Yesterday, I asked what royal astrologers — assuming they exist — were thinking when they planned the chart for today’s wedding of William and Kate (which began at 11 am London time, 6 am EDT). The chart has one unusual property — the Pisces Moon is void of course, meaning that it’s not making any aspects to other planets prior to entering the next sign. That’s not the kind of thing that you would expect a professional astrologer to include in a chart this important — the marriage of the future king and queen consort. To me this suggests the chart was not planned by astrologers but rather was based on a guess that worked out pretty well. One thing that seems to have been intentional enough was putting the wedding on the day of Catherine of Siena. Catherine, of course, is the formal way to say Kate.
Let’s look at the very basic elements of traditional astrology first. The whole endeavor looks royal enough; the ascendant grants the appearance of things, and the chart has Leo rising — a sign of royalty. So there is something kingly about it; it is the marriage of the future king.
At the top of the chart (skewed a little to the right), the Aries cluster is in the 10th house — the house of the king or the president, so that is royal enough. There is a lot going on in this house; the affairs of state are definitely a key part of the subject matter of this chart.
With Aries on the 10th, it’s not too cynical to say that the business of state is war. But with Venus as the most elevated planet, we see at least a pretty face being put on that agenda, and at best, the possibility for something else. On the personal level, Venus in Aries as the most elevated planet suggests that this is the chart for the coronation of not merely a princess but rather of a queen.
Yet the narrative of a chart is usually told most articulately by the Moon. And the Moon is the odd thing about this chart — it’s void of course. That is to say, the Moon is late in a sign (in this case Pisces, late in the zodiac), and it’s not going to make aspects to any other planet before it enters the new sign. It’s a little like saying there is no story. The Moon is in Pisces, but it’s void in that sign, which can subtract the energy in question rather than add it. Pisces is about empathy, going through struggles together, service and public contact (the latter point emphasized by the Moon as well).
Looked at one way, we have a story that is ‘no story’. Or at least it is not directly indicated by the chart what transpires. Yet there is a partial exception to the Moon being void, suggested by William Lilly, one of the great astrologers in English history. That exception says that if the Moon is in one of the signs that it rules (Cancer or Taurus), or one of the signs ruled by Jupiter (Sagittarius or Pisces), it will do some of its work carrying the story forward, because nothing is in the way that might stop it. And yes, there are many charts where it would be great if you could get the Moon out of the way. It seems to bollix things up at least half the time.
The Moon is first associated with the sign Cancer, so to see where the Moon is ‘coming from’, we can look at this sign. In the marriage chart, Cancer is in the 12th house — and the whole sign is intercepted there. Cancer does not touch the cusp of the 1st or the 12th. It’s like Cancer is swallowed by, or locked into, a house that’s usually associated with secrets, prisons and things too weird to comprehend. This can include dead people. And from this house, the Moon emerges and shows up void in Pisces. That’s the next best thing to it not being there at all.
So this leads one to wonder — what is this really about? William is designated to be the guy who leads the kingdom and moreover protects the fortunes of the Windsors (the royal house) well into the 21st century. Few of us who are adults today will live long into that reign. Elizabeth seems to have figured out the secret to eternal life, and we may even get to endure Charles being king for a while. So William is being groomed for a phase of history that is unforeseeable now.
Part of the goal of a royal marriage is to produce an heir. For information about that, we look to the 5th house — and there, we find Scorpio. Note that there are no planets in Scorpio (which I’ll come back to in a moment). What we do in any event is follow Scorpio to wherever we find Mars, and that is in Aries, in the 10th house, conjunct Jupiter. That tells us that the child produced by this marriage will very likely be king. Aries, the 10th and Jupiter are all regal enough. But Scorpio lacking any planets reminds us that we have no description who this person will be.
The fact that Mars-Jupiter is also conjunct Eris does give some reason for concern. So, all in all, we have a pretty mysterious chart, one that suggests what we’re seeing is more like a movie than a real event.
Let’s check in with the minor planets. Using the set selected over the years by Tracy and me at Serennu.com [see minor planet ephemeris here], the asteroid closest to the ascendant is Requiem, which is associated more with songs about death than about love. This may be a reminder of Diana, Princess of Wales, whose presence still looms large in the royal house and modern history of England.
Let’s take a look at what the minor planets say about that void of course Moon. In the rules of traditional astrology, aspects to astroids or newly discovered bodies would not change that Moon from being void, but astrology is in a transitional phase, so let’s take a look and see, at least, what is described. The Moon’s closest aspect is an exact opposition to Makemake. This is a dwarf planet (like Pluto or Eris) and it’s considered an important discovery. It was named for the creator god of the indigenous folks of Easter Island; it’s also a fertility god. So we have, at least, a clue that the purpose of the marriage — creating an heir to the throne — will be fulfilled.
The Moon is also square the Galactic Core. That brings in the large, sweeping themes associated with the core, and the ‘great presence lurking behind the scenes’ effect that the Galactic Core is famous. The Moon is summoning the energy of the core, trying to bring that quality into the more conventional ‘spirituality’ of Earthly realm.
Looking at the little table that lists the minor planets, notice that there’s a sequence of planets in Pisces to which the Moon will indeed make conjunctions. Actually, there are four of them clustered in the last degree of Pisces (all with the number 29 next to them) — Circe, Urania, the Osculating Apogee (Black Moon Lilith) and (last but surely not least) Karma.
This Moon seems to be describing something specific, or rather, someone. That someone emerges from the spirit world of the 12th house and manifests high in the sky in the spirit world of Pisces. She has no assigned role; she is ‘out of the way’, but she’s very much a presence. Her name is being evoked every few minutes — that would be Diana, named for the goddess of the Moon.
I thought the trees were a wonderful addition and gracefully transformed the Abbey into a mini pagan grove. Princess and Goddess Dianas again making their mark on the occasion! Interesting too that oak groves were sacred to mythical Diana, because Kate’s earrings were a gift from her parents and while they represented the something “new” for the bride to wear, they were inspired by the Middleton family coat of arms which includes oak leaves and acorns.
Knowing that Kate is a Capricorn gives me great faith in her abilities to enter into the British monarchy to stand alongside William and generate the necessary change and modernity that it needs through remaining rooted and unshakeable within herself. I also have faith that her inner strengths and her supportive family will also help her endure the inevitable ostracizing that will come her way due to her being a “commoner”. She looks like she will be to William a source of love and strength and inspiration as Michelle Obama, another Cappy, is to her man Barack.
Musicman: I too loved the passage from Romans in your post plus your take on the day’s events. The other insightful commentaries in this thread gave added insight and flavour; *and* I love the notion that the bishop is a druid! What a refreshing notion.
So, a happy frolicking, rollicking Beltane to one and all — says shebear, learning to embrace spring whilst sneezing her way around the pollen……Aaaaaa-chou!
In reading and sharing your article concerning the royal wedding, one of my friends pointed out a couple of things that no one else seems to have mentioned. So I thought I would toss them your way.
First, the wedding had some particularly pagan-y type aspects to it. The trees being brought into the Abbey for starters – never mind the fact that wedding fell within the orb of Beltane! Bringing those trees into the Abbey was expensive, too.
I’m not sure how familiar you are with handfasting ceremonies, but there were certain elements present (the cloth binding their hands together, for one).
The archbishop who married them is also a druid, apparently.
And lastly, there is the Arthurian myth that Arthur would return when his country was in its hour of greatest need – a bit like the Christ myth. William’s full name is: William Arthur Philip Louis. How very interesting!
For my own part, when you mentioned the voc moon, my immediate interpretation was that of Diana, as the absent (and dead) mother. The fact that the moon was all but non-existent in the chart, felt to me as though her own tragedy did not unduly overshadow the event. Which I believe is a very good thing.
Anyway…
Bright Blessings & Joyous Beltane!
Star
Re: v/o/c discrepancy
Hey Eric…
Your fellow American and wonderful, erudite astrologer Robert Wilkinson of Aquarius Papers has stated frequently and strenuously that according to traditional astrology, the VOC moon applies only to horary charts.
So what gives with this?
And hey, you PW guys just luv yer asteroids, and so do I, so how come no mention of asteroid Kate transiting in conjunction to Neptune?
xo
===
Hi there Eliz
Neat thing about Kate. That will get me into the routine of running name asteroids, something I don’t usually do. Thanks!
As for v/c, that is interesting. Astrology always tosses up another idea.
I would like to see his reference according to traditional, there would be sources/authors, and there is usually a reasoning pattern that can be followed. I will look into what Lilly, who many of us adore (esp about horary), says to this topic. There is a cool theory that all astrology is horary, and I lean that direction. Even if one does not, an event chart would follow many of the same ideas, since it would end up being read as a kind of horary, and constructed as an intentional a study of the hour (def of horary).
Moon void is a condition that has a palpable feeling.
It’s useful that way, and sometimes annoying, sometimes dangerous, often an ‘out’.
Lovingly
.ef
Musicman,
Wasn’t that a beautiful reading? Thank you for re-printing it out here. I totally agree with you and believe that the Divine Feminine has risen again to bring balance to our polarized human nature and to the earth herself. What better symbol than in the form of this royal couple? From the perspective of a royal astrologer (if there is such a thing), I would think the more practical outcomes of a continued royal lineage would overshadow any spiritual or evolutionary goals in the selection of a wedding date for Prince William and Kate. Not that they wouldn’t want both, but being of a traditional nature, the “royals” (I suppose) would look for traditional values in choosing a wedding chart. Eric writes “the affairs of state are definitely a key part of the subject matter of this chart.” I contend that the affairs of state in England are financially desperate and therefore anything that would attract and stimulate financial growth would be sought out. But that is only a royal astrologer’s point of view, so my response to “Was the Royal Weedding Chart Planned by Astrologers?”, I’m still going with the cynical view of the chart: that of production, and the Cinderella story does sell.
However that doesn’t spoil my romantic view of the wedding or the chart. Afterall, Venus is primarily known for love and she’s at the top of the chart, large and in charge. As for Diana’s presence, the asteroid Diana was at 10+ Cancer today and opposite her was “Child” at 12+ Capricorn. This opposition formed a cardinal square to the opposition of Saturn in Libra and Venus in Aries. There you have the mother, the son, the queen and the bride keeping the story alive and real.
be
Well. They are visiting my very, very small city this summer. If I pass them on the street, I’ll see if I can feel a vibe.
(And there really is only one hotel room they can stay in. Granny’s face will be staring down on them! How eerie can that be?)
I didn’t watch the wedding live (on dial-up and don’t have a TV), so I’ve been spending some time this afternoon looking at pics of the event. I notice that in the Abbey closest to where William and Kate stood to take their vows, there are five chairs. Four of them are taken by the Queen, Prince Philip, Prince Charles, Camilla … and then there’s an empty chair. Was this chair for Diana?
The moon VOC may well be a factor in what this day will manifest into…..across the next 1000 years of our future.
Now that it is firmly conjunct Uranus in Aries….my sense is that this is perhaps…from a divine feminine perspective….a most profoundly revolutionary day.
The reading…from Romans12;1,2,
“I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God,
to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice,
holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship.
Do not conform yourselves to this age
but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,
that you may discern what is the will of God,
what is good and pleasing and perfect.
Let love be sincere;
hate what is evil,
hold on to what is good;
love one another with mutual affection;
anticipate one another in showing honor.
Do not grow slack in zeal,
be fervent in spirit,
serve the Lord.
Rejoice in hope,
endure in affliction,
persevere in prayer.
Contribute to the needs of the holy ones,
exercise hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you,
bless and do not curse them.
Rejoice with those who rejoice,
weep with those who weep.
Have the same regard for one another;
do not be haughty but associate with the lowly;
do not be wise in your own estimation.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil;
be concerned for what is noble in the sight of all.
If possible, on your part, live at peace with all.”
This is indeed the Goddess Diana talking…at 15degrees of Cancer….right on Kate’s Cancer Moon Capricorn Sun and Nodes Opposition. She and William have the square to Pluto in Libra. His cuspal Sun in Cancer is emboldened by Kate. The rough, tough male Royal archetype became a puppy dog as she took her place by him at the altar. She puts the steel in his femininity; that connection that he so tragically lost in 1997, or even before during the divorce! The revolutionary spirit of his mother….who so scared the shit out of Phil and Lizzy Mountbatten Windsor….spread her wings today. And the oh so subtle voc moon then carried that dark luscious spirit to a new way of loving for about 2 billion people. The feminine is now firmly in the Palace. The Queen left it to them after the lunch….and they boogie on all night as we speak. Is it Cinderella….or is our cynicism about to see what’s right up in front of us??
The Bishop’s address, their own written prayer, the original music….all emboldened the spirit of his mother…in every woman on the planet.
The revolution…may yet be peaceful……our democracy has never felt more honest more beautious…and yes…more spiritual.
How can the 2000 year old Bible… with its Roman decimation, crucifixions in abundance, and genocide by numbers, be a blueprint for a 21st century Socialist monarchic rennaissance? We have survived 1000 years….. and perhaps the divine feminine is coming out…. for young William is no Billy The Kidd!
Could a republic look like that?
Paul Hill
Once I had a reference from Lilly about the void Moon in Pisces, and once I got a clue that the Moon was a stand in for Diana, the chart worked for me as an electional. Not that the electional astrologer was thinking of Diana; it was the v/c Moon. That is certainly a way to get the Moon out of the way. It’s a clever chart.
However, I am aware there are questions about Kate’s reproductive situation — indicated by the 5th and 8th. I will not dive into those now.
And here is another viewpoint altogether………………..sent me by a friend………
http://www.cosmicchronicle.com/2011/04/lifting-veil-on-royal-wedding-nothing.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+TheCosmicChronicle+%28The+Cosmic+Chronicle%29
If you thought they just picked the date at random think again. This is the man who will be King. He is, in Mystery school terminology, the Christ Child. His role was literally pre ordained. That he chose to wait until his Saturn return to marry and that it had to be between St George’s Day (23 April – where the Knight metaphorically slays the dragon of ignorance and alerts people to the truth of existence) and this date (Beltane is the eve of 30 April /1 May) was a ‘given’ to the inner sanctum of wise men who advise him.
If you are still not sure this date was handpicked according to the ancient lore and rite of the mystic teachings, then maybe this will convince you. The most commonly accepted astrological chart for England used from before the Order of the Garter was officially established (but the garter was already a part of the Secret Doctrine even if the ceremony was not) is the date of 25 December 1066. This is the date for the Coronation of William! Where did this Coronation of King William (known as William the Conqueror) take place… Westminster Abbey.
http://video.corriere.it/prete-acrobata-westminster/15a60a3c-7290-11e0-8477-9f85e9060fe2
Look at what this happy priest does inside Westminster Abbey after the royal wedding has ended!
Regarding Diana, this interpretation is quite interesting. Her ‘presence’ is really all over this event. In her son’s face, in his attitude, in his choice of this woman, in Kate herself… And this is a big part of why people are so fascinated by the event.
The Cinderella story of Kate Middleton seems to be a part of why there is a Pisces Moon in the wedding chart. As you say about it, “what we’re seeing is more like a movie than a real event.” It’s no secret that the British government is making hay while the sun shines, hence the Sun’s sign Leo is rising and the Taurus Sun trines Pluto in this chart. Venus on the midheaven also speaks to the Taurean theme of cashing in on the pagentry and tradition so loved by so many, as well as does Neptune being in the 1st degree of Pisces . Theis Sabian Symbol is “In A Crowded Marketplace Farmers and Middlemen Display A Great Variety Of Products”, about which Dane Rudhyer says “In a practical sense, the symbol, whenever it is found, emphasizes that the time has come to take full advantage of the social opportunities to bargain and to trade.” It’s the rags to riches theme with literary license, along with the beauty of Cinderella and the youthfulness of the couple that captures the heart and therefore the wallet.
The yod of Mercury (commerce) sextile Pallas-Athene (planning) and aided by Vesta (investing), all prodding Juno, who, from her 2nd house of money, is the proper but equal wife of the “king”, to “produce”. This might be a bit much for Kate though. If the Catherine of Siena legend is any clue then our Kate is not in such a big hurry to produce heirs, something alluded to by the media as a reason for the delay of the marriage.
No matter though, the obfuscated Moon and her equally hidden sign intercepted in the 12 house, will triumph as will our Kate, if the Catherine of Siena story tells us anything. As Juno’s strong will indicates, this young queen-to-be will have her own plans for marketing her position and image, most likely as a champion of the down-trodden and other voiceless and underrepresented groups. Just give her time, after all, she IS a Capricorn!
be
Today, world stood united in witnessing an event. Doesn’t it blow your mind how much energy we have focused into that one precise point?! Francis writes the chart of this wedding is an odd one; that it implies in a way there is “no story”, “mysterious chart, one that suggests what we’re seeing is more like a movie than a real event”. I like that! This and the cover photos of the couple have caught my attention. I like the two, especially because they have reminded me of me and my husband (Demian and Tanja, each 32 years old, married in summer 2010) who are free spirits and just having fun playing here. Our family and friends know that and accept us for who we are. No issues and no expectations. A few years ago that wouldn’t be possible, I reckon; the stage have changed. Does anybody remember how’s like to end reading a book or watch a movie? I’ve remembered. There’s how lots more, once there’s no story!
Wow. I never saw it coming. You concluded brilliantly. Just beautiful. Puts me in mind of my favorite Moon song. I sing it to my baby boy (Cancer Rising).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXbQRHWrKGI
The Sweetest Gift by Sade Adu
Quietly while you were asleep
The moon and I were talking
I asked that she’d always keep you protected
She promised you her light
That you so gracefully carry
You bring your light and shine like morning
And then the wind pulls the clouds across the moon
Your light fills the darkest room
And I can see the miracle
That keeps us from falling
She promised all the sweetest gifts
That only the heaven’s could bestow
You bring your light and shine like morning
And as you so gracefully give
Her light as long as you live
I’ll always remember this moment
Ooo and this just in. Ahem, clearing throat and using my very bestest rendition of an English upper crust voice:
“Her Majesty the Queen of England and the Commonwealth has taken some time out from the wedding celebrations just sent a very special message to the people of Canada on the eve of their election.”
Do put the kettle on darlins, make a spot of tea and enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XLUafHKsuk&feature=player_embedded
Now I feel a bit of a dufus for naively echoing the theme of this article! When I wrote my comment I had only read the first part in a hurry and then posted without reading it through to the end. Now I see where your article was heading Eric — I guess we were thinking along the same lines!
All hail the moon *and* Princess Di!
The Moon was NOT V-o-c, if you look @ Raphael’s ephemeris, you’ll see that the Moon is applying to a Parallel with Mercury. I don’t understand why so many astrologers do not consider declination which is a real and definite influence, see Charles Jayne and Ivy Jacobsen on the subject.
Also, I believe the convention for event charts such as weddings are calculated from the moment of “I Will” or the presentation of the couple to the world.
My feeling is that the moon VOC is indicative of the void felt by most everyone present and watching this event, of Will’s mother, Diana. Seeing as both William and Diana were born in the sign of Cancer, her presence can felt through the void, as it were, connecting them both in spirit.
Just a thought.