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Thursday, February 24, 2011

"Humour" in astrology (Component 12) - Observational exercises

http://thecatandastrologer.wordpress.com/2009/11/07/astrological-humour

"If we are to examine the astrological markers for humour, we certainly need to look at the planet Mercury. The position and aspects of Mercury in the horoscope signify mentality ,speech patterns, communication style, sense of humour etc. Humour, though, can be expressed differently, and not everybody may find the same things funny.

But what do we mean exactly by the term ”’humour”? Many writers have given definitions for it. For example, Alastair Clarke says that ”humour occurs when the brain recognises a pattern that surprises it, and that recognition is rewarded with the experience of the humorous response, an element of which is broadcast in laughter”.

Arthur Koestler’s basic idea is that the creative act is a “bisociation” (not mere association) which happens, if two (or more) apparently incompatible frames of thought (“matrices”) are brought together by an ingenious mind. In jokes and humour, these conceptual systems are reversed, in the arts and in ritual, they are juxtaposed, in science, they are fused into a new larger synthesis. This corresponds to a “self-assertive” tendency in humour and a “self-transcending” tendency in art, while in science both tendencies are balanced.

In the case of the Monty Pythons’ style humour, it is not at all ordinary and certainly not slapstick. It definitely has the element of surprise, of the unexpected. We should expect to find a very strong Mercury and aspects to Jupiter in great humourists, as Jupiter gives the joie de vivre and the expanding of horizons needed for one to see the funny side of things.But, that is not enough for the Monty Pythons unique humour : I should expect the anarchic Uranus to be in aspect to Mercury. Uranus is the one giving the flavour of the unexpected, the original, the unique, even wacky, if you will."

Also, it is important to consider the Moon (lunar) and aspects to it to reveal the "humour" or temperament of a person. Mercury's aspects to the Moon can create much mutability and the ability to mimic; to Jupiter, a cheerful temperament; Saturn a dry, dead pan sense of humour; and Mars, an acerbic wit. Planets in certain signs such as Gemini, Sagittarius, Aquarius and Pisces can also predispose one to humour.

Anyway, it might be interesting when you next meet people (Ascendant & Sun) and listen to their words (Mercury) to observe their mood, mind and temperament (Moon) and diagnose their attitude, philosophy and humour (Jupiter) and then find out their chart! A bit of astrological profiling and charting for a laugh.

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