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The second to last addition in this part of the series will be the final time we visit the seventh, eighth and ninth houses in the profection of the Ascendant. The age of sixty six will be around the time when transiting Saturn forms a waxing square to its position in the natal chart. The previous year when you turned 65 brought a focus on the profected sixth house (illness, physical strain, accidents, overwork), so depending on the ruler of the sixth house, and the condition of Saturn in your chart, it is possible that you are already dealing with some health issues, or a slight stiffness or age-related niggling, or even perhaps serious deterioration in the body.
Saturn has a huge impact on the body, primarily ruling the skeletal system: the strength or weakening of the spine, the joints that connect bones, the sockets that allow free movement, and through its two signs, respectively the knees (Capricorn), and the limbs from knees to ankles (Aquarius).
A second consideration concerning areas of the body to watch on the health agenda is the principle of the antipathy of the signs, that is, the ill-will which exists between signs which lie in opposition in the zodiac circle, and through this concept, create a polarity effect in the body. For instance, knee troubles (Capricorn) can have a reflex association with the digestive system (Cancer), and ankle weaknesses (Aquarius) can have a reflex association with the heart (Leo). Hence, the tendency for Aquarius to be linked not only to the ankles but also to the circulatory system, and to rule varicose veins, blood circulation and cardiac disorders.
Saturn is the planet of physical boundaries and as such it rules the human skin, the largest organ of the body and the guardian of the body’s underlying muscles, bones, ligaments and internal organs. For this reason, the two signs of Saturn are concerned with skin complaints, and Capricorn in particular, is sensitive to skin rashes and skin disorders.
If you are aware of Saturn’s placement in the natal chart you need to be looking three houses ahead to see where the transiting aspect of a ninety degree square is causing the most amount of tension. Take note of whether this square activates cardinal houses (your need to take care of business), succedent houses (money or pleasure houses that distract you), or cadent houses (places where you feel powerless or overwhelmed).
The other fact to take into consideration is the nature of the two signs of natal Saturn and transiting Saturn and their modality. If the two Saturns – stationary and moving – are in cardinal signs (Capricorn, Cancer, Libra or Aries), then you will want to take immediate action when the vexing situation arises but your cardinal squares have a tendency to over-react so take a deep breath before you rush in. Remember that Saturn has a marked relationship with each one of the cardinal signs (respectively rulership, detriment, Exaltation and Fall) and this means the square will, one way or another, combine a Saturn in strength with a Saturn in debility.
If natal Saturn is in a fixed sign of rulership (Aquarius) or detriment (Leo) then this may tell you how you approach the transiting square that Saturn makes back to itself in the natal chart. Ignoring the problem won’t make it go away so you will need to address it sooner or later during these next three years.
Mutable Saturns have no essential dignity but they are exceedingly changeable and disinclined to stick their necks out and this does not always serve Saturn well in the long-run. Seeking loads of different advice is a good idea but like the fixed Saturn, sooner or later you will have to stop talking about it and resolve the situation. Otherwise you risk materializing the saying: If you stand for nothing, you will fall for anything.
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Profections: Moving Forward Through the Houses
66 years old : SEVENTH HOUSE
Halfway around the chart and in opposition to the Ascendant lies our seventh house. If the Ascendant represents everything we think we know about ourselves, our bodies, and our familiarity with the environment which surrounds us, then the seventh house is often the house that signifies everything of a contrary nature. In other words, it is the place where we least understand ourselves, where we believe we are missing something within ourselves, and where we feel inadequate and insecure about the foreignness of our surroundings.
We need help here in the house that looks directly across from our place of birth, so we call in others to help fill the void and teach us something new about ourselves.
These things were all true of the previous four terms at 18, 30, 42 and 54 years of age. But we were a lot younger then, with a spring in the step and romance in the eye, convinced that the love of our life, our soul-mate, would bridge the gap and come charging in to rescue us from ourselves. Until the day we die we still desire and deserve love, but we are not so foolish to believe that another can totally fulfil all our gaps, and meet every single one of our needs.
We can observe them, we can learn from them, we can accept love and guidance from our seventh house friends, but they cannot be us – only we can do that. Age, wisdom, sorrow and regret are all part of the learning experience and although sixty six is a mighty sixth turn of the wheel from birth, there are still many opportunities to enjoy love, friendship, companionship, and any other benefits we can find when we think of the seventh house.
Often we choose mirror images of ourselves from the seventh house but when they disappoint or frustrate us they can become our open enemies, and the aspects of them we most despise, are often characteristics that we either cannot see in ourselves, or cannot tolerate in others. If this is a year of contention and combativeness with another individual you might experience a moment of enlightenment when you confront your similarities, rather than focusing on your differences.
67 years old : EIGHTH HOUSE
If Saturn has moved a little more slowly for you it’s possible that you will meet your Saturn square as you enter your eighth house profection at sixty seven years of age. If a partnership is in the process of being dissolved then this year will be about disentangling the joint resources belonging to yourself and your partner.
For you, Saturn’s square might involve raging against the injustices, the betrayals and the sacrifices you have made in the past in order for the relationship to keep working successfully. In general you will be livid at the unfairness of Life, and specifically, you will want revenge served upon your ex-partner. As satisfying as this may seem, you are often working against yourself or your own best interests at Saturn’s square, so be careful that you are not wreaking havoc just for the sake of it. Saturn can go too far so discipline yourself against dragging others into your disputes, especially if they are the shared loved ones of you and your partner.
Even if you are not experiencing a break-up, the eighth house is not an easy house, and this is not an easy year, as events happen quickly and circumstances can change the ebb and flow of a contented life. It’s often a year when you, or the people who surround you, are going through chaos and whilst you may not personally be involved in the action, it can leave you questioning your own choices, or feeling insecure about your future.
Whilst you can be a strong support for someone else, be aware that Saturn’s square can draw you in a situation that pushes your own buttons and causes you to act irrationally. You can lose a friend this way or potentially do a great deal of unintended damage if you are becoming part of the play, instead of quietly standing by as an ally.
68 years old : NINTH HOUSE
Hopefully by the time you turn sixty eight most of the storms of change have been weathered and you are now moving into calmer waters.
The emergence from the storm works well for a ninth house profected year as growth and expansion are often consistent themes of the ninth house especially after the restrictions and hardship of one of the more challenging aspects of Saturn’s cycle. Sometimes these new experiences involve travel to places which are completely new to you, refresher courses or new veins of study, or the introduction to different ideas, new lifestyles or a completely foreign philosophical premise.
If you feel as though you are breaking free at sixty eight then this year might be one which is exhilarating and seems full of so many potentials for you to grow and learn. The desire to expand your world may be compelling you to question your opinions, search your options for spirituality, and dive into life with renewed vigour.
The planet that rules your own ninth house will offer up plenty of suggestions and new distractions but before you leap on them, consider first if you are prepared to let go of the ‘old’, in order to embrace the ‘new’. Promise and price are critical indicators to ninth house decisions – what does your ruling planet promise (and can it deliver)? What price will the ruling planet ask in order to fulfil its promise?
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Profections Summary for 66: 67: 68 years of age
Firdaria: Time Portions Belonging to the Planets
For those born during the daytime hours, the final major Firdaria period belongs to Mars and began at sixty three years of age. Mars’ Firdaria runs for a period of seven years and Mars is the last of the planets in the line-up that started with the Sun at birth. Each birthday sees the introduction of a new sub-lord which will begin with Mars and work down through the Chaldean Order of the planets. The next seven years of Mars’ Firdaria will begin with Mars, the Sun and Venus (63, 64, 65), and the three years examined in this blog will feature Mercury at 66, the Moon at 67, and Saturn at 68 years of age. This will leave only Jupiter to complete Mars’ series of sub-lord planets and this will take place in the final year of the 60’s decade when the individual turns 69 years of age. At seventy Mars will finish its major Firdaria and the five year Nodal period will begin at the beginning of the individual’s seventh decade.
Mercury will continue to work through its thirteen year major Firdaria for night-time births for these same three years. During the year in which the nocturnal individual turns 66 they will encounter a new sub-lord ruler in the form of the Sun, and just after they turn 68 the Sun will hand over to Venus for the remaining ten months of the year. Venus will continue its journey in the following year, and in the same fashion as the Diurnal Firdaria, Mercury will complete its thirteen years when the individual turns seventy and the Nodal period takes its term from seventy to seventy five years of age.
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Daytime Births 66 – 68 years of age
DAYTIME BIRTH – Age at Birthday : 66 years
66 years
Short-term Lord Changes from VENUS to MERCURY
Major Long-term Lord: MARS (Years)
NEW Minor Short-term Lord: MERCURY (Months)
Mercury, the planet of communication, thought, expression, speech and networking is your new best friend. But a bit of a cranky friend who can get obstreperous at the drop of a hat. Mercury under Mars’ guidance is noisy and quick to take offence so wherever Mercury sits in your natal chart, you are likely to get loud, defensive, and disorderly.
If a seventh house focus is a year recommended for getting along amiably with others, then an ill-disciplined Mercury can cause friction and arguments and rather than cementing friendships, it can bring you at loggerheads with those who do not share your opinions or appreciate the forcefulness by which you voice these opinions.
Worry, stress, anxiety, and depression can take hold if you don’t discipline your mind and channel your thoughts towards more positive or productive uses. These two planets together can be hugely creative, but you have to keep their wanderings (and destructive capabilities) in check. If possible use your transiting Saturn square Saturn to discipline these two planets and funnel their energies into making good decisions for the future, instead of causing rifts and separations from those who are concerned about some of your current choices. Mars let loose (even under Mercury’s careful direction) can be cruel, judgemental, and down-right nasty if you don’t take it in control. It may be the ideal time for telling truths, but be tactful and kind when you deliver them. Going out of your way to alienate others is neither common sense nor good manners.
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DAYTIME BIRTH – Age at Birthday: 67 years
67 years
Short-term Lord Changes from MERCURY to MOON
Long-term Lord: MARS
NEW Short-term Lord: MOON
Both of these planets prefer nocturnal charts so this may be your year for strain or anxiety if you are not comfortable with openly expressing your emotions. If last year brought confrontation and conflict through heated words then the change from Mercury to the Moon as the next short-term ruler may be the opportunity to apologize and mend broken relationships.
The combination of the Moon under Mars’ supervision is about trusting your intuition and gracefully accepting the things you cannot change in your diurnal landscape. Disputes with loved ones are likely to vex you and you will need all the patience you can muster to avoid family rifts and disputes over elderly relatives, inheritances, or property settlements.
The eighth house focus carries with it a sense of the hidden or unknown and this can be frightening for someone who was born under the light of the day. Endings or change through the avenue of chaos can be a theme for this year especially given that the transitional Saturn square is letting go of something to allow for the space for new growth to occur in your life. Most diurnal individuals are driven to achieve tangible results and to keep rising higher and higher in whatever ‘sky’ is relevant for them but part of a Saturn cycle is the understanding that there is much more to life than professional success or a seat at the leadership table.
It may be that under a Mars Moon Firdaria you are forced to stop and stand still in order to contemplate where you want to go from here, and if you have been feeling dissatisfied with your lot, then the Moon will whisper its deep yearnings into your ear if you are prepared to listen with silence and humility.
The Moon is the natural significator for the body and the combination of Mars and the Moon can highlight problems which are associated with Mars’ two signs, Aries and Scorpio. This means that there can be issues with severe headaches, neuralgia, skin inflammations and by reflex association with the kidneys (through Libra). Or via Scorpio’s connection to Mars, there may be health issues with the reproductive system or the body’s elimination system and by reflex association (through Taurus), difficulties with the throat or nasal bones. If the Saturn square has accentuated any age-related or genetic issue then make sure that you have seen to these niggling worries before Saturn takes over from the Moon and becomes Mars’ next sub-period Firdaria lord.
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DAYTIME BIRTH – Age at Birthday: 68 years
68 years
Short-term Lord Changes from MOON to SATURN
Long-term Lord: MARS
NEW Short-term Lord: SATURN
If the previous year has been exhausting under a Mars Moon Firdaria then you will need to strengthen your resolve and prioritize the really important things so that you have the time and energy to deal with them during Saturn’s year.
If the Moon has suddenly brought love into your life then you may be wondering if these new feelings have longevity and Saturn is just the planet to help you to ponder on whether this new relationship ‘has the legs’ to go the distance. Following your heart is a wonderful thing during a Moon year but when Saturn treads on the heels of the Moon then the repercussions can be disastrous if you have thrown all caution to the wind. Saturn following the Moon is the natural progression of the Firdaria system, so this ‘coming back to reality’ is not unique by any means. However, this is Mars’ seven year plan for your life and things never go smoothly if you try to force Mars’ direction.
Saturn is all about a good old fashioned reality check and in a ninth house focus year there may be difficult questions to answer such as: ‘How can I afford this overseas holiday? How am I going to pay the bills and get the pleasure I feel I need from expanding my horizons? Do you have enough savings to cover this extravagance?’
Ninth house is not just concerned with a quick or extended trip to exotic places. On a more serious note, it is the house which links us to own version of the Divine so spirituality and metaphysical concerns makes us caste around to find a model for our personal connection between heaven and earth. Saturn is a weighty contender when it comes to such grave matters and does not take the ninth house lightly. If this is the age when you are contemplating your own interpretation of life, death, and your role in the Universe then Saturn under Mars’ supervision will take you down several blind alleys and lead you past some tough territory to find your way through to the other side.
Mars naturally encourages daring and praises courage in the face of adversity and this is fine when you need this planet to go into battle for you. But in everyday life Mars can be exhausting, restless and argumentative, not to mention burning bridges that really didn’t warrant burning in the first place.
Saturn does not appreciate being told what to do by this kind of Mars so the combination is often trouble, strife, arguments with others, and generally a difficult and painful year – even when it is ninth house orientated – really a lesson in endurance, tenacity, and patience. As stated earlier Saturn covers a great deal of ground when it comes to ruling the health, or at least, the weakening or destruction of good health, and there may be some adjustments or new situations that are of a ninth house nature. That means learning new information perhaps to adjust to the previous year’s eighth house dramas, or taking the hard lessons from last year and forming a philosophical outlook on why they occurred, and how you have grown, adapted and learnt from the things you have lost, and the restrictions which are now placed on you, your body, or your lifestyle.
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Night Births 66 – 68 years of age
NIGHT BIRTH – Age at Birthday : 66 years
Major Long-term Lord: MERCURY (Years)
Minor Short-term Lord: MARS (Months)
For the first four months of this year Mars will continue to be Mercury’s agent and the planet which is the major lord’s short-term Firdaria ruler. For almost half a year the diurnal and nocturnal Firdaria lords will coincide, but in the reverse order, as the major lord for the diurnal Firdaria at age 66 is Mars and Mercury is the sub-period lord for the twelve months from 66 to 67 years of age.
Whilst the two planets are the same, their expression is vastly different as the long-term ruler always stays in charge and the short-term ruler is an instrument for the planet which rules for years rather than a few months.
Mercury in the hands of Mars (Diurnal Firdaria) becomes a tool for Mars and can easily slip into sharp, sarcastic dialogue which can ultimately have destructive results for the native. On the other hand, Mars in the hands of Mercury (Nocturnal Firdaria) can bring inventive thought, fresh ideas and courage if it is used correctly and with due care. It’s still not without its sharp edges but if Mercury can direct Mars and keep it busy with new plans and optimistic goals then the seventh house focus may be enough to attract other people’s enthusiasm and begin joint projects that are advantageous to both parties. If Mars is put to good use there is a chance that whatever new project begins under Mars’ sub-period can have a flow-on benefit when the Sun takes over from Mars near the middle of this year.
66 years and 4 months
Short-term Lord Changes from MARS to SUN
Long-term Lord: MERCURY
NEW Short-term Lord: SUN
The Sun takes over whilst this is still a seventh house year so you might use the Sun’s ingenuity to produce sound results from an angular house, that is, provided you (and Mercury) can get your head in the right space. Rather than rushing ahead and believing you (and Sun) have all the answers, pause and listen to what others have to say as their advice and prior knowledge could be very useful for your venture. Mars has set up the play over the past couple of years and Mars has such an independent streak that you may have forged ahead even when others warned you to slow down. Now might be the time to allow the Sun to be gracious and accept help and guidance when it is offered in your direction.
This is a good outcome for the actions of the Sun to follow on from Mars’ somewhat impetuous sub-period Firdaria and under Mercury’s cunning hand a productive and useful two years may ensue so long as you have a plan mapped out for the future years. One cautionary note. Remember that you are a nocturnal birth and therefore highly motivated by your emotional world so if it doesn’t feel right to you, no matter how successful, you will be tempted to drop it and start something that has more capacity to catch your eye, take your fancy, or fire up your passionate heart. Don’t waste all this preparation for a whim. You may have to stay the course to reap the greatest benefit from your earlier efforts.
However, if Mars has been troublesome for you and enemies seem to be at every door then a change in short-term rulers a third of the way into the year might mean that you are coming to your senses, or if there has been earlier confrontations, then you may be able to save face and smooth them over under the Sun’s direction – provided your ego doesn’t get in the way and you are prepared to take equal blame for the fall-out. Mercury will provide the words for the Sun to make the appropriate noises to put you back in someone’s good graces. But you had better be sincere about your apology, otherwise it will have little ability to heal the rift and you may be accused of duplicity or jiggery-pokery.
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NIGHT BIRTH – Age at Birthday: 67 years
Long-term Lord: MERCURY
Short-term Lord: SUN
The change in focus from seventh house to a more difficult eighth house may challenge the Sun with the expectation to look as though everything is fine in your world and that you are totally in control of the situation. This may work for a while but twelve months is a very long time to keep up appearances in a year that is full of surprises, and not all of them will be pleasant. Mercury’s influence over the Sun can only go so far and depending on the Sun’s natal sign, the cracks may appear around the house with Leo on its cusp.
Eighth house is also the location of joint resources so if the amalgamation of one’s capital with another is this year’s theme, then the combination of Mercury with the Sun should mean that if you seek sound advice, you should be capable of managing this with prudence and diligence. If, on the other hand, you are in the process of leaving a long-term business or intimate relationship and therefore dismantling joint resources, you would still be wise to seek good financial advice, but be careful that hurt feelings and spite don’t get in your way. Neither Mercury nor the Sun work well under these stressed emotional conditions and you will need to put aside a bruised ego or a broken heart in order to work with a clear head that produces a scrupulously fair balance-sheet.
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NIGHT BIRTH – Age at Birthday: 68 years
Long-term Lord: MERCURY
Short-term Lord: SUN
The Sun is still the short-term ruler at the very beginning of the ninth house year. If work commitments have accelerated or a business has suddenly become demanding or time-consuming then the combination of Mercury and the Sun can be beneficial at this time. Mercury feeds the Sun’s desire to be successful by planning long-term goals and working out a way for the Sun to get maximum exposure for its ideas.
If the opposite is true and you are winding down your business and work commitments at this time in your life then a ninth house year is the perfect opportunity to make some exciting new plans that include expanding your horizons, increasing your knowledge, or challenging your beliefs.
68 years and 2 months
Short-term Lord Changes from SUN to VENUS
Long-term Lord: MERCURY
NEW Short-term Lord: VENUS
Whilst still a ninth house year, Venus’ appearance as the next (and final) sub-period lord for Mercury can mean that the heart takes over from the head and ambition, success and prestige are carefully put aside – perhaps just for the time being – or in order for you to make a ‘sea change’ and create a new life for yourself.
Venus signifies the pleasures in life and maybe it’s time to relish the good things in your life and let go of regrets, past mistakes and foolish actions. Venus is naturally a nocturnal planet so this twenty two month period can be a lovely extended holiday if you don’t spoil it with a mindset that is negative, resentful, or angry about past hurts or betrayals.
Venus can definitely work under the instructions of Mercury, but it can only do this when the mind is nourished by thoughts of gratitude, love and compassion. Otherwise, Mercury’s dark thoughts can poison the water and it won’t matter how pretty the Venusian cup, it still tastes bitter, and is destructive to the soul.
Venus also denotes women in general and this describes roughly half of our population. To narrow it down a little, think of those women who travel through your daily life. Some will bring fun and friendship, making the daily grind a little more bearable. And the behaviour of other, more challenging women will be a constant source of frustration for you. Either way, this year causes you to confront your attitudes to, and your behaviour towards, women in general.
Take the ninth house year as an opportunity to look closely at any prejudices you may have against your fellow gender mates if you are a woman, or to consider any improvements you can make to treat women better if you are a bloke.
If you are female, this is the ideal time to examine your attitude to yourself as a woman, and to look around at other females to see how they are faring each day. A kind word or a helpful act may bring you an ally who watches out for you in the future. If you are a male, Mercury can make Venus flirty, funny and sexually appealing. But don’t be creepy, don’t be condescending, and don’t be insincere. We women can pick it up in a nano-second. And you won’t like the way we respond to your attempts to charm us.
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