Focal point planets can be the key to resolving tensions whether on the point of T Squares or the apex of yods or as the driving planet of a Kite from a Grand Trine. They can harness the energy of the planets in aspect to produce a dynamic thrust. Though it can depend on the planet involved and the element (Cardinal, Fixed, Mutable). And like anything else in a chart can be mishandled and end up accentuating the negative properties of the planet.
Oppositions in a chart pull in two diametrically opposite directions. Without a unifying focal point in square to both ends, the individual is left to hop from one end of the opposition to the other seeking and never finding a balance. James Earl Jones and Edna O’Brien born in the tough early 1930s with Saturn opposition Pluto giving them grit to endure hardship, though with a dollop of Jupiter close to Pluto for luck and confidence, were able to find an outlet for early angst through their Uranus in Aries on the point of a T square in forging an unconventional lifestyle. Rupert Murdoch has similar placings though his road-less-travelled has tended to be divisive as well as trailblazing.
Cardinal T squares are marginally easier to handle since they are driven by initiative and good at self-motivation.
Actor Jack Nicholson has a charming, creative Venus in Aries on the point of his Pluto opposition Jupiter, softening his go-getting determination.
Princess Catherine has a surprisingly tough Saturn Pluto on the focal point of a Sun Moon opposition. From early on as a Full Moon baby her heart told her to do one thing and her head another, so she’d be constantly unsatisfied whichever end of the opposition she tried to lean on. She learnt to put duty and submission first (Saturn + Pluto) above all else, moulding her for the Royal life to come.
Likewise Queen Elizabeth 11 had an adventurous Mars Jupiter in Aquarius opposition (Moon) Neptune in Leo and could have ended up an escapist dreamer but since that opposition squared onto Saturn in Scorpio on her Midheaven, duty became her watchword. Her Saturn channelled a complex mix of Mars Jupiter and Moon Neptune and forged it into a momentous life of sacrifice and commitment. Fixed T squares can be problematic since they tend to be inordinately stubborn – on the upside enduring and steady but not flexible.
Mutable T squares can be scattered and frenzied since too much flexibility/susceptibility to outside influences jacks up the nervous, highly-strung energy – as with Liam Gallagher with his Saturn opposition Jupiter square Mars Sun in Virgo. In his case all that high-tension opposition energy is not balanced but more detonated through his Mars in Virgo.
Even Mars on the focal point of a Cardinal T Square can be overly aggressive initially. But the tension of the opposition is better with an outlet as long as it is handled in a mature way – and not going off like a scattergun.
Yods also have apex or focal point planets which can be marginally more awkward to get aligned since the inconjuncts pull together by aspect two inherently different and contradictory elements and modalities. For example Aries with Virgo or Scorpio – a Cardinal Fire trying to make friends with a Mutable Earth or a Fixed Water. The two ends basically don’t understand one another and don’t see how to cooperate. Where a square strives to find a solution, there is more difficulty in containing the contradiction of a quincunx so life may be divided to allow different arenas to live out the separate energies. But that way the individual never feels completely whole and is constantly cutting off part of themselves to honour one planet or the other.
Along the way fate usually intervenes with a surprise and unwilled set of events which channels the focal point planet onto a singular trajectory. Prince William with his Venus on the apex of a yod was an uneasy social mixer initially and emotionally awkward but once he found his calling (or in yod fashion it was found for him), he has an innate capacity for engaging at a feeling level and has the ability to make a difference out in society where children (5th house) or culture is concerned.
His uncle Prince Andrew has a prominent yod onto Uranus in his 1st which managed properly would have made him a trailblazer, both inventive and creative. Instead he has followed the less desirable Uranian route of defiance, rebellion, lawlessness and ended up as a disruptor.
The mathematician Alexander Grothendieck has Pluto on the point of a yod and a T square and likewise Bernard Riemann, another leading mathematician has Pluto on the point of a T square. Pluto raised to its highest game gives a penetrating insight, often bringing ideas well ahead of their time.
Less helpfully Gary Oldman has Pluto on the point of a yod which may give him gravitas in acting but will make his controlling tendencies tricky to live with.
Grand Trines on their own can bring an easy flow of energy but often they get stuck in a comfortable rut. What is helpful in finding a constructive way of using the Grand Trine is a planet in opposition to one leg of the Grand Trine and sextile the two other legs forming a Kite. The planet at the end of the opposition becomes the driving planet of the Grand Trine’s talented, lucky energy. Keir Starmer has a Water Grand Trine of Neptune to Mars to Jupiter which on its own might make him inward-looking, a dreamer and unrealistic but it is sprung into gear by Jupiter opposition Sun Pluto. His controlling Sun Pluto drives a good deal of the energy of his chart.
Actor Richard Burton had similarly a creative Water Grand Trine of Sun Saturn and Uranus and Pluto, with Pluto opposition Jupiter. So Jupiter, planet of luck, confidence and excess became his driving planet.
King Charles 111 has a Grand Trine of Moon trine Saturn trine Jupiter with Moon opposition a 4th house South Node – lucky, talented, designed for a public career but his Achilles Heel is his 4th house South Node hinting at family difficulties.
Someone once worked out that a birth chart contains 2500 pieces of information which is ways too much to absorb. It is helpful to prioritize – and focal point planets are one stand-out marker.
The post Focal planets – harness energy, resolve tensions first appeared on Astroinform with Marjorie Orr – Star4cast.
