Direction and Destiny in the Birth Chart

This book is divided into three different sections, based on three seminars given by Howard Sasportas during 1990 and 1991. Reading through the Preface, written by Liz Greene, one is reminded of Sasportas’s unique approach to astrology. One that made his work interesting, readable, and enriching. This volume is all of that, and more!

Each section: Vocation; The Moon’s Nodes; and, The Astrology of the Helper, is well organized and clearly presented. Some charts from seminar participants are provided to illustrate the concepts and the lively dialogue with the individuals makes this undeniably useful. The book begins with an introduction to the term ‘vocation’. Sasportas describes it as ‘a summons from your deeper Self, a call from somewhere inside to express yourself through some sort of service’, in brief, it is about ‘meaningful work’. Yes! From my own point of view, if the work is not meaningful then why are we doing it? This question is asked, answered, and expanded upon later in the book, specifically within the third seminar transcript.

In the section entitled ‘Vocation’, I am reminded of ‘Apollo’s Chariot’ by Liz Greene. Sasportas writes that ‘the task is to constantly work on developing and improving and manifesting more and more of your Sun-sign.’ What follows is an interesting discussion about understanding vocation within the birth chart, and why some of us take a little longer to find what we consider truly meaningful work. The theme of ‘vocation’, as Sasportas clearly illustrates, is a complicated one. However, he offers a lot of food for thought, including sharing his own ‘points of reference’ which provide a useful framework for consideration.

The second section focuses on the Nodes of the Moon. I particularly like the way Sasportas brings in the perspectives of other astrologers, offering a contrast of ideas. I found myself contemplating my own view and incorporating nuances of other ideas that I had not previously considered. Following a discussion on the principles of the North and South Nodes, a very interesting section on ‘Will and choice’ proposes that ‘the tension or conflict suggested by the nodal axis actually helps us to develop the will, and to make choices.’ From this foundational thinking, we are easily able to absorb the discussion about sign placements which follows. Transits, synastry and aspects to the Nodes are also referenced.

The final section, ‘The Astrology of the Helper’, is perhaps what I found most interesting. Here, Sasportas considers the question of ‘Why do we help?’. As he observed, there are many different types of ‘help’ and ‘helpers’, and the motivations are many. As Astrologers, ‘why we do the work?’ is perhaps one of the most important, or significant, underlying questions that must be answered if we are to serve others with compassion and intentionality.

Sadly, Howard Sasportas is no longer with us, but we may continue to draw upon his knowledge and wisdom through excellent material such as provided in ‘Direction and Destiny in the Birth Chart’.  And for that, I am grateful! Jayne Logan www.astrobookclub.com

Direction and Destiny in the Birth Chart sounds profound and portentous. Yet Howard Sasportas’s wide-ranging spiritual and psychological insights presented in a down-to-earth and sympathetic way make light of the patterns laid down at birth which provide a template for the life ahead.
His death in 1992 aged 45 was a tragedy for his friends and for the astrological community who lost an original thinker and a bright light. His books The Twelve Houses and The Gods of Change remain along with his seminars from the Centre for Psychological Astrology which he co-founded with Liz Greene.
This book draws together three seminar strands of lectures and discussions on Vocation, the Moon’s Nodes and Helpers.
On Vocation – a summons from the deeper self, he impresses that we are not born expressing our sun sign, which is the heart of the chart, but need to reach out for it. “Your sun sign is given to you but also demanded of you.  We are here to become what we are meant to be.”  The First Saturn Return and the Mid-life crisis are points of adjustment along the way of becoming ourselves.  On vocation there are perceptive comments on the 10th, 6^th, 5^th houses as well as Sun conjunctions with outer planets. With a recurring theme of the usefulness of Saturn – ‘you can’t get growth with it.’
The Moon’s Node – the path of destiny.  He remarks they are often the key to the chart, which would be my experience also.  “Usually the whole chart confirms or reiterates their theme.” He has a helpful link between the South Node and lunar energy – the pull from the past, acting instinctively, what comes naturally. As opposed to the North Node’s challenge to act rather than react, to be aware and make an effort.  And he reiterates Tracy Mark’s point that both have to be taken together and it is helpful to rework the South Node energy rather than try to delete it.
Helpers:  Moon aspects are highlighted stemming from mother/nurturing issues.
On Chiron – an archetype that comes in pairs.  The victim is also the healer, including the one who comes looking for guidance. ‘If someone comes for help, the answers are there in the person. Something in them knows what they have to do.’ The astrologer can ‘enliven that part which already knows what to do, rather than telling what you think they should do.’
Which would also be my take – if an individual has an existential crisis the answer usually lies in the Node.
Howard was born 12 April 1948 1.46 am Hartford, Connecticut, took a Humanistic Psychology degree, moved to the UK, won a Gold Medal on the Faculty of Astrology diploma, graduated in Psychosynthesis, studied Transpersonal Psychology, set up the CPA with Liz Greene, edited a Penguin series of Astrology Books, had a consultation practice and travelled extensively for international lectures.
In his later years he suffered from ankylosing spondylitis, an inflammatory arthritis that caused some of the bones in his spine to fuse which crippled him and he contracted AIDs from which he ultimately died.
He had a chart with an extraordinary mix of inspired, adventurous, risk-taking, fun-loving energy sitting alongside punishingly difficult aspects. He had an uplifting Fire Grand Trine of a quick-witted 3^rd house Aries Sun trine a friendly 11^th house Jupiter trine Mars in Leo with his Jupiter opposition Uranus – making his astrological Uranus the driving planet in the performing, entertaining 5th house. His Uranus was sextile his Sun and both were inconjunct a Yod focal point Chiron and Midheaven, giving him not just the ability to be a healer and helper but also the necessity. He said: ‘I was led by an instinct, a feeling of being pushed along by the Yod formation of the Sun and Uranus to the MC – and it affected my choice of work. It drove me. I didn’t have to make a lot of conscious choices.’
His 4^th house Taurus Moon conjunct a nurturing Ceres opposed his Midheaven and Chiron and squared onto a truly difficult combination of Mars, Saturn, Pluto in Leo in his 7^th. His personal relationships would always present more problems than his professional life. His Fixed sign Moon square Mars, Saturn, Pluto also ruled his 6^th house of health, giving a hint of the rigidity of his spinal condition which afflicted his later years.
My memory of meeting him was of a good-natured, charming, kindly temperament with little indication of the challenges he faced.
When he died on 12 May 1992 5.11pm London, the astrological influences were unusually very precise.  Pluto was exactly conjunct his Midheaven, Jupiter was just into his 8^th, the Sun was only a degree into his 4^th and the North Node exactly on the cusp of his 12^th.  It would feel like a relief.
A lovely man, much missed.
Marjorie Orr   star4cast.com

This collection of three seminars given by Howard Sasportas was first published in 1998, six years after his premature death in 1992. And its reissue by Wessex – complete with Liz Greene’s original Preface – is very welcome indeed. Greene observes that it is his “rare blend of spirituality and down-to-earth trenchant observations of human psychological dynamics which makes his work so unusual and memorable”. He is the sort of teacher I would like to have met and studied with – highly informed but capable of witty digressions; sharp but blessed with warmth. He was plainly a welcome guru-free zone.
The seminars here were given in 1990-91 for the Centre for Psychological Astrology – and it’s a relief to see that the transcripts are sensitively and lightly edited (to add grammatical polish) so that Sasportas’ lively personality is not occluded. Each seminar is rich in original observation. In the first, Vocation, he observes, “I don’t believe you are born expressing your Sun-sign immediately. Your Sun-sign is given to you, but also demanded of you.” The zodiac signs pose challenges to be risen to which in turn help to shed light on life direction.
The second seminar, The Moon’s Nodes, is usefully expositional in the main, and he does show caution in embracing ideas of karma and past-lives associated with the South Node – his preference is for psychological delving, putting emphasis on the lunar essence which takes us to instinct and childhood (in this life) and away from possibly fanciful reincarnation narratives. I wonder what Sasportas would have made of draconic astrology which re-positions the North Node at the vernal equinox point to open a whole new chart dedicated to finding life (or soul) purpose.
The third seminar is titled The Astrology of the Helper – here he examines the astrological aspects, motives and mixed agendas of mothering and fathering and of those driven to serve others in general. “As an astrologer you are a professional helper,” he tells his audience. “You put yourself in a position to give guidance”. Inevitably Neptune gets major billing in the lessons.
At a time when certain influencers would have us think that astrology stopped evolving once the toga fell out of fashion, this book is a reminder that as humanity grows in knowledge, so does everything else in the zeitgeists. All ages and cultures add new perspectives to astrological insight. And all systems of astrology can benefit from the scientia of the psychological schools, where there’s the will – so let us not fear the word ‘fusion’ as past techniques are recovered.
A highly immersive book which enlightens, provokes – and entertains.
Victor Olliver – The Astrological Journal