A New Zodiac Sign?
A Candid Conversation with
Michele Avanti, CAP
By Michelene K. Bell

ILT: How do people view astrology?

MA: Unfortunately, astrology is viewed as entertainment for the majority of people because their only knowledge of it comes from the horoscope column in their newspaper or online. The horoscope column does not take into account the individual’s natal cosmic pattern, which involves over a hundred forty-four thousand possibilities at its most basic level.

ILT: Since we apparently have a 13th zodiac sign, how does this effect what you do?

MA: I can only chuckle at this question. “We” is a big word. It seems the only one who has a thirteenth zodiac sign is Parke Kunkle. To say “we” have a thirteenth zodiac sign would be equivalent to me deciding to create a new time zone in the United States because Arizona is the only state in the region that does not agree with everyone else. So, since I think I am the first to notice this, I will name the new time zone: Cowboy Time. Seriously though, this has no effect on my work as an astrologer.

ILT: Could Mr. Kunkle be basing his theory on the new zodiac for those being born today?

MA: As far as I understand, Kunkle did not propose a theory, he stated a change. Any change in the zodiac is for everyone past and present. When we first discovered Uranus, we took the time to learn about the planet, to research how it worked in the charts of nations and people. Research means we examined this planet’s position during key events in history, and in the charts of millions of people. Through the gathering of this knowledge, the astrological community discovered the meaning, influence and purpose of Uranus. Just because we did not discover Uranus until 1781, it still existed and had influence, we just were not conscious of it. With this understanding, Kunkle’s zodiac would have to work in any horoscope past, present or future.

ILT: What are his findings based upon?

MA: From the news articles I have read, it seems Kunkle’s knowledge of astronomy and his perusal of the local horoscope column is the basis of his new zodiac.

ILT: In your opinion with what Mr. Kunkle is proposing, how would that effect a persons life or even society?

MA: I honestly do not see this as having any value or effect because it is not based on any research. The science of astrology is the outcome of thousands of years of research. Yes, the introduction of computers is amping up our ability to do research in ways never before possible. The Magi Society, and The International Society for Astrological Research, both of which, I am a member, are always advancing astrological research. We also have several universities now with degree programs, which will promote more research. It is through research that we change and grow and know more. Mr. Kunkle has done none of this, and unless some astrological group sees some value in what he has designed, and they pick up his thoughts and start a research project based on it, I expect this will be just an interesting sidebar in the long history of astrology.

ILT: When dealing with astronomers, do they take into consideration your birth, the time and place as astrologers do?

MA: Astronomers do not interface or counsel with people regarding the stars or planets. They do not see any influence between the two, unless of course something collides with our atmosphere.

ILT: I understand there are many different charts in astrology. Could you provide us with a brief overview of those charts?

MA: Astrologers use a variety of charts when consulting with a client or making forecasts for mundane events. The most basic chart is the natal wheel, which identifies the geometric patterns created by the planets and fixed stars at the moment of birth. There are a variety of progressed charts, which help understand how the individual evolves or changes through their life, and also helps identify key events. Astrocartography charts, also known as location charts, show what influences may be emphasized if the individual visited or moved to different cities. Synastry charts are used to identify how two people will relate to each other. Some astrologers also use composite charts for this purpose and these can actually be created for small groups of people to see how a group may work together. Return charts can be set for the return of any planet or luminary to its original position in the natal chart, and it can be a helpful indicator of opportunities and challenges during the upcoming cycle. A favorite return chart, also known as a birthday chart, is the Solar Return, which gives a good indication of one’s upcoming year.

ILT: Briefly explain a luminary.

MA: Luminary means light and is not considered a planet. The sun, moon and stars are luminaries.

ILT: What is the difference between a Sun Sign and Lunation horoscope?

MA: Sun sign horoscopes are based on the sun traveling through the zodiac, while lunation horoscopes are based on the moon.

ILT: What are some key elements in a chart reading?

MA: The most important are the planets and luminaries, Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Chiron, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. Then the angles, which include the ascendant, or rising sign, the midheaven, the descendant and the nadir, as well as which of the planets or luminaries are close to this angles. Next we would look at the relationship or aspects between the planets, luminaries and angles; then the placement and aspects of the rest of the planets in the chart. We also look for clusters and patterns in the overall chart. Additionally, we look at the declinations, the fixed stars, and finally the Arabic parts.

If you really want to know what astrology can tell you about yourself, hire a certified astrologer to work with you for one hour. I absolutely guarantee you will find this one of the most valuable and fascinating hours in your life, because someone you do not know will pick up a piece of paper that looks like a circle with some odd glyphs and proceed to tell you about anything and everything that has happened in your life from your conception to well into your future.

What they say will have meaning for you and their prognostications will give you the opportunity to choose your outcomes because astrology recognizes free will. It does not say this will happen, it says here are some of the possible ways based on these astrological configurations that events can be experienced. By giving you the options, it allows you to prepare and choose better ways to create your future.

I will give you one example of this before closing. Years ago one of my students came to me stressed. Her four-year old girl had had a seizure and the doctors were unable to tell how this would turn out. They told her she could have seizures the rest of her life, and they could get worse. But no matter what happens it did not look good for her child.

I looked at her child’s chart and wrote out all the dates that these seizures were most likely to occur. I could look forward in time based on our knowledge of how the planets move, and could see that the seizures should diminish over time and by age twelve, she should begin a normal life. I gave her the list of dates and asked her first to make sure her daughter would not be alone on those days, out playing with her friends or in a public place. I felt it was important to the health of the child that a parent be with her. I told her if her daughter had seizures on these dates, it would verify the fact that she would be fine in the future.

This astrological information helped this lady keep her child safe and resolve her fears of the future. Her child did have seizures on the dates I had delineated and thus she was safe. Ultimately astrology was able to pinpoint a possible out.

ILT: How many constellations are there that astrology is based on?

MA: Astrology is not based on constellations, but on signs of the zodiac. These signs are derived from some of the constellations that touch the imaginary circle around the equator that astrologers call the ecliptic. Because a circle is made up of 360 degrees and a year is close to that number of days, and with the four seasons divided by the solstices and equinoxes, ancient astrologers used this along with the knowledge they culled from the events that took place on Earth while certain constellations appeared strong in the night sky, to construct a zodiac made up of twelve signs. This made dividing the wheel easy as each season or quarter of a year would have three signs, thirty degrees each. The signs are Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces. There is a direct relationship between the quality and element of each sign in this order and the evolution of our planet, and human life.

ILT: Of course, no interview would be complete without…Mercury Retrograde. What does it mean and are there any positive aspects?

MA: The word retrograde refers to the illusion we experience due to the orbits of the planets and our view of them from Earth. Sometimes it appears that Earth is passing Mercury (or one of the other planets) and as it does, it also appears that Mercury is going backwards. It never really does go backwards, but that is how it appears. Since Mercury is a planet of communication and local or national travel, when it is retrograde, communication and travel breaks down. We tend to miss some cue in conversations and thus have misunderstandings, which needs to be re-communicated.

If you consider how important communication is in every area of life, you can see that it is valuable to be aware of the three periods each year when this occurs. But there are also good things that happen during these periods. People reconnect, renegotiate and fix connections — thus improving their lives during these periods as well.

ILT: One last question, what would you like our readers to take away from this interview?

MA: First, know if something ever drastically changes in the zodiac, the information will be released through the numerous international, national and academic astrological organizations, which exist on most continents.

Next, remember, there is a depth to astrology that goes beyond the sun signs. It is an ancient, research based modality that illuminates the opportunities and challenges of individuals and nations. It is not the fortune telling mumbo jumbo that so many perceive.

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Michelene is the founder and publisher of In Light Times, a 21 year young endeavor. She is a freelance writer and editor who loves to have fun, enjoys great food, movies and friends. Visit: www.InLightimes.com .