Alexander Kolesnikov. In Search of the Guiding Star
Astrology and Career Choice
“Those born with a ruler of sound mind are naturally formed by the heavens for some honorable work and life path. Indeed, the heavens favor his undertakings.”
Marsilio Ficino, *De Vita*
Part 1. First Findings
Surely, anyone who has devoted themselves to the study of astrology encounters remarkable patterns that defy logical explanation yet are entirely real. It often happens, for example, that people seeking advice—even those not connected to one another—draw an astrologer’s attention to the same topic, as if prompting deeper exploration. It feels as though someone is teaching us deliberately and systematically, and according to the teachers’ plan, the time has come for another lesson.
Over the past year, I have frequently encountered the topic of career guidance—a subject I had somehow avoided until now. Usually, it involves children nearing the end of school, but sometimes adults, standing at a crossroads, ask for advice: where to go next? Some ideas related to this theme have already surfaced in my earlier research. But before diving into the subject, I felt it necessary to familiarize myself with the views of authorities—and indeed, I found many interesting insights. Practice has shown which of these are most useful, and now I want to share my findings with colleagues, for surely I am not the only one grappling with the challenge of career guidance.
The material is quite extensive, so I will have to divide it into several articles. Without claiming strict logical sequence, I have decided to acquaint readers with various ideas in the order in which I encountered them myself. As a result, general theoretical reflections on career choice will give way to my first discoveries in this field.
The “Ventil” Planet
This not-so-elegant term I once adopted as a working label, but I still haven’t found anything better. Perhaps readers with a less “technical” mindset can suggest something more melodious?
I am referring to a planet situated at the convergence of the most intense and harmonious configurations in the horoscope. The clearest case I’ve encountered is when a planet simultaneously occupies the apex of a T-square (between two squares) and the apex of a Grand Trine. The concept of a “ventil” is close to that of *Rex Aspectarius*—the planet forming the greatest number of major aspects in the horoscope. However, the “ventil” planet must be precisely at the point where tense and harmonious configurations meet.
Sometimes a horoscope has one distinctly expressed “ventil.” Other times, there are two or even three, though less prominent. Occasionally, no planet can fully claim this lofty, if not particularly euphonious, title. Every horoscope holds its own puzzle, but if you’re fortunate enough to identify the “ventil,” consider that you already hold the key to its solution.
The reason is that tense aspects are sources or reservoirs of energy in the horoscope. Without an outlet, this energy often acts destructively, and astrologers therefore see potential for illness, conflict, and general life challenges in tense aspects. Yet when you find a way to channel this energy, the tense aspects allow you to move forward, overcome obstacles, and achieve your goals. Changes in tense aspects—especially the T-square and Grand Cross—are, in a sense, the engines of the horoscope.
On the other hand, harmonious aspects and their changes (notably the Grand Trine) have long been seen in astrology as indicators of talents and abilities. In my technical language, they are energy consumers capable of doing something useful—if only they are “connected” to a source of driving force.
An excess of harmonious aspects with a lack of tense ones often points to a talented but overly passive, lazy person. Such a person could achieve much but lacks the energy (time, desire, interest) for great accomplishments. Thus, tense and harmonious aspects, when expressed one-sidedly, can each be sources of problems.
But what happens when they converge at a single point, on a specific planet? This is precisely what I call a “ventil,” because when a planet positioned this way is “engaged”—that is, when a person embodies its qualities—the conditions arise to “connect” the energy of tense aspects to the talents and abilities of harmonious configurations. As a result, the likelihood of illness, conflict, and problems decreases, and favorable conditions emerge for developing the best qualities in a person. Ultimately, the person finds their place in life and feels they have chosen the right path.
So, might we not call the “ventil” planet the “guiding star”? It will certainly be important when considering health matters, but in career guidance, if such a planet can be identified, it holds primary significance.
More than once, I’ve noticed that as soon as a new concept or idea takes shape in my mind, an opportunity arises to test it in practice. While the concept of the “ventil” was still forming in my mind as a useful interpretive tool, I traveled to various cities giving popular lectures on astrology. In Cheboksary, fate presented me with a small test.
One of the attendees asked me to help him understand astrological computer programs, and during a break from the lecture, we went to his office. We sat by the computer, sorting through the software, when suddenly two unfamiliar men entered the room. My friend said, “Could you show them what astrology can do? Interpret their horoscopes.”
Many astrologers find themselves in situations where they must defend the honor of astrology. It’s an ungrateful task, but what can you do? The first of the “test subjects” sat down beside me, and I began constructing his horoscope on the computer screen. Of course, it turned out he didn’t know his birth time, but after making a phone call, my subject retrieved the information needed for rectification. To my surprise, a convincing birth time was found immediately—a good sign.
I began the interpretation, while the horoscope’s owner sat beside me with an impenetrable expression. He probably assumed astrologers base their judgments solely on the reactions of their conversation partner and wanted to deny me that opportunity. I spoke about one thing and then another. As it later turned out, everything was correct, but not convincing enough for the skeptic across from me, and I didn’t feel satisfied.
Finally, I focused on Saturn, which was in Libra in the 9th house. And it had to be Saturn, for it was at the convergence of the T-square and Grand Trine—clearly the prominent “ventil” planet. What’s more, it was in the sign of its exaltation, and in such cases, people usually hear the “call” of the planet quite distinctly.
Saturn, the stern judge, is in Libra, the sign of justice and jurisprudence. I said, “By vocation, this man is a judge,” and, as they say, “hit the bullseye.” All my other words mattered little, for before me sat a professional judge, the presiding judge of a court.
It turned out that my friend’s acquaintances had mocked him for his interest in astrology, but he had promised them, “Wait until a real astrologer comes—he’ll show you.” And astrology, through me, did indeed reveal something substantial in its defense, with the “ventil” planet serving as the key to the judgment. Though it’s hard to say whether I convinced the skeptic. He probably began to think I had been tipped off about his profession beforehand.
Exaltation and Fall: Two Sides of the Same Coin
I owe my success in the judge’s case to yet another important factor: this remarkable Saturn, in many respects, was also in the sign of its exaltation.In my conviction, planets both in exaltation and in fall are very important for judging a person’s profession, since both indicate a person’s desire to manifest themselves in some way, to show what they are capable of in a particular area of life or type of activity—depending on which planet is involved and in which house of the horoscope it is located. The essential difference between exaltation and fall lies in the fact that in the first case the planet’s advantages are already given into the person’s hands and are easily applied, manifesting themselves, as a rule, in concrete, practical, tangible results. Meanwhile, the strengths of a planet in fall do not reveal themselves immediately, and perhaps not at all—after all, to master them, one must work on oneself, study, strive for something…
In childhood and youth, in the area of life indicated by the “fallen” planet, difficulties and unpleasantries are often encountered, and when all difficulties and unpleasantries are encountered, and when everything approaches misfortune, and when all the planets aspecting it come into play? They manifest most strongly in theoretical, abstract areas, not necessarily commanding the respect of the general public.
More detailed reflections on exaltation and fall can be read in my article “The Symbolism of Planetary Strengths and Weaknesses” (“Astrolog,” No. 10 – 1995). Here, however, I would only add that over time new facts emerge that speak in favor of my conjectures. Take, for example, the book by Klöckler, which the next article will discuss. Reflecting on the astrological signs of artistic talent, Klöckler presents five horoscopes of artists and, naturally, seeks in some way to emphasize the position of Venus—though not always successfully. It is interesting that in two out of five cases Venus is indeed prominently placed—in one chart in the 1st house, and in another in the 10th house. Moreover, in both cases in the same sign—in Virgo (i.e., in the sign of its fall). In the remaining three charts, Venus is once in detriment, once in domicile, and only in one case does it have neither essential dignity nor debility. I deliberately cite an example that is insignificant from a statistical point of view. After all, astrology is the art of individual cases, and if one applies to it methods designed for studying large quantities of homogeneous molecules and other mechanical systems, the results may be the strangest. So this is not about statistical research, but about practical observation, which shows that in people whose profession is directly related to the symbolism of a particular planet and who have achieved significant heights in their field, this planet is often found in fall. It is no wonder, considering how many years many celebrities must spend to fully master their calling, and if we recall how characteristic for them is the feeling of incomprehensibility and insufficient recognition. So let budding artists not worry if an astrologer “reminds” them of a weak Venus. They have everything ahead of them.
IN SEARCH OF THE GUIDING STAR
Astrology and Career Choice
Oleksandr Kolesnikov
Part 2. Herbert von Klöckler on Vocational Orientation
Continuing the conversation begun in the previous article, I would like to introduce readers to the ideas of one of the influential German astrologers, for now refraining from discussing specific practical examples. My intention is that practice will begin only after we have accumulated a more or less significant ideological foundation. Then we will be able to consider examples from the perspective of different authors and gradually form our own approach.
Now I would like to present to readers the book by H. Baron von Klöckler, Astrology and Vocational Aptitude. What follows is essentially a concise summary of the main ideas of this small but valuable work, published in Leipzig in 1928 and translated into English by the American Federation of Astrologers.
Little is known about the life of Herbert von Klöckler himself. He was at the center of a prestigious group of intellectuals and astrologers that existed in Leipzig during the brief but brilliant revival of astrology in Germany after World War I. Baron von Klöckler came from an old aristocratic family and was a physician by profession. By the late 1930s, he had ceased—at least outwardly—all forms of astrological activity. And not without reason, since many of his astrological colleagues were arrested by the Nazis at that time. Von Klöckler himself avoided arrest because he was occupied with the treatment and rehabilitation of German soldiers. He died in 1950 at the age of 53.
In astrology, von Klöckler sought to develop his own system of horoscope interpretation, simplifying, “streamlining,” and sometimes even outright discarding traditional rules and concepts. It is difficult to say how successful he was in this endeavor, but one thing is certain: in the process, he formulated several interesting and important principles. It is to these that we now turn.
Von Klöckler believes that the main problem in interpretation lies not in learning to combine diverse astrological factors, but in learning to see. “Today,” he writes, “too much is combined, and as a result the most important message of the horoscope is overlooked. But if you can see the horoscope correctly, then it can be considered practically interpreted already.” The correct path to seeing, according to von Klöckler, lies in abandoning the consideration of succedent and cadent houses and taking into account only the relationships of planets with angular cusps, as well as the hemispheres and quadrants of the horoscope. Developing this idea further, he even concludes that the Placidus house system and other similar systems are worthless, preferring instead the simple division of each quadrant into three parts, as was done by Porphyry and some other authors.
Let us turn, however, to the main theme of the book—vocational aptitudes. Here too there has been some “cleansing” of traditional views. As in other areas of astrology, von Klöckler leans toward a holistic, generalized interpretation of the horoscope, asserting that it is impossible to arrive at any satisfactory interpretation based on a single planet and its position. He believes there are no such concepts as “Saturn’s profession,” “Jupiter’s profession,” or “Mars’ profession,” though astrological tradition does assert, for example, that Mars governs butchers, physicians, military personnel, blacksmiths, and so on. Even the length of this list speaks to the impossibility of reaching a concrete conclusion. Mars does play a certain role in these professions, but always as part of a broader configuration, and it is this configuration that is important for judgment. As for the concept of “Mars’ profession” itself, von Klöckler considers it meaningless. Nor does he attach great significance to the sign on the Midheaven, believing that vocational inclinations depend primarily on other factors.
Of course, the 10th, 2nd, and possibly 6th houses carry meaning related to profession, but for its determination these houses are important only when they contain strongly placed planets. As for the signs on the cusps of the 10th, 2nd, and 6th houses, they more likely indicate the individual style in one’s profession, a kind of functional rhythm of the person. In general, every house relates to profession—none of them is decisive in itself. The horoscope must be studied in its entirety.
Thus, von Klöckler does not take house rulers—which are so highly valued in the classical tradition—into consideration, asserting that an unbiased study of a vast number of horoscopes shows beyond doubt that the use of house rulers cannot be taken seriously.And in conclusion, he rejects the entire “witch’s cauldron of dispositors, decanate rulers, antiscia, mundane horoscopes, and so on,” giving primary importance to planets aspecting the angular cusps. I am not proposing these views to the reader as ultimate truth (extremism has never brought great benefit anywhere), but simply wish to present a coherent picture of Alfred Witte’s ideas in all their strengths and weaknesses. So far, various objections and distinctions have been discussed. But what is there in this constructive approach?
Firstly, unlike many other authors, Alfred Witte clearly understands that not all people have the same need for professional guidance. He divides potential clients into five classes, each requiring a special approach.
1. A clear and unmistakable talent in one specific direction. In such a case, it is not difficult to draw the necessary conclusions from the horoscope, as the indications are bright and unambiguous.
2. A flexible personality with multiple talents, often changing professions. Here, it is difficult for the astrologer to give advice, since there is interest and ability in several professions (clearly visible in the horoscope), but no constant drive toward a specific occupation. In the most favorable cases, the person’s ingenuity and character traits allow them to create a direction of activity that incorporates all or most of their abilities. The astrologer should strive to use all their skill to help find such a direction.
3. Profession is not the main area of interest. The primary sources of joy and sorrow in life lie in personal or family life or other concerns. Advice on a suitable profession can only be given if specific abilities for a particular field are clearly indicated in the horoscope.
4. A general lack of abilities. During consultation, it is best to systematically exclude occupations that are clearly impossible for the person, then examine what remains. However, it is unlikely that a “special” sphere of activity can be found for an unskilled worker who prefers to remain as such.
5. Illness or psychopathology prevents serious engagement in any profession. The horoscope will adequately reflect any such unfortunate circumstances. Working with the first group presents no difficulties, and even the simplest application of traditional astrological rules will lead to correct conclusions. However, the majority of cases fall into groups 2–5, where traditional approaches are practically useless (according to Alfred Witte).
One of the key points in Alfred Witte’s approach is the study of the horoscope’s structure, identifying dominant factors and assessing their relative importance compared to non-dominant ones. For example, a weak dominance is characteristic of the fourth group—those lacking distinct abilities. The overall structure of the horoscope is determined by the zodiacal distribution of planets and their mutual aspects. But the most important factor is the individual structure, which depends on the birth time and is defined by aspects to the angular cusps and their positions in the houses. It is the aspects to the chart angles that make planets dominant.
Understanding the structural features of a horoscope is not always easy, but ideally, one should be able to evaluate the cumulative effect of quite diverse factors. This concept is based on knowledge of different structural types. Alfred Witte provides a classification of these types, though he himself calls it “rather general.”
1. General structural types:
a) Spring signs – expansive and active.
b) Summer signs – the same as spring, but to a lesser degree.
c) Autumn signs – a balance between expansiveness and intensity.
d) Winter signs – predominantly intense.
e) Planets in conjunction or a tight grouping – usually indicate a one-sided personality according to the nature of the planets and signs involved.
f) Planets distributed throughout the horoscope – indicate flexibility, the ability to take a balanced approach; generally all-around, even, and uniform development in all directions.
g) Opposition – strongly polarized tendencies, often with creative abilities.
h) Square – indicates inhibition, restriction, or inability.
i) Trine – planetary natures function harmoniously.
j) Sextile – the same as trine, but with polarization (active–passive) due to the difference in the elements of the signs involved.
k) Triplicities – traditionally described as Fire, Earth, Air, and Water (three signs in each group).
l) Quadruplicities – traditionally described as cardinal, fixed, and mutable or common (four signs in each group).
2. Individual structural types. They are largely similar to the general ones.
a) Eastern type – planets mainly located in the eastern half of the horoscope. The MC–IC axis can be considered the axis of emotional and physical response. The eastern half is expansive and active—both emotionally and physically.
b) Western type – planets mainly in the western half of the horoscope; this type is more passive or receptive emotionally and physically.
c) Horizon – the axis of mental or intellectual, and possibly spiritual, response. Day type – when planets are predominantly above the horizon – indicates an active and assertive mentality, objectivity.
d) Night type – planets mainly below the horizon – indicates a passive or receptive mentality; subjectivity.
e) Angular house type. The predominance of planets in angular houses inclines toward greater activity. In this regard, the 1st and 10th houses are stronger than the 7th and 4th, for reasons that should be clear from the above. The 4th and 7th houses direct action toward personal, internal, subjective areas.
f) Succedent house type – planets predominantly in the 2nd, 5th, 8th, and 11th houses. Here, there is less activity but more stability compared to angular houses.
g) Cadent house type – predominance of planets in the 3rd, 6th, 9th, and 12th houses. This type is active but changeable, and the sphere of activity is mainly mental.
However, to understand a person’s intellectual potential, analyzing structural types alone is insufficient; it is necessary to consider the dominant factors. The following subtypes arise when the eastern and western hemispheres are combined with the day and night hemispheres.
1. First quadrant (1st, 2nd, and 3rd houses) combines night with east, and is therefore mentally passive but emotionally and physically active.
2. Second quadrant (4th, 5th, and 6th houses) combines night with west, and is therefore receptive in all respects—mentally, emotionally, and physically.
3. Third quadrant (7th, 8th, and 9th houses) combines west with day, and is therefore emotionally and physically receptive but mentally active and assertive.
4. Fourth quadrant (10th, 11th, and 12th houses) combines east with day and is assertive and active in emotional, physical, and mental respects; this is the strongest quadrant of the horoscope.
Alfred Witte places great importance on studying the quadrants and believes that through them, one can determine both the nature of a person’s main aspirations and the degree of their development. It is natural that the emotionally passive western type will develop more slowly than the active and expansive eastern type, which, by its nature, sooner comes into conflict with its environment and thus develops more quickly.
Most often, a specific horoscope is a combination of several types of general and individual structure. An experienced eye will immediately notice the significant features of the horoscope, which, in combination, form its structure. One can speak of harmonious structural types when the general and individual structures essentially correspond to each other. This is observed, for example, when the predominance of spring signs is combined with the predominance of planets in the eastern half of the horoscope.In disharmonious structural types, the general and individual structures are unrelated or inherently opposed. For example, an emphasis on spring signs may coincide with a predominance of planets in the western or nocturnal half of the horoscope. However, one should not equate the concepts of harmony and disharmony with the notions of “good” and “bad.” With the right dominant planets, both structural combinations can foster the development of creative abilities, though in different ways. The challenge arises when structural disharmony exists: the individual must learn to reconcile conflicting tendencies that oppose their nature. Alexander Klockler’s analysis of professional inclinations is rooted in understanding the interplay between structure and dominant planets. Structure reveals deep-seated, inevitable trends that manifestOne expresses oneself through the energy of the dominant planet. The influence of the dominant planet is directed by the structure. For example, a dominant Mercury combined with a predominance of planets in angular houses and the eastern half of the horoscope will be more oriented toward practical and material relations than if it were combined with a predominance of planets in the western half and in cadent houses, where the mental and intellectual side comes to the fore. One and the same planet, which dominates in two different horoscopes, can lead to entirely different professions, since the structure will give the dominant planet a different direction. The same can be said of the structure itself: similar structures combined with different dominant planets may indicate different professional inclinations. These are the core ideas of von Kloeckler’s approach to determining professional inclinations. Before moving on to practical examples, we must strengthen our understanding with knowledge of the old, good traditional approach to this question, which we will examine in the next article using the classic work of Charles Luntz.
