posted July 10, 2010 01:48 PM         

source: The Daily Telegraph (London)

Mary Colley has three A-levels and a history degree, yet she has difficulty opening her own front door. There is nothing physically wrong: it is what goes on inside her brain that is the problem.
At school, Mary was labelled a "clumsy child", forever dropping her books and spilling food and drink down her front without noticing. Her handwriting was appallingly untidy, her spelling worse. She was hopeless at sport and had few friends.
Holding down a job proved difficult. She left her post at a press agency "by mutual agreement" after she kept mislabelling and mislaying photographs. That was 10 years ago and she has hardly worked since. Nevertheless, her verbal IQ puts her among the top two per cent of the population.
It was not until last year, when Mary was 43, that she found out she was dyspraxic. The diagnosis came as an enormous relief to a woman who never felt able to do her best.

Mary Colley got to university despite the conviction of her teachers that she would never make it. However, her subsequent decision to work in a photo library - where good organisational skills are essential - sent her self-esteem spiralling downwards.

"I am incredibly clumsy, even by dyspraxic standards. Anything that demands manual dexterity is a problem: I have terrible trouble with locks and keys.

"My house is cluttered and messy and I am always breaking and spilling things. I knock my son’s Lego down and it drives him crazy. I don’t seem to see it. I took a few driving lessons, but felt I was a danger on the road.

"I still have some communication problems. I tend to over-react to situations and am either very passive or rather aggressive. But I am better at listening than I used to be."

A physiotherapist friend suggested that Mary might be dyspraxic, a diagnosis confirmed by a neurologist. She has since been working on her disability. Not only is she being counselled, she has also written a leaflet for adult dyspraxics, runs a newsletter and a helpline and has launched a support group, all with the aid of the Dyspraxia Foundation.

Earlier this year, Mary and 50 others attended the second national conference for adult dyspraxics, which she helped organise. For someone who has difficulty planning a meal for four, this was a remarkable achievement.

"Since I have known I am dyspraxic, my self-esteem has increased. For the first time, I feel I can do something to help others. I feel valued in my work. Suddenly, I know why I burn the toast and put frozen peas in the fridge instead of the freezer.

"I give the impression of being stupid, though I have always known that I am not. Having a diagnosis has changed my life." http://www.nldline.com/newpage41.htm

Adults Living with dyspraxia can be creative original thinkers, Mary Colley et al (2001) In my experience they are often good at creative writing and art, using abstract designs as a coping strategy. They can be good at photography where there is no need to be able to draw. http://www.colsal.org.uk/sites/daa/THEGIFTOFDYSPRAXIA.asp

Birthdate: October 14, 1952
born in UK
birthtime unknown

Sun in 21'02 Libra
Neptune in 21'25 Libra
Saturn in 18'20 Libra
Ceres in 17'29 Gemini Stationary
Uranus in 18'29 Cancer
Lunar Nodes in 19'48 Aquarius/Leo Stationary

Sun conjunct Neptune indicate dissolution of ego,self expression,vitality leading to being ultrasensitive,highly imaginative/creative, but can also be about confusion and uncertainty about one's self. It can indicate being misunderstood. Highly sensitive body, can be highly sensitive to medications and need smaller dosage than normal or can be better off with natural healing remedies.

Sun conjunct Saturn can indicate the structured ego,self expression,vitality leading to being disciplined,serious,practical type, but can also indicate restrictions,limitations. It can indicate delays like the late bloomer.

The Sun-Saturn-Neptune conjunction can indicate an ultrasensitivity,idealism,inspiration that can be grounded , but there can be problems with insecurity. There can be possible health problems too. It could involve the bones,joints,and the immune system. She takes medication to treat her ADHD. The configuration can indicate the ability to be compassionate for people that have problems as well as the ability to easily empathize with them.

The square to Uranus can indicate an independent,unusual,innovative person. This can indicate a person that is totally outside the norm to the point that there can be problems. There can be problems with the nervous system like too much nervous energy. It can feel like wires get crossed

Overall, it seems like she can be compassionate due to her experiences with difficulties with being different.........a neurodivergent in a neurotypical world

the trine to the Stationary Lunar Nodes can indicate that her karmic destiny, connections can be about being expressing compassion,sensitivity,and empathy about problems and difficulties. With the Lunar Nodes being stationary, it could indicate that her destiny and the connections that she make will be very significant and important.

Her Ceres is stationary, and that's a strong ability to be nurturing and caring. With it trine/sextile the stationary Lunar Nodes, it involves her karmic destiny,connection that are very significant and important. The trine to her Sun-Saturn-Neptune indicate her ease in caring,nurturing others that have the same difficulties as her.

Her Venus square Stationary Lunar Nodes can indicate that her love nature,value systems,and relating are in conflict with her karmic destiny,connections. There could be some self worth issues that needs to address before being on her path.

Her Jupiter square Stationary Lunar Nodes can indicate that her expansiveness,optimism,judgment are in conflict with her karmic destiny, connections.
There can be issues with judgment.

She has Venus oppose Jupiter,and that indicate her love nature,value systems,relating and her expansiveness,optimism,judgment are at odds with each other. It can indicate the possibility of indulgence of some way. It can be good for optimistic relationships.
Her Venus trine Uranus indicates her love nature,value systems,relating and independence,innovation,and unusual nature is in harmony with each other.
Her Venus,Jupiter,and Uranus are in a wedge configuration. It's about free spirited,progressive relationships,values.

Her Sun-Saturn-Neptune conjunction in Libra indicates a strong theme of equality,fairness,and diplomacy.
Her Mercury and Venus in Scorpio indicates that she can be high emotional,sensitive,passionate,intense as well as her tendency to be obsessive and hyperfocus.

Her Venus square Pluto puts more emphasis on her sensitive,,intense way of loving,relating as well as obsessiveness. Evolutionary intensified love nature,values,relating.

Her Mercury doesn't make any hard aspects to planets to suggest learning difficulties, problems with neurological system when looking at just the normal stuff. She does have a high verbal IQ.

Her Mercury is in opposition to transneptunian dwarf planet candidate,Varuna in 5'56 Taurus R. That can indicate her thinking,communications and judgment,justice,evolutionary intensification are at odds with each other. The nonconformist way of thinking.

Her Mercury quintile Pluto puts more emphasis on her sensitive,intense way of thinking as well as obsessiveness and hyperfocusing. It can indicate being creative too. Evolutionary intensified thought processes.

In Right Ascension, Her Mercury is in square to transneptunian dwarf planet, Makemake in 1'32 Leo. That can indicate her thinking,communications and fertility,creativity are at odds with each other. evolutionary intensified mental processes

In Right Ascension, her Sun and Neptune are conjunct Ixion in 22'04 Libra. That can indicate her dissolved,sensitive,idealistic ego , self expression vitality merge with matters involving second changes,gratitude,and karmic wheel. evolutionary intensification

Looking at Geocentric Planetary Nodes:
Her Sun-Neptune conjunction square the North Geocentric Jupiter Node in 21'05 Cancer and North Geocentric Pluto Node in 21'03 Cancer.
That can indicate that she is strongly connected to collective matters involving expansion,judgment,optimism, transformation,regeneration,and evolutionary intensification.
Personal planet contacts to the Geocentric Nodes of Jupiter and objects beyond are said to be strong in the charts of public figures.

in Declinations, Her Mars in 25'19 South is well beyond 23'27 South of the celestial equator. That means that her assertion,passion,physical drive can be well outside the norm. Mars rules the muscular system ,and so can be involved with coordination. It could reflect her difficulties with coordination.

Because her birth time is unknown, there is no telling what aspects her Moon, Midheaven/Imum Coeli axis, and Ascendant/Descendant
I strongly suspect that she has strong transneptunian aspects involving those personal points in the chart just like I do.

------------------
Raymond Andrews,
President,Executive Director of Developmental Neurodiversity Association
Supporting the Neurodiversity Movement