Most astrologers, knowing a bit about England and the traditions of British astrology (which exist in a culturally-sanctioned way that does not exist in the United States or even Europe) assume that the time of Friday’s wedding of Kate and William was planned by electional astrology. But looking at the chart of the wedding, the Moon is void of course, in late Pisces. Moon voids are usually considered to be times to avoid making significant commitments or decisions; they are like the foul balls of astrology, which sail just to the other side of the line that might make them a home run. The Moon has also just come around the south bend (square the nodes), and is heading for its own South Node. So assuming this chart was planned by astrologers, what were they thinking? However, the chart makes a good case for no astrologer having seen the chart; the time was chosen for convenience rather than astrology.
The chart is below. I have updated it, using Koch houses — a traditional system, more likely to be used by a British astrologer — rather than Placidus houses, a more modern one that I usually use.
I don’t see them closing the monarchy at all. If anything, they are trying to strengthen the monarchy. No elected heads of state were invited to the wedding!! No-one in his right mind would give up the divine God given right to be a King, Queen or Princess. That is how they think.
Perhaps William and Kate will themselves choose to “close the doors” of the Monarchy with recognition that time has come for peaceful productive loving change.
Thinking some more … to add to my previous comment, one of the meanings of VOC Moon for me is “things may not work out the way you expect or plan them to.” It’s not the kind of marriage chart I’d want for myself, but maybe there’s a higher wisdom at work here with respect to William and Kate. Sometimes it turns out better if things don’t go the way you’ve planned.
I’m looking at that close, powerful Sun-Pluto trine. That’s an aspect that can survive just about anything and come out the better for it. Transform and carry on. Also seeing the Venus-Mercury-Saturn-Pluto T-square right on the IC-MC. The feeling I’m getting is, they’ll go through their personal relationship issues, as well as carrying the collective karmic stuff (which comes across clearly in the chart), and all the while there’s something that keeps it/them hanging in there and on course.
(Whatever “on course” is, and that’s not something I presume to know.)
Wouldn’t progressions make a difference over the lifetime though? As a Pisces I was in fairytale land today, and everyone who called was chatting it up happily. I’m thinking the Pisces void of course moon is for the dreamy honeymoon portion of the marriage. When moon progresses to Aries, perhaps their focus will take shape and they will begin the journey of their lives, little baby steps if you will. After 40 years of progressions, stops, starts, and repeats, the pattern itself is like a well worn path for which an old couple hardly needs a compass – that is, if they were a good match to start with. I pronounce it good, but I make no claim to knowing astrology. The bumps and grinds of marriage seem to happen rather on schedule where the difficult points meet. When i broke my hip, it had nothing to do with the date I picked for surgery. 11 weeks after surgery, mars was conjunct my chiron exactly, and kapow – broken hip. My spouse gained a lot of self-esteem by having to be my caregiver for 6 months. It was something i didn’t think he could do, and he didn’t think so either. Some things are just meant to be and now I know we can survive old age as a couple who enjoy what life is offering at the moment. It’s been unusually good.
Well, there’s professional and there’s professional.
The v/c Moon is going to have different manifestations for electional charts and natal charts. There are a lot of things that are suspended for natal charts, for example, nobody really decides if the chart is radical, as you have to do with a horary chart. In other words, with horary astrology the astrologer can toss the chart if they don’t think it fits. With a natal chart, that’s (generally) the chart; we assume a person is stuck with their natal. With the Moon void in a natal the question is less “what does this mean” and more “how does this manifest?” And it will have some interesting expressions, you just have to listen long enough to hear them.
That is always the question, really — how does this maifest? — but from a professional standpoint, that is, working with clients, you never just say, oh your Moon is void of course, that sucks. You look at practical things, like how their mom related to them (and what she’s doing now), how they manage their emotional life, how the affairs of the house proceed where the Moon is, and so on. And there are always interesting minor planets or minor aspects that are applicable in natal astrology.
Now as for event charts, or planning things, all you really need to do is try it out for a while. Try on small matters, and see what happens. It’s similar with Mercury retrograde. If you want to prove the effect, make some small investments with Mercury retrograde and follow how they turn out.
Far from ignoring the fact that the Moon might be void for an event (particularly one you can plan) you want to choose your aspect. The Moon moving through a sign tells a story, and you want to jump into that story at a productive moment for whatever it is that you’re doing.
funny, the Moon VOC question came up on an astrology blogger’s forum, but not in conjunction to the royal wedding.
S. asked:
“I’m curious how much attention/weight you give to void-of-course moons in your business? For example, with your blog, will you not post an article during one? If you have a consulting practice, will you not confirm an appointment or schedule an appointment during one? Etc. Thanks!!!!”
and the two replies so far:
J replied:
“Stephanie. I was born with a Void-of-Course Moon so if I buy into it my whole life doesn’t count.”
and B. added:
“I am conscious of it when I am dealing with a large expenditure of money. If I was buying a house, buying a car, even buying an expensive computer or smartphone, I will tend to be conscious of it. But for example, I had a career making/breaking appointment involving music production just this past Tuesday and the day could not be changed. When I left home, Scorpio was Rising and Pluto was retrograde (though if you use Classical methods, Mars was conjunct Jupiter) the Moon was VOC all day. But they loved my work and I left with a substantial check in hand. There is a lot of misunderstanding about the Moon VOC. I am by no means a Classical astrologer but from what I have seen, there are a lot of variables connected with it as to how effective it is. I never think about it with my Blog because the idea pops up and if I don’t run with it right then and there, it’s gone.”
sounds like even the professional jury is still out on how to handle a VOC moon…
William’s Sun (& Moon, I think) are in Cancer; Kate’s Sun is in Capricorn. Strangely, William’s mother, Princess Diana, was also a Cancer Sun. If nothing else, this Pluto in Cap. has to be weighing heavily on both in terms of transformation.
I agree Jere, adapting the monarchy and shifting perceptions regarding royalty would be a goal all Brits would welcome, not just the astrologers. The times we live in are ripe for new symbols that incorporate the balancing of the male/female polarity, as well as the haves and the have-nots. Do you see the yod of Mercury sextile Pallas-Athene and both of them quincunx Juno the symbol of equality in marriage? And (Len will love this) Ceres is opposed Juno, Earth Mother herself. These newlyweds will be encouraged by Prince Charles to follow his footsteps on the ecological restoration path. Both Kate and Will have Neptune at 25+ Sagittarius conjunct Prince Charles’ Jupiter at 29+ Sagittarius and all 3 conjunct the Galactic Core. The wedding’s void-of-course Moon is square the Sagg natal planets of the Royals from Pisces and the Sabian Symbol for Pisces 27 is ‘The Harvest Moon Illumines A Clear Autumnal Sky’, to which Dane Rudhyer assigns a keyword of “Consummation”.
Back when we first learned the date set for the wedding I wrote a comment to Len’s “Moon Steps” article (11/23/10) noting the tight grouping of symbols in the 1st and last signs and that “they would seem destined to represent and lead a transformation of great dimension. A challenge by the status quo Saturn in Libra, and yet a Sun in Taurus trining Pluto in Cap would suggest a rather determined intent to create a pathway for change that will appeal to many. So great is our need for symbols that invite us toward positive change rather than forcing it, what better way than with this charming young prince and his lovely young bride?” And to that I would add the challenging square between the midheaven for this day and time to the retrograde transiting Pluto, so long in this 7+ degree of Capricorn, the Sabian symbol which is ‘In a Sun-Lit Home Domesticated Birds Sing Joyously’.
be
The first thing I notice is that Eris has just entered 22 degrees Aries. I wonder, how often does she change degrees? About once every 3+ years? Seems significant that it takes place on this day (the 29th).
Jere, looks like Pluto’s in the 6th, possibly transforming(Pluto) the work or service(6th house) of the monarchy in tangible(Capricorn) ways? I read recently that William is the first member of the British monarchy to carry cash, ending the practice of having to borrow cash from friends or peeps who work for the Crown. The article said his father has started carrying cash because of his son’s example.
Juno in the 3rd opposite Ceres in the 9th on the mid Virgo/Pisces axis looks to be a nice balance of tension betwixt goddesses in Earth and Water signs.
The Pholus/Vertex conjunction in the 5th opposite the point of Fortune in the 11th is interesting, too. This union will help shape how the monarchy changes in the 21st century. BIG change is possible.
I read somewhere that William is very late Gemini and I think I read that she’s got aquarius stuff, so maybe some of this chart will chime in well for them somehow anyway? I think she’s Capricorn sun, I don’t know.
Maybe they are thinking they can adapt the monarchy to still be a viable entity as the world evolves around them. The moon void of course perhaps sends a signal of shifting perceptions regarding the time-honored role of kings, queens, and princes.
It is a workhorse of a chart in the tenth,.. tethered to Saturn in the 4th, trined Vest/Pallas in the 7th.. Neptune, Chiron, Ceres in the 8th could be a way to sort through mommy/daddy ancestral complexes, and perhaps stem the tide. North node and Pluto in the 5th gives it a ‘chance’ feeling, but it feels destined (as if destiny weren’t anything other than chance anyway: remember that meteorite, or the lightning bolt, or the tornado, or the tsunami..).
..And that Moon, Uranus, Lilith piece up in the 9th.. it’s not the worst house to have that conjunction in. At least it can be considered and pondered, if not acted upon.
So, what other thoughts does anyone else have regarding the totality of this chart? I could probably pick this one (like any other) apart for years: in part due to its context. But, I’m curious as to what others’ see as well.
Jere