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Bron: Those Wild Out-of-Bounds Planets
by Pamela Welch, first published in the June/July 2001
issue of The Mountain Astrologer, published here with
her permission.
Let's take a more specific look now at exactly how
an out-of-bounds planet will operate in an individual's
life. In most cases, my discussion will include both
a planet's declination and its sign placement in the
more familiar geocentric longitude to help you integrate
out-of-bounds dynamics into your astrological chart
analysis.
As you might guess, people with an out-of-bounds planet
tend to know no boundaries and accept no limits. Often
there's no stopping them. This can result in boundless
creativity and success, allowing the native to go way
beyond the potential that one might normally expect.
For example, Albert Einstein
who has an out-of-bounds Moon in Sagittarius near the
6th house cusp, creatively provided a whole new paradigm
in regards to time and space through his work on the
theory of relativity. His philosophical beliefs weren't
constrained by his era's prevailing system of thought.
Natives with an out-of-bounds planet like to break the
rules in this way and color outside the lines. A client
of mine with an out-of-bounds Moon in Sagittarius in
the 1st house is currently in the process of writing
an epic narrative poem akin to Beowulf. When was the
last time anyone attempted that? This is the kind of
unconventional and "outside the norm" expression you
often see in someone with an out-of-bounds planet. Such
individuals can often achieve extraordinary things and
overcome great obstacles in life.
However, an out-of-bounds planet can also be negatively
expressed, leading to abnormal or unstable behavior
which is outside the accepted standards of society.
Its energy can indicate a tendency toward mental imbalance
or at the very least create a lot of pressure and stress
in an individual's life. The highest declination Moon
I've ever seen in my astrology practice (28°S18') was
in the chart of a man suffering from bipolar disorder
(manic-depression). (5) There is a fine line between
genius and insanity and sometimes you will see both
positive and dysfunctional elements in the lives of
those with out-of-bounds planets. Judy
Garland, for example, had two out-of-bounds planets
- Venus in Cancer in the 1st house and Mars in Sagittarius
in the 6th. Garland was certainly a sensitive beauty.
However, she was also overworked as a child star and
encouraged to take amphetamines. Venus is quincunx Mars
in her chart and it may have been difficult for her
to reconcile her emotional insecurities and desire for
a loving, peaceful environment (Venus in Cancer) with
the demands for her to be an energetic and exuberant
working star (Mars in Sagittarius). Although she had
tremendous success as an actress and singer from a young
age, she also suffered from health problems and depressive
mental illness accompanied by an addiction to prescription
medications. This resulted in several suicide attempts
and finally death. Although Venus is only at 23°N 49'declination,
Mars is at 25°S 55', creating greater instability. Mars
opposite her Sun in Gemini in the 12th house is an indicator
of subconscious anger directed inward in aggression
towards herself. Such suppression of deeper feelings
may have led to Garland's depression as well as the
ultimate act of brutality toward the self - suicide.
(6)
Often, people with out-of-bounds planets seem to get
away with more somehow, or try to. They can be those
individual's that are always pushing the limits of what
we commonly accept in society. With an out-of-bounds
Mercury in Gemini, Dr. Jack Kevorkian,
the physician who believes in euthanasia for the terminally
ill, is certainly one of these people. He has had repeated
conflict with the law for his belief in assisted suicide.
Mercury is related to the physician and healing. However,
mythically the Roman god Mercury could also put people
asleep with his magic wand or be a messenger of death.
Kevorkian has certainly taken on this aspect of Mercury's
expression. With Mercury at 25°N39' declination, we
would expect to see this type of more radical behavior
in support of his extremely adamant opinions.
American talk-show host, Howard
Stern, also with an out-of-bounds Mercury (23°S41),
is another iconoclast pushing the envelope of societies
accepted norms. He loves to shock his radio audience
with sexually oriented and socially unacceptable topics
such as flatulence and penis size. Stern's natal Mercury
in Capricorn is conjunct Venus, Sun, Chiron and North
Node, all in that same sign. He's certainly achieved
fame and star status with his irreverent radio show,
biographical book, "Private Parts," and subsequent movie
by the same name. His Capricorn coldness is evident
as he talks about people as little more than objects
for appraisal. Stern's out-of-bounds Mercury is in opposition
to Uranus and South Node in Cancer and this definitely
fits his shock jock demeanor which loves to upset the
"status quo." However, Cancer can be a vulnerable sign
and his movie, "Private Parts" illustrated his early
anxiety and self-doubt. To this day, when Stern is out
of the sound booth and no longer on air, he's said to
be full of insecurities. (7) His outrageous and domineering
style may be a front for deeper vulnerabilities.
Daredevil Evel Knievel has
an out-of-bounds Venus in Sagittarius within two degrees
of his Midheaven at the high declination of 26°S17.
His somewhat bizarre stunts go way beyond even the extreme
end of adventure sports. Adventure is certainly his
indulgence as well as his career and the way he has
attracted money along with admiring women. No doubt,
there is a kind of grace he exhibits as his motorcycle
flies like an arrow over a row of cars or a tank full
of sharks. Out-of-bounds Venus is also quintile Neptune
which is conjunct Mars in Virgo. The quintile (72°)
indicates spontaneous creative expression and mental
or artistic talents. You could say that Knievel has
a creative talent for dissolving the boundaries of what
is normally considered possible for the physical body.
The mental energy of quintiles also excels at the kind
of exact engineering calculations which are probably
required as part of the preparations for his stunts.
However, Venus in Sagittarius can lead to a vain belief
that you can do anything and a Mars-Neptune conjunction
can also characterize a weakening of one's physical
condition. Consequently, with Venus trine Pluto (destruction,
death) in Leo in the 6th-house of health, in addition
to Saturn square 6th-house Chiron, Evel has had numerous
injuries, broken bones, and subsequent operations during
his career. With out-of-bounds Venus in the sign that
rules the Liver, in addition to a 1st-house Jupiter
in Aquarius, it is not surprising that during one of
these operations, he contracted Hepatitis C from a blood
transfusion. This resulted in a liver transplant operation
for him in 1999. Venus is also in a quindecile aspect
to 3rd-house Uranus in Taurus. The quindecile aspect
(165°) represents a disruption or compulsion, an obsessive
influence which can draw one away from the main thrust
of life development. Knievel's stubborn obsession with
adventure and his vain compulsion to do anything to
shock his admiring fans has resulted in many damaging
jolts to his body.
Knievel also has a reputation for being an out of control
hell-raiser, an excessive behavior associated with his
out-of-bounds Venus in Sagittarius. It helps that in
addition to the quindecile to Uranus and trine with
Pluto, Venus is also sextile his Aquarius Ascendant
which opposes Pluto. He has a history of aggression
and was once arrested on charges of beating (Pluto)
his girlfriend (Venus). (8)
An out-of-bounds Mars is found in the natal chart of
diplomat Henry Kissinger.
Considering the assertive nature of Mars, this might
seem strange for someone who was recipient of the Nobel
Peace Prize in 1973. In actuality, Kissinger is an interesting
mix. With a 1st-house OOB Mars in Gemini, he courageously
negotiated diplomatic dialogues with heads of state
in order to end aggressive conflicts such as the Vietnam
War. This is supported by a trine of Kissinger's Mars
to his Moon in Libra, which can potentially keep its
bellicose nature more peacefully directed, and his 12th-house
Sun-Mercury conjunction in Gemini (secret talks in closed
sessions) trine Saturn in Libra. With Saturn conjunct
his Libra Moon, he was able to make his lack of emotion
work for him by asserting himself with peaceful words.
At 28 degrees Gemini in the third decan of this sign,
Mars can also be less impulsive, more ruled by reason
and the power of the objective mind (9). Kissinger was
thus able to summon great courage and overcome difficult
obstacles in dealing with many tense political situations.
However, we now know that Kissinger also covertly initiated
atrocities and violent acts in Vietnam. In addition,
he brought the downfall of the democratic Allende government
in Chile in the '70's to support the Chilean leader,
General Augusto Pinochet, who tortured his people. (See
the The Trial of Henry Kissinger by Christopher Hitchens.)
In this respect, Kissinger's lack of emotion may have
created an "end justifies the means" mentality.
Nevertheless, out-of-bounds Mars is found more frequently
in the charts of courageous or creative individuals
and great leaders than it is in violent criminals. It
can also indicate an "off the charts" type of athletic
ability as it does with golfer Tiger
Woods, who has Mars in Gemini opposite the Moon
in Sagittarius square a Virgo Ascendant.
| ©Copyright,
2001 Pamela Welch |
Part three: The Out-of-Bounds
Moon
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