See saw charts are evidently one of the rarer configurations, indicating complex, not always stable temperaments who are constantly dancing between opposing sides of themselves, trying to find a balance and a way of integrating their inner incompatibility. They are constantly pulled between alternatives and two distinct, often competing sides of their personality. Sometimes they seek out a partner to carry the ‘other half’ of themselves, making them overly dependent with their relationship needs intense.
What it can be good for in certain individuals is an ability to solve conflicts. They can be successful negotiators between opposing parties because they want to make sure that the resolution is fair for both parties; an echo of what they want for themselves at an inner level.
What brought this to mind was a surprisingly reverential biography of Labour politician and briefly former UK prime minister after Blair, Gordon Brown. He did admittedly prove crucial in finding a way through the financial collapse of 2008 but was a famously flawed man with a curious chart. He had a volcanic temper, a talent for grudges and a willingness to rely on “sometimes thuggish spin doctors”, expert in the blackest arts. On the other hand he is seen as highly moral with a robustly Christian approach, focusing since his retirement on global education and health financing and avoiding the standard post-political money-making mission.
Frank Field, a fellow politician once remarked: “It is almost like [Brown] has two brains. ”
Born 20 February 1951 8.40am Glasgow Scotland with a Church of Scotland minister for a father, he had a precocious and outstanding intellect, gaining ultimately a PhD in the history of the Labour Party.
He has a 12th house Pisces Sun as well as Jupiter, North Node, Venus, Mars in Pisces all in the 12th; with his Jupiter Mars Veus inconjunct Neptune; and Mars Venus opposition Saturn with Saturn square Uranus. And his Mercury in Aquarius opposes a Leo Moon conjunct Pluto in his performing 5th house. It is not quite a stereotypical see-saw chart but it is near enough. And his personality oddities do fit.
One other is Edward Kennedy, 22 February 1932 3.58 am Brookline, Massachusetts. At the time of his death there was a division of opinion given his callous behaviour over the death of Mary Jo Kopechne and his reputation as a serial womaniser and philanderer. But there were those who pointed to his superior political abilities in resolving cross party disputes, being able to cross the aisle and negotiate settlements with ‘the other side.’
He had a more obviously see-saw chart with his Pisces Sun opposition Moon Neptune; his Pluto opposing Saturn and his Jupiter widely opposing Mars Mercury.
King George V1, 14 December 1895 3.05am Sandringham, England, was also see saw with an 8th house Pluto Neptune opposition his Sun Mercury. Despite a flawed character and uncontainable temper, he managed against his inclinations to take over the throne and pull the UK together through the war years with the help of his redoubtable wife.
Whitney Houston, 9 August 1963 8.55pm Newark Heights, NJ, was another, though in her case partnerships proved her downfall. A 6th house Leo Sun Venus opposed a 12th house Saturn; and her Moon opposed Mars.
Configurations don’t tell the whole story but they do add another layer of insight into the shaping of a temperament and the direction a life will take.