Steven Forrest
I remember something my teacher said on a Facebook thread about the internet and astrology. It was about the current generation learning astrology via the net. The downside being that when they look at a chart, they do not always get that some points in the chart carry more weight. In tropical astrology, the Sun, Moon, the ascendant plus its ruler are the four most important things to look at. You look at them first, understand them really well and then move on to the other points. Just looking at those features will give you a good picture of your client, a picture they can relate to.
In the past few months, I have been reading the works of Evolutionary astrologers. A special area of focus in this branch of astrology is Pluto and the nodal axis. A young Evolutionary astrologer I spoke to told me, only half joking, that he remembers his clients not by their sun signs, but by their nodes and their Pluto. So I thought of my chart and charts of people I know really well keeping these points in mind and that proved to be a very revealing exercise.
Jeff Green
I recently bought Steven Forrest’s Yesterday’s Sky and Jeff Green’s Pluto, The Evolutionary Journey of the Soul. Steven’s book covers all the details you need to know if you are going to examine someone’s nodal axis. Nodes in signs, houses, in aspects to planets. There is also information on nodal rulers plus some enthralling case studies. If you are familiar with his work, then you know he is a great teacher. No one makes astrology as simple to understand as Mr. Forrest. It’s a rare gift, and he has it.
I’ve been thinking about Pluto placements for a while now. Forget the aspects, I just wanted to understand the house placements better. And you’ll find no book better than Jeff Green’s if you want to learn about Pluto in a chart. He also covers Pluto aspects, transits and progressions. But you get so much just by looking at the house and sign Pluto is in someone’s chart. The book also talks about Pluto’s polarity point (the house and sign opposite natal Pluto) and how you can use that information to help with Pluto issues.
I did a chart analysis for someone using the concepts in these books and it was extraordinary how accurately they delineated his current psychology and life-long obsession. I got the “nodal story,” as Steve calls it, in the chart. I’m struggling to capture my own nodal story. It can get tricky with all the aspects to the nodes and the placement and aspects of the nodal rulers.
For me, personally, just understanding what Pluto was doing my chart has been extremely helpful. Moreover, I realize how very stuck I am in my third house south node and that I need to start a trek towards my ninth house north node. Who knows what I’ll meet as I move towards it? I might even meet you. Long journeys are very ninth house after all.
How Jeff and Steven define Evolutionary Astrology: http://www.forrestastrology.com/General-Astrology/what-is-evolutionary-astrology
Very nice post! How are you “stuck” in the third house? To me, you seem very ninth house – very deep and philosophical.
Oh, Pat. What with Facebook and email and conversations, I am intensely my south node.
My nodal axis is very strong. Planets conjunct both the south and the north node. That gives me hope, that I move more towards the NN.
I don’t know Neeti. I’m wondering, is the Internet a way to balance both your nodes? I get what you are saying though. But… Hey, if you get a hankering to get out of the house and take a long journey, you can come stay at my house for a spell. xxx
Melissa, I hadn’t thought of the Net like that. But you’re right. I found both my teachers via the net and many people I absolutely love.
I keep picking up Jeff Green’s book and putting it back down. I’ve sat in the library (aka Borders) and read sections of it and continually have a hard time relating to his description of my Pluto placement. I also have a hard time with Donna Cunningham’s notion of Pluto being a place where we fail for spite. I haven’t read anything about Pluto so far that really nails it for me.
You know what? It’s only recently that I got interested in my Pluto placement. Having Tr Saturn going over it and Tr Pluto about to square it kind of brings it to one’s attention. I had a bunch of theories about my Pluto in the seventh and it was as if Jeff was quoting my words.
My Pluto is not strongly aspected otherwise. It does have a sextile to Mars but that’s about it. It’s not on the DSC, just in the seventh.
Steven Forrest has also written a book on Pluto, I bought that, too and liked it.
But if I know you, we will soon have more to read about Pluto. xxx
Hi Neeti,
Did you listen to Matthew Currie interview with Steven Forrest the other day? Steven used the 3rd/9th nodal axis as an example during their talk.
Astrofix, as I am not an astrologer, I can’t help wondering if it’s a case of the physician can’t heal themselves! Steven Forrest said he consulted with Antero Alli when he himself only saw through the glass darkly. Jeremy at Chirotic is about to publish his second Pluto piece next week. What do you think of his take?
Luna, thank you! I haven’t heard that show. But I plan to tonight. Thanks for the tip.
I’ve still got the email about Jeremy’s post in my inbox pending items. I’m going to read it as soon as my current chores are done. Can’t wait to see what he has to say about it. His blog is a goldmine.
I have Pluto and the N.Node conjunct in virgo in my 5th house.
Per Donna C’s post.. in the cold light of dawn, I think I do fail here for spite. There is almost any given time that my home life is harmonious, but my professional life is awry…or vice-versa. I have alot of varied friends, and family(pisces 11th), but there always seems to be adversity somewhere in the background.
I am usually just along for the ride on most of my family stuff, but I’m finding that it is becoming a heavy burden that I no longer wish to carry.
I welcome Jupiter and Uranus in Aries…its time for a change!!
South Node in the 3rd – me too Neeti
I’m the other way round, I seem to have been focused on my North Node since birth, carefully ignoring/denying the south node in the 3rd. Now that I have Saturn transitting the 3rd I seem to be a lot more in touch with what the South is about and how even though I might have ignore/denied it, it has been shaping my life.
I really must get Jeff’s book. I’d love to know more about the Pluto polarity.
I believe it when you say you are more your north in ninth, my wise lovely friend. xxx
@Luna
I’ll have to go re-read Jeremy’s first piece. I love Antero Alli, he’s pretty amazing. I guess I’m just waiting for something to click with Pluto. I feel like there’s a piece of the puzzle missing.
Hi Neeti – Pluto is so strongly aspected in my chart; it’s taken me a long time to understand it, especially in relation to the Nodes – ruler of my South Node is retrograde and square Pluto, so it’s a been challenging trying to make sense of it all. I recently read some of Steven Forrest and I have to admit, I appreciated his insights on my own 12th house Pluto.
Although it’s not a book (and she doesn’t go into house placement), Nancy Fenn is another astrologer who really seems to “get” certain aspects of Pluto’s nature. In her post “The Pluto Club” she manages to describe a critical spiritual requirement of Pluto that many either miss, or else don’t agree with.
It’s taken many years for me to wrap my head around this idea of surrender(probably because of that natal square), and I’m not at all sure it would have resonated with me earlier in life. She uses the writings of several well known poets to illustrate some of the more challenging Pluto placements, and their words speak volumes. Poet that you are, Neeti – I think you’d enjoy it.
Nancy also includes a recommended reading list on Pluto that’s worth checking out.
Hi LB, thank you for the tip! I found the website: http://www.bemyastrologer.com/the_pluto_club.html
And I look forward to checking it out!
Neeti, So glad you found Steven’s book. I use Steve’s nodal story all the time in my readings, if not only as a backdrop or for my own personal reference, adding nuance to my own understanding. It illuminates the psychological dimensions of the chart, even the ‘why’ this person was born with this particular chart, and sometimes even scratches the mysterious itch a person never really knew how to reach on their own. I’m biased (a full fledged student of Forrest). But, like you, I think really deeply understanding the basic placements may be more profound than attempting to capture everything in this complex art. Of note, you have a ninth north node and I have a third house north node (and a 9th south node) so you’re going where I’ve been, and vice versa.
As you know, I am a fan of your work. And may I say, Ms. Shepherd, your manifest your nodes beautifully. xxx
Thank you for your thoughtful and well-written post. It’s amazing what a more thorough understanding of Pluto in the chart has on an overall better understanding of a chart and the impact it has on the person living it.
Thank you, Pamela.
Hi, nray,
We’ve had a meet and greet via Donna’s “skywriter”…just now found your blog and will be back for more of your insight. Bless you, Berta
Hi Berta, nice to see you here. And thank you for your comment.
This is one more thing to thank Donna for
I’m thoroughly impressed with your work. I used to be a student of ancient Hindu astrology. I don’t think I’ve come across a more serious astrology blog than this one.
Would you be willing to be e-interviewed for my blog. Please let me know. Thanks & Cheers!
Hi Vijayakrishna, thank you for your comment. But I must tell you there are many blogs far superior than mine.
An e-interview sounds interesting. What did you have in mind? You can reach me at neetig@hotmail.com