{"id":5574,"date":"2019-10-13T10:34:14","date_gmt":"2019-10-13T10:34:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.lanawooster.co.uk\/?p=5574"},"modified":"2019-10-13T10:49:53","modified_gmt":"2019-10-13T10:49:53","slug":"aspects-for-the-week-beginning-13-october-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.lanawooster.co.uk\/?p=5574","title":{"rendered":"Aspects for the week beginning 13 October 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ginger Baker<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

“When the city of Atlantis stood serene above the sea,
\nLong time before our time when the world was free,
\nThose were the days.”<\/em><\/p>\n

~ <\/strong>Those Were The Days, co-written by Ginger Baker and Mike Taylor, from “Wheels of Fire” 1968<\/p>\n

Outstanding drummer Ginger Baker died last Sunday.\u00a0 He didn’t like the term “rock drummer” preferring to be known as a “jazz drummer”.\u00a0 He was 80 years old, but had survived a lifetime of poor health.\u00a0 His working life encompassed the membership of several bands, but he is most known for his time in the legendary band Cream during the heady late ’60s.<\/p>\n

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

We do not have a birth time for the flame-haired Ginger, but his well-known fieriness comes from having half his planets in Fire signs.\u00a0 It’s a volatile, dry heat of fire, and not an emotional passion, for he had no Water planets.\u00a0 He did though have 6 (over half) his planets in the Fixed signs, so was very headstrong.<\/p>\n

His Sun in Leo denotes the showmanship and natural leadership that he is reputed to have, and its conjunction with Venus inclined him to music.\u00a0 He was also known for his unpredictability and eccentricity, and that shows up with Sun\/Venus square Uranus.<\/p>\n

His Moon was square Mars, making him quick to react emotionally, and he was known for having a violent temper.\u00a0 I have not read his autobiography “Hellraiser” but his close bandmate Eric Clapton’s autobiography is one of the favourites in my bookshelf.\u00a0 Here, Clapton describes his introduction to Ginger Baker:<\/p>\n

“…I was very flattered that he was interested in me. I was also rather frightened of him because he was an angry-looking guy, with a considerable reputation. He appeared physically very strong although extremely lean, with red hair and a constant expression of disbelief mixed with suspicion. He gave the impression that he was fearless and that he would take anybody on…” <\/em>\u00a0\u00a0I will write more about Ginger Baker’s relationships with Eric Clapton and Jack Bruce later in this piece.<\/p>\n

There were plenty of strengths in his chart, one being an exact trine between Uranus and Neptune (the ability to process complexity), which formed a Grand Trine in Earth with his Mars.\u00a0 That was part of his unique energy.\u00a0 He also had a trine between Jupiter and Mercury\/Pluto and Pluto exactly square his Nodal Axis (that’s the “Hellraiser”!).\u00a0 With Chiron in Cancer, drumming and rhythm was therapeutic to him (and often to those who listened to his drumming).<\/p>\n

Career<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Baker joined Blues Incorporated in the 1960s.\u00a0 In his interest in drumming, he found a soul mate in Keith Moon (from the Who).\u00a0 The latter was responsible for Baker acquiring a two bass drum kit.\u00a0 They shared a flamboyant mentality, with their Mercuries in Leo exactly conjunct with each other.<\/p>\n

Baker met up with bassist Jack Bruce.\u00a0 The success of the later band Cream depended on a vital third member, Eric Clapton, three being the magic number to produce their exceptional music.<\/p>\n

Jack Bruce had Mercury closely conjunct Uranus, a brilliant mind.\u00a0 He and Clapton were credited for writing most of their hits, though Ginger Baker did appear on a few credits.\u00a0 Both Baker and Bruce had Venus square Uranus in their charts, and therefore a propensity to estrangements.\u00a0 We do have a birth time for Jack Bruce, and find his Midheaven (Careerpoint) in Scorpio in the 11th House of Bands.<\/p>\n

The two clashed fiercely: Jack’s Sun was conjunct Ginger’s Uranus, activating Ginger’s Inner Rebel.\u00a0 But Jack’s Venus was trine Ginger’s North Node, so their relationship came back together several times, through karmic forgiveness.\u00a0 Jack’s Saturn sextile Ginger’s Mercury enabled Ginger to concentrate his mind.<\/p>\n

So Eric Clapton joined them in 1966, and Cream was formed.\u00a0 In the two years until they broke up (due to the clash between Baker and Bruce) they achieved the pinnacle of success, with three albums.<\/p>\n

Eric’s relationship with Ginger held an element of fear:\u00a0 Ginger’s Pluto was exactly square Eric Clapton’s Moon.\u00a0 Clapton’s Moon was also conjunct Baker’s North Node, so karmically compelling.\u00a0 Clapton’s Venus was conjunct Baker’s South Node, indicating they were “old friends” from past lives. But Baker’s Mars was conjunct Clapton’s Ascendant, an inflammatory placing.\u00a0 Clapton’s Pluto was trine Baker’s Jupiter, so Eric did have some power in the dynamic between them, and was part of the glue that held the three of them together.<\/p>\n

There was more harmony between Clapton and Bruce, with their Venuses exactly sextile (musical harmony), and their Jupiters exactly sextile.\u00a0 Clapton praised Bruce in his autobiography:\u00a0 “The most forceful bass player I had ever played with… His understanding of time was phenomenal. All this was reflected in his personality, fiery and quick witted.”<\/p>\n

Eric Clapton reflected on his role in the group: “Maybe I was the necessary catalyst for them to get along, like a fulcrum”.\u00a0 Certainly in their transits, Clapton seemed to be less affected by intense planetary line-ups, intimating that the primary karma was between Baker and Bruce.<\/p>\n

At their first gig on July 29th 1966, the transits for Ginger Baker showed Pluto sextile his natal Chiron in Cancer, a major psychological fulfilment.\u00a0 For Bruce, the North Node (karmic mission) was on his Sun (self-expression) and trine his Jupiter (a success, or karmic reward).\u00a0 The impact on Clapton’s chart was not so notable.<\/p>\n

At their split in November 1968, Ginger Baker had some strong transits: \u00a0<\/strong>Uranus sextile his Pluto (extreme change), Neptune square his Sun (extreme confusion) and Pluto trine his Mars (high energy, possibly inflammatory).<\/p>\n

For Jack Bruce: Jupiter on his Neptune in Virgo in his 9th House (a spiritual freedom), Saturn was trine his natal North Node in Leo in his 8th House (karmically dictated event) and Uranus square his natal Venus in Cancer in his 6th House (a classic parting-of-the-ways transit, mirroring his own natal square and that of Baker).<\/p>\n

For Clapton, maybe not so heavily affected, Jupiter was on his natal Chiron in Virgo in 12th House, a chance for a healing space.<\/p>\n

A Brief Discography<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

If you’re not a Cream fan, perhaps you’ll remember “Spoonful”, “I feel Free” and “I’m so Glad” from their 1966 album “Fresh Cream”.<\/p>\n

Or “Sunshine of your Love”, “Tales of Brave Ulysses”, “Strange Brew”, “Blue Condition” and “Take it Back” from\u00a0 their 1967 album “Disraeli Gears”<\/p>\n

Or how about “White Room”, “Those Were The Days”, “Crossroads” and “Sitting on Top of the World”, from their 1968 album “Wheels of Fire”.\u00a0 That was the talk of the campus when I went to Uni in the Autumn of 1968.<\/p>\n

After Cream<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

After Cream, Eric Clapton went on to work with the talented Stevie Winwood (from Traffic), and was dismayed when Ginger Baker asked to join them in their band Blind Faith (termed a “supergroup”).\u00a0 His intuition told him\u00a0 that history would repeat itself.\u00a0 The band lasted not more\u00a0 than a year (1969).<\/p>\n

2005 Reunion<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Ginger Baker played with Jack Bruce over the years, though their relationship was always volatile.\u00a0 Bruce was quoted as saying: “It’s a knife-edge thing between me and Ginger. Nowadays, we’re happily co-existing in different continents… although I was thinking of asking him to move. He’s still a bit too close”<\/p>\n

In 2005 with Clapton they prepared for a reunion tour, to be played at the Royal Albert Hall and Madison Square Garden.\u00a0 The reunion took place around 3rd May 2005.\u00a0 The transits are interesting for all three of them.<\/p>\n

For Baker, his exact Neptune\/Uranus trine was exactly bisected by Saturn: an orchestrating by the Universe, if there ever was one.\u00a0 For Bruce, Saturn was sextile his natal Sun in Taurus in 5th House on his I.C., and trine his natal MC in Scorpio in 11th House of Bands.\u00a0 Again, Saturn was pinning him down for a reunion.\u00a0 In addition, Pluto was trine Bruce’s natal Chiron in Leo in 8th House – a healing.\u00a0 For Clapton, it was a moment of triumph in that Jupiter trine his natal Uranus in Gemini in 8th House.\u00a0 But he was struck down by flu and had to play in that condition, then regretted the encore at Madison Square Garden as he thought they peaked at the Royal Albert Hall – Uranus squared his Uranus, bringing the unexpected into the equation.<\/p>\n

Illness<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Jack Bruce died in 2014, and his funeral was attended by Baker and Clapton.<\/p>\n

Ginger Baker suffered ill health for most of his adult life.\u00a0 He was addicted to heroin, suffered from chronic back pain (from degenerative osteoarthritis), and in later years suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, with serious heart issues.\u00a0 At his death, Neptune was exactly trine his natal Chiron (a final healing).<\/p>\n

A eulogy from Stevie Winwood:<\/p>\n

“Beneath his somewhat abrasive exterior, there was a very sensitive human being with a heart of gold.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Bibliography<\/strong><\/p>\n

“The Autobiography” by Eric Clapton<\/strong><\/p>\n

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

At tea time today (in the U.K.) we have a sextile between the Sun and Jupiter which can bring happy news, fun and laughter.\u00a0 It is one of the most upbeat aspects of the year.\u00a0 A positive story in the news is rare, but look out for one.\u00a0 In your own life, an opportunity may be coming your way.<\/p>\n

Early evening the Moon is Full at 20 degrees Aries.\u00a0 The Full Moon in Aries (emotional needs) opposes the Sun in Libra (balancing your own interests with that of the other) so it is a tussle, as it always is with a Full Moon.\u00a0 At the same time, Pluto squares them both, creating a T-square, so there may be drama involved, or at the very least psychological adjustments to be made.<\/p>\n

Early tomorrow (Monday 14th) is a day for serious communication, delivered in a measure fashion.\u00a0 This chimes well with the fact that the Queen’s Speech is scheduled, which will be by no means an easy task for the deliverer.\u00a0 She will not give away what she thinks about it, and will be well aware that none of it may come to fruition, because we don’t know the duration of the Johnson government (which does not have a mandate).\u00a0 But it is a good day for laying down your intentions and plans, and realistically evaluating what can be done.<\/p>\n

Hard on the heels of that aspect, Pluto actually squares the Sun (it was coming into a square at the time of the Full Moon).\u00a0 That may be a difficult aspect to negotiate, but keep talking (Mercury sextile Saturn is still operational).\u00a0 Last minute Brexit and Backstop talks may be going on even as the Queen speaks.\u00a0 Pluto square the Sun is a deep soul searching aspect.\u00a0 With the seriousness of Mercury\/Saturn and the depth of Pluto\/Sun you have to get down to business, and to the nitty gritty.\u00a0 There is no whitewashing or kicking the can down the road.<\/p>\n

It’s an easier ride on Tuesday (15th) which brings a trine between Mercury and Neptune.\u00a0 While Monday represented hard facts, Tuesday lets in some whimsy and artistry (but established on the foundation of the previous day’s hard facts).\u00a0 Perhaps you formulated a plan on Monday, and can embellish it slightly on Tuesday.\u00a0 Not that I am suggesting that you can embellish the Irish Backstop question, some questions are just too hard.\u00a0 But say you obtained funding for a project on Monday which had carefully laid rules and boundaries, you might be able to work on a more spiritual level with it on Tuesday, and bring forth some higher inspiration.\u00a0 Monday is the contract (if not disrupted by the square from Pluto), and Tuesday is the opportunity for creativity.<\/p>\n

A minor aspect on Thursday (17th) between two of the greater planets may affect us at a deeper level than the more superficial aspects.\u00a0 Pluto will be semi-sextile Jupiter on that day, which can bring power struggles.\u00a0 It may for instance be significant in the power struggles between the U.S. and Russia with regard to the Turkish-Syrian situation which is concerning at the moment.\u00a0 In your own life, you may be re-arranging the furniture in some way.<\/p>\n

We end the week, on Saturday (19th), with a sensible and constructive tone, provided by the third sextile of the week, that of Mercury sextile Pluto.\u00a0 This may be helpful in tying up some of the issues of the week, and settling some scores.\u00a0 The communication flows, but is not trivial.\u00a0 It is the day when Parliament is being recalled to discuss the results of the current Brexit negotiations.\u00a0 It is the first time the Commons have sat on a Saturday since the Falklands War in 1982.\u00a0 It is the deadline for the prime minister to comply with the Benn Act (to write to Brussels for an extension) before Halloween.\u00a0 Mercury sextile Pluto honours the gravity of the situation, and enables meaningful debate to occur (no filibustering!).\u00a0 So if you have something important lined up, keep your negotiations to the point, and \u00a0you may find proceedings useful.<\/p>\n

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