Niccolò Machiavelli (May 3, 1469 – June 21, 1527)

This book is the reason Niccolò Machiavelli is remembered to this day. Instinct tells me that it was written with his tongue firmly placed in his cheek, but subsequent generations have taken him at his word, including ex-President Donald J Trump.

After his death Machiavelli’s name came to evoke unscrupulous acts of the sort he advised most famously in his work, The Prince. He claimed that his experience and reading of history showed him that politics have always been played with deception, treachery, and crime. He also notably said that a ruler who is establishing a kingdom or a republic, and is criticized for his deeds, including violence, should be excused when the intention and the result are beneficial to him. 

Machiavelli’s Prince has been surrounded by controversy since it was published. Some consider it to be a straightforward description of political reality. Others view the Prince as a manual, teaching would-be tyrants how they should seize and maintain power. Even into recent times, some scholars, such as Leo Strauss, have restated the traditional opinion that Machiavelli was a “teacher of evil”

Wikipedia

But is that title justified?

When I see the beginnings of an inverted five-pointed star in the middle of the chart, I am aware that all is not as it seems. The birth chart was already on my computer program, so I cannot comment on its veracity, but it ‘feels’ right. There are four inconjuncts, with three of them pointing a double Yod at Mercury.

Mercury Inconjunct Neptune

The challenge of this aspect is to make your thinking and communication with others more clear. Your rational mind is strongly influenced by your sensitivity, imagination and ideals, although you aren’t always sure how this happens. You tend to spend too much time in your own imaginary world that no one else can share, and this confuses your dealings with others. You will have to learn to face reality, so that you can at least communicate with people. Otherwise you will have a very lonely life.

Mercury Inconjunct Ascendant

You are likely to have some problems, but not serious ones, in communicating with others. The problem is that people’s first impression of you may not fit in with what you say or your manner of thinking and speaking. People tend to hear what they expect to hear, and they may not listen to you as carefully as they should. So you will have to be as clear as possible and insist that others listen to what you are really saying. If others do not understand you, it is up to you to set them straight.

Mercury Inconjunct Midheaven

It is very important that you develop your mind and your powers of thought, so that you can use them to attain whatever objectives you set for yourself. however, before you can accomplish this, you may have to solve certain problems, You may feel that there is a tension between your natural spontaneous views and what is taught by your parents and other adults. Even though their teachings seem perfectly reasonable, you want to think matters through for yourself.

It is very important that you remember not to speak impulsively. If you do, it is very likely that you will put your foot in your mouth. Consider what you are going to say and how your words can further your objectives.

Mars Inconjunct Uranus

You have a tendency to be rash and impulsive, which may get in your way. If matters proceed too slowly, you are likely to make a sudden move that upsets the whole situation and forces you to start over again. You must learn to be patient if you want to achieve your objectives.

This energy may also be expressed as a hot temper. especially when you have to endure restriction or limitation. You have a rebellious streak that needs to be disciplined, because everyone has to endure some restrictions, and it takes so little to trigger your temper.

(It’s quite telling that “The Prince” was published posthumously, which means he couldn’t defend how it was received.)

By the Time of His Death, These Tensions were Resolved

Of course, we do not know his exact time of death, so I have chosen 12 noon. There are no inconjuncts.

What do you think?