The 41st Annual Conference of the Astrological Association - A Review by AA Member Alex Trenoweth

Unusual for a high school teacher, I look forward to September. Not, of course, because I can't wait to be up to my neck in marking, but because September means the AA Conference is just around the temporal corner. The AA conference isn’t just about attending lectures and listening about arcane techniques. The best parts of the conference take place outside of the main lectures because it gives you a chance to see what’s happening in the world of astrology. That’s not to say the conference didn’t have an impressive line-up! This year’s conference speakers were a mix of oldies but goodies as well as a few new faces such as Elizabeth Hathway who was visiting from Holland. As always, the delegates list was a cosmopolitan combination of excited beginner and experienced practitioner. In particular, it was wonderful to have such a large delegation from Japan. It was a wonderful testament to astrology’s ability to unite people.

Between lectures is not only a great time to grab a cup of liquid refreshment but an opportunity to visit the exhibition area and bookshop. To be honest, I try to keep my wallet at home when I know I’ll be visiting a bookshop (Venus in Gemini) but I always splurge a little at the conference because with the variety of books available to buy, there really is something for everyone. Glenda Cole and I—with our polar opposite approaches to hair care—even found a book on astrological coiffures.

The exhibition area is filled with opportunities to stay connected to the people you have met and to view demonstrations of the latest astrological software advances. It’s also a great place to meet the author of the books you have just bought and to check out the various courses on offer.

On a more earthy note, the premises of Wyboston Conference Centre was a familiar one. Tucked away in the Bedfordshire countryside and located far away from noisy traffic, the weekend felt like a well earned break. If anyone got tired of astrology (!), they could always enjoy the leisure activities on offer: golf, a fitness club, a water sports centre or even fishing on the lake.

The best part of the conference for me is always the Saturday night dinner. I love to see everyone dressed up and smiling—and talking astrology over the sirloin. There’s just something absolutely magical about a stellium of astrologers filling a room with their conversations. Listen closely and you can hear of someone’s plans for their next book or lecture or a newby tentatively asking about a dreaded transit. I’m always honoured to be in the company of such wonderfully interesting and generous people.

I have to say I had a little chuckle when I saw that the chart of the conference’s opening had a Jupiter, Chiron and Neptune conjunction in Aquarius in the first house. If anyone was in need of a little healing, they could just ask the astrologers at the bar. Not that I really noticed.

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For pictures and more information about our conference visit our conference review page



Event Day with Christeen Skinner. A report by Sharon Knight

The Astrological Association run seminars around the country in conjunction with local groups, below is a review of the most recent event very kindly provided by AA member Sharon Knight. Pictures are courtesy of Jackie Taylor. Visit our website for details of the next event

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On the 27th June, I was fortunate enough to be able to attend a workshop with Christeen Skinner. The day was a joint venture between the Astrological Association and the Buckinghamshire group, Starburst.

‘Brilliant’ is the word to sum up the day. The event was billed as Using Financial & Locational Astrology to Navigate the Economy. There were about 27 people present, one of whom had flown up from Dublin to hear Christeen speak. The majority were mostly practising astrologers but there were a few who were only just entering the arena of astrology.

The day was divided into two parts, the morning session dealt with economic and financial astrology and how the cycles of the planets from Jupiter outwards have pinpointed shifts and changes in world events. Christeen demonstrated how the aspects and returns between the major planets have correlated with significant events here on Earth. She also explained Sun Spot cycles and showed some interesting diagrams demonstrating how our Sun is slightly off centre in our galactic system and how the Sun Spot cycle is actually a 22 year (approximate) cycle and not just an 11 year cycle.

Christeen showed various charts including those of the UK (1801) and stock exchange charts and demonstrated how the cycles and aspects formed by the major planets affected not only her clients and their businesses or personal life, but also that of the country as a whole.

One of Christeen’s business specialities is gold and other metals. She had noticed how aspects and planets conjoining the Galactic centre degree had resonated in the business world and on the gold markets.

The whole morning was fascinating but it was over all too quickly! We broke for lunch and adjourned to a nearby pub for an excellent and plentiful spread. As soon as it was time to return, everyone galloped back to their seats, eager to continue with the afternoon session.

This session was on Local Space and Geodetics. Although I know about Local Space, the use of Geodetics was new to me. Christeen calls the Moon our Bread Basket and feels that one should pay great attention to where your Moon falls, and ensure it is nurtured and supported. She described Geodetics is astrological Fung Shui. Using Solar Fire, you can easily set up a geodetic chart. It really does give another dimension to astrology and proved to be both great fun and an eye opener!

Christeen made a few observations about the coming years and likely events. She feels we haven’t seen the end of the “credit crunch” and that there will be more bad news to come towards the end of this year and the beginning of next. The “market” to invest in for the future is the arts. We have been told!

I bought Christeen’s updated book, The Financial Universe, first published in 2004 (ISBN No: 978-1-898595-44-1). This book is written primarily for those with no knowledge of astrology. There is so much information contained within it, it should be on every astrologers bookshelf.

My only complaint about the day was it was over too quickly and then I had a long drive back home before I could set up the various charts and start to read her book!

If you get the opportunity to hear Christeen speak, then grab it with both hands, you won’t be disappointed.

Sharon Knight

Voldemort and The Boy Who Lived – Part 2 by Frances Clynes

Harry's Chart

Given the part that they played in each other's destiny there is surprisingly little synastry between Harry and Voldemort, particularly when you consider that each carried a piece of the other's soul after Voldemort's first attack on Harry. Certain themes are repeated, for example Voldemort has Pluto conjunct the North Node, while Harry has Pluto sextile and trine the nodal axis. The Sun in each chart squares Mars in the other chart. Perhaps in this we hear Harry's words to Voldemort 'It's just you and me. Neither can live while the other survives'.

Both Harry and Voldemort have a Moon-Saturn aspect. While Voldemort has them conjoined, Harry has them in opposition. Like Voldemort, Harry lost his mother Lily, as a baby. In Harry's case she gave her life to save him from Voldemort. We can imagine how Voldemort must have contrasted this act of great love with his own loveless childhood. On the day of Harry's birth the Moon was at 27 Pisces at noon, conjunct Voldemort's Uranus at 25 Pisces, and trine Voldemort's own Moon at 27 Scorpio conjunct Saturn. So Lily's great sacrifice, activated Voldemort's jealousy of Harry, and feelings of loss at his early separation from his own mother. Harry appears to be aware of this and frequently uses it as a weapon in their verbal battles. In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry says 'You're the weak one! You've never known love, or friendship. And I feel sorry for you'. Perhaps this as much as anything else fueled Voldemort's determination to kill Harry. For whatever reason, the degree of Harry's Moon, 27 Pisces assumes some significance in the conflict that ensued.

At the time of the attack on Harry, Voldemort's Venus had progressed to 27 Pisces and had conjoined Harry's Moon. This would suggest that Voldemort must have been greatly moved by Lily's actions, although a conjunction between pr Venus and pr Uranus may have resulted in him cutting himself off from these feelings. As this attack also resulted in the disembodiment of Voldemort's soul, we can speculate on the importance of Venus in his natal chart. Chart ruler?

For those who have yet to read the final book – SPOILER ALERT!









On the day their final conflict began, tr Venus was at the significant degree of 27 Pisces, conjunct Harry's Moon and Voldemort's Uranus. As the conflict ended it conjoined his progressed Venus at 28 degrees. In this final battle the theme of sacrifice once more shows itself as this time Harry is prepared to die himself to save his friends from Voldemort. Once again as this degree is activated, Harry asks 'Accident was it, when my mother died to save me?' And once again Voldemort is defeated, this time finally. As He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named hit the floor for the last time, we are told that the 'fierce new sun dazzled the windows' and 'the sun rose steadily over Hogwarths'.