Horary astrology: Is my student cheating?

A university professor (who also uses astrology) asked me for a second opinion about a horary she cast regarding one of her own students. He’s turned in an essay she thinks is not his own. So she asked, “Did my student plagiarize his paper?” I gave her some ideas about how to look at the chart, but there are things here that don’t make sense to me. Want to look?

Did my student plagiarize his paper?

(9 December 2008, 4:08 pm EST, St. Augustine Beach, Florida, USA. Click to enlarge the chart and data.)

The method I use to understand horary questions and their charts is always the same. First, figure out what’s being asked. Next,

Firebreathing

As elements go, I’m earthbound. Even a modern astrologer can see that – too much dirt, not enough heat. Right now, though, it’s an excess of phlegm that’s slowing me down… the common cold, I mean, and its overproduction of cold and wet. What a nice opportunity to experiment with the principles of sympathy and antipathy.

I decided to try the principle of sympathy first, hoping that applying a little more cold and wet to my excess coldness and wetness would help my body along in its phlegmatic process. Mango sorbet seemed like a good solution, and indeed it was a soothing balm while it lasted. But the hoped-for acceleration and resolution of my phlegmatic woes did not occur.

So then I attempted the principle of antipathy, applying something hot and dry to attempt to balance out the phlegm. Out comes the bottle of tabasco peppers in vinegar, starring 30,000 to 50,000 Scoville units (compare to the jalapeno at 2,500 to 5,000 Scoville units). Chomp, chomp… WHOOMP. Panting and blowing like a dragon, chugging water, disturbing the cat. But oh, did my sinuses open then!

However, I am back to my sniffly self. As the fire subsided, so has its clarifying effects. There is just too much water here, an imbalance I can’t rectify with a snack. That mango sorbet, though, felt amazing on my inflamed throat. Maybe a second dose is in order…?

Mars cazimi in Sagittarius: The soldier in the heart of the king

For a good 48 hours from Thursday evening to Saturday evening (US East Coast time) this week, the Sun and Mars will be conjunct within 17 minutes of arc. Any planet so close to the Sun is called “cazimi,” or nestled in the heart of the king. It’s an exceptional honor for any planet, empowering it with a seal of approval from the monarch to do as it will.

We’ll see this conjunction in the very middle of the fire sign Sagittarius, compounding the heat for two already hot, dry planets. Mars has no particular essential dignity in this area of Sagittarius – it has more power in the next sign, Capricorn, where it is exalted – but the Sun has dignity by triplicity in fire signs, at least by day.

Lilly says of Mars dignified, “In feats of war and courage invincible, scorning any should exceed him, subject to no reason, bold, confident, immovable, contentious, challenging all honour to themselves, valiant, lovers of war and things pertaining thereunto, hazarding himself to all perils, willingly will obey nobody, nor submit to any, a large reporter of his own acts, one that fights all things in comparison of victory, and yet of prudent behaviour in his own affairs.” In short, a soldier through and through – but as it’s cazimi, one who is true to the king, not a rogue mercenary.

How to channel this high Mars energy? As Sagittarius rules the thighs, you might limber up and burn some energy on a long run or race-walking. As it’s a double-bodied sign, try diversifying your exercise routine through multiple channels, or start circuit training that spreads the energy around and trains several areas of the body. If you’re working on being more assertive, this could be your opportunity to take your complaint to the very top, or, as Lilly advises, to be “a large reporter of your own acts” – reminding your boss of your accomplishments, for example.

Just remember: with all that fiery energy going around, be careful of getting too hot under the collar.