natal

Most modern astrologers use the rules of psychological or natal astrology to analyze a natal chart. However, until 350 years ago, horary or classical astrology was king, and had been used almost exclusively for about a thousand years. It was developed mostly by Arabian astrologers, who had to deal with people without clocks or calendars. The methods they developed for analyzing a chart are very detailed and take into account astronomical events ignored by natal astrologers. One of these events is a change of signs or direction by a planet before the Moon makes its last applying aspect. This is known as a refranation, and the person in whose chart it occurs is likely to refrain from completing his intended plans, marriages, or jobs, or projects.

In classical astrology, the Moon rules all changes, and the final applying Ptolemaic aspect of the transiting Moon before it leaves the sign it is in rules the final outcome. In the smaller image below the chart data the aspects of the transiting Moon are listed, from the last aspect before the birth until the Moon changes signs from Gemini to Cancer. The list includes the Virgo ingress of the planet Mercury. In classical astrology, such an ingress of a planet before the Moon changes signs is known as a REFRANATION . This means that the person is likely to change his mind before completing his intended action, he REFRAINS from doing so. John was sent to medical school by his parents, and then dropped out in the 3rd year because of "stress". Rather than finding a job, he spent the next 5 years collecting welfare. Tiring of poverty, he approached his parents for assistance, so they sent him back to school for a course in nursing. After his 2nd year in nursing school, he again dropped out because of stress. He spent the next 10 years on welfare, living in a basement apartment, and barely making ends meet. When last I heard from him, this was still his lifestyle. The change of signs by Mercury from Leo to Virgo before the Moon changes signs to Cancer is at the root of his problems, and I don't see any solution. He is likely to continue with his defeatist attitude until he dies.

I then checked the charts of a number of famous people, and soon realized that the refranation alone was NOT enough to cause this chronic failure. Some of the most successful people had a refranation, and did not seem to suffer. The successful ones however ALL had a Ptolemaic hard aspect as the LAST aspect before the Moon changed signs. As can be seen by the list of aspects of the Moon, the last aspect is a sextile to the Sun. When I went back through my chart files to check similarly unsuccessful people, they all showed similar easy aspects as the last aspect of the Moon. It seems unless these people are forced by circumstances to accomplish their goals through a hard aspect, they will simply drift through life.

As this example shows, you can't ignore 3000 years of classical astrology, and practice psychological astrology only. If you do so, you will miss diagnosing problems which are really quite obvious when employing classical techniques. In John's chart the Moon, co-ruler 1st is in the 10th of career, in applying trine to Venus ruler 10th. Normally, I would expected that John would have a very good career and a productive life, but this is obviously not the case.

To get an understanding of what is possible when the last aspect of the Moon is a hard one, even after a refranation, have a look at the chart below. This is the chart of Brian Tobin, currently Premier (governor) of the Canadian province of Newfoundland. He rose to fame as the fisheries minister in the federal government of Prime Minister Jean Chretien. He was responsible for stopping the illegal fishing by several European nations. He was widely applauded for having the guts to seize foreign fishing ships on the high seas and tow them into New York harbour to allow UN officials to inspect the undersize fish caught by the Europeans. He quit his post as federal fisheries minister to lead the Newfoundland Liberal Party to election victory. He quit that post in 2000 to run in the federal election, and he became federal industry minister. After the events of September 11th 2001, his importance in the cabinet waned, and he quit again in January 2002 to return to private practice.

As can be seen from the above chart, Brian Tobin is a supreme communicator and strategist with four planets in the 3rd, ruled by Venus, including the Sun ruler 1st. With Leo rising, he definitely enjoys the spotlight of public acclaim, and with Mars ruler 9th of foreigners exalted in Capricorn in the 6th opposite Jupiter exalted in Cancer in the 11th, he loves challenging foreign powers on for control of home territory. Venus ruler 10th of career is in its detriment in Scorpio in the 4th of endings. His professional performances have become infamous for ending before their intended deadline, and he now has the reputation as a quitter. The last aspect of the Moon is a square to Venus, so he can afford to confront his enemies and come out looking like a hero.

Depending on the actual last aspect of the Moon before it changes signs, the refranation can be a blessing or a curse. For John, the sextile to the Sun was a Curse, and for Brian Tobin, the square to Venus is a definite blessing.