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Man
of Surprises
Many folks in the country music business are wondering lately what’s gotten
into Garth Brooks, proclaimed by fans around the world during the 1990s
as the “king of country music.” With his trademark cowboy hat replaced
by a jet black wig and a little mascara, he’s looking more like a moody
ex-member of The Velvet Underground. Actually, the surprise
look is part of a persona he’s temporarily adopted (at least on his latest
CD and on posters) to promote his new concept album, Garth
Brooks…In The Life of Chris Gaines, an unexpected departure from
his usual crowd-pleasing style of music—a style and talent that has enabled
him to sell more record albums than any other solo artist in music history.
 With
such a new look and a new sound, you can bet that something major is happening
to him, astrologically — something that is motivating him to be daringly
experimental. It’s a moment of truth for Garth, revolving around his right
as an artist to express himself without creative constraints. But it’s
more than just artistic freedom at stake that drives him: he was born
with a six-pack in Aquarius—eh,
six planets, that is—on February 7, 1962. And that alone is something
mighty special.
This
sextet falls in his Ninth House,
the sector of the chart dealing with global interests and expansive outlooks
on life. Very few people enter this world with a lot of planets packed
into one sign and house. For Garth, this jam-session means he adventurously
looks at the world in a wide-angled manner. The bigger picture of life
and where it’s going inspires his robust participation.
Such
a concentrated influence of planets marks him as a super-Aquarian! Aquarius
is an air sign that periodically
veers off the conventional path in favor of trying out something unexpected,
unusual and progressive. Aquarian types are full of surprises, and even
contradictions. Garth has been influenced by country artists such as George
Jones and George Strait, and even James Taylor and Don McLean—but he also
grew up loving the theatrical, wilder-looking groups KISS and Queen. Obviously,
Aquarians are fascinated with diversity.
Exploring
New Territory - Uranus Transits
Musical performers born under this sign have an innate talent for relating
to people from all walks of life. Such Aquarians believe that music is
“for the people” first and foremost—it’s not just a slick enterprise for
corporate profits. Aquarians may clash with the rules of their industry
at some point, as they defiantly wave their flag of freedom and individuality.
Their ability to communicate to the masses on broad levels could make
them successful as cross-over artists. They are less loyal to any one
image they self-create. Reinventing themselves is a creative way for them
to grow, even if that unnerves the conformists of society.
One
of the main astrological influences for Garth at the moment involves the
planet associated with Aquarius—Uranus.
This planet symbolizes an inner force that sparks us to break out of old,
perhaps stale patterns of living in favor of experimenting with something
fresh and vibrantly different. We can feel “zapped” by a totally new energy
when transiting Uranus
triggers parts of our chart. We feel freer to “do our thing,” whatever
it may be, and to take intuitive risks in life.
In
Garth’s case, it’s his Aquarian “six-pack” that is getting a good shake,
rattle and roll! The time period for all this unpredictable but exciting
activity is between April 1996 through the end of 2002. That’s a long
stretch, for sure, but Uranus—spending about seven years in a sign—is
a slow-moving planet, slow but revolutionizing!
A
Bolder Brooks
During the spring of 1996 to late 1997, transiting Uranus triggered Garth’s
Saturn (dealings with authorities, the System) and his Mars (the urge
to take independent action). This was likely a time when a more temperamental,
even conflicted Garth might have begun to emerge, a time when he could
have had “creative differences” with the various powers-that-be in the
music industry. Such a headstrong period of dramatic self-assertion may
have proved challenging and even confrontational regarding his business
dealings. However, this period would also have been a boon for his fans,
as Garth probably was ready to explode on stage with more vitality and
color than ever. Uranus’ energy can push for dazzling, electrifying, no-holds-barred
performances!
However,
Uranus can also be a very high-strung, rebellious planet—and thus, feathers
may have been ruffled, as Garth probably flirted with the idea of altering
his award-winning musical format. His inner stirrings at this time likely
led to a musical vision of his future that he wasn’t ready to actualize
until his next Uranus transit—to his Mercury (planet of the mind, of decision-making).
Meanwhile, in late 1997, Garth performed for free (the Uranus way) in
Central Park, NY, an event that drummed up much excitement and rave reviews,
plus it attracted the largest crowd to ever attend a concert in that park.
Garth was buzzing with this new energy!
By
the time transiting Uranus had contacted his Mercury in early 1999, Garth
was probably ready to brainstorm something daring and innovative, at least
in his mind. He was ready to
shake things up a bit more. This Uranus/Mercury phase is typically one
of great restlessness, backed by an itch to come up with new ideas that
guarantee we won’t get stuck in dull, boring routines. Alternative solutions
are sought. Yet few changes remain permanent during this stage, since
an internal settledness is not easily established.
For
Garth, this Uranus/Mercury period lasts until around now, December 1999.
He’s probably feeling wired up and is acting as if turbo-charged, regarding
his plans and ideas. This is a period when he can remove mental obstacles
(and fears) that may have blocked him from making radical changes in his
past. It would make absolutely no sense to Garth right now to fall back
on his old formula, musically, and play it safe—plus he wouldn’t be open
to such conservative advice, anyway. He is without a doubt in a gutsy,
boat-rocking mood! His career moves, however, could prove puzzling and
alienating to some. Time will tell if this is a transitional Garth that
fans will support.
Aquarius
is
an air sign, although it’s symbolized
as “The Water-bearer” pouring out the contents of an urn, making it seem
like a water sign. What pours like water out from this urn may actually
be waves of electrical force that spark social enlightenment. The energy
of Aquarius is one that ideally seeks to raise the vibration of society,
helping it to resonate on more humanely tolerant and progressive levels.
It’s an impersonal, futuristic sign that does well with group-energy and
with collective advancement.
Air—one
of the four elements of astrology—is associated with Gemini, Libra and
Aquarius. Air symbolizes a mental, somewhat detached orientation to life.
Aquarius is very cerebral, capable of abstract reasoning and scientific
evaluation, thanks in part to its clear-headed airy makeup. It also has
an inventive side that enables it to promote high-tech solutions for living
(here’s air with an extra “oomph” of ingenuity, giving it an additional
dynamic power). However, too much air influence in a chart suggests difficulty
with establishing emotional and even physical intimacy. It can be friendly,
but cool and aloof in matters of the heart—definitely not the sentimental,
mushy type!
The
Ninth House
is a sector in our chart
where life presents itself as one big, exotic adventure. There is much
about this house that can be foreign to our family upbringing. Here’s
were we are to expand our consciousness and explore parts unknown. Sometimes
the journey we take is geographical, but often it’s philosophical, religious
or metaphysical. It’s in this house that the education of our soul takes
greater shape. We learn to become universal citizens, blessed with global
awareness and breadth of understanding.
Transits,
a popular forecasting technique, are based on the actual positions
of the planets in the current sky. These planets form various angles (called
"aspects") to our planets at birth, with varying results. Transiting planets
bring situational influences to bear on our ongoing inner development.
These planets can manifest as people and events in our lives, even if
this process is largely unconscious (as it often is with Uranus).
Uranus
transits are
times when we find different options to express ourselves in the world,
in ways that clearly go against old social programming. A gutsy determination
enables us to make big changes in attitude, as we learn to release doubts
and fears that have previously kept us stuck in ruts or other harmful
patterns of self-limitation. Things may seem unstable for a while until
we get the swing of our newfound sense of freedom.
Part
2: Uranus
in Aquarius Rocks Garth's World
by Bil Tierney
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