The nature of Uranus is so singularly like that of Scorpio, so far as his less humanitarian and uplifting aspects were concerned, that we may anticipate his presence in this house to be so strong as to dominate the personality, even where that is of an opposite character. The excellence of this position will depend largely upon the aspects of Uranus, more so than in the case of other signs. It has been generally alleged that Uranus has a special affinity for the sign Aquarius, and some innovators have gone so far as to call it his house. To such a position, breaking up as it does the entire septenary system of correspondences, it is impossible to assent. Neptune and Uranus represent forces far beyond the plane on which that system operates; and it is useless to destroy the old unless the new is demonstrably better. We prefer to assign Uranus to all the Cherubic signs, Neptune to all the passive signs, while the primum mobile may be properly considered to rule over the Cardinal signs. By this method, we not only retain the septenary system but complete it by assimilating it to the Qabalistic tenfold system of the Tree of Life, without the smallest disturbance. We retain the twelvefold Zodiac, and the attributions of the Tarot, and a thousand other systems which are irrevocably interlocked with these; and we remain in perfect communion with the thought of the Ancients. This appears a wiser and marc rational course than to exhibit our ignorance of the necessity of the septenary in order to show off our knowledge about Uranus.
To return, Aquarius is in any case a sign interchangeable with Scorpio; the eagle of Scorpio is the water cherub, and the man o f Aquarius the air cherub. We also sec the intermixture of air and water in the attributions of the Pentagram, and in an hundred other ways, all methods of Truth which conceal important mysteries….
Let it not be a reproach, therefore, if we emphasise strongly the affinity of Uranus to Scorpio. With some aspects, the scientific inquiring side of Scorpio will be brought out very strongly, with others the treacherous subtle-witted function of that mysterious sign, while in a third group we may find sensuality and passion most deeply marked.
To begin with men of science and philosophy, we have three emancipating intelligences of the highest order; Copernicus, Newton and Immanuel Kant.
The first of these great men, has Virgo rising, with Mercury in the ninth house trined by Luna and only 8 degrees from the trine o f Mars. Uranus is in the third house near the conjunction of Neptune, and is trined by Saturn. It is impossible to imagine a more perfectly harmonious disposition of the planets for intellectual and scientific eminence.
Sir Isaac Newton had Libra rising, giving the balanced judgment so requisite in scientific investigation and Uranus himself is within the Ascendant, and is trined by Jupiter in his own house Pisces, Jupiter himself being only 6 degrees from the conjunct ti on of Sal urn. Here the interest is somewhat broader than in the previous example; on the whole, the difference well describes the larger aspects taken by Newton’s investigation.
In the horoscope of Kant we find Taurus rising but in 29 degrees, so that most of the Ascendant is occupied by Gemini. Mercury, its lord, is in exact conjunction with the Sun, and these are trined by Luna in Virgo. It forms an admirable picture of the pure intelligence, introspective, philosophical and metaphysical.
More of the revolutionary phase of Uranus is found in the nativities of Gladstone and John Bright. The former has Capricornus rising and Saturn is conjoined with Neptune. with 2 degrees, and with Venus within 9 degrees. It is easy to sec that the interest must be mainly human and political, for Jupiter trines this conjunction and is in Aries, near the cusp of the third house.
The temperament is not very harmonious with the personality in this case, though both are powerful; and in this individuality we see the possibility of trouble. In fact, we note that his career was tumultuous, and that he would suddenly reverse his policy in an arbitrary and, as some thought, unwarrantable manner.
The career of John Bright, not so astoundingly successful or so tempestuous, was yet simpler and clearer. Here Cancer was rising, the Moon conjoined with Venus, close to Neptune and Uranus is in conjunction with the Sun. Cancer and Scorpio being friendly signs, the man was always himself and attained the highest reputation for suavity and for integrity.
We might also pair Dickens and Tennyson. The former has Uranus rising in Scorpio sextile to Mercury. Mars is squared by Saturn and this makes the temperament stronger than the personality. Hence the man’s work was more important than himself.
Tennyson, with Gemini rising, was of a coldly intellectual and rather priggish type, Mercury suffering severely from the square of Jupiter. Uranus, too, is in conjunction with Mars. Venus is rising, sextile to Jupiter, whi ch is in the eleventh, and so it is easy to understand that this is more important than either the personality or the temperament. The fame of Tennyson was due to his adroitness in pleasing his sovereign, rather than to any quality inherent in himself or in his poetry.
Another Victorian was Sir Isaac Pitman, with Libra rising. Venus is not specially strong in any way, but it is on the cusp of the third house, within which is Mercury. The inventive genius, therefore turns naturally to developing case in matters connected with writing, in other words, to the construction of the system of shorthand which is associated with his name.
Before we proceed to the domain of art, let us look for a moment at the nativity of Caesar Borgia. Virgo is rising. with Mercury on the cusp of the Ascendant, giving a cold, shrewd, nature. Uranus, on the cusp of the third house, gives a somewhat horrible turn to the mind, for he is squared by the moon. r..Mars and Saturn being in conjunction with Leo, we can figure to ourselves the icy. violent, unscrupulous, qualities of the: man, while the Sun rising sextile to them assumes ambition, and success in attaining it.
In art, we have a brilliant trio of musicians, Wagner, Chopin and Schumann. Schumann has Capricorn us rising, Saturn and Neptune semi-sextile to Uranus, near the square of a conjunction of Mars and Sol. There is no great warmth in any part of this disposition, but there is no lack of harmony, except in the sih’1lS themselves; though one may urge that they are at least both cold. It well describes his music_
Wagner has Gemini rising, which accounts for the literary quality in his work; even in his operas this is the case; the leit -motif is literature, not music. But he was a voluminous writer on all sons of subjects. Mercury is square to an opposition of Mars and Jupiter which explains the violent and brilliant qualities of the man. Uranus is squared by Venus, and the whole figure represents strife and turmoil. Venus dose above the eastern horizon in her own house, in conjunction with Sol and sextile to Jupiter is on the whole the most important feature in the figure_ It gives the intense humanity, the great dramatic and artistic feeling, especially for pictorial effect for Wagner’s music has always a visual value, and it assures success.
Chopin is far more like Schumann. Virgo is rising, the Moon about to rise. Mercury sextile to Jupiter is otherwise not very strong. Saturn and Neptune are sextile to Luna; it is another example of the cold, dreamy melancholy temperament, especially as Uranus is in the third house.
More like Wagner, in another line, is Michael Angelo. Here Pisces is rising, Mercury and Venus conjoined on the cusp, with Sol not far below them. They are trine to Uranus and Luna. Pisces and Scorpio are friendly; it is the ideal harmony of nature which permits a man to turn out apparently unlimited quantities of the finest work.
For a final example, Alfred de Musset offers himself as a contrast. Here Aquarius is rising, Saturn in conjunction with Sol and Mercury in the tenth house, with Neptune only 9 degrees away_ The personality goes well with the temperament, though Venus being in Capricornus, her hated house, and Jupiter close to the opposition of Uranus, the whole make-up is bound to .be of cynicism and disappointment. The square of Mars and Venus adds some violence of passion; but this is not well regulated. In spite of brilliancy of talent, even genius, in spite of great achievement, one can only rank him sadly with those who are not quite immortals.