are lined up on approximately 1/2 of the horoscope with one single planet opposing the rest.   This planet is called the handle of the bucket and immediately becomes the focal planet of this horoscope. This pattern indicates a special capacity or gift for some particularly effective kind of activity. It reveals an important direction and interest. The individual can focus all of his or her horoscope on one planet and house. In this case that planet is Uranus, the planet of genius and free thinking. And where was that planet located?  In the third house of the mind. I have said it before and I will say it again - isn't astrology marvelous?

The prime desire of Uranus is to break free from what is, to eliminate the status quo and to seek new and original ideas. The further from the normal routine those ideas are, the better Uranus likes it. Uranus is rightfully called the planet of both genius and eccentricity because it is lightning fast in its action and is the most original and independent planet in the heavens. It seeks new ways of seeing reality and getting things done. It is the planet of sudden and unexpected action and concerns itself with the latest fads and all things new, unique and novel. In addition it likes to champion the contrarian thought process. In Einstein's case, the planet of innovation and invention was located in the third house of his mind.  As a mental house, the third tells the astrologer what we naturally like to think about and the process we use to come to our conclusions. So, with Uranus, the planet of genius as his focal planet, located in the mentally oriented third house, Einstein was born to think in independent and original ways. When his revolutionary theory's turned the world of physics inside out and upside down, he was simply thinking in a manner that was natural for him.   
 
Einstein is known today for his mind. Was there anything else besides Uranus in the third house that contributed to his reputation for living in the world of the high IQ? If you check the meaning of the the houses at our Learning Astrology link you will discover that the other mental house, the ninth house is also a mental house. It deals with what we call the higher mind. This is the house that rules philosophy and higher education. Here we discover Jupiter, the planet of expansion in the scientific sign of Aquarius. Jupiter in the ninth house is a sign of a very expansive mind that leans toward higher education. That certainly helped increase his IQ. But, the secret of his ability to use his incomprehensibly vast mind in a logical, structured and disciplined manner can be found in his Mercury Saturn conjunction. Uranus, the planet of genius stirring up the waters of the third house of his practical mind and Jupiter the planet of higher education expanding the ninth house of his higher mind, certainly helped contribute to an intellect that was second to none. But it is Saturn's conjunction with Mercury (ones senses, thought process and ability to communicate) high in the tenth house of ones honor and reputation that gave structure, depth and follow through (Saturn) to a thought process that naturally wanted to work in an impulsive, hasty and pioneering manner. (Aries) The Moon also has much to do with the mind and, in this case, it was located in Sagittarius. This tells us that Einstein's mind naturally wanted to wander from lofty subject to lofty subject.  In fact, as a child he was thought to be a bit on the slow side because his mind did easily wander so very much.  However, he eventually matured allowing his Saturn Mercury conjunction to kick in giving him the ability to concentrate (Saturn) and give form and structure (Saturn) to his thoughts. (Mercury) Without this aspect, he would still have been brilliant as this is truly the horoscope of a genius. However, unrestricted by the binding rules (Saturn) of mathematics, his mind would have wandered hasty and undisciplined into other arenas far less structured than mathematics. Mercury in Aries testify's to the fact that his structured mind was not afraid to be bold, courageous and pioneering which is exactly what relativity was all about.  The facts of life are that Saturn conjunct Mercury is what made Einstein realistic about relativity.

We could go on and on about this or any other horoscope. We could examine each planet and house and get into midpoints, elemental and hemispheric emphasis and all the rest of the astrological tools available to us. But the point I would like to make is that the mental third and ninth houses, along with Uranus, Jupiter, The Moon, Mercury and Saturn all had a hand in the mental make up of the person who is acknowledged by all to be the icon of genius for the 20th century. That is 1/2 of all the planets in the horoscope! It is not just Mercury or the third house. You must examine the entire horoscope. At Kissing Astrology we learn that a horoscope, while consisting of individual parts called planets, signs and houses, is anything but a collection of separate parts. It is a completely integrated unit that represents the totality of that person. We are not Libras or Leo's or Capricorn's. We are all ourselves which is a unique combination of all the planets, all the signs, and all the houses working together in the form of the person that is uniquely us. It would be a good idea for students to understand that each planet is working with other planets and that each must deal with circumstances in its own unique manner. In other words, Venus is the planet most associated with love. But Saturn can be involved in love.  It will simply love for its own Saturnian reasons. Reasons like security, loyalty and tradition. Or with someone older or more established. Jupiter will love in its own manner possibly with someone from a different culture, or with a higher education while Uranus will suddenly fall in and out of love in a unique and independant manner. It is the same with us.  We are all our own unique selves with a horoscope that is bursting with potentials, talents, hopes, wishes and contradictions that are all working together, in their own way to contribute to the person that we are.

But, we began by saying that Einstein was a romantic. Where is that in his horoscope? Simple really. Einstein was born with Cancer rising. That makes his ruling planet the Moon. In his chart the Moon is involved in a trine aspect with Venus the gentle planet of love and romance. This tells the astrologer that his emotional nature (The Moon) is gentle, cooperative, social and friendly. (Venus) The Moon trine Venus should have made him a socially oriented, likable possibly individual gifted with some artistic talent. He should also be flirty, lovable and sensual. Was any of this true? Of course it was. Einstein was a violin player who loved the ladies. In addition, he was a pacifist who signed petitions against the war. He considered his contemporaries (who were busy working on weapons of mass destruction) to be insane war mongers. Not too surprising now that we can see his Moon Venus trine. I love the story concerning the time astronomers were giving Mrs. Einstein a tour of a new observatory. They told her they were using this extremely expensive, state of the art technology to peer deep into space and unlock the mysteries of the universe. She replied that her husband did the same thing but he used a pencil on the back of a post card.

Albert Einstein once said, "Gravitation cannot be held responsible for people falling love." It would appear that the father of relativity was a romantic at heart. However, Einstein is considered the icon for genius in the 20th century. Let's check his horoscope and see if simple, basic astrology can be used to verify his incredibly expansive mind.  It is always a good idea to start with the pattern made by his planets. This horoscope perfectly fits a classic planetary pattern called The Bucket. A bucket pattern is formed when all the planets  

Albert Einstein
Born March 14, 1879 at
11:30 AM in Ulm, Germany

A simple astrological look at the mind of Albert Einstein