The Abused Woman Part 2

Michelle Weldon

I will explore some charts today of women who have been abused by a partner.

The first chart I have is of Michelle Weldon she is an American Journalist and author of the book “I closed my eyes” a self portrait on the experience of domestic violence, which she endured for 10 years. Michelle’s husband worked as a successful attorney. Michelle left the relationship and she now teaches a journalism course at University.

Excerpt from her book:

Before I closed my eyes, I held my breath, knowing that sanity does not hold court here. With my own eyes closed, the image of his eyes stayed before me in the darkness, like the square image of a television screen or the fading imprint of a lamps white-hot bulb across the inside of your eyelids when you first surrender to sleep. In my darkness, I was swimming underwater, without sound and without weight, body-less, soul-less, lost, unable to breathe or speak or remember.

Most notably in Michelle’s chart is Mars at the 29^th degree in Pisces 4^th; it is being squared by Saturn in Sagittarius 1st. In astrology this aspect has been pretty notorious for violence. Mars in the 4^th house can symbolise stress, strife and war at home. Mars square Saturn can be a harsh aspect to resolve, for women it may attract relationships with a violent and brutal man, there can be depressive feelings connected to how she asserts her own will and courage. Mars-Saturn can indicate frustrated desires; inevitably a lot of violent energy builds up over a long period of time which can explode. Mars in her chart is submerged in water, it is in the sign of Pisces, and in the unconscious 4th house. If Michelle represses her own individual needs, this can cause great emotional frustration within her. Mars-Saturn has often been described as the bully or bullied aspect.

In many psychological books on the roots of violence it has been said that women involved in this type of relationship usually carry a huge amount of rage long before she enters into the abusive partnership.

By Robin Norwood:

Battered women come in many varieties, from helpless and hopeless, to apparently competent in every other area of life, to self-righteously aggrieved and aggressive. But there is a rage inside that was already present and burning long before there was any involvement with the current partner. That rage comes from having been exploited and abused as a child, when one is helpless to defend or protect oneself. Acknowledging that rage, experiencing it consciously, examining the methods used to deny it or suppress it or vent it are all necessary if the rage is to be healed and the patterns of relating changed.

Moon in Aquarius is square to Uranus and opposed to Neptune. Both planets form a T-Square to Venus in its own sign of Taurus and placed in the 5^th house. No doubt this also relates to her creativity, imagination, and intellect. A grand square is created in her chart which is filled with emotional tension, and it involves her Moon and Venus which are both in hard aspect to Neptune. When Neptune enters into the relationship area of a chart many complex emotions are involved, firstly this can describe a highly idealistic nature in love, the fairytale romance kind. We can also see unnecessary suffering, sacrifice and illusion.

The difficulty with Venus-Neptune is that she can be easily seduced by her partner or in turn she can be very seductive herself. Venus-Neptune can be overwhelmed with Feelings of guilt and sin, and can also be sacrificing  and addicted in love. Venus-Neptune’s personal boundaries are easily violated, so she can be left feeling victimised. Often a more realistic love needs to be aspired to, and it doesn’t necessarily mean all the beauty and inspiration of Neptune has to be lost. For Venus-Neptune,  love needs to be lifted into a higher realm, it’s no “ordinary” love.

Michelle used her painful emotions creatively (Venus/Taurus/5^th) and expressed her feelings through writing, shining a light for others through communication and teaching (Sun in Gemini 7^th). The Sun is also in difficult aspect to Saturn, this often creates self esteem issues, and difficulty in finding her own identity again. She is ultimately rebuilding a new life where she can face the world with confidence. Michelle Weldon is an authority figure at University teaching writing skills.

One of the tightest aspects in her chart is Mercury in Gemini 7th square Pluto (both at critical degrees). Part of this aspect was experienced through her husband, who powerfully dominated her. However, Michelle used her energy creatively and has written a book on her own personal journey of abuse, and highlighted the issue publicly (7^th) through appearances on television, interviews. She has reached out to others in her autobiography by talking honestly about the taboo (Pluto) area of domestic abuse.

Ann Gryboski

Ann Gryboski is a physician who suffered abuse at the hands of her husband, she eventually killed him in their home. I have the husbands chart on this blog it was written a while ago, he had Pluto in the 7th house. Moon in 8th opposite Neptune.

Her husband reportedly began abusing her soon after their marriage although she hid it well from coworkers and friends, blaming her injuries on playing sports with her young sons. She had reached her limits, however. On April 7th, the night before Easter Sunday, the couple were driving home with their two-year-old grandson in the car and he began to punch her in the face because she hadn’t left the restaurant quickly enough.

The next day, her son and his fiancee came to pick up their child. When he saw his mother’s face, Christopher confronted his father. His father however, grabbed a knife and backed his son into a corner, threatening to slit his throat. Gryboski took a pistol from her purse and Lancaster threatened, “id: “You’re so dead. You don’t know what you started.” As he approached, Gryboski fired at him once. It didn’t stop him so she fired two fatal shots.The family were hunters and Gryboski had a firearms permit. Because of the abuse she suffered prosecutors dropped all charges.

With Ann’s chart we see a similar theme involving Moon/Neptune in Scorpio and Venus opposite Neptune, a pattern emerging. The same relationship themes are highlighted. However, here the Moon is in Scorpio and she needs to be deeply involved when she is in a close relationship, the energy of the Moon also works through her healing profession at work (Moon in 6^th) attending to the needs of others. Moon-Neptune inherently has the ‘need to be needed’ she can possess a lot of emotional strength but can be overwhelmed with complex emotions, Moon in Scorpio is fiercely protective of the family. Moon in Scorpio can be intensely private about their personal life. The Sun is in difficult aspect to Saturn and this does seem to attract some difficulty with men. Both of these women are highly successful and intelligent, but their personal lives told a different tale.

Ann has Mars exalted in the 7^th house it also trine Jupiter and Pluto. Mars in 7^th can mean a volatile relationship, but this is not the worse aspected Mars, there is an ease in using power and authority, but on some level this was projected onto her partner for a long time (Mars 7^th), until the day she needed to protect her child. Pluto is placed in the 4^th house and square to Saturn, and this symbolises the power and control by force in her personal life, and domestic situation. Pluto in 4th at its most extreme manifestation can show abuse and murder in her home, and crime within the family. Venus/Mars/Pluto are all in grand trine.

The Abused Woman Part 1

I will admit straight up that I do like Sleeping with the Enemy. Critics have called it lame, with no surprises and no character development. But I enjoyed the movie. The portrayal of Laura the abused woman is dramatic, but it captures the feelings of isolation and suffering in silence that the abused woman feels. The movie was set on an isolated beach which portrays her sense of imprisonment and how he keeps her trapped and alone through his threats of violence and dominating behaviour. Julia Roberts is a great actress she has a lot of emotional depth, and I thought she played the role well. Natally Julia has a Scorpio Sun with Venus conjunct Pluto in Virgo.

The area of abuse is always a difficult subject to approach, as there are always much deeper issues at work involving both the abused woman and the man who abuses. Violence rarely occurs at the start of a relationship but over time a progression of boundary violations occur, and if the woman stays the abuse often escalates. The abusive partner becomes more controlling and violent, and his threats become worse. The relationship has no equality, one partner dominates over the other, and the abusive man finds it threatening if the woman begins to show some of her own individuality.

I was in an abusive relationship for 3 years; it was during the last 2 years of the relationship he was violent towards me. Natally I have Venus square Pluto; I also have Moon/Mercury in Pisces 7^th square to Neptune in 4th. My ex partner has Sun/Venus/Mars conjunct in Aries all opposed Saturn. He entered my life when transiting Pluto in 4^th squared my natal Sun in 7^th and squared Saturn in Virgo 1^st. A t,square involving Sun/Saturn/Pluto, it describes a dominating and controlling man coming into my life.

By Liz Greene

With the hard aspects of Venus and Pluto, the aesthetic, light side of Venus may at first shy away from the darker dimensions of love, and life will usually bring about a forcible initiation in to the underworld feelings and instincts. The Persephone story reflects invasion of compulsive desire, which is portrayed as a rape because it is apparently unwilling. Yet if we look carefully at the myth, we can see that Persephone wanders off into danger alone, as though something in her seeks this experience in spite of herself; and although her mother Demeter tries to keep her virginal, Gaia, the Earth mother who is simply another form of Demeter, colludes with Hades and opens a passageway in the earth for him to abduct his prize. This myth is full of subtleties of a plutonian kind. And it is not what it seems to be on first glance. The feeling of involuntary or forced submission to fate which often accompanies Venus-Pluto relationships usually reflects the same subtlety, and is not what it seems at first glance.

Since Pluto entered Capricorn it feels as if abuse has become more of a public issue, it has become much more highlighted. The Rihanna and Chris Brown abuse hit the headlines and had most of us talking about domestic abuse, and whether she should stay or leave him. It wasn’t long after the abuse before she was back into his arms again. She returned to him even though her family and friends protested and desperately pleaded with her not to go back to him.

The dynamics of such a relationship are hard for most people to understand. Although in each abusive relationship the same cycle of abuse seems to occur. This cycle and phase of abuse is explained quite aptly by Robin Norwood in the book “Letters from Women who Love Too Much”.

Whether or not this was a situation in which just emotional or also physical abuse was present, the pattern of relating between these two partners is best understood by applying the phases in the syndrome of violence to their interactions. The phases are these: First, after an episode of abuse there is usually a resolution on the part of the abused partner not to endure any more abuse – in other words, she threatens to leave the situation.

 The strength of that resolution to leave is fully matched in degree by the remorse expressed by the abuser, the motive of which is not to lose control of the victim. The apologies and promises to change are made so eloquently and convincingly that this courtship phase almost always results in the couple being reunited. The honeymoon phase follows during which the abuser’s behaviour is above reproach. During this period the abused partner feels stronger and powerful, convinced that she has now gained control of the man and the situation.

Slowly, however, tension begins to build, and sooner or later the abuse both recommences and escalates, reaching a level more damaging than the last episode. This outbreak is followed again by remorse, penitent apologies and promises to reform accompanied by bouquets of flowers, romantic cards, etc. Frankly, a relationship of greater intensity is difficult to imagine. No woman in a stable relationship is ever wooed with the single minded devotion demonstrated by the abuser while in either courtship or the honeymoon stage. 

Indeed, except for the physical abuse and/or emotional humiliation, the abusive relationship best fits our culture’s idea of how “real love” is expressed. The begging, the pleading, the flowers and letters and desperate phone calls, the threats of suicide or murder or both unless there is a reconciliation-all these are typical components of the abusive relationship in the courtship phase, and all of these manipulations are romanticised by our culture as indicative of true love.

The abuse partner finds these behaviours not only reassuring but deeply flattering, as indeed they are meant to be. The driving intensity and powerful emotions the relationship generates in her she believes herself to be “in love.” No matter which of these two partners’ is emoting while the other reacts with cold indifference, the capacity for intimacy is unchanged; the drive to manipulate and control each other, to win, continues unabated.

The intense infatuation of the abusive partner can at first be deeply flattering to the archetypal energy of Venus-Pluto in romantic relationships. The abusive man tells her how beautiful and wonderful she is, how he cannot survive without her, it is a powerful aphrodisiac, although the manipulation behind this becomes apparent as the relationship progresses, the seductive flattery loses it’s power and control. However, Venus-Pluto does need great depth in love, and this type of obsessive love at first seems to offer the passion and drama she needs. The relationship is hard to resist, but often if manipulation, abuse, shame, and secrets have become entangled in love, this often evokes painful feelings which can become unbearable, but if she searches deep within and explores her painful relationships she will understand how this partnership can contain a trans-formative purpose which can offer her the gift of attaining her deepest value, self worth, and love.

In part two the astrology will be explored with some charts of abused women.

Chemistry

Han Fischer

Hans Fischer is a German organic lecturer who won a Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1930. Hans studied both medicine and chemistry simultaneously. He was the chair on organic chemistry in Munich.

Han’s chart is heavily weighted in earth, and this is further supported by Virgo Rising. Most of his planets fall in Taurus in the 9^th house. Taurus as a sign is the most grounded sign and has a strong connection to nature and the body, Taurus is considered to be one of the most realistic and practical of all the signs. Mars conjunct Neptune in 9^th symbolises actively pursuing knowledge, in pursuit of Neptunian ideals,  a higher vision.  The Neptunian generation born at this time were attempting to give material expression to imaginative vision. Pluto in 9^th often shows someone who is a researcher, or who needs to delve deeply into heir chosen subject, Jupiter is placed in it’s own house which is particularly strong, and his need for understanding and exploring his subject is powerful. I read an interesting interpretation on the symbol of Jupiter in the book “Archetypes of the Zodiac” by Kathleen Burt. Sorry for the diverson here, but I adore symbolism.

The mystic four (our glyph for Jupiter ) was the key. In the Golden versus, Pythagoras tells us the mystic four is the “source of eternal nature and almighty power.” It is what bounds the parts and unite the whole.” It is the four seasons-the totality of the year, and the four virtues. It’s the four ages of man-infancy, youth-hood, adulthood, old age, the totality of his life. The four is also the Quaternion. C.G. Jung points out in psychology and Alchemy this quaternion is the “psychic space” of the unconscious which appeared in many individuals dreams. It may refer to the four functions of the psyche: thinking, feeling, intuition and sensation, or the process of integrating the inferior function. Pythagoras and his disciples also practiced dream interpretation and quite probably experienced the sacred psychic space themselves. In astrology we have the Quaternity of four quandrants within the horoscope. We orientate ourselves in reading charts and reading dreams according to where the planets are within the quadrants. Like the pythagoreans and the dreams Jung studied, astrologers also have a quaternion of the elements: Air, Earth, Fire, and Water.

The four is seemingly universal. American Indian rituals are often centred around a sacred place laid out to the four cardinal points and in China the square quaternion mandala represents the Earth Mother who gave birth to the cosmos. It has long served as a Buddhist meditation symbol. Esoteric astrology preserved the hidden teaching of Jupiter and the Four not only in the glyph but in Jupiter’s exaltation in the fourth House and in the fourth sign. 

Uranus in 12^th conjunct the Virgo asc can symbolise his scientific interest in the medical field, angular planets are considered powerful in the natal chart. Saturn in Taurus 8^th is in exact trine to Uranus, supporting his self discipline and practical skills with his higher intellect and body of scientific knowledge. Moon in Leo 11^th squares Neptune exactly, this can be a good placement for charitable and voluntary work there is a strong need for recognition, often in positions of power, and the 11^th house needs to work for a common purpose, a need to contribute to a larger cause.

Han has both his Sun and Moon in Leo 11^th, he has a need within him to fulfil a destiny, Virgo rising is the third part of the trinity, it describes the development of techniques and skills, a humble service to others, Virgo rising is ruled by mercury, it’s all about attention to detail with this sign. Mercury in Cancer is a singleton in the 10^th house. A service to other’s and development of skills, a sympathetic communicator, he can be a subjective thinker and focused on human needs and feelings expressed in his career. Overall with the 9^th house weighted heavily we can see his educational, knowledge and a need to broaden his mind, and in Taurus we have a fixed earth quality which gives him a practical vision.

Master of Dance

Twyla Tharp is an American Dancer, considered to be one of the greatest modern dance choreographers. Twyla was dancing from the age of four, and she was noted as a master of movement, she has choreographed over 130 dances. I thought it would be interesting to see her chart and explore her lifelong interest in dance.

Elementally she is weighted heavily in the water element, this is supported by her Scorpio rising. What is particularly notable is her chart ruler Mars in the 29^th degree of Pisces in the 5^th house, a critical degree, many astrologer’s believe a planet is heightened at this degree, and it becomes a critical lifetime to express it’s energy.

I thought I had to make an impact on history. I had to become the greatest choreographer of my time. That was my mission. Posterity deals with us however it sees fit. But I gave it 20 years of my best shot.

Mars in Pisces is an excellent placement for individuals who direct their energy into the arts, dance, or mystical matters. Pisces is such a fluid sign, and sexually this Mars can have a fantasy element to it. Mars expresses itself through the 5^th house in the natal chart, it is the creative sector of the chart whether through sport, art, dance, we can see how she directs her energy (Mars) in dance (Pisces) creatively (5^th). Mars is also opposed Neptune in the 11^th house, this also describes how she pursues her ideals; it’s a seductive aspect in the natal chart. Neptune in the 11^th houses can describe the need to merge into a group, she formed dance groups and is a teacher of dance.

Venus in Cancer is also at the 29^th degree in 9^th house, she attained a degree in art history, the sign of Cancer can have nostalgic feelings connected to the past, she has a mutual reception of Venus in Cancer to Moon in Libra, this emphasises her artistic nature, need for beauty and harmony in her surroundings. The 9^th house of the chart is traditionally associated with higher education, and regarding educational matters this placement can be drawn to art (Venus) which has a nostalgic, past related feel (Cancer). Pluto (ruler of asc) conjunct Venus in 9^thcan symbolise the deeper history of a subject, this combined with Sun/Mercury in Cancer 8th  adds a powerful awareness of the past. Venus/Pluto can symbolise transformative art, relationships, beauty etc. A profound interest and motivation to explore the arts in depth.

Enchanted

 

Saturn-Neptune

I watched this film over the weekend for mother’s day. It makes fun of all the fairytale magic, the songs, cute animals, and dreamy romance. Its fairytale land meets the real world. The Princess is all set to marry her prince charming, who she believes is her one true love, but in ‘reality’ she has only known him one day. The prince’s wicked step-mother is quite happy on her throne and doesn’t wished to be replaced, and she sets out to make sure that Giselle (princess) is removed altogether from the fairytale world. The wicked stepmother pushes Giselle down a well, and sends her to a place where there are no more happily ever afters‘. Giselle ends up in New York City. Unfortunately for the princess fairytale’s are very different from real world.

The movie is very amusing as we watch the fairytale princess desperately flounder in reality, she is just like a fish out of water. It is very much like “The Little Mermaid” or “Splash”, as these films also play on the same theme. Enchanted however, is a fun look at fairy tales. Neptune  is soft feminine and otherworldly, it symbolises the oceanic world beyond the conventional perception of reality. Neptune creates fantasies and castles in the sky. Reality to Neptune is cold and harsh and dark grey.

Neptunian individuals do not cope well with Saturn, and throughout Enchanted we see Giselle struggling to adjust to the new world she finds herself in. Giselle is highly sensitive and breaks down emotionally when she finds out people in reality separate and divorce. For most of us we are not unlike Giselle when we enter into a relationship we believe in the dream of true love, and the happy ever after. However, our dreams or illusions often meet with reality and we come crashing down to earth left with a broken heart, we feel separate and alone (Saturn). Giselle cannot comprehend reality, she comes from a world where princes ride in on white horses to rescue you.

In the ‘real world’ she meets a divorced man named Robert whose wife has abandoned him and his daughter. Naturally he doesn’t understand her naivety and innocence about life and calls her a “very confused woman”, Robert has sorely felt disappointment in love and to him all the magic has been lost forever; he is left with only bitter reality, and a little girl to raise all alone. In the film we see Giselle putting up with most of his pessimism and doubts about love, and she finally gets angry with him, which is a big turning point for her and her own individuality, Giselle is thrilled to express these emotions.

To cut a long story short a bridge is made between the two worlds, Robert begins to believe in love again, and Giselle begins to change herself, she uses her dress making talents to create her own business and is successful. Giselle and Robert both gain by meeting each other, and offer a very different reality to one another; we see how both reality and make believe are needed. The Fairytale ends with a happily ever after and a heavy dose of realism.

Astrologically maybe the character of Giselle has Saturn challenging Neptune in her natal chart. Natally this aspect can create the feeling of being discontented. Giselle seems to struggle with fantasy and the experience of life on the physical plane. Neptune attempts to dissolve reality (Saturn) and Saturn often creates stone walls to Neptune’s dreams and visions. Liz Greene offers an insightful view of this planetary pairing of Saturn-Neptune below.

Liz Greene “The Astrological Neptune and the quest for Redemption.”

The stronger the ego, the more frightening Neptune becomes; the more we cling to the uterine waters, the more frightening Saturn becomes. Neptune identifies with the quality of being loving, open and compassionate toward others. Neediness is not perceived as humiliating, but as a mark of a gentle empathetic soul. Saturn identifies with self sufficiency, collectively acceptable behaviour, and the control of chaotic emotions and moods. Boundaries are not seen as defensive or cold, but as a necessary accoutrement of an honourable and responsible attitude toward life. Both, of course, are right, although the individual may be hard pressed to realize it.

Lady Ga Ga: Astrology Chart

Lady Ga Ga is an American singer songwriter, her debut album “The Fame” is currently riding high in the charts. I wanted to look at her astrological chart today because she conveys a futuristic persona through her music, clothes, and videos’. I was looking for Uranus to be particularly strong in her chart, as usually this planet is prominent in people who appear ahead of their time. She has intuitive insights and can tune into the future with new progressive, revolutionary ideas. Lady Ga Ga is certainly bringing something new to the music scene.

Lady Ga Ga’s chart (no birthtime)

Lady Ga Ga has some strong squares to Uranus in her chart. Mercury is in Pisces square to Uranus. The Sun in Aries is disposited by Mars, and the red planet is in square to Uranus, and this describes a rebellious, self willed and progressive individual. Lady Ga Ga may have developed her innovative sense from her father, who is an Internet entrepreneur. She enjoys courting controversy and stirring things up, this aspect is filled with tension and there may be disruptive periods in life, she shocked her father by running off to the Lower East Side to dabble in drugs and appear in burlesque shows with drag queens and go go dancers. Mercury square Uranus contributes to her revolutionary thinking; and she can be intuitive. Mercury in Pisces is retrograde and she learned to play the piano by ear at aged 4. Lady Ga Ga can possess an intelligent mind, and is attuned to new waves of inspiration. Mars conjunct Uranus is a potentially rebellious aspect, she can be impulsive and high strung, and she hates to be restrained. In addition, she can be inventive, experimental, strong willed, direct and blunt. The chart also has a Piscean flavour offering elements of sensitivity and attunement to creative inspiration, and this is re-emphasised in her natal aspect of Sun square to Neptune.

Astro-Databank Online

 

I am very happy with the New Astrodatabank Online, it contains public figures, mundane dates. As well as research, we can all benefit from having more astrological data at our fingertips. Save the link to your favourites. .