Tem Tarriktar – a pioneering spirit

Tem Tarriktar has sadly died who started and ran The Mountain Astrologer (TMA) magazine for thirty years. It moved from being an 8 pager to the most highly respected astrology publication in the world with an international outreach which was no mean feat.

Born 7 August 1956 6.40 am Cleveland, Ohio, he had a Leo Sun sitting just above his Ascendant in the 12^th with Moon Pluto in Leo in his 1^st as well. He’d be an enigmatic as well as entertaining personality. And his Sun was exactly conjunct his Uranus/Pluto midpoint for a revolutionary spirit. A confident-communicator Mercury Jupiter in Virgo in his 1^st was trine his Taurus Midheaven, so he was well-designed to get the word out. His Uranus is hidden in the 12^th and square his MC as well as square Neptune. A focal point Fixed Uranus would make him a trail blazer and quite self-willed, so he’d walk his own path.

He obviously had a tough start in life with a cold/deprived Saturn in Scorpio in his 4^th square Moon Pluto and his Saturn also trine Mars in Pisces in his 8^th house.

His Mars was on the focal point of a Yod to Pluto sextile Neptune inconjunct which wouldn’t be easy to live with in early adult life, tending to bring impulse decisions, anger issues and scattered energy though also focussing his attention on what lies buried deep beneath and beyond reality. Such a Yod usually brings a crisis point which forces a change of direction. Yods need to click into gear with a fated set of circumstances which puts the individual onto their destined track. Bil Tierney remarks of a Mars apex Yod: This new period compels the individual ‘ to undertake dynamic, pioneering new starts involving courage and daring.’ According to Astrodienst he went bankrupt in 1983. At that point there was enormous astro-pressure on his Mars from Solar Arc Pluto in opposition and Solar Arc Saturn square Mars. Four years later he started TMA.

The Mountain Astrologer had its first issue on 24 May 1987 when there was a fiery collection of Uranus Saturn Venus in Sagittarius trine Jupiter in Aries with a Sagittarius Sun as well. Saturn Uranus is innovative; Sagittarius is knowledgeable and well-travelled; Jupiter is lucky and bold in Aries. The North Node was also in Aries, usually a placing that demands the ability to stand alone and be a leader. There was a penetrating Mercury Pluto in Scorpio with Mars also in ultra-determined Scorpio.

Tem’s Harmonics are interesting and descriptive with a strong get-it-together 5H; a creative 7H; a break-through/genius 13H; and leaving-a-legacy 17H. He’ll be missed.