It all really started with Bill Gates.
I was so looking forward to his chart; but when at last his birth data were typed into Solar Fire the pattern that appeared on screen was something of an anticlimax. Sure, his ruling Moon in Aries in the 10th house opposite Mars was indicative of drive and ambition; Scorpio Sun and two planets in the 5th testified to his creativity; but where was the punchy angular energy one would expect from one of the world’s richest and most influential entrepreneurs?
First of all it was essential to look at his Draconic and Sidereal charts, and how they interacted with the Tropical. This was immediately satisfying, and you will also enjoy the vivid patterns formed by his Sidereal chart and its Dwad; but another thought occurred to me – what about the often neglected system of Antiscia and Contrantiscia?
In my book The Draconic Chart (Flare, 2013) you will find a detailed account of how these came to be a central part of my work. To summarise this, while exploring the new idea of Current Draconic directions it became obvious that each zodiacal degree belonged to three others in a very particular way – they formed the four corners of a celestial rectangle whose lines of symmetry were formed by the Cardinal Cross. In other words I was re-discovering the properties of the Antiscia (equidistant from the Solstice axis) and the Contrantiscia (equidistant from the Equinox axis). But the variety of ways in which the Contrantiscia worked in the circle was so much more interesting and consistent that these rapidly became for me the points of choice, and – because they behaved in a way like reflections in a mirror whose surface was the axis of 0º Aries-Libra – I gave them a new and simpler name, the Reflex Points, or Reflexes.
Every degree in the wheel, every planet and angle in a chart, has its inseparable twin, its Reflex, equidistant from the Equinoctial line across the heavens. So whenever a transit, progression, direction or point in synastry comes to meet it, the Reflex degree is activated at the same time. Where the Reflex degree to a planet or angle in a birth chart is occupied by another, the energies of the two points work as one. The signs reflex to each other in consistent pairs: Aries-Pisces, Taurus-Aquarius, Gemini-Capricorn, Cancer-Sagittarius, Leo-Scorpio. And the sum in Absolute Longitude of any degree plus its Reflex is always 360º.
I was so looking forward to his chart; but when at last his birth data were typed into Solar Fire the pattern that appeared on screen was something of an anticlimax. Sure, his ruling Moon in Aries in the 10th house opposite Mars was indicative of drive and ambition; Scorpio Sun and two planets in the 5th testified to his creativity; but where was the punchy angular energy one would expect from one of the world’s richest and most influential entrepreneurs?
First of all it was essential to look at his Draconic and Sidereal charts, and how they interacted with the Tropical. This was immediately satisfying, and you will also enjoy the vivid patterns formed by his Sidereal chart and its Dwad; but another thought occurred to me – what about the often neglected system of Antiscia and Contrantiscia?
In my book The Draconic Chart (Flare, 2013) you will find a detailed account of how these came to be a central part of my work. To summarise this, while exploring the new idea of Current Draconic directions it became obvious that each zodiacal degree belonged to three others in a very particular way – they formed the four corners of a celestial rectangle whose lines of symmetry were formed by the Cardinal Cross. In other words I was re-discovering the properties of the Antiscia (equidistant from the Solstice axis) and the Contrantiscia (equidistant from the Equinox axis). But the variety of ways in which the Contrantiscia worked in the circle was so much more interesting and consistent that these rapidly became for me the points of choice, and – because they behaved in a way like reflections in a mirror whose surface was the axis of 0º Aries-Libra – I gave them a new and simpler name, the Reflex Points, or Reflexes.
Every degree in the wheel, every planet and angle in a chart, has its inseparable twin, its Reflex, equidistant from the Equinoctial line across the heavens. So whenever a transit, progression, direction or point in synastry comes to meet it, the Reflex degree is activated at the same time. Where the Reflex degree to a planet or angle in a birth chart is occupied by another, the energies of the two points work as one. The signs reflex to each other in consistent pairs: Aries-Pisces, Taurus-Aquarius, Gemini-Capricorn, Cancer-Sagittarius, Leo-Scorpio. And the sum in Absolute Longitude of any degree plus its Reflex is always 360º.
Sensible, then, to take another look at the tropical chart of the second-richest man on the planet, Bill Gates! Do the Reflexes add impact to his nativity? In short, emphatically yes.
Two things show up: first and maybe most significantly, that Moon-Mars axis of his reflexes to his Midheaven and IC; then also the Sun combines with the conjunction of Jupiter/Pluto. There in a nutshell are all the drive, ambition, power and riches that have put Bill Gates centre stage ever since he conceived of Microsoft. There is, of course, the third level – the Draconic. Will Reflexes here add to our understanding of the principles that rule the conscience of Bill Gates?
It would appear so: he is known not only for his extraordinary achievements but for his philanthropy, and in the chart that has so much to say about the soul here is Venus with Saturn on the Descendant, assisting those who are less fortunate; with the Jupiter/Pluto now is the Moon, spreading his intellectual and material wealth to the wider public. Chiron is bound to the Sun – he believes utterly in his own maverick genius, and the importance of using his gifts to improve the lot of his fellows. He will, on principle, always take a leap of faith, wherever it may lead. |
But that is only his Tropical chart. It tells us about his character, his drive – but not his career.
Where has computing hidden itself? We need to look at the Sidereal, because this is where we may find his role in world affairs. Sure enough, it is in the Sidereal and its Reflexes that we hit upon the angular Saturn of the mathematician, the angular Uranus of the electronics pioneer, the angular Chiron of the maverick and consummate PR man. And the Sun engages with that unstoppable, pushy Mercury/ Mars. The UK’s home-grown corporate mega-star is Richard Branson, founder and owner of the massive and diverse Virgin Group of companies.
He was born with Pluto rising in Leo, so had the potential to make a significant impact; but a thinly-aspected twelfth-house tropical Cancer Sun? Its ruling Moon is in early Virgo in the 2nd House – hence, presumably, the Virgin brand – and opposite 8th House Jupiter; but where is the incorrigible adventurer? Where is the ambitious, publicity-hungry risk-taker? To answer the question, once again we have to include the Reflexes. No surprises! Up on the Midheaven is Reflex Jupiter, with the opposing Moon at the IC. (I nearly said, ‘Radix IC’, but really all these points have the right to be considered parts of the radix chart.) The Sun, interestingly, reflexes to Ceres; Gates has Ceres setting in coelo, and both men supply products to the public, fulfilling desires and needs that either already exist, or that they themselves have – through intensive marketing – created. Branson’s Draconic chart is remarkable as an almost exact copy of the Tropical! This is because he was born with the Moon’s North Node at 0º Aries, so he is ‘wysiwyg’ (what you see is what you get). He fully embodies and expresses everything he believes in. (I am married to a wysiwyg man; and this is how Jesus’ Nativity was discovered ... if ever anyone was ‘wysiwyg’, it was He!)So Richard Branson is a total believer in the importance of giving people (and himself) what they want, and courting publicity through his often reckless aerial stunts. |
Sidereally there are more echoes of Gates: Branson's meridian connects to Mars and his Descendant to Uranus; Chiron is with his ruling Moon. The same Sidereal planets are in focus in two men with a maverick character and the passion to change their world.
Reflexes don’t just operate within the nativity – they also work as transits (always retrograde, of course). If you feel in your bones that a vital connection is missing between a person and an event, then check the Reflexes.
For example, the day Microsoft went public (13th March 1986) the Reflex Sun was exactly on Bill Gates’ 10th House Moon, and he had two contacts between Venus and an angle.
Reflexes don’t just operate within the nativity – they also work as transits (always retrograde, of course). If you feel in your bones that a vital connection is missing between a person and an event, then check the Reflexes.
For example, the day Microsoft went public (13th March 1986) the Reflex Sun was exactly on Bill Gates’ 10th House Moon, and he had two contacts between Venus and an angle.
The day Janis Joplin died (see The Draconic Chart) Reflex Draconic Pluto was nearly on her Draconic Virgo Sun at the same time as the Tropical South Node, and at the moment she died the transiting Draconic Ascendant picked up the whole sensitive alignment. Interesting, too, that the transit of Reflex Draconic Saturn has returned to her natal Draconic Saturn. Now it is worth pointing out that as she is my astro-twin by eight hours, I was going through the same set of patterns and I’m still here! But I did have the nearest thing ever to a nervous breakdown that autumn; however, I’ve never been drawn to mind-altering substances. I don’t think the occasional single Malt or migraine medication quite qualify! Anyway, it was the Draconic at work on Janis; either her karma or other reasons known only to her soul and to God hurried her away from us at the sadly early age of twenty-seven.
I have also been looking at the role of Reflexes in synastry; but so few worthwhile examples have emerged from the files that it would seem they are of minor importance in interpersonal dynamics. But there is no doubt that they can add significantly to what we know of an individual birth chart or a transiting pattern. They flesh out the complete picture of what we are dealing with on the material plane, in comparison to the Dwads which show us exactly who we are dealing with, on the mental plane, and the less obvious but vital issues underlying our passing circumstances.
Can Reflexes even extend to the Dwad? It is definitely worth a look; very often you will find Reflex patterns there that once again add substantially to your insight into the mind of the individual. I have discussed the Nativities of Jesus and his mother Mary at length in The Draconic Chart, including the powerful configurations in the Dwad; but at that point I had not considered the Dwad Reflexes. The exercise is fully justified, and encourages further work with these: Mary’s remarkable Dwad pattern is now glowingly enhanced by Reflex Venus to the Midheaven opposite Sun and Mercury reflexing to the IC, while the Dwad Ascendant of Jesus collects the reflexing Mercury on the degree of his radix Tropical/Draconic Sun. Mary’s mind is utterly focussed on her mission to bring God’s love into the world; Jesus is the gentle Teacher of Righteousness.
I have also been looking at the role of Reflexes in synastry; but so few worthwhile examples have emerged from the files that it would seem they are of minor importance in interpersonal dynamics. But there is no doubt that they can add significantly to what we know of an individual birth chart or a transiting pattern. They flesh out the complete picture of what we are dealing with on the material plane, in comparison to the Dwads which show us exactly who we are dealing with, on the mental plane, and the less obvious but vital issues underlying our passing circumstances.
Can Reflexes even extend to the Dwad? It is definitely worth a look; very often you will find Reflex patterns there that once again add substantially to your insight into the mind of the individual. I have discussed the Nativities of Jesus and his mother Mary at length in The Draconic Chart, including the powerful configurations in the Dwad; but at that point I had not considered the Dwad Reflexes. The exercise is fully justified, and encourages further work with these: Mary’s remarkable Dwad pattern is now glowingly enhanced by Reflex Venus to the Midheaven opposite Sun and Mercury reflexing to the IC, while the Dwad Ascendant of Jesus collects the reflexing Mercury on the degree of his radix Tropical/Draconic Sun. Mary’s mind is utterly focussed on her mission to bring God’s love into the world; Jesus is the gentle Teacher of Righteousness.
So never forget to test your Reflexes! ... they may not always be active in a nativity or an event, but when they are they make a vital contribution to our knowledge, and we can see clearly what or who we are dealing with.
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