posted December 28, 2008 01:52 PM         

A fellow astrologer once criticized Tom Cruise because of his being a member of a cult that is highly controversial in society. He didn't consider that maybe he was throwing a stone while in a glass house nor calling a kettle "black."
I am not going to make any judgments about Tom Cruise with whom I share neurodivergence and the belief that neurodivergents shouldn't be on medication for not fitting inside the box in common. I mean..who am I to judge? I believe in unconventional stuff too,and that would get me badly judged by mental health professionals and conservative religious people. I am talking about my beliefs in Astrology,Numerology,Tarot,and other metaphysical/occult subjects. I feel that I have to avoid being self righteous and point fingers. A person's religion is a cult to another..especially if they don't believe in the religion. Even Christianity was viewed as a cult in
it's early stages. A lot of Christians believe that paganism is a cult. It really depends on one's point of view. It's relative. I don't believe in absolutes. Just like what we see in the sky is relative, and there are many ways to look at the sky. As astrologers,we mainly use ecliptic longitude coordinates, and some astrologers also use declinations(equatorial latitude coordinates). However,astronomers don't use the ecliptic longitude coordinates. They use Right Ascension(equatorial longitude coordinates) along with declinations to locate celestial objects. Does that mean that astrologers are using the wrong coordinates? Of course not. Does that mean that astronomers are using the wrong coordinates? Of course not. They are both looking at the same sky, but they are looking at it from different perspectives. Horizon coordinates have been used too, and they are used in visual based star paran system. There are many coordinates that we can use to locate celestial objects, and so many perspectives of how we look at the sky. We have many
astrological systems in the field of Astrology. None of them are necessarily wrong. They are just seeing the chart from different perspectives. That's how religions and philosophies are too. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't want my New Age,NeoPagan,Unitarian Universalist beliefs to be accused of being cultish nor wrong in some way. That's why I give people the consideration including even people
like Tom Cruise who believes in Scientology which I don't believe in. I feel that we humans need to avoid self righteousness and hypocrisy when it comes to views that are divergent from others. I believe that Eris has to do with Diversity. Mythological Eris caused men to quarrel and fight by making them believe that their opinions are right and other's are wrong. It seems like it might have to do
with ideology. It also seems to fit with diversity and divergence which often are connected to equal/civil rights. I believe that the solution is the most simple concept of all - "Treat others like you want to be treated" Even Jesus preached "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" But.......good grief!....it's like the
hardest concept to practice on our planet even though it's the easiest concept of all.

so with that in mind....

I believe that Neptune is strong in a neurodivergent. They are confusing and can easily be confused in some ways. They are hard to pin down,often misunderstood/misdiagnosed, and put on medication like antipsychotic,Risperdal have been used to treat behavior problems in people(especially children) with ADHD and Autistic Spectrum Disorders. Many of them are ultrasensitive(as in ultraresponsive to external stimuli which can be sensory integration issues) and highly imaginative types(which can fit with the visual thinking,nonlinear thought processes that many neurotypicals,and highly distractibility from an internal source). Many neurotypicals might even see them as deceptive in some way if they don't understand their neurodivergent weaknesses...i.e. many neurodivergents have problems with eye contact. It can be because of sensory integration issues or coordination issues that have problems as they have a hard time doing more than one thing at the same time. Having eye contact or not having eye contact with another during communications is often viewed as determining if somebody's being honest or not. Some have to pause before answering a question. This could be because of auditory input speech lags or being primarily a picture thinker with word thinking being secondary. Some might see that as being dishonest because they might think "well...he's obviously lying,he can't even give a straight answer"
Even disorganization and absentmindedness that many neurodivergents have can be mistaken for deception too.

All the planets beyond Saturn are referred to as outerplanets, and so they are related to metaphysical energies. Uranus is the planet of liberation from boundaries as it breaks way with its need for independence,and it is associated with innovation and intuitive flashes. Neptune is the planet of dissolution of boundaries as it pierces the veil to reveal another world,and it is associated with imagination,inspiration, and psychism. Pluto is the planet of elimination of boundaries, and is compared to being the other side. This could be death,afterlife,or could be the subterranean depths of the human psyche. It is possible that Pluto's fellow transneptunian objects could be similar to Pluto. I believe that Pluto and its fellow transneptunians can be energies so metaphysical that they can be hard to handle and can manifest as problems on the physical plane such as serious health problems,psychiatric disorders, and even neurodivergence which are often subtle in their own way and very misunderstood. These aren't necessarily bad things. Neurodivergence tends to be very misunderstood,and it was unknown for a long time. The issues tend to be subtle. They have also been known as hidden handicaps.

With that in mind, I believe that it makes sense that the kuiper belt objects associated with unknown,hidden,subtleties could be indicators for neurodivergence.

I believe that Chiron does fit with special needs which often require special attention. Many children with special needs often grow up to be compassionate adults that care about children and others with special needs. Chiron can be about having painful experiences that lead you to be a compassionate person that care about others that have similar painful experiences.

Chiron is located between Saturn and Uranus.......so bridges the physical and metaphysical. It's considered holistic.....mind,body,spirit connection.
Saturn/Uranus midpoint is said to be Chiron-sensitive. That means that aspects to Saturn/Uranus midpoint is like aspects to Chiron.

think of the myth, Chiron
He was rejected by his parents, Cronos and Philyra because of his appearance as a centaur, but he ended up being a foster parent/mentor of many of the great heroes like Heracles,Jason,Achilles. He taught Asclepius to be a healer,and he was surpassed by that son of Apollo,the god of healing. Asclepius was the God of medicine.
Chiron was accidentally shot by Heracles with one of the poisoned arrows dipped in the Hydra's blood. He couldn't cure himself of the wound. He ended up taking Prometheus' place in the Underworld which led to the end of his pain.

Chariklo was his mate too. Chariklo is also the largest of the centaurs in our solar system. Like Chiron, it orbits between Saturn and Uranus. The difference is that it has an orbit less eccentric than Chiron. Centaurs named after females have less eccentric orbits than Centaurs named after males. The eccentricity of the orbits of the centaur celestial objects is like wild nature,noncomformity of the centaur creatures. That's why Chiron is viewed as a maverick.

BTW...there are over 40 centaurs, and over 10 of them have names already.

It would make sense to think that if Chiron is involved in neurodivergent conditions, then maybe other centaurs are involved in neurodivergent conditions too.

Also kuiper belt object Ixion is named after the grandfather of the centaurs. Ixion was known for his lusty nature like his descendants. He actually got punished by Zeus for wanting and trying to get it on with Zeus' wife,Hera. a horny mortal man trying to get it on with the queen of the gods. hahahahaha. That's how lusty Ixion was.

Ixion is a big plutino(3rd largest plutino), and it has 2:3 resonance with Neptune like Pluto. Its orbit is highly eccentric like Pluto's. Their orbits are similar to the orbits of centaurs with their eccentricity. They can be seen as wild,nonconformists.

I am going to look at it from the neurodivergent perspective too. That means that I don't view neurodivergence as a disorder. I view it as an alternative way of being and thinking which doesn't conform to the arbitrary rules of society. Therefore,I am not going to just focus on planetary afflictions which would be focus on just what's wrong with the person. I will focus on the easy aspects too as well as the esoteric aspect harmonics (5th,7th,9th,11th).

I am looking for harmonic aspect triangles,quadrilaterals or patterns with more than 5 objects. It's possible that a narrow orb esoteric aspect involvin a personal planet/point could be important,and that could be something to consider. I believe that this is especially the case for close orbed 5th harmonic aspects that include the quintile and biquintile which were devised by Johannes Johannes Kepler based on musical harmonic theory. It is said that he was skeptical of signs and houses in Astrology. It makes sense that he would think " the hell with the zodiac signs, I am coming up with my own aspects that have nothing to do with them". He opened the can of worms when he introduced minor aspects in Astrology. Even now,sesquiquadrates(devised by Kepler based on fiveness...5/8) and semisquaresare regularly used in Cosmobiology,seen on a 90 degree dial and Uranian Astrology as major aspects and regularly used with midpoints. Minor aspects are not necessarily minor, but they just require much smaller orbs than regular aspects. Minor aspect patterns have corresponding midpoint pictures. Even the golden section aspect(devised by Theodor Landscheidt) triangles have corresponding midpoint pictures. All midpoint pictures are harmonic aspect patterns any way. It's just that the ones that aren't of the 12th harmonic series(conjunction,opposition,square,sextile,semisextile,quincunx) are not easily seen in the regular chart.

5th harmonic in regards to neurodivergence:

It is said to be a quality similar to Pluto,with overtones of Venus and Mars: some kind of concrete creation or destruction is effected. Intellectual functions (not excluding emotion) and all especially human matters. Transformational change. The ability to express creative inspiration (due to other factors) in concrete creations. Many neurodivergents have obsessive traits. Many are highly emotional,intense and have history of emotional outbursts,emotional meltdowns which might be viewed as temper tantrums and can be destructive. Many of them can be a bit obsessive and hyperfocus,especially when it comes to interests. This could make them very good researchers. Because they think are lateral outside the box thinkers,they can be very creative. Many of them are in creative,artistic fields. The 10th harmonic might be important if it involves near exact to exact aspects (0 to 5 minutes of arc) and/or aspect patterns.

7th harmonic in regards to neurodivergence:

I check the 7th harmonic first because the 7th harmonic is said to have Uranus-Neptune flavor,energy linkings not entirely of this world as well as creative inspiration,but also mental and emotional difficulties and tenuous connectedness with the physical universe;religion.
There could be an otherworldliness about neurodivergents. Mental and emotional difficulties seems like it would fit with neurodivergence too. Also the 7th harmonic could be about the sublteties of existence, and neurodivergents tend to be extremely sensitive to subtleties that they can be easily overwhelmed,overstimulated by their environment. The 14th harmonic might be important if it involves near exact to exact aspects (0 to 5 minutes of arc) and/or aspect patterns.

9th harmonic in regards to neurodivergence:

The 9th harmonic is said to be about completions,endings;what life produces in the long run;needs and capacities in relationships and marriage. It seems that the 9th harmonic harmonic has to do with the big picture and wholeness(the integration of halves,parts into a cohesion....like the mind,body,and spirit.....or yin and yang....or. Many neurodivergents are global learners, and they tend to be good at seeing the big picture. Of course, many people only see parts of them whether it's just their weaknesses or just their strengths and not both their strengths and weaknesses. The 18th harmonic might be important if it involves near exact to exact aspects(0 to 5 minutes of arc) and/or aspect patterns.

11th harmonic in regards to neurodivergence.

David Cochrane(creator of Kepler Astrology Program) says that any aspect that has 11 in the denominator is very unstable, erratic, impatient, and rebellious which fit with neurodivergence quite a bit because they are not naturally conforming to arbitrary rules of society in regards to their physical being and thinking. Some other astrologers say that the 11th harmonic is associated with social consciousness and the ability to reach beyond oneself for help which I also believe is common with many neurodivergents who are strongly aware and tolerant of differences because of their own differences which lead them to raise awareness about differences in people. From the looks of it,it seems that these aspects have an Aquarius/Uranian flavor.

even the harmonic-oriented astrologer, Adze wrote:

An Undecile occurs when two planets are plus or minus thirty-two degrees, forty-three minutes and seven seconds apart (approximately thirty-three degrees). An undecile is one-eleventh of a circle. Undeciles indicate psychic gifts. Where undeciles are found, modifications are required. Undeciles relate to the power of computers, science and technology. Undeciles resonate with Uranus, Fixed, Air and Aquarius energy. Mahttp://www.adze.com/Classroom/aspects.html

Many neurodivergents are attracted to computers,science,and techology and make a living in those fields. Some believe that high functioning autistics,Aspergers are great in those areas. Some think that a lot of computer geeks might even have an autistic spectrum disorder.

Neurodivergents have significant strengths and not just significant weaknesses.

Here are some examples.

Positive aspects of Aspergers:

* Intense concentration on studying
* Independence
* An affinity with computers and other technology
* Good formal essay writing
* Attention to detail and precision
* Original ideas
* Reliable meeting of deadlines. http://brainhe.com/students/types/aspergersstudents.html#strengths

Positive aspects of Dyspraxia

* Creativity
* Determination
* Motivation
* Strategic thinking
* Problem-solving http://brainhe.com/students/types/dyspraxia.html

Positive aspects of Dyslexia

* Creativity
* 3 dimensional thinking
* Seeing the 'whole picture'
* Pictorial thinking
* Divergent thinking
* Problem solving
* Making unexpected connections http://brainhe.com/students/types/dyslexia.html

Positive aspects of ADHD
(BTW......instead of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.........I think it should be called Attention Divergent Hyperactivity Difference.........that's my neurodivergent perspective of it)

* Ability to see the ‘big picture’
* Being creative and inventive
* Ability to focus intensely for a time
* High levels of energy
* Risk-taking can lead to discoveries
* Being intuitive http://brainhe.com/students/types/ADHDstaff.html

In Medical Astrology, Mercury is said to be associated with the nervous system and Moon is said to be associated with the brain itself according to Cosmobiologists,Uranian Astrologers. I also want to point out there are other views of what planet/point is associated with the brain. I believe that the Moon makes a lot of sense because Moon is associated with bodily fluids. We do have fluids in our brain called cerebrospinal fluid. Drinking water is very important for brain functioning. Dehydration can lead to problems with dizziness.

Other things that I will consider is the travel rate of both Moon and Mercury. Both are involved in processing information. The average travel rate of the Moon is 13 degrees,10 minutes. If the Moon's travel rate is slow,it could indicate slowness in processing information which has nothing to do with intelligence level. If the Moon's travel rate is fast, it could indicate quick emotional reactions to things. The person with a fast moon might even be seen as being too emotionally reactive which is typical of neurodivergents with sensory integration issues

The average travel rate of Mercury is 59 minutes,14 seconds. If the Mercury's travel rate is slow, it could indicate slowness in processing information which has nothing to do with intelligence level. If the Mercury's travel rate is fast,it could indicate quick mental reactions to things. It can even be a hyperactive nervous system which is typical of neurodivergents with hyperactivity.

Those are some things that I would check out when looking at charts of neurodivergents. I don't want to focus on just their weaknesses. Their strengths should also be looked at imho. My view is that they are not disordered but different.
Different doesn't necessarily mean deficient. We all have our differences in one way or another? Does that mean that we are deficient? People who think "my way is the right way" might believe in that. Many people that believe in diversity don't. Norms are based on what the majority of society believes is right and acceptable. Norms are relative. What's normal in one society is abnormal in another society. As astrologers, practicing Astrology is normal to us, but it's abnormal to many others that don't believe in Astrology. As astrologers, we are convergent in regards to our views and practices. To the outside observer, we are divergent.
That's how I view neurodivergence and the concept of neurodiversity.

posted December 29, 2008 05:40 AM         

I was born to neurodivergent parents. Many neurodivergents on my mom's side of my family.

posted December 29, 2008 05:50 AM         

I am not sure about the savant

Many nonverbal autistics' intelligence are misjudged any way. That's because they are given the wrong type of intelligence tests. They do poorly on intelligence tests that involve verbal things,but they do better on matric raven tests that tests nonverbal abstract skills.

Bright autistic kids 'misunderstood'
Maggie Fox
Reuters

Monday, 20 February 2006

Empathy
Some children with autism really can empathise with others, researchers say (Image: iStockphoto)
People with autism are more intelligent and able to function better than previously believed, experts say.

But mistrust of doctors, biased tests and the internet have bred myths about the condition.

At a meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, researchers presented reports showing that even people with autism who do not speak can have above-average intelligence.

They also offered additional studies disputing claims that vaccines can cause autism.

"The current figures are that 75% of autistic people are mentally retarded, with the mute the most ... impaired," says Canadian researcher Dr Laurent Mottron, an autism researcher at Montreal's Hôpital Rivière-des-Prairies.

But Mottron believes the wrong intelligence tests are used to assess autistic children.

Many are tested using the Wechsler scale, a common IQ test that includes questions about words and concepts learned in school.

The Raven's Progressive Matrices test measures abstract reasoning and consistently gives autistic children higher scores, Mottron says.

The average boost in score is 30 points, Mottron says, enough to put someone previously considered mentally retarded into the normal range and the average to gifted status.

Mottron was so impressed by the abilities of one autistic student, Michelle Dawson, that he made her a co-author of some of his papers.

Autism is a term used to describe a broad range of symptoms, from an inability to use language normally, to exhibiting deeply disturbed and repetitive behaviours.

Professor Morton Gernsbacher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison questioned a common idea among autism researchers that autistic people lack a 'theory of mind'. This, among other things, gives an ability to empathise with others.

Again, she says, the wrong tests are used to assess this ability.

Is there an autism epidemic

Dr Judith Grether, a California epidemiologist, says she questions the idea that there is a new autism epidemic.

She says it is impossible to find out how many cases of autism there were in the past, because many people with autism were often diagnosed as retarded, or never diagnosed.

Without that information, it is impossible to say if the number of cases has grown, she says.

"We have to do the studies to find the answers," she says.

Grether says US researchers have begun taking prenatal blood samples from pregnant women and will look for clues when and if some of their children are diagnosed with autism.

They are examining hormones, heavy metals, immune system proteins and other factors.

The studies found no link with vaccines, says Dr Irving Gottesman, a psychiatrist at the University of Minnesota, but says the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has initiated four studies "to tie up the loose ends".

New studies are focusing on genetic susceptibilities.

Link with vaccines

Gottesman says the studies may help to ease the fears of parents that a vaccine-autism link has been covered up.

But he says scientists are battling a plethora of websites devoted to the idea that mercury causes autism like http://www.safeminds.org.

Gernsbacher, the mother of a child with autism, says some parents may join these lobbying groups over the advice of doctors because they get "pat answers" to initial concerns about their children.

Many may have been told that boys develop later than girls, for instance.

"The mistrust [of government-funded studies and of their paediatricians] may have arisen from those kind of experiences," she says.
http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s1573742.htm

raven matrice tests http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raven%27s_Progressive_Matrices