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Lesson No. 1

INTRODUCTION

In this first lesson on the Planetary Patterns we will first focus our attention on some of the important genera! concepts that you must first understand before you commence an in-depth analysis of each pattern type. In this lesson we will show you how, in most of the types, one (and sometimes more than one) planet is brought into particular emphasis [i.e., "High Focus"] because of its unique position in the planetary distribution about the wheel. Planets, thus emphasized, provide an important point of departure as you begin your delineation of the horoscope. For, where a particular planetary energy or force is emphasized, because of its location in the pattern, you will find this force emphasized psychologically as it operates in the life of the individual whose chart you have under study.

THE HIGH-FOCUS PLANETIt was Marc Edmund Jones who first coined the word "Focal Determinator." By Focal Determinator we mean some feature of the horoscope that immediately catches the trained eye of the astrologer as being unusual something that immediately stands out in the horoscope as being unique. And, almost always, this unique factor v/ill tend to symbolize some unique feature of the psychology of the individual. In many cases, this feature will be some single planet which, because of its location in the chart with respect to the other nine planets, stands out for some reason. We refer to such a planet as being in "High Focus".Examples of such High Focus planets might be a Singleton in Hemisphere, a Singleton in Disposition (Sole Dispositor), a planet at the apex of a T-Cross or Yod, the "handle" planet of a Panhandle, etc. Or, it might also be some planet within the dispersion of planets around the horoscopic wheel that, because of its unique position within this planetary dispersion, "takes the strain or pressure" of the pattern. This High-Focus planet becomes, psychologically, an energy that we come to rely upon in our lives and use to deal with the environmental problems that we must deal with daily.

Patterns are important. Our daily lives tend to follow some predictable pattern. From the time we get up, bathe, eat breakfast, leave for work, etc., our lives follow a more or less predictable pattern. And, psychologically, we achieve a certain amount of security in learning to rely on such patterns. When something doesn't occur on schedule (when you expect it to occur), worry and psychological stress is likely to result. Most people are predictable because they tend to follow a certain psychological pattern. And, since the horoscope is a symbolic represenration of our basic psychological patterns, we ought to be able to predict certain patterns of behavior from the natal horoscope. These patterns tend to be a kind of framework within which the individual operates.

Our purpose in studying the planetary patterns described in the following lessons is to gain additional understanding of the "framework" within which the individual operates in dealing with the problems and situations that he/she must face on a daily basis. How does this individual "define" himself viz-a viz his environment and other people? How does he deal with others? On an "intimate" basis? Impersonally? Must he remain in "control" of the situation? Is he self-contained? Self-satisfied? Broad- or narrow-minded when it comes to seeing his place in the greater scheme of things?In order to do any meaningful interpretation of a natal horoscope, and provide help to the individual involved, it is first necessary to understand the framework within which that individual habitually operates. By recognizing the planetary pattern within the horoscope we can, thus, recognize the individual's basic framework for living.Each of the patterns you will study represents a basic mode of psychological expression as well as a basic mode of dealing with the immediate environment. And, also, a characteristic method of dealing with problems. While it is true that the sign on the cusp of the Sixth House in the horoscope will tend to show our characteristic mode of dealing with everyday problems, in its purest sense, this indicator cannot be considered alone. It must be considered within the framework of the particular planetary pattern of the horoscope as a whole.

Certain patterns will bring a particular planetary energy into focus. Others will not. Try as we may, like Cinderella's sisters who tried to force their feet into the glass slipper, certain charts will defy classification as to a particular planetary pattern. This often disturbs the student who is usually most anxious to classify each chart that he encounters. But, let's face it, there are certain individuals whose life style just defies classification. So be it! Some persons are predictable; others are not. And, if you cannot classify a chart as to a particular planetary pattern, don't worry about it. This fact, in itself, tells you something very important about the uniqueness of this individual.

When you find, because of the pattern, some planet that is brought into High Focus, pay particular attention to that planet. Your subject certainly does! Your subject has probably come to rely upon this planet very heavily in his daily activities. He may tend to see himself in terms of this planet. And, one of the most important things you must determine is, does your subject use this planetary energy in a positive or negative manner? In appendix A we've discussed each planet in some detail as to how it is most usually given expression in both a positive and negative manner. It is well worth your time to commit these basic characteristics to memory.

BASIC PRINCIPLES

Before we examine and identify each of the patterns, there are several basic principles to keep in mind, which apply to your analysis of all patterns. Each pattern we will discuss has an "ideal" shape, but rarely will you find a horoscope with all ten of the planets ideally arranged to fit a pattern exactly. The actual pattern you'll find will vary to some extent from the ideal. Keeping this in mind, our first two principles may be simply stated:

In the analysis of the basic patterns ONLY the ten planets will be considered. Ascendant, Midheaven, the Moon's Nodes, and any of the Arabian Parts are not to be considered in pattern analysis. Not enough knowledge of the Moons Lilith and Lulu is yet available to include their position in the chart for purposes of pattern analysis; and, for the same reason, we do not include the Asteroids either.

To the extent that the actual pattern you find deviates from the ideal pattern, there will be a corresponding dilution or diminuation of the characteristic mode of self-expression described for the ideal type.

In each of the planetary patterns we study, we shall indicate an "ideal position" for the planet(s) in High Focus. The effect of the High Focus planet will always be marked in the life of the individual. Just how marked and influential it will be is stated in our third principle:

The closer the High Focus planet is to its "ideal" position in the pattern, the stronger will be its influence in the person's life; or conversely, the more it deviates from the ideal position, the weaker or more diluted is its effect on the individual .You will note as we study the patterns that they fall into one of two general groups, which we shall refer to as "Bipolar" and "Tripolar." This brings us to our fourth principle:

Whenever there is a rather clear choice to be made between two or more patterns, always select a Tripolar over a Bipolar whenever possible.

On a daily basis, the planets are seen to rotate clockwise about the wheel. For our purposes in pattern analysis, to aid in finding High Focus planets, the pattern should always be thought of as rotating in a clockwise manner.

Any one of the ten planets can be a High Focus planet, depending upon its placement in the pattern. The interpretation of its meaning in the horoscope will be made as normally doneby considering the planetary energy symbolized by the planet, its mode of expression through its sign, its area of emphasis in life through its house, and the aspects to it.

CLASSIFICATION OF THE PATTERNS

The basic planetary patterns can be categorized into two major groups, as follows:

The Bipolar Group (Bowl, Bucket, Fan, and Hour-Glass) In each of these four patterns, because of the peculiar planetary arrangements involved; i.e., their geometry, there is reduced possibility for the existence of a Grand Trine. T-Crosses and oppositions are frequent in these patterns, as is quadrature emphasis. They tend to have planetary grouping about two foci, or one solid group totally contained within a 180 arc of the circle.

The Tripolar Group (Locomotive, Tripod (Splay), Wedge (Bundle), Splash?) The basic geometry of these four patterns is the geometry of the Grand Trine, or the division of the wheel into thirds. In all but the Wedge, there is always the distinct possibility that the pattern will contain a Grand Trine.

In the next few lessons, we will consider the Bipolar Group first.

THE SEVEN BASIC PATTERNS

The Bipolar Patterns

The Bowl Pattern - All ten planets contained within an angle (arc) of 180 to form a kind of "bowl shape." Usually, with two outer planets of the pattern forming the "rim" of this bowl. In this, and in succeeding patterns wherever this occurs, we shall always refer to such an opposition as a "rim opposition". And, in interpreting such patterns, the quadrature (Cardinal, Fixed, Mutable) in which the rim opposition is located must be taken into account in your delineation.

High-Focus (Cutting) Planet Rim Opposition

The Bucket Pattern - Similar in geometry to the Bowl Pattern, except that only 9 planets now comprise the bowl section. The 10th planet is found somewhere in the open area and acts like a "handle" for the bowl, forming a bucket. This handle planet now becomes the planet in High Focus.

The Hour-Glqss (or See-Saw) Pattern - In this pattern the planets arrange themselves about two separate centers, each center being approximately opposite the other in separate hemispheres of the circle. Ideally, two sets of oppositions will determine the boundaries of this hour-glass partem, and any planets found outside of these boundaries be planets in High Focus.

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The Tripolar Patterns

The Wedge (or Bundle) Pattern - In this pattern, all of the planers are found bunched or bundled close together within an angle of not more than 120 .

The Locomotive Pattern - Here, we have just the opposite case, where 2/3rds of the circle is occupied with the remaining third open.

The Splash Pattern - The Splash Pattern may be considered to be a kind of extended Locomotive Pattern. The difference being that the open wedge is considerably smaller than 120 and the planets are scattered pretty evenly around the circle.

The Tripod (or Splay) Pattern - In this final pattern we find the planets clustered about three centers, each center being approximately 120 from the other two. In other words, in a tripod-like arrangement. If any of the three legs consists of just one planet, this one planet then becomes a planet in High Focus.

Note that in each of the diagrams there is an "X". This "X" shows the position in the pattern at which you will find the High-Focus planet located.

SUMMARYIn this lesson we have tried to give you a general overview of what each of the planetary patterns looks like, we have reviewed the basic meaning of what is meant by a planet in High Focus, and we have set down several basic principles that are always to be observed in determining the individual's planetary pattern. In the next eight lessons, we shall take up each pattern, one at a time starting with the Bipolar Groups, and study the meaning and interpretation to be given to each pattern.

Lesson No. 2

INTRODUCTION

Commencing with this lesson, we shall begin our detailed analysis of each of the basic planetary patterns or temperament types with the Bowl pattern. This is certainly one of the easiest patterns to recognize, for it is, in fact, shaped just like a bowl.

Each lesson will consist of three parts: 1) Recognizing the geometry of each pattern; 2) Measuring the strength of the High Focus planet and its importance; and 3) The characteristic or psychological correspondence between the pattern and the personal temperament traits. Each lesson will be followed by a set of example horoscopes of famous people who exemplify the characteristic traits of their pattern - most taken from the lives of individuals on the contemporary scene.

THE IDEAL BOWL PATTERN

The Bowl pattern is the first of four patterns that we will study that comprise the general Bipolar classification. The "ideal" Bowl will have the following geometry:All of the ten planets will be found within a 180 angle (arc) of the circle.The two planets that bound the pattern will form an Opposition of about 180 We shall call this the "Rim Opposition."

The planets within the confines of the Rim Opposition will be rather evenly spaced apart. Never will there be a space between any two planets that exceeds 60.

Imagining the pattern to rotate in a clockwise manner around the circle, the planet that "leads the parade" will be called the "cutting planet" and thus becomes the most emphasized planet in the pattern - in High Focus.

"Cutting" planet Occupied Portion

position

Rarely will you find an ideal Bowl. In many instances, the Rim Opposition will be lacking because the planets are more closely grouped together. The pattern remains a Bowl, provided the boundary planets are separated by an angle that exceeds 130. If the angle is less than 130, you no longer have a Bowl; you have a Wedge pattern. (See Lesson No. 6).

If there is an open area within the Bowl that exceeds 60, the pattern is not a Bowl, either. It must be classified as an Hour-Glass (See-Saw) pattern. (See Lesson 3).If there is a Rim Opposition with the angular distance exceeding 180, the pattern remains a Bowl as long as the opposing planets are within acceptable orb for the Opposition. If the acceptable orb is exceeded, you must then treat the pattern as a Bucket pattern (see Lesson No* 3).

In those Bowl patterns that contain a Rim Opposition, always check for the presence of a T-Cross. Just as your spine gives integrative strength and structure to the body, so the T-Cross gives greater integrative strength and organization to the Bowl pattern. Normally, all three planets which comprise the T-Cross will be in the same quadrature. You will find the related personal characteristics that we normally associate with this quadrature prominent in the life of that individual.

The four hemispheres of the horoscopic wheel are determined by the chart angles -the cusp of the lst/7th houses and the 4th/10th houses. When the Bowl pattern is found to fall totally within one of these hemispheres, we have a specialized pattern which we call a "Hemispheric Bowl." Hemispheric Bowls have a more specialized interpretation.

There will be occasions where directly behind the Cutting Planet you find a second planet in "close" (less than 3) conjunction to it. In this instance, treat both of the planets as being in High Focus, and combine their basic interpretations.

THE CUTTING PLANET

The Cutting Planet is the most highly emphasized planet in the Bowl pattern. The degree of emphasis you give it should be determined by several factors:

If it is the planet that rules the Ascendant also, it is probably the most emphasized planet in the chart and should be given considerable emphasis.If it is the only planet in the chart found in a particular hemisphere, it becomes a Singleton in Hemisphere and again commands great emphasis.

Its location in an Angular house adds testimony to greater strength of influence, especially if it is found in the 1st or 10th houses.

The House location of the Cutting Planet should be particularly noted. The affairs of life that are associated with this House will also receive considerable emphasis in the life of this individual. It is in these affairs that he meets life and will attempt to make the greatest impact upon his environment. It is possible to make the following generalizations regarding this individual's characteristic manner of self-expression:

If in Houses 1, 2 or 3: A strongly self-centered individual motivated more by what he can do for himself than for others. He places great faith in his own native abilities and is less inclined to trust others with tasks that he feels he can accomplish better on his own= Rather naively self-contained. Quite subjective in his judgements. Places greater value upon his privacy.If in Houses 4, 5 or 6: An adaptive, creative and practical individual who seeks fulfillment through the development and expression of his native talents and abilities in an attempt to improve upon some phase of life that he considers to be of particular importance. Strongly influenced by others and by acts that he does not himself initiate.

If in 7, 8 or 9: This individual's life and actions are open and exposed to others, generally a matter of public attention and record. He will be repeatedly called upon throughout life to give of himself and his resources in order to achieve any degree of self-realization. Others will often prove to be a constant drain on his energies and resources. He is likely to do more "taking" than "giving" as he moves through life's experiences.

If in Houses 10, 11 or 12: Again we find a rather highly self-contained individual very much in control of his own destiny. He is not quite so self-centered as with Houses 1, 2 or 3 and is more willing to consider others in what he does. Self-fulfillment for him is more easily achieved through the sharing of his resources with others,, He tends to measure success not so much on his own terms but by what opinion others hold of him.

BASIC PSYCHOLOGY OF THE BOWL PATTERNPerhaps the most fundamental characteristic of individuals having their planets in this Bowl Pattern is a high degree of self-containment. These people are moved more by external factors in their environment than by internal factors within their personal makeup. We note in those who have achieved notable success and prominence in life that their success is the product of their times; i.e., the times make the man.

The Bowl individual characteristically always has "something to bear". This takes the more everyday form of some "mission" in life and the advocacy of some "cause".

Thus, the psychological framework within which these persons operate a high degree of self-containment, their sense of "mission" and dedication to some principle or idea that they consider worthy of their energy and attention, and their optimism in the basic worthiness of their ideas that [in their own way] they can somehow change the world and make it bettershould always be explored in any attempt to delineate the Bowl-type chart.

As you study each of the example Bowl-type charts that follow, notice how each of the individuals has a sense of his/her own presence when they are before the public. A belief in their own basic worthiness as an individual. Such persons are however not born with these temperament characteristics; during their early lives they have certain feelings of unworthiness until they learn that they are capable of making a valuable contribution to life and accomplish things that others value and applaud. In the extreme, younger Bowl-types will attempt to compel attention, recognition, and acceptance through a conscious and exaggerated air of self-importance. They may say that: "I don't care what others think..." when, in fact, they care a great deal. And, they worry about what is wrong with them when they fail to get the recognition that they crave. They are not nearly as self-contained as they'd like others to think they are.

The Bowl-type individual is generally at his best in crisis situations. When all about them is in chaos or disarray, they "keep their cool!" Most especially those types who have the Rim Opposition in their pattern. Marc Jones describes this as "an ability to hold steadfast under strain", and they do hold steadfast. You can rely upon these individuals to know what to do in crisis situations. In the extreme, they can sometimes be almost immovable.

When these individuals choose to get involved in some situation they go all the way, They are not half-hearted; they put their whole heart and soul into whatever they choose to do or accomplish. However, they much prefer to start things themselves [rather than pick up on something someone else has initiated]. And one would not particularly characterize them as "pioneers"; they tend to rely on "tried and true" principles instead of looking for unique solutions. To this extent, they more resemble the Cancerian temperament and are least like the Aquarian.The degree of self-containment depends largely, and in direct proportion, to how clearly defined the Bowl is in the chart. And upon whether or not there is a Rim Opposition. The higher the sides of the Bowl; the greater the degree of self-containment. The Bowl individual constantly seeks at every opportunity to balance and get himself in tune with his environment, not unlike the Libran drive to achieve balance and harmony. Lacking the Rim Opposition, this individual is less able and equipped to do this.

How well organized and balanced this individual's personality and temperament are is in proportion to how evenly distributed the internal planets are distributed within the confines of the Bowl. Sextiles between these planets reveal special opportunities available; squares between these planets indicate special personal problems or handicaps that must be dealt with and contribute to greater instability. The Rim Opposition always indicates, by the sign and house location of the opposing planets, a need for compromise between the opposing forces but generally in the direction of the High Focus planet. It is when the individual "over-uses" or relies too heavily upon this High Focus planet that the need for compromise becomes most self-evident; the trailing planet thus helps the individual to maintain a greater sense of self-proportion.

The dynamic drive of the Bowl individual is set into motion by the relationship of the occupied to the unoccupied portions of the wheel. The occupied portion, through house and sign, indicate what this individual has to offer his world. They provide the base or basis from which this individual operateswhere he feels most secure and self-sufficient. The unoccupied portion of the wheel, by house and sign, indicates those things for which the individual must strive to achieve a greater feeling of completion and accomplishment. Consciously, or sub-consciously, the individual feels that he is lacking in those things represented by the unoccupied portion of the wheel. He senses that in some way he is "missing" somethingthat there is some portion of the world from which he has been excluded or deprivedand the drive is to fill up this hole, through and during the process of living and gaining experience.How this individual approaches the problems of life and attempts to deal with and solve them is indicated by the Natural Disposition shown in the chart; i.e., in which quadruplicity [quadrature] the opposition (and sometimes the T-Cross) is located. Space here does not permit an extended discussion of Natural Disposition. This has been discussed fully in my book, "Selected Topics in Astrology". Where the Bowl lacks a Rim Opposition, we find an individual who must either generate an internal dynamic drive from within [self-inspired] or go spinning through life like a top with no particular purpose. In this case, the basic motivator in the chart will be that square in which the planets involved are closest to exactitude (90). Marc Jones calls this feature the "Trigger."

Given a fairly even distribution of planets within the Bowl, the typical Bowl pattern is epitomized and most evident when it contains a T-Cross. All of the aforementioned characteristics show themselves most clearly to the keen observer. The focal, or apex, planet of the T-Cross symbolizes the individual's greatest need or motivating force. For example, in Barbra Streisand's chart the apex is Jupiter in the Third House and shows her keen desire for communication; in Gemini her need to express herself in many alternate forms as is so obvious in her music. In the chart of Guru Maharaj Ji, Neptune in the First House shows a tremendous ego need which finds expression in a religious (neptune) way.Singleton in Hemisphere - When the pattern produces a Singleton in Hemisphere, as in the chart of Barbra Streisand with Venus in the 12th House (all other planets being North), the Cutting Planet gains great power and emphasis within the chart.

It can, if not kept within balance by the Trailing Planet, overpower almost everything else in the chart and become a kind of planetary "distator". There is, however, also the alternate possibility that the Trailing Planet may be a Singleton in Hemisphere which (when this occurs) detracts markedly from the power of the Cutting Planet and diminishes its influence. Here, symbolically, we see a kind of constant power struggle within the psychology of the individual with each planet trying to get the upper hand and neither ever completely succeeding.

We can find the influence of the Singleton in Hemisphere not only in the Bowl Pattern (where it is most likely to be observed) but in other patterns also; e.g., the Bucket and the Wedge. Its effect remains the same, regardless of the pattern it falls within.

THE HEMISPHERIC BOWLThe Bowl Pattern is not particularly high in statistical frequency of occurrence among these various patterns, though it is not "rare" either. To find a Hemispheric Bowl, though, is quite unusual. The Hemispheric Bowl pattern occurs when we find all ten planets located within one hemisphere of the wheel be it all planers North, South, East, or West as determined by the chart angles. Though this situation may be rare it is instructive to see how the Hemispheric Bowl operates to gain a greater understanding of the interpretation of the Bowl's position within the wheel.

o All Planets North (Below the Horizon) - Here the Bowl cannot spill, giving the individual maximum self-containment. This is a very private person, often his own best friend, but with a tremendous need for ego satisfaction (Cutting ^ Planet in First House). A collector of experiences, often giving them a very personal and unique interpretation. Problems in orienting himself to his world and other people, though with a tremendous potential for giving of himself to others.

o All Planets South (Above the Horizon) - In many respects quite the opposite * of the former. A very public person who can hide little from others. He is compelled to live an outer, practical, and highly subjective life. The Bowl is overturned, making it more difficult to retain the fruits of his efforts. Others drain off his energies. A very giving individual, but with a strong need to draw upon the strength and experience of others in return.

o All Planets East - Here the Bowl is in what Jones calls the "scoop" position. This individual tends to "scoop up experience" in much the same way one scoops up sugar or flour. This individual is typically the cause of his own problems and successes and bears full responsibility for his own actions. He is like the fuse # that ignites the bomb, a prime mover and stimulant to other people, sometimes setting things in motion that he cannot later control, and highly jealous of his personal reputation.

o All Planets West - Here, the Bowl is in the 'capture" position, and this individual's tendency is to capture activities that have been initiated by others and bring them to consumation His major problems will come to him as the result of the acts of others. His life is strongly conditioned by the actions of others. Of all of the four types, this individual is most the product of his times and environment, and when he comes to prominence it will generally not be of his own doing. He is, however, an opportunist, clearly able to take greatest advantage of situations as they present themselves.

The student should keep these four prototypes in mind in the analysis of any Bowl pattern that is considered. These characteristics will be present to the extent that the pattern approaches one of these ideals.

SUMMARY

We have completed the first lesson on one of the basic planetary patterns - the Bowl. Individuals having this pattern will be generally characterized by:

o An all-or-none psychology.

o Strongly self-contained but desiring recognition; strongly dedicated. O Able to hold steadfast under strain.

0 Most strongly influenced by factors in his external environment.

O Has a "mission" in life, or something to bear.

o Introspective; looking for a meaning to their life.

The Cutting Planet is their constant point of contact with their environment. Its sign location indicates how they approach life; the house location indicates where they seek to gain prominence.

The Rim Opposition gives greater self-organization and containment and adds a more dynamic drive and direction to the life,,

The distribution of the planets within the Bowl indicates how well organized they are. Holes in the distribution symbolize an internal void within the individual.

Note how closely the Bowl approaches one of the "ideal" positions. To the extent that it approaches one of these types, we see the individuals characteristic approach to his life and his innate potential for prominence among his fellow men.

This horoscope of former President John F. Kennedy's daughter provides us with an excellent example of the Bowl Pattern. It contains the Rim Opposition -Moon opposing Uranus - with Mars completing the T-Cross. Uranus is in High Focus. Planets within the Bowl are well distributed with no open space that exceeds a sextile.

The horoscope of multi-talented Barbra Streisand presents us with another fine example of the Bowl type. Here, Venus is not only in High Focus because of its pattern position but also because it is a singleton in hemisphere (all other planets being North). The planets are well distributed and again we find a strong T-Cross. With 9 planets North you can be sure that psychologically she has a lot to give to the world. Caroline Kennedy is more of a "taker."

Far from being the ideal, still this horoscope of musician-actor Desi Arnaz qualifies as a bowl. There is no Rim Opposition, in fact there are no oppositions in the chart at all. Even though the planets are unevenly distributed, still there is no space between them that exceeds a sextile. Mercury in the 9th House is his High Focus planet. Isn't it interesting that he had to leave his native country to achieve his success (Sun in 9th House) and that today he is a college professor teaching acting (Mercury in the 9th House)!When is a Bowl no longer a Bowl? The chart of Guru Maharaj Ji illustrates this predicament. This pattern is really a Bucket with the Moon as the Handle Planet. But here, whether you call the chart a Bowl or a Bucket, the Moon still gets the emphasis in the house of religious matters.

Lesson No. 3

INTRODUCTIONIn this lesson we shall examine the second pattern in the Bipolar classification the Bucket. This pattern is aptly named since it is a 9-planet bowl pattern but with the 10th planet in the pattern outside of the bowl forming a "handle". This pattern puts a handle on the Bowl. And this modification to the basic Bowl pattern causes a very marked modification of the basic Bowl temperament, to the point where we must identify this as a very distinct pattern.

To this point we have said nothing about the relative degree of occurrence of each of the seven patterns within the population. Although the Bowl pattern is certainly not an infrequent occurrence, the Bucket pattern is more frequently found than the Bowl. Probably after the Hour-Glass Pattern, the Bucket is the second most common. Many prominent people have this pattern.

THE IDEAL BUCKET PATTERN

The Bucket Pattern is the second of four patterns which comprise the Bipolar classification. The "ideal" Bucket will have the following geometry:

Nine planets will always comprise the actual bucket and be contained within an angle of 180 . A single remaining planet will be found in the unoccupied hemisphere. We shall call this single planet the "Handle Planet".

There will be a Rim Opposition defining the edge of the bucket portion.

There will also be a "Core Opposition" in which one or more planets within the bucket portion are opposed to the Handle Planet.

The Handle Planet may lie anywhere in the open hemisphere - provided only that it may not be conjunct either of the planets forming the border of the bucket portion. Its position, however is important. You should especially note whether the Bucket Planet is directly over the top of the bucket, clockwise or counterclockwise from this point.

Cutting Planet Core Opposition Handle Planet Rim Opposition

Whereas in the Bowl Pattern, the Cutting Planet was the most influential; i.e., in High Foces, in the Bucket Pattern the Handle Planet becomes the focal point of the planetary energies. The Cutting Planet now assumes a place of slight and certainly secondary importance; however, it cannot be totally overlooked.For you to discover an "ideal" Bucket Pattern in a horoscope is not uncommon. Frequently, however, some part of the idealized pattern may be missing. There may be no Rim Opposition, Core Opposition, and no T-Cross or Grand Cross - all of which can be found in a Bucket lattern in any combination. As with the Bowl, when you find a T-Cross or Grand Cross, it gives additional integrative strength and organization to the individual's temperament. The quadrature emphasis that they exhibit will again provide the dynamic thrust and drive in this life.

Normally, you should have little difficulty in identifying this pattern. If you follow the rules on Page 17, you should have little difficulty in identifying this pattern. The following additional guidelines will also assist you in your determination:If within the Bucket itself there is a space between planets in excess of 65, give serious consideration to treating the pattern as a Tripod.

If you discover that a second planet is very close (less than 3) to the potential Handle, you may still choose to classify this as a Bucket Pattern; if the separation is greater, you must treat it as an Hour-Glass Pattern.

If the potential Handle Planet is conjunct (within 12) one of the Rim planets, treat the pattern as a Bowl.

THE BASIC PSYCHOLOGY OF THE BUCKET PATTERN

The Bucket Pattern derives its basic uniqueness from the placement of the Handle Planet - by sign and house. To fully understand this uniqueness, the actual planet [and what it represents] must be held foremost in mind. You will find this energy given great emphasis in the basic character of the individual. For example, if it is Uranus, you can be sure that this is an "experimentive" individual who thinks in a unique way and appreciates others who respect his uniqueness and independent spirit. (See the Appendix for the keywords to the High Focus planets.)

Most Bucket types have a highly directed way of approaching situations as they occur, a characteristic that Bowl types lack. You may wish to think of the Handle Planet as the "nozzle of a hose", gathering all of the power and energy of the planets within the Bucket portion to a point of focus where it is spewed out for release, primarily in a manner related to its sign and in the area of life related to its house. This Focal Planet gives greater emphasis in the chart to the sign and house in which it is found.The Bucket shares with the Bowl a strong need to establish a kind of internal stability and base from which to operate. The basis from which both types operate is largely determined by the signs occupied by the bowl planets. And both also share the ability to handle best those affairs of life indicated by the occupied houses.

The Bowl and the Bucket individuals both sense a kind of emptiness or lack of those things represented by the unoccupied signs and houses, but their way of achieving self-fulfillment differs. The Bowl tends to scoop up or capture these things as he goes through life. The Bucket individual uses the Handle Planet as an "arm" to reach out for what is lacking in a much more directed manner. The Bowl is concerned primarily with the purpose of living; the Bucket is more concerned with the process. The Bowl asks "why"; the Bucket asks "how".

Whereas the Bowl individual is highly self-contained, the Bucket is perhaps less certain of himself. While the Bowl-type individual gets very subjectively and personally involved in the matters of living, the Bucket-type is much more objective and get back from a situation and view it in a new perspective. The Bowl lacks this perspective. The Bucket is also more willing to accept and execute matters that are not basically of his own creation.

If we liken the three patterns within the Bipolar Group to the Quadruplicities, we would classify the Bowl as "fixed" since these individuals are the least adaptable. The most flexible or "mutable" individuals would fall within the Hour-Glass pattern. The Bucket individuals are more the doers, and therefore would be more "cardinal" types.

At his best, the Bucket-type individual can be an excellent teacher and instructor of others because of his willingness to share his experiences with others in an objective manner. At his worst, this individual can be an agitator and malcontent when the thrust of his temperament is frustrated in some manner. In either case, he is most certainly not a shallow individual. He cannot live on the surface of life for it is his style to dig deeply into experience and sample more of what life has to offer. It is through such experience that he satisfies his needs and gains fulfillment. To this extent we might classify the Bucket type as a "pragmatist".

THE HANDLE PLANET

We have already emphasized the importance of considering the expression of the particular planetary energy represented by the Handle Planet. Let us now turn to the interpretation of its position relative to the rim of the Bucket.

When directly above the center of the bucket portion - A highly directed individual capable of resorting when necessary to distinctly ruthless tactics to achieve his ends. When there is also a Core Opposition, there is great single-minded ambition strongly pursued in a less well organized fashion and often in response to a purely internal impulse. Similar in nature to the Fanhandle.

When closer to the Cutting Planet - This individual by temperament is more cautious and self-conserving. He has greater confidence in his native endowments and is more prone to draw upon his background and experience before commiting himself to a course of action. In this situation, because the Handle Planet and cutting planet are in closer proximity, there is more a sharing of their mutual powers especially if they are sextile or quintile. The Handle Planet is not quite so dominant and the Cutting Planet is thus more influential.

When closer to the Trailing Planet - This individual by temperament is inclined to be impulsive and at times over-confident. He is more inclined to respond to the immediacy of the situation rather than to take a more long-range view. He will characteristically make vigorous demands upon others for their cooperation in the achievement of his objectives. Typically, we would classify him as the "executive type". Here, because the Handle Planet is much more remote from the Cutting Planet, the Cutting Planet's influence and power is considerably weakened though if these planets are in trine they remain supportive of each other without any conscious effort on the part of this individual.

You will sometimes find a situation where all nine of the bucket planets are contained within one hemisphere of the wheel, while the Handle is found in the opposite hemisphere making it a Singleton in Hemisphere. As with the hemispheric bowl the potential of this individual in gaining a position of prominence is greatly increased, as is the importance and power of the Handle Planet. It indicates a special capacity or gift for some particularly effective kind of activity and use of critical powers. The interpretation of this "gift" will depend upon the house, sign, and hemisphere location of the Handle Planet.Where the Rim Opposition is present in the Bucket Pattern, its presence accentuates the individuals individuality and gives greater inner stability and equilibrium. It brings greater self-awareness and makes this person more aware of his options. He knows his limitations. When this opposition is absent, the private life becomes more turbulent and less integrated. There is no "lid" for the "pot", the pressure therefore cannot build within the "pot" to as great an extent and therefore the internal energies do not get quite so clearly expressed through the Handle Planet. Its power is consequently weakened.

With a Core Opposition present, the individual's energies are more clearly directed toward his objectives. He knows what he wants, and he goes after it. The tendency is to direct and focus his energy upon some practical application of the energy that is represented in the Handle Planet. Where we find both the Core and Rim Oppositions lacking, we find an individual who typically becomes so occupied with trying to establish his own inner equilibrium that it becomes difficult for him to keep his Handle Planet energies directed at an efficient focus, and thus much of its thrust is lost.

The presence of a Grand Cross with one leg forming the Rim Opposition and the other leg the Core Opposition is an unusual situation that will sometimes by found. Here we find an individual whose life tends to develop under conditions of continuing crisis. As soon as the immediate crisis is solved, the next one is already looming over the horizon. This individual has great potential for accomplishment, but there is also a corresponding risk of self-defeating confusion if he scatters and dissipates his resources and energies. He can easily become the proverbial "jack-of-al I -trades and master of none".

SUMMARYIn this second Bipolar planetary pattern, we have seen an individual who, though sharing certain of the temperament characteristics of the Bowl individual, is much more directed. He carries a big "club" in the Handle Planet and with the right arrangement of planets forming the bucket to support this "club", he can and often does use the planetary energy represented in the Handle Planet very effectively in making his way in life. By analogy, in a somewhat similar fashion to the way in which an elephant uses his trunk to get what he wants. And beneath the trunk, where it is not quite so obvious, is the "tusk" - the secondary power resident in the Cutting Planet.As with all of the planetary patterns, the quadrature emphasis should always be considered when present since it shows the more dynamic direction that the individual is likely to take in his life. These oppositions are always important when they are found in the same quadrature by sign.

Note especially the angular relationship between the Handle Planet and the rim of the bucket since this will always indicate how the individual will use the power of the Handle Planet - with reserve, with great abandon, whether ruthlessly or with regard to the consequences of his actions.

This horoscope, of operatic soprano Leontyne Price, well illustrates a clear Bucket Pattern. Saturn is clearly the Handle Planet in High Focus. The Sun opposed to Neptune forms the Rim Opposition. Saturn opposed to the Moon forms the Core Opposition. Saturn is closer to the Sun than Neptune.

Here we find a Bucket Pattern lacking the Rim Opposition but having a Core Opposition. Jupiter is not only the Handle Planet, but it is also brought to High Focus as a singleton in hemisphere (South). With nine planets South she has much to give to the world in her own right. Her personal tragedy and suffering come from the Pluto/Mars opposition to her Jupiter.

The horoscope of Jonathan Winters clearly illustrates the problem of what do you do when the Handle Planet (here Uranus) completes a Grand Trine. You could call this chart either a Bucket or a Locomotive. The Bucket emphasizes Uranus; the Locomotive emphasizes Pluto. Which would you choose? I favor the Bucket because both a Rim and Core Opposition are present, even though the rule is choose the Tripolar Pattern when there is a choice.

In the horoscope of comedienne Carol Burnett we clearly have a Bucket pattern even though there is neither a Rim or Core Opposition (her chart contains no oppositions). Saturn is, of course, doubly emphasized as a planet in High Focus as being the Bucket Handle and a singleton in hemisphere (South).

I ask your indulgence in including my own horoscope among those of the famous people used as examples; however, it is a good example of a non-typical Bucket. There is both the Rim Opposition (Sun-Uranus) andthe Core Opposition (Saturn-Pluto) and here they complete a Grand Cross in Angular Houses (allowing an orb of 12 of the opposition). Note, however, the space between Mercury/Saturn exceeds a sextile. How wouldyou classify this horoscope?

Lesson No. 4INTRODUCTION

In this lesson we shall study the third planetary pattern found in the Bipolar Group -the Hour-Glass Pattern. With this pattern we move from a pattern where there was just one planet - the Handle Planet - in the open hemisphere to a planetary distribution where there are two or more planets in the open hemisphere. Thus we may have a 2:8, 7:3, 6:4 or 5:5 division. When visualized within the horoscopic wheel, they form a kind of "X" or Hour-Glass Pattern.

When the original seven-pattern typology was first described and named by Marc Edmund Jones he called this pattern the "See-Saw". Although this was a fairly apt name for this pattern, I feel that "Hour-Glass" is perhaps more descriptive of how an individual with this pattern actually functions. Later in the lesson I shall indicate why I feel this is so.

FREQUENCY OF OCCURRENCEAt this point, it is perhaps a good time to examine the frequency of occurrence of each of the planetary patterns. Some of the patterns may exist only in certain years, while others can occur most every year. The possibility of occurrence is in some cases highly dependent upon the yearly locations of the outer planets - Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. For example, during the late 19th Century and on into the first decade of the 20th Century, slow-moving Neptune and Pluto were conjunct in the Sign of Gemini with Uranus generally opposing them from Sagittarius. You can thus see that during this time period the existence of the Wedge was impossible - with all ten planets confined within a 120 angle. It is for this reason that the Wedge is the rarest in occurrence of the various patterns possible.

The Hour-Glass Pattern does not suffer from this limitation and can exist for certain periods in any year. And this pattern is the most frequent in occurrence of the eight patterns. The general frequency of occurrence of the eight patterns falls roughly into the following order:

Hour-Glass Pattern (most frequent)

Bucket Pattern

Locomotive Pattern

Bowl Pattern

Splash Pattern

Fan Pattern

Tripod Pattern

Wedge Pattern (fairly rare)

THE IDEAL HOUR-GLASS PATTERN

The Hour-Glass Pattern completes our study of the Bipolar patterns. The "ideal" Hour-Glass will have the following geometry:

The planets in this pattern have a tendency to group themselves in two groups or clusters about the of a central imaginary axis. They can be in any numerical distribution of from 2:8 to 5:5, but there must be at least two planets in

The perfect pattern would contain three oppositions - a Core Opposition of two planets lying roughly along the central axis, and two Boundary Oppositions in a "X" defining the boundaries of the Hour-Glass.

There must be an open area on either side of the two groups to clearly distinguish where the two groups are located. Ideally there would be at least 90 of open area on each side. We can, however, still have the Hour-Glass provided the open area is in excess of 60 - a sextile. If the angle on one side is less than 60 , you would probably classify the pattern as a Locomotive; if less on both sides, it would probably be a Splash.

All ten planets would be located within the Boundary Oppositions.In this pattern, the Cutting Planets for each group have a much reduced emphasis, although they should not be entirely overlooked. Their house and sign locations do indicate points of contact between the individual and his environment as we found previously in the Bowl and Bucket Patterns. In this case, a planet of significance would be any that fall outside of the boundary oppositions but remain close enough to a group to preserve the integrity of this pattern. The occurrence of such a planet normally indicates some special genius or gift in that individual. In a pattern where this occurs clockwise of the Cutting Planet, that Cutting Planet is robbed of any special strength that it might otherwise possess.

Lesson No. 4

The Hour-Glass PatternThe student should note that because of the geometry of this pattern there is a lessened liklihood of the occurrence of the T-cross (although it certainly remains possible with a wide spread in one group.) When a Grand Trine occurs, it is often best to select the Locomotive Pattern in preference to the Hour-Glass.

There will be certain instances in which the pattern seems skewed to one side of the central axis. The Hour-Glass Pattern is still possible here - provided there is at least one and preferably two oppositions within accepted orb between the two groups. If there are no oppositions, a different classification should probably be selected as being more revealing of the psychological type. The oppositions will, as pointed out in previous lessons, reveal the quadrature emphasis and thus the dynamic thrust of the individual's basic motivational pattern.

BASIC PSYCHOLOGY OF [HE HOUR-GLASS PATTERNThe Hour-Glass type individual is in some respects not unlike the Libran who goes through life doing his "balancing act" - to achieve some degree of harmony and balance. This pattern was originally named the "See-Saw" as being symbolic of this balancing act. But the See-Saw suggests the possibility of rather sudden oscillations as weight is placed on one end. I do not observe such sudden phenomena in these individuals, Their life is mote like an Hour-Glass in the shifting emphasis back and forth between the two groups. I do observe that when the emphasis on one group becomes too intense, the emphasis shifts slowly back to the other group in a more uniform way as does the sand flowing from the top to the bottom of the hour-glass. If you will think of the emphasized group as being the one with the greatest proportion of sand, as the emphasized group is "raised" by the individual in importance the sand seeks to flow downward into the emptier section. This ebb and flow of emphasis from one group to the other is characteristic of the basic psychology of this individual.We said that there must always be at least one opposition present - and the opposition always indicates opposing forces at work. The opposition demands choice and compromise. If you can imagine the whole pattern as being one gigantic opposition, pulling the individual in two directions, you can get the flavor of his general psychological makeup. These persons do show a kind of tentativeness of temperament that can either be a basic weakness through constant oscillation, or a remarkable and refreshing open-mindedness expressed quite creatively.

A basic characteristic of the opposition is that it always indicates a "interpersonal" problem, one that involves some adjustment between you and other people. And we find this also to be characteristic of the Hour-Glass individual. He has a basic. interest in people at a very personal and humanistic level. He constantly seeks that very delicate balance between himself and others in his environment. We mentioned in the last lesson the "mutability" of this pattern. Typically this individual has both an interest and a capacity for adjustment to the reality of any situation in which he finds himself. He is both interested in and able to coordinate conflicting views and use conflicting forces to advantage. He is a "bridge-builder", being capable of bridging differences and communicate meaning or share intelligence in some way with others. He can, for example, take information from two seemingly unrelated areas of life and put the information together in a new and cohesive way.

The duality of interests and the oscillation, back and forth, however remain the hallmarks of this pattern. In fact, these persons benefit most from this fluidity. Fixity frustrates them. They function best in fluid situations, by keeping things loose and fluid, free to move, and unhampered.

The clue to what is being balanced comes from both the sign and house lying at the central point of each group. When they are actually opposed we see this free flow of compromise and balance. The Hour-Glass in dynamic action. When, however, they are quincunx (5 houses apart) we get the typical "much smoke and little fire" syndrome of the quincunx. Life for these individuals is more difficult and complex since there is less fluidity here. The person is blocked in achieving because there is more self-concern with getting himself into balance with his environment. Often the life of such "quincunx" individuals will reflect this constant concern.

It should be pointed out that in making the above determination, of the center point of each of the two groups, that there need not necessarily be even a planet in this central sign and house. Usually, there will be one there however. But the concern of each group will center around this house and sign. When the pattern does contain a Core Opposition, these points of concern will be much more greatly emphasized, and the ebb and flow of attention from one area to the other will be much more fluid.Which of the two groups gets the greater emphasis in the individual's life will depend upon which group contains the most planets. A 5:5 division will give about equal emphasis to both groups; an 8:2 emphasis will lean heavily to the "8 planet" group.

Since only rarely will the Cutting Planet in each group have important significance (unless brought into High Focus for example as a Singleton in Hemisphere), any planets outside of the confines of the Boundary Opposition demonstrate the special gift(s) or genius of this individual. The energies of all planets within the confines of the Boundary Oppositions will find more orthodox expression. It is only those outside of these confines that stress the individual's uniqueness. Therefore, the "perfect" Hour-Glass Pattern previously described, though illustrating an individual of great duality and flexibility, might well be a very ordinary-type individual since no planet would be outside of the boundaries thus indicating any exceptional genius. Such planets when found demonstrate the individual's genius through a reading of the planet by sign and house.

A final point in connection with the Hour-Glass Pattern is also worth emphasizing. In the opposition there is always one end above the horizon indicating something going on in the external environment. External to the individual. The second planet is below the horizon indicating something internal - what the individual is doing. Again, considering the Hour-Glass to be a massive opposition in action, we see the individual (the group below the horizon) internal situation - opposing the external (above the horizon) environmental situation. The man - versus his environment , (others). When viewed in this light, what is basically transpiring in each group has added significance.

SUMMARY

This completes our discussion of the Bipolar Patterns. You will notice that in each of the three patterns discussed there was a dual polarity. In the Hour-Glass, group versus group. In the Bucket, the Handle Planet versus the other nine planets. In the Bowl, fullness versus emptiness. In each case there were two distinct poles. In the remainder of our lessons we will be discussing four patterns where instead of "twos" we will find the emphasis placed upon "threes" or the concept of the trinity.We emphasized the Bowl as being more "fixed" in character; the Bucket as being basically "cardinal"; the Hour-Glass as being basically "mutable".

All three patterns lean very heavily upon the character of the opposition with its bipolarity. In all cases, it is this opposition(s) that indicates the psycho-dynamics of the individual - his basic motivation, the dynamics of his makeup. In the remaining patterns you will discover that the trine aspect is at the basis of each group.

In the Bowl, the planet of primary importance was the Cutting Planet. We will again see this phenomenon in action when we study the Tripolar Groups. In the Bucket, it was the Handle Planet that was brought to High Focus. In the Hour-Glass Pattern it was the exceptional planet(s) that fell outside of the confines of the boundaries that got the emphasis.In the delineation of any chart that falls within these Bipolar classifications, an excellent starting point in the delineation, after a consideration of the basic psychology of the pattern, is this High Focus planet. The High Focus planet together with this basic psychological pattern will have already taken you quite some distance into the character of the individual and shown you to a considerable extent what makes him "tick". This is your foundation, upon which your entire delineation can now be built.Here we have a very clear Hour-Glass Pattern, which is often found in the horoscopes of persons born at the turn of the century. Moon/ Mercury and Neptune/Mars form the boundary oppositions, with Venus and Jupiter being the planers most involved with Noel Coward's uniqueness. This chart is also unique in its lack of squares, sextiles, and.planets in cadent houses as well as for the Sagittarius Stellium.

In this horoscope we find one of the boundary oppositions lacking but there is a core opposition (Neptune opposed to Sun/Mercury). While the Hour-Glass yields no High Focus Planet, Neptune (music) is brought to High Focus as the apex of a Panhandle. In Carter's horoscope we find the 2:8 configuration along with a Mutable T-Cross. Jupiter-Mars exceeds a sextile (65) as we must consider this an Hour-Glass Pattern even though the chart also very clearly contains a Grand Water Trine - Pluto/Moon/Uranus.

In this horoscope we find a very clear Hour-Glass Pattern, but one that lacks the sharp definitiongiven to it by the boundary oppositions (one of which is lacking sinceUranus is unopposed). However it is still anHour-Glass.

Here we have an interesting example of an Hour-Glass with a Core Opposition only which is greatly emphasized as a Fan-handle. Here the seven planets are closely grouped and the other three widely scattered.

Lesson No. 5

INTRODUCTION

Starting with this lesson, we shall commence our consideration of the various patterns that comprise the Tripolar Group - patterns based upon the division of the chart into thirds, rather than into halves. Whereas the Bipolar patterns are based upon the Opposition, the Tripolar patterns are based upon the Trine. In this lesson we will consider the most predominant Tripolar pattern - the Locomotive (also sometimes called the "Wheelbarrow").

THE GENERAL NATURE OF THE TRIPOLAR PATTERNSAll of these Tripolar patterns can be generally characterized as having personalities or temperaments of stability. Like any three-legged platform, they are hard to upset. Marc Jones characterizes them as being self-adequate and surefooted of action. They have a rather deep-seated feeling that there's is the right way to accomplish any task, and that they are adequate to the challenge.

MOMENTUM is the basic keyword for the Trine, and certainly for these Tripolar types. The concept of Momentum in physics derives from Newton's Laws of Motion. Included among these laws is a statement that: "An object in motion tends to remain in motion, and an object to rest tends to remain at rest." To get an object at rest into motion there is an initial inertia to first be overcome. Momentum then tends to keep a moving object in motion, and a resting object at rest. This approximates the action of the Trines in the horoscope, especially any Grand Trines that may be found. Trines tend to remain at rest, unused, until the initial inertia is overcome and the Trine is activated, but once in motion they continue to remain in motion.

The dynamics of the Grand Trine may be likened to a Wheelbarrow in which a force is applied at two points - the handles - and focused upon a third point - the wheel. In the Tripolar patterns we will study, look for this effect - especially for the "wheel" at which the pressure or force is being focused and applied. In your delineation of the horoscope, try to determine whether this is an individual where the Trine has been activated, or does it still remain at rest?

All of the Tripolar patterns are based upon a division of the horoscopic wheel into thirds. In the Locomotive pattern, 2/3rds of the space is occupied while l/3rd is unoccupied, in the Wedge (or Bundle) pattern it is the opposite; all ten planets are tightly grouped together within a 120 segment. In the Tripod (or Splay) pattern we find the planets in three distinct nuclear groups with the midpoint of each group roughly 120 distant from the other two. In the Fan pattern, we merely put a handle on the Wedge in much the same way that we put a handle on the Bowl pattern to get the Bucket pattern. The Tripod may or may not have a Focal planet; all of the others will always have a planet in High Focus.

Lesson No. 5

The Locomotive PatternTHE TRINE - ITS POINTS OF APPLICATION

In order to more clearly understand the underlying psychological significance of the Tripolar Patterns, one must first understand the basic dynamics of the trine. The more traditional astrologer does not consider the trine to be very dynamic, at least in the way one thinks of the square and opposition as giving a driving force to the character. Squares and oppositions cannot be ignored; they must be dealt with. But the trine does have its own set of dynamics.

We have already indicated that one characteristic of the trine is a kind of momentum. And we know that in many horoscopes there are trines, built-in native capabilities, that are totally ignored and as the result never get used. In this state, they are at "rest". And as Newton pointed out, things at rest tend to remain at rest. However, by overcoming an initial inertia, things can be set in motion. And once in motion, they tend to remain in motion. It is the "wise" man who overcomes the inertia of rest of his trines and sets them in motion. But he has a choice - to use or not to use the trine. Squares and oppositions do not permit such choice. They "must" be responded to.Every trine in the horoscope has two mid-points between the trining planets. One point is 60 (sextile) from the trining planets; the other 120 from them.

These mid-points are the "points of application" of the trine. Once set in motion, the native capabilities of the trine (the trine's force) finds application in life through the sign and house location of the midpoints. It would appear that the preference in application is given to the midpoint that is trine the two trining planets. The point that is sextile gets secondary preference. If, however, we have a Grand Trine present, either natally or by transit, the emphasis gets shifted to the mid-point that is sextile the trining planets. With the Grand Trine, of course, there are three possible sextile midpoints, but the one that appears to get the most emphasis is the one external to the individual - the one in the widest open area. The thrust of the trine's energies are always from within and outward.

If the student keeps these ideas, the thrust of the trine's energies outward, in mind, the functioning and psychological significance of the Locomotive and Wedge Patterns will be much more clearly understood.

THE IDEAL LOCOMOTIVE PATTERNThe "ideal" Locomotive Pattern will have the following geometry:The ten planets would be evenly distributed about 2/3rds of the circumference of the wheel with the remaining l/3rd unoccupied. The two boundary planets, those bordering the open 120 , will be in trine aspect to each other within acceptable orb (10).

The two boundary planets will form two points of a Grand Trine which i completed by a third planet internally located within the onftern. The "ideal" Locomotive Pattern will always contain this Grand Tiine.In the internal distribution of the ten olanets there may not be any open space between planets *hat exceeds 60 , If such exists, you would have an Hour-Glass Pattern and not a Locomotive. If there were two open areas that exceeded 60 , the pattern would be a Tripod Pattern.The presence of the Grand Trine greatly strengthens this pattern and gives it a strong external thrust and drwe aimed at the midpoint of the open area. It adds to the individual's ability to project his own personality outward - the closer to exact orbs, the stronger is the individual's projective power. In addition, there should be another planet either square or opposed to one planet (at least) in the Grand Tr'ne -a kind of "ground wire" to prevent a "short circuit" of the energy of the Giand Trine.

As before, the planet leading the planetary parade (in clockwise fashion) wi be th^ Cutting Planet - emphasized in High Focus. This planet is thp "wheel" of the wheelbarrow, where through its sign and house location we may determine how this individual makes his impact upon the environment and his fellows.

The Cutting Planet, however, is where the "initial" impact is made. The whole thrust of the Locomotive Pattern, its ultimate impact, will be felt aboui a point that is halfway between (the midpoint) the trining boundary planets. That is, the sextile midpoint of this trine. And it will, of course be read by sign and house location of this midpoint. The Locomotive is a very driving pattern, and the focus of this drive is the sextile midpoint within the open area.

There is an interesting pattern that sometimes occurs in which you'll find 9 of the planets within a 180 segment (a Bowl) and the 10th planet (the Handle) in the open area but also sextile one of the Bowl's rim planets. In many cases this "handle* will be at one point of a Grand Trine. The following is a good general rule to follow in this case: if the Handle planet completes a Grand Trine within acceptable orb, call it a Locomotive; if the Handle planet does not participate in a Grand Trine, choose the Bucket as being most characteristic.

THE BASIC PSYCHOLOGY OF THE LOCOMOTIVE PATTERN

Locomotive-type individuals are normally very "driving" in nature, simila to the prototype Aries personality. Once in motion they are hard to stop for they can attain great momentum. They carry everything along their path with them. Their amount of drive increases in proportion to how closely their pattern approaches the "ideal" Locomotive and the exact orbs of the Grand Trine. Lacking a Grand Trine within the pattern, much of the driving character of this temperament type is lost for they are less able to focus their energy without the "lens" of the Grand Trine.

We tend to use and reuse our Trines, once we've activated them, because it is psychologically comfortable to do so, and eventually we cut this "rut" rather deep. This tends to make Locomotive types pretty predictable in how they'll act in a given situation. They tend to operate in their own groove, cutting it deeper and deeper as they go through life. They have their own characteristic way of going about and doing things.

Their basic problem-solving approach is to engulf or smother the problem much like an alligator swallowing his prey, or like trying to capture a wild animal by throwing a blanket over it.

They tend to be rather "cock-sure" individuals who operate from a base of self-adequacy and feel that, whatever the situation, they know best how to handle it. Sometimes they do; sometimes they don't - but at all times they think they do. It is very hard to dissuade them once they've chosen to act. They tend to be quite uncompromising individuals, especially when there are lots of planets in the Fire Element and/or Jupiter is in High Focus.

They generally show a stronger desire to get involved with people "in toto." Especially when the Grand Trine is present. They tend to project themselves into the lives of others, welcome or not, and they tend to be good "people manipulators."

Look to the House and Sign location of the Sextile midpoint in the open area if you want to see what they are really after - what "turns them on!" The House and Sign location of the Cutting Planet (in High Focus) will reveal where and how they'll characteristically try to achieve what they are after. In all cases they will attempt to bring their special talents and capabilities to bear upon the affairs of life that are associated with the houses located in the open area. These houses represent a certain lack they feel in their lives that they are attempting to fill in.

HEMISPHERE LOCATION OF THE OPEN AREA

You can get an important and added clue to the inner workings of the Locomotive person by noting in which hemisphere of the wheel most or all of the open area is located.

o Open Area North - Usually highly extroverted with little private life, very much involved with the public and personal success. Motivated more by what he can do for himself than for others. Personal interests come first. If 4th house vacant, often plagued by a sense of personal insecurity.

o Open Area South - A highly introverted individual with a very private life but often seeking public acclaim and recognition by doing for others. Self-sacrificing. If 10th house vacant, a prolonged struggle for recognition.

o Open Area East - An individual striving to take control of his own life and destiny, more subject to the whims and actions of others, and strongly influenced by others of strong personality. If 1st house vacant, usually he is never really sure just "who" he is.

o Open Area West - Known exactly who he is and often finds leadership thrust upon him even when unwanted. Frequently we find this person wishing he could be a "follower" once in awhile. If 7th house vacant, his g eatest need is often to learn how to delegate work, trust others more, and learn to work in harness with the team rather than always controlling things himself.

SUMMARYTo best understand the Locomotive-type individual, try to discover the driving force in his life - as indicated through the House and Sign location of his open-area sextile midpoint. They indicate what he "wants" - not what he "has", and how he's likely to go about satisfying this want.

Notice especially the emphasis of the Cutting Planet in High Focus; it is primarily through the use of this energy that he goes after what he wants. Where there is a Grand Trine present, notice how the other two points support the Focal planet in its quest (like the Wheelbarrow). They can be the driving force that moves the Wheelbarrow ahead.

Usually in the charts of famous persons we can see the Momentum of motion for they have discovered how to activate their Trine energies too. In many whom you will meet, however, there resides a "sleeping giant" with the Trines still at rest. While you can point out this untapped potential, only the individual himself can convert this potential energy to kinetic energy (energy in action).

If you have persons close to you with a good Locomotive pattern, watch carefully how they are able to manipulate others into doing their bidding.

There are few charts of famous persons that better illustrate the "ideal" Locomotive Pattern than does this one. The open area constitutes a 9 trine section, there is a Grand Trine in Water, and Uranus (planet of independence and genius) is brought into High Focus by the pattern. However even here, lacking the Grand Trine, this might also be considered to be. a Bucket Pattern with Uranus still in High Focus.

In the horoscope of composer-singer-musician Art Garfunkel we have a good example of a Locomotive without the Grand Trine. Mars, in High Focus, lacks the strength of a High Focus planet completing a Grand Trine. But still it finds typical Mars-Aries expression through his attempt to "instruct" (9th house) the public in new musical forms giving little regard to what his contemporaries are doing. The open area is squeezed into 102. His greatest success however was through his partnership (7th house) with Paul Simon.

Again we have an example of a horoscope which, though lacking the Grand Trine or a trine between the Leading and Trailing Planets (Pluto and Jupiter) could- not be alternatively considered to be a Bucket because no matter, how you look at the chart you'd always have two planets above the Rim Opposition. It might be argued that this is a Splash Pattern. because of Sullivan's "universality of interests".Here we have an example of a horoscope that could not be classified as anything else but a Locomotive Pattern, even though it contains no Grand Trine nor is the Leading and Trailing Planets in trine. While the Sun here is brought to High Focus we would not expect it to be as emphasized in importance as Uranus in the Kissinger horoscope.World Champion Heavyweight Boxer Muhammad All's horoscope is a good example of a really "borderline" case. There are 3 possibilities - Hour-Glass, Locomotive, or Bucket. Moon-Mars exceeds a sextile (7 orb) by 0 9". Following the rules strictly he must be classified an Hour Glass. The Bucket is possible with Neptune the HandlePlanet. Yet all we know of his life favors his Sun in Capricorn as the Cutting Planet of the Locomotive Pattern. Which of the three would you select?Lesson No. 6INTRODUCTIONIn this lesson we shall move on to the second Tripolar Pattern - which we shall call the "Wedge". When Marc Edmund Jones initially described this planetary type, he referred to it as the "Bundle". And the planets certainly are bundled together with all located within a 120 arc of the wheel. However, for a number of reasons which we shall discuss I feel that Wedge is more descriptive than Bundle. For one reason, all ten planets work like a wedge, concentrating all of their energy to a point, as does a wedge.

This is the least commonly found pattern of the seven types we shall discuss. It was prominent in many horoscopes of those born in the 1880's, and was not found again until the early and mid-1940's, and again in the mid-1950's. This is due primarily to the position of the outer planets which between 1900 and 1940 were separated by more than 120 as we previously indicated in Lesson No. 4, Page 1. Its existence will remain possible for short periods in each decade for the rest of the 20th century.

When this pattern occurs in the horoscope it is always quickly spotted and can never be confused with anything but the Bowl Pattern. And even here, the two can be very quickly differentiated by remembering a simple rule: if the planetary spread exceeds an orb of 130 ^the maximum allowable orb for a trine) it would be a Bowl - if less than 130 it is a Wedge.

This pattern has another rather remarkable quality which might lead one to call it the "Magnet Pattern". Wedge-type individuals have the remarkable quality of drawing others to themselves through a kind of personal magnetism. And the more tightly bunched the planets are together, the stronger the magnetism. When they become prominent or famous, they have the quality of drawing many followers (or "groupies") to them. Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney oF the Beatles and Mick Jagger of the "Rolling Stones" are two excellent examples.

THE IDEAL WEDGE PATTERN

It is more difficult to define an "ideal" Wedge Pattern since there is so little room for variation in the pattern. It would appear, however, that the Wedge-type individual tends to benefit most from the pattern when the boundary planets of the partem form a trine within acceptable orb (10 ). In a tighter pattern, which lacks any possibility of trine aspect, the individual appears to be under a rather severe handicap. You will find very few horoscopes indeed in the Wedge Pattern that lack this defining Trine.

In such horoscopes that are classified under the Wedge Pattern there is no possibility of the presence of any oppositions. In "any" chart lacking oppositions, and thus the natural disposition or dynamic direction that the opposition gives, the individual is more free to direct his own life. He must supply the drive from within. These individuals can be likened to either a "top" or a "gyroscope". If the individual does not provide himself from within some dynamic drive and direction, he may be likened to a top spinning about its own center, moving at haphazard angles, and getting nowhere. On the other hand, with this internal drive and motivation in action, he may be likened to a gyroscope which provides its own momentum of action and has the ability to defy all the external forces surrounding himself and operate at any angle that is chosen. In either case, however, both operate about the axis of their own feeling of self-adequacy.

In those rarer instances where the Trine is also lacking, we find an individual who is lacking in innate natural resources to deal with the problems of life. What talents he does possess will be indicated by the Quintiles in his horoscope. When this occurs in the Wedge Pattern we generally find an individual who will likely use all of his concentrated planetary power in the development of the talent(s) indicated by the Quintile (by planet, sign and house), and one who will have and use every opportunity (through the Sextiles) to advance himself on the basis of this talent.

THE CUTTING PLANETThe Wedge-type individual will always bring a great portion of his drive and energy to bear upon the Cutting Planet. The energy that this planet represents will be given great emphasis in his life. For example, if it is the Moon the person may well appear to run on emotional energy. How this energy gets expressed will of course be indicated by the sign of this Cutting Planet. Where this person meets life and his environment, where he seeks to make his impression upon others, will be closely related to the house location of this Cutting Planet.

While we have not emphasized this point previously, in any pattern where the Cutting Planet is important, it is essential that you inventory very accurately all of the aspects

to the Cutting Planet for each aspect will affect its expression. Lacking any squares to the Cutting Planet, the individual is much less likely to rigorously apply the pressures of the Wedge here. He will be a more passive individual. Squares give a more dynamic drive to the Cutting Planet.

In all Wedge patterns, always look for the Focal Determinator called the 'Trigger", The Trigger is a square aspect between two planets, one that has increasing importance in any horoscope lacking the T-cross, Grand Cross, or Grand Trine. If there is only one square aspect present in the Wedge pattern, it automatically becomes the Trigger. If more than one square aspect is found, the Trigger will become the square that is closest to 90 . By planet, sign and house the planets that form the Trigger indicate the source of the individual's motivation and drive. And if in this Wedge Pattern the Cutting Planet forms one end of the Trigger, you will likely find a much more driving and dynamic individual.

BASIC PSYCHOLOGY OF THE WEDGE PATTERNIt might be assumed that because the planets in this Wedge Pattern are so narrowly grouped together that the individual would correspondingly be rather "narrow" also. But such is not the case. Rather, he has the ability and will tend to seek fulfillment through the bunching or concentration of his energies in the pursuit of perhaps fewer goals. He normally organizes his affairs and his use of time rather selectively.

Unlike the other six patterns, which require a kind of feedback from others to justify themselves, these individuals are .self-obsessed with their own capacity and do not seek or need much of this feedback.

The Wedge individual will visualize, and often create, his own well-integrated world about himself in which he can function most efficiently. With a strong horoscope, he has a way of drawing and integrating others into his world who will contribute to his goals. If he gains sufficient prominence and attention (as did Benito Mussolini who has this pattern), he can impose his world upon hosts of others, even nations. Such is the magnetism of the Wedge, particularly when the Cutting Planet is Uranus.The characteristic acts and reactions of this individual will always be in terms of "his" world as he sees it. And he will tend to solve his problems in terms of immediate importance - short-term objectives - and is much less inclined to consider long-term, ultimate considerations.

He has a marked ability to make much out of little, and to build small things into great ones. Because the Wedge will always contain a number of sextile aspects (opportunities) you can be sure that he will have and take advantage of his many opportunities to do this building. He is, in fact, an opportunist well able to capitalize and use to maximum advantage each opportunity as it comes along.

In the previous lesson on the Locomotive pattern, we went into some detail regarding the "thrust" of the Trine. In the ideal Locomotive, we had a Grand Trine, and we indicated that when a planet occupied the "Trine Midpoint" (as we always find whenever we have a Grand Trine), the individual's "thrust" was toward the "Sextile Midpoint." But, lacking a planet at the Trine Midpoint, the thrust of the simple Trine is always toward the Trine's midpoint. There is perhaps no better example of this latter phenomena than in the Wedge-type individual. This is why I prefer to use the name "Wedge", rather than "Bundle.*

Trine Midpoint Thrust

Note in the above diagram the defining boundary Trine of the Wedge grouping. This Trine had two midpoints, which we have chosen to name the "Trine Midpoint" and the "Sextile Midpoint" (as shown). In the Wedge, no planet of course could ever occupy the Trine Midpoint - thus, the thrust of the Wedge pattern will always be in this direction (exactly the Opposite of the Locomotive where the thrust is always toward the Sextile Midpoint).

While the Cutting Planet of the Wedge, by sign and house, will show how this individual meets life and his immediate environment and attempts to gain a foothold, or to make his greatest impression on others, it does not reveal what he/she is really after - their ultimate goal(s) in life. It is the position of the Trine Midpoint, by house and sign, that reveals this. A wedge becomes an effective tool of machine when pressure is applied along the midpoint axis to drive it forward. The wedge has a tremendous mechanical advantage because at its tip the actual pressure applied is multiplied in force many times over the force actually being applied. It can be used to lift or move "mountains."

The Wedge-type individual operates in exactly the same way. Once they've zeroed in on their goal they can bring a tremendous pressure to bear on anyone and/or anything that obstructs their way. This pressure is not obvious, but rather much more subtle and insidious - like the tiny drops of water that finally form, after many years, the limestone caves.

Patterns can sometimes be a very valuable tool to the Astrologer in rectifying the horoscope of a person whose birth time is unknown. If the ultimate thrust of this individual's life can be discerned, generally through astute questioning, then the Trine Midpoint can be properly placed by house and the birth time established.

SUMMARYUpon completing this Sixth Lesson, I think that you can now clearly see that in many ways the Wedge Pattern and the Locomotive Pattern, both by geometry and basic psychology, may be considered the opposite of each other. They both work on the same principle of the Trine. In their striving in life to achieve or to "complete" themselves, each is reaching out toward something that they innately feel lacking in themselves. Both are striving to complete or fill in those areas of life that are represented by the houses in the open area of their pattern. The Wedge, of course, has a much greater area to "fill in", but he comes equipped with a tremendous power to do so. Both patterns have a tremendous momentum, once they have activated their Trine energy, that is hard to resist. However, in your analysis of any individual with one of these patterns, you must always first determine - have they activated their Trine energy, or is it still at rest?

Esoteric Astrologers have an interesting time with these two patterns, and though the conclusions they draw will probably always remain speculative, nevertheless in closing it is interesting to consider their conclusions. They consider the Wedge-type individual to be a comparatively young soul in the scheme of incarnations with far to go in the achievement of their ultimate destiny. By contrast, they consider the Locomotive-type individual to be far more advanced in the scheme of incarnations, a person who is figuratively taking care of the "last-minute details"before ultimately moving on to the pattern of karmic completion, which we shall next consider in Lesson Seven - the Splash Pattern.

It is possible to see a greater pattern here when we view the Wedge, Locomotive, and Splash pattern in terms of a continuum or spectrum - the Wedge being the karmic youngster, and the Splash being the elder soul who has learned most of his karmic lessons through many past incarnations. You may wish to speculate yourself where in this spectrum we might fit the other patterns discussed in this book.

However, as we now go on to our next lesson - on the Splash Pattern - you may wish to consider the Splash as the karmic "ultimate", the completed Locomotive Partem which is here on earth, perhaps for the last time, to go through a period of final adjustment before going on to what lies on the next higher karmic plane. This is perhaps one good reason for considering the Splash Pattern to be a member [perhaps the highest or ultimate member] of the Tripolar Grouping; it is certainly one of my major reasons for considering it to be Tripolar.

This is the horoscope most frequently used to illustrate this rarest of patterns the Wedge. Note that Neptune, the Leading Planet, forms an almost perfect trine with Uranus, the Trailing Planet. Mars square Uranus form the Trigger.

Here is a second historical example, the horoscope of Russian composer Igor Stravinsky. Neptune (muic) is the Leading Planet, but Uranus is also emphasized as a singleton in hemisphere in trine to Neptune. No wonder the music that Stravinsky composed was considered to be far ahead of his' time, and people walked out of the concert hall when some of his "nouveau" compositions were performed for the first time!

Here we have a more contemporary example in the chart of Ringo Starr of "The Beatles." It just misses fitting the Wedge Pattern since Neptune is slightly beyond the trine of Jupiter. Jupiter is the Leading Planet, but it is in the house ruled by Neptune. Neptune as a singleton in hemisphere is equally emphasized. With Taurus ruling his 2nd "money" house does it then surprise you that he has made so much money through music (Neptune), or that he has become so interested in Eastern philosophy with Jupiter ruling his 9th House?

Finally we have an example of another singer, Tom Jones, whose pattern just misses the Wedge and must be called a Bowl since the angle between Jupiter and Neptune exceeds 130 degrees. Neptune is again emphasizedas a singleton in hemisphere in the 10th house (music as a profess