In today’s subscriber issue of Planet Waves, Eric considers how the natal chart of Adam Yauch (MCA of the Beastie Boys) illustrates his life perfectly. It’s a snapshot of how one Sixties baby embodied the Uranus-Pluto conjunction of that time, carrying that energy forward as part of his larger dharma in this world. Told with Eric’s personal recollection of attending summer camp with Adam, it is both a loving tribute and fascinating astrological case study — and you don’t even have to like rap to appreciate it.
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I love this article about MCA, and I loved the Beastie Boys. I am especially fond of their instrumental songs on Ill Communication – Sabrosa, Shambala and Bodhisattva Vow. The Tibetan influence is obvious. And it is so good to hear about someone who was able to do so much in his lifetime, it’s sad to see his life of creativity cut short. How amazing that you knew him way back when.
I am an astrology novice, but have been trying to piece the stories of my uranus/pluto conjuction opposite chiron/saturn (sextile mercury, trine neptune, trine orcus, and making a t-square with jupiter) as you all so beautifully do, but still struggle at this aspect of it. How do you learn to build the story, and know if you have any accuracy, as you are learning? You state: “What is it that helped Adam take this energy and offer it to the world in such a big way? I think it’s the presence of personal planets grouped in and around so many much larger generational influences.” I am curious to further know what in Adam’s chart made him able to really successfully put it out there, is it mostly Mercury being part of the mix, or is it the Cancer influence? The North Node conjunctions, the moon right there, or the Orcus connection? Or none of the above and it’s that they all play into it in varying degrees? I love your investigation of the aspects in the article, but would like to understand it in the context of others born in the same era who are stuck. So many other people struggle without success to fulfill this desire to help the world, I’m always amazed by people who make it look so easy, like he did. (And am wondering if it is the square’s to Jupiter in my chart, or the fact that venus and mars in Aquarius -conjunct with pholus- are not aspected by the generational uranus/pluto conjunction that makes my ability to effect change seem like such an endless struggle? Is it because my moon isn’t part of the uranus/pluto aspects? Or might it be that I have Nessus 4-49 and Psyche 4-41 conjunct my NN 3-30, with Atlantis in the mix at 7-12 Gemini 11th, opposite my moon 4-14 – something that is going to be impacted by the upcoming eclipse – but another story I have difficulty weaving together, and this holds me back? I have spent much time and energy over the years trying to be involved in various ways, and at the same time working on my spiritual growth, but without being able to effect change where it is more meaningful. Is the learning to read the astrology story just about learning what all the different astrological pieces mean individually, and then weaving the story together that resonates with me? I always feel uncertain about it.)
There are so many of us born in the sixties, can we all break out of the past and effect the change that is in our bones? I hope so.
I particularly like this piece Eric. The interconnectedness with your own life adds a personal dimension to Adam’s story. I sense that the Plu/Ur in Virgo mid sixties generation have a deep humility about their achievements, even if they are monumental.
Hey Eric,
Great piece. The personal aspect you brought into your writing today, with such a meaningful connection to your own life, was especially touching. Thank you for bringing clarity to the world of astrological wisdom.
Peace
Please note a correction to today’s edition:
Adam has Chiron in Pisces directly opposite his Mercury, Uranus and Pluto grouping. It’s right in the mix, balancing out his powerful intellect with true emotional depth Chiron is conjunct Vesta, which adds the theme of devotion to his creative flame. [Note, in prior editions, I said this was in the 5th house — He has this placed in the 6th house of his chart. This placement is a “take care of yourself” kind of thing. The 5th is the house that’s about art, risk-taking and all things passionate and childish. Apologies, I was confusing Chiron with an even more intense centaur planet, Pholus in Aquarius in the 5th. This was the sense of Adam as the genie let out of the bottle, how once he connected with his creative power there was no turning it off.]
Dear Eric,
I am remiss in thanking you for the free copies of Planet Waves Astrology News. I really love every one of them and find so much more about our “collective lives” current astrological aspects are currently reflecting to us in the skies”.
I love your writing and find that your background in investigative reporting only enhances your intuitive and superior grounding in astrological science….especially as we go into the most “astrologically significant summer” in my lifetime, or current memory. Thanks again, I am so appreciative and it was very generous of you to share this weekly newsletter and horoscopes for the week, not to mention your terrific podcast every Wednesday.
You make my week, day and month. I definitely am going to continue subscribing and know that you do this for a living. Writers (good ones that is) are well worth the investment. Love you all at Planet Waves and am sending what I can at end of this month.
Peace xoxoxo
Gabrielle,
Austin, TX
Yes – I second Len. Thank you Eric for the stunning and moving piece. And thank you for remembering the wonderful Maurice Sendak too. Oh – and what fantastic news about Vermont banning the fracking. What a goodies packed edition!
Eric: Thank you so much for this week’s subscriber issue feature. More than a snapshot, it’s an entire photo album of a human being, then (comprehensively) a generation, then (with breath-taking lucidity) a planet called Earth. This piece should not be missed by anyone now alive because it captures so much of what it means to be alive now. Dagnabbit, Eric, you raised the bar again. Again, you have done more than your share for dharma. Adam would certainly have been pleased to know that his life and times were so well remembered.