Robert Hand is the most highly regarded of astrologers. As his website rightly states, Robert “is one of the world’s leading and most esteemed astrologers” [1]. He was the pioneer of astrology programs for computers, and now his writings are integral to the popular computerized horoscope reports at the largest astrology website, Astrodienst.
He has been a prolific writer of best-selling astrology books, including the bible for all astrology students and professionals, Planets in Transit. Robert has also lectured extensively and his involvement in astrological organisations is seen as a sign of their integrity. Robert Hand’s achievements and contribution to astrology have placed him at the top of his profession, which his peers acknowledged with the awarding of the 2008 Regulus Award for Lifetime Achievement.

On the Ascendant is the fixed star Sirius, which “makes its natives custodians, curators and guardians” [2], which we can certainly see with Robert in the field of astrology. You often find that people with prominent angles (AC and MC) in their chart, through aspect or fixed star conjunction, lead prominent and influential lives. This is certainly the case with Robert Hand. The Ascendant is strong because of the conjunction to Sirius, Lilith, and the balancing trine to the Moon.

The Midheaven is also very strong, being conjunct Ceres, and making a grand trine to Mars and Jupiter. Marina views Ceres conjunct Midheaven as “ones desire to merge and become one with nature rather than the divine. Hand to me as always come across as a very earthed Astrologer and not at all airy fairy. His astrology makes practical sense. I would equate Ceres with his ancient techniques (He championed Whole Sign houses). It’s not simply traditional like Saturn, but from a lineage going way back to the magical times where the was a closer relationship between the nature gods and human beings. So this would include living by the phases of the moon, and respecting the seasons. Ceres is about cycles, as is Astrology”.

Mars trine Jupiter is the aspect of success, Mars is the goal directed energy, Jupiter is growth and abundance. The fixed stars involved in this trine are just perfect in explaining its effect on the Midheaven, the career and public status. Mars on the fixed star Agena gives “honor as speaker or writer” [2]. Jupiter is on the brightest star in Canis Minor, Procyon. Like its big brother, Sirius in Canis Major, “it portended wealth, fame, and good fortune” [3]. This high energy, success giving trine feeds up to the Midheaven.

So the horoscope shows a life and career of prominence, fame and honor, someone seen as a guardian, looked up to as the authority in his field. But why astrology? The traditional ruler of astrology is Mercury, and it sits right in the middle of Robert’s Sun Venus conjunction, astrology is the love of his life. Uranus is the modern ruler of astrology, and is part of a T-square aspect pattern, opposite the Vertex, the destiny, and square Chiron conjunct North Node. This T-square causes tension, it pushes and forces action, to create, to make something happen. The focus of this aspect pattern is on Chiron conjunct North Node. The insights and awareness of Uranus, facilitated by the destiny encounters of the Vertex, opening up this awareness to new levels. All this inspired information comes down to the Chiron North Node conjunction for expression.

The North Node is the karmic path, where the soul wants to go. Chiron is the healer and the teacher, foremost he is the teacher of astrology. Both Chiron and the North Node are conjunct the fixed star Regulus. This star is associated with astrology, “An old saying goes that Regulus in the 10th house ‘makes astrologers to kings, people in high positions and noble men’.” [4] Nice association here, winning the Regulus Award for Life Time Achievement.

I have a very strong passion for astrology, Mars on Regulus. I had been studying and using astrology in my life for a number of years, but it wasn’t till I got a copy of Robert’s first book, Planets in Transit, that I was truly inspired to aim for a career in this field. For years I had been using a technique called precession correction for calculating my transits. I used this because my learning was based on the fixed stars, which move forward slowly through the tropical zodiac. I saw the stars as the reference for the motion of the planets, not the twelve Sun signs we are all familiar with. I thought I was the only person in the world doing this, I wasn’t on the Internet back then, and didn’t know any astrologers.

Then I read these words from Robert Hand, “it is possible to treat the tropical zodiac as if it were moving. In other words, one should treat the natal positions of the planets as if they were fixed stars…My own experience has been that in timing an event the corrected positions are more accurate than the uncorrected ones” [5]. Now I had confirmation from the most highly regarded of astrologers. Now looking at his horoscope, I can see why he is the big daddy of astrology

References
1. Arhat Publications.
2. Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology, Vivian E. Robson, 1923, p.118,208.
3. Star Names, Their Lore and Meaning, Richard Hinckley Allen, 1889, p.134.
4. Fixed Stars and Their Interpretation, Elsbeth Ebertin, 1971, p.46.
5. Planets in Transit, Robert Hand, 2001, p.29-30.