Patterns in the Natal Charts
Astrology is not related to giving information about the future events yet it can disclose some important features in the character of a person. Patterns and special patterns in the Natal Charts also put some light on character of a native like other systematic studies in astrology.
PLANETARY PATTERNS
Astrology is the language of Planets that if understood, could guide us to understand our selves better. It does provide us with a tool that may be used to better ourselves with our free will without caring what the Future holds. There are rules to apply in astrology regarding the placement of Planets and their relationship with each other. Among these, an important feature is the Patterns that the Planets form in the Natal Charts as told by Marc Edmund Jones. These Patterns do tell us much about the direction in which the Native plans for his works and do give us a guidance relating to his inner self. Although Marc Edmund Jones described Seven Patterns to check in the chart yet I consider that even Six Basic Patterns in the Chart are able to convey about the character well. These of course are much the same as he had pointed out wisely but leaving “Locomotive” altogether and changing “Splay” to “Positive Distribution” and “Splash” to “Negative Distribution”. The Planets only must be considered for the Patterns and not the asteroids or planetoids except perhaps Chiron that denotes the modern ways in surgery and practice of healing methods without any regards to physical pain or any care for moral values. In fact when Chiron is near to Moon or Venus, it seems to denote in female nativities that she likes to take adopted morals in action rather than accepted good morals that are already in action in the society she lives in, so Chiron with the attention it is receiving in astrology, might be considered while detecting patterns. Let us see here what the Patterns mean to understand the Nativity better.
The Bundle Pattern is where all the Planets are situated in two or three consecutive signs. Such a chart shows limited interests. This person may become very self centered and sometimes selfish. However, ability to plan for utilizing available resources to their full use for material benefit is highly developed in these individuals though it is difficult for them to achieve fame. I have also seen that when five or more Planets are close together in the Natal Chart anywhere though other Planets stand far and Mars is adversely aspected by one or two of its outer Planets while Pluto aspects in a traditional manner at least four bodies in the natal chart being in square mostly to any of the planets in the natal chart, there is a criminal tendency present in the Native. I call this closeness of five or more planets that present itself in the charts of criminals as a Closet Pattern and with such configuration, Criminals mostly have Mutable signs much pronounced with Jupiter mostly well placed as I have written elsewhere with detail on the net.
The Bowl Pattern is where all the Planets are situated in one half of the Chart leaving the other half of the chart (180 Degrees) empty. This is the person that again is capable to plan well to achieve much material benefit from available resources but to a lesser extent than the Bundle Pattern. If the Bowl Pattern presents itself according to the natural distribution of the Chart or in other words, it clearly occupies the left half or right half or upper half or lower half of the wheel, this refines the quality of the Native to plan more efficiently to achieve more with less available resources. It also increases the ability to learn much from observation and experience and perhaps there is an inclination towards Mystery & Horror as Alfred Hitchcock and Dr. Robin Cook (the medical mystery writer) both have this Pattern.
The Bucket Pattern is where all the planets but one occupy one half of the chart i.e. 180 degrees. So it is a Bowl that has a handle in shape of the single planet at other side. The single planet that stands out alone at the other half must be at least 45 degree apart from the first or last planet of the Bowl. This gives a very fine imagination and understanding of the emotional side. It also increases the Belief that everything in the Universe is in order and there are laws that are operating in every field that may be understood by a good observation and persistence. The famous names that had this Pattern in their charts include many wonderful poets and novelists that wrote fiction well. Some of them that had this pattern well in their charts are Charles Dickens, Lewis Caroll, Enid Blyton (what a wonderful writer she was and I do remember reading her on & on in my childhood), Milton, Arnold Toynbee (presented nicely that History does have a meaning), Leo Tolstoy, Mark Twain and Agatha Christie. It is interesting to note that there are a few most famous fiction writers and poets who do have this Pattern somewhat incomplete. The examples for this are Shakespeare, William Wordsworth (taking Moon & Neptune Conjunction as one unit in his chart), Robert Browning, Shelley, Mozart and Jonathan Swift. These examples had two planets at the other half but not so near as to term them a handle together. Even with an incomplete presentation where 2 Planets are present, mostly disjointed at the other half, the imagination still works well. As a rule, fame comes easy with the Bucket Pattern of the Planets, for the worse or the better. Also, we do find many a great Scientists that were mostly related to the observation of the Heavenly Bodies or their work was of a great use in Astronomy, with this Pattern though those famous scientists who did not give much attention to the Planets in their work do not have much of this Pattern (Neils Bohr, Louis Pasteur and Edison had a Bowl Pattern). The famous persons having the Bucket Pattern include Tycho Brahe, Johannes Kepler (taking Moon & Neptune together), Galileo, Einstein, Neil Armstrong, William Harvey (seems that the circulation of blood is related to the circulation of Planets) and Doppler. However, two most famous names Isaac Newton and Copernicus do not conform to this Pattern.
The See Saw Pattern is where all the Planets form Two Pairs of Planets taking some two or three signs each, in Opposition to each other or most of the planets of both in opposition to each other. The Natives with this Pattern have divided ideas about many matters. It is difficult for them to decide well about a matter once and for all. The Natives with this Pattern must consciously try to keep to their commitment and/or decision, to break any of the adverse effect that such a presentation of Planets may pose for them.
The Distribution Pattern is where all the Planets are spread in such a way that they can not be confined to any of the Patterns that have been mentioned before. However a Distribution of Planets may be Positive or Negative according to the aspects in the Chart. On this basis, we get two patterns i.e. Positive Distribution and Negative Distribution and we must consider them separately. The Positive Distribution is where all the Planets are spread in such a way that all three easy aspects are represented in the Chart. This means that 30 degrees aspect (semi-sextile) allowing 2 degree orb among a couple of planets, 60 degrees aspect (sextile) among a couple allowing 6 degree orb and 120 degrees aspect (trine) among a couple allowing 8 degree orb must be present in the Chart. If semi-sextile or sextile is missing, a Grand Trine can make up well for that. This causes the Distribution to be harmonious and the planning power increases in different fields. Such a person can do many works at one time, managing some with great and others with considerable efficiency. This Pattern may present itself in persons who have a very good observation and like the Bucket, it shows a good understanding of the Laws of Nature though the Bucket Pattern is better in presenting them to all. The Positive Distribution is very good for the Politicians, Leaders and Spiritual Guides as it denotes good ability to deal with people.
The Negative Distribution is where all the Planets are spread in such a way that though the hard aspects form yet one of the three easy aspects specially Trine is missing among the Planets. Such a person again puts himself to many works yet due to weakness in planning may not manage most of them with quality. This Pattern presents itself in such persons who may feel frustrated in carrying out their tasks and their efforts may turn out to be fruitless being put into a wrong direction to achieve a desired goal.
The Patterns that Planets form are a guide for us to understand how much a person cares for efficiency in his work. With so much to learn, we must learn and go on learning for the sake of our own development and for the sake of betterment of our fellow beings. This attitude must remain intact without asking for any material benefits as luxuries, so that the world may become a better place to live in for us and for our coming generations.
Muhammad Saleem Dada
e-mail: saleemdada@yahoo.com
e-mail: sdada111@yahoo.com
SPECIAL PLANETARY PATTERNS
From the ancient times, Astrology has been regarded a tool to understand the Human Beings. It is a well known fact in Astrology that the Planetary Patterns have the ability to tell much about the Native regardless of the other factors of consideration in Astrology. I have discussed the Planetary Patterns in my previous writing and here I am presenting the Special Planetary Patterns that also denote interesting qualities in the Native. These include Grand Trine, Grand Square, Yod and the Star of David in the Natal Charts.
The Grand Trine Pattern is formed with three or more Planets that stand apart 120 degrees from each other so each planet has a trine from both sides whereas the Planets involved are in the same element. This is a good configuration and gives a good planning power to the Native though as it is an “easy” configuration, it needs a “hard” aspect to any of the planets forming the Grand Trine, for the Native not only to achieve much from the world but to return it much making the environment better suited to an easy life. This is like Potential Energy that needs an adverse situation to show itself fully, for its betterment (as then it has the ability to change to Kinetic Energy) with a good guidance to the right ways to deal with that given situation. The Fire Grand Trine has the power to develop and ask for development of Knowledge, Confidence and Inner Good Qualities. The Earth Grand Trine has the power to develop and ask for development of the Practical Side and the Judgment Tendency by the clear reasoning that is presented. The Air Grand Trine has the power to develop and ask for development of Logic, Thought relating to the matters at hand and Relationship to each other for understanding of matters of ordinary concern. The Water Grand Trine has the power to develop and ask for development of the Feelings of Love, Emotions that may affect the world much and Care for Humanity. The talent to guide well comes with this configuration and with the Bucket or the Positive Distribution, it is a wonderful configuration to have in the Natal Chart as it increases the ability to judge all the important matters of life in a fine manner.
The Grand Square Pattern is formed when four planets make squares to each other. It is a configuration of two oppositions that are in square to each other whereas Planets involved are in the same Mode. This is a tough configuration that poses much challenges to the Native in different fields of life. It is a high version of T-square that involves one opposition with the middle Planet getting Square from both sides. The heat runs high when a Grand Square is in the Natal Chart as it denotes that the Native has got more than the fair share of challenges to face (or the Native considers the situation that way). The Cardinal Grand Square creates challenges in taking the initiative for any matter and it creates frustration due to this. The Fixed Grand Square creates challenges in forming any matter of importance, may that be tangible like making a building or intangible like forming a status, and this again creates frustration. The Mutable Grand Square creates challenges in changing a profession, home or anything and this effort with much late or without any results again creates frustration. However, Grand Square in any case is the indication of challenges and if not managed with a high will-power for the betterment of the given situation with sacrifice, an indication of frustration.
The Yod Pattern is where one planet makes the in-conjunct aspect (150 degree) to two such planets that are in sextile to each other. This pattern gives lucky chances regarding the Planet that forms the In-conjuncts and it is termed as the Finger in the Yod. It gives the power of the two planets to this finger. So if Pluto is at the Finger, the Native may inherit wealth or as the case may be, he may repent after committing a crime, becoming a better man. It is said that with the Yod Pattern, a person may rise to a good height in status and its taken as a Positive Mark in the Nativity.
The Star of David is a rare pattern to find in the Natal Charts. It consists of two Grand Trines in Different Elements. Though as a rule, it must be present in sextiles in different elements yet even the two Grand Trines that present themselves in semi-sextiles in different elements pass in practice for this configuration. It is a wonderful configuration of Planets that not only denotes a great ability of judgment but also denotes a Native who has an amazing power of co-ordination among different matters. If the remaining planets are also in harmony of some sort the Native has the talent to pave out ways to get rid of extremely difficult situations with quality and character.
There is one more thing that I would like to point out here and that is the Prominence of a Planet. There is an old rule in Astrology that count all the Planets in elements and see what element has the highest number of Planets. Similarly count all the Planets in the modes (qualities) and see which mode has most Planets. Suppose the Element comes to be Fire and Mode comes to be Mutable then regardless of other factors, the Native would show the traits of the sign Sagittarius (the Fire Mutable sign) and Jupiter would be an important Planet in his Nativity so its sign and more than that, its house is an important feature. If it is well aspected specially by both the Luminaries, it would show a very good power of judgment of all things. From this example, any Planet that is taken as important may be calculated and seen accordingly in the Natal Chart.
Astrology has affected the ancient people so much that we find an astrological connection in many such matters that relate to the understanding of occult. In Palmistry, there are Mounts of Jupiter, Saturn, Sun, Mercury, Moon, Venus & Mars (Positive & Negative). In Numerology, numbers are related to the Heavenly Bodies; number of the Sun being one, the Moon being two, Jupiter three, Uranus four, Mercury five, Venus six, Neptune seven, Saturn eight, Mars nine and Pluto zero. Even Tarot Cards are connected to Numbers and as such to Astrology. But in all the things that are taken to understand the occult, there is always a search for Patterns. This quest does show the realization that the Human Beings are affected by Patterns of all sorts and as such it is not amazing that the Planetary Patterns tell us so much about our own selves clearly. We have found a pattern in Chemistry for the function of elements (Periodic Table), a pattern in Physics for the inter-connection of all physical bodies (Law of Universal Gravitation)and a pattern in Biology to retain the composition of cells (homeostasis) that prove totally that everything around us and even inside us, works in a pattern. It seems that we would understand ourselves much better just by understanding patterns all around us and astrology has the power to assist us in this regard clearly and cleverly.
Muhammad Saleem Dada
e-mail: saleemdada@yahoo.com
e-mail: sdada111@yahoo.com