Early astrology knew nothing of the outer planets. As they were discovered and added to the zodiacal lexicon, astrologers had extra tools for interpretation, expanded further by the addition of Chiron. In recent times Fixed Stars like Algol, Scheat, Alphard, have come back into vogue as helpful tools. And now asteroids are also coming to the forefront (despite Richard Idemon’s witty dismissal of them as ‘cosmic detritus’.
My software lists 81 asteroids which is an overwhelming number were they all to carry cogent information and raises a suspicion they could be used an an explanation for almost anything.
Despite my Virgoan misgivings, I read with increasing appreciation a new ebook out on Pholus – Cults, Intoxication and the Divine by Ben Belinsky, the first of a series of four on the centaurs. The author explains that the major planets e.g. Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn etc have rulerships and a specific job description. Whereas the centaurs of which Chiron was the first to be discovered, are identified with their narrative. Chariklo, Nessus and Asbolus are the others.
Pholus was the guardian of a flask of wine, gifted by Dionysus, Greek god of fertility, religious ecstasy, ritual madness and drunkenness. When the divine legacy of Dionysus is released as the flask is opened it can lead to:- a mad stampede, a volley of poisoned arrows, religious ecstasy or poetic inspiration. It takes us beyond the rational mind so the Pholus ‘experience’ can be transcendental, angelic or psychotic.
Pholus is connected to panic, herd mentality, fanaticism, (fan is a shortened version of fanatic), possession by a god or demon, ‘a religious maniac’, ecstasy, mass hysteria, intoxication by alcohol or drugs, a state of emotional excitement, elation, or exhilaration, the loss of sense of individuality in a mass or collective. Cults. Mobs. Mind-control. To enslave.
Atavism – the tendency of reversion. Those who “look backwards, feeling deprived of a real or imagined past” and relates it to the rise of populism.
Ancestral legacy – the wine that Pholus had guardianship of was gifted four generations before.
The author Ben Belinsky, a practising London astrologer with a background in Jungian psychology and a degree in Comparative Religion, points up why Pholus is so relevant to our time.
He quotes: Gustave Le Bon, ‘The Crowd: A Study of the Popular Mind’. “The masses have never thirsted after truth. They turn aside from evidence that is not to their taste, preferring to deify error, if error seduce them.” “Whoever can supply them with illusions is easily their master; whoever attempts to destroy their illusions is always their victim.”
And Joost Meerloo, ‘The Rape of the Mind.’ “Logic can be met with logic, while illogic cannot – it confuses those who think straight. The Big Lie and monotonously repeated nonsense have a more emotional appeal… than logic and reason.”
His insights into both Pholus and the present mindset in certain quarters are helpful. “In a cult, what we project onto the leader is our own sense of divinity, in other words our divine self. We become worshippers, devotees, they become our saviours, our protectors; in effect they become gods. And through them we achieve religious ecstasy.”
Two thirds of the book are chart examples of which cult leaders are most illuminating. Jim Jones of the suicide cult has Pholus on his Ascendant. Marchall Applewhite of Heaven’s Gate (extra-terrestrials) had Pholus on his Midheaven. Timothy Leary, early advocate of psychodelic drugs also had Pholus on his Ascendant. Ron Hubbard, who invented Scientology as a smart way to make money had his Jupiter in Scorpio and South Node conjunct Pholus in a Water Grand Trine.
Of the others I might have expected more obvious connections in Hitler and the Germany charts. Though both Hitler and the 1871 Germany chart has Pholus in the 5th perhaps hinting at the Third Reich’s popularity through grandstanding displays of pomp.
The USA 1776 chart has Pholus conjunct the South Node exactly which could point to the country’s reversionary need to hook into conspiracy theories, televangelists and populism. Donald Trump? His Pholus is opposition his Saturn and exactly opposition his Venus/Saturn midpoint. Oddly enough his Pholus falls in the 5th house of entertainment as well – so there may be a nugget of insight from that.
Of the other charts, my slight impression is that Pholus in aspect to the Moon or Venus is a frequent occurrence amongst notables.
Though the area is so new that much more research is needed.
Ben Belinksy’s book is extremely readable, with gripping illustrations of the old myths and their modern relevance, and psychologically perceptive.
It is, in a odd way, reassuring to be able to nail down the modern madness. Fandom of any variety – global, political or sporting – may not be arguable with but understanding its irrational kink does make it (marginally) easier to hack.
The ebook can be ordered from Amazon
See also: https://moonletter.co.uk/e-books/#pholus
Add On:
Celebrities with Pholus aspects: https://www.zanestein.com/celeb.htm
I was involved in a religious organisation years ago when young (A Buddhist respected group) and really wanted to ordain within it, as a nun.
I did not, but in later years thought back to it as being a strong influence, cult experience. Although I miss them to this day and wonder if that was a path that I had missed.
My Pholus conjunct North Node in Aquarius.
A monk who was an important guide to me, Pholus conjunct Midheaven.
Richard Gere, known for being involved with Tibetan Buddhists, Pholus conjunct Jupiter.
So interesting.
Thank you Marjorie, and Hi Christine,
Prompted by this article, and never having read anything about it previously, I looked up my natal Pholus and, like yours it is conjunct the North Node, exact, at 3 degrees Aquarius.
How do you feel it impacts your life?
Strangely, transiting Pholus is exactly conjunct my MC, at 9 degrees Capricorn now.
Melanie Reinhart writes that often a Centaur will “choose, or call you” through a transit ” – (or a timely astrology article?)
What learning do you think may be taken from these synchronicities?
All Pholus insights and comments gratefully received!
Hi Andrew,
So, my natal Pholus conjunct North Node is 2.30 – 3 degrees away from the Aquarius mean node at 7 degrees 18’…and Pholus is applying.
I don’t much understand my NN in Aquarius, I am not sure I have ever fulfilled it.
I have Saturn Neptune conjunct, 19′ orb, in 7th house, so Saturn being the ruler of Aquarius, makes me think that that was why I was drawn to that life, then with Pholus conjunct NN.
If only I had known. Best wishes.
Hi Christine, and thank you for your response,
Pholus is brand new to me, but you saying “I am not sure I ever fulfilled it” resonates strongly, as the interpretations I’ve read so far seem to indicate a powerful influence on one’s life direction, but if so I have yet to sense it. I’ve certainly not been involved with cults so far……. but who knows?
We also share. the Saturn Neptune conjunction, mine at 20 and 21 degrees Libra, exactly on my Descendant, but my chart ruler, (Aries Ascendant) is Mars.
Best Wishes to you too
Andrew, that is astonishing, my Neptune 21.50, Saturn 22.09, both retrograde. Descendant 13 degrees Libra though, so not that close. Aries Ascendant also in common. Mars is the only aspect I have to NN, in trine. Hmm, we’d better read the book.
I have Sun conjunct Pholus (tight orb)in the 10th House. So do I have what it takes to become a cult leader.
Below is a list of famous people with Pholus aspect
https://www.zanestein.com/celeb.htm
Thanks, I have added to the post for ease of finding later on. Interesting.
Thanks Marjorie, the book sounds fascinating. I’ve certainly favoured the “cosmic detritus” point of view, until I started messing around with the Serennu asteroid ephemeris online. I can’t quite nail down my response, but have realised that named asteroids do frequently seem to appear prominently conjunct or in obvious aspects in charts for notable events, celebrated deaths, and so on. I’ve seen this as a kind of cosmic wink, or joke. They amplify what’s already there somehow. Other than Chiron, and the classic asteroid ‘goddesses’ (Ceres now being a minor planet), I haven’t used them for individuals. The fixed stars are also enlightening and useful, again often when major events occur – there they are. The way things are connected, the way things make patterns, sometimes it’s all quite wonderful.
“Stories never live alone; They are the branches of a family that we have to trace back, and forward. A life in which the gods are not invited is not worth living. It will be quieter, but there won’t be any stories.”
Roberto Calasso – The Marriage of Cadmus and Harmony (1988)
Interesting. I looked up my natal Pholus. It is conjunct natal Mercury in early Aquarius exactly sextile Venus. I am comfortable with both the rational and transcendental aspects of my mind, and I enjoy writing about it in innovative ways. That gives me an outlook, that is fudamentlaly optimistic and humanitarian, as well as spiritual and future-oriented. Transiting Pluto is now conjunct natal Pholus, sextile Saturn-Neptune and trine Uranus.
I have it Aquarius too in the 6th house. Plus it’s conjunct my husband’s Sun.
Innnnnnnnnteresting. I have Pholus conjunct my Sun in the 11th. Been around cults, gurus, self-appointed holy people since I was a child. And am suitably repulsed by them now that I’m a grownup, but it’s been a journey. Once long ago a very wealthy man wanted to set me up as a guru in LA, he thought he could make big profits off me. I turned him down — it offended my conscience. But I coulda been a contendah. 🙂
Thank you for this Pholus info, Marjorie. I’ll get the book.
The book also has a section on deprogrammers – so works both ways. Thanks for your personal info.
What made you be interested in Alphard?
Put Alphard in Search and it tells you.