This is the second post on a series on VOCATIONAL ASTROLOGY. To read the first post click here.
In 1938, art collector Louis J. Caldor walked into a drugstore at Hoosick Falls, NY and bought every painting by a woman named Anna Mary Robertson Moses. When he finally met with Anna in person he told her she would be famous one day. But Louis and Anna faced some obstacles…
No one in New York was interested in exhibiting an “unqualified” artist who was in her seventies. They were concerned she would not be able to produce more work. Little did they know that Anna who went by the nickname Grandma Moses, would go on to create 1600 works.
Eventually art dealer, Otto Kallir, exhibited her work in 1940 and soon after Grandma Moses was a household name.
Uranus
Uranus is one of three outer planets. The other two are Neptune and Pluto. The first of the “modern” planets, Uranus was discovered by William Herschel in 1781. Uranus is the third largest planet in the solar system. The other two giants are Jupiter and Saturn.
Uranus spins on their side. Uranus is the only planet whose equator is nearly at a right angle to its orbit, with a tilt of 97.77 degrees. Uranus' south pole points to the Sun and their north pole is shrouded in darkness. Uranus makes one orbit around the Sun in 84 yrs. If you live to 84 yrs old you will experience your Uranus Return.
And …
A strange fact, William Herschel died at 84 yrs old.
Uranus in Astrology
Modern astrologers believe Uranus like Neptune and Pluto is a “higher octave” planet. This means that these planets do not necessarily touch us individually but collectively. In other words, Uranus like the other two outer planets is a generational planet.
However to be clear, I am not one of those astrologers who believes Uranus does not affect you on a personal level. If you are an Aquarian Sun, Rising or Moon or have Uranus on an angle or in aspect to Sun or Moon, you will be on intimate terms with Uranus.
I also like what Alan Oaken said about Uranus being the planet of “the sixth sense”. The sixth sense is intuition so if you have awakened to your intuition then you have awakened to Uranus within.
In Myth
Ouranos (which means “heaven”) is the oldest of the Greek gods. He was married to Gaia with whom he had many many children. Ouranos wanted to keep his children in the dark (in Gaia’s womb or in Tartarus) while Gaia wanted her children to be out in the light.
This is symbolic of our evolutionary process from unconscious to conscious beings. We go from psychological and spiritual “darkness” to awakening to the “light of truth”.
Spiritually the word awakening has many connotations but from a psychological perspective refers to potential.
Ouranos was eventually overthrown by his son Kronos (Saturn). Kronos is time.
In your birthchart, Uranus shows where you slowly awaken to the gifts and strengths that “sets you apart” or helps you stand out.
Grandma Moses Chart
Grandma Moses’ Uranus is at 11º Gemini, conjunct her Moon in the 6H (6th House). Gemini is ruled by Mercury so Uranus here answers to Mercury in Virgo. Mercury and Uranus are both planets of communication - the transference and understanding of data and meaning.
Mercury is touches individual’s lives while Uranus is a generational planet and impacts a generation in a transformative manner. Groups of people are changed by Uranus. Uranus DISRUPTS patterns so that we may awaken to something new.
Moses’ Uranus disrupts in Gemini by CHANGING THE CONVERSATION.
Mercury is exalted in Virgo in the 9H. Among other things the 6th House describes our daily routine. William Lilly specifically mentions day-labourers, farmers and shepherds.
Grandma Moses was born on a farm in upstate New York in 1860. She grew up and worked on farms, giving her intimate knowledge of the daily goings-on of farm life, which became her favourite art subject.
Her exalted Mercury (ruling Uranus in the 6H) gives her the ability to describe the daily goings-on of the farming community. Note the square between Moon, Uranus, Saturn, Mercury and Sun. Squares create tension and you can see how this square manifested for Moses who famously would not paint without first completing her household chores.
So how did Grandma Moses’ Uranus help change the conversation?
Grandma Moses made it clear that destiny looks different for everyone and that you don’t have to go to art school to create and sell your art. And she also proved that you are never too old to go after your dreams.
Uranus in Your Birth Chart
If you do not have a printout of your birth chart please download my handy PDF for instructions on how to access your birth chart for free from Astro.com. I also show you how to identify the houses and what they mean.
Step 1:
Locate Uranus in your birth chart.
Step 2:
Write down keywords for the SIGN and HOUSE in which Uranus is located.
Step 3:
Identify the ruler of that sign. Uranus is the modern day ruler of Aquarius. If you were born between 1995-2003 you will also want to consider Saturn’s position in your birth chart as Saturn is the traditional ruler.
Step 4:
Uranus takes his time. In other words, he reveals where you are slowly awakening to your unique potential. If you are under 38 years old it may be that you are at this time unable to clearly see how you are awakening to your unique potential. Uranus' opposition to natal Uranus occurs between the ages 38-42, the so-called Midlife crisis which is when most people experience a crisis that brings about change or a reinvention. This does not mean that you are not already innovating and fostering change.
Step 5:
Consider who you are in the process of becoming and if it is somehow aligning with your natal Uranus’ gifts.
If not, how can you correct your course?
Now over to you,
I would love to know where your natal Uranus is and if you feel his placement describes a unique talent or if that is where you are “disrupting the narrative” or changing patterns.
Recommended reading and references:
Alan Oken’s Complete Astrology
https://www.biography.com/artist/grandma-moses
Uranus Virgo in 12 H! Virgo analyzes, implants methods, shows how things should be done amd H12 is the house of the unconscious, places of confinement like hospitals ans prisons! I am stumped!