Astrology Basics: The Conjunction Aspect and Ryder Robinson

A natal chart shows the placements of the planets in the sky at the time of someone’s birth. To the average person, it may just look like a lot of dots in a circle, but to an astrologer, it reveals the patterns and tendencies in that person’s behavior and needs. The planets, while very far apart in our sky, look closer together when placed in the natal wheel, and connections between them can be seen by tracing certain mathematical angles between the planets, such as the 90 degree* angle, called a square. The connections between planets are called aspects.

Most aspects can be categorized as positive or negative in their effect. A trine helps two planets work well together, while an opposition gets planets in a tug of war. But a conjunction can be a devil or an angel, depending on the planets involved. Two or more planets conjunct each other (very close to one another as in Ryder's chart) can intensify each other, creating a sort of 'superplanet'. One planet, or part of that person, doesn't function without the other part--they are fused in their expression. This can lend a certain focus and intensity, but it also doesn't allow the planets to have any perspective. In an opposition, the planets duke it out, which can feel tense, but ultimately it helps us reign each planet in. Not so with the conjunction.

In Ryder's chart (son of Kate Hudson and Chris Robinson), we see Mercury in a conjunction with Pluto. Mercury is the planet of communication, learning, and point of view--how we think and how we communicate those thoughts. With Mercury in Sagittarius, Ryder has a tendency to think big, and to express what he's thinking with directness, in an unfiltered fashion. Mercury in Sagittarius likes to express itself rather naively and optimistically.

Add Pluto to the soup, and you'll get a deeper flavor. While Mercury in Sagittarius might be rather naive, Pluto, the planet of power and psychological depth, gives Ryder a certain penetrating insight that Mercury in Sagittarius might not have alone. It's hard to pull the wool over Ryder's eyes, as he is more likely to be looking for the story behind what he sees, not just accepting things at face value which is more in the style of Mercury in Sagittarius. He's also likely to have a sharper tongue, both in his ability to sting with his words if he chooses, knowing just what to say to really dig into someone, but also to probably stun all the adults around him with the level of maturity and awareness in his observations.

Other celebri-tots with Mercury conjunct Pluto: Benjamin (Tom Brady & Gisele Bündchen), Axel (Will Ferrell & Viveca Paulin), Zahara (Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt), and Margaret Grace (Mark Wahlberg & Rhea Durham).

*A degree is a unit of measurement. They are marked by the degree symbol following the numbers by each planet in a natal chart. There are 360 degrees in a circle. Each sign is divided into 30 degrees, so counting restarts at 0 when entering a new sign. To find an opposition, locate any planet in a natal chart and note its degree number. Then count 6 signs from there in either direction and see if another planet lands in the same degree (give or take a few degrees) in the new sign. That’s an opposition! If you’re not sure, or you don’t have a copy of your natal chart, you can calculate one for free instantly online at Kiddiegram.com!

^Ryder's birth time is not publicly known, so a noon chart has been cast. This does not affect the planets placement in the signs, except possibly the fast-moving moon, so the planets in signs discussed are correct even without a birth time.

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Christina Aguilera's Son Max: Mommy's Protector!

During a recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Christina Aguilera mentioned that her son Max is very protective of her:

“If he was here right now, when you shook my hand, he’d be like, ‘Don’t touch my mommy!’ He doesn’t get the whole thing yet that mommy is a public personality so he’s very protective."

“When I’m getting my makeup done, he’s like, ‘No! Don’t touch!’ It’ll be interesting to see how he reacts to a tour.”

Max doesn't have a lot of planetary placements in his chart that would tend to indicate possessiveness, but Mlle. Kiddie suspects that Pluto in Max's 4th House of Home and Family might be a clue to his behavior with his mother. Pluto intensifies and deepens whatever it touches, and in the 4th house, we forge our family connections, so while most children form a deep attachment to their parents, Max's may be even more intense.

More would be revealed if it was known whether this behavior started before Christina and Max's father, Jordan Bratman, split. Because Pluto can indicate a deep attachment to something (in this case, to mom, it being in the 4th house) it can also be a place where we develop a profound fear or longing if that attachment feels threatened. This is indicated in Max's Kiddiegram:


Pluto in the Fourth House

Max is apt to have a very intense relationship with one or both of his parents. It may be stormy and difficult, or it may simply be an unusually close, strong attachment of which he's very much aware. Max is affected by the emotional undercurrents, secrets, or power dynamics in his home. Healing or clearing away some old family business will a part of his life task.

With Mars in the opposite position from Pluto, and forming a square to his Ascendant, Max may be establishing himself early on as 'defender' of the family, reacting to his deep desire to stay safe with mom (or perhaps keep mom safe) by defending her against others' touch. The planet Mars is often known as the warrior planet, and many people think of it astrologically as how we initiate, or attack, going after what we want, but a warrior also defends, just as Max is doing. Mlle. Kiddie hopes mom Christina can ease Max into 'standing down'!

Photo courtesy of Raffaele Fiorillo
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Parenting with Astrology: Terrible Twos Come Early?

Amy Herring has been a professional astrologer for 15 years and a proud mother for 5 of those years. She has joyfully accepted Mlle. Kiddie’s gracious offer to share her thoughts once a month here at Kiddie Star Signs. To find out more about Amy and her personal readings for parents and children, visit her website at http://heavenlytruth.com.

Money and fame don’t solve every problem. Celebrity moms have their hopes and worries for their children too. However, Mlle. Kiddie would like to offer ‘everyday’ moms a chance to see astrology put into action to answer their parenting questions. After all, famous or not, you’re the world to your kids! If you’ve got a question about your child that you’d like Amy to answer, send your questions any time to amy@heavenlytruth.com.

Erin writes:

The terrible twos seem to have come early to my son, Javeth. It started I'd say a month ago and I have NO idea what sparks it. He'll be perfectly happy and then suddenly throw himself, very dramatically (but carefully so as not to hurt himself, so you know it's for show) and will carefully bang his head on the floor. There's also occasional throwing objects. When it turns to real tears, we comfort him and he's fine for a minute and then another five minutes of fit, and then a minute off. What's going on?

Amy answers:
The rise of frequency and intensity of these fits seems to correlate with the planet Pluto. It has been contacting a number of planets in his chart as it crosses over his Ascendant, a sensitive area in anyone's natal chart. Pluto has a number of complex meanings, but in a child's chart, the simplest and most relevant thing to say is that it brings a higher level of intensity of feeling and experience. What you may be seeing as he has his fits are the peaks, when the feeling wave breaks, so to speak, and overwhelms him. I hesitate to point to an exact trigger, but you might look for clues having anything to do with situations where he feels like his will is being thwarted, be it by another person, or even an uncooperative object.

Pluto has also been squaring his Mercury and at the same time, trining his Moon. A square is a tense energy; it represents two things that are having difficulty working together, like whenever we experience inner conflict or confusion due to conflicting desires. Mercury is how we express ourselves. Javeth may find himself frustrated by not being able to express how he's feeling in a way that can be understood. What is supported is his Moon by the trine, so it's his feelings where most of this Pluto juice can more easily express itself. It's sort of the path of the least resistance for this Plutonian intensity: feelings over words. A trine paves an easy path, so it all pours out his feelings. Given his age, he may not be talking much in the way of communicating his emotions anyway, only feeling them and crying or laughing, etc., so this might be all part of the impetus to learn how to develop the range of expression of his feelings.

The square to Mercury from Pluto can be very useful for development, as things that frustrate us often compel us to try and find a solution to resolve our inner tension, so squares can often produce the best breakthroughs. His progressed moon, which is often a clue as to where our attention and interest lies at any given time, is about a week away from moving into the sign of Gemini, so you can probably expect his communication skills to begin progressing quite rapidly, and his interest in books or any kind of media or even puzzles will likely increase, so he may be an early reader if you want to help him develop those skills. In November, his Moon will form a trine to Mercury, so you can expect another leap in his verbal/communication development then as well.

But back to Pluto and the 'fits'; due to retrograde motion (a planet appearing to move backward) Pluto will pass one last time over his ascendant in late December, never to return. It'll take a couple more months from there for Pluto to also initiate and complete it's next emotional connection to Javeth's Mars, which piggybacks on the current Mercury & Moon connections I've mentioned. During all these feelings of emotional overwhelm and frustration, helping him develop the abilities to express what he's feeling and what he needs may provide a useful outlet for his feelings, as he'll have the motivation to develop skills of communication with his progressed moon entering Gemini.

For now, I think helping him experience and express the emotions is probably the best thing you can do. When the Moon feels, it doesn't need to have a problem solved as much as it just needs comfort, nurturing, and a safe place to fall apart for a moment.

As always, a dose of 'kids will be kids' and 'make sure he's not ill or that nothing else seems to be wrong' always applies. Good luck and thanks for your question!

Would you like some input on how to understand and nurture your child in the most effective way for their unique needs? Amy offers readings for parents and children; find out more at her website.

Happy Father's Day: Keith & Sunday Rose

In celebration of Father's Day, Mlle. Kiddie looks at daddy-kiddo relationships this month.

Keith Urban & Sunday Rose

While Mlle. Kiddie does not know Keith's exact birth time, there is no disputing that his moon lies in the sign of Cancer, pairing up nicely with Sunday's Cancer Sun & Venus. Sunday is sure to be daddy's little girl, if daddy has any say in the matter! One of the primary ways Keith will want to take care of his little girl is to make sure she feels sheltered, and he will go to great lengths to make sure her emotional needs are met beyond her physical needs.

Cancer is a very gentle and nurturing energy but don't get between a Cancer and their baby or you'll be meeting Mama Bear, not a little crab. But with Sunday, Keith is tender and will definitely be wrapped around his daughter's little finger, probably giving in to her a little more often than a parent should since she tugs on his heartstrings so easily. His Mars in disciplined Capricorn will help him to lay down the rules a little better, even while his gentle heart breaks!

A handful of factors in Keith's chart create a potential overwhelm of intensity for Sunday. Keith's Mars lands right on Sunday's Pluto, and Keith's Pluto lands right on Sunday's Moon. Those factors coupled with Keith's intense Scorpio Sun can indicate that Keith's passion, intensity, and any issues with anger he may have can feel very frightening and overwhelming to Sunday, who has a much gentler disposition over all. Since it's Sunday's Moon (heart) and Keith's Pluto (facing fears), Sunday's desire to love and care for her dad will definitely help him become an even stronger and braver person than he already is. Of course, who can't say that parenthood has simply had to make them braver!?

Keith and Sunday also have a very Venusian influence on each other; each of their Venus is in the same sign as the other's Moon (Keith's Venus in Virgo to Sunday's Moon in Virgo, and Sunday's Venus in Cancer to Keith's Moon in Cancer). Not only do they love each other, but there's probably going to be a fair amount of liking each other and getting along, which is what Venus links between people create: harmony. This can help mitigate some of the overwhelming effects of Keith's intensity on Sunday.

Photo: INF