I have said many times that the greatest disservice being done to astrology is by the majority of its followers and teachers treating the subject as a religion rather than a science.
The religious perspective is that the heavens dictate what happens on earth so there is a correct way for astrology to operate and that its laws were codified 2,000 years ago and we should stick to them.
The scientific approach is let’s look at human behaviour as it happens and see if there is a connection with planetary movements and if so what is it.
Take the Venus / Mars conjunction as an example.
If you google this coming together, the descriptions found will be almost entirely auspicious.
” A Venus-Mars conjunction in the natal chart can indicate a person who is seen by others as charismatic “
” If these two planets are conjunct it will make you passionate with the utmost zeal and zest of life “
” With this conjunction, there is generally a pleasing blend of self-assertion and cooperation. This comprises some of their charm, in that they generally know how to assert themselves without stepping on others’ toes.”
” Venus conjunct Mars is the perfect symbol of unity. These two planets are opposites in so many ways, but they work together to create something amazing when they come together.
Normally, this gives a harmonious blending of active and passive energies and makes you sensitive and loving,
The person possesses a great deal of personal magnetism.
They live and breath romantic/sexual relationships.
It is second nature for them to ooze with charm and sexuality.
They require a lot of excitement, adventure, and passion in their lives and in their relationships.
And to quote Vettius Valens – if Venus and Mars are in conjunction ” then the native rushes into the embrace of boys “
All of these descriptions are based on a supposed harmonising of opposing energies, the assumption being that Venus would soften Mars rough edges and Mars would ignite Venus’ passions.
There isn’t any sense that Mars might overrule Venus and that it might be better for her to have a place of her own.
If instead of running with these assumptions made by the astrology books, we were to test everyone born with a Venus / Mars conjunction we might come up with a different slant on it.
I have often been tempted to start an article with the line –
What do Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell and Prince Andrew all have in common ?
The answer is a Venus / Mars conjunction.
Ah, say astrologers but that’s because they were probably in Mars ruled signs and afflicted with difficult aspects.
Epstein has the conjunction within a 1 degree orb in Pisces ( the sign of Venus exaltation ) and its only major aspects are trine Uranus and sextile Jupiter.
Andrew has it also within 1 degree in Capricorn sextile his Moon.
Maxwell in Sagittarius conjunct Sun and trine Uranus.
This is not to suggest that Venus conjunct Mars is a pedophile’s charter but maybe it should require us to look at the tight aspects between the two in a different light. Maybe the act of making love might become too tied up with conquest, domination, power and entitlement.
One example is that of Canadian serial rapist and murderer Paul Bernardo
Bernardo had a Mars / Venus conjunction within a quarter of a degree, its only other major aspect was a trine to Neptune.
But it is also semi square his Sun.
It occurred in Cancer but that could be a clue as his father abused Paul’s sister and was charged with crimes involving voyeurism and pedophilia.
Perhaps there is something about the signs Cancer, Virgo and Pisces that can involve preying on the innocent as a challenging stellium in one opposite Saturn in another add to the picture.
This being the case an 8th house Aries Moon could perhaps turn this character truly nasty.
Perhaps if Bernardo teamed up with someone with similar traits he could become a vicious killer.
Karla Homolka also had the Mars / Venus conjunction ( 3 degree orb in Gemini ).
She had a close Sun / Saturn aspect as well ( a 1 degree conjunction in Taurus ).
And her Aries Moon was conjunct Bernardo’s own.
Another significant piece of synastry is that Karla’s 8th house Pluto is exactly ( to the minute ) quincunx that Moon.
Her Pluto is also exactly conjunct Bernardo’s Ascendant.
So this 150 degree, 8th house, Aries Moon / Ascendant pattern is reinforced.
These two became known as the Ken and Barbie killers murdering at least three including Karla’s own sister, 15 year old Tammy and raping dozens.
They first met in October 1987 when Bernardo’s progressed Sun made a quincunx to his Aries 8th house Moon.
They married in 1991 with his progressed Venus square to and Sun semi square to his Neptune.
In 1987 Karla’s progressed Venus was semi square her Sun.
Her progressed Sun was opposite her Neptune.
They married when Karla’s progressed Venus was conjunct her Descendant.
I have often written that I don’t use minor aspects but when it comes to progressions you have to.
The progressed Sun ( and on average Venus ) will move approximately one degree per year, so will make only one major aspect to any single planet in a person’s lifetime.
Even the slowest moving transiting planet ( Pluto or in some cases Neptune ) will likely make two.
Also the progressed square between the Sun and Venus cannot happen before the person’s 40th birthday, so if we are using their progressions to each other to identify the arrival of soulmates, major aspects only would rule out the possibility of finding most of them.
The semi square is particularly significant to the Sun / Venus relationship because apart from the conjunction it’s the only natal aspect that is possible between the two.
So if the conjunction is favourable, the semi square is challenging.
The quincunx ( 150 degrees ) has a particular connection with the 8th house ( as it corresponds to the angle between its cusp and the Ascendant ).
Both quincunx and semisquare were heavily involved in the natal charts and progressions on meeting between Bernardo and Homolka.
My reason for not using minor aspects when dealing with transits is not religious. I am not against them in theory.
It is scientific. I don’t use them because like so many other things that astrologers cling to, it gives them too many options and therefore the simple laws of chance water down their predictions often to the point where they are irrelevant and absurd.
When dealing with progressions those same laws of chance insist that we have to use them.
And as we’ve seen it was the minor aspects that encouraged Ken and Barbie to attack the minors.
Posted on 16th June 2023
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