This is the last of my "Introduction To Astrology" series that uses the horoscopes of Albert Einstein and Janis Joplin. SO WHAT ARE TRANSITS? Transits are the counterclockwise movement of the planets and luminaries (Sun and Moon) that travel around one's horoscope after one is born. The Sun transits around one's horoscope in one year (or in simple terms, it takes one year for the Sun to transit around your horoscope and land in the same spot (a.k.a., your birthday)). And yes, puting the 12 houses on a 12-equal house basis, the Sun will transit each house in about a one month time-frame. And note that Jupiter takes about 12 years to go all the way around your horoscope and land in the same spot where you were born (and using our same equal 12-house horoscope used with the Sun, Jupiter will transit each equal house for a time-frame of about one year per house). Saturn takes about 28 years to go around one's horoscope and land in the same spot (with equal house transits that are about 2.5 years per house), and Uranus takes about 84 years to travel around one's horoscope and land in the same spot (and lasts about 7 years per transit of each equal house). But in addition to exiting and entering houses as the planets and luminaries transit the horoscope, they also form angles to the planets and personal points in one's horoscope. These angle formations (known as aspects) sometimes kick off important events in one's life, especially if the transiting planet is slow in motion. This is why aspects involving the Moon and fast moving planets (i.e. Venus and Mercury) usually do not impel strong energies that may cause important events to take place (UNLESS these fast-moving transits are combined with other transits (especially slow moving transits); major combinations of transits can usually define an event in one's life of some sort of importance (even if it's a flat tire, a relationship break-off, over-tipping of someone, etc.)) Points of Retrogrades and Direct Motion are of significant importance to monitor if aspects of these slow moving planets form important aspects to one's horoscope. REMEMBER THIS: the slower the planet moves, the stronger the probability of expected effects of energies ruled by the transiting planet and by the natal planet or personal point of one's horoscope. This includes planets like Venus, Mercury, and Mars, whose transits are sometimes not experienced due to the fast motions of these planets. Now let's take a look at some examples of transits with important events.
Albert Einstein
The natal horoscope chart above will be the center-placed chart in the series below, with transits to the natal horoscope placed outside the chart. Lets take a look at Einstein's first marriage, and ask this QUESTION: What houses and planets and / or luminaries should be the first consideration to look at regarding marriage?
If you said 7th House and Venus, you are correct. Now let's look at the indicated transits of importance below.
Venus Conjunction Mars (circled in green above) is a very prominent transit that acts as an indicator of possible marriage. But also note that the transit of Sun Square Venus (drawn in red) may indicate problems with this marriage; Einstein would divorce after receiving the Nobel Prize. Now onto the date of Einstein's publication of his Theory of Relativity. QUESTION: what houses and transiting planets should be looked at regarding science, higher education, and publication?
If you said 11th house, 9th House, Jupiter, Uranus, and Chiron, you are correct. Jupiter Square Jupiter is a very lucky transit, and this is drawn in red below. This clearly indicates an enhanced bank account (natal Jupiter in the 8th House) courtesy of success with some sort of aspiration (transiting Jupiter in the 11th House). Uranus Square Part of Fortune (drawn in orange below) is indicative of an open argument relative to career (Part of Fortune) and science (Uranus), and the same may be said about the Chiron Square Chiron (drawn in green below). Saturn Opposition Uranus (drawn in blue below) may be indicative of authoritative review of Einstein's proposed theory; the many squares in this event may indicate that there were many arguments an claims of plagiarism (and there are still arguments about this today).
Now let's look at the date that Einstein received the Nobel Prize for Physics. As far as important transits are concerned, this should be easy.
Pluto Conjunction Ascendant (with Einstein's natal Ascendant Conjunction with the star of Sirius) is the easy answer to the question above (and it's drawn in lavendar below). Note that this transit is also forming a Square with Chiron; this square with Chiron (along with transit Chiron Square natal Neptune Conjunction Chiron (drawn in orange below))would define conflicts in areas of advanced sciences (represented by Chiron), and these conflicts are still under review due to Einstein establishing a new field of advanced sciences that are still developing as we speak.
Now onto Einstein renouncing his German citizenship two months after Hitler became German Chancellor. QUESTION: what planets and houses would concern such a shocking and and announcement with international implications?
If you said Mercury (communications), Uranus (surprises), Jupiter (the law and international perspectives), and the third and ninth houses, you are correct. The Conjunction of transit Mars with natal Uranus (in the 3rd House, circled in dark red) indicates a surprising communication involving the ego. Transiting retrograde Mercury (in the 9th House of international perspectives and the law) kicks off a Semi-Sextile transit to natal Jupiter and a Sextile transit to natal Mars (drawn in light red). Transiting Chiron is in the 11th House of friendships and associations, and Chiron Conjunction natal Pluto (and Trine natal Mars) is drawn in blue below, and this transit may define "technology involvement with transforming or powerful friends or associates." I think this may define Einstein's new home of the U.S.A. and his new friend F.D.R., president of the U.S.A.
Now let's look for further evidence that Einstein's natal Pluto in his 11th House represents F.D.R. and his new friends in the U.S. scientific community (which includes those scientists who will define the birth of the U.S. military industrial complex, one of the greatest threats to mankind since the Black Plague). Below is the horoscope of the date that Einstein sent a letter to F.D.R. The letter concerned how uranium should be obtained and gathered to make a bomb that will force the Germans to surrender. QUESTION: what house and planet should concern pen, paper, and the postal service?
If you said Mercury and the 3rd House, you are correct. Transiting Mercury is at home in the 3rd House of Einstein, and the Square with natal Pluto in the 11th House (drawn in red) may indicate a debate or conflict Einstein was having with F.D.R. over his scientific views (represented by transiting Uranus Conjunction natal Pluto).
Now onto the Manhattan Project, which will throw Einstein's scientific principles straight into the arms of the U.S. military industrial complex. The time below is the exact time of detonation of the first nuclear bomb. QUESTION: what houses and planets would be involved on Einstein's horoscope with this event that would forcibly and unwillingly transform Einstein's aspirations of society improvements (via science) into the use of one's aspirations and science to military use to allow forced international regime changes due to one's international preferences and likings?
The 11th house is obvious for transformation of Einstein's aspirations. The use of war with Einstein's aspirations (and not social improvement) is evident with transiting Mars Conjunction Pluto (circled in red). The Trine with natal Mars in the 7th House (relationships with the military) indicates a great relationship between the military and Einstein's science applied to war. Drawn in gray below, the Square formation of transiting Saturn (government) and the transiting Moon (employees) applying to Einstein's natal Venus via a Square (conflict concerning one's relationship with others) indicates that Einstein would probably declare a divorce with the U.S. government And this divorce would manifest after the U.S. dropped Einstein's science on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Now onto the death of Einstein. QUESTION: what planets, personal points, and houses should we look at that concern death?
If you said Pluto, Sun, and 8th House, you are correct. But in Einstein's case, the 8th House is not revolved. But Pluto is definitely involved with Pluto Square Pluto (drawn in lavendar below). This represents a transformation that involves a severe conflict and may involve crisis. The T-Square of transiting Sun Opposition Neptune applying to natal Mars (drawn in dark purple below) can define great disappointment to the ego or to one's energy source; Einstein would die of an abdominal aortic aneurysm.
Janis Joplin
Above is the natal horoscope of Janis Joplin that we will be working with. As was the same with Albert Einstein, it will be placed in the center of the display with the transits displayed as the outer wheel. Below is a folk music singing contest that Janis Joplin won when she was 13 years old. QUESTION: what planets and houses will be significant with winning such a contest?
If you said Venus, Neptune, Jupiter, and the 12th and 7th Houses, you are correct. The transit of Venus Square Moon (drawn in black below) clearly defines a contest via the Square meaning of "conflict" (or "competition"), while Venus represents art and the Moon represents the public. Jupiter Square Mars (drawn in red below) represents "a fortunate or lucky action involving some sort of conflict (or "competition")." Pluto Conjunction Chiron and Pluto Quincunx Sun (drawn in green below) suggests important transformation (Pluto) that involved a healing quality (Chiron) and tension (Quincunx) that involves expression to others (Sun). Neptune rules artistic expression, and the transiting Square with the natal Part of Fortune (drawn in blue below) suggests conflict involving any career involving artistic expression, as opposed to non-art careers (which is what her parents were pushing for. The parents of Janis Joplin DID NOT LIKE blues or beat musicians, and the refusal of Janis to change her music tastes and her beat-inspired dress tastes caused much unhappiness for her as a child and teenager, and would even invite bad reactions during her college years (she was once voted the "Worst Looking Man" while attending the University of Texas at Austin ).
Now let's look at a second contest Janis Joplin won. Below is another contest she won, which was the Annual Monterey Folk Contest in 1963 (and Janis was 20 years old at the time, and dropped out of the University of Texas at Austin to pursue this dream of becoming a singer).
Similar to the Driftwood Contest that Janis won at age 13, we see transiting Venus and transiting Neptune playing prominent roles again with the chart below. Neptune Square Venus (drawn in pink below) reveals another area of conflict or "competition," and Jupiter Square Moon ("good luck with the public in an area of conflict or competition") defines another lucky break in a competitive environment. And interestingly enough, transiting Venus now Squares the Part of Fortune (drawn in blue below), and now the transiting Sun (in the sign of Taurus, near the art-ruling star of Algol) Trines the natal Sun ("harmonious expression to others involving art"). This is drawn in orange below.
While attending the University of Texas, Janis Joplin used to do folk singing at Threadgill's (which was a gasoline station turned into a small restaurant) on North Lamar Avenue in Austin (and the place still exists today, with photos of Janis posted on the wallof her singing there). Janis Joplin was asked about singing rock and roll when she sang there, and her famous reply was "us folkies do not do rock and roll." But the times of protest against rock music would change, and change in a big way. Bob Dylan went electric in 1965 with "Maggies Farm," and this horrified his huge fan base (with half of the audience walking out on him at the Newport Folk Festival. This performance of Dylan can be seen by clicking https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8yU8wk67gY ). But Dylan would "get even" with these same fans with his huge classic smash hit "Like A Rolling Stone" that would come out the following year after he went electric. Janis Joplin ended up in San Francisco in the mid 1960's, and would similarly "go electric" there in 1966 as other local musicians would do the same. Janis Joplin would join up with the rock band Big Brother and The Holding Company in 1966 during the famous sky placement of Uranus Conjunction Pluto. With the Vietnam War going on and people questioning the JFK assassination, "transformation of rebellion" was about to go electric. And Janis Joplin would play a role with this electric rebellion in the U.S.A. with her "in your face" singing style that revealed feminine independence in a whole new and very shocking way. Janis Joplin aint no folkie anymore.
Neptune Square Ascendant (drawn in red below) clearly defines "art expression in the environment" or "expressing artwork in the environment." Venus is now in the 3rd House of communications to others, and Venus Square Pluto (drawn in lavendar below) indicates a crisis or transformation in artwork that communicates to others (and this represents the transformation from folk to rock). But the most significant transit with this new employment WITHOUT A DOUBT is drawn in blue below. The natal Part of Fortune ("career") is the midpoint that is smack-in-between the 1966 sky transit of Sun Square Uranus Conjunction Pluto. Janis Joplin's career was about to involve expression of electric rebellion in a very, very big way.
Now onto Janis hitting the big time. Janis would be recognized as a rock music sensation at the Monterey International Pop Festival in 1967. Her performance of "Ball And Chain" was considered by many to be one of the top highlights of this international music festival, which introduced to the U.S.A. the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Simon And Garfunkle, The Who, Ravi Shankar, Otis Redding, and the Jefferson Airplane. To view the incredible performance of "Ball And Chain" by Janis Joplin with Big Brother And The Holding Company at Monterey in 1967, click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1zFnyEe3nE QUESTION: what transiting planets and houses will be prominent with this event?
Drawn in red below, the most prominent transit (WITHOUT A DOUBT) is transiting Mercury in Conjunction with the Monterey Midheaven (or MC; this defines "reputation for communications with others") and both are in Conjunction with natal lucky Jupiter in the 5th House of entertainment. Uranus now joins the transiting Neptune Square Ascendant with a Quincunx (drawn in blue below), and this adds a flavor of electricity to "art expression in the environment." Drawn in lavendar below, a T-Square of transiting Venus and transiting Moon ("the art community or the art family") applies to natal Mercury Conjunction Venus in the 12th House of services to others. Finally, Sun Opposition Mars (drawn in orange below) indicates an energetic and physical expression in some way, and this was obvious with watching the video performance at the youtube site given above.
With a troubled childhood that many blamed for her excessive drinking and heroin use, natal Neptune in the 8th house was prominent with revealing drugs as representing a real threat to the life of Janis Joplin. Here's how it went down: Janis always purchased heroin from one dealer, and this dealer had a chemist who tested heroin for purity. This chemist was not in L.A. at the time Janis made a purchase, and thus the heroin she purchased was not tested for purity. This heroin Janis purchased would turn out to be 50% pure, which was 5x the street value of purity at that time, and this is what would kill her. The last time Janis Joplin was seen alive was 9:30 PM at the Landmark Hotel, where she checked in and was reportedly "drunk and in a very happy mood." The Landmark was a popular spot in Hollywood for musicians due to it's location near recoring studios AND local drug dealers. QUESTION: what transiting planets and houses should be involved with death?
Transiting Pluto is at home in the 8th House, and unfortunately this may include the involvement of energies of transformation that concern one's death (IF ONE IS NOT CAREFUL). And with the Pluto Trine Sun transit taking place (drawn in dark red below), Janis was flat out asking for trouble with this transit taking place, and especially with transiting Pluto in her 8th House (and within 1 degree of being perfect Trine with the Sun (AND THE SUN AND PLUTO DO NOT GET ALONG WITH EACH OTHER). Other 8th House candidates are the transiting Sun and Uranus. Drawn in green below, transiting Sun and Uranus are also in the 8th House, and a grand air trine is in formation with the transiting Ascendant (As) in the natal 4th House and with natal Mercury in the 12th House. This may represent Janis being in a good mood in the environment of the hotel (As), but again, the combination of Sun and Uranus in the 8th House can represent "surprises that may involve 8th House matters (i.e. death)." And the fact that Janis was alone added more crisis to allow the overdose of heroin to manifest, and this is represented by the T-square of transiting Moon Opposition Saturn ("loneliness") applying to the natal Ascendant (drawn in lavendar below). Finally, the blue-drawn transit of Neptune Square Chiron ("deception or major disappointment with healing") is indicative of a conflict (Square) by attempting to heal oneself (Chiron) with a drug (Neptune). She is still missed today; one can sleep in the hotel room where she died for $159.00 a night. R.I.P Janis Joplin.
Thanks for reading.
Love to all,
Malcolm
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