Becoming Simply "Wolfram"
December initiates a time of reflection, of looking back and taking stock. December 2015 was a particularly important time for reflection for me as I celebrated my second Saturn Return. I am embracing the next step of evolution on my path and changing my identity from Scott Wolfram to simply "Wolfram".
The most important transit is the one that is happening to you, right now.
Paying attention to your current transits is essential, but we must remember that our current transits unfold from the transits that have just occurred (and our chapters of life). Transits represent a progressive cycle of growth on our unfolding journey and each transit on our journey helps to shape our future.
I hope that in reflecting on the events and astrology of my life, via some of my chapters of life, that you might find inspiration for reflecting on your soul's journey.
-Wolfram
First Saturn Return (At Age 29)
You may wonder if I intentionally choose the word "celebrated" for my second Saturn Return. I did. Let me put it simply, my first Saturn Return was definitely not a celebration. Both personally and professionally, my first Saturn Return was a complete and utter disaster. As I "picked myself off the ground", I knew I had to make important changes to both what I did for work and how I lived my life.
Saturn reveals truth in our life. As I reflect on that first Saturn Return, which occurred at age 29 before I was an astrologer, it was the 'truth' that I needed to learn how to "make friends with Saturn". So, I decided to follow the example of the Third Little Pig who built his house and ultimately passed the test of the Big Bad Wolf, a.k.a. the Saturn Return. Like the Third Little Pig, I began refining my "blueprint" for life and then began patiently building one brick at a time becoming aware of what is important to the core of my identity and then doing the work day by day and from each step forward to the next.
First, I found a job that got me on my feet again. I was clear that this job was not my life's purpose, but it was a first necessary step to building of a new foundation for my personal life. One of the most important keys to this new foundation for me was being initiated into the meditative tradition Swami Rama of the Himalayas just 9 days after my first Saturn Return. While I began studying meditation (and astrology) in my teens, this initiation was the first concrete step to including meditation as a central part of my Third Little Pig's blueprint as I began my next 29 year chapter with Saturn.
Saturn Returns are like the Big Bad Wolf attempting to blow down the Third Little Pigs house.
If you experience a setback or worse, revisit your blueprint and begin re-building one brick at a time.
An Unexpected Move
I had never considered living anywhere but Milwaukee where I was born. I don't think I traveled any further than Chicago (90 miles to the south) before I traveled to Los Angeles in 1991 for my work to give a workshop (the same job that got me back on my feet). The workshop was well received, but it was the unexpected offer I received to consider working there that was a life changing event.
Literally, a few months later, Sappho and I were living and working in Los Angeles. We just picked up and moved! Not only did I learn important lessons as a trainer and consultant, but I discovered a much larger world than existed in Milwaukee. I became a citizen of the world with this move.
I was not an astrologer at the time, but I have looked into the astrology of this move in 1991:
- First, as I negotiated my new role, transiting Jupiter was conjunct my Uranus and Ascendant, energizing opportunity and a new chapter of life.
- Second, transiting Uranus opposed my Sun, shocking me with an opportunity that would awaken new potentials and change my life. Since my Astro*Carto*Graphy Sun Ascendant passes directly over Los Angeles, that opportunity was energized in Los Angeles.
Key Transits of Jupiter often coincide with
inspirations than play a defining role in your blueprint.
Together, key Transits of Jupiter and Uranus sometimes energize a new chapter of life.
Locations with supportive Astro*Carto*Graphy or Geodetic energiesare often awakened during inspiring Jupiter transits.
The Travelers Well and "Discovery" in Bavaria
The summer of 2001 marked another major new chapter of my life. If you are a fan of The Hobbit, this chapter of life began much like Bilbo Baggins "Unexpected Journey". Like Bilbo, I "signed the contract", which means I resigned from my job at American Express and began working to develop myself as an astrologer. This was quite a leap indeed! Moments of synchronicity in life sometimes brings multiple surprising events. So, while I was unpacking my desk at American Express, I was also packing my bags for a vacation in Bavaria. While taking a vacation was planned, the destination was not of my choice. Just as I had no interest in Los Angeles prior to giving that fateful workshop, I had never given any thought to traveling to Munich (where I would be living a few years later).
Astrologically, the summer of 2001 had two powerful transits that suggested it would not be just about changing jobs, but a major change of direction in life. Transiting Jupiter was conjunct my Sun, bringing the inspiration that would energize my next chapter of life. Jupiter was accompanied by a powerful Solar Arc involving the Midheaven and Saturn, which suggested that this summer would be about more than changing jobs, but energizing the change of my identity.
When particularly important Solar Arcs coincide with important transits of Jupiter,
the next chapter of life can feel like a new book of life.
Becoming Wolfram
Between 2001 and 2007, I deepened my astrological perspective and we were drawn back to Europe and specifically Bavaria again and again. While I took the Astro*Carto*Graphy exam with Continuum during one of these trips in 2003, it became clear that our Astro*Carto*Graphy and Geodetic maps noted that Bavaria was a place to discover our deeper heritage. Bavaria found us so to speak.
The most important discovery took place in March of 2003 in the town of Wolframs-Eschenbach, about 85 miles north of Munich. This is the birth place of Wolfram von Eschenbach, the knight, minstral and author of the book Parzival. Also an astrologer, Wolfram wove astrology and the journey of the soul into the story of the Holy Grail. When I walked into the town square, my connection to Wolfram von Eschenbach changed my life and would ultimately lead to changing my name. Wolfgram, my birth surname, and Wolfram both essentially mean "wolf" and "raven" in German at the root level. On December 18, 2006, Sappho and I filed the papers to change our surname from Wolfgram to Wolfram.
On the day that my Progressed Sun was exactly conjunct natal Pluto, the transiting Sun and Pluto were also conjunct. Together, these two combinations of the Sun and Pluto created a Grand Fire Trine to my Midheaven. Via Apollo, the Sun says "Know Thyself", Pluto says "Transform Thyself" and the Midheaven says "share it with society". We choose the day with the most potent astrological transits to energize the transformation we were seeking.
Saturn Return at age 58
The Second Saturn Return is a test of both how much you have learned since age 29 and the degree to which you are ready for the next chapter of life. As I note in transit forecasts, When Saturn cannot blow down your house, you have passed his test. Fast forward to 2015 and, for me, my Second Saturn Return is a confirmation that I truly am making friends with Saturn, which I have been attempting to do for the past 29 years.
The Second Saturn Return is a threshold, the gateway to the unfolding of wisdom.
Making Saturn your friend is a good idea - every day!
This article began as a time of reflection for me. It has been twelve years since I came across Wolfram von Eschenbach and nine years after changing our names to Wolfram. After reflecting my Second Saturn Return, I will be referring to myself as simply "Wolfram". You may call me Scott or Wolfram as you wish! Wolfram is a very common first name in Germany, but I realize it is not so common in the United States.
If you have experienced a powerful astrological event, like a Saturn Return, or the howl of "the Wookie" (transiting Uranus and Pluto), or the disorienting rip-tide of a Neptune transit, or simply one of Saturn's tests or Jupiter's inspirations, I hope that you will take the time to reflect on your journey in life, who you want to become and the path to achieving joy and fulfillment.
Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your journey in life!
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