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Star Gazing with Bellezza

When Destiny Walked ...

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Star Gazing with Bellezza

Bellezza Squillace is a professional Astrologer who teaches Feminist Astrology and offers consultation and forecasts for individuals, couples and groups. Her website is www.the12thhouse.com where you will find a list of her classes and in-depth interpretation opportunities for your empowerment and transformation.

Will I be happy? Will I be rich?

These are common questions asked all the time from people looking for insight from their charts. And while it is possible to see conditions in our lives, we still have will power and choices to make.

I have a few sets of twins that I work with on a regular basis who have almost identical natal charts. As they grow up and go their own ways, they make different choices and have very different experiences. Yet the underpinnings of their lives seem to propel them onward to spiritual growth.

One set of twins is in their early 30’s now and they live in different cities three hours apart. Sister A was born only 3 minutes earlier than Sister B. Sister A has been married for five years, stays at home with two small children. Sister B is bi-sexual, unmarried, travels a lot, is working toward a masters degree and is successful in her career.

The slight differences in their natal charts are enough for us to see how they may have made the choices that give them very different lives.

Sister A currently depends upon her partnership for her financial situation, has an intimate environment of safety and security, yet feels discontent. Sister B is responsible for her own finances and lives on the edge of safety all the time in her relationships and as she travels alone.

Are they happy? Or is the grass greener on the other side? I have asked if they would want to change places. That is the stuff dreams are made of when we see identical twins. They could do it, just for kicks. Both wimmin laugh. While there are some things each likes about the other’s life, and times when they really want what the other has, neither would opt for that lifestyle nor change places.

Happiness is relative, even in astrology. And richness is not always measured in dollars and cents. No matter what your chart says, you still have control of your attitude in life and make the choices for the path you follow.

Astrology is a difficult science for me. So there are 12 houses. What do they represent, and how is it different in feminist astrology? What are the benefits to that method etc .? I don’t want you to make me a list, but tell me what it means on a deeper level, not just say, “it represents the unconscious self.” I mean what the heck does that mean? and how is it different then the patriarchal interpretation? I need detailed answers because I'm a slow learner!

So if I get through understanding the houses, well, maybe I wouldn't feel so dumb about the mathematical alignments and that is interesting too! How are those formulated anyway? minutes, seconds. You know the location of the planets, the houses, the natal stuff, the cusps, the houses well, what is represented (?) in the first house is different with feminist astrology, at least in the reading of the outcome etc.

The truth is that Astrology is a difficult science for all of us. And learning it is like learning a new language. We try to teach it in a sort of simple format so that it forms pathways on the brain that can layer the information. The kind of quick answers a person might want are like getting a quick fix, which is what our culture wants us to believe is possible. Most professional astrologers believe that you have to study this science at least seven years before you are competent to teach.

The 12 houses represent the passages of life that we all experience. They are in a circle so we know that these passages are cyclic and that we will repeat things many times over in our lives. Honestly, I teach online classes on the Houses and spend about 2-3 hours on each and how it relates to each individual. There are no easy or generic answers outside of reading a book.

In my opinion, the difference between mainstream Astrology and Feminist Astrology is the difference between how those values are expressed.

The first thing Feminist Astrologers do is look at the Goddess Archetypes for the symbols in astrology and relate them to the movements or patterns of planets & houses. Its not a replacement of the God as much as it is reclaiming and remembering that there is a different vision for us to consider. The known energies of Goddess hold a new concept for us.

The second, and perhaps more important thing we do is define what being a Feminist is, while recognizing that members of both genders can hold those certain values sacred.

Wimmin see things differently all the time. Let us look at the difference between how an ancient God would aspect something and how an ancient Goddess aspects the same energy. For instance, when we begin to experience a “Saturn Return” what we look at is the patriarchal vision of Saturn that is the taskmaster, carrying messages to us about limitation, darkness and human mortality. We dread the return and nod knowingly when we learn one of us is going through it.

In Feminist Astrology, during a Saturn Return, we might chose to look at the aspects of Kali, Medusa, and the Crone Goddess of Mother Time. As a womon, I understand these myths and images because They help me feel and process and project the energy that is astrologically with me. Somehow, with Them, I find a more complete projection of who I am as I experience this transiting energy called a “Saturn Return.”

If I aspect Kali, I recognize the blood rage boiling inside me and rather than turn from it, repressing its energy, I can honor it through Her. Or if I come to understand the energy of Mother Time, I know that I can release those things that no longer serve my greater good.

This is such a different energy than what the patriarchy wants to give me with a Taskmaster Who says I must stay in my playpen til I get this lesson right! Hah! I am a grown womon with a full life to lead.

Let me do this transit with snakes on my head aspecting Medusa. Don’t look at me during this return unless you are ready to feel and know my power.

This is the difference I see for Feminist Astrology. We are not just surviving our lives, we are thriving in Goddess energy.

Mathematical alignments you ask about in your chart that include minutes and seconds are the actual measurements. The whole sky is seen as a circle which contains 360 degrees. That 360 is divided into 12 for 12 houses. Each house then holds its share or 30 degrees. Each degree holds 60 minutes and there are 60 seconds to each minute. The calculation can be precise to the second. Astrological tools were developed and used centuries ago and now our software programs calculate with the same precision.

So the calculation begins with where each of the planets and the sun are in the various zodiac signs or constellations in the sky. If we know the moment and place of your birth we can calculate the position of the horizon exactly where it lays across the sky. That information gives us a natal chart.

If you have an Astrology question you would like answered for this column, please contact Bellezza at housekeeper@the12thhouse.com.

Copyright @ 2005 by Bellezza Squillace ~ All rights reserved