Cocho

To mark the 4^th anniversary of the essay Cocho: Dirty and Down Low I am sending out a request for comments or essays about this word ‘cocho.’  Of all the posts on my blog the essay about cocho gets the most hits.  I think that means there are a lot of people out there thinking about this word. 

I haven’t looked it up since I wrote the essay.  Maybe by now there is actually a good definition out there that makes sense.  I also have not recently asked my Mexican, especially Tierra Caliente friends about the word.  Please post anything you know about the word ‘cocho’ in the comments section below this essay.  If you have trouble leaving a comment you can send me an email at goscinnyanduderzo@gmail.com and we’ll get your essay posted.

We want to hear/read your favorite story about the word cocho!

Spring Orientation

The Sun is up in Aries.  I’ve been awake since 4am thinking about how we have been climbing from Cancer to Capricorn all night long.  At 4 we were 2/3 of our way to the top with Scorpio on the midheaven.  By the time the Spring Sun appeared on the horizon we were at the top of our daily climb.  That’s one of the many reasons Aries is called Aries and Capricorn called Capricorn.  The names reflect their nature in the daily cycle of Earth’s tilted revolution. 

I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to get oriented while we still see the Sun in the beginning of Aries.  Capricorn, Aries, Cancer and Libra are the easiest positions in the cycle to picture in our minds.  This is why they are called the cardinal signs.  In addition to being easier to picture spatially they are each most representative of a different type of motion in the cycle.  The first degree of Aries on the midheaven (not when the sign is appearing on the horizon like this spring morning, but when it is above us, as it will be this afternoon) is the point where we are in absolute downward motion.  Capricorn on the midheaven is when we are turning down from our upward climb.  So on these spring mornings we are crossing the mountain top at sunrise and at midday we are halfway down.  In Spring time every one around the globe literally begins their day on top of the world.

Enceladus in Astrology

I don’t read much science fiction, but the little exposure I’ve had makes me feel sure there are many people thinking about this. 


Jen posted a link from NPR about Enceladus and asked about the moons of Saturn in astrology.  From a few quick searches I came up with nothing.  This might seem surprising considering that Astro.com provides locations for thousands of celestial objects, including asteroids and fixed stars.  But when we consider that from Earth’s perspective the moons of Saturn are always near Saturn, and astrology follows the cycles of heavenly objects as viewed from Earth, their effect on Saturn’s approximately 29 year cycle would not be considered separately.  In other words we see the moons of other planets kind of like horse flies-  the only ones we really care about are the suckers circling our own steed.  That's not a nice way to talk about our moon, but then maybe it shows a deeper appreciation for horse flies.

 

While the cycle of Earth’s moon is central to the study of other planetary cycles, especially Jupiter and Saturn, there appears to be no astrological treatment highlighting members of Saturn's family or the other planets that have close companions similar to our Moon.  The astronomical descriptions, complete with quantitative analysis are readily available, so it is not because of a lack of information. 

I am aware of astrology techniques that analyze charts calculated for time and space originating from the location of the Sun, but that only diminishes the relative motion of our moon to a subsumed cycle like the moons of our sibling planets.  Imagine yourself observing Earth’s motion from the Sun, and the Moon that we see in a different part of the sky every day becomes a little electron never straying from the proton of Earth.  Maybe there are folks out there somewhere doing charts from the point of view of various planets.  Viewing time from the point of view of Saturn would definitely give its moons central roles in defining the various cycles, just as ours takes a central role in human astrology. 

I don’t read much science fiction, but the little exposure I’ve had makes me feel sure there are many people thinking about this.  I’ve come across sites that convert cycles from the point of view of other planets to the cycles we experience on Earth, and if I remember correctly I read a story years ago that took place on the planet Uranus which included one or more of its moons in the plot.  I expect as we become more intimate with our solar system people will give more consideration to how time passes on various animals in this little Milky Way merry go round; but wherever humans migrate, according to the current story, we evolved on Earth, so it is Earth's cycles that have shaped us.

Janis Joplin

Janis’ Moon in Cancer was almost across from the Sun at the end of Capricorn.  Sun in last duad (twelfth) of Capricorn is an inspired organizer.  Ms. Joplin’s Moon in the 6^th house of that late Capricorn Sun was an apprentice to her organizing spirit (Sun is usually translated as spirit or ego).  Earth had passed through the closest point with Jupiter for the year by the time she was born, so the Sun was in a position of equality with the nurturing philosopher.  That meant the inspired organizer had an equal say with the exalted nurturing philosopher.  Exalted nurturing philosopher refers to Jupiter being exalted in Cancer.

Mars in Sagittarius was disposited by Jupiter.  Jupiter exalted in Cancer was in a position to receive praise, but that’s not the same as having power.  BUT, since Jupiter in Cancer is disposited by the Moon, and there was the Moon in Cancer coming to its monthly fate with Jupiter, the Moon (translated as soul) is the ruler of her chart.

Van posted the comment about Janis’ chart (Jan 18, 2015) during a period when Mercury and Venus are in a very similar position to the one they hold in her chart.  Mercury is exalted in Aquarius.  Mercury is usually translated as mind or intellect.  Location of Mercury is associated with style of processing perceptions.  Today Mercury is almost standing still, about to go retrograde, it is just ‘backing off’ from a meeting with kind Venus occurring in the sign Aquarius.  Janis was born a few days after Mercury turned retro.  These periods of Mercury slowing down in Aquarius are associated with clear minded focus, unclouded by emotion or past experiences.  That clear focus was still allied with the planet of kindness even though they were both in a sign of cool headed rationalism.

I hope someone will add observations about Ms. Joplin’s chart.  I have copied it to paper and it is going up on my wall of charts.

Here is a chart showing Mercury slowing down near Venus yesterday. 

 And a snippet from the ephemeris showing Mercury slowing down from day to day.

Thanks to Van for mentioning Janis' birthday!  Now I will have Janis Joplin’s chart on my wall near the ones for Keith Richards and Patti Smith!

Sun entering Aquarius almost across from Jupiter in Leo

The executive minister is the student to the king as the parent is the student of the child.  Managers study the advertised policies of business owners as teachers study the creations of their students.  The Sun in Jupiter’s 6^th house is studying the philosopher’s pronouncements in order to make the most effective response.  The Sun will cross into Aquarius tonight at 4:44am (9:44Universal Time) the sign opposite Leo.  Jupiter is in Leo until August of this year.  But instead of counting Jupiter’s chickens the Sun is still warming the philosopher’s eggs.  The pair of the great benific and the flaming thrower of almost everlasting fire will not reach their point of complete balance with regard to Earth till Feb 6, when the Source will be seen at 17.5 degrees Aquarius.  Meanwhile the philosopher appears to be backpedalling as little Earth comes through in the passing lane like a smart car tooting around the floating track in the night.

The 6^th house is analogous to Virgo the 6^th sign of apprenticeship.  When we see the Sun in Virgo we have come a long way from the explosive springing to life in Aries.  On July 24^th the Sun had its yearly meetup with Jupiter and since it was in the beginning of the sign Leo (northern hemmies) it was a real philosophical barn dance, a good time was had by all.  Now, the philosopher is hanging in the Sun’s sign while the Sun is passing through the territory of sober Saturn. 

Keith Richards has Jupiter in Leo and is a good example of an entertaining philosopher.  He was born in late 1943.  Jupiter was also in Leo late 1931 early 1932, some of 1955 56, some of 67, 68 you get the picture- about every 12 years.  When Mr. Richards was born the Sun was in the end of Sagittarius and Jupiter was near the end of Leo.  If you count the signs from Leo to Sagittarius you come up with his Sun being in Jupiter’s 5^th house of self expression and children.  Let’s count the signs from Leo to Sagittarius.  Leo 1, Virgo 2, Libra 3, Scorpio 4, Sagittarius 5.  So the Sun had gotten pretty far in its cycle with Jupiter, but not as far as the Sun in Capricorn and Aquarius.  Until it gets to 17 Aquarius the Sun is in Jupiter’s 6^th house, the one after self expression but before contracts.  The Sun is no longer a protected child to the philosopher, but still has a measure of safety.  It has some responsibility, but not enough to sell the house.  It watches the house and has responsibility for maintaining the upkeep of the house and is learning all about how to run a house.  But in the 6^th house from the philosopher the Sun is only an assistant.  When the Sun reaches Taurus it will be in a closing square with Jupiter and will then be responsible for the philosopher.  It will be high in the sky when the performing philosopher is rising.  It will be the worker reminding the philosopher that high falutin words are nothing without a good grasp of how to lay bricks. 

But that’s a few months in the northern hemisphere future.  Right now the Sun can’t expect too much from its relationship with Jupiter.  It has to watch the talker closely, and put the pieces of the puzzle together.  A child cannot say they are getting plenty of sleep at home and lots of attention from older family members, or that they are disturbed at home by a lot of fighting, or not sure when bed time is because of loud music and partying.  The teacher has to listen closely, look at what the child draws, how the child interacts with others and carries herself to determine what the child is dealing with.  That’s the Sun in late Capricorn early Aquarius to Jupiter in Leo.  We think of a planet in Capricorn as being the boss and having the last say, as having ultimate responsibility.  But when we consider the early Aquarian Sun in its relationship to a planet in late Leo we see that that responsibility is not so much about setting limits and laying down the law as it is about observation and determining specific needs.

A manager has to figure out how to run the show by listening closely to what the business owner says she wants.  The business owner often does not know what is actually possible.  The manager has to be a student of everything the business owner says, and then figure out how to turn the pronouncements to workable solutions that satisfy everyone sharing in the tasks.  While the manager may be in a position of authority to the workers she must also observe and pay close attention to their actions in order to insure that no worker is treated unfairly.  Only observant managers can know who is not contributing their fair share. 

One of the things that makes Aquarius and Capricorn good managers is the skill of observing self expression and using that information to respond effectively to others.  That’s my meditation for the Sun entering Aquarius almost across the zodiac from Jupiter at 19degrees Leo.

Plato's Timeaus, Charts for Down Under and Thanks to Gandy Dancers

Somehow I went from the assassination of Arch Duke Ferdinand and Sophie Duchess of Hohenburg to the bombing of Valparaiso Chile by the Spanish Navy in 1866.  Wikipedia rocks.  When I did the chart for the bombing of Valparaiso I realized I had finally stumbled into an opportunity to figure out the puzzle of charts for the southern hemisphere.  Like just about every other puzzle in astrology, I find myself in disagreement with the vast majority of astrologers.  I know there are folks somewhere out there who see this as a matter of what is actually happening in the sky.  For instance, I can’t find it right now but I saw an Australian blog a few years ago showing people in bikinis knee deep in the surf waving merrily in their red Christmas hats with white tassles.  They discussed how the zodiac of the northern hemisphere is a mirror of the zodiac experienced by people living on the southern part of the globe, or flipped.  Another supporting blog that I can't find declared that inhabitants of the southern hemisphere are disrespected by the charts in popular use among astrologers.  I agree with these people.

 

Astrodienst, the free and wonderful astrology service that I use every day, does not generate a chart that reflects the flipped, or mirror image, of the ecliptic that people living in the southern hemisphere see.  I have not made an extensive search, but it appears that the vast majority of the astrology community thinks these charts are accurate and see no need to show the Sun coming up on the right side of the chart as it does on the right side of the horizon for those facing north to observe the ecliptic. They seem to be unaware that the ecliptic is above the equator in the southern hemisphere at the same time it is below the equator in the northern, or if they are aware they think it has nothing to do with the zodiac.

I have waited several years to discuss this aspect of astrology.  After posting the videos about what the zodiac means to me I am ready to show how the zodiac appears from ‘down under’ and how to read my charts for the southern hemisphere.  I hope, as I make more searches, to find other people who have reached similar conclusions.  Meanwhile, I will be using hand drawn charts from the Astrodienst data, but presented as seen by people who orient themselves from the Southern Cross instead of Polaris, who see the Sun coming up on their right as they face north instead of south to follow its rise to the midheaven each day.

I have no problem with doing things my own way, but I know it makes people who are unfamiliar with astrology wonder who is right, MP the crackpot, or the hundreds of astrologers who say otherwise.  I can only say this is the account of the zodiac that consistently adds up for me.  It has been presented at least since the time of the earliest Rig Vedas as a wheel with equal sections.  The constellations are easy to locate without abstract reasoning, but they don’t satisfy me as an explanation for the equal sections of the zodiac.  As far as I can tell, Plato’s account of celestial mechanics (I have not studied Aristotle) is concerned with describing heaven, while every other writer that concerned themselves with astrology after Plato was satisfying a public demand for predictions or recipes for predictions.  While much of Timeaus does not make sense to me, I still go back to it because it concerns itself with the relationship between the equator and ecliptic more than any other ancient account except maybe the Rig Vedas.  I say ‘maybe’ because though I have picked out relevant quotes, I have not studied the Rig Vedas.

So I have gone back and found the section of Timeaus that keeps coming to mind as I consider how to present a cartographic format for the southern hemisphere that I consider to be more respectful and reflective of heaven as seen from Valparaiso, Chile or Perth, Australia.

The nature of the light and the heavy will be best understood when examined in connexion with our notions of above and below; for it is quite a mistake to suppose that the universe is parted into two regions, separate from and opposite to each other, the one a lower to which all things tend which have any bulk, and an upper to which things only ascend against their will. For as the universe is in the form of a sphere, all the extremities, being equidistant from the centre, are equally extremities, and the centre, which is equidistant from them, is equally to be regarded as the opposite of them all. Such being the nature of the world, when a person says that any of these points is above or below, may he not be justly charged with using an improper expression? For the centre of the world cannot be rightly called either above or below, but is the centre and nothing else; and the circumference is not the centre, and has in no one part of itself a different relation to the centre from what it has in any of the opposite parts. Indeed, when it is in every direction similar, how can one rightly give to it names which imply opposition? For if there were any solid body in equipoise at the centre of the universe, there would be nothing to draw it to this extreme rather than to that, for they are all perfectly similar; and if a person were to go round the world in a circle, he would often, when standing at the antipodes of his former position, speak of the same point as above and below; for, as I was saying just now, to speak of the whole which is in the form of a globe as having one part above and another below is not like a sensible man.

                                         Plato’sTimeaus:  Senses

                                        Translation B. Jowett

Once again thanks to everyone who takes the trouble to read the Our Sky blog.  Lately I think of people willing to put up with these difficult posts as Gandy Dancers.  The only dancing here is a collective push to get an ancient language back on track.