Ellie Catton & astrology of the Luminaries

"I'm over the Moon"

As soon as I heard of Ellie Catton and her shortlisting for the Man Booker literary prize It was very intriguing to find out how likely her chances were of winning - since astrological analysis is the focus of this blog -and her winning novel has a very structured astrological theme

Google searching only delivered a 1985 year of birth so I scoured images of her face for clues. I picked up the energy of Venus-Libra - but in an astrological chart we have all 12 signs activated to a greater or lesser degree -so any prominent factor can jump out.
Because the Cardinal signs [Aries, Libra, Cancer, Capricorn] are highly emphasised during the period 2012-2016 many people born under those signs are having major life-changing events arising.
I was left to ponder whether Ellie is in fact a Libran.
On Tues 15 [Weds 16 a.m. NZ time] the Canadian born New Zealander was confirmed as the Booker winner for English language literature.
She gave an extended speech which was played perhaps in part on Radio New Zealand:

Accepting the award, Catton said the prize is all the more incredible because her book has been a publisher's nightmare from the very beginning.

"The shape and form of the book made certain kinds of editorial suggestions not only mathematically impossible, but even more egregious, astrologically impossible," she said.

Oct 15 the BBC website gave Eleanor Catton a birthdate of 24 September 1985  born in London, Ontario in Canada.
The Sun is conjunct Mercury in Libra as this chart for 5 mins past midnight at the start of that day, is showing:

not the exact Ellie Catton chart but a 24 September 1985 chart
This gives relevant positions for Catton - except exact position of the fast-moving Moon and the positioning around the wheel. The AC-DC and MC-IC axes shown here are also not relevant to her-  click to enlarge

[update: clarification: a misheard excerpt form her acceptance speech referred not to herself being a Virgo - but an editor - this error has been removed from this section]

To know the full personal layout precisely needs the critical factor of her time of birth which may never be disclosed

Standout features of those born 24 Sept 1985

• Mercury in tight proximity to the Sun gives the reader-writer energy.
•  Pluto linked by semisextile gives great intensity of mind, even obsession and the urge to delve into taboo and metaphysical subjects.
•  Neptune also closely linked by square gives immense imaginative & creative abilities to the functions of mind.
• Jupiter closely linked by trine to Sun-Mercury adds many advantages derived from the territory of ideas, concepts, thought and communications
• Venus and Mars in Virgo are great tools for producing the writer's craft
• the strong activation of her potentials leading to the Booker win are almost entirely invisible without a precisely timed chart - but one factor does stand out -the destiny indicator -the lunar north node is effectively 10 Taurus - giving a 10 Scorpio South Node - during the run-up to the award the lunar North Node reached 10 Scorpio - Ellie Catton's destiny based on prior life talents was about to blossom. 

I am yet to read the novel but will do so with interest as I have no idea of the level of astrological knowledge that has been used. It is pleasing, for the promotion of astrology that the winner of such a prestigious prize utilised this ancient knowledge despite public sentiment having long ago been scared away by Christian extremism.

UPDATE January 2014
Have just completed reading The Luminaries & am preparing an Alternative Astrology of the Luminaries article, coming soon
Update February 2014
The Astrology of the Luminaries
"There was this large world of rolling time and shifting spaces, and that small, stilled world of horror and unease – they fit inside each other, a sphere within a sphere."

The astrological methodology used by Ellie Catton is by no means traditional - which seems reflected in her introductory reference to star-gazing with her father - which created an overlay of astronomical perspectives -specifically the issue of precession -which says the planets no longer occupy the positions that were originally determined. 
She says she used charts from Sky & Telescope magazine and a software program called Stellarium to plot the stars and planets corresponding to the timeframe of the narrative. 

Though referring to “triple conjunction in Sagittarius, three planets in the same sign” -there is no astrological occurrence of this in the planetary data for the key date 27 January 1866 -The chart she used for this was from astronomical data.

the astrology of January 1866 has no triple conjunction in Sagittarius

Make no mistake: astrology and astronomy inhabit two different conceptual territories. 
Astrology is the wholistic language of quantum reality
Astronomy is the language if the mechanistic model
The two will never agree on the larger nature of space-time reality
So it becomes somewhat confusing to analyse Catton's hybrid version
This extra reference to the mathematics of the Golden Ratio adds another layer of complexity to unpick:
...she based its structure on a device derived from the geometrical idea of the golden spiral.
“I had become fascinated with this idea … can I write a book that has 12 parts, where every part stands in golden ratio in terms of length to the part that comes after it? the Listener

Considering the use of time and the movements of the planets, as portrayed in her precession-corrected astrology charts, Catton proceeds as follows:

27 January 1866

18 February 1866

20 March 1866

then a time shift...27 April 1865

proceeding forward again

27 April 1866

then a time shift...12 May 1865

proceeding thru 1865

18 June 1865

28 July 1865

22 August 1865

20 September 1865

11 October 1865

...a gap. No November

proceeding...

3 December 1865

14 January 1866

There are 13 dates

But only 12 are assigned as Parts of the tale

12 is the traditional number of astrological Houses, or divisions of the 360 degree astrological circle, or wheel of the heavens

The unassigned date is 27 April 1866 -as if that date and it's anniversary 27 April 1865 become merged in quantum, non-linear time

Of the 13 dates, only two are assigned a location

27 April 1865 Dunedin

27 April 1866 Hokitika

Thus the pairing knits together the two key settings for the succession of interconnected lives

The cycle starting 27 January 1866 [Part 1] ends on 14 January 1866 [Part 12] -another example of non-linear, quantum time - mistakenly conceived of by most as the stuff of nonsense -" you ended up finishing before you started!" - something Lewis Carroll would have been very proud to have constructed. His thinking so clearly revealed in the Alice stories is a clear example of the peculiarities of the quantum domain of reality underlying everyday existence -[ for a watchable version of quantum theory What the Bleep]

Mathematical factors include not only the mathematics of astrology and the assigned Golden Ratio structure but also fundamental mirroring:

There are 3 months using the date the 27th: 

April 1865, April 1866, and January 1866

The use of the 28th as well as in 28 July 1865 is relevant from an astrological perspective since the position of the Sun has a connection to all other similar dates:

27 April 1865 & 27 April 1866 = 6 degrees of Taurus, with Moon in Air -Libra in 1866

27 January 1866 = 7 degrees Aquarius

28 July 1865 = 5 degrees Leo with Moon in Air -Libra

This becomes interesting when graphically portrayed:

These four signs are connected, being part of the set of zodiac energies described as fixed [consistent, stubborn] in their expression.

The 3 dates above feature 3 of the four and indicate determined, willful,forces connected and opposed. 

Other dates repeated are

18 June 1865 = 27 Gemini

18 February 1866 = 29 Aquarius

On both dates the Moon was in the Fire sign Aries

These dates connect as 2 parts of a triangle

20 September 1865 = Sun 27 Virgo New Moon

20 March 1866 = 29 Pisces

These two signs are in near exact opposition - linked as bring similar as well as different in energy.

These are 2 [earth & water] of the mutable set of signs.

The other signs are Sagittarius and Gemini -and as we see 27 Gemini occurred on 18 June 1865.

The 3 combined produce a pattern of opposing and connected changing forces

A slighter looser grouping has:

May 12 1865  = Sun 21 Taurus with Moon in Fire - Sagittarius

October 11 1865 = Sun 18 Libra

January 14 1866 = Sun 23 Capricorn with Moon in Fire - Sagittarius

Taurus and Capricorn link by being both Earth signs

Libra compared to Capricorn & Taurus shows an elemental conflict -Air vs Earth

Then

August 22 1865 = Sun 29 Leo

is an exact [seasonal, energetic] opposite of 

Sun 29 Aquarius which occurred on 18 February 1866

[the variable orbit of the sun means zodiac positions are not an exact match for calendar dates

The seemingly stand alone date is Dec 3 1865

Sun = 11 Sagittarius with a waning Full Moon in Gemini

The Beginning:

27 January 1866 has Moon in Gemini

The End

14 January 1866 has Moon in Sagittarius

These 2 signs are paired opposites -Air & Fire in the Mutable set

When analysing the Sun positions in terms of zodiac sets [Cardinal, Fixed or Mutable] 

the 13 dates have the Moon in

Cardinal [Aries,Libra, Cancer or Capricorn] 2 times

Fixed [Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius] 7 times

Mutable [Pisces, Gemin. Virgo, Sagittarius]  4 times

When analysing the Moon positions in terms of zodiac sets [Cardinal, Fixed or Mutable] the 13 dates have the Moon in

Cardinal [Aries,Libra, Cancer or Capricorn] 5 times

Fixed [Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius] 2 times

Mutable [Pisces, Gemin. Virgo, Sagittarius]  6 times

The dominant Sun energy is Fixed

The dominant Moon energy is Mutable

Sun energy is traditionally associated with hi-profile, directive & male energy

Moon energy is traditionally associated with low-profile, responsive & female energy

In terms of characters in the story

Carver typifies a fixed male Solar energy

Anna typifies a mutable female Lunar energy

though it is said that Emery is paired with Anna as the Solar-Lunar Luminaries, they in fact are two peas in a pod rather than complementary forces.

Reading the book in entirety the overwhelming energy is Neptunian - the planetary energy linked to the zodiac sign Pisces, which is Mutable Water.

The manifestations of Piscean/Neptunian references, themes & characters are numerous: the opium dealer, the chaplain, the shipping agent, the chemist, drugs and medicines, the hermit, being comatose from drug overdose, the mysterious disappearance of Emery, the hidden gold, the stolen gold, the drug-addicted Anna, deceit, impersonation, theft and forgery, multiple identities.

the astrology of the characters
is less interesting to me having some superficial pairings -The newspaperman is a Gemini & the others have escaped me , not having a copy to hand at this time.

In summary:
The book used a hybrid language scantily based on astrology symbolism, more on astronomy data, with some astrological character elements.
I have read several gushing commentaries by astrologers about how wonderful it is to have astrology so prominently profiled but am left wondering if they have actually read and analysed the book.
There is far more to the structure on a mathematical level with quantum aspects of time-shifting and there are interesting links astrologically between key dates -which now seem to have been oblivious to Catton if she was soley using astronomical data

Read this explanation also re the difference between constellations and the zodiac & the nonsense re the so called 13th sign

WIKI entry
Guardian article
BBC birthdate statement
Book extract
Book Review
The astrological structure -some commentary from Catton to a sceptical UK journalist
star sign confirmed - Catton tells me her birthday was last month and her star sign is Libra.

The Quantum Dynamo - Steven Frayne

Dynamo on Twitter
this early account no longer exists in 2025


update October 2 2025

Being a huge and fascinated fan of Dynamo it was very exciting to listen to a podcast yesterday featuring physicist Dr David Clements who is able to work outside the mainstream as a result of communications with non-terrestrial non-human beings of advanced intelligence. David says we contain the capacity to change anything in our reality - and that ability (not contained in the mind) is based in our "heart intelligence". 

He says functioning through the opened heart gives us infinite creative and manifesting ability. The intelligence involved is able to "organise the fundamentals". 

Through this explanation I knew that this confirmed my 2013 insight that Dynamo was able to access quantum processes - the fundamentals being the structure of matter at a sub-atomic level. 

The January 2025 update below reviewed planetary influences in 1997 that I propose downloaded  the abilities to young Steven Frayne...

update January 2025

Rewatching episodes from Dynamo's Magician Impossible series it was intriguing to take another look at uncovering his secret energy.

His fundamental astrological signatures were examined in the main body of this post but there still lingered some questions about how he went from being a kid doing mainly card tricks to the magician of international fame that he can still claim.

It soon emerged when thinking of his mid teen years that young Steven in his 14th year experienced powerful activation of his natal Mars 5 Aquarius and Uranus 6 Sagittarius.

Four planets connected early in 1997: all in the range 5º to 6º

Jupiter  Saturn Uranus and Pluto.These planets involved the fire signs Aries Sagittarius and Air sign Aquarius.

The fascinating thing is not only do they explain the extent of and advanced dimensional physics of the abilities he achieved -but also that this collection of influences will link strongly to the 3 and 4 planet alignments in early fire and air signs coming in 2025 2026 2027 2028  - and that Aries and Aquarius both feature significantly again. 

This means people born with planets transiting under 10 degrees -  will receive very powerful downloads of ability insight or awareness in whatever area relevant to them - as happened to young Steven Frayne.

Young children and newborns will be affected as well as people of any age whose astr0-profile contains these early degrees sensitive to the incoming energies

For details on this development 2025-2028 go to  Dairy Post on the Profiler Home Page

MAIN POST BEGINS

What an extremely exciting experience it was in June 2013 to encounter Steven Frayne, known as Dynamo - Magician Impossible. Through watching episode one of his first TV series and then reading reports and commentary on his supposed methodology it is possible to conclude that this man is a quantum genius and that his critics and sceptics are totally barking up the wrong tree.

Being a big fan of alternative and especially quantum reality - the secrets of which were only partially uncovered by Western science at the beginning of the 20th century [ compare this to shamanistic practitioners and highly enlightened adherents of faiths such as Buddhism who have manipulated physical reality since ancient times] it is extremely rare to encounter a being in human form on this earth who can display the ability to transcend 3 dimensional space and perform actions that most of us have only seen in movies such as The Matrix trilogy. Dynamo could well be one of those rarest of specimens.

Having his birthdate of December 17 1982 gives some weight to the argument that in Steven Frayne a cosmic blueprint was uploaded offering some super-natural abilities within our everyday context - but talents which are fully consistent when considered in what physicists term 'higher dimensions'

latest update: health crisis analysed
Dynamo's full astrology chart added

 -scroll to end

The pattern of most significance on Dec 17 1982 - and therefore affecting all beings born on that day - involves 3 planets plus the Sun and the asteroid Chiron all in tight alignment and forming a powerful indicator of an ability to transcend everyday reality through manipulation of physical and meta-physical forces.
The mathematics being so tight are the key. Degree positions are rounded for convenience.

Jupiter at 28 Scorpio is opposite Chiron at 24 Taurus
Pluto sits at 29 Libra tightly linked to Jupiter
Sun at 25 Sagittarius is in close conjunction to Neptune at 27 Sagittarius
Due to the domino effect of energetic synergy from Pluto through to Jupiter then Sun and Neptune - whose positions range from 25-29 degrees - a midpoint energy of 27 degrees becomes very sensitized. Jupiter at 28 degrees activates the collective energy of these four factors - and with Jupiter [28] in close opposition to Chiron [24] the five elements are capable of working in unison.

This is extremely powerful when the conditions of ongoing planetary factors support the flow from the embedded group in an individual such as Steven Frayne.
The problem is that when ongoing planetary factors are angularly positioned to place strain or stress in relationship to the birth positions, then periods of intense crisis occur.
This situation is important for Steven Frayne to manage - his health issues come as no surprise because of the intensity of what is in his energy template.

Terms like psychic and paranormal are often used when considering abilities beyond the limits of the 5 basic senses and it is likely that Steven Frayne has the mental capacity to access information in a way few can. Pluto, Scorpio, Sagittarius and Neptune are all indicators of such talents and he has all four in his special pattern. Of course without benefit of his birth time the full picture of his abilities is unavailable - and everyone born on the same birthdate will have this pattern. His time and place could be the locational elements which add extra strength to the standout features. 
At the time of birth the prevailing cosmic backdrop involving the whole solar system is said to be programmed into the neurons or cells of the brain. Thereafter, that seeding of energy receives input from the cosmic flow which determines the timeline of a person's life.
We are not the same. I am a MARTIAN - says Dynamo's Twitter profile. He could be telling it like it is.

updates July 17
The more I watch Dynamo, the more convinced I am of his [within everyday contexts] super-natural abilities.
The shape of his cranium particularly interests me - when viewed in profile

the region called os occipitale seems to be extended outward further than normally seen. The brain sector called the cerebellum sits under that part of the skull. Co-ordination, precision and accurate timing are some of the functions of the cerebellum.

Dynamo says he learnt magic from his grandfather.  Grandad was born July 17 1927 when Mars and Neptune were exact conjunct at 25 Leo - entertaining by doing tricky things -i.e. magic was in his birth energy but no other extra special capacities are evident.
This leads me to believe that for Dynamo magic serves as a socially acceptable method or medium enabling him to use his advanced abilities as a form of entertainment as well as opening up people's minds

If you found this interesting - read Bradley Manning -astro-analysis of a galactic force
Manning shares the same birth date as Dynamo - December 17 - but not the same year - which gives them a fascinating connection.
They are both physically unusual and of tiny proportions but there is something beyond-human about both of them...
In the 21st century it may well be that aliens no longer look like this - but walk amongst us in undiscernible human form.

update February 2014
Dynamo's popularity continues to grow and is occurring in the context of a new breed of young magicians reinvigorating the territory.
I continue to maintain that Dynamo is in a category of his own
He is the top ranked individual in my site statistics
In terms of the current climate and appetite for magic -the planet of all things illusory and magical- Neptune - is travelling through the Pisces sector of the zodiac [2011-2025] which signifies a golden age for magic as well as all other-wordly experiences -the risk is some will gravitate to the end of the spectrum where detrimental use of drugs, alcohol and criminal deceit prevail over the positive uses of the energy: to delight, mystify, enchant in the context of freely given talent

update November 2014

Dynamo visited India to film episodes for his TV series
After showing his abilities to a group of Sadhu holy men, one commented:
"He has a different way of seeing things"
This comment is highly relevant to understanding Dynamo's abilities 
The everyday human's visual processing is fundamental to our beliefs about physical reality.
Someone who sees things differently is not limited to restrictive concepts about the physical world.
Dynamo is displaying an advanced potential.

update April 2018

Dynamo - March 2018 showing the balloooning effect of steroid hormone medication

A shocking occurrence occurred in 2017 for Dynamo. He suffered a major health event leaving him with severe issues requiring large amounts of medication - full report
His full birth chart is now published at astro.com and is very revealing

click to enlarge

The clarity of the picture is there for all to see: how compressed or concentrated the energies are -ranging from Pluto on the left to Mars on the right what this unusual grouping delivers is not only amazing focus, complexity and intensity but also extreme vulnerability -when adverse forces are in range Dynamo faces extreme challenges.

Now we can see that Virgo is his rising or ascendant sign at the left horizontal axis. Virgo is associated with the digestive system and nutrition. Virgo belongs to the zodiac group called Mutables =changeable adaptable flowing energies including Pisces, Gemini, Sagittarius. 

Pisces is known for strong sensitivity issues, allergies, poisoning and therefore food issues. Gemini relates to the hands. Sagittarius is the pelvic region and the liver. All these body regions will be weak spots for Dynamo at certain times.

Being born with Pisces planet Neptune right close to the Sun makes Dynamo very vulnerable to poisoning and all types of hypersensitivity reactions to food, medicine, toxins in general. Standard medical approaches fail to cater for such people -whereas professionals working in natural medicine with herbs, homeopathics and nutritional support would be a far safer option for him.
The photo above shows how mainstream medical options cause significant and potentially damaging side-effects. For example synthetic steroid hormone medication can leave the adrenal glands permanently weakened. 

Dynamo announced late March 2018 that his health crisis occurred 8 months ago, last summer.

The first standout factor then in terms of transiting planets was Neptune.

In August 2017 Neptune was at 17 Pisces [yes while Neptune is in its own sign Pisces [2012-2026] hypersensitivity issues, drug and alcohol issues and poisoning will be more common.]

With Neptune in the cosmos at 13 degrees this connected strongly with Dynamo's chart -it is clear that the Gemini-Sagittarius axis from the top of the chart to the base is at 13 Gemini  -and with his other mutable signs Virgo -Pisces running horizontally at close to 18 degrees these 2 main axes [energy fields] in his chart running between 13-18 degrees are highly relevant to his initial health scare and ongoing symptoms.

Using midpoint analysis with that mutable range 13-18 the mid position of 15'30 has to also be considered a strongly activating point.

Neptune moves slowly and like many planets it has retrograde loops meaning it lingers over certain degrees for some time.

Looking ahead it is clear that Neptune could cause ongoing issues beyond 2018 for Dynamo - in 2019 and 2020. 

This suggests he needs to be extremely protective of his health for some time.

A double whammy hit Dynamo in August 2017: the second significant event in August 2017 was Uranus in transit opposite Dynamo's birth Pluto. Uranus affects his birth Pluto in 2017, 2018, 2019 - and Uranus also opposes his birth position for Saturn in 2018, 2019.

This is life changing in an extreme way when the planet of sudden change -Uranus -activates the planet of major transformation -Pluto -and then soon after the planet of significant learning - Saturn.

This shows that since summer 2017 Dynamo has been at a crossroads, a crisis point where he has to fully examine his life, his priorities and get in touch with whatever deep inside him needs to come out, whatever true impulses, thoughts, feelings, needs he has - independent of the will or wishes of others, pressures or professional commitments.

The outcome is likely to be very significant either way: if he resists change and just tries to push through the health issues and stay focussed on the same course in his life he may struggle to recover.

If he puts a huge pause on his professional life and gives himself space to just be and listen to his own inner needs he may find a very different approach to life emerges.

Processes such as these require significant time out.  

Dynamo Profile