Hand in Hand: Exploring Conjunction

Will Parfitt

He will unite the white rose and the red:
Smile heaven upon his fair conjunction. - Shakespeare.


When I was asked to write a piece for Conjunction (the astrological journal of API), I thought a good starting place would be to look up exactly what conjunction means. I knew in astrology it refers to two planets being closely aligned, and I knew grammatically it means a word that connects other words together but my investigation of the word threw up some deeper ' and more interesting ' meanings and connections. Before we go any further, though, I'd like to ask you to hold my hand whilst you are reading this article, in imagination if not in reality.

In grammar, a conjunction is a part of speech that connects two words, phrases, or clauses together. Of course, the best known conjunctions in this sense are 'and' and 'but'. The definition can also be extended to idiomatic phrases that function in the same way, for instance 'as well as' or 'provided that.' From logic we can find a slightly different way of making a conjunction, such as, for instance:

Everyone should study astrological conjunctions.
Huber is the best system of astrology.
Therefore, everyone should study Huber astrology.

You might well agree with these statements, or not as the case may be, but in the real world they may not be the whole truth as the concluding statement in no way challenges the assertions in the original two sentences. Yet how often do we put things together and assume they are connected when actually the link might be very tenuous. A classic example, of course, is an astrologer who discovers a positive aspect between, say Jupiter and the Sun on a particular day, then a sum of money arrives in the post which appears to prove that the aspect is having its effect.

To get beyond such mistaken logical conjunctions we have to hold the paradoxical position of both not being attached to a linear time model, and at the same time looking closely at cause and effect. Then we can see that there may well be a real connection between, in our example, the aspect and the arrival of the money, but not because one 'caused' the other but because they coincided or were synchronous.

This is very relevant to astrology in a way that becomes clear when we consider a conjunction. A conjunction is a term used in both positional astronomy and astrology and it means that, as seen from some place (usually the Earth), two celestial bodies appear near one another in the sky. From our particular temporal and geographical location they are conjoined but, of course, if we take a wider perspective, they are not close at all (Mars and Pluto may appear conjunct but really there may be many millions of kilometres between them.) Are they associated? Yes, but only in the same way the two statements were in our 'logical conjunction'.

That is not a put down of astrological conjunctions because we have to now bring in the most important factor in all this ' the observer. Without the observer there would be no conjunction at all (Mars does not naturally align itself in the heaven with Pluto.) It is equally real, therefore, to assert that the conjunction does exist because it is being observed. Indeed, such is the power of observation that many astrologers (and others) will argue that an aspect is most definitely real not because they are observing it at all (how can you see these distant objects anyway?) but because they feel or at the very least experience its effect. Yes, well, the postman did arrive today with that money so that proves it, doesn't it? Or does it?

Never mind what might have been or what is, let's consider what might be? If we enter into the realm of the future, what is still potential rather than actual, then we might expect to find ourselves on even shakier ground. Yet some events in themselves are most definitely predictable. In my research I discovered that there is a very remarkable planetary/galactic configuration due to occur on the 23rd and 24th December 2007. The 23/12 configuration (as it might be termed) involves Mars, Earth, Sun, Mercury, Jupiter, Galactic Centre, and is even more remarkable in that it will be joined (or triggered?) by the full Moon (conjunct Mars) at about 2 a.m. on December 24th when a simultaneous Venus square Neptune occurs. To cap it all, the Pluto/sun conjunction appears exactly on the Winter Solstice, just past a conjunction with the Galactic Centre.

That sounds amazing indeed. I imagine as we get closer to this conjunction many people will come up with theories and ideas about its significance. Informed astrologers may well be best placed to understand what it might mean, having many thousands of years of research on which to base their conjectures. What I would like to suggest to you, however, is not to become caught up with other peoples' explanations, however wise they may be, but to find your own understanding of this grand conjunction and for that matter all other conjunctions. Remember it will only be happening (for you anyway) because you are observing and experiencing it, so rather than looking at it from the perspective of others, or in books and charts, observe it closely, and deeply, from your own position. Sure, make any astrological calculations you may wish, but also be there at the time of the conjunction, sense it in your body, feel it in your heart, watch carefully the effects it has on your being and your nature. Then the conjunction can become an experienced reality rather than just an abstract concept.

I asked you at the beginning of this article to hold my hand whilst reading it. I don't know if you took me seriously and if any of you 'held my hand' but it certainly made a difference to me, having a sense of you, the reader, as well as of myself. Now being hand in hand with someone, even in imagination, never mind in the 'real world', is truly being conjoined. I'd like to end with a little image that might aid you whenever you are considering any conjunctions in your clients' charts, that all heavenly bodies in conjunction go 'and in 'and with one another. When we are considering relationships, which are after all not only the basis of all astrology but all life, we could all do well to learn more about being 'and in 'and with one another. No buts, thank you!


First published in the Conjunction Journal, 2005.


Will Parfitt is a UKCP registered psychotherapist and an experienced and innovative group leader. Trained in Psychosynthesis, he has more than forty years experience of working with psychospiritual development, and travels internationally to run courses on a variety of subjects including kabbalah and psychosynthesis. Will is author of several books including 'The Complete Guide to Kabbalah', 'The Something and Nothing of Death', 'Kabbalah:The Tree of Life' and 'Psychosynthesis: the Elements and Beyond.