The Library

Technique

How John reads a chart. Essays on the planets, the houses, the aspects including the quintile, septile and novile, the nodes, Chiron and Juno, midpoints, phase analysis and transits, and synastry. His 2010 series on the 28 lunar phases is here too, with the 2022 revisions of his core teaching pieces.

76 essays

• 2026
• Learning the Signs of the ZodiacMay 4, 2026This is a list of the numbers from one through twelve, each with its own word that rhymes with its corresponding number. For instance three is paired with the word tree, and four with door.
• 2022
• AspectsNovember 21, 2022About Astrological Aspects A little explored area of astrology is reading conjunctions as a means of explaining all aspects.
• Chart FormationNovember 21, 2022About Chart Formation Marc Edmund Jones describes 7 different chart formations in his book “The Essentials of Astrological Analysis.” The information given here follows his basic plan with modifications, especially when…
• ChironNovember 21, 2022Chiron When Chiron in a chart forms an aspect to another planet, the following interpretations will help you to tune in to what the significance of that aspect is.
• HousesNovember 21, 2022About Houses Capricorn/Cancer Cancer is the most teachable of the signs because it is the one most willing to learn, as well as the most spiritual.
• NodesNovember 21, 2022About Nodes The North Node and Protection “Protection” is the keyword that the great 20th Century astrologer Marc Edmund Jones gave to the North Node. How do we access this protective quality of the node?
• PlanetsNovember 21, 2022About Planets The Asteroid Juno I was first introduced to Ellias Lonsdales work on asteroids through his book “Inside Planets,” published in 1995 by North Atlantic Books.
• Sign Inclusion in SynastryNovember 21, 2022A technique which I just devised that pertains to synastry is to check all ten planets between the two charts you are comparing, to see which signs are left out, that is, which signs have no planets in them in either…
• The Life ApproachNovember 21, 2022The Life Approach is my term for how the four Planetary Departments, (the Sun/Moon Department of Vitality , the Venus/Mars department of Efficiency , the Jupiter/Saturn Department of Motivation , and the Uranus /Neptune…
• 2011
• Lunar Mansion 26March 24, 2011I’m gradually studying the 28 Lunar Mansions, the two sources of my learning being Yeats’ book "A Vision," and my own intuition. Yeats book is very difficult to read.
• The planets and asteroidsMarch 10, 2011In ancient astrology only 7 planets were used, because that was how many they could see in the sky without the aid of a telescope.
• Exploring the SignsMarch 8, 2011One of the biggest hurdles an astrologer has to overcome is getting a few ideas about each sign and then sticking to those without ever exploring them further.
• Saturn in CapricornMarch 5, 2011Capricorn may be the most polarized of all the signs, for it rules practicality, which is one of the most loaded words in our language.
• The Cancer/Capricorn axisMarch 5, 2011Am looking at a chart with three planets in Cancer and three in Capricorn, forming three neat oppositions. So 60% of this person’s planets are involved in this Cancer/Capricorn axis.
• Neptune Opposing MarsFebruary 27, 2011During the next couple of years I will be having Neptune opposing my natal Mars five times.
• Uranus in 1st houseFebruary 21, 2011Uranus in 1st house resists all definitions, labels, and categories. Whatever role it plays it does so in its own unique way, bringing to all standard and accepted roles something new, different and unexpected.
• Uranus in 12th houseFebruary 20, 2011Symbolically Uranus is freedom and the 12th house rules prisons, so Uranus in 12th is a very polarized combination that can yield dynamic results.
• Uranus and bridge buildingFebruary 7, 2011Wherever Uranus is in a natal chart is a place where that person has a unique and original approach to life. Of course this may or may not be something that the person has cultivated.
• 2010
• How to use "Phase Analysis" to Interpret a TransitNovember 17, 2010I’m going to show you a highly interesting technique, and I’m going to use Tyler’s chart to explain it. Tyler is having, in December, Pluto square his Mars.
• Midpoints (4)November 17, 2010And now let’s look at some of Sandra’s midpoints: Venus=Sun/Saturn: She appreciates (Venus) a depth (Saturn) of meaning (Sun). In her relationships (Venus) she seeks a spiritual (Saturn) purpose (Sun).
• NodesNovember 17, 2010The South Node can be a place where we get stuck. Since it is a known, familiar place we associate it with a false sense of security.
• Midpoints (3)November 16, 2010I’m thinking about midpoints — a challenging astrological technique, yet one that can yield tremendous results. Here’s one for you: Neptune on the Saturn/Mercury midpoint.
• Deeper Insights Into the Sun/Jupiter CombinationNovember 12, 2010Tyler’s closest-to-exact square is between Sun and Jupiter. He and I were talking about the process of de-stressing the energy field, that is, clearing out blockages, so that one might eventually experience the fulness…
• Sign Inclusion in SynastryNovember 12, 2010A technique which I just devised that pertains to synastry is to check all ten planets between the two charts you are comparing, to see which signs are left out, that is, which signs have no planets in them in either…
• 0The Quincunx in a NutshellNovember 12, 2010The quincunx blends two planets in such a way that they keep losing each other and because they do are forced to pick each other back up, again and again.
• Saturn Chronicles (1)November 7, 2010Saturn restricts for the purpose of forcing evolution. Tyler has Saturn in 5th house. Whenever and wherever he seeks out gratification (5th house), it will not fulfill him unless it serves to further evolution.
• Midpoints (continued)November 1, 2010Akiko has Saturn on the Sun/Pluto midpoint, her Sun and Pluto being in square. Here we see one of the great beauties of midpoint interpretation, for we find that the intensity of purpose signified by the Sun/Pluto…
• Looking at some midpointsOctober 31, 2010Ah, midpoints! One of the most wonderful of astrological techniques, yet underused in the extreme – I think because they require quite a bit of pondering.
• Some Notes on AriesOctober 25, 2010The one thing Aries most needs is clear and strong alignment with its instinct. When Aries has this, any and all problems can be confronted and worked through in a way that leads onward and upward into higher states of…
• Simultaneous TransitsOctober 17, 2010Hi, Everyone! Now that my book on degrees, "The Circular Temple" is well underway, I want to start using this blog as an actual blog rather than as a format for writing a book, which is what it has been.
• Natal Interpretation GuidelinesJanuary 29, 2010When one is an experienced astrologer one can jump right into a chart and swim around, going, often by instinct to where one needs to focus.
• (70) Lunar Mansions 25 – 28January 26, 2010Lunar Mansion 25: (Ruler: Sagittarius/Libra/Jupiter): This person is a natural social reformer. He is looking for spiritual guidance, both for himself and for other people.
• (69) Lunar Mansions 22-24January 24, 2010Lunar Mansion 22: (Ruler: Pluto): This person is restless and constantly searching deeper and deeper in an attempt to grasp the truth of reality.
• (66) Lunar Mansions 13 – 15January 23, 2010Lunar Mansion 13: (Ruler: Aries): This person has a passion for expressing himself, and with no motive other than the joy of doing so. This person loves his powerful feelings, and loves giving voice to them.
• (67) Lunar Mansions 16 – 18January 23, 2010Lunar Mansion 16: (Ruler: Mars): This person needs to put their ideas to work in the world. It is very important that this person connect with other people in a deep way.
• (68) Lunar Mansions 19 – 21January 23, 2010Lunar Mansion 19: (Ruler: Leo): This person sees at least a part of himself in all situations and tends to express that part with great force and drama.
• (65) Lunar Mansions 10 – 12January 15, 2010Lunar Mansion 10: (Ruler: Uranus): This person has unique abilities and a desire to throw off all restraint.
• Lunar Mansions 1 – 3January 10, 2010Lunar Mansion 1 (Ruler: Mercury): The cycle of Lunar Mansions can be symbolized by the life cycle of a human being, with the moment of the New Moon being the moment of the birth of a new cycle and the death of the former…
• (61) Lunar Mansions 4 – 6January 10, 2010Lunar Mansion 4 (Ruler: Scorpio): This person can see into other people – not by analyzing them, or by drawing intellectual conclusions from observing the details of their behavior, but by directly seeing into them.
• (62) Lunar Mansions 7 – 9January 10, 2010Lunar Mansion 7 (Ruler: Sagittarius): This person, when being himself, is a highly unique individual – one who stands out as being different.
• The Life Approach (2)January 9, 2010The following interpretations cover the instances where two out of the four planetary departments are activated by major aspect, with the other two not having a major aspect between their two planets.
• Lunar Mansions: An IntroductionJanuary 9, 2010The knowledge of Lunar Mansions is one of the oldest techniques of classical Hindu Astrology.
• The Life Approach (1)January 8, 2010The Life Approach is my term for how the four Planetary Departments, (the Sun/Moon Department of Vitality, the Venus/Mars department of Efficiency, the Jupiter/Saturn Department of Motivation, and the Uranus /Neptune…
• Chart Formation (2)January 7, 2010The fourth chart formation we’re going to look at is the BUNDLE. In this formation there is only one gap, but it has to be no less than 210 degrees to create the formation.
• Uranus/Neptune Aspects: The Department of SignificanceJanuary 7, 2010The Uranus/Neptune pair of planets is referred to by Marc Jones as the Department of Significance. This pair has to do with the individual’s relationship to society and to their fellow human beings as a whole.
• Chart Formation (1)January 6, 2010Marc Edmund Jones describes 7 different chart formations in his book “The Essentials of Astrological Analysis.” The information given here follows his basic plan with modifications, especially when it comes to detailing…
• Sole DispositorJanuary 3, 2010A dispositor is the planet which rules the sign that any other planet is in. For instance, if Mercury is in Libra, the dispositor of Mercury is Venus, since Venus rules Libra.
• Hemisphere EmphasisJanuary 3, 2010It is always important, when interpreting a chart, to see if all the planets fall in the upper half of it, (from houses 7 through 12), in the lower half (houses 1 through 6), all in the eastern half (houses 10- through…
• 2009
• Jupiter/Saturn Aspects: The Department of MotivationDecember 31, 2009The Jupiter/Saturn pair of planets is referred to by Marc Jones as the department of motivation.
• Elements and ModalitiesDecember 31, 2009Most charts have one of the four elements — fire, earth, air, or water — predominating. The way to figure out which one is the most emphasized is to see how many planets are in each element.
• Mars/Venus aspects: The Department of EfficiencyDecember 28, 2009This is a continuation of the description of the four planetary departments that started with the Sun/Moon pair in blog 37. The Venus/Mars pair of planets is called, in Marc Jones system, the department of efficiency.
• Memorizing Signs, Planets, and AspectsDecember 26, 2009Here is a really great method for learning the signs in order together with their planetary rulerships plus which ones are in sextile, square, trine and opposition to each other.
• Sun/Moon Aspects: The Department of VitalityDecember 25, 2009The Sun/Moon pair is the first of four planetary "departments," as described in the work of Marc Jones.
• Mercury RetrogradeDecember 25, 2009On December 27th — in two days — Mercury will go retrograde in the 22nd degree of Capricorn.
• Applying/SeparatingDecember 23, 2009In any astrological aspect, the applying planet is the one which, if moved forward in the zodiac, will make the aspect exact.
• The Second House (2)December 22, 2009Mercury in Second house This placement of Mercury seeks to assess the value of all ideas. Through all its communication it seeks to gain ideas of worth so that they might be shared with others who find them valuable, or…
• The Second HouseDecember 20, 2009The Second House signifies loss and gain. There has been a tremendous emphasis on the Second House as ruling money — which is to be expected in a society dominated by consumerism.
• The First House (2)December 19, 2009Sun in First House signifies a person who easily plays the role of authority and/or important person in life.
• Juno (2)December 19, 2009I’m seeing the energy of the asteroid Juno everywhere. I went last night to see the movie "Avatar." In it, humans are portrayed as having rigid notions of how things should be — this is one quite realistic aspect of the…
• The First HouseDecember 17, 2009The first astrological house signifies IDENTITY — this is the keyword that the famous astrologer Marc Edmund Jones gave to it. What is the nature of identity?
• Chiron in the Signs (1)December 16, 2009I’ve given several talks on Chiron at astrology conventions, and when I chose the topic I would think later, “why in the world did I chose that topic?
• Chiron, The Wounded HealerDecember 16, 2009I never quite understood why some astrologers refer to Chiron as "the wounded healer." Recently, though, a friend of mine, Tim, told me of a healing technique of which he had learned that he found most powerful.
• Chiron in the Signs (2)December 16, 2009Chiron in Libra The way we have held ourselves back from evolving is by relating to our reality in a narrow, repetitive way that ignores so many energies.
• Which techniques to useDecember 13, 2009Two questions that are going to arise frequently when one studies astrology is, how many interpretative techniques does one use, and which are the best ones.
• South Node: The Same Old ThingDecember 13, 2009Because the South Node signifies what we have brought with us into this lifetime, it is a place of piled up memories and automatic responses that we have built up in our past.
• Chiron Combinations with Planets, Points and AsteroidsDecember 13, 2009When Chiron in a chart forms an aspect to another planet, the following interpretations will help you to tune in to what the significance of that aspect is.
• The North Node and ProtectionDecember 13, 2009"Protection" is the keyword that the great 20th Century astrologer Marc Emund Jones gave to the North Node. How do we access this protective quality of the node?
• Planets: The Core of AstrologyDecember 13, 2009A school of astrology known as cosmobiology arose in the 20th century in Germany. This school focused on the use of midpoints, and de-emphasized signs and houses to the point that they were used little by some…
• The Novile AspectDecember 11, 2009The novile aspect is one ninth of the zodiac, or 40 degrees. Everything I say here about the novile can also be applied to the bi-novile, which is 80 degrees, and the quadra-novile, which is 160 degrees.
• Phase Work: An Astrological FrontierDecember 9, 2009“Astrology a Language of Life Volume II – Sabian Aspect Orbs” is a highly unique text on astrology by Robert P. Blaschke.
• The Sun in the HousesDecember 9, 2009The sun is, in kabbalistic terms, the planet capable of generating the greatest amount of negativity.
• The Quintile AspectDecember 9, 2009The quintile aspect is one-fifth of the zodiac, or 72 degrees. All that I’m going to tell you about it can also be applied to the bi-quintile, which is 144 degrees. Marc Jones gave the keyword “talent” to this aspect.
• Cardinal, Fixed, and MutableDecember 9, 2009A good way to understand the difference between cardinal, fixed, and mutable energies is to think of them as equating with three different aspect of fictional literature: cardinal in this context would be the plot of a…
• Pluto in CapricornDecember 8, 2009Pluto has moved into Capricorn recently (on November 28th, 2008), and so this is the focus of transformations now happening on planet earth.
• The Septile AspectDecember 8, 2009The septile aspect is 51 degrees and 26 minutes – or one seventh of a circle. Seven is the number of transcendence and overcoming, a rising above problems so that we may seem them in the bigger picture.
• The Asteroid JunoDecember 6, 2009I was first introduced to Ellias Lonsdales work on asteroids through his book "Inside Planets," published in 1995 by North Atlantic Books.