Yod Book: Including a Complete Discussion of Unaspected Planets - Softcover

Karen Hamaker-Zondag

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1578631637 ISBN 13: 9781578631636

Publisher: Red Wheel/Weiser, 2000

Synopsis

A yod is formed when two planets that are sextile also form an inconjunct to another planet. These planets are in different signs and modes and are deeply significant, for they usually symbolize patterns in families that have lasted for generations. This is what HamakerZondag discovered when she started to research the inconjunct aspect as it related to a yod. Also included in this book is a complete discussion of how the energies of unaspected planets, and planets in duet (that only aspect each other) are expressed in a person's birth chart. HamakerZondag says that people with a yod are often insecure, or have trouble expressing themselves, and there is an emphasis on stalemates or unusual situations. She analyzes the background and places it in a broader perspective, including how she works with elements, modes, orbs, and other astrological factors when interpreting this aspect. All in all, this is one of the most exciting books on aspect interpretation published in recent years!

Included are great case histories: you have a chance to examine the Monica Lewinsky, Linda Tripp, Kenneth Starr, Bill Clinton scenario and see it with new eyes. And Princess Diana, Prince Charles, and Prince William are not without these family patterns. The stories are profound. These aspects work in the lives of people who change the world, people who have lived the unpopular position of stalemate, delay, and social change indicated by the presence of a yod in their natal chart, by transit, or by progression. She uses the examples of Gandhi, Vaclav Havel, Khomeini, Solzhenitsyn, Willy Brandt, C. G. Jung, Jim Jones, and others. To help you work with your own clients, HamakerZondag brings in the charts of her personal clients and explains them in depth.

When you've read this book, you'll want to check out the charts of everyone you know!

About this title

About the Author

Karen Hamaker-Zondag is the author of fifteen books, including The Twelfth House and Tarot as a Way of Life. She is a recipient of the 1998 Regulus Award for Education from the UAC, founder two schools: Stichting Achernar, an astrological school; and Stichting Odrerir, a school of Jungian Psychology. With her husband Hans, in 1990, she started Symbolon, a successful quarterly astrological journal. Karen lives near Amsterdam with her husband and two children.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

The Yod Book

Including a complete discussion of unaspected planets

By Karen Hamaker-Zondag

Samuel Weiser, Inc.

Copyright © 1998 Karen Hamaker-Zondag
All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-57863-163-6

Contents

Preface
1. What Is a Yod?—Technical Background of the Yod Configuration
2. Unaspected Planets
3. Family Themes and the Generation Problem
4. Effects of Yods and Unaspected Planets
5. Interpreting Yod Configurations
6. Interpreting Unaspected Planets and Duets
7. The Shadow and Evil
8. Unaspected Planets and Temporary Yods by Progression and Transit
9. How Should We Deal with Yods and Unaspected Planets?
10. Yods and Unaspected Planets in the Astrology of Relationships
11. Yods, a Duet, and Unaspected Planets
12. Yods and Unaspected Planets in Action
13. Life and Death
14. Yods and a Duet in C. G. Jung's Childhood
15. Case Files of Yods and Unaspected Planets
16. Gemma—Your Own Form within the Generational Theme
17. Living with a Number of Yods—Esther's Experience
18. In Conclusion
Bibliography
Index
About the Author

CHAPTER 1

What Is a Yod?—Technical Background of the Yod Configuration

A yod is an aspect configuration where one planet (MC, Ascendant, or a planet)forms an inconjunct with two other zodiacal points, while these two planets forma sextile between them. In a yod either the MC or the Ascendant can participate,but because we don't draw aspects between the MC and the Ascendant, they cannever be involved in a single yod at the same time. [Jod comes from the Hebrewword [TEXT NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII] 'jod' = hand.]

Astrology recognizes a number of different aspects that form a "closed"configuration; for instance, we recognize the grand trine (whose points connectthree signs of a single element), or the grand cross (or square), whose pointsconnect the four signs of a single mode, and so on. The direction theinterpretation of any aspect configuration takes is determined, for one, by themeaning of the kinds of aspects involved, and by the planets involved. More isgoing on though. In order to understand thoroughly what aspects are all about,aspect configurations in general, and the yod in particular, we will sidestep abit and look at other astrological rules and interpretive factors so we canbring these together later on at a deeper level in discussing the yodconfiguration.

Aspects

Technically speaking, an aspect is an angle a planet forms in relation toanother in the sky, as seen from Earth. There are countless possible angles, buthistory has taught us that particular angles exhibit a clear effect and othersdo so less or not at all. After Kepler, classification according to so-calledmajor and minor aspects was recognized; the major aspects were traditionally theconjunction (0°), sextile (60°), square (90°), trine (120°), and opposition(180°). These are all angles divisible by 30, the number of degrees comprising awhole sign. At that time, aspects were considered exclusively with reference tosign. The only two aspects missing from this list of major aspects that are alsodivisible by 30 are the semi-sextile (30°) and the inconjunct (150°). These usedto be minor aspects.

By combining music and numerology with the concept of astrological aspects,Kepler created many new aspects. He was familiar with the inconjunct (alsocalled a quincunx), but also made totally new ones. Because Kepler came up withquite a few aspects whose angles were no longer divisible by 30, the problemarose, for instance, that you could get a quintile (72°) between the signs Ariesand Cancer (i.e., a planet at 29° Aries, and the other 72° further at 11°Cancer), but also one between Aries and Gemini (i.e., a planet at 2° Aries, andthe other 72° further at 14° Gemini). He gave aspects their own meaning based onmusic and numerology, and the angles that belong to the aspects were, fromKepler's time on, pretty much considered from a strictly mathematical point ofview, rather than from the sign where the planets were placed. This meantchanging the traditional manner of reading the chart, where a planet wasinseparably linked to its sign and where the sign was of considerable importancewhen thinking of aspects. In the old days, as Greek sources report (think ofPtolemy), it was even the case that aspects were not seen as having an orb, butonly used as "whole-sign" aspects.

For example: every planet in Aries, regardless of the degree was considered tobe sextile to every planet in Aquarius, again regardless of the degree in whichthat planet was located. The reason for this was that Aries and Aquarius aresextile, and any planets located in these signs, because of their background,will also have a sextile-tendency to each other.

However, if you ignore the background sign when interpreting aspects, you willarrive at very strange combinations and encounter conflicting readings. Forexample: if you only look at the angle (the distance in degrees) as amathematical given, then you'll see the 120° angle (with an orb, of course)between 29° Aries and 1° Virgo as a trine because the aspect is 122°, and fallswithin the effective range due to the allowed orb. However, the planets involvednever work on their own; they are also colored by the sign in which they areplaced.

Although Mercury always remains Mercury as such (representing such things as ourway of talking, combining facts, and thinking), it will inevitably exhibititself differently and express itself differently in Aries than it will inTaurus. So when interpreting an aspect, we can't just say that Mercury is inthis or that aspect, but must first describe Mercury in greater detail inconnection with its sign.

Let's say that in our example, we have Mercury at 29° Aries and the Moon at 1°Virgo. What are these planets doing? Mercury in Aries will talk and think inthe way of fire—rapidly and in broad terms. This is a Mercury that wants to takethe world by storm, sees countless possibilities, smells adventure, and in thisway combines facts and comes up with ideas. This Mercury will almost stumbleover words when speaking, which he does enthusiastically, at full throttle, andwith zeal. He might even blurt out all kinds of things. Details and the concretematerial world are completely lost sight of. But not Moon in Virgo. This Moonwill feel the most comfortable if it can direct itself at concrete reality, atwhat is tangible and can be experienced by the senses—at that which offerssecurity. This Moon in Virgo has the most trouble with the insecurity ofadventure and chasing after countless still intangible possibilities. A Moon inVirgo feels safe if it can calmly weigh things mentally and act cautiously. Infact, it is totally different and, with respect to feelings, even in conflictwith Mercury in Aries. What are the implications for the trine without referenceto sign?

A trine is always described as a harmonious and flexible connection between twoplanets that also work well together. But how is a taking-the-world-by-storm,adventuring Mercury in Aries supposed to work together flexibly and "go wellwith" an in his eyes inhibiting, sober Moon in Virgo with both feet on theground who abhors adventure? Mercury in Aries' tempestuous thoughts andwrestling with possibilities are the very things that make cautious Moon inVirgo's hair stand on end! The chance that these two patterns of needs wouldhave lots of trouble with each other and cause tensions in each other isoverwhelming. However, had the Moon been located in the last degree of Leo, wewould have had a trine whereby both the Moon and Mercury would be working from afire basis. Aries and Leo are both fire signs, after all. In this case, the Moonwould be truly able to appreciate Mercury's need for adventure and newpossibilities, in addition to Mercury's enthusiastic way of talking aboutthings. Okay, Leo is a fixed sign and therefore needs a bit more time thanAries, which is a cardinal sign. However, they have so much in common (fire) interms of their orientation toward life, that they can tolerate a lot from eachother. This situation certainly reflects the flexibility of a trine. Thisflexibility will, however, be missing from trines if there is no reference tosign. If an aspect like this, without reference to sign, no longer fits itsbasic meaning, is it still that aspect? In other words, can a trine, describedas being flexible, still be a trine if it directly elicits tension andirritation? In my view, no, and I think we have to return to the older views,whereby the sign the planet is in is of overriding importance when interpretingan aspect.

Background Sign, Element, and Mode

Planets involved in aspects and aspect configurations are located in a sign, andtherefore when interpreting these planets, the sign the planet is in plays asignificant role. A sign in turn owes a great deal of its meaning to the factthat it belongs to a particular element, mode, and polarity (positive ornegative sign).

Elements form ways of looking that, in Jungian terms, represent the functions ofconsciousness. Looking at things this way (automatically), is a big help whenorienting ourselves in terms of the outside world. Even before we've thoughtabout it, we're already busy ordering and labeling the facts and phenomenacoming at us so we can give ourselves a handle on the world. Jung discovered inpractice that consciousness has four different ways of orienting and looking,and they turn out to match the astrological elements perfectly. Although Jungwas active in astrology, if we study the way he developed his typologies, we seevery clearly that he did not derive his four function types from theastrological elements. It is therefore even more archetypal that they correspondso closely.

The four possible functions of consciousness that Jung distinguished we canclarify as follows:

—Sensation Type: Accepting something as it is and looking at how it is, forexample: hard, sharp, warm, etc. Perception is primary. Considering anything notperceivable with the senses offers no handle for this way of seeing things, forthis type is focused on the security of the concrete world and of the here andnow: the future obviously cannot be grasped. This corresponds to the earthelement.

—Thinking Type: Asking what the thing perceived actually is and how it can beclassified in the current frame of reference. This type likes to look at thingstheoretically and strictly logically. The actions of those around, as well asthis type's own actions, are seen from logical reasoning, and everything isrationally thought out and motivated as much as possible. This corresponds tothe air element.

—Feeling Type: Imagining and experiencing all that is evoked by what isperceived, in the way of feelings of pleasure and displeasure, on the basis ofwhich something will be accepted or rejected. Emotional values are important.This way of seeing also entails absorbing very subtle things of which this typeis not necessarily always aware. A mood or intention will quickly be detected,and this becomes part of weighing issues. This corresponds to the water element.

—Intuition Type: (Unaware) Knowing or "imagining" where what is perceived comesfrom and/or how it will develop (as a possibility). In doing so, the object, assuch, is often not even experienced with awareness. This is a kind of "grasping"or "seeing" of backgrounds. This is why Jung called it intuition, which is notthe same as the astrological Uranus. The intuitive type is always in search ofpossibilities, backgrounds, and space. This corresponds to the fire element.

Planets located in a single element all orient themselves in the same way interms of the outside world. In this respect, there is, in fact, a great mutualunderstanding among planets in the same element. Even when there is no questionof a real trine within the allowed orb, a planet in Leo will feel comfortablewith a planet in Sagittarius because they have the same orientation toward theworld, and order the world around them in the same way. In earlier times,astrologers already remarked on this, and there was a time when all planets inLeo were considered to be trine to all planets in Sagittarius, due to theirmutual understanding and the similarity in their way of looking, even thoughthings were described differently back then.

However, Leo and Sagittarius each belong to a different mode. Each elementconsists of three signs, and these three signs all belong to different modes.Modes are involved in the way we tackle the problems we encounter, in our waysof coping with things, and in the flow of our psychic energy. There are three:

—The Cardinal Mode: Signs that belong to this mode cope with their problems bestby insuring their place in their environment and/or by directing themselvestoward the outside world or to those around them. The ways in which theirenvironment plays a role can, however, vary greatly. For instance, you mightneed people around you in order to rebel against them, or to play a littlecontest with them (Aries), in order to be able to experience the impetus ofemotions (Cancer), in order to effect compromises (Libra), or to execute them(Capricorn), just to give you a couple of simplified examples.

—The Fixed Mode: Copes precisely by withdrawing inwardly and shutting out theenvironment outside, so completely opposite to the cardinal mode. Fixed signscan psychically or literally "shut themselves up" and sit and brood until theycome out of it. As long as they haven't come out of it, they won't bother aboutwhether they're being "sociable" or "taking those around them into account."Fixed signs are definitely not asocial or antisocial, but need both time andspace with problems to collect themselves again. It is not a question ofunwillingness if something doesn't work; their inner world just hasn't becomeactivated yet.

—The Mutable Mode: Mutable signs tend to seek out all kinds of ways first, sothey can move on, and run the risk of thinking that their problems are already(almost) solved the moment they spot them. Or else they are so busy "clearingrubbish" that they forget to stop and consider the seriousness of theirproblems. They are capable of continuing quickly and picking up the threadagain, but often after the fact will suddenly become aware, on a deeper levelnow, of what was actually wrong, and may still have to cope with it.

Planets that are located in different signs, but in the same mode, will copewith their problems in the same ways, but they will see their problemsdifferently, because seeing depends on the element of the sign. Let's considerthe signs Aries and Capricorn. They look at the world totally differently.However, if they have problems, they will both, each in their own way, want todo something in or with their environment in order to feel good again, and tohave the feeling they can handle the world again.

Between Aries and Capricorn, there is another difference at work: Aries is apositive sign and Capricorn is a negative sign. The difference between thepolarities is:

—Positive: Tends to take the initiative and to proceed to action. This polaritysymbolizes the need to do something and to handle it instead of waiting. Likesto have the helm in hand. This polarity represents a facet of yang. Signs: fireand air signs.

—Negative: Tends to acquire an idea of what all is wrong, first. Needs time andfeels more comfortable looking around first, and then responding. This polaritytherefore waits for the first action, then proceeds to action—reactive, in otherwords, instead of taking the initiative. This polarity represents a facet ofyin. Signs: earth and water signs.

It is always the case with an aspect that if your psyche is doing something withone kind of subject matter (meaning one planet), and harnesses it, as it were,all the other planets with which it is in aspect will be jumping to join in. Andthey will quickly start interfering, and so start to color the action or effectof the subject matter you harnessed. The books describe Moon in Taurus as beingtranquil, but you should see when a person with Moon in Taurus has Uranus in anaspect to the Moon. Then, most definitely, restlessness and speediness come intoplay!

So, except when a planet is an unaspected planet, it never stands alone, andwill always be involved in other energies. Those other planets, however, aren'tlocated in a void. Their effect bears the stamp of their placement in anelement, in a mode, and in a polarity. Then the question is which of theplanet's signs will "color" the aspected planet and which will not. In an aspectpattern or configuration, such as a grand trine, a grand square, a kite, or ayod, to name only a few, it comes down to a complicated interaction of all kindsof factors that determine the interpretation.

Backgrounds of Aspect Configurations or Patterns

The planets in a grand trine are always located in a particular element. Thereare four elements. This means that we have four kinds of grand trines: a fire,an earth, a water, and an air variety. Two of these elements belong to thepositive signs and two to the negative. As a result, two of the four possiblegrand trines belong to the "positive" variety and two to the "negative." Thewords positive and negative should not be considered in the popular sense, butin the sense of action—yang (positive), and reaction—or yin (negative). If weare talking about the grand trine, we should always keep in mind that there arevarious kinds, which of course have consequences for interpretation.

Another example: In a grand square, the four planets involved are located withinthe same mode, so therefore in a cardinal, fixed, or mutable mode. The signsinvolved, though, are all in different elements. A grand square involves twopositive and two negative signs. The structure of a grand square is thereforedifferent in its make-up from that of a grand trine.

(Continues...)

Excerpted from The Yod Book by Karen Hamaker-Zondag. Copyright © 1998 Karen Hamaker-Zondag. Excerpted by permission of Samuel Weiser, Inc..
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

Edition details

• Publisher: Red Wheel/Weiser
• Publication date: 2000
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1578631637
• ISBN 13: 9781578631636
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 336