on you? That person was using their Piscean energy in this
situation. Astrologer Deborah Houlding’s proposes that Pisces’ reputation
for deception stems not from dishonesty, but rather from a reluctance to face
uncomfortable issues head on, thereby minimizing distress.[14]
ENDNOTES
[1]
Bruce Nevin. Astrology Inside Out.
Rockport, Massachusetts: Para Research, 1982, pp.87-88.
[2] .Jack Kerouac. (n.d.). BrainyQuote.com. Retrieved
February 16, 2011, from BrainyQuote.com Web site:
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/j/jackkeroua384511.html
[3]
Edgar Cayce. Biography at AstroDatabank. Retrieved on 2/25/12:
http://www.astro.com/astro-databank/Cayce,_Edgar
[4]
Dana Gerhardt. February/March 2009. “Pisces’ Labor: Capturing Unlimited
Possibilities.” The Mountain
Astrologer, #143, pp.11-15.
[5] Deborah
Houlding. October/November 2008. “Pisces the Fish.” The Mountain Astrologer, #141, pp.25-31.
[6]
George Harrison. George Harrison Lyrics. Lyrics.Info.com. Retrieved on 2/25/12:
http://georgeharrison.lyrics.info/
[7]
Dr. Seuss. (n.d.). BrainyQuote.com. Retrieved February 16, 2011, from
BrainyQuote.com Web site:
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/d/drseuss106019.html.
[8] Maurice Fernandez. October/November
2007. “Neptune, the 12th House, and Pisces.” The Mountain
Astrologer, #135, pp.40-46.
[9]
Bruce Nevin. Op.Cit.
[10]
Steven Forrest (1988). The Inner Sky. San Diego: ACS Publications, p91-95.
[11]
Dana Gerhardt. Op.Cit.
[12]
Albert Einstein (1931). Cosmic Religion
and Other Opinions and Aphorisms. Covici-Friede Publishers, p.97 (?)
[13] Carl
Unger. What is Anthroposophy? The Rudolf Steiner Archive. Retrieved on 2/25/12
:http://www.rsarchive.org/RelAuthors/UngerCarl/anthroposophy.php
[14]
Deborah Houlding. Op.Cit.
Profile of a Prominent Piscean
Cynthia
McKinney
Piscean International
Activist and Former U.S. Congresswoman representing Georgia
Brief
Biography
When she took office in 1993,
Cynthia McKinney became the first African-American woman to represent the state
of Georgia in the U.S. House of Representatives. During her six terms in
office, and in her current work as an international peace activist, Cynthia
McKinney has been a fearless and forthright advocate for human and civil rights
across the globe.
Cynthia McKinney was born in
Atlanta, Georgia on March 17, 1955 to Leola McKinney, a nurse and her husband,
James Edward “Billy” McKinney, a police officer who later became a State
Representative in Georgia’s House of Representatives. Her father was a civil
rights activist, and the young McKinney became a participant in social justice
issues in her childhood. After graduating from high school, Cynthia McKinney
attended the University of Southern California, where she earned a B.A. in
International Relations. Later, McKinney undertook graduate studies at one of
the leading schools of professional international affairs, the Fletcher School
of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.
Cynthia McKinney’s “moment of
political awakening” came when she accompanied her father to Alabama to protest
the conviction of Tommy Lee Hines, a developmentally disabled African-American
male accused of rape. At demonstrations, McKinney encountered the full-force of
racial hatred when she was confronted directly by members of the Ku Klux Klan.
She said that this experience is what drove her to have ambitions for elected
office.
In her early career, Cynthia
McKinney taught political science at Agnes Scott College and Clark Atlanta
University. During the mid-1980s, she met and married a Jamaican politician,
Coy Grandison, a union that produced a son, Coy. During her short-lived
marriage in Jamaica, her father led a write-in voting campaign to get her
elected to Georgia’s House of Representatives. Despite her absence, McKinney
earned a respectable 20% of the vote in her district. After her marriage
dissipated, McKinney and her son returned home to Georgia, and she began in
earnest a campaign for a Georgia House seat in 1987.
After winning a state house seat in
1988, McKinney served at the same time as her politician father. Surprisingly
enough, the younger McKinney found herself voting frequently on the opposite
side of her father. She became a maverick politician, particularly disliked by
male colleagues. When she spoke out against U.S. involvement in the Persian
Gulf War, other Georgia politicians dubbed her “Hanoi Cynthia.”
After Georgia completed a
redistricting process, McKinney ran and won office in the newly created 11th
Congressional District in 1992. In Washington as a member of the new freshman
class, McKinney successfully attained assignment to the House Rules Committee,
the International Relations Committee, and the Agriculture Committee. While
McKinney conducted her business as a Congresswoman in the nation’s capital, her
parents cared for young Coy in Georgia. Traveling frequently between
Washington, D.C. and Atlanta, McKinney worked hard to balance service to her
constituents and fulfill parental responsibilities.
During her second term in office,
the Supreme Court ruled that the redistricting process that created her
district was unconstitutional. Following the Court decision, the district’s
lines were redrawn, transforming it from a district with a black population of
60% to a district with a 32% black constituency. Nevertheless, in the following
election, McKinney easily won reelection.
Throughout her congressional terms,
McKinney took stances that often deviated from the Democratic Party norm. She
voted against President Clinton’s NAFTA bill and she supported antitrust
violation investigations into mining companies in her district. She also
strayed from mainstream policies on the Middle East with her support for the
creation of a Palestinian state. Following the tragedy of 9/11, and the
aftermath of U.S. retaliations in the Middle East, McKinney became a strong
critic against Bush Administration policies, prompting critics to label her as
“pro-terrorist.” In the 2002 election, McKinney faced a major backlash against her
stances and she lost her reelection bid. However, after a two-year hiatus,
McKinney was reelected to Congress in 2004.
Despite a decade of service in
Congress, McKinney was often treated as an outsider. Capitol Hill police and
garage and elevator attendants stopped her at various times believing that she
was someone who was illegally entering government facilities. In one
well-publicized incident, a Capitol police officer grabbed McKinney when she
circumvented a metal detector, which members of Congress were permitted to do.
McKinney swung back and reported the officer to the Sergeant-at-arms.
After her 2004 reelection, McKinney
continued her involvement in controversial measures. The Congresswoman became
active in investigating civil rights violations in the aftermath of Hurricane
Katrina. Moreover, she introduced articles of impeachment against President
Bush. Unable to counter effectively against the negative publicity wielded
against her nationally and in Georgia, McKinney lost her 2006 bid for
reelection. The year 2007 was a year of many changes for McKinney: she left the
Democratic Party and she moved from her long time residence in Atlanta to
California to become a doctoral student at the University of California,
Berkeley.
During her public service years, Cynthia
McKinney gained national recognition by progressives throughout the nation for
her unconventional and brave stances on important issues. After turning down
invitations to run for President on the Green Party ticket in 2000 and 2004,
McKinney accepted the nomination in 2008. Following her campaign activities and
the Obama election, McKinney has switched her focus to involvement in
international issues. McKinney participated in efforts to break the Israeli
blockade of humanitarian assistance to residents in Gaza. In 2011, she devoted
her energy in opposition to NATO and U.S. efforts to initiate regime change in
Libya. Beginning in 2012, McKinney turned her attention to working with groups
within the U.S. to develop a cohesive discussion of strategies against poverty.
What role McKinney will assume in
the future is unknown, but clearly she is driven to correct what she believes
are injustices on the international and domestic fronts. She once said, "We
are way more powerful when we turn to each other and not on each other, when we
celebrate our diversity, focus on our commonality, and together tear down the
mighty walls of injustice."
Some
Observations About the Natal Chart of Cynthia McKinney
Cynthia McKinney’s natal chart
appears at the end of this section. I have set the time of her birth for 12:00
pm because I could not locate the actual information. This is standard practice
in astrology.
I had the opportunity to hear
Cynthia McKinney speak at a community event in Los Angeles. I arrived at the event
locale at the same time she did and she flashed a warm smile and friendly hello
as I passed her in the parking lot. After I anchored myself in a seat, I
started to take note of McKinney. Given the characterizations about McKinney
that have been perpetuated by the media, I was somewhat surprised at her gentle
demeanor. Perhaps I was expecting to see more of a firebrand, although I am
sure she harnesses that energy in certain situations. I was impressed with her
composure and her patience when fielding questions from the audience. McKinney
also displayed an intellectual command of her subject.
After learning McKinney’s birth
information and constructing her chart, I understand why she conveys a mellow
quality. The predominant element in her chart is water, with her Sun, Saturn,
Jupiter, and Uranus in water signs. By contrast, only Pluto is in a fire sign.
The first thing that catches my eye
when I look at McKinney’s chart is the Water Grand Trine. (I am capitalizing
the configurations for emphasis). A Grand Trine contains planets that aspect
each other in trines (120°), which is a flowing energy in which the planets
work together in harmony. Grand Trines often represent a special talent
possessed by the individual. The challenge for those with a Grand Trine is not
to take their talent for granted, but rather to nurture their growth and deepen
their skills. With such easy energy available to them, a person with a Grand
Trines may be too comfortable to get motivated to take their talent to the next
level.
McKinney’s Water Grand Trine is
comprised of the Sun in the late degrees of Pisces, Saturn in Scorpio, and
Uranus (conjunct Jupiter) in Cancer. What this tells me is that McKinney feels
alive and attuned to her purpose (represented by the Sun) when she engages in
processes that “get to the bottom” of issues or problems within institutions
(Saturn in Scorpio) and when she embraces unorthodox approaches to benefit and
protect society (Uranus conjunct Jupiter in Cancer). At their best, Water Grand
Trine natives possess an unusual capacity for empathy, and they make great
counselors and healers. Those individuals with Water Grand Trines may be
unusually sensitive on a psychic level. At their worst, persons with a Water
Grand Trine may be escapist, either through isolation or drug use.
Despite the ease of the Grand Trine,
Cynthia McKinney’s chart has its challenges. These challenges are represented
by two T-Square configurations that both involve one of the planets of the
Grand Trine—Saturn in Scorpio. One T-Square consists of an opposition between
two planets (Saturn in Scorpio and Mars in Taurus) that both square the same
planet (Venus in Aquarius at the apex). If planets could speak, Mars in Taurus
might say “Let’s get going so we can have time left over for peace and
serenity, while Saturn in Scorpio says, “No way, let’s take our time to
investigate this thoroughly so we can conduct an exemplary project.” Meanwhile,
the catalyst planet, Venus, urges both to find a place of balance and harmony.
In the sign of Aquarius, Venus urges the parties involved to join in a
collective effort to communicate its idealistic vision on a grand scale. The
second T-Square has Saturn in Scorpio as the apex planet that squares Pluto in
Leo and Venus in Aquarius. I have already discussed the nature of Saturn and
Venus. Pluto in Leo needs profound creative self-expression, which may be at
odds with the collective aspirations of Venus in Aquarius and the obligatory
commitments of Saturn in Scorpio. Oppositions and squares are difficult
aspects, but the tension produced in these relationships necessitate action by
the native. Consequently, in McKinney’s case, her T-squares provides the
motivation for her to expand her talents represented by the Grand Trine.
A third configuration of interest is
the yod. A yod consists of two planets in a sextile aspect (indicating an
opportunity) while both are quincunx the third planet. Quincunxes, or
inconjuncts, are aspects between planets that have nothing in common.
Astrologers debate the significance of the yod, with one school believing it
simply represents an area of irritation. On the other hand, some astrologers
believe yods have deeper esoteric significance. Astrologers refer to the yod as
“the finger of God,” because those who attribute esoteric significance to this
configuration believe that it has a “fated” quality. In other words, some
believe the yod is a calling to the native to resolve an issue in this
lifetime. Unless one is in a direct dialogue with the native of the natal
chart, one cannot know for sure the meaning of this configuration in the life
of that individual. Because McKinney’s Sun is in Pisces, she may need to
resolve how to incorporate the energies of the outgoing signs of Leo (Pluto)
and Libra (Neptune). Pisces is an altruistic sign of service and spiritual
devotion, whereas Leo is more concerned about youthful pleasure (and being
adored by a fan club), and Libra loves diplomatic ventures and delving into
aesthetic arts.
Another interesting feature of
McKinney’s chart is the aspect between Mercury (communication, intermediary
function, rational thinking) and Pluto (the powerful, purging to bring about
transformation). In her chart, Mercury and Pluto are in opposition, perhaps
representing Cynthia McKinney’s role in speaking truth to power and challenging
the plutocracy.
Cynthia McKinney has a fascinating
natal chart, and if we knew her exact birth time, we could explore her chart
even further!
 |
Please Note: Because McKinney's birth time is unknown to me, I calculated this for a 12:00 pm time, the standard practice in astrology. Therefore, the ASC, DSC, MC, and IC may be totally different in her true chart. If we knew her birth time, we could determine where the planets fall in her chart. |
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