Question of the Hour 11*16*05

A client asked: "Should I launch a home based candle business?"

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Nov 8 2005
11:55 am PST
San Francisco CA
25 Capricorn rises

Some questions are full of complexity and nuance. Answers are along the lines of Yes but... and No however.... Why is this the case? Because life is complex and questions reflect competing emotions and drives. Other questions, though, are more straightforward - everywhere we look we see the same answer. This is one of the easier ones.

With 25 Capricorn rising, the client's essence and action is represented by Saturn at 11 Leo in the 7th house. What's happening with Saturn at this position? Saturn isn't going any further than 11 Leo - this is the station retrograde degree (actual movement backwards happens on 11/22). So the literal and obvious meaning of this placement is that it is not time to start anything. It is time to wait. We are getting this from the fact that Saturn is at a standstill; but we also know the nature of Saturn. The slowest moving of the visible planets often involves delays even when moving quickly. At a stop, interpretation is certain: Wait!

Let's look to the Moon as representing feelings and flow of events. Moon is at 13 Aquarius in the 1st house. Moon in Aquarius experiences satisfaction by connecting with people and often involves communication with an extended circle of friends and acquaintances. The next aspect the Moon makes is a square to Mars. Let's look at this.

Mars is on the 4th cusp of home which is suitable for the question. Mars rules the 10th house of career. How perfect! See why I like horary? The client is asking about a home based business, and at this precise moment of the question the ruler of the 10th house of career is within 3 degrees of the 4th house cusp of home. A few minutes later would have told a different story. The first thought of most people looking at a square from Moon to Mars is "challenge." This may be true, but all aspects must be understood in the context of their receptions, or relationships between signs. Taurus is the exaltation sign of the Moon. This means the Moon loves Taurus, and she wants to give her light to planets in this sign, square or not. If she can see them (traditionally "aspect" means glance) she will give. So the literal meaning here is the client likes the idea of this new home based business, even though she knows it will entail some struggle. So we think that with effort this may come about. But Mars is also retrograde, so again we see that it is time to wait!

Back to some larger issues: is this a good idea at all, and if so when might be a suitable time? At the very least, we need Mars, the ruler of the 10th house of career to go direct and enter the 4th house. Mars goes direct in early December and will reach the 4th house cusp in the 3rd week in January. But let's not forget that the client is first and foremost represented by Saturn. Saturn is about to retrograde and will stay that way until early April. So even though Mars (career) will have some forward motion before then, this particular idea might not come to fruition. Do we see anything else that confirms this?

There are two things. Mars, the ruler of career, is backing into a square with Saturn, the ruler of the client. That means the job comes into conflict with the person. Here we have no reception to mitigate the effects of the square. And in fact this square will occur twice - once with Marx Rx, then again with Mars direct. So I wonder if the client will wind up changing her mind about the idea.

Let's also look at the Moon again. The Moon is also in square to the Sun. Again we have "challenge" but here with the receptions the interpretation is quite different. The Moon is in Aquarius, which is the detriment sign of the Sun. This is no insult to everyone with an Aquarius Sun out there! This is just the way it is. Aquarius naturally shuns the spotlight and allows others to take the glory. The Sun doesn't have as much power here as in other signs. So as squares go this isn't good because the Sun doesn't like the Moon at all. The Sun is in Scorpio - and this is the most difficult sign for the Moon! Again this is not meant to be depress people with Moons in Scorpio. Moon wants to give; Scorpio wants to establish power in relations. These are at odds, and the Moon cannot function as well here as in other signs. So when the Moon squares planets in Scorpio she has a very strong aversion. So a square of Moon in Aquarius to Sun in Scorpio is among the worst of all squares the lights can have!

Why is this important? Because the business is a candle business. Candles are about light. When the lights in the chart are coming into a very difficult relationship, we have to wonder if something else might be more fruitful.

Advice to client: At the very least, wait until January. Keep mind open to other possibilities that promise more gain. The idea of a home based business may be a good one, but this may change form.

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