ASTROLOGY: Emerson--America's Great New Age Mystic Surely the spring of 1803 was a most benefic time for America. In April the Louisiana Territory, called the biggest real estate bargain of all time, was acquired, greatly enlarging its boundaries. And in May there was born in New England one destined to become a New Age pioneer. Even the pulpit of one of the most forward-looking churches was not sufficiently progressive for him. He resigned, and travelled to Europe to meet some of its avant garde thinkers like Wordsworth, Carlyle, Coleridge. On returning, he founded (in 1836) with Margaret Fuller, Henry Thoreau, and others, the movement that came to be known as Transcendentalism, no doubt the nation's most influential New Age initiative of the time. At first glance, his chart does not appear at all unique. It seems to be just another Splash pattern with the planets scattered in seven signs. He himself is credited with the saying that concentration is genius' essence, yet his own planetary energies seem widely dispersed. (Of course he also said that a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.) For his activity was broadly focused: he travelled, wrote, and lectured widely, yet he was a genius nevertheless. Our big clue to understanding his chart is in the 3rd house. Neptune is closely conjunct the Part of Fortune; this symbolic point's closest aspect often points to where the emphasis is. The configuration's meaning: "A sense of participation in vast social or spiritual movements."1 It is well to remember that in charts where Neptune is prominent, much is submerged, subtly concealed. After all, Neptune is "monarch" of the maritime; we must look deeply. In doing so, we find Neptune and Pluto in mutual reception. Uranus' solstice point is also with them: all the three New Age planets are together in the 6th house of work. Too, they are linked by (minor) aspects. Uranus and Neptune form a semi- square; Neptune and Pluto a biseptile (103 degrees, small orb allowed) of destiny. The extra-Saturnian orbs are very strongly interconnected, even though in a somewhat concealed, typically Neptunian manner. They have congregated in Neptune's sign that, greatly increasing its importance. Even though Gemini is the Sun sign and chart signature, Pisces is the real basis of Emerson's achievements. We have his own words for this: "The greatest genius is he who offers fewest obstacles to the illumination from above."2 Pisces is the sign most capable of self-abnegation, giving itself away. Only an empty vessel can be filled. How regrettable that the sign of the fishes is at times referred to with such disparaging remarks as "dustbin of the zodiac" when potentially it is most capable of responding to divine dynamics. This goes along with the 8th cusp of regeneration, bringing out the best, whose degree symbol is "An empty hammock."3 Nature Ä incidentally, this is the brief title of the book that helped launch Transcendentalism Ä abhors a vacuum. It will eventually be filled by something, in the spiritual realm either by demons or divinity.4 Surely Emerson emptied his own "hammock," or vessel, for an inflow from above, and with the strength of his New Age planets as noted above, his bent was to respond to their positive vibrations. All the more because we also glimpse two Finger of God configurations. Even one in a chart is quite rare; what comment would be adequate when there are two? Especially when their components are so exquisitely harmonious? In one, Venus, Jupiter, and Neptune are all in some way tied to Pisces: Venus is exalted therein, the other two orbs dignified. In the other, Mars, Uranus, and Pluto are all related to Scorpio: Uranus is exalted, the other two dignified. The more harmonious the components of a configuration, the greater its potential. The apexes of the two figures of destiny are in the 6th and 8th houses; esoteric work was his appointed assignment. And esoteric astrology further helps explain his success. In addition to the regular mutual reception already noted, he has an esoteric one. Venus is Gemini's esoteric ruler; Mercury that of Aries; they're in each others' signs.5 Hence, special emphasis and relationship. Gemini is the logo of communicating where Emerson excelled. Aries is not only the symbol of forcefulness (here Venus removes abrasiveness), also of simplicity. It was said of a preacher, Six days a week he's invisible, the seventh he's incomprehensible. By contrast, Emerson was highly visible and just as comprehensible, a fact supported by these important degree meanings: The Ascendant: "Vibrant simplicity." The M.C.: "Warmth of simple living." The 12th cusp: "Death of useless things."6 Mercury: "A man trimming palms."7 In the sense of getting rid of the unnecessary, this surely is a step in the direction of simplicity. "Trimming" also implies making something short, brief. Emerson could not be accused of being long-winded. When lecturing, he would put his watch on the lectern and always stop at the time promised. There was a self-authenticating naturalness about Emerson's message. Though rightly called New Age, it was part of the Ageless Wisdom. This is clearly indicated by the chart. Straddling the Ascendant are Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus. The first represents the old, the last the new; since Jupiter is almost exactly in their middle it ties them all together even though no actual aspect exists.9 Emerson once said, "Astrology is astronomy brought to earth and applied to the affairs of men."9 It can similarly be said that the New Age Message is the Ageless Wisdom adapted and applied to this age. --A Probationer 1. The Lunation Cycle, Dane Rudhyar, p. 116. 2. Emerson, Lillian A. Maulsby, p. 14. 3. The Sabian Symbols, Marc Edmund Jones, p. 166. 4. Matthew 12:43-45. 5. Astrology, The Divine Science, Moore and Douglas, pp. 697, 699. 6. Astrology of Personality, Dane Rudhyar, pp. 360, 351, 357. 7. Marc Edmund Jones, op. cit., p. 234. 8. Astrology, Ronald C. Davison, p. 111. 9. A to Z Horoscope Maker and Delineator, Llewellyn George, p. 255.