Astrological Software

Very short post today...

Actually, for anyone who hasn't seen it yet, look at our last post; probably the best way to introduce yourself to the B.I.D.E. Interpretive System!

Now, I want to direct you to a page on our Information Site, Special Offer.

You'll be able to download (Free!) the best astrological software I've ever used in my 40 years of experience (it's only for Windows...). Also on that page, I offer anyone who downloads it a set of five files that make it easy to find the 36 aspects of the B.I.D.E. Full-Cycle Aspects...

Take This Challenge !

I want to pose a challenge to all my readers...

Even if this is the first time you've been to this blog, if you take the challenge, you'll either end up knowing more about yourself or you'll confirm more deeply important aspects of your character...

First: Download the original edition of Astrological Repair Manual--it's free--and look near the end of the book--page 63--where I've provided pages for each of the Planets, Signs, and Houses in a format that lets you print them out, cut them up, and have small cards you can move around on a desktop...

Second: Go to our Information Site and download the information from B.I.D.E. Interpretive System ~ Planets/Signs/Houses and Detailed Example of Using the System ~ Planets/Signs/Houses...

Third: Get your chart out. If you don't have one yet, check out Creating A Chart, where you can follow two different links to get a free chart and also have the basic Key to translate those weird astrological symbols in the chart into words that you can plug into Steps One and Two...

Fourth: Take the small cards you cut up in Step One. Pick out the ones for the Sun and Moon (four for each) and the ones for the Sign your particular Sun and Moon are in (four for each, unless the Sun and Moon are in the same Sign). Then, pick out the ones for the Houses your Sun and Moon are in...

Fifth: Choose one card for the Sun and one for the Moon, then one for the Sun's Sign and one for the Moon's Sign, then one for the Sun's House and the Moon's House...

Lay them out on the desk, in the order that was indicated in the download in Step Two, and Say The Words Out Loud (not forgetting the words "in order to" between the Sign and House...

Sixth: Change one or more of the cards--Sun/Moon, Sign, or House. Say that Symbolic Sentence Out Loud...

Seventh: Keep changing cards till you have a Sun/Sign/House and Moon/Sign/House Sentence that makes total sense to you...

Eighth: Repeat at least once a month...

Ninth: At some point in this process, tell us about your experience in the Comments...

If you're really adventurous, check out the post, The "Verbs" of Astrology, and explore how to link the Symbolic Sentences you have for your Sun and Moon into one awesome statement about why you're on this Earth...

The "Verbs" of Astrology...

The Aspects of astrology are the distances between Planets (in the cycle, or circle, of the chart)—the Relationship between Functions.

If you've never calculated an aspect in a chart, check out this page on the Information Site...

The remainder of this post is a reprint from our Information Site:

Before using the Aspect Phrases of the B.I.D.E. Interpretive System it's important to understand the concepts of a Full-Cycle approach.

Most astrology concerns itself with a partial set of aspects and includes the idea of an aspect's "orb"—how far from exact an aspect can be and still be "valid".

When one realizes that aspects are actually phases of a full cycle of relationship, the allowable orb of an aspect becomes much less important. For example, in a full-cycle approach, the Waxing Trine aspect begins at 120° and ends at 135° (where the Waxing TriOctile begins). If one were to incorporate orbs into their interpretation, and two planets were 115° apart, thinking of that relationship as an "applying Trine" could be considered as long as it was admitted that the Trine has yet to happen and the full-cycle approach sees the separation as a Waxing TriDecile soon-to-become-a-Trine...

Another very important consideration is the difference between Waxing and Waning aspects. Waxing aspects (from 0° to 180°) are all more personal in their operation, building individualized qualities and values. The Waning aspects (from 180° to 0°) are all oriented toward sharing the personal skills and talents built-up in the waxing phases—dedicated to group and collective goals and values.

Now for an example of using the B.I.D.E. Full Aspect Cycle phrases (If you haven't yet explored the Planet/Sign/House pages please backtrack to B.I.D.E. Interpretive System ~ Planets/Signs/Houses and Detailed Example of Using the System ~ Planets/Signs/Houses...).

I'll interpret my own Sun and Moon placements from the standpoint of the evolution of the Information Site and this blog:

Sun in Aries in the 9th House
Vitalizing Fresh Approaches in order to Bring the Situation to its Highest Expression.

Moon in Libra in the 3rd House
Nurturing Awareness of Others in order to Make Connections.

Now, to link those two Symbolic Sentences with an aspect phrase. My Sun and Moon are separated by 172.6° (what some would call an applying Opposition). This is the Waxing QuadNovile aspect. {You can find the Full-Aspect Cycle on this page of the Information Site}

So, after choosing one of those phrases, I have the full interpretation of Sun/Moon (in terms of my work to develop the Information Site and this blog) as:

Vitalizing Fresh Approaches in order to Bring the Situation to its Highest Expression
Helps Perfect the Cultivation of Plans by
Nurturing Awareness of Others in order to Make Connections.

{You might be interested in comparing the above interpretation of my Sun/Moon pair with the one I did in the post, Stories In Your Birthchart, to see how adaptable the B.I.D.E. System is...}

Once last note:

Since each Planet/Sign/House combination has 64 possible interpretations in this System, every planetary pair has 512 possible interpretations. And, since there are 45 possible planetary pairs, every chart, in the B.I.D.E. Interpretive System, has 23,040 possible interpretations {talk about finding Your Particular Interpretation!!!}. And, that's not even counting relationships of Planets to House cusps, Midpoints, and Parts...

How It All Happened...

This post is a reprint from our Information Site...

My relationship with astrology began like many relationships do—just minding my own business when she came along, knocked me out, and dragged me off to her lair.

I was studying graphic art at San Francisco City College and the instructor had the audacity to show us some Japanese paintings, while extolling the way they showed so much with just a few strokes of the brush. I was impressed and went and bought a book called The Way of Chinese Painting, figuring that Chinese painting couldn’t be all that different from Japanese (my artistic perceptions were rather immature back then...). I quickly found out that “The Way” in the title meant Tao, the closest they seemed to get to what I called God. What I thought was only a book of technique turned out to also be a book about the world-view that informed the technique.

Tao led me to a book called the I Ching—a world-view expressed through a seemingly simplistic, graphical representation of life.

The I Ching led to Tarot cards which made me study astrology. Within about six months, I’d gone from meaningful brush strokes on paper to meaningful glyphs in the sky. It would take years—like many relationships—to discover the underlying reason I’d gotten involved in the first place—to realize that oriental art, the I Ching, Tarot, and astrology all used symbols to help humans decipher meaning in their lives. And to also learn that none of them were much good at portraying (or, predicting) actual events, no matter how much folks thought they did.

Now, all these years and tears later, it's time for me to repair some perceptions people have.

The B.I.D.E. Interpretive System is what I wish I could have discovered before I got all caught up in the usual approach to learning and using astrology. If I’d known then what I know now, I could have saved myself years of misunderstanding and pain. Truth be told, I began my studies of astrology like most folks do, reading the books I found (and, being who I am, I found a lot of books...)—books that all claimed to be the right way to learn and use astrology. The problem was, most of them cast astrology as a predictor of events, which it isn't (please see this page about that issue...). Even the books that didn't treat astrology as if it were a crystal ball usually had an "attitude" about life, a way of sorting the astrological factors into "good/bad" or "beneficial/detrimental".

After 20 years of learning and struggle, my goal became giving people the most important Perceptions—the underlying positive assumptions that are needed to thrive and prosper in the truly amazing Realm of Astrology {It took me another 20 years to develop, test, and publish the B.I.D.E. System}. It's one thing to have a practical way to interpret an astrological chart. It's quite another to have the perceptions and understanding to interpret a chart in a way that assures positive and productive results.

Remember learning about the three states of matter—solid, liquid, and gas? Some of you might also have learned about a fourth state—plasma. Scientifically speaking, plasma surrounds and energizes the other three states of matter. You could also consider plasma as energizing gas, gas energizing liquid, and liquid energizing solid...

The B.I.D.E. Interpretive System is a way of perceiving the factors in a chart from the "plasma" or Spiritual level—a realm of perception that surrounds, envelops, and energizes the other three. But just like all other spiritual perceptions, even though they're the most valuable way of looking at things, they need further interpretation to be used in less elevated, yet related and important, realms of life. We need the discipline of spiritual meditation to stay balanced and proactive in the social, personal, and practical fields of life. My experience has taught me that an astrologer needs a way to begin interpretation of a chart from the spiritual level; then, bring it down to the other levels.

The Symbolic Sentences you create in the B.I.D.E. system are WordSymbols—one step removed from the abstract glyphs of the traditional chart. Being symbolic themselves, they need further interpretation to be used in the "gas" or Social realm of perception; yet further interpretation to be used in the "liquid" or Personal realm; even further interpretation for use in the "solid" or Practical realm. Over time, an astrologer can learn to look at a chart, see the spiritual significance, and, nearly immediately, glide right down through the other levels of perception—a process made infinitely easier when involved in the reciprocal relationship of a living, breathing consultation with the native of the chart.

This blog is one step in the process of learning how to navigate through the levels of astrological perception. There will be other steps and tools as the system evolves into the remaining ten volumes of my gift to my faithful mistress—Astrology . . .

Just A Few Questions ?

May I ask a few questions?

What led you to this blog?

What was the first thing you noticed when you got here?

What did you think of astrology before you arrived here?

Has visiting this blog changed any of your beliefs about astrology?

Have you tried interpreting any charts with the B.I.D.E. Interpretive System?

If you have experimented with the B.I.D.E. System, what was that experience like?

If you don't like various things about this blog or the B.I.D.E. System, would you ever consider leaving a Comment to let me know?

If you do like various things about this blog or the B.I.D.E. System, will you consider leaving a Comment to let me know?

What's Up ?

This blog's not all that old...

Five months...

There've been 65 people who've been here more than once and 8 who've been here more than 25 times...

Those who've returned have spent an average time-on-site/visit of 2 mins 45 secs...

Numbers...

What this site needs; what the B.I.D.E. Interpretive System needs is Interaction, Comments, Feedback, Action...

Those qualities will make the blog more valuable as well as making your use of the B.I.D.E. System more valuable...

...

Help?

General Astrology Techniques

Since the returns from our survey, so far, show "General Astrology Techniques" as the most desired topic for this blog, I'm going to show you how to use the B.I.D.E. Interpretive System to gain valuable information even when you're not constructing the complete Symbolic Sentences the System is designed to provide.

If you haven't yet taken the survey, please click this link and give us your opinions!

To show you some creative ways to use parts of the System to explore charts, I'm going to look at my favorite astrologer's chart: Dane Rudhyar.

The first thing I want to point out is the B.I.D.E. System's use of the word "Function" for Planets, "Energy" for Signs, and "Activity" for Houses.

So, to begin an exploration of what I consider to be the Einstein of Astrology's chart, we might look to his Sun Function, expressed as:

Vitalizing
Centering
Focusing
Integrating

What did Rudhyar try to Vitalize, Center, Focus On, and Integrate?

It was his Sun's Energy or Sign, Aries:

Individual Awareness
Dynamic Awareness
Personal Initiative
Fresh Approaches

And, what did he Do about this Central Purpose of using Individual Awareness, Dynamic Awareness, Personal Initiative, and Fresh Approaches?

He put that Central Purpose's Energy into his 3rd House:

Being Aware of His Immediate Environment
Learning Important Facts
Studying What He Discovered Was Important.
Making Connections

We haven't even constructed a Symbolic Sentence with the System, yet we have information about Rudhyar that bears on his life-long work of {and here comes a Symbolic Sentence [and, if you've never even considered how these Sentences are constructed, please look into our Information Site...}}:

Vitalizing Fresh Approaches in order to Study What He Discovered Was Important.

And, what he discovered as important has changed the face of astrology forever...

Even if you know nothing about Rudhyar's life and work, and how that Symbolic Sentence expresses his Central Life Purpose, please do look into some of his ground-breaking writings on Khaldea's Rudhyar Archival Project...

What I want you to realize in this post is that the B.I.D.E. System still "works" even when we take parts of it into consideration—looking at just the Planets/Functions, Signs/Energies, or Houses/Activities...

Next post, we'll take this piecemeal approach a bit further...

Comments?

Please...

Modes of Perception

There are many ways to view a chart...

Our last post looked at four levels of perception: Spiritual, Social, Personal, Practical...

The B.I.D.E. Interpretive System begins as close to the Spiritual level as practically possible. The Symbolic Sentences created with the System need further interpretation to be useful on the other three levels.

I'm going to step through these levels using my personal Symbolic Sentence for the recent New Moon in my chart.

Sun in Cancer in the 12th House
Conjunct
Moon in Cancer in the 12th House

which, for me, becomes

Focusing Character Development in order to Explore the Value of Transcendence of Self
Begins a New Cycle of Actualization by
Nourishing Nurturing Abilities in order to Realize the Oneness of Life.

On the Spiritual level, reading the Symbolic Sentence as it stands, I have the thrill of sensing the potential for growth beyond my mere self into larger arenas of action. The Sentence may seem hugely abstract to you but I chose the options from the System that best expressed where I want to go during the current lunation cycle...

On the Social level, I see the words "Focusing Character Development" as my call to (even though I'm 63 and have spent much of my time circling the Sun in various modes of character development) concentrate on how I can grow even more in my efforts to "Explore the Value of Transcendence of Self". And, to me, transcendence of self doesn't leave the self out of the picture—much like taking a plane ride doesn't leave the earth out of the picture...

Socially, this "New Cycle of Actualization" (conjunction) calls for a "Nourishing" of my "Nurturing Abilities" so I can "Realize" more than ever "the Oneness of Life". How else, socially, can I use my own character in a transcendent way unless I'm aware of the Oneness of us all and give as much nurturance as I can?

On the Personal level, I have to more deeply explore the character I have developed over the years (notice my Saturn and Mars in Cancer) and detect the weak spots, the incomplete virtues, the less than ideal modes of my behavior so I can nourish the nurturing abilities I already have and, hopefully, strengthen them toward a broader acceptance of the Oneness of Life, which empowers me to see others as I see myself and lowers the barriers of personality, letting me reach out to help...

On the Practical level, I need to review all I've learned about my character, my knowledge of methods of transcendence of self, what it really means to nurture, and which techniques actually nourish that nurturance. Even with the long-term focus on my character development, the many years of attempting to successfully, and consistently, transcend a life lived only for myself, and truly nurture others on the path toward the Oneness of Humanity—the countless hours, days, months, years of struggle and partial attainment—I need to buckle-down and do it again...

Levels of Perception

I want to step back from specific interpretation in this post and look at how we perceive the symbols of astrology.

First, let me quote a bit from the article, "Why This System", from the Information Site (red link in the right panel):

"After 20 years of learning and struggle, my goal became giving people the most important Perceptions—the underlying positive assumptions that are needed to thrive and prosper in the truly amazing Realm of Astrology. It's one thing to have a practical way to interpret an astrological chart. It's quite another to have the perceptions and understanding to interpret a chart in a way that assures positive and productive results.

"Remember learning about the three states of matter—solid, liquid, and gas? Some of you might also have learned about a fourth state—plasma. Scientifically speaking, plasma surrounds and energizes the other three states of matter. You could also consider plasma as energizing gas, gas energizing liquid, and liquid energizing solid...

"The B.I.D.E. Interpretive System is a way of perceiving the factors in a chart from the 'plasma' or Spiritual level—a realm of perception that surrounds, envelops, and energizes the other three. But just like all other spiritual perceptions, even though they're the most valuable way of looking at things, they need further interpretation to be used in less elevated, yet related and important, realms of life. We need the discipline of spiritual meditation to stay balanced and proactive in the social, personal, and practical fields of life. My experience has taught me that an astrologer needs a way to begin interpretation of a chart from the spiritual level; then, bring it down to the other levels.

"The Symbolic Sentences you create in the B.I.D.E. System are WordSymbols—one step removed from the abstract glyphs of the traditional chart. Being symbolic themselves, they need further interpretation to be used in the 'gas' or Social realm of perception; yet further interpretation to be used in the 'liquid' or Personal realm; even further interpretation for use in the 'solid' or Practical realm. Over time, an astrologer can learn to look at a chart, see the spiritual significance, and, nearly immediately, glide right down through the other levels of perception—a process made infinitely easier when involved in the reciprocal relationship of a living, breathing consultation with the native of the chart."

Next post, we'll take a Symbolic Sentence from the B.I.D.E. System and go through, step-by-step, this interpretive shifting of levels...

What's Your Philosophy?

In my dictionary, the most understandable definition of philosophy is: "Any personal belief about how to live or how to deal with a situation".

The image to the left is of Aristotle and Plato, eminent philosophers. One problem, though, with the common tendency to portray philosophy as a male profession is that the very word "philosophy" comes from roots that mean the love (philos) of wisdom (sophia).

Sophia was the Goddess of Wisdom, sometimes portrayed as an expression of the feminine aspect of God.

So...

I'll let you ponder all that at your leisure and launch into just a bit of my thinking about astrology and philosophy.

First, astrology at its root is a system for portraying the cycles of the planets as they relate to the earth. These "bare" cycles have been filled with meaning from many philosophical schools of thought and, often, the particular philosophy applied to the cycles has given people no end of problems trying to use that form of astrology to guide their lives.

All that aside though, I want to propose an interesting theory: the best philosophy to use to guide your life is the one you derive from your birth chart...

One challenge may have occurred to you: most of the meanings available to interpret a chart are from other people's philosophies applied to astrology...

We're now hot on the trail of one of the prime reasons I spent over 20 years devising the B.I.D.E. Interpretive System: to give people an affirmative system of meanings that they can use to construct Symbolic Sentences that can be used to help them find Their Own Meanings for Their Own Philosophy of life—represented by the whole birth chart—Their Own "personal belief about how to live or how to deal with a situation".

I'll leave you with four questions from the previous post, Why Is The B.I.D.E. Interpretive System Valuable?:

Can you see how the B.I.D.E. System gives a person the opportunity to interpret a chart from an affirmative, positive perspective?

Can you see the limitations of a system that "pre-defines" what the behavior of the person will be?

Can you see the value of using an interpretive system that puts the final choice of what's possible in the mind of the person using the system?

Does the system you use to interpret charts give you the freedom to decide what you'll do and how you'll do it?

For guides on how to use the B.I.D.E. Interpretive System see the Information Site, red link near the top of the right panel...

Shameless Promotion...

     This blog is a laboratory for exploring ways to use the B.I.D.E. Interpretive System...
     I admit, I crave Your comments about any experimenting you do with the System...
     I know most folks rarely leave a comment...
     So, shamelessly, I ask you to visit a new site, AstroLuxx, the Cosmic Astrology Cafe, click on the Upcoming Tab at the top, look for posts by amzolt (that's me), notice the white star in the purple box, and click on it for posts you've read and liked!
     While you're there, consider contributing to the content. The site is new and has great promise for spreading news and articles of interest to astrophiles--like You!!

Napoleon Bonaparte

In this post, we'll be looking at Napoleon Bonaparte's chart.

Napoleon is well known for being a military dictator: "His critics charge that he was not significantly troubled when faced with the prospect of war and death for thousands, turned his search for undisputed rule into a series of conflicts throughout Europe and ignored treaties and conventions alike. Napoleon institutionalised plunder of conquered territories..." [Source]

Yet, his Napoleonic Code "...set out to reform the French legal system..." since "Before the Code, France did not have a single set of laws; laws depended on local customs, and often on exemptions, privileges and special charters granted by the kings or other feudal lords." [quotes from Wikipedia]

I felt it was important to set out just a bit of the two sides of a man who made such an impact on world history. Even the worst among us can display spiritual qualities that move the world forward, in spite of the wrong committed against humanity...

From a rather traditional astrological approach, what I've said so far could be attributed to the four strong Oppositions in his chart (along with the support of two Grand Trines in the Earth element). Also, a thorough examination of all the aspects in his chart would yield tremendous insight into his complex character.

Even though this blog is dedicated to the use of the B.I.D.E. Interpretive System, which is capable of generating Symbolic Sentences of the form

Planet/Sign/House
Aspect
Planet/Sign/House

and, even though I urge you to explore this use in the post Oprah, Revisited; and, even though those types of exploration are the most powerful, they demand the most work and concentrated understanding to reap the rich rewards offered by the System.

So...

What I want to offer in this post is a simpler, yet still powerful approach: a simple listing of Napoleon's Planet placements in a logical order—Sun, Moon, then Mercury out to Pluto—and let you see how even this rather "restrained" use of the System is valuable...

Don't forget, what I present are only My choices from the broad spectrum of interpretive choices available. See the Information Site (red link in the right panel) for the full System...

» Napoleon's Planetary Placements «

Sun in Leo in the 10th House
Focusing Energetic Influence in order to Realize His Highest Objective Goals.

Moon in Capricorn in the 3rd House
Adapting Structural Innovations in order to Study What’s Important.

Mercury in Leo in the 9th House
Investigating Creative Response in order to See the Broader Perspective.

Venus in Cancer in the 8th House
Evaluating Emotional Security in order to Find the Depth of the Issue.

Mars in Virgo in the 11th House
Being Driven by Systems and Techniques in order to Realize His Highest Objective Goals.

Jupiter in Scorpio in the 1st House
Optimizing an Analytical Attitude in order to See Things from His Own Perspective.

Saturn in Cancer in the 9th House
Organizing Active Feelings in order to Bring the Situation to its Highest Expression.

Uranus in Taurus in the 7th House
Breaking Obsolete Traditions of the Value of Possessions in order to Find a Compensating Viewpoint.

Neptune in Virgo in the 11th House
Dissolving Old Forms of a Service Attitude in order to Activate My Goals.

Pluto in Capricorn in the 3rd House
Getting to the Depths of a Desire for Enduring Patterns in order to Study What’s Important.

Whatever your opinion of military dictators {and, it must be stressed that we are in the midst of a global revolution to establish the rule of the Oneness of Humanity}, studying what they did and seeing what their accomplisments led to are important for an understanding of where We Are...

I'll close this post with a quote from Napoleon from the Lucidcafé: Library:

“I closed the gulf of anarchy and brought order out of chaos. I rewarded merit regardless of birth or wealth, wherever I found it. I abolished feudalism and restored equality to all regardless of religion and before the law. I fought the decrepit monarchies of the Old Regime because the alternative was the destruction of all this. I purified the Revolution.”

Big Bag of Tools

This post is dedicated to showing you all the tools available to help you use the B.I.D.E. Interpretive System. You can access all these tools with the red link in the right panel that says, Information Site.

The most important tools are the Planet/Sign/House phrases and the Full-Cycle Aspect phrases. With these two tools you have all you need to generate a fully customized, individualized, positive, affirmative interpretation of a chart.

There are also articles to help you use those two interpretive guides:

The Detailed Guide to Using the Planet/Sign/House Phrases

And

The Example of Using the Aspect Phrases.

There are also guides on How to Create a Chart and How to Calculate Aspects.

There's also an article on Why the B.I.D.E. System is Valuable and Why Astrology Doesn't Predict Events.

One final tool available is a Very Special Offer to enable you to have free astrology software and the files needed to Easily use Full-Cycle Aspects.

Enjoy !!!

Finding Practical Solutions

Since this blog's birth (about three months ago), a little over 1,000 visits have been made here. Because the Internet is what it is, about 20% of that number of visits have been made by people who've been here more than once. Using two different stats counters and my own judgement, it appears there are about 20 people who have some interest in the B.I.D.E. Interpretive System. Rather gratifying for only three months effort.

I've clearly admitted that the B.I.D.E. System takes a bit more effort than traditional approaches to astrology but I have 20 years' experience that shows me it has great value in letting people find their own interpretations and not settling for what others, possibly less informed about their circumstances, may say.

The System gives you Symbolic Sentences (if you're new, check out the red link, Information Site, in the right panel for how to use the System). Yet, those Sentences definitely need further interpretation to be useful in most practical situations.

I haven't given many examples of this personal interpretation of the System's Sentences yet. This post, and many more to come, will show this individual and most helpful aspect of using the B.I.D.E. System. I do hope some of you will share your adventures with the System, in the Comments, or in an email to me (amzolt@gmail.com) with more detailed experiences that I can consider as full-fledged posts!

While contemplating how to show more of the personal interpretation of the System's Symbolic Sentences, I felt the need to do an horary chart, to consider the best method of approaching the task.

That chart showed Saturn (a function of Clarifying and Defining) on the Ascendant (the position of the person asking the question {me}). So, good! I'm meant to help define and clarify how to do more personal interpretation of B.I.D.E.'s Sentences.

When I considered the actual house that would show the System itself, I saw the 9th as the clear philosophical arena that the B.I.D.E. System fulfills and the 1st House as the "showing how to use" or "display" it (the 1st being the 5th of the 9th).

So, I next considered the ruler of the 1st, Mercury, and lo and behold, the Moon was making a close applying aspect to it. This was important since the Moon in Horary can show direct actions to take.

So, I ended up with the Mercury Sextile Moon aspect of that chart being the best way to show how to engage in the personal, individual phase of using the B.I.D.E. System.

First I'll show you the Symbolic Sentence I created to show the Mercury/Moon aspect then I'll show you how I go about interpreting Sentences like these.

Mercury in Gemini in the 10th House
Increasing Awareness of Diversity of Ideas in order to Make the Situation as Objective as Possible.
waxing Sextile
Helps Define the Context of the Situation by
Moon in Leo entering the 12th House
Adapting Creative Response in order to Bring the Issue to Its Best Possible Conclusion.

So, displaying it as a full planet-aspect-planet Symbolic Sentence:

Increasing Awareness of Diversity of Ideas in order to Make the Situation as Objective as Possible Helps Define the Context of the Situation by Adapting Creative Response in order to Bring the Issue to Its Best Possible Conclusion.

"Increasing Awareness of Diversity of Ideas" means to me the many ways the Symbolic Sentences can be interpreted.

"Make the Situation as Objective as Possible" means to me that I need to continue to elicit Your ideas so this blog isn't just my subjective view of the System...

"Helps Define the Context of the Situation" means to me that increasing awareness of the many ways the Sentences can be interpreted and the need to make that awareness Your awareness will create a more defined context of interpretation we all can work within. And, that context will be built by:

"Adapting Creative Response" which means to me that I need to stay flexible in my approach to how I present the System.

"Bring the Issue to Its Best Possible Conclusion" means to me to make this blog a true Laboratory of Interpretation...

That's how I do it...

How would you do it?

Why is The B.I.D.E. Interpretive System Valuable?

Some folks don't see the value of the B.I.D.E. Interpretive System.

I tend to think they may be the people who haven't taken the effort to actually use it with their own chart.

It's one thing to have someone say, "You should drink this, it's very refreshing". It's quite another to take a drink and discover the refreshment...

There's a lot of information on the Information Site (red link in the right panel) that shows how to use the System and this blog will continue to have posts that apply the System to well-known people's charts (and, hopefully, display your interpretation of your own chart. [you can email them to me at amzolt@gmail.com so I can consider them as possible posts]).

Right now, I'd like to give you a rather stark example of the difference between the B.I.D.E. System and a certain other style of interpretation that one might call the "Limited Options" system.

Let's look at particular aspect and compare interpretive philosophies {in this example, we'll only use the Planet and Aspect meanings from the B.I.D.E. System}:

Saturn square Mars

First, some excerpts from the first four links provided by Google when the phrase, "mars square saturn" was used:

"With Mars square Saturn, you alternate between periods of aggression and periods of recession and apathy. You are constantly at war with yourself because you cannot resolve this problem..."

"You are a perfectionist. You can pick at yourself and others unmercifully, trying to get circumstances in your life to match some unspecified standard."

"You can be austere, callous and harsh and usually won't go out of your way to help others unless you gain by it."

"...repressed anger, and when the person releases the anger, it can turn into violence."

Admittedly, these are only four opinions but, if you were to look further, you'd be hard-put to find a positive interpretation...

Now, let's use the B.I.D.E. System to see what's possible with Saturn square Mars (there are Many alternative interpretations in the System for any given chart factor so I'm only choosing a few as examples).

The first consideration is that there are two square aspects, the waxing and the waning. I'll give a few examples of both. Also, aspects should be considered from the slower function (Saturn) to the faster function (Mars).

First the waxing square:

Organizing
Provides for a Break with Past Compulsions by
Externalizing

Structuring
Impels Decisive Future-Oriented Action by
Motivating

Clarifying
Creates the Conditions for Stability through the Efforts of
Asserting

Defining
Induces Courage to Face Crises by
Being Driven

Now, the same phrase choices from the System with the waning square between them:

Organizing
Increases Dedication to Social Transformation by
Externalizing

Structuring
Shifts the Attitudes of the Group by
Motivating

Clarifying
Reorients Inadequate Responses Toward Social Viability by
Asserting

Defining
Uproots Unnecessary Attitudes and Values by
Being Driven

Can you see how the B.I.D.E. System gives a person the opportunity to interpret a chart from an affirmative, positive perspective?

Can you see the limitations of a system that "pre-defines" what the behavior of the person will be?

Can you see the value of using an interpretive system that puts the final choice of what's possible in the mind of the person using the system?

Does the system you use to interpret charts give you the freedom to decide what you'll do and how you'll do it?

Hope to receive some Comments.........

Oprah, Revisited . . .

In our last post about Oprah Winfrey, I gave an interpretation from the B.I.D.E. System for each of her ten planets. If you're new to the blog, check out the red link in the right panel that says, Information Site, for guides and tips for using my System.

This post will take three planets from Oprah's chart and explore the aspects to them. The Information Site has the full set of aspect phrases that I'll be drawing my interpretations from.

I'm going to cover aspects that involve the three retrograde planets that are the only functions Oprah has above the horizon—the arena of objective, social action. Because they're all retrograde, Oprah found it very easy to "customize" those functions, use them in highly individualized ways, and make them talents that give her a profound influence in whatever social matrix she inhabits. In the last post about her, I called these three planets her BroadcastStation...

As explained on the Information Site, the B.I.D.E. System uses a full-cycle approach to aspects which makes any given aspect-type (except the conjunction and opposition) have two distinct manifestations: Waxing (0° to 180°) and Waning (180° to 0°). Also, aspects are always calculated from the slower planet to the faster planet. In addition, each of the interpretations below are only what I think fits Oprah's character and accomplishments. Each of those aspects has 511 other possible interpretations in the B.I.D.E. System...

If the interpretations of these planetary aspects of Oprah seem way too abstract or don't give you any interpretive satisfaction, I challenge you to construct a few Symbolic Sentences with the B.I.D.E. System of your own aspects and see just how powerfully it can reveal a vast amount of insightful information...

Since these aspects all involve Oprah's major social talents, interpreting them can give insight into why she's been called the world's most influential woman.

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*Pluto's Aspects*

Pluto in Leo in the 11th House waxing Sextile Neptune in Libra in the 1st House
Regenerating Creative Response in order to Enlist the Aid of Her Social Network
Induces New Ways of Organizing the Situation by
Envisioning a Harmonizing Attitude in order to See Things Clearly.

Pluto in Leo in the 11th House waxing Square Mars in Scorpio in the 2nd House
Getting to the Depths of Dramatic Concern in order to Give Expression to Her Hopes
Induces Courage to Face Crises by
Asserting the Worth of Others in order to Ground Her Plans.

Pluto in Leo in the 11th House waxing QuadNovile Mercury in Aquarius in the 5th House
{If you're wondering why I'm not calling this an Opposition, mention it in the Comments}
Transcending [ordinary] Dramatic Concern in order to Activate Her Goals
Helps Perfect the Cultivation of Plans by
Investigating Humanitarian Considerations in order to Externalize Her Creativity.

*Uranus' Aspects*

Neptune in Libra in the 1st House waning Square Uranus in Cancer in the 10th House
Being Idealistic about Awareness of Others in order to See Things Clearly
Increases Dedication to Social Transformation by
Seeking the Truth of Character Development in order to Make the Situation as Objective as Possible.

Uranus in Cancer in the 10th House waxing TriDecile Saturn in Scorpio in the 2nd House
Breaking Obsolete Traditions of Emotional Security in order to Express Her Social Role
Helps Clarify Responsibilites by
Defining the Worth of Others in order to Be Aware of Her Worth.

Uranus in Cancer in the 10th House waxing BiQuintile Moon in Sagittarius in the 3rd House
Exploring Fresh Ideas about Nurturing Abilities in order to Make the Situation as Objective as Possible
Aids the Development of Required Resources by
Adapting a Broad Viewpoint in order to Be Aware of Her Immediate Environment.

Uranus in Cancer in the 10th House waning QuadNovile Sun in Aquarius in the 5th House
Seeking the Truth of Character Development in order to Be Who She Is In The World
Creates an Awareness of New Social Possiblities by
Vitalizing Humanitarian Considerations in order to Provide an Example.

Uranus in Cancer in the 10th House waning QuadNovile Venus in Aquarius in the 5th House
Breaking Obsolete Traditions of Character Development in order to Express Her Social Role
Helps Realize the Value of Unconditional Inclusiveness by
Valuing Group-Consciousness in order to Dramatize Her Concerns.

Uranus in Cancer in the 10th House waning Quincunx Mercury in Aquarius in the 5th House
Seeking the Truth of Emotional Security in order to Realize Her Highest Objective Goals
Aids Development of Group Experience by
Perceiving “Global” Awareness in order to Dramatize Her Concerns.

*Jupiter's Aspects*

Saturn in Scorpio in the 2nd House waning BiQuintile Jupiter in Gemini in the 9th House
Clarifying the Worth of Others in order to Focus on Her Resources
Aids Exploration of Underlying Social Forces by
Amplifying Intellectual Freedom in order to Bring the Situation to its Highest Expression.

Jupiter in Gemini in the 9th House waxing QuadNovile Moon in Sagittarius in the 3rd House
Being Optimistic about Intellectual Freedom in order to Realize the Ideal
Increases Awareness of the Actualization of Potential by
Nurturing a Broad Viewpoint in order to Make Connections.

Jupiter in Gemini in the 9th House waning Trine Sun in Aquarius in the 5th House
Expanding Diversity of Ideas in order to Bring the Situation to its Highest Expression
Induces Insight into the Needs of Society by
Focusing Humanitarian Considerations in order to Dramatize Her Concerns.

Jupiter in Gemini in the 9th House waning Trine Venus in Aquarius in the 5th House
Amplifying Intellectual Freedom in order to Realize the Ideal
Impels Understanding of the Attitudes of Others by
Attracting Radical Breakthroughs in order to Externalize Her Creativity.

Jupiter in Gemini in the 9th House waning Trine Mercury in Aquarius in the 5th House
Being Optimistic about Intellectual Freedom in order to Broadcast Expectations
Induces Insight into the Needs of Society by
Increasing Awareness of Humanitarian Considerations in order to Provide an Example.

Notes from A Newbie . . .

The evolution of this blog has been happening faster than I first anticipated. Due to a few people's responses (and some analysis of the visitor stats), I'm introducing the aspect phrases for the B.I.D.E. Interpretive System.

Just before we read from the notebook of a new student of the System and see how they're blending it with two other systems, I want to draw your attention to the red link in the right panel that says, Information Site. This is a companion site that holds a growing wealth of guides and tips for using the B.I.D.E. System. The latest addition is the > B.I.D.E. Full Aspect Cycle along with an > Example of Using the Aspect Phrases. I'll begin using the aspect phrases along with the Planet/Sign/House interpretations in the next post...

Now, follow along while a newbie experiences their first use of the B.I.D.E. System:
It might help you follow their thinking if you also open the Main Interpretive Page

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I'll gladly share the details of what I did.... it's a bit tentative.
Much of how I brought it together was intuitive.... it just strung itself together and went with the flow of it....to me it makes sense...hope it does to you too!!LOL!
It's the basic transcription from my own note book.

So using the interpretive layout that Bernadette Brady offers in her book, I started:
Uranus conjoins Venus opposes Pluto
                    Natal house position
      11                               5                            11

                    Natal House transited
            ---- 5 ------------------ 5 ------

                    House ruled by planet
                    
      5                              1/8                         2/7           (area impacted)

So, using your formula: Breaking Obsolete traditions (Uranus) liberates (conj) my values ( Venus) in order to externalize my creativity (secure my identity) (5H) in the way I express my self (1st) and how emotionally/soul secure I feel. But it opposes/challenges the transformation of Service attitude (Pluto in Virgo) in order to ground my plans (2H) to refresh a relationship (7H)

For the New Moon (June 23) and it's aspects;
New Moon in Taurus in 8th - New energy/cycle of Individual worth (Taurus) in order to Deepen relationship and/or promote/awaken emotional/soul security ( 8th- this being Arroyo's way of defining Houses)

~~Trine AC Libra, ruled by Venus in 5H -triggers rapid development (Trine) of Awareness (Brady's key principle for AC) of Harmonizing attitude in order to value expression of self.

~~Inconjunct Neptune (r) in 2nd H - releasing negative(?) (r) Idealisation (Neptune) of self worth(rather the lack thereof!)

~~Sextile Mars 6th H, ruling the 2&7- thus encountering a chance/opportunity (sext) to act/take action (mars) in order to improve myself impacting the awareness of my worth and refresh a relationship.

~~Trine Mercury 4th H, ruling 12&9- rapid development of communication of/about emotional/soul action (4th), transforming (8th being where the energy comes from)12-how I utilize the resources of my Unconscious Mind and 9 -realize the ideal and learning about my true identity/highest expression

>>I would go to Arroyo's House key word system or to Brady's key words for aspects when the one's provided did not fit the sentence or context....again, it was done intuitively. <<

The previous New Moon was also in my 8th H, and just for fun, I'll interpret it here:
~New Moon in Gemini, 8th - New energy/cycle of Communication ( or intelectual freedom) emotional/soul security

Opposes/challenges

~~Neptune in Scorpio 2nd H/ ruling the 6th- established(natal) idealisation(Neptune) of the desire (need?) to bond deeply (Scorpio) in order to be aware of my worth

Squares/forces adaptation of

~~Mercury in Aquarius,4H, ruling the 12/9 - perception (mercury) of group consciousness in order to ground myself emotionally (4H) ultimately altering how I utilize the Resources of my unconscious Mind (12H) and 9 -realize the ideal and learning about my true identity/highest expression

Background story, very briefly: For the last five years I have been focusing almost exclusively on my spiritual development and evolution. At that time, I had separated from my partner of twelve years as our paths seemed to go in different directions. We remained friendly but there were no intentions of ever getting back together, until last year when it became clear to me ( due to much self analysis, growth and better understanding of my own, and his, emotional limitations) that our relationship could (still) provide me (us) with a firm foundation from which to "evolve". I broached the subject with him at the time but there were many distractions, obstacles and delays. Still he was receptive, more so than ever before in our relating history, and he asked I hang on to the idea.

I did, with much concerns about being used and humiliation at the idea of "going back"...plus other insecurities.

During the winter, all the obstacles that stood in our way somewhat miraculously vanished, giving us a fresh, new context to start a relationship. In the spring, he contacted me and arranged for us to spend time together and see "where it goes".

He unconsciously picked the day after the May New Moon, and I agreed to join him on that day.

I was beset for the whole cycle- until the full moon- with much insecurity and welcomed the revelation about my "established idealisation of the desire to bond deeply" in order to feel valuable (to him). I was forced to adapt my communications with him, being aware that my insecurities played a big role in our "group consciousness". I was very conscious of the unconscious impulses and moderated those heavily, thus learning about higher expression, and approaching the situation from a soul's point view (for growth). I left him behind to return home a few days after the full moon and he scheduled our next encounter for the 22 June! [Ed. note: the date of the next New Moon]

He's not into astrology and has no idea about moon cycles.

Of course, there's more to the story than that, but for brevity's sake and to stay close to the aspects looked at here....

Alex, this is how I did it. I hope this is helpful. It was to me!

This is as far as I have worked with this, but it has already proven itself to be an effective method, I can't wait to put it to further use and perfect the method!!
Oh! and your input and comments are welcomed!!
~~~ C.

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My comments? Well, I applaud you for taking aspects of my System and working to blend them with two other systems!!

What you've done obviously helps your understanding of a sensitive and powerful set of circumstances; and, while your method isn't my method, I'm the first person to encourage folks to use the B.I.D.E. System in whatever way works for them...

Looking forward to more examples and bold creativity from you!!!

I think you'll like the pages about aspects that I just added:
> B.I.D.E. Full Aspect Cycle
and
> Example of Using the Aspect Phrases

Very Special Closing Note:
I received the above example after someone else had suggested I open the blog to readers' experiences with the System. These two people don't know each other and I just Love the Synchronicity of it all!!!

So...

Here's your Invitation to submit Your experiences with the B.I.D.E. Interpretive System so I can consider their use as a blog post...