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I only have a brief moment to comment after a most superficial look at
Taurus on the cusp of the 12th and the moon ruler of the 2nd therein.
These are testimonies to limitation in 2nd house matters such as money.
Gene Ray
mailto:generay33@hotmail.com
05Oct2000
I'd look for prominent Neptune/Pisces/12th/25' Aquarius (Neptune discovery
degree) for (abstract) mathematical acumen and prominent
Pluto/Scorpio/8th/17' Cancer (Pluto discovery degree) for (innate) genius,
and a prominent Uranus/Aquarius/11th/24' Gemini (Uranus discovery degree)
for (scientific) indicators of an innovator.
Kepler, of course, has most of these (outer planet) features prominent
in his chart. He has Neptune rising in its natural domain of 12th conjunct
24' Gemini Ascendant (mathematical scientist) and dispositing Pluto in
Pisces on MidHeaven (mathematical genius). Unlike Neptune & Pluto,
Uranus is not angular but is personalized instead through aspects to both
luminaries, with Chiron (28' Aquarius) and MC (22' Aquarius) conjunct --
with the 25' Aquarius degree at their midpoint (disciplined aim to be an
innovator). Nothing conjuncts the 17' Cancer degree but it forms a Grand
Trine with Saturn in Scorpio (hard-working genius) and Saturn's dispositor
Pluto along with Jupiter in Pisces which it conjuncts (genius for
expansive mathematicality). Moreover, this Grand Trine extends to a Kite
with the Sun opposing the 17' Cancer degree as backbone.
Kepler's struggle with poverty was a manifestation of having no planets
in Fire signs but the North Node in Leo, (which is ruled by the Sun while
Uranus rules the Aquarian South Node). The Sun and Uranus are the ONLY
planets aspecting each of the rulers of the 8th House of genius (Saturn
– "Father of Modern Astronomy"), 11th House of scientific
innovation (Mars – "De Cometis and Harmonic Mundi") and 12th
House of mathematics (Venus – "Mysterious Cosmographicum"/"Music
of the Spheres").
However, while Uranus and Sun (which aspect the rulers of these houses)
are conjunct (allowing him to fuse his mathematical scientific genius),
they rule opposite ends of the Nodal axis (an axis of equal importance to
the Ascendant - Descendant axis). Therefore, Kepler could achieve his life
goals (NNode in 2nd ruled by Sun) but only at the expense of being pulled
into a life of poverty until death (NNode in 8th ruled by Uranus).
Such was his life (and death), and with his Ascendant-ruler, Mercury,
at the pointer of a Yod involving Moon (ruler of 2nd) and North Node (in
2nd, as above), his financial poverty was even more oddly confounded. Yet,
more evenly, his achievements were far from "poor", because his
Moon (ruler of 2nd of resources) and Mars (ruler of 11th of science) form
a Grand Trine with his Aquarian South Node – making knowledge his
greatest resource to the world – and affording him fame as the leading
astronomical theorist for over four centuries.
And what about that Uranus (aspected by both luminaries and) ruling the
South Node in 8th for indications of a "closet astrologer"?!
Sy Scholfield
mailto:astroqueer@hotmail.com
Astroqueer's Stars: http://Astroqueer.tripod.com
05Oct2000
Kepler's ruler of the 2nd positioned in the 12th at a critical degree
shows difficulty with wealth. The placement of his asc. in the same sign
as his critical degree moon also emphasizes this.
His mathematical genius can be attributed to his MC ruler, Uranus
conjunct Mercury (asc. ruler). The placement of Neptune on his asc. in the
12th may also be contributing to the inspired mind. His MC is also
positioned at a critical degree. I have found that critical degrees point
towards extreme greatness or extreme weakness in a chart. In this case it
seems that Kepler's great mind and it's connection to the MC (Mercury
conjunct Uranus) shows strong because of all the strong Cardinal planets
in the 7th (also contributing to all his "firsts") and the
weakness of the 2nd house shows because of the poor placement of the Moon
in the 12th.
Cheryle Cote
04Oct2000
Thanks for the opportunity to revise my comments. The chart you originally
posted just didn't look right. Because the chart with the Sun at 25
Capricorn did not appear consistent with the biography of Kepler, I
checked out the link you posted (http://www.kepler.arc.nasa.gov/johannes.html#anchor779268)
and read that "Johannes Kepler was born at 2:30 PM on December 27,
1571, in Weil der Stadt, Württemburg, in the Holy Roman Empire."
This date placed his sun at 15 Capricorn, not at 25 Capricorn as in the
chart originally posted. In other words, Thursday 27 DEC 1571 JULIAN = 06
JAN 1572 GREGORIAN.
Kepler's chart set for 06 JAN 1572 NS (Gregorian) has the Sun at 15
Capricorn 28', a 24 Gemini Ascendant, and a 22 Aquarius Midheaven, which
is more consistent with a career in astronomy. Saturn, the traditional
ruler of the Aquarius MC, almost exactly conjoins the Part of Fortune,
indicating his fame and fortune in studying the stars. Saturn is also the
planet of rigorous mathematical genius.
Kepler has a stellium in Capricorn with Venus, Sun, Uranus, and Mercury
all in the sign ruled by Saturn. This is the mark of a research scientist
and is also found in the chart of Louis Pasteur. Saturn is extremely
well-situated, being trine Jupiter and sextile the stellium in Capricorn,
again suggesting mathematical genius and a talent for scientific research.
Mercury conjoins Uranus (the modern ruler of his Aquarius MC), showing
innovation, originality, brilliance, and an interest in science,
technology, and the stars.
I don't see strong indications of financial poverty in the chart other
than his Moon, ruling the 2nd house of money, in the traditionally
unfortunate 12th house. Poverty here may be in the mind of the beholder.
With his extremely Saturnian nature, Kepler may have felt like a rich man
because of his many intellectual achievements. He may not have been
obsessed with money as a mark of success as we are in the U.S.. His
Neptune on the Ascendant reinforces this interpretation. Kepler's treasure
lay in the spiritual and intellectual goods he could accumulate during his
lifetime.
Finally, Kepler is the person who introduced the minor aspects into
astrology, and he most likely used them in rectifying his chart. The
closest minor aspect in Kepler's rectified 2:37 p.m. chart is the Moon
sesquiquadrate (135 degrees) Venus with a very tight orb. His Moon
occupies the Taurus 12th house of misfortune, a house that Venus rules.
Since Venus is also a natural signifier of money, perhaps Kepler chose
this rectified time to set the 12th house Moon in a stressful
sesquiquadrate to 12th ruler Venus and thus reflect his difficulty with
accumulating financial wealth.
Anthony Louis
http://hometown.aol.com/tonylouis/home/index.html
mailto:tonylouis@aol.com
2Oct2000
Regarding the question of logarithms and Kepler, Kepler read about
logarithms in 1617, a few years after Napier's book on logarithms was
published (1614). He was very excited about logarithms, despite being
chided by his teacher for wanting to take shortcuts! While he was working
on completing the Rudolphine Tables, Kepler developed some logarithmic
tables of his own, designing them to be better suited for astronomical
work. Also, the concept of logarithms seems to have played a role in
Kepler's discovery of the Third Law of Planetary Motions. Kepler published
a book on logarithms in 1623, which he'd started writing in 1621.
www.kepler.arc.nasa.gov/johannes.html
www.mathpages.com/rr/s8-01/8-01.htm
hydro4.sci.fau.edu/~rjordan/bios/Kepler/Kepler_bio.htm
Michael Rideout
mailto:SeaGtGruff@aol.com
1Oct2000
Enjoyed Kepler's chart so much. Your question on his poverty: I've seldom
found clients with Pisces MC's to care much about money or put much energy
into acquiring/hanging onto it, even Capricorns like Kepler. They tend to
live in a world of their own in their heads; to feel comfortable in a
small circle of those who share their peculiar interests, values &
causes. (Academics, meditators, musicians, Hollywood scriptwriters,
environmentalists, etc) I see mathematics as Kepler's Piscean Midheaven
alternate reality. A social life limited to people like Tycho Brahe would
work for him.
I read somewhere long ago--possibly in Arthur Koestler's bio – that
Kepler's mother was an herbalist/healer frequently in trouble with The
Law--that he interrupted his tenure as a prof on more than one occasion to
travel "home" and help her out with her trials. The Cancer ASC
and the angular Moon/Mars would indicate his bond with her and also her
own radical/feisty personality. (Mars is not well placed in Libra-- she
did not come across well to others around her. Wondered if anyone else
recalled recalled reading about her?
Kathleen Burt
mailto:windowtothestars@worldnet.att.net
1Oct2000
1. Ok we now have an accurate chart, and I can now more easily see the
origin of his mathematical genius ... there is an extremely powerful
double-sextile, with the conjunctions in Capricorn in sextile to Capricorn
ruler Saturn in Scorpio, and Pluto and Jupiter in Pisces ... the
Mercury-Uranus conjunction gives him a very powerful, grounded and
inquisitive mind (never mind very restless), and the water placements give
a strong intuitive grasp of anything scientific...
2. As before, there are strong Air placements – Moon in Gemini, Mars
in Libra ... though there is a part of him that valued the material side
of life very much, his restless intellect was more into the pursuit of
truth, so he made some sacrifices for that ... more into the search and
spirit of knowledge rather than the material trappings ... again I note
that Mars is in a strong square with the very powerful Capricorn mercury
... he may have been very content to 'get by' materially, making only
enough to survive, as his intellectual activities gave him joy, but he may
not have had a very happy love life or family life ... you cannot deny
that having enough money to support oneself and help with family expenses
is very important to happiness at home...
3. Neptune is indeed very powerful as a rising planet ... sees the
truth beyond the veil ... Moon and Neptune in Gemini makes a restless
seeker of truth ... wants to read more, know more ... Mars in Libra stands
up for what he thinks is right ... he will act on his ideas ... also of
course Mercury and Uranus conjunct in Capricorn ... this grants many new
and practical ideas ... he may well have heard the "Music of the
Spheres", as Uranus grants clairaudient abilities ... this man may
have been very psychic ... powerful water signs and water rulers (the
Moon, Neptune and Pluto) seem to give him this slant ... the Neptune squares
to Jupiter and Pluto can probably peg him as obsessed and tireless...
Bill Lindsay
mailto:astrointuitive@hotmail.com
1Oct2000
"1. What marks of mathematical genius do you find in his chart?"
Gemini rising, and the Moon in Gemini, both point to a thinker. Gemini
is ruled by Mercury, with Saturn being the daytime triplicity ruler (see
below). The Moon is in the term of Mercury. Mercury disposes of the Moon
and rules the Ascendant, and is also the almuten of the Moon and the
Ascendant.
Mathematical ability can be associated with a Mercury-Saturn influence
(structured thinking). Mercury and Saturn were separated by 51:46, which
could be viewed as a very wide applying sextile (although this would be
rejected by many astrologers), or as a very close separating septile
(although Kepler didn't consider the septile to be an aspect, in part
because the regular heptagon isn't "constructible"). But whether
or not we consider Mercury and Saturn to have been in an aspect, Mercury
was in Capricorn, so it was disposited by Saturn. And Saturn was in the
(Egyptian) term of Mercury, so we can say that Mercury and Saturn were in
a mixed mutual reception.
Mental genius is indicated by the applying conjunction of Mercury and
Uranus (orb 3:07), with Mercury parallel Uranus in celestial latitude (orb
0:52) and declination (orb 1:03). Even if we don't consider this to be an
indication of genius per se, it shows a propensity for sudden ideas and
insights. Kepler's first real claim to fame was his idea that the spacing
of the planetary orbits (or spheres) can be explained by fitting them
inside the Platonic solids, and nestling the Platonic solids inside each
other. He got this idea quite suddenly while teaching a class on
mathematics, after drawing a triangle inside of a circle on the board,
with another circle inside the triangle. He became so excited that he
dashed out of the classroom to work out the details of this idea. It
turned out to be wrong, but it was hailed as a brilliant insight.
Additionally, Mercury's declination was 24S32, and it was moving even
further away from the celestial equator, so it was "out of
bounds," which also indicates some sort of unusual or unconventional
mentality ("thinking outside the lines"?). Mercury in Capricorn
might normally be expected to give a conventional mentality, or perhaps
thinking which is constrained by the rules of society. It's true that
Kepler's thinking was conventional in some ways-- such as in terms of
religion and the Church (which was practically synonymous with the
State)-- but Mercury's aspect(s) with Uranus, and the fact that it was out
of bounds, helped him to break free of those constraints.
"2. He struggled with poverty most of his life, yet there are no
planets in the second house and no major aspects to the ruler of the
second. What do you make of this?"
Kepler gave his birth time as 2:30 p.m. (LAT, equivalent to about 2:37
p.m. LMT), which puts Neptune almost exactly conjunct his Ascendant, and
the Moon in the 12th House. These positions certainly fit his devoutly
religious nature, which wasn't just an adherence to The State Religion,
but was a mystical belief in God and His Creation. In fact, Kepler
initially wanted to be a theologian. Cancer was on the cusp of the 2nd
House, with the ruler of the 2nd House in the 12th House.
These facts suggest that Kepler may have been "too spiritual"
to pursue material wealth for its own end; the pursuit of knowledge and a
spiritual understanding of the universe was more important to him. This is
not to say that he didn't want money, and he often spent a lot of time and
effort looking for financial backing. But instead of devoting himself to
"making a living" on his own, and earning and saving as much
money as he could, he was more concerned with his studies. In a sense, he
was looking for handouts to support his beloved hobbies-- at least, that's
the way other people may have seen it. He seems to have had a hard time
convincing people that he was doing "hard work," and that he
should be suitably paid for his services.
Saturn was in the 6th House (Placidus), which certainly shows that he
was a hard worker, and took his work responsibilities seriously. However,
it also suggests that his employers were hard on him, expecting a great
deal from him-- perhaps more than they would expect from others. Also,
Saturn was in Scorpio, the sign of "other people's money," and
Saturn is the planet of limits and limitations. This suggests that his
employers tended to be stingy when it came to paying him, or limited the
amount of their money they were willing to give him for his services.
His Sun was in the 8th House (Placidus), which could also suggest that
his view of himself was closely aligned with the value or worth that other
people placed upon him (as opposed to the value or worth that he placed
upon himself), and that he relied on "other people's money." The
fact that he had such a hard time getting adequate compensation for his
work probably affected his self-image in a negative way. The Sun in
Capricorn likes to be recognized for its hard work, and to be rewarded
with status, but Capricorn can also give a tendency to pessimism and
gloom. In his writings, Kepler was sometimes very down on himself, as if
he felt that he wasn't worthy. This opinion of himself may have been
closely related to his problems with gaining adequate compensation and
financial backing.
I'd never heard of the 1:00 p.m. LAT birth time before, and I don't
think the chart for that time fits as well as the chart for 2:30 p.m. LAT.
However, the chart for 1:00 p.m. LAT does put Neptune in the 2nd House
(Placidus), which could indicate poverty.
"3. Kepler has a long list of "firsts". What makes this
man such an innovator?"
Kepler's "firsts" were all related to ideas or discoveries. I
think these were largely shown by Mercury conjunct Uranus, with Mercury
being the Lord of the Ascendant and out of bounds. Kepler was a brilliant
thinker, who was able to see beyond the intellectual and philosophical
limits of his time and culture, in spite of the fact that he was also
firmly entrenched in that philosophy. The nearly exact conjunction of
Neptune and the Ascendant also points to a high degree of imagination,
which-- with Neptune being in Gemini-- was strongly connected with his
ability to form mental images of intellectual concepts. Neptune is
associated with images-- photographs, dreams, visions, etc.-- so it's
little wonder that Kepler was gifted with an ability to understand optics,
and saw things that other people didn't. He was a visionary.
mailto:SeaGtGruff@aol.com
1Oct2000
On 30Sep2000, we went back to OS for the birth date, giving 27Dec1571.
Our previous date, 6Jan1572, was NS. (See Mark McDonough's comment,
below.)
Bear this dated change in mind when reading comments, below, of
30Sep2000 or earlier. Updates have been solicited from all these
commentators and, when submitted, will be given dates of 1Oct2000 or
later.
If Kepler in his own hand showed 29Capricorn30mc and a late Taurus
Ascendant
from a 1pm birth time, i do not understand why we are using a rectified
2:37,
even if by Kepler himself. The 1pm chart, given what we now know about the
outer planets speaks of his life so clearly! (Bodies not yet officially
present seem meaningful in the charts of those like Kepler whose work made
their discovery certain.)
Further, if January 6, 1572 is newstyle, then the sun is off by about
ten degrees. Using Astrolog 5.41 with the Swiss ephemerides, the date in
OS gives the following at 13h06. (The quoted 29Capricorn30mc suggests that
sundial time was in use so that "1pm" would be read as Sun 15
degrees past the noon point. This is as close to Kepler's rendition as i
can manage with this software.) Remarks in parenthesis.
Astrolog 5.41F chart for Thu
27-12-1571 13:06
(ST +0:35 GMT) 8:52E 48:45N
East Point: 3Tau57
Ascendant : 28Tau12
Moon :
3Gem15
Neptune : 23Gem51 R
(Here we have a clear indication of a mind that
won't turn off and a far reaching quality that would have been typical of
advanced thinkers throughout his generation. This was essential for him to
be able to do his work. Patrons and tools ... the thought products of
others must be both accessible and interesting.)
Node : 2Leo45 R (4th house)
(The first of his family to "hang
out" with royalty?)
Mars :
8Lib15
Fortune : 16Lib03
Vertex : 24Lib56
(Here we see fortunate
social connections needed for his work to be done. The active pursuit of
connections is shown.)
Saturn : 13Sco48
(Here is the quality that takes hidden knowledge seriously.)
Mercury :
5Cap28
Uranus : 8Cap40
(Here is more seriousness, but also a drive to dominate any study. To
conquer and rule it.)
Sun
: 15Cap24
Venus : 18Cap30
(These bodies are both aligned with the galactic crossing of the equator
... a very nice metaphor for work that changed the "fate" of
everyone on the planet, rather than being merely of local interest.)
Midheaven : 29Cap31
Chiron : 28Aqu13
(Here, 29 degrees from the MH used by Kepler, we see this body. Life
stories tell me that Chiron is about moving to a new level by borrowing
from future development ... in ways that are very difficult to sustain.)
Jupiter : 18Pis37
Pluto : 21Pis58
(If he is so smart, why isn't he rich? This is THE modern fallacy, isn't
it? Here we have the planets prominent in the charts of great wealth
today. Plutocrats were "not invented yet", however. Financial
wealth as separate from military power and trade goods was rare and nearly
impossible to keep. But here we have the wealth of the soul... and a life
work that would benefit all humanity, represented by the still invisible
Pluto.)
If i had more of the right kind of time i would lay this chart out in
the galactic signs. Perhaps before the file is closed.
The Sabian degrees for the correct chart are amazing. I hope someone
renders them.
Thank you for choosing this chart.
Jane Axtell
Galactic
Everything
mailto:StarTiming@aol.com
mathematical genius: sun conjunct mercury, squared by that moon/venus conj
in libra (air signs are more attuned to numbers). he would have been a
computer programmer if he lived in our time.
poverty: don't all capricorns struggle with poverty for at least a good
portion of their lives?
innovator: close uranus conjunction to sun/merc, uranus opp. ascendant,
venus in aquarius indicates a peculiar, original & individualistic
talent. also venus conj sun, highly creative and inventive.
madame seven
mailto:tofugypsy@aol.com
30Sep2000
Dear Lois,
your chart of Kepler's is doubly corrected for old style: by yourself
and by the software used. His old style date is December 27, 1571.
Thank you.
Jan Westerveld
mailto:jg.westerveld@hccnet.nl
30Sep2000
Kepler was not a mathematical genius in the traditional sense of the
phrase. As you pointed out, he struggled with poverty all of his life.
Genius would require that he had figured out the structure of the times in
which he found himself and played that system for all it was worth. He
couldn't. His mission was the recovery of the information that so endears
him to us, today. The most significant indicator of his mission in his
chart is the Venus conjunct the south node in the 7th house. Atlantis, (
if that is what you prefer to call it ) the great civilization where all
of this mathematical stuff was worked out! That's what he was doing,
RECALLING THE PAST! Kepler channeled all of his information from his
"Higher Source". The ruler of his natal 3rd is in harmony with
the Jupiter/Pluto Conjunction in the 9th house. Virgo on the third and
Mercury in the 7th indicating " the other" was doing the real
work and Johannes was recording it and putting it down on paper.
David Wakinya-Ska Bratcher
mailto:wakinyaska@aol.com
30Sep2000
Totally grounded in Capricorn yet soaring in Pisces he could see the
total picture. My Jupiter in Pisces helps me understand him. What would we
do without men like this?
William Autrey
mailto:askmrbill@earthlink.net
30Sep2000
There is little doubt about it: the contact between Mars and Uranus
(here a square) always suggests "inventiveness," usually of the
technological kind, involving mathematics, science, etc. --Alexander
Graham Bell (telephone) had Mars square Uranus, Guglielmo Marconi
(wireless) had Mars quintile Uranus, Jacques Cousteau (aqualung) had Mars
opposed Uranus, etc.
We can note easily and importantly that Kepler has Mars ruling the
Midheaven, excited and focused of course by the Moon opposition, the Moon
ruling his Ascendant. This is the complete professional wrap-up of identify
in Mars-Uranus terms.
In modern times, it is clear that Mars-Uranus accompanies consideration
of technology, computers, data management.
As far as level of genius is concerned, there really is no way to see
that. Study of Kepler's life and astrological output shows he was a far
better astronomer than he was astrologer. This is not a detraction; it is
a clearer focus.
And we must remember that Kepler's astronomy laws allowed the Ephemeris
to be created, one of the most significant developments in astrology's
history.
Noel Tyl
mailto:Noel@NoelTyl.com
30Sep2000
Sorry to be pedantic, folks, but...John Napier invented logarithms, not
Kepler.
Napier, John (1550-1617), Scottish mathematician, born in Merchiston
Castle in Edinburgh, and educated at the University of St Andrews. He
became an adherent of the Reformation movement in Scotland while still at
university, and in later years he took an active part in Protestant
political affairs. He was the author of A Plaine Discovery of the Whole
Revelation of St John (1593), the first important Scottish interpretation
of the Bible. Napier is best known as the inventor of the first system of
logarithms, described in Canonis Descriptio (1614). The common and natural
systems of logarithms used today do not employ the same base as Napier's
logarithms, although natural logarithms are sometimes called Napierian
logarithms. Napier was one of the first, if not the first, to use the
decimal point in expressing decimal fractions in a systematic way and
according to the modern system of decimal notation. He also invented
mechanical systems for performing arithmetical computations, described in
Rabdologia (1617).
"Napier, John," Microsoft(R) Encarta(R) 96 Encyclopedia. (c)
1993-1995 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. (c) Funk &
Wagnalls Corporation. All rights reserved.
Anon.
Can't believe that the JU-SA angle in Kepler's chart is deemed a TRINE
when the orb is a totally unacceptable >6 degrees. As for discussion of
'houses' – are contemporary astrologers still using that imaginary and
useless precept?
Midpoints and high-number harmonics (8H, 16H) are the ONLY valid
astrological techniques one needs to bother with. 'Signs', 'houses', 'rulerships'
– toss 'em in the bin - now.
John Little
mailto:jdl@indigo.ie
30Sep2000
The north node is conjunct the second house cusp – very important
(ruling the chart) because of the cancer rising. Kepler was destined to
have the support of others (south node on the 8th of shared resources
conjunct venus) and he would struggle all his life to develop his own
material resources (north node on second). The venus conjunct the south
made his "path of least resistance (south node)" a constant
source of attraction during his whole life.
Robert Cohen
mailto:bcohenmath@aol.com
30Sep2000
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