Was Michael a Dead Peasant?

Some things to ponder….

Dead Peasants

“Corporate-owned life insurance (COLI) is life insurance on employees' lives that is owned by the employer corporation, with benefits payable to the corporation. COLI was originally purchased on the lives of key employees and executives by a company to hedge against the financial cost of losing key employees to unexpected death, the risk of recruiting and training replacements of necessary or highly-trained personnel, or to fund corporate obligations to redeem stock upon the death of an owner. This use is commonly known as "key man" or "key person" insurance. Although this article refers only to practice and policy in the United States, key person insurance is used worldwide.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate-owned_life_insurance

From Wall Street Journal Law Blog February 24, 2009

“Ever heard of “dead peasant” insurance policies? We hadn’t either, until recently. In a nutshell, they’re often secret insurance policies taken out by companies on unwitting employees, which can yield sizable corporate tax breaks.”

http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2009/02/24/dead-peasant-policies-the-next-big-thing-in-insurance-litigation/tab/article/

From msn.money

“Right now, your company could have a life insurance policy on you that you know nothing about. When you die - perhaps years after you leave your employer - the tax-free proceeds from this policy wouldn’t go to your family. The money would go to the company.”

http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/insurance/p64954.asp

From Fog City Journal October 3, 2009

“I learned about a new low in corporate greed … It is called “dead peasant” insurance. Companies take out secret insurance policies on their employees and name themselves as beneficiaries.”

http://www.fogcityjournal.com/wordpress/2009/10/03/dead-peasants-insurance-policies/

My partner watched “This Is It” with me today. He watched from a technical point of view since he was Communications in the military and works on robotics professionally….he loves his technical stuff!

As we watched, he’d have me pause so he could comment. This is actually a standard practice for us, we tend to pause movies as we watch them and discuss them along the way. This usually results in a two hour movie run time growing to four or five hours depending on how long we pause it.

First pause came with the appearance of Light Man. When my partner brought this up, I remembered a Wired Expo we went to that had the latest technology…including a suit that made one invisible which is actually the basic premise of Light Man. Ideally, the light is “bent” to show what is behind the person wearing the suit thus rendering them invisible to others.

The second, and many of the following pauses, dealt with the headset Michael was forced to wear. My partner pointed out that whenever Michael seemed to be singing off-key or having trouble with his balance, he was wearing the ear pieces. When he was on-key and his footwork was sure, the ear pieces were dangling at the side of his head.

Michael, himself, mentions this in the film when he commented that the ear pieces affected his inner ear.

My partner pointed out that when one has ear pieces in, they can’t hear their own voice - a natural form of feedback for pitch, etc. - that if the ear pieces are set wrong, you get feedback, echo, all kinds of interference. He further pointed out that with ear pieces in and not being able to get natural feedback, that this can affect the inner ear which helps to regulate the body’s balance.

Watch the film again, and watch and listen to Michael both when he’s wearing the ear pieces and when they’re dangling out of his ears. It will be interesting to find out if the footage Murray’s defense plans on using to show Michael as “old, frail and drug addicted” will show Michael with the ear pieces in or out.

The final pause came when my partner commented that a lot of those involved were just giving Michael lip service about how great he was and his wanting to have hands on; but when it came to actually listening to him, they appeared not to want to do this. That, basically, a lot of the “directors” were NOT listening to Michael when they should have and could have learned something.

All of the above puts the alleged conversation Michael had the night he died into an entirely different light. The conversation where Michael is allegedly saying he couldn’t do the show. At first glance, this looks like he can’t do the show because of his failing health; BUT if there were artistic conflicts and differences, and people in the show were not listening to him, it could also mean it was impossible for him to work.

This is where the USA PATRIOT Act comes in. If the Feds get involved in this case, and any and all forms of communication of both Murray and Michael for the day, and possibly the preceding day, are subpoenaed, then the transcripts of all communication could verify if, indeed, Michael did call Murray at 1:00 a.m. as Murray says; that Michael did, indeed, place a call - and to who - stating he couldn’t do the show, etc.
There’s also a bit of conflict on just who hired Murray.

From ABC July 2, 2009

“Phillips said that Jackson insisted that AEG hire his doctor of choice, Dr. Conrad Murray….

“Michael looked me in the eye, and he's strong and he was stubborn and wanted something," Phillips said. "He looked me in the eye [and said], 'Look, this is the machine,' pointing to his body, 'that fuels this entire business. OK?”

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/MichaelJackson/story?id=7990611&page=1

"According to records from ancestry.com - the world’s largest family history website - Dr Thome and AEG Live boss Randy Phillips were related by marriage back in the 1970’s.”

NOTE: My partner looked at the pics of Randy Phillips and Dr. Thome and said, “Those are some sketchy lookin’ mother f*ckers.” LOL! How right he is!

http://susanetok.wordpress.com/2009/09/02/dr-tohme-related-to-randy-phillips-by-marriage/

From DBKP July 5, 2009

“Then there’s the doctor at the center of Jackson’s death, Dr. Conrad Murray, who was hired by AEG, the company promoting Jackson’s concerts.”

http://deathby1000papercuts.com/2009/07/michael-jacksons-death-neverland-the-mysterious-dr-tohme-president-of-michael-jackson-productions/

From stltoday February 7, 2010

“Jackson had not signed their contract so Murray never collected any money for his work.”

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/entertainment/stories.nsf/story/F2798C90688A9EC1862576C4001CAF7E?OpenDocument

From The Hollywood Gossip November 17, 2009

“AEG was paying Murray's costs as he served as MJ's doctor.”

http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2009/11/dr-conrad-murray-suing-aeg-for-back-pay/

Interesting video on Thome Thome

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42kvlwc0rlA&feature=player_embedded

Michael the Lover - Part 2

Michael expresses his love as much through the surroundings he creates as through physical sexuality. For this reason he will generally take a lover only after the two of them have become fast friends. Michael is much more at ease when he can make love in familiar surroundings that he can control. This may be partly because of some natural insecurity, but it is just as much because for Michael, giving love includes much more than the physical act. Therefore, he would be wise to look for a lover whose idea of a good time is an intimate evening at home rather than someone who likes to paint the town red.

Of all the Sun signs, Virgo is the most adept at the care and feeding of a lover. Michael will go to great lengths to find out exactly what pleases his partner and spend a lot of effort to provide it. He also puts a high value on a lover who is aware of what pleases him. Michael must, however, make a particular attempt to let his lover know just what makes him happy, because other people are not likely to be as observant as he is.
Michael is more comfortable with a long-term affair that gives him plenty of time to structure the relationship.

Giving and receiving gifts, particularly hand-made presents, may be a very potent expression of love for Michael. But he should not be disappointed if his lover does not appreciate his gifts as much as he does. Instead, he might want to find out the channel of communication that his partner treasures most and direct his love energies there.
Michael is probably quite realistic about what he can and cannot expect from a relationship. In judging an affair, he doesn’t let imaginary standards outweigh reality.
Of course, his expectations in love may be quite demanding, but he will not walk into a relationship in which he knows they cannot be met.

Grappling with difficult human situations may challenge or alter Michael’s view of life. Therefore, he should try to be supple in his views and reconsider his assumptions from time to time, or place himself in a situation that will test and refine his ideals. Michael tends to be quite a gentle and thoughtful lover at times, and he can easily attune himself to his partner emotionally. Michael may have high expectations of love, and his sexual encounters may not always give him as much as he wants. For this reason, Michael would be happiest with a physically expressive lover who can turn lovemaking into a true art form.

Michael might want to learn to look at sex with some humor as well, for the details of physical love sometimes get fouled up. When that happens, he might as well enjoy it and not worry about his romanticized ideals. Michael has developed a romantic style of loving that transcends the physical and allows him to express sexuality at a highly developed emotional and spiritual level. Neptune is located near the end of the fifth house and is therefore also interpreted in the sixth house.

Michael may find that concentrating on sexual technique is less than rewarding because it tends to separate him from the emotional fulfillment that he seeks. If he leaves the technical direction of love to his partner, his own feelings may flow more easily.
A good lover for Michael would be someone who does not insist on elaborate lovemaking, who can integrate her own skills without interfering with the ease and intensity of affection. At any rate, Michael finds great reward in the care and feeding of his lover, and the more ways they both find to do this, the richer their love life will become.

Michael has a certain tendency to spiritualize love mentally, attributing to a relationship higher and more fated qualities than it actually merits. Michael’s affairs may be very gratifying physically, but there is always an overtone that the involvement is a fulfillment of destiny in some way. This makes a sound and fruitful relationship all the stronger, uniting Michael and his lover with bonds that transcend the physical, which will hold them together when physical problems arise.

Michael may find it hard to distinguish a good relationship from an unsatisfying one, because the feeling of creative spiritual union may blind him to differences that make the affair impossible. In that case, Michael will learn from experience to be more cautious and more discerning before getting involved in a new relationship. Michael is a natural entertainer who can turn any social gathering into a party just by his attitude. He tends to diffuse his feelings of love for his partner and share them with others. Conversely, he draws on the good feelings of others in his crowd to enhance and heighten his love for his partner.

For Michael, love is an experience that is closely linked to comradeship. There may be a close relationship between Michael’s love activity and his external creativity, with one encouraging the other. Michael has considerable talent in the creative arts, and he will certainly surround himself and his lover with beautiful music and gracious surroundings.
Michael does not worry about fixed role-playing within a relationship. On the contrary, he can heighten the interest and be more creative by exchanging a variety of roles with his partner.

Michael’s open approach to new aspects of sexuality is an asset. He insists on being truthful, and he expects the same from his partner. Michael may become involved in a number of relationships and tire quickly of an affair that does not offer continuous stimulation. Although no love relationship can survive an excess of boredom, he would be wise to avoid changing partners just because they enter an emotionally becalmed period. Michael’s creativity is linked to being involved in a worthwhile relationship; but he may be particularly choosy about selecting a partner who can live up to his rigorous internal guidelines.

Michael should remember that much of the beauty of a relationship is in its development. Few lasting affairs start off in full bloom. Michael’s inner desire for an elevated and accomplished affair may lead him into involvement with older or more experienced lovers. In any affair Michael should receive as much as he gives, or he may find that he is being used for his desire to become accomplished in love. As he advanced in age and experience, Michael would want to avoid being too demanding of a younger lover. Patience is a virtue, particularly when dealing with a lover, and he can develop that quality fully.

Michael’s style in a relationship is to be continually in motion, particularly when difficulties arise. When a situation refuses to go away, Michael should rely on his partner to do much of the work. For that he will need a steady, dependable lover. However, he does have a talent for spotting specific causes of a problem and pointing them out.
When difficulties crop up in his relationship, he can look on the bright side and cheer himself and his partner up.

Michael may be attracted to partners who restrict him in some way or who are or appear older than him. Although this may limit his sexual possibilities, in some instances, in others it will stabilize him, if his partner can provide effective guidelines as to what will be most pleasurable in the long run. Once the right partner does come into Michael’s life, however, he will stick to that partner like glue. When he understands the scarcity of truly compatible people in this world, he will value his lover twice as much.

Michael may find it rather difficult to be spontaneous in his emotional responses, and he may leap to unwarranted negative conclusions. A profitable way to improve his judgment and his ability to enter positive emotional situations is by reflecting on his past experiences. By going over them in detail, Michael will learn to let his mind guide him when his emotional evaluation of a situation fails. It is particularly important that Michael give himself credit for his abilities, so that he will have the confidence to use them with assurance.

Maintaining status in his social affairs is central to Michael’s lifestyle, and his reputation as a lover is important to him. Michael is often able to turn a love relationship to his advantage in other areas, so that he enjoys and profits from the connection. He should just make sure that love is always the primary goal of the relationship. External events may play a large role in shaping Michael’s love life, in the form of unavoidable separations from a desired partner or a new relationship springing up suddenly and unexpectedly. There is little he can do to prevent this, so he should just relax and enjoy what fate provides.

In general Michael prefers a dynamic and future-oriented partner whose energies kindle his own. Michael’s emotions are very intense and finely tuned, and he can usually see into the heart of an affair more quickly than his partner. Michael is likely to have considerable mood swings and changes of heart within a relationship until it has settled for a long period. For that reason, he should find a lover who is more stable than he is.
It would be good for him to have a partner who can handle the bothersome petty details of existence, so that he can then attend to the more meaningful issues in life. Under such circumstances, Michael could transform love into a clear, pure vehicle for personal understanding and revelation, both for himself and for his lover.

At times, Michael may overreact to emotional situations and expend too much psychic energy in coping with a relationship. The basic detriment of this attitude is the drain on his energy, leaving him unable to deal with a really demanding situation. Since Michael’s emotional overreactions tend to run in set patterns, he can get around this difficulty by relying on his partner to let him know when he is going too far. Part of the reason for this over-expenditure of energy may be that Michael feels that nobody understands his message unless he really assaults them with it. He can solve that problem by being very verbally precise.

More than most people, Michael can maintain an even flow of emotional energy. Because of this, he will not burn himself out in the initial excitement of an affair, but will make it last and explore its possibilities more fully. In lovemaking Michael can pace himself in response to his partner's energies without getting out of sync or pushing his partner faster than pleasure dictates. However, Michael is probably happiest with a fairly active lover who encourages him to use up all his available energy without any left over at the end of an experience, for that could be frustrating for him.

As long as Michael has enough outlets for his energies, he will have an active and rewarding love life. Michael has a needling desire to realize his deepest and most out-of-the-way motivations, both sexual and otherwise. For this reason Michael is willing to give up much in a relationship in order to explore the unknown. However, he is advised not to wander into strange territory without carefully finding out about it first, for his tendency to act rashly could lead him into trouble. If he is careful, the rewards will be well worth the risks, and the fulfillment he experiences will be special and unique to him.

Michael takes a while to warm up to lovemaking, but once in gear, he sustains a steady and unfaltering pace that allows plenty of time for full sexual expression. He should give careful consideration to his lover's rhythms and timing so that he does not either wear out or exasperate his partner. Michael’s regular sexual drive needs consistent outlets to keep in balance, so he is best off with a regular partner. Michael is quite frank in his expression of affection, and he needs a partner who does not intellectualize love too much but encourages him to manifest it directly in a manner that they both understand without words.

Michael the Lover - Part 1

With Michael’s Ascendant in Gemini, he has a talent for variety in personal relationships, and he can enjoy many different kinds of lovers. A stick-in-the-mud partner who likes the same thing every time would be very boring for him. Since he is an inventive lover, he needs a very sensitive partner who can respond to his delicate touch and lively imagination. In fact, imagination is the keyword to his style. Michael has a very inventive mind, but it proceeds in irregular leaps and spurts at times. When he tries to communicate or explain a problem, his mind may run ahead of his lover's understanding.

Michael probably brings many new and original ideas to his lovemaking, some of which may be so imaginative that they are unworkable. He enjoys a partner who can stimulate him intellectually, someone whose mind is quite unique and different from his, who can show him a fresh new way of looking at the world. Michael seeks clarity and truth in a relationship and will value a partner who is both scrupulously honest and able to express feelings with precision and insight. He will probably get the most out of a relationship that has plenty of room for growth, one that does not complete its development or define its direction too precisely or too soon.

Many people in Michael’s age group prefer wide-open, ever-changing relationships that cover a lot of emotional territory. This does not mean that Michael has to continually change his attitude or his partner, but he would probably be happier with an unrestricted, open-ended relationship. Naturally he risks some emotional injury by being so open- handed, but the more scope there is for Michael and his partner, the warmer and more beautiful the relationship will become. Michael has a kind of physical desire that is aroused and turned off quite abruptly and strongly. In general he does better in a loosely structured partnership in which he and his lover have maximum freedom.

Michael’s tastes in love may run to the out-of-the-ordinary, and he can get a great deal of pleasure and reward from unusual kinds of sexual experimentation. Hopefully he found an uninhibited partner who is eager to participate in anything that turns up. Michael usually tries to cover up his natural impatience, but when the dam breaks, it releases a flood of physical passion that takes a lover by storm. There is a very hard inner core to Michael’s style of loving. Although it seems to be very tender, underneath it has a biting, pungent quality. Michael shows a certain meticulousness in lovemaking, such that not a single possibility is missed in a nights play.

Michael is able to feel comfortable with any form of sexual experimentation that he chooses, and he chooses those that have real substance, not just passing whims. It would be good if Michael’s lover lets him choose new styles and techniques, because his judgment is so good about which ones have the most potential. Although Michael does not seem like a sexual adventurer, his style is quite innovative. It is just that his pace is slower; but in time, he will have covered as much ground as many others. Michael has a very original mind, which he uses to dream up creative and sometimes unusual methods of sexual enjoyment.

In addition, Michael has a good sense of judgment concerning which of his fantasies are practical and which should remain in fantasyland. Michael’s environment will encourage this way of thinking to a certain extent, because he is likely to move in a circle of friends who also lean toward the creative and original. Michael can learn much from these people. Love talk and a verbally affectionate lover may be particularly important to Michael. Compliments and sweet nothings whispered in the ear, as well as dialogue during lovemaking, constitute a significant area of sexual enjoyment. Michael would be wise to find a lover who is equally knowledgeable about sex and willing to put that knowledge to good use.

Michael’s partner should be quite communicative and willing to discuss lovemaking with him. This position indicates that Michael has a generous helping of desire and a healthy sexual appetite. His taste runs to all-over-the-body sensuality rather than to localized tastes and he isn’t concerned with impressive accouterments; he just wants pleasure to be readily available. If there is any drawback to this position, it is that Michael demands high standards and will not stand for stinginess or boredom. Michael is very good at letting his partner know about his needs and desires, so he seldom suffers frustration because of inability to communicate what he wants.

Michael also has a good eye for aesthetic proportions, both in his surroundings and in his lover. Michael may be a gifted speaker, or at least he expresses himself in a gracious and charming manner. He is quite open about discussing sex, and he uses all his learning and conceptual abilities to improve his sexual expression. Michael may have found it difficult, particularly when he was young, to be in the right place at the right time sexually. The result of this difficulty could have resulted in a tendency to associate sex with anger or frustration. If properly channeled, this association would have made sexuality very intense when he finally found expression.

Michael may have spent a good deal of time exploring his desires and understanding them in order to have a really fulfilling sex life. Essentially, this could be called the art of sexual self-discipline, which in the long run made Michael a steady and accomplished lover. Mistakes are a part of any learning process, so, hopefully, instead of mourning his errors in love, Michael analyzed and learn from them. Michael’s views about what he wants from a relationship are quite clear. In general, he gets the greatest enjoyment from tried and true methods. This approach makes love a very easy and mellow experience.

Although he may not be that interested in experimentation all the time, Michael will certainly not find it harmful in moderation, and both his lover and his relationship will benefit. It would be a good idea if Michael and his lover planned their experiments together ahead of time, rather than trying them out without warning. Michael expresses his desires quite effectively through his movements and appearance, so that he does not have to use many words to let his lover know his needs. This does not mean that Michael is necessarily the picture of ideal beauty, but rather that he is at ease with his body and can readily and naturally express his desires through it.

Michael would be wise, however, not assume, that others are as easy and clear about their feelings as he is. Michael may be subject to rapidly and sometimes continually changing emotions and desires in love. As a result, he may become quite an accomplished lover and adaptable to a variety of styles, depending upon his partner. However, continual changes may sometimes be a mechanism for not facing emotional needs that need extra work and attention. It may be difficult for Michael to slow down, however, for emotional or sexual repetition can become quite tedious for him.

Michael is likely to chafe at the bit if his partner can't maintain his pace. In matters of the heart, Michael is not likely to waste words, and when he speaks, he addresses the essentials of the situation. Michael might want to approach critical matters very carefully with his partner and unravel the solutions gradually. Michael’s style of loving may be strongly influenced by that of his parents, and he may find it enjoyable and reassuring to repeat many aspects of their relationship. Michael would profit most by investing his energy in a long-range relationship, even if it offers no immediate return. Such a relationship would pay off in depth of emotion, which he will seek when short-lived affairs have had their day.

Michael enjoys easygoing relationships. He usually doesn’t bother with the kind of highly detailed self-analysis that can get in the way of a natural love affair. On the other hand, in a more involved or complex relationship, he may tend to overlook or ignore the real problems that have to be dealt with in detail to keep the affair on an even keel.
Michael’s idea of a good time with his lover is simple and direct - he prefers spontaneous pleasures to complex plans and arrangements, which tend to get in the way of a happy outing or celebration. Michael is likely to place considerable importance on intellectual communication in a relationship. He prefers to have the upper hand intellectually in an affair, but he would be wise to avoid personal power struggles to bring this about.

If Michael’s partner does not agree with him on some matter, he would be wise not to make it a matter of pride to force his opinion on her. Instead, he should respect his lover's thoughts, and if they don't match his, reconsider his own views. Michael values deep, penetrating thought, and he doesn’t usually approach a subject lightly. However, he should take time to enjoy the more frivolous side of love, where pleasure is its own reward and no probing questions are asked. By learning to be more light-hearted, Michael can direct his intellectual and emotional energies better. For Michael, unclear communication can be a real source of irritation, and he may be over demanding of his partner when she doesn't say exactly what is meant or what he wants to hear.

Michael should resist the temptation to argue just to make his feelings known and exercise as much restraint as possible. In the long run, he will have a much clearer view of the truth, and he will see where he and his partner have strayed from it. Practicing restraint will also teach Michael the inadvisability of haste, and he will learn to be far more patient, controlled, and accurate in his speech. Michael can be rather pragmatic about love and not likely to be too demanding of himself or his partner about dreaming up changes in their relationship at times. This kind of steady patience is particularly valuable when the relationship is going through a fallow period when nothing seems to be happening, even though exciting changes are bubbling under the surface.

Michael’s fairly steady hand can deal with a partner who is very creative, if somewhat unsteady. Such a lover would be very good for him, supplying the ideas that he then regulates and polishes. With that combination, Michael’s relationship can have maximum stability and growth while effectively avoiding both extremism and stagnation.
Michael tends to be quite creative and imaginative in love, with a regular flow of ideas. Instead of contradicting his lover concerning the direction of their relationship, Michael attempts to blend and compromise if the two of them are at odds about which way to go.

From time to time Michael may get locked into too much of a routine in lovemaking, and then a break toward the adventurous might be in order - something different enough to be challenging, that neither of them has done before. Michael probably derives great comfort from the security of his most intimate surroundings, his home, and especially his bedroom. Naturally, he will be happiest with a lover who respects these values rather than someone who feels that home is where you hang your hat. However, if carried too far, this tendency can lead Michael to virtually imprison those he loves in a close and restricted atmosphere without freedom to come and go as they wish.

Probably Michael is the partner who is more qualified and interested in maintaining the home he shares with his partner. However, its uses should be decided by both of them. As a rule, Michael’s generation is more demanding and particular about what is required in a relationship than earlier generations have been. However, insisting on so many conditions in a relationship may make it difficult or impossible to fulfill. This can be a particular problem if his personal style is rather relaxed and undemanding. In that case, Michael must learn to attend more carefully to the details of a relationship so that his needs and those of his partner are fulfilled as much as possible.

The intensity of Michael’s personality means that any affair he gets into is also quite intense. Because of this attitude, Michael can virtually dissolve in an affair that is going well, blending with his lover in such a way that the union is more than the sum of your personalities. When everything is going well, this can bring Michael to the very height of sexual fulfillment. But he would do well not to insist that sex at that high level must be the only expression of his love or that it must necessarily happen. Michael would be happy with a lover who can help him enjoy the lighter and more amusing aspects of an affair. Also, such a partner can lead Michael to styles of loving with which he may not be familiar.

Continually exploring new emotional and physical territory in a relationship makes Michael very creative and serves as a basis and motivation for further growth. Indeed, he may look back on how far he has come in small steps, seeing how, without noticing it, he has gradually achieved a great deal of positive transformation. Michael is fortunate in this because he can bring a rather fearful or conservative lover along this path of growth with him and in the end, his relationship will be in a better place without having gone through a lot of tumult.

Michael’s Western Horoscope - Part 5

On a higher level, this aspect can indicate a strong concern with spirituality and religion. This belief can blossom into quite a beautiful trait of being very loving, generous and compassionate to everyone. With Jupiter conjunct Neptune Michael is inclined to do things to excess. He trusts others to maintain the confidences he shares with them, carelessly assuming they deserve his trust. His faith in people is deep, but there are times when he assigns it blindly.

Michael is philosophical about people and hopeful that he will find someone in whom he can confidently believe. From his experiences with others, he learns many lessons that help to refine his judgment. Michael has a spiritual understanding of his social obligations, which he fulfills by offering his talents, inspiration, and imagination whenever he can. Michael would work with particular effectiveness in the broad area of human welfare. But there is always a danger of abuse from people who may try to capitalize on his willingness to serve others. Unless Michael learns to question everyone's motives in relating to him, he will certainly be disappointed.

In his desire to experience the highest emotions and most exquisite sensations, Michael can risk aligning himself with escapist fanaticism. Still, Michael has an optimistic and cheerful temperament. He likes to play and have good times in ways that are good for others as well as for himself. He feels that by giving of himself he has more than he would otherwise. He is cheerful with people, and he likes to be with others who are the same way. He needs to be free and to find his own way in life. He does not like anyone to try to restrict him to their ways, because it is important for him to encounter as much of the world as possible.

He may enjoy sports very much, either as a participant or as an observer. He prefers outdoor games because they seem more free and open. Michael may be quite creative in many ways, although this placement does not necessarily denote artistic creativity, and he will benefit from what he creates. Whatever he does or creates for amusement, he will do on a grand scale. Jupiter was found in the fifth house at the time of Michael’s birth. This is one of the best positions of Jupiter as it promises a well-rounded, expansive and gratifying love life.

In public life, Michael appears as a person with power and dignity and something of a leader in social and business matters. His sole liability is that in romance he has a tendency to be a little deceiving and superficial. This very favorable position of Jupiter also indicates that he can well manifest his feelings and yet maintain a good degree of control over his emotions. A lucky person in love affairs, Michael will additionally derive financial gain through lovers. Regarding children, the position of Jupiter also promises good and respectful children with much happiness being derived through them.

Michael will do best in life if he can keep a perfect balance between extremes. If he doesn’t do anything to excess, and examines both sides of every issue before making a decision. Beauty is very important to Michael as an indication of order in the universe. He always enjoys elegance, the more spectacular the better. At a very early age he learned to see beauty in every possible situation. Michael’s relationships with others were very important to his inner spiritual growth. He discovered more about himself through the people he attracted and his relationships with them than through any other means.

With his highly developed sense of justice, Michael does not like to see anyone get the short end of the stick. This aspect is extremely useful, first by helping him find the right direction to take in his life and, second, by enabling him to make others feel positive about him and eager to help if he needs it. Michael has a strong sense of social responsibility, a feeling that he should give his life over to a purpose that is useful to the world. He usually gets along easily with authorities. He knows that they have something to teach him, and he is willing to learn from them.

Michael always had a project to work on, because he hated to be idle, either in mind or body. Usually he was busy with some consuming interest, which may mean more to him than being with others. He felt that he was self-sufficient, that his activities were enough to give him a sense of fulfillment in life. This position has two distinct effects, and Michael may experience one or the other. The first of these effects is a definite problem in getting along with people at close range. The problem is that he thought of a relationship as a responsibility that had very few compensating pleasures. Even though he felt quite lonely at times, Michael preferred to be alone.

If he experienced the other effect of this placement, he still viewed relationships as a responsibility, but that only made him more conscientious about living up to his end of the bargain rather than fearful of entering into one. Also he was careful to choose partners who were worth his while, people who could do something for him or teach him something. Thus he often preferred to be with older people. When he was older, this energy probably resulted in his marrying late, because Michael wanted to be really ready for it.

Saturn was found in the seventh house at the time of birth. In his dealings with others, Michael presented a very cautious personality and he worked slowly toward the achievement of security. The environment will be a very restricting factor in his life; the same limitations that hinder his relationships with others will emerge in a narrowness of reception to his ideas and emotions. This indicates that the key to more spiritual and material development lies in his response to the several tests destined for him which consist of patiently enduring difficulties through human relationships.

Michael should remember that Saturn does not lend a propensity to be demonstrative in an emotional sense. It does, in those individuals with whom he will start a lifelong relationship, give a sense of duty and stability of emotions. Yet he is going to experience some sorrow throughout his life in a relationship. This is mostly going to consist of the several limitations that this state is imposing upon his personal freedom. The key to a better integration of his existence lies in the ability to view these obstacles and binds with philosophical resignation.

This placement indicates that Michael approaches new experiences and new knowledge with care and interest. Throughout his life, he will hesitate to accept a new idea until he has become very thoroughly acquainted with it and really feel that he understands it.
In many areas of life Michael is quite conservative, believing in principles that have been proven over a long time. He has strong ideals, to be sure, but he doesn’t let himself be carried away by them. He always looks for ways to put his beliefs and ideals into practice. When he formulates a belief or an ideal, he finds it very easy to put it into practice.

Michael may often feel that the people around him, or even life itself, prevents him from expressing his emotions. He may feel lonely and unsupported by his friends, brothers and sisters and even his parents. To overcome this feeling of aloneness, he must have a great deal of emotional support from his family and friends. Michael’s mother, especially, is important to him. Michael probably tries too hard to control his emotions so that others won't know how he feels, as if he is ashamed of his feelings. He has no reason to be ashamed of them.

The square between Michael’s Moon and Saturn indicates that he probably finds it difficult to let go of the past and anyone associated with it. These tendencies show that he is emotionally trapped; it is difficult for him to establish his independence outside the confining circumstances of the home and family. His creative expression could be limited by his emotional restrictions. Fields where Michael would have done well are those that serve the needs of the elderly. Such fields as nursing, physical therapy, housing, geriatrics, food, and social work are some possible avenues of expression. He could perform excellent work and be amply rewarded for his efforts, and at the same time know that he is filling an important need.

Michael needed to become interested in some leisure activity. His normal inclination to melancholy is reduced as he becomes involved in creative functions. This signifies that he has a strong sense of inner discipline and that he can work toward the goals he sets for himself steadily and without wavering. Whatever task he undertakes, Michael works at it patiently, with thorough organization and method, leaving no stone unturned. He is independent, even a loner, because having other people around may seem to distract him from his purposes. When he became older, Michael was a very dependable person, because he had worked out his own methods and proven to everyone that they work.

When Michael is working for a living, his relations with employers should also be good, because they will know he can be trusted to do a job well and take responsibility.
His mother will have a great influence upon his life, shaping his basic attitudes and his ideas of what values are significant and what is worth doing in life. She will also influence Michael to be very sensitive to his own and other people's feelings, and he may use this sensitivity in his career later in life. Because Michael understands how other people feel and how they react, he can be successful in any career that puts him before the public.

Michael traveled quite a bit in his profession. He should be careful of his tendency to reflect other people's feelings, because it keeps him from being himself. The Moon was found in the tenth house at the time of birth. Among other things, this is an indication of Michael’s ability to adjust to varying conditions. Whatever his temperamental qualities may be, destiny will place him in situations where he will have dealings with the public.
Some public note could eventually come his way. Yet he should remember that the Moon successes are rather ethereal and do not maintain a permanent state.

Imagination, a tenacious disposition and ability to relate to the public are among Michael’s attributes. Outwardly, he appears as one who reacts to emotions rather than to reason, yet he attempts a logical rationalization of his impulsive notions. Michael will better develop his potentialities in any professional circle where his natural inclinations can be reasonably manifested. He is quite courageous and daring, and he will stand up for what he believes is right. Although Michael won't go out and pick a fight with someone, he won't run from a fight either.

Michael likes to be free to act on his own without waiting for others. But he also enjoys being the leader or setting the working pace for others, and the pace he sets is likely to be quite fast. Michael has a great deal of energy - enough for several people - and he needs to use it up. For the most part, this will attract other people to him. When he does get angry or provoked, he can react very emotionally. If someone says something unpleasant, he tends to take it very personally.

The sextile between the Moon and Mars shows that Michael tends to react emotionally when provoked. He is aware of this, however, so he tries to keep his feelings in check in order to make a logical appraisal before reacting impulsively. He will still flare up on occasion, mainly when he is feeling argumentative and wants to get something off his chest. Not wanting to close the door to any relationship, Michael tries leave it ajar so he will be able to communicate with that individual in the future. This is a sign of maturity.

Michael is a vital, energetic, and exciting person who can charm people with his infectious and personable manner. He is a good companion to those close to him and on good terms with most, if not all, of his friends and associates. Knowing that he reacts to people in an emotionally biased way, he gives them the benefit of the doubt in any confrontation. Michael’s emotional vulnerability shows that he is human and not indifferent to the feelings of others.

Michael’s ability to think twice before he acts allows him to avoid many unnecessary complications in his dealings with people. He can succeed in any occupation that brings him into close personal contact with the public or with fellow employees. Whatever his role in life, Michael will enjoy and appreciate it. He values his rights enough to fight for them when he feels they are threatened. His domestic affairs are a source of pleasure and contentment. Psychologically, Michael is a well-oriented individual.

Michael may have often been afraid to assert himself because he felt defeated, almost like any effort was futile. His attitude may have resulted from being with people who hadn’t encouraged him very much. Michael must build up his self-confidence and disregard anyone who makes him feel bad about himself. However, Michael is really quite a strong individual, and once he overcomes his fears about himself, he can be very effective. Another positive point is that he works very well alone. All he needs is for people not to discourage him.

Mars was in Michael’s twelfth house at the time of his birth. This indicates an inclination toward dynamic action and enterprise. Psychologically, Mars provides him with a rather domineering temperament, but one that he keeps well disguised. He seems to enjoy working on things that include some secrecy or that show off his more esoteric talents so that he has or may receive full recognition for them. Michael works carefully and rather slowly, but his results are almost always good, because his thoroughness makes up for lack of speed.

Michael is also quite stubborn and will resist anyone's efforts to speed him up. He has a strong desire to own things, and his possessions are very important to him. If he decides he wants something, he will work very hard to get it. Michael may have a problem with jealousy, tending to be very possessive of the people he loves. He has to allow his friends some independence, or he will lose them. Anger can be a problem for him, too, because he has difficulty expressing it until it builds to the point that he loses it. The problem is that other people may try to take advantage of Michael’s apparent patience, not realizing that he is really angry. It is up to him to let them know how he feels.

Michael will tend to work against himself until he really understands who he is and what he is doing. His immediate desires, especially if they are compulsive and urgent, may actually prevent him from getting where he wants to go in the long run. He should try not to be short-sighted, and not assume that people who warn him of this are simply trying to hold him back. Michael’s relationships with male authority figures may be quite difficult, because he sees them as challenging rather than trying to help him. Basically the challenge of this aspect for Michael is to learn about himself and his limitations, so that he can have self-confidence.

Michael may have had a love of the mysterious and strange. As he grew older, his interest in the occult grew and there was probably some concern with individual regeneration. He probably became interested in techniques of healing, both psychological and physical. He may have had some extreme ideas about personal morality, either extremely lax or extremely strict, but not usually moderate. Michael’s ideals are very high, and he is a bit of a dreamer, who sees visions of a more pleasant and beautiful world than this one.

Michael’s Western Horoscope - Part 4

Michael feels very strong urges from deep within himself, particularly whenever something reminds him of his earliest childhood. He has already acquired many emotional habits that totally control his behavior when he is upset, making it impossible to do what he knows is right. One of Michael’s parents had an enormous impact upon him, either for good or for bad. He was very attached to one parent and too dependent upon him or her. Or he may have had great difficulty getting along with one of his parents who made him feel bad about himself and undermined his self-confidence. Michael needed to learn not to take his guilty feelings so seriously and to recognize that he is really quite all right.

Pluto was found in the fourth house at the time of Michael’s birth. Pluto is likely to influence his disposition to express egocentricity and authority. Michael tended to impose a dominating power over his home. His personal actions went to both extremes, constructive and destructive. In securing and protecting his home, Michael had a strange philosophy. His domestic affairs were subjected to many rare incidents, and this resulted in financial loss and mental strain. Luck did not accompany Michael in transactions of property, and if he was not heedful of this, the influences may further cause the incurrence of heavy debts or loss due to the unlawful acts of other people.

This placement lasted from 1956 to 1972. It coincided with the revolutionary fervor of the sixties; Michael, being born during this period, probably had radically new ideas about work and duty. He was very likely to be much involved in ideas about nutrition and new methods of healing the body through food. He was very concerned with health, but his approach probably wasn’t orthodox. Michael is more likely to go to extremes than most people because he doesn’t like to do anything halfway. He wants every experience to be complete and intense.

Michael is strong willed and likes to get his own way, so he may find it difficult to make compromises with others in order to get along. But that is precisely what he must learn to do; otherwise he will be alone and cut off from people who won't want to associate with him. Michael has a strong desire to be a leader, which he can do quite well, as long as he keeps other people's needs in mind along with his own. Michael is particularly good at leading others in carrying out an important task. He likes to take on ambitious projects that test his abilities.

The conjunction between Michael’s Sun and Pluto indicates that he likes extremes. His likes and dislikes are intense, and acting in moderation is difficult. At times Michael acts courageously, but at other times he shows a surprising lack of common sense. He meets competition directly, even at the risk of financial loss, as he wants to prove to others that he is a power to be reckoned with. Because Michael is especially sensitive to social conditions, he makes a great effort to bring about improvements in his environment for everyone's benefit.

Michael has strong physical desires and is likely to throw a tantrum if his advances are rejected. His magnetic charm has a hypnotic effect on people. However, unless Michael is willing to serve others when they are unable to help themselves, even those who are charmed by him, may respond with anger. Also, Michael should avoid driving himself beyond safe physical levels of tolerance. Michael will strive to improve conditions in any group that he is part of, not only for his own benefit, but for the others as well. Thus Michael will be a catalyst for a great deal of the action that goes on around him, even though it will usually be difficult to trace what happens to anything particular that he has done.

Michael’s peers, however, will probably recognize his ability and give him the opportunity to be their leader. Michael is aware of the need for spiritual understanding and concern in life. Very early, Michael developed a strong code of ethics and morality, which he followed all of his life. The only warning here is to maintain a sense of humility; which he did. The sextile from Jupiter to Pluto enables Michael to perceive truths that are hidden by appearances. Because of his high ethical standards, Michael aligns himself with enterprises that act to improve social conditions in his environment.

Law, and the administration of law, are particularly suited to Michael’s basic character and integrity. He can be a champion to those who are unable to defend themselves or whose values need support. There were literally dozens of occupations that could have given Michael much fulfillment. He enjoyed giving his talents, because he responded to his fellow man with a sense of spiritual responsibility. Michael’s partner must share his enthusiasm for social responsibility, for serving whenever and wherever it is needed.

Michael’s optimism generated in others a desire to share his excitement as he philosophically reached for the stars. Michael’s religious attitude required him to actively participate in stimulating others to accept a spiritual obligation to mankind.
Around the time of Michael’s birth, a lot of beliefs, religious or otherwise, underwent extraordinary changes. Attitudes about organized religion, morality and sexuality were revised completely. The children born during this time will know the cycles of life better than others. They will realize that it is a natural part of life that everything must die and decay, to be reborn again at another level. This is especially true for inner and spiritual developments but also for their concern about social and human relations.

Michael’s generation is under the influence of a sextile between Neptune in Scorpio and Pluto in Virgo. He was born during a time of important changes in human priorities. Sex was an enticing area of exploration, and virginity became so unfamiliar that you would have to read about it in history books or look it up in a dictionary. Michael learned to resent the fact that organized religions could dictate people's beliefs or that marriage was ever necessary if two people loved each other. Michael was among those who feel that the world is becoming too materialistic, that society lacks any feeling for the individual and their personal dreams.

Michael felt the need to serve society. He deplored the quality of life that is available, for he considered life very precious. The warmth and security of his home was very important, for he needed to know that he had a place to withdraw to. Michael’s parents are very important people in his life, and their attitudes have a tremendous impact on him.
Michael is likely to be a quiet person with strong feelings and emotions, and he keeps to himself a lot. But he isn’t really weak or retiring, because by going into himself, he gains strength.

Although Michael was quite successful, he did not care much for being famous. He was much more concerned with living up to his own inner standards and having a rewarding personal life. When he felt good and secure about himself, he liked to bring people into his home and share his good feelings with them. The Sun appears in the fourth house at the time of Michael’s birth. This is an indication that parental name, family affairs and other domestic matters are of the utmost importance in his life.

Sun brings honor, pride, and fame to anything under its influence, and it is indicated that the problem of these influences here is that proper success for Michael cannot materialize until he is well past his mature years. There appears to exist a very strong attachment to one of his parents. Michael believed in being the "ruler" in his home, and the sense of privacy is extensively developed in his nature. As life passed, Michael experienced illuminating insights connecting his individuality with certain racial and family elements. By studying them he may discover the nature of the spiritual mission which destiny requires of him.

Michael is very sensitive to others' feelings, and he understands aspects of people that even they cannot express. But this sensitivity can be a problem at times. Michael may be easily hurt by people's remarks, even when no hurt is intended. He may pretend to be patient and pleasant even when he is quite angry about a situation that he feels can't be changed. Michael had to learn to be more forthright about his own feelings, for he has as much right as anyone to be himself.

Michael is also an idealist, who would very much like to see a more beautiful and perfect world. He needed to learn to see the beautiful side of reality, as well as the harsher facts. The Sun sextile Neptune shows that Michael is deeply aware of his creative potential. He is extremely sensitive, and any rejection of his attempts to be of service hurts him deeply. This can cause some difficulty, since it is so important for him to relate to others in personal contact. Michael’s professional possibilities are quite varied.

Ideally, his work should involve public-related activities. Michael’s imagination and creative talents could be exploited in writing or the communications media in general. If he was motivated to work alone, he must still relate to the public in some way.
Michael’s personal associations were as varied as his professional interests. He is particularly drawn to individuals who are sure of their own identity. Michael was somewhat of a visionary and could picture the outcome of any situation he was involved in. He liked to express himself through his imagination by playing with beautiful fantasies and dreams.

However, this placement can signify some problems in relationships. Michael may see in others only what he wants to see rather than what they really are. As he got older this was especially troublesome in love relationships. In its highest expression, this position means that Michael derives pleasure from helping others. But he has to learn to distinguish between those who are worth helping and those who are not.

Neptune was found in the fifth house at the time of Michael’s birth. His love nature is somewhat restless, impressionable, anxious, and most of the time subjected to dualistic influences. Many times this is due to conflict between thoughts and emotions. In sexual matters, Michael underwent dual experiences of rather extreme categories, and this resulted in his being torn between two opposing emotions. On the positive side, Neptune here gave him a very subtle comprehension and altruistic disposition resulting in a personality role which is kind and just, but very romantic and sentimental.

The people whom he loves will realize he is easily influenced and that his moods are very changeable since he is receptive to the emotional and mental environment which surrounds him. Hypersensitive to those with whom he relates to in love matters, Michael may sometimes misinterpret attitudes or expressions, and because of his lack of shrewdness in this aspect of his life, selfishness, jealousy, and mistrust could result. Unless he is a good candidate for platonic love, Michael’s emotions may become very complex, confusing, and nebulous. He is not inclined to undergo ordinary love attachments.

This placement makes Michael’s body very sensitive to outside influences, such as temperature, drugs, different kinds of foods and such. It can be a sign of allergy problems, and certainly Michael needs to be very careful about what he eats, drinks or takes as medicine. On the other hand, this placement means that Michael needs to help and be of service to others. At best, this comes from genuine love and sympathy for others. Michael should give himself credit for his strengths and his individuality; and he shouldn’t always give in to other people. A strong person who believes in himself can do much more for others than someone who acts like a doormat.

Neptune was found in Michael’s sixth house at the time of birth. His psychological attitude to work is not always positive. There may be relatively long periods of time when he will be idle or in a peculiar state of inertia, but his disposition should enrich his tendencies to ESP experiences and psychic phenomena. In his working environment, Michael will confront challenges in dealing with subordinate employees and many times he is torn between two opposite emotions.

Also he is an optimist, believing that somehow everything in his life will work out just fine. In fact, no matter how often matters go badly, it does not seem to disturb him. He may delude himself that a situation is marvelous, when actually it is not. Often this aspect signifies a desire to take risks in the foolish belief that he cannot fail. Gamblers and speculators may have this aspect, which by itself does not tell whether or not Michael will be lucky. But even if he is not lucky, he may think that he is. If Michael really loses out whenever he takes risks, he should come down out of the clouds and realize that he is losing. Learn to be more cautious.

Michael’s Western Horoscope - Part 3

This planetary combination indicates that Michael was not really happy with himself, so he may have provoked trouble with others in order to blame them for his inability to resolve his own personal conflicts. Somewhere there is a solution, and it would certainly help if he toned down his desires and adopted a more compromising attitude. Until he works out these personality difficulties, Michael will have problems with his family, friends, and associates on the job. If he can become more compromising he can be successful in any occupation, even those that bring him into close contact with people.

Michael made an effort early in life to broaden his perspective by learning something about art, literature, music, and the social amenities. Michael is reserved about showing his affections and not very demonstrative. But once he decides that a person is worthwhile, he is totally loyal and loving. He may not have many friends, but the ones he does have will be very long-lasting. Michael is attracted to people who take life seriously. Even when he was young, Michael understood that romance alone cannot support a shaky relationship. But once he committed himself to someone, Michael was more willing than most to put an effort into saving his relationship.

Sometimes Michael found it difficult to have fun, especially with other people. In fact, being in a large group sometimes made him feel alone, rather than with company. Michael was best in a one-to-one relationship with someone. The trine from Venus to Saturn shows that Michael had good judgment about people most of the time, and he always knew who to turn to when he needed help. Michael is optimistic, understanding, and responsible in his dealings with people.

Music, writing, poetry, painting, sculpture, and the graphic arts can enrich his life and surround it with comfort. Michael could have also achieved success in any occupation that required balance, order, design, and utility. If he was attracted to someone, Michael evaluated that person cautiously, examining all good qualities and noting liabilities in temperament to which he might have to adjust. Michael made a good parent because he understood that every individual needs to develop with the guidelines of discipline and respect for others.

Michael liked to be surrounded by books, records and other tools to help develop his mind. He was especially interested in subjects such as history that taught him about the past. On the other hand, this position of Mercury directed his attention inside his own mind. Michael thought about himself a lot and tried very hard to understand his feelings and emotions. He also liked to discuss his feelings with other people, because he wanted them to understand him too. But he had to be careful not to get too wrapped up in his own point of view.

Parents always have an influence on the way their children think, but Michael’s parents had an even stronger effect than most. What he learned when he was young stayed with him forever. Mercury was found in the fourth house at the time of Michael’s birth. His inherited constitution and psychological potential is that of a quick and alert person with a natural bent for mental work. There seems to be a physical legacy consisting of manual dexterity and literary inclinations. Michael’s life appears directed to commercialism, business practices, and study.

Generally speaking, Michael’s life was characterized by inconsistency. Many changes of residence due to business obligations resulted in aggravating the lack of stability. On the positive side, Michael was given reason and all strictly human traits entirely free from bestial emotions. Michael was very sure that his ideas were right, and he liked to make others think the way he did. Michael could think about new ideas and make them part of his own thinking, as long as no one pressured him to do so.

Michael could be quite stubborn, and his pride was involved in everything he thought or believed. If someone challenged his beliefs, he felt they were challenging him. But at the same time, Michael’s pride in his opinions made him want to get at the truth. Whenever he had to solve a problem, Michael put a great deal of energy into it, and the more important the problem, the more energy he invested. However, he may have ignored problems that didn’t seem important enough, when actually they were quite important.

Michael has a great deal of curiosity and wants to solve every mystery that comes along. He will work patiently to get an answer, often going off by himself until he has solved the problem. This makes him a born investigator. Another side of this aspect is that Michael may have been very stubborn about his own beliefs and also try very hard to make others agree with him. He had some very strong opinions and didn’t like having people challenge them.

Michael was a natural psychologist in his understanding of human nature. He would have made an excellent psychologist. He loves finding out what makes people tick, and he often puts that knowledge to good use. The conjunction of Mercury and Pluto shows that Michael’s mind is deep, penetrating, and inclined to extremes. He evaluates matters subjectively, and his psychic sense often reveals clues that are hidden from less sensitive observers.

Michael has a genius for asserting himself persuasively whenever it seems the only way to accomplish something. He is fearless in pursuing his objectives, and others admire his determination and persistence. Michael is fascinated by the mysterious and the occult. With his quick observation of details and understanding of their value, Michael could have succeeded as an analyst or investigator. However, Michael might want to moderate his anarchistic inclinations. Social injustices are a particular irritant to him, and he could vent his hidden anger by directing his talents toward correcting them.

Perhaps politics would have given him the leverage to accomplish many worthwhile objectives for himself and others. In personal relationships Michael could be demanding and sometimes extremely intolerant of weakness. He admired strength and respected authority, so he challenged others to demonstrate these qualities. Ideally, his mate should be strong and able to take a position with him so that the two of them could contribute to each other's development and objectives.

Michael looked deep within himself for answers to the questions that came up in life. But it would have been best if he tried not to get so wrapped up in his own way of seeing the world that he could not imagine anyone else's point of view. On the other hand, Michael was able to communicate his ideas and feelings to others very easily, even when he was quite young. Because he was in touch with his feelings, Michael could react to a situation according to his real needs, but only if he concentrated on the present and the future rather than the past.

It would be a good practice for Michael to examine his thinking and never take his feelings and ideas solely at face value. This aspect can be rather difficult, for it indicates that he could be rash and impulsive and tend to lose his temper too easily. Yet, Michael is very sensitive to mean remarks by others and may feel offended, even when a comment wasn't meant to hurt him. When he is angry, his anger could take over completely, and he could become quite unreasonable. Michael’s problem was to balance his drive to assert himself, his anger in everyday conflicts, and the need to think about the world in a reasonable way.

Michael will also have to learn that when others disagree with him, they are not attacking him personally. Let everyone have their say, and do not automatically resist their ideas. Only then will he be able to come to an agreement with others. The square from Mercury to Mars gives Michael enormous mental energy for tackling arduous tasks, but he may lack the determination to persist and complete them. Michael isn’t always a good listener, either, if the opinions being expressed are different from his. In his dealings with others Michael might find it hard to withhold his opinions. He needed to learn to be silent when he was not fully informed on a subject, or he risked being ridiculed by those who knew what they were talking about.

Michael’s imagination is highly developed, and he only need apply it constructively. He may have to make many concessions to others before he can succeed in any profession. Other people needed to express themselves just as much as he did; until he learned to adjust to their needs, Michael encountered severe obstacles to his goals. When Michael learned to deal with the need to concede to the rights of others, he could have achieved success in such fields as law, management, teaching, writing, drama, public relations, or any other communicative area.

Many of the points mentioned in relation to social contacts can also be applied to Michael’s romantic interests. Michael could be bitter when his attentions were not welcomed. He needed to try to be gracious and shrug off the disappointment. Michael was careful and cautious, and he did everything in a very structured and organized way. He had discipline, which he needed in order to get anything done. His view of life is practical. He wants to know what good something is before he gets involved with it. For this reason, Michael could take an idea and make something real of it that others can see and appreciate.

Michael wanted to know the objective truth about the world, and he was willing to study hard to find it out. The only problem is that he may not have been sensitive enough to the less concrete aspects of the world, such as other people's feelings or vague impressions that do have real meaning. In short, he may have been too hard-headed at times to appreciate the lighter and more subtle side of life. Michael’s Mercury trine Saturn shows he has a well-developed intellect, is mentally organized, and precise in his opinions.

He has considerable creative ability, which he can express whenever he chooses. Michael’s conservative mentality allows him to accomplish a great deal with the least amount of effort. He is extremely efficient and knows how to dispense with nonessentials. He knows his worth and can assume important tasks that others fear they can't handle.
There are many occupations Michael could have followed with very good chances for success. Education is high on the list of probable fields, in addition to construction, architecture, design, politics, industrial management, government service, science, research in various fields, or writing.

Michael would have also done well at studying languages, deciphering symbols found in archeological excavations, or at teaching history. Michael was courageous and willing to stick his neck out to defend his integrity. He was morally upright and demanded that others behave honestly in dealing with him. As if he were a confessor, people sought to unburden themselves to Michael. His understanding and wisdom encouraged them to reveal themselves.

Michael has a questioning and curious mind, and he loves to find out everything there is to learn about the world. Probably he will be interested in foreign places and people, and he may love to travel. Michael is quite skillful at expressing his own ideas. He thinks clearly and objectively, and he can keep from getting so emotionally involved in an argument that he loses his train of thought. Michael should also be quite good at planning and organizing his affairs ahead of time. He has the ability to take a long view of a situation and see what is coming.

This aspect is useful to careers in law and business, or any job that needs foresight and organization. Michael’s Mercury sextile to Jupiter indicates that his mind is never at rest. He has a limitless thirst for knowledge and an awesome capacity to accumulate information. Because of his masterful command of language, Michael can speak and write convincingly. Truth is very important to Michael, and he will challenge anyone who makes a suspicious-sounding statement.

Education, public speaking, public relations, journalism, and writing novels with historical and timely themes - these are some ways Michael could use his creative resources and inspiration. Travel would be especially broadening for him, for it would help him to understand the differences among national and ethnic origins. Michael allows everyone the liberty of their own beliefs, and he certainly would not try to force his ideology on others.

Michael’s Western Horoscope - Part 2

Uranus was found in the third house at the time of Michael’s birth. The main effect of this planet in his life occurred through the subconscious mind. Third house vibrations are far too subtle to be markedly felt in physical events. From a metaphysical view, this planet signifies the individual will and the manner in which will is expressed within the environmental limits.

Michael has inborn inclinations to conduct himself in a manner that is cheerful, bright, humane, and slightly eccentric. His brilliant ideology is a magnetic source of attraction to friends. He would have excelled in technological sciences and/or modern art during his years of education. There is also a flair for philosophy and advanced scientific notions in all his mental pursuits.

Materially, Uranus may have brought many unpredictable changes in Michael’s life which caused him to be a temporary wanderer. His mind was somewhat wayward, curious, and subject to strong temperamental impulses. He was inventive, imaginative and possessed a strange mental energy which afforded him instantaneous solutions in critical moments. However, a liability of Uranus here is that it brings difficulties in matters related to communication and sudden short trips.

Michael found new ways to express himself and made an impression on the world. In many ways he was rather eccentric, which made it difficult for him to fit easily into groups because he was so individualistic. But he was honest and wanted others to be honest, also. He valued individual self-expression far more than self-discipline. And it may have been quite hard to pin him down to fulfilling commitments, obligations and responsibilities at times.

Although he was affectionate and enjoyed being loved, Michael wanted to be free, emotionally and otherwise. He wanted to be free to choose his friends and not be tied down by those he loved. He wanted to be with people who were exciting and stimulating, who could take him away from the normal daily routine. But he shouldn’t let anyone make him feel guilty because he wants to do his own thing. After all, he is willing to grant others the same freedom.

However, the fact that Michael wanted to have exciting people for friends may mean that his relationships were rather unstable. After all, the best people for him to be with were people like himself. Michael needed to have the courage to live by his own rules in a relationship, but also to make sure that the other person understood and accepted those rules. With Venus conjunct Uranus Michael has a sparkling, effervescent personality. Popular and sociable almost to an extreme, Michael has a dynamic zest for living a full, unrestricted life. He would have done well in occupations that involved novelty and where he could function in his own uniquely creative way. Professions dealing with the public were more in line with his sociable temperament. In his personal relationships, Michael demanded unlimited freedom so he could detach himself without guilt when he lost interest.

It was difficult for Michael to establish a permanent relationship, since he was outgoing and career-oriented. His responsibility factor was somewhat lacking. This aspect signifies that Michael was an individualist and that he most likely should go pretty much his own way in life. He especially needed emotional freedom. Quite likely his mother is very independent and has a busy life outside of being a mother. This aspect often signifies a parent who, like Michael, was a very free spirit.

As soon as he was able, Michael tried to break free of his family. When he had a family of his own, he taught his children to be as independent as possible. One of the lessons Michael needed to learn was to act more cautiously and with better planning. He sometimes tended to go off half-cocked and to act rashly and without thinking. Michael felt that he had to be himself, and there was nothing wrong with that. But if he always reacts negatively to pressures from others, he will be as much at their mercy as if he always did what they wanted him to do.

Michael has a great need for excitement and is quickly bored by activities that become routine. He will fight when he has to. Michael doesn’t have to be what others want him to be; there is plenty of room for rebels in this society. The square from Mars to Uranus shows that Michael had a strong desire to be free to exploit himself without hesitation or restraint. However, the fear of emotional or material losses reduces this drive to safe levels.

An undercurrent of measured caution always accompanies Michael’s professional activities. Because of this, it will take longer to realize his goals. Once he achieves his objectives, however, they will be far more permanent because their foundation is solid.
Michael’s romantic needs are strong, since his desires are well-developed. But the responsibility associated with emotional satisfaction may deter him from ever marrying.
Being in charge of others in his work, Michael would be wise not to expect them to perform as he would. They may not have his drive.

Above all, moderation in all things should be Michael’s guide. Michael is able to be himself and do what he wants in a very careful and controlled manner, so that others do not have to keep watch over him. At the same time, he is capable of fulfilling his duties and obligations without feeling that he is giving up his rights. Michael learns everything so thoroughly that he is able to show others how something is done step by step. As he got older, Michael became a careful and rigorous thinker, who can effectively combine innovative ideas with structure and discipline.

With his organizational ability, Michael was able to deal with groups that wanted changes as well as those that did not. Even when he was young, Michael was very persistent and tough-minded and able to endure considerable strain. But he should be careful not to take on more than he can handle. The trine between Saturn and Uranus shows that Michael has learned from his experiences and acquired discipline. As he projects himself toward future accomplishments, he is excited by the prospects of all the tomorrows. Michael has earned the freedom he enjoys.

Although Michael has a healthy respect for material things, he is fascinated by his increasing detachment from them. Michael has the talent to use and exploit his resources and is well qualified for executive positions because of his keen judgment and uncanny insight. Michael’s understanding of people and their motivations enables him to organize their talents to accomplish seemingly impossible tasks. He is particularly good at handling young people because they identify with him and the authority he represents to them.

Michael could have successfully applied his potentials in many occupations. Suitable fields include mathematics, science, research, and astrology, as well as many industrial positions requiring leadership and organization. Michael’s ideals are based on solid experience with the tried and true. He liked to have beauty in his immediate surroundings and, even when young, Michael took a strong interest in the arts, theater and literature.

Michael may have learned how to charm and flatter others, but he is advised not to try and rely on this ability too much to get ahead. People eventually learn to distrust flatterers, and he’s at his best when he’s being honest even while saying nice things.
Michael has a good sense of form and color. Michael is probably very close to his brothers and sisters and to his other relatives as well, for their love is very important to him.

Venus was in the third house of Michael’s horoscope at the time of birth. He is keenly interested in the creative arts, and his thoughts and words are surrounded by a halo of beauty, taste, and proportion. Michael’s mind actually feels the emotions connected with nature and the higher aspects of things human. Venus here augurs pleasant and kind relations with members of his family and the disposition of his intellect is congenial, youthful, and attractive.

The keys to a better integration of both his mental and emotional functions consist of deepening his personal relationships and of turning his mind inward so that he may be able to know the world better by means of true self-knowledge. Michael likes people, and people like him as well. He is very loyal to his friends. He has a strong sense of fairness and justice, which he insists on in all of his relationships. For Michael’s love is very strongly mixed with pride.

Another side of this aspect is that Michael may pick friends who make him look good in some way. But he should be careful not to overlook those who are equally worthy but not so well known. In relationships, Michael will have to learn to compromise with other people's desires. He has to learn that he cannot have his own way all the time, and as he got older, he understood the positive aspect of give and take. His basic warmth and friendliness always made him well liked.

Michael likes to be surrounded by beauty and is depressed by anything ugly or unpleasant. While he was quite young, he showed some definite artistic ability. Also he appreciates other people's artistic talents. Perhaps the most important effect of this aspect, however, is that it takes his mind away from narrowly logical thinking. Michael looks for form and beauty in ideas as well as in objects. And he may think visually, by seeing images in his head rather than just connecting ideas.

Michael wanted everything he saw or thought about to be related artistically as well as logically. He talked to people in a way that won them over. He was very good at soothing hurt feelings and at helping people settle a quarrel fairly. The conjunction of Mercury and Venus shows that Michael has an affable manner and social grace. He gets along well with most people because he knows when he should make compromises in order to maintain harmony. Michael knows how to express his opinions skillfully so that no one feels threatened or intimidated by him, and he is resourceful in gathering information to document what he says.

Michael’s gentle and easy-going personality is an asset in most professions, but he might find it difficult to cope with harsher elements of close and direct competition.
Michael could find enjoyment in public speaking or the dramatic arts. Writing could also prove satisfying because he has a natural talent for expressing himself well. Michael’s imaginative style is fresh and charming and appeals to people who want to be entertained as well as informed.

Michael uses his talents effectively and can usually translate his ideas into cash.
His home should be a place of warmth, love and friendliness, and when he was young, his life should have been reasonably calm. As a result, Michael had an excellent relationship with his parents as he grew up, and he felt secure within himself. Michael is able to give and receive love very easily and make others feel his personal warmth. Michael enjoys having friends come to his home, because he likes to share his personal world with others and make them feel as good there as he does.

Michael likes to be surrounded by elegance and grace. This aspect indicates that his feelings are very intense, particularly in relationships. It is difficult for him to like someone only a little bit. Either Michael liked a person completely, or he was indifferent or unfriendly to them. And in all of his relationships, Michael’s feelings were a mixture of love and hate, which could come out as intense anger toward those he loved the most, if there were any differences of opinion. However, if he released his anger in an out-and-out fight, he quickly got over it and went back to really liking the other person.

The problem is that Michael could not imagine love without hate and conflict, so he tried to bring those two extremes together in his love life. There was nothing especially wrong with this, except that it became difficult to have long and deep relationships. Either Michael or his partner got tired of the emotional bruises and left. His Venus square Mars indicates that he had difficulty in maintaining harmonious relations with people at times. Michael was not always the easiest person to get along with; he expected others to make concessions to him, but he refused to make any compromise without being pressured to do so.

Michael’s Western Horoscope - Part 1

Michael is very careful in everything he does, and he puts a high value on neatness. He expects others to live up to those same high standards, and is easily disappointed if they do not. When Michael sees something wrong in someone or something, he doesn’t hesitate to point it out. But he’s had to learn to be considerate when he does this, because criticizing others, even with the best intentions, creates bad feelings.

Michael is very interested in learning as much as possible about the world. In whatever he makes or does, he applies the same standards of perfection that he wants other people to live up to. Michael likes to help others because being useful makes him feel good. He is able to put off what he wants for himself in order to help someone he loves do what he or she wants. Others respect him for this.

Although Michael has a real desire to serve others, his ideals are usually distant and consequently unreachable. A person with his introspective and highly emotional nature needs a stronger person to mold and contain his fluidity of character. To Michael, the abstract, the mystical, and spiritual are more real than any other realities. He is reflective and in touch with his subconscious, searching, probing, and exploring the labyrinths of the mind.

Critical of himself to the point of self-censure, however, he will tend to hang a veil over what he has found in his soul. Michael found life difficult and attempted to find release in mysticism or related subjects. Michael must allow his Virgoan practical individuality to exert more force and tighten the rein on his actions. This is the key to a better balance and harmony in his nature. He is a very sensitive person with strong feelings.

If someone makes a harsh remark, he takes it very hard. In fact, one of Michael’s tasks in life will be to develop a thicker skin; which he has managed to do. But his sensitivity is good because it makes him kinder and more considerate of others. Still it would be wise for him to stay away from people who are always negative, because he picks up and reacts to their feelings very quickly.

Michael has a rich and lively imagination, which makes him very creative. As he got older, Michael may have developed an interest in the occult and supernatural. He is very likely to avoid conflicts, even when he should defend his own ideas. If he does not stand up for himself, he may attract people who will exploit him and take advantage of him. Michael is a very active person who likes to get around, meet people and have as many different experiences as possible.

Michael likes communicating with others, and there are times when he may have difficulty keeping quiet even when he is supposed to. This may take the form of writing ability or a fondness for books, anything that keeps his mind going. Michael has always looked younger than he is and, even more important, he is always open to new ideas and experiences. At the time of Michael’s birth the zodiacal sign of Gemini was ascending in the horizon. Its ruler Mercury is located in the fourth house.

Michael’s ascending sign, and the position of its ruler, offers general information concerning the overall trends of the course of his life. Gemini is the third sign of the zodiac and among its key psychological influences over life there are the following: intellectual activities, humanitarianism, abhorrence of violence, constant doubt of all mental concepts, hesitancy and academic interest.

People whose ascending sign is Gemini usually appear as elegant, slender, expressive, and with very humane facial expressions. They are individuals with some literary inclination, dexterous with manual labors and crafts, apt, able, witty, inventive and very curious and subtle. A Gemini in the ascendant will always distinguish himself by his rather eloquent speech and writing, his much occupied daily life, and his perpetual lack of an ability to effect swift and determined decisions. As a Gemini, Michael should try to compensate any hesitancy with fast thinking.

Michael’s disposition to life-events was kind and generous (within bounds) but not always fortunate because of too much vacillation in decision-making circumstances. He possessed the capability of rising in life because of his own intellectual assets. His mind was open and generous, and his intellect self-sufficient; yet on many occasions, his judgment may have appeared as questionable to those not understanding. For Michael, restraining useless discussion, strife, and unprofitable argument would have been wise as they were his worst enemies.

If not an entertainer, Michael would have achieved success through literary and scientific studies, giving free reign to his brilliant intellect in warranted circumstances, and applying his diligent nature to writing, traveling, communications, and human analysis. In all these activities he would have been at his best. Mercury, the ruler of Michael’s life, appears in the fourth house. This denotes a life strongly centered and attached to family and home. As we know, Michael developed a business jointly with his family of origin.

The location of Mercury also affords some uncertainty of material situations in life. There were many changes of residence due to matters related to business. Forming close relationships with people his own age was not easy for Michael. The relationship that is most affected by this placement is marriage. The close relationships Michael encountered when he was young, taught him much that he needed to know about getting along.

Often the people who are close to Michael seem to demand too much or don't permit him to simply be himself. If Michael had felt that people were being too critical of him, he would have been wise to re-examine his friendships. Saturn opposition the Ascendant shows that Michael tended to be a bit defensive in his associations. He could be so preoccupied with his own affairs that he was not too concerned with anyone else's. But at the same time, Michael was upset because he thought people were being indifferent to him.

The truth is, Michael was so reserved about projecting himself into other people’s lives that others received the impression he thought himself better than they were. So they kept their distance and were not likely to warm up to him. Although Michael had a mind of his own, he frequently was never sure he could exploit his ideas and get a favorable response, which he desperately needed.

Because Michael was more competent than most of his competitors, he never took on a task he could not handle. Michael may have secretly feared responsibility, but he was more than able to perform his duties and fulfill his obligations, both to himself and to others. Michael’s feelings are quite changeable, and they influence how he feels about people. He may have found it very difficult to treat others the same way all the time. He believed that showing his feelings clearly to someone could possibly hurt his relationship.

This made him feel very tense when he was with someone he liked. If his relationships with others did not go smoothly, Michael often withdrew into his own private world where he felt safe and secure, instead of fighting for his point of view. Michael was learning to stand up for his rights and beliefs. Yet beliefs that he learned when he was very young, may have too much influence on the way he acts toward others. He would have been wise to treat each day as a new experience.

The Moon square the Ascendant shows that Michael was emotionally biased in his reaction to events and experiences with people. An impressionable person, he may have had difficulty in realistically evaluating the conditions he reacted to. Emotionally vulnerable to strong character types who tried to change him to their liking, Michael felt he was powerless to do anything but submit. It was important for him to break away from the past and the limits it imposed on his freedom. Michael was then able to develop on his own without feeling that he must get someone else's approval.

The abrasive conditions of open competition were always painful for Michael unless he could insulate himself by learning to cope with people and circumstances intellectually. It would have been wise for Michael not to take on more burdens than he needed to, especially in his career. He learned to keep his personal affairs to himself and not give adversaries the opportunity to learn his weaknesses. Yet Michael may have had a tendency to feel sorry for himself; which he overcame.

Michael is very sociable and always enjoys being with friends or social groups. He may also have friends who will help him out a great deal. Michael enjoyed life most when he lived in a pleasant place with comfortable and luxurious surroundings. In communicating with others, Michael always tried to accent the positive. He hated discord and tried to smooth over any conflicts between himself and others, even those that did not involve him directly.

Michael was very popular with others because he projected warm and friendly feelings.
The sextile from Venus to the Ascendant shows that he strived to maintain harmonious relations with everyone he came in contact with. A peacemaker by nature, Michael often tried to smooth out the difficulties people had in reaching friendly relationships. He knows what he wants out of life, and he expresses that conviction freely. Not being a deceitful person, Michael considered it best to disclose that he intended to do whatever was necessary to realize his goals. Because he was somewhat timid, however, people did not really expect that he would go to such great lengths and actually make his dreams a reality.

In his career, Michael tried to do everything that was expected of him, but it’s cautioned that he would be wise to refrain from becoming too familiar with co-workers or superiors.
Basically an honorable person, Michael preferred to operate within the law at all times. In spite of this, he should be alert to the danger of becoming implicated in the legal problems of close associates, which could prove costly to him. An outspoken and independent person, Michael had his own ideas about the world, and even when he was quite young, he demanded that others respect his point of view.

Michael’s mind is very active, and he likes to learn new subjects or see the world from a new angle. Because he got tired of old ideas so quickly, he may have made the mistake of adopting an attitude or point of view simply because it was new; novelty being an important element in his life. The people he associated with were likely to be quite free and independent in their views also. Michael liked to be around exciting people who always challenged him in a positive way.

In general, Michael didn’t readily identify with a group unless it was made up of exciting people doing projects that were different and stimulating. Uranus sextile the Ascendant shows that Michael thought like a rebel, whether he acted the role or not. His greatest selling point was his original and progressive creativity. Michael was skillful in communicating what he knew, and he freely shared his ideas with anyone who would listen. Many times Michael’s statements were prophetic.

Because freedom meant so much to Michael, his career had to permit him some degree of independence and self-determination. Michael brought ingenuity to any work he did, but research and development had a special appeal. Michael enjoyed a wide variety of friends from different backgrounds. He was particularly fond of people who thought for themselves and those whose interests were as novel as his own. Among his associates, Michael sparkled. He enjoyed competing with them in a healthy way. When he won, Michael considered it a mutual victory, for he realized that his opponent helped stimulate him to win.

It was unlikely that Michael would ever truly retire. Each day revealed new possibilities to him that continued to arouse his interest. And make no mistake, Michael had a quick and original mind, and enjoyed dealing with new ideas and concepts, especially ones that others considered too extreme. Michael’s beliefs may not be all that different from others', but he liked to challenge their opinions. At worst, Michael’s mind could be undisciplined, because he didn’t concentrate on any one subject for very long. Also he was likely to get bored more quickly than most people. At his best, Michael grasped complicated principles quickly and was always open to new experiences. It was very unlikely that he ever became set in his ways, mentally at least. Michael’s relations with his brothers and sisters were very changeable.