{"id":3576,"date":"2015-07-12T11:49:07","date_gmt":"2015-07-12T11:49:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.lanawooster.co.uk\/?p=3576"},"modified":"2015-10-16T12:14:04","modified_gmt":"2015-10-16T12:14:04","slug":"aspects-for-the-week-beginning-12-july-2015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.lanawooster.co.uk\/?p=3576","title":{"rendered":"Aspects for the week beginning 12 July 2015"},"content":{"rendered":"

Harper Lee<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The story of the author Harper Lee, her early success in writing \u201cTo Kill a Mockingbird\u201d (the most highly praised book in American literature), her withdrawal from publicity and chosen life of seclusion, her protection by her older sister Alice, then at the end of her life publication of the original text of her book (remarkably dug up by the publisher) and controversy about her own wishes \u2013 all that has intrigued me this year.\u00a0 Her second book Go Set a Watchman will be published on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Birth Chart Essentials<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Harper Lee has Sun in Taurus in 7th<\/sup> House, Ascendant in Libra, and Moon conjunct Saturn in Scorpio in 1st<\/sup> House.\u00a0 Her North Node is in Cancer. The sharpness of her writing style is graphically shown by Mercury conjunct Mars.<\/p>\n

Creations<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Her 5th<\/sup> House of creations is interesting, representing her book(s).\u00a0 She has Mars at the beginning of the House (representing her first born, early in life) and Venus at the end of the House, representing the sequel at the end of her life.\u00a0 Of course, the uniqueness of this situation is that they are interchangeable in a sense, as she wrote the current book before the original publication of To Kill a Mockingbird.\u00a0 It was rejected by her publisher, and she was asked to go and re-write it from an earlier perspective, and the result was To Kill a Mockingbird.\u00a0 Go Set a Watchman is being published by Harper publishing house.<\/p>\n

Autobiographical<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

There are acknowledged elements of Harper Lee\u2019s own life in her classic novel.\u00a0 Her own father Amasa Coleman Lee was a Lawyer, as was the main character Atticus Finch in her novel.\u00a0 Her father defended two black men on a murder charge, while in the book Atticus Finch defended a young black man Tom Robinson on a charge of rape.\u00a0 The absence of a mother figure (Atticus Finch is a widower) is reflected in Harper Lee\u2019s own Moon in Scorpio conjunct Saturn.<\/p>\n

To Kill a Mockingbird<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Pulitzer-Prize winning To Kill a Mockingbird paints a picture of racial attitudes in Alabama before the Civil Rights Movement of Martin Luther King.\u00a0 Harper Lee was born in Monroeville Alabama, and resides there to this day.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0The book raises issues of justice, class, integrity and equality, and many issues central to the meaning of life and society.<\/p>\n

It was published on 11 July 1960.\u00a0 Its Jupiter in Sagittarius is right on the Galactic Centre at 26 degrees.\u00a0 That may be one of the secrets of its ability to capture something so intrinsic to humanity.\u00a0 It is said to be one of the books people must read in their lifetime.<\/p>\n

At that time, Uranus at 19 degrees Leo was exactly square Harper Lee\u2019s natal Moon in Scorpio in her 1st<\/sup> House.\u00a0 This demonstrates the measure of how much of a shock to her lifestyle the resulting celebrity brought.\u00a0 She told a close friend Dr Thomas Butts: \u201cYou ever wonder why I never wrote anything else?…Two reasons: one, I wouldn\u2019t go through the pressure and publicity I went through with To Kill a Mockingbird <\/em>for any amount of money.\u00a0 Second, I have said what I wanted to say and I will not say it again.\u201d<\/p>\n

The book has inspired Americans throughout the years, but also readers worldwide.\u00a0 Shami Chakrabarti, head of \u201cLiberty\u201d the human rights organization, writes in the Guardian: \u201cI wasn\u2019t the first led into law by Atticus Finch, and I won\u2019t be the last\u2026The message is hope; for real progress towards a society based on individual human dignity, equal treatment and fairness.\u201d<\/p>\n

In 2013, while her sister Alice was still alive, Harper Lee raised a lawsuit against a literary agent alleging that he tricked her into signing over the copyright on To Kill a Mockingbird.\u00a0 Her sister Alice died last year (2014), and in some way her death may have paved the way for the current publication, which she probably would not have allowed.<\/p>\n

Characters<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The narrator of To Kill a Mockingbird is a tomboy daughter of Atticus Finch called Scout.\u00a0 It has been widely assumed that she represents Harper Lee\u2019s own character, but Harper Lee herself says she identifies most with the reclusive Boo Radley.\u00a0 Two of the characters from the book stand out starkly as parts of Harper Lee\u2019s psyche and life from her birth chart.\u00a0 The first is Boo Radley, who has the Moon in Scorpio, conjunct Saturn.\u00a0 And the second is Atticus Finch, the lawyer and defender of the underdog, seen in her conjunction of Jupiter and Mars in Aquarius.<\/p>\n

She told Oprah Winfrey, privately:<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know the character Boo Radley?\u00a0 Well, if you know Boo, then you understand why I wouldn\u2019t be doing an interview.\u00a0 Because I am really Boo.\u201d<\/p>\n

Film<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The film of To Kill a Mockingbird was released on 25 December 1962.\u00a0 It is hailed as faithful to the essence and message of the book, and would reach people in a different way.\u00a0 The success of its vision is reflected in the transit of Jupiter sextile Harper Lee\u2019s natal Sun to the minute (both at 7 degrees 54 minutes), a fulfillment of her requirements for it.\u00a0 Moreover, the film has a healing purpose, in that Chiron is conjunct Jupiter (by 1 degree) in Pisces (the sign of film, and compassion).<\/p>\n

Gregory Peck possessed the authenticity and integrity within his own internal cast of characters, in Sun\/Jupiter\/Mercury in Aries trine Mars.\u00a0 His Mars and Jupiter were exactly trine, reflecting Harper Lee\u2019s own Mars conjunct Jupiter but with bells on.\u00a0 For the humanitarian element, he had Midheaven and Uranus in Aquarius.\u00a0 No wonder Atticus Finch is the role he is most known for.<\/p>\n

Mary Badham, who played Scout (the young daughter of the book, assumed to represent Harper Lee) has Sun, Saturn, Neptune and Mercury in Libra, which is Harper Lee\u2019s Ascendant sign.<\/p>\n

Friendship with Truman Capote<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Harper Lee brought into incarnation with her several members of her Soul Group, undoubtedly her father and sister, but also a childhood friend Truman Capote, whose major work \u201cIn Cold Blood\u201d she helped research.\u00a0 There is a real brother\/sister karma there of mental companionship in her Mercury exactly sextile his North Node.\u00a0 His Mars was exactly trine her Ascendant, giving her fortitude, and perhaps there is something of him in her tomboy character Scout too (at least it would seem so astrologically).<\/p>\n

Publication of Go Set a Watchman<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Publication is set for this Tuesday, July 14th<\/sup> 2015, only 3 days after the 55th<\/sup> anniversary of the publication of To Kill a Mockingbird.\u00a0 You can see the family resemblance, with Sun, Venus and Mercury in Cancer for the original book, and Mercury, Mars and the Sun (and possibly also Moon) present in the chart of Go Set a Watchman.\u00a0 The quality of the original book as a historical document is shown by these planets in Cancer, and Go Set a Watchman is certainly in the same spirit.<\/p>\n

There has been a charge of racism in the character of Atticus Finch as revealed by Go Set a Watchman, which has yet to be fully exposed, but Mars opposite Pluto in the chart of this sequel would make it more explosive and contentious.\u00a0 Apparently as the character of Atticus Finch develops later in life, he is happy to allow segregation to continue in Alabama.<\/p>\n

The Sun in the chart of Go Set a Watchman is even closer (1 degree away) to Harper Lee\u2019s North Node in Cancer, perhaps even closer to her karmic mission.\u00a0 Uranus squares her Nodal Axis, again disrupting her life.\u00a0 Her publishers insist she is of sound mind at 88, and publication was entirely in accordance with her will.<\/p>\n

Confession<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

When I was studying French literature in the 6th<\/sup> Form, my teacher Miss Robinson remarked that I was capable of giving the impression of knowing more than I did about a subject.\u00a0 Thus it is I need to confess now that I have not yet fully read To Kill a Mockingbird.\u00a0 I only bought it in February, piqued by curiosity over Harper Lee\u2019s story.\u00a0 I will finish it, and maybe leave my impressions under comments at some stage.\u00a0 But I have now read the first chapter of Go Set a Watchman (courtesy of the Guardian weekend supplement)!\u00a0 I hope that those readers who have read To Kill a Mockingbird can fill in the gaps of my ignorance, and comment accordingly.<\/p>\n

Aspects<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Gird your loins for a challenging week!\u00a0 The way you respond to this week\u2019s aspects is crucial to how things develop, and to keeping on top of things.\u00a0 Some of these aspects will be best dealt with by your Inner Warrior, some dealt with as a damage limitation exercise, and still others may require surrender (to the Universe).\u00a0 The trick is to be very present, and alert to your inner guidance, and make the right choices from moment to moment.<\/p>\n

Tomorrow (Monday 13th<\/sup>) the Sun squares Uranus, so you really do need to expect the unexpected.\u00a0 Battening down the hatches and closing all known loopholes may get you far, but may not completely master this aspect.\u00a0 You need to use your intuition, anticipate, access your future memory.\u00a0 Get ahead, with Future Life Progression!<\/p>\n

Fortunately, the evening brings a more harmonious touch, in the form of Mercury trine Neptune \u2013 there may be a resolution of sorts.\u00a0 The rational mind joins deftly with the mystical mind, to enhance your perception of reality.<\/p>\n

Tuesday (14th<\/sup>) again brings a heavy dose of reality, in challenge number 2: Venus square Saturn.\u00a0 This brings relationship realities to the fore \u2013 the disappointment after heavy expectation, the realization that one person is not able to fulfil all your dreams, and that you are very much responsible for what happens in your relationships.<\/p>\n

Wednesday (15th<\/sup>) is even more intense, with an opposition between Mars and Pluto.\u00a0 This is one where you don\u2019t want to employ your Inner Warrior, but your Inner Diplomat might help.\u00a0 Keep out of the way of potentially aggressive scenarios, even demonstrations if you are an activist, as it will be difficult to calm down those who are bent on destruction.<\/p>\n

Late evening, Mercury opposes Pluto which imposes extra mental strain.\u00a0 An extra hour’s meditation in the day may help.<\/p>\n

Thursday (16th<\/sup>) brings a New Moon in Cancer at 23 degrees which may help to simmer things down, and present a fresh outlook or approach.\u00a0 It is a good time to attend to matters close to home, and set your intent for constructive perspectives within the family circle or within your society or homeland if you wish to work on a more global level.<\/p>\n

Mercury conjuncts Mars in the afternoon, and you may be engaged in some literary task, or some banter.\u00a0 With tensions perhaps still lingering from earlier in the week, try not to let your words inflame matters.\u00a0 It is a good afternoon and evening for getting things done.<\/p>\n

Lastly, on Saturday (18th<\/sup>) Venus leaves behind the fiery passions of Leo and enters the cooler climate of Virgo.\u00a0 You\u2019ll be satisfied with subtler displays of affection, quieter colours in your artwork, more studious reading material.\u00a0 This library atmosphere doesn\u2019t last for long though, because Venus revolves around 0 degrees Virgo for a short while, and then retrogrades back into Leo on Friday 31st<\/sup>.\u00a0 So if you are researching or writing for a theatre role or screenplay, you will go into seclusion for a while then be back in the limelight at the end of the month.\u00a0 Use the interlude wisely.<\/p>\n

The week in bullet points:<\/p>\n