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The Uranian Signs Date Published: 11/14/2002 by Michael Erlewine

 

 

Would you like to know more about what your horoscope has to say with regard to parenting roles, spiritual concerns, or contacts with foreign countries? Or gain additional insights into family matters, creative skills, or points of possible blockage? If so, why not include the eight Uranian or transNeptunian planets in your next printout. Adding extra planets may seem like the perfect formula for creating unnecessary confusion, but you'll soon be amazed by the additional information that these remarkable symbols can provide.

Discovered by the German astrologers Alfred Witte and Friedrich Sieggruen during the early years of the 20th century (and called transNeptunian planets, or TNPs, since Neptune was the outermost planet at that time), these eight hypothetical planets represent valuable additions to the language of astrology. Let's look briefly at some of the ideas and areas of experience that they symbolize.

For each Uranian planet, concise keywords by Arlene Kramer are given first, followed by a more general description, and finally some examples of how these planets figure in the charts of famous people.

Cupido (coo PEE doe)

Keywords: Getting together. All groups: family, marriage, society, organizations, corporations, collections. Art.

Defined by the combined glyphs of Venus and Jupiter, Cupido represents social ties and group affiliations, and has links to the world of art as well. It can symbolize one's personal family as well as one's business or corporate family (or more generally any organization, agency, or other social collective), and is frequently prominent at times of marriage.

Those who have studied the chart for England's Royal Wedding (of Charles and Diana) in 1981 will no doubt recall the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn at 5 degrees Libra, which in turn is being closely aspected by both Venus (5 degrees Virgo) and the Sun (6 degrees Leo). But what may not have been noticed is the presence of Cupido (5 degrees Scorpio) making aspects to these same planets, and thus adding its own "matrimonial" and "family" flavor to the occasion. On the business side of Cupido, one might note the considerable "corporate restructuring" that was taking place during the early 1990s, when transiting Pluto made a series of conjunctions with transiting Cupido. Since Kronos, the planet of royalty, was exactly trining this Pluto-Cupido ("family developments") combination during much of this time as well, it is not surprising that significant changes (both marriages and separations) took place among the members of England's royal family at precisely this same time.

Hades (HAY deez)

Keywords: All that is unpleasant, useless, antique, or deeply buried. The occult.

Representing many of the more sordid or disagreeable sides of life, Hades is associated with waste, decay, illness, sorrow, and want — as well as anything that is vulgar, crime-related, or crude. But it can also refer, without any unpleasant overtones, to antiques, ancient art, and other things from the distant past.

Doctors and others in the healing and helping professions often have links between Hades and the Ascendant, thus reflecting the needs and problems of their clients. Dr. Jonas Salk, the inventor of the Salk polio vaccine, has his natal Hades (21 degrees Pisces) exactly trining the midpoint (21 degrees Scorpio) of his close Mercury-Mars ("walking," and other "motor skills") conjunction in Scorpio. On the other hand, the sextile present in film comedian Charlie Chaplin's chart between natal Hades (27 degrees Aquarius) and the natal Sun (27 degrees Aries) no doubt relates as much to his film image as the penniless tramp as it does to the poverty he experienced as a child.

Zeus (zoos)

Keywords: Controlled, directed energy. Machines; creativity; leadership. All things military. Combustion engines. Compulsion. Drive.

A symbol of "controlled energy," Zeus is linked to all types of creative and procreative endeavors. It has an active, fiery nature, and lends considerable zest and drive to whatever it touches. Machinery, weapons, and the combustion engine are all related to Zeus, as are production lines and leadership activities.

In combination with Kronos and Vulcanus, Zeus has been found to have strong ties to the weapons and destructive power of modern warfare, and all three planets were closely linked throughout the entire period of World War II. Zeus (16 degrees Leo) squared Kronos (16 degrees Taurus) at the start of the war (September 1, 1939), and (at 18 degrees Leo) was exactly sextile Vulcanus (18 degrees Gemini) during the bombing of Pearl Harbor (December 7, 1941). But Zeus's creative energy and focused drive normally finds more positive, less destructive, outlets in the natal chart — through sports activities, for example. Professional football quarterback Joe Namuth has his natal Zeus (18 degrees Leo) sesquiquadrate natal Mars (3 degrees Aries), while jockey Robyn Smith as her natal Zeus (20 degrees Leo) semi-sextile natal Mars (20 degrees Virgo) and conjunct her natal Sun (21 degrees Leo).

Kronos (KROW nos)

Keywords: Superiority: the highest quality attainable; the ultimate in authority; standard of excellence; undisputed expert.

Bearing the Greek name for the original ruler of the gods (later known as Saturn to the Romans), Kronos symbolizes all figures of authority (both heads of state and heads of households), and anything that is similarly "superior," "high up," or "at the top." Issues of independence (being one's own boss), parenting (becoming an authority figure in the family), and success (making it to the top of one's profession) are all Kronos-related concerns.

As the planet of kings, presidents, prime ministers, and corporate directors (especially in combination with the Sun), Kronos figures prominently in the charts of many top politicians and other people in high office. England's Queen Elizabeth has Kronos (6 degrees Taurus) widely conjunct her natal Sun (0 degrees Taurus) and exactly semi-square her natal Sun/Moon midpoint (21 degrees Gemini), while her eldest son, Prince Charles, has his Kronos (22 degrees Taurus) exactly opposite his natal Sun (22 degrees Scorpio). Ronald Reagan's progressed Sun was conjunct progressed Kronos when he was elected to the presidency in 1980, and transiting Kronos was conjunct George Bush's natal Sun during his term of office eight years later. But the influence of Kronos isn't restricted solely to the world of politics. Sun-Kronos contacts can describe the people who have risen to the top of a variety of professions, and combinations of these same two planets can also signify the proud parent.

Apollon (AP pull on)

Keywords: The multiplier: Expansion and spreading; growth and increase. Science, commerce, trade, industry, peaceful efforts.

Represented by the glyphs for Jupiter and Gemini, Apollon is that which indicates "a lot of" or "more than one" of anything. It has close connections with the worlds of commerce, science, and education, and can also symbolize success, expansion, and foreign countries.

As the planet of foreign lands and other "distant places" (especially in combination with the Ascendant or 0 degrees Aries), Apollon ought to be well positioned in the horoscope of Neil Armstrong, the first man to set foot on the Moon. And indeed, it is. Armstrong's natal Ascendant (18 degrees Gemini) falls exactly conjunct his 0 degrees Aries/Apollon midpoint (18 degrees Gemini). Apollon's associations with science and success can also be seen in the triple conjunction (at 0 degrees Libra) that was being formed by transiting Jupiter, Uranus, and Apollon at the time of the astronauts' historic lunar landing in 1969.

Admetos (add MEET tos)

Keywords: The brick wall: Steadfast, stable, immovable. Shrinking: Narrowing down to a sharp focus. Specialization. Endurance.

Solid and steady as a rock, Admetos is related to all that is stable, enduring, and unyielding, as well as to anything that has stopped or otherwise come to an end. Roots, raw materials, and cyclical revolutions all share a touch of Admetos, as does anything that is either deep down (like the bottom of the ocean) or dead.

While Admetos, in combination with Saturn, represents being stuck (either physically or psychologically) in one of life's frustrating traffic jams, this planet of earthy substance and physical inertia also has close connections, as one might expect, with real estate and farming. Labor leader Cesar Chavez, who became head of the United Farm Workers of America, has natal Admetos (7 degrees Aries) widely conjunct his natal Sun (0 degrees Aries) and exactly trine natal Saturn (7 degrees Sagittarius), as seems fitting for someone whose career and father (the two are both symbolically linked to Saturn) were each involved with farm work. And in April 22, 1889, at the start of the Oklahoma land rush , not only were the Sun, Venus, and Mars appropriately located in earth sign of Taurus, but Venus (15 degrees Taurus), the ruler of that sign, was in turn exactly sextile Admetos (15 degrees Pisces).

Vulcanus (vul CAN is)

Keywords: All that is mighty and powerful. Strength. Intensity.

A symbol of "mighty force," Vulcanus represents strength and energy in the extreme, and often carries with it a compulsive quality that is not so easy to resist. The erupting volcano is a fitting symbol for the power associated with Vulcanus, but this planet's strength can refer to matters of emotional intensity as well as to those of sheer physical power.

The opponents of champion prizefighter Muhammad Ali might have thought twice before stepping into the ring to take this heavyweight boxer's powerful punches, had they known that Ali's natal Vulcanus (18 degrees Gemini) was exactly semisquare his natal Mars (3 degrees Taurus). And no doubt the intensity of Marilyn Monroe's larger-than-life image and impact on the public is due in part to the exact conjunction present in her chart between her natal Sun (10 degrees Gemini) and natal Vulcanus (also 10 degrees Gemini). Before he became Chairman of the Board of Montgomery Ward, entrepreneur Sewell Avery had been the president of U.S. Gypsum. His natal Sun (12 degrees Scorpio), which forms a quincunx with Cupido (11 degrees Gemini) and an opposition with Vulcanus (12 degrees Taurus), clearly gives him a potentially powerful (Vulcanus) corporate (Cupido) identity (the Sun).

Poseidon (po SIDE in)

Keywords: Spirituality, truth, ideation, enlightenment, illumination. Wisdom and culture.

Linked by its glyph to the sign of Pisces, Poseidon relates to all that is inspirational and spiritual, in contrast to that which is more practical or worldly. It is the planet of ideas and ideals, and is frequently associated with psychics, mystics, and mediums. Light and enlightenment are both symbolized by Poseidon, as are wisdom, knowledge, and places of religious worship.

Frequently identified with spiritual wisdom and psychic insights, inspirational Poseidon (0 degrees Virgo) is positioned exactly opposite Mercury (0 degrees Pisces) in astrologer Evangeline Adams' natal chart and, at 16 degrees Virgo, squares the natal Sun of astrologer Grant Lewi (16 degrees Gemini). In the horoscope of Peter Hurkos, the celebrated Dutch psychic, Poseidon (20 degrees Virgo) opposes Mars (20 degrees Pisces), sextiles Neptune (19 degrees Cancer) and trines his Sun/Mercury midpoint (19 degrees Taurus), while in the chart of religious leader and writer Jeddu Krishnamurti, the natal Sun (20 degrees Taurus) exactly sextiles his natal Mercury/Poseidon ("spiritual communications") midpoint at 20 degrees Cancer.

 

© Copyright: Michael Erlewine

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