The story of this
configuration is quite strange. Several years ago, at an office reunion, a
group of colleagues were debating with dissatisfaction a couple’s natal charts.
We knew the husband and wife had sexual problems but their natal charts did not
clearly show this. Then, by chance, someone observed that in each of the charts
there was an opposition between planets that closely aspected Pluto. What was
unusual was that in each instance the link with Pluto came from aspects that we
consider positive—a trine and a sextile. Had we deceived
ourselves into thinking Pluto was a benefic influence in these charts because
it received only positive aspects? If our new understanding was correct, it
followed that a planet in similar conditions to Pluto would also assume a
different value from that usually attributed to it. This reasoning was
confirmed on a number of other subjects.
We were proud and happy with our findings and decided to find a name that would unequivocally distinguish it from other configurations. A reference to Thales’ was found in an old edition of Mickey Mouse. The name pleased everyone and the baptism occurred at once.
Later the new configuration was the subject of a deeper study and our results were presented at the 1981 Congress in Ferrara, Two years later the material was elaborated on in an article published in Linguaggic Astrale, a publication of CIDA, the Italian Center of Astrology. This article allowed other students to identify the configuration, to observe its affects, to confirm the initial findings and to add useful points to its interpretation.
A POINT OF THALES exists when two planets in opposition to each
other are united to a third planet by trine (120º) on one side and by sextile
(60º) on the other.
In the following example at Fig. 1, Jupiter
in Sagittarius is opposed by the Moon in Gemini. Mercury is in Libra, attached
by sextile to Jupiter and by trine to the Moon.
Fig. 1.
Mercury here forms a Point of Thales that ‘discharges’ the opposition between the Moon and Jupiter.
We can then say that the tension between sensitivity and emotion (the Moon values) on the one hand and optimism and exuberance (Jupiter’s values) on the other will create difficulties in communication (Mercury values).
This is simply an abstract example. In practice the Point of Thales must be interpreted by how it effects the total chart.
Observations of many birth charts in the intervening years enable me now to be more precise concerning the conditions necessary to produce the Thales effect.
- The orbit of tolerance of the aspects is always greatly reduced.
- The Point of Thales must not be part of a more complex aspect configuration. Most of the time, when the aspect pattern is closed, the Thales effect does not occur. For example, in Fig. 2 another planet has been introduced into the theoretical scheme discussed earlier. Now the nature of the configuration has changed. We have Mars in Aquarius, trine both the Moon and Mercury, and sextile Jupiter. The geometric figure formed is a closed one. It is likely that in this situation neither Mercury nor Mars will receive the effect of Thales.
- The effect of Thales is most evident when the planets involved are completely unlike each other.
Fig. 2
Caroline,
the beautiful Princess of Monaco (see Fig. 3), was born with the Sun in
Aquarius and Pisces rising. She has been married twice, and involved in several
other eventful relationships. Although her disposition shows a large amount of
ambition and the capacity to remain detached in most situations, it also
indicates much personal insecurity.
Fig. 3. Princess Caroline of Monaco
09:27 MET. 23rd January 1957
43N42 7E24
(source: Lescaut)
In Princess Caroline’s chart we observe an opposition between the Sun in Aquarius and Uranus in Leo. This opposing pair are also in mutual reception. The Sun trines Jupiter in Libra while Uranus is sextile the same body, thus discharging the Sun-Uranus opposition and forming a Point of Thales.
Caroline tends to project her insecurities onto others in her relationships. This is particularly so with close partners, from whom she undoubtedly demands far more than she should (Mars in Aries trine Pluto). Her Sun-Uranus opposition can obviously cause her to be willful and intolerant with the men in her life, and this can be a cause of the many breakups in her relationships.
If we open any astrological textbook and look up the meaning of a well-aspected Jupiter in the VIIth house, we will find something like:
Marriages and all associations are
likely to be successful, even in economic terms. Both are protected by fortune.
Since this is not the case for Caroline of Monaco, we have to admit that her Jupiter, even with its trine from the Sun and the sextile to Uranus, is not as beautiful as it seems. It is in fact a Point of Thales, which has clearly manifested itself on the material level (VIIth house = marriage). We cannot say if it has also been effective on the psychological level.
Our second example also has Jupiter in the VIIth house as a Point of Thales. In this instance the effects have not been on the material level, but on the psychological.
The lady whose chart is shown at Fig. 4. had a fairly happy and successful marriage for nearly fifty years. Her life was calm and serene, she enjoyed good health and there were no particular family or economic problems. Despite this good fortune, she is always dissatisfied, unable to enjoy herself.
The tension between uncontrolled emotion (Moon in Pisces) and repressed affection (Venus in Virgo) has blocked the exuberance and joy of life symbolized by Jupiter in Cancer; this is expressed above all in a continued verbal expression of her discontent, in grumbling.
Figure 4. 13:04 UT, 19th Sept.
1918; 45N 08E
Note:
Thales
was one of the legendary Seven Wise Men of the ancient world. He was born circa.
628 B.C. in Miletus, at the time when this was the most important city
of the Ionian Confederacy, and was renowned as a philosopher, statesman,
mathematician and astronomer.
According to Aristotle, Thales was the
founder of European philosophy, the first person to bridge the gap between myth and reason. He considered the entire universe a
living organism, and thought water and moisture, because of its ability to
change into vapor, was the very essence of the life that nourished the
universe,
More to the point, Thales is reputed to
have predicted the solar eclipse of May 28, 585 that
halted the crucial battle between the Lydian Alyattes and the Median Cyaxeres.
The change from daylight to darkness in mid-fight prompted peace and an
exchange of marriages between the opposing forces. Hence the appropriate use of the name Thales to indicate a point
that can break up and discharge a planetary opposition.
—-Editor