Marlow’s Blog Post Archive

Taking to the Air – Invisible Element

Air is the third of the elements in the series, it is ubiquitous… we depend on its existence and yet we can do nothing more than observe the secondary expression of it as evidence of its presence. All we have are words… to convey the essence of Air, the idea. What is being expressed in words is essentially intangible, ethereal, fleeting, abstract and precise; it is thought.

Ancient texts remind us that ‘In the beginning was the word…’, which is necessarily propelled by air, vibrating the tissue of the larynx. Before the formation of words was the idea… Air might be equated to ‘before the beginning.’

Air as breath, In-spirit-us, Inspiration and our direct communion with Spirit. Birds are commonly associated with Air, their feathers represent the effect of air and its possibilities, they are masters of the invisible realm and invite our imaginations to soar to the heights. Air IS the space between…

Gemini, Libra and AquariusIdeas, Connection and Abstraction

GEMINI (the first air sign), is synonymous with communication.

Ruled by Mercury, the God of Communication, Gemini possesses a multiplicity of gifts. Trickster and truth teller, mover between all the worlds, Gemini is a traveller and story teller, gathering, as a magpie, every idea without prejudice or loyalty, and then putting it down again! Following on from Taurus, the earthy representative of WHAT IS, Gemini introduces the possibility of WHAT IS AND WHAT IS NOT. The glyph is comprised of two parallel lines, joined at the top and the bottom and destined never to meet.

Associated with The Twins, this is the first symbol to introduce duality into consciousness, Shadow and Light. The constant exchange of ideas and perspective happens at lightening speed and as the two pillars cannot meet (they are fixed on parallel paths) in fact, ultimately Mercury’s realm is ‘the Space Between’. If we consider the anatomy of the brain with it’s left and right hemispheres, it is as if there is no bridge between the parts and so the messenger, Gemini, is dispatched to make the link.

Chatty, articulate, restless, impulsive, playful, intelligent, entertaining and charming Gemini is the ultimate social butterfly. Gemini is keen to explore and is a perennial gatherer of ideas, people, and experiences without the need to cling to any of them. They are orators of great persuasive power, politicians in every sense of the word!

Provocative, deceitful, mischievous and conniving ‘the game is the thing’ and so they are not to be depended upon. Seldom malicious there is a curious neutrality to Gemini.

A characteristic that is often overlooked with this fast-paced character is the silence. In contrast to the witty public persona, Gemini also has the capacity and, indeed, need to retreat to an inner world of silent contemplation and reception.

LIBRA

Following the discerning endeavours of Mercury in earthy Virgo, Libra develops the ‘idea’ and ‘exchange’ of Gemini’s communication to the contemplation of opposites and thus, the pursuit of balance. The wheat has been sorted from the chaff and divided, Libra now steps in to weigh the merits of each, one from the other. Just as the glyph for Gemini represents the eternal non-union of opposites, Libra is charged with the task of RELATING them to one another and the symbol for Libra turns the pillars of Gemini on their side conjuring a horizontal expression of exchange.

Venus as the ruler of Libra invites a different quality of expression than we saw in Taurus. She is now in her guise of relationship, mediating, managing, adjusting, tuning and refining any imbalance perceived in view of the duality revealed by Gemini, the first Air sign. She is the ‘voice’ of reason.

Libra also marks the first opposition of the zodiac, as it is placed directly across from Aries. The age old love tussle between action and relating, will and harmony is the hallmark of the Aries/Libra axis. It is the Equinox point, a time of balancing opposites. It is easy to mistake Libra’s dedication to bi-partisanship for indecisiveness. However, Libra is every bit as active as Aries insofar as she is constantly adjusting, refining and fine-tuning the dynamics of balance.

Pleasing, beautiful, gracious, balanced, refined and discriminating. Libra’s iteration of discrimination is not about discarding or rejecting (based on utility, as with Virgo) but seeking the counterpoint that contributes to representation of ‘the Whole’.

Argumentative and oppositional Libra can sometimes be seen to be contrarian though far from the desire to sow discord, Libra is passionate about BOTH sides being fairly represented. The symbol of The Scales is the only inanimate symbol in the zodiac which indicates the abstract, airy and dispassionate quality of Justice. FAIRNESS and reason are the by-words for Libra and she’ll fight to the death for it.

AQUARIUS

Aquarius is the final chapter in the story of Air. If Gemini is what went ‘before’, Libra is how to relate to what is ‘now’, then Aquarius is undoubtedly ushering in the future. It follows the ultimate realisation of earth (Capricorn) and tips us into ‘what is next?!’

Capricorn and Aquarius are both ruled by Saturn, but with a twist… Aquarius enjoys dual rulership including Uranus. If Saturn (in Capricorn) is about rules, boundaries, material evidence and authority imposed from above and without, Aquarius takes it to the next level by internalising the authority, emerging as an inner-orientation based upon principles and concepts rather than physical structures, tradition or force. Uranus, as a planet has a very eccentric elliptic, the irregularity of this path is a perfect allegory for the nature of Aquarius.

Distant, cool, dispassionate and seemingly at a remove from the drama of human existence (disconnected?), Aquarius can be inscrutable, sometimes cruel. Alien, Other, different and unpredictable there is a sense of rogue boundlessness to the sign of the Water Bearer. The symbol is sometimes misunderstood to signify that Aquarius is a water sign, in fact, the wave like symbol represents radio waves or frequency underscoring its capacity for instantaneous transmission. Air creates no impediment to movement and thoughts occur at lightening speed.

Aquarius has an innate ability to see the BIG PICTURE, unclouded by emotions, material concerns and passions. This perspective invites us to enlarge our perspective and to move into a kind of timeless space. Uranus, the ruling planet, is also known as the Great Awakener, and so with sudden flashes of insight and awareness, direct knowing is afforded, lending the label of Genius to the Water bearer. The all-inclusive nature of Aquarius extends to all that is, humanity and all of creation and the most treasured value is FREEDOM. The concept of what is possible and thinking beyond what is known, the development of technology and space exploration are very much within the scope of Aquarius’ purview.

Air, the invisible link… free and unimpeded, unformed and abstract, ever present.

COMMUNITY NOTES! In keeping with the theme of The Space In Between, my friend and colleague is hosting a Summer Solstice Day Retreat

Honouring and celebrating the magic of Summer Solstice 2025 with Emma Kerr (Somatic movement), Lisa Sibley (Breathwork) and Marlow Purves (Astrology)

A day of Meditation, intention, ritual and deep relaxation with a Sound Bath to conclude.

Refreshments and lunch are included, all the be shared in the beautiful Anstey hall, Trumpington, Cambridge. Hope to see you there!!

https://spiritandsoulwellness.as.me/schedule/4ac86a14/?appointmentTypelds%5B%5D=78463248

Earth – Elemental Building Block

Just as Fire inspires and ignites us, it can be fleeting and ephemeral. The paradox of nature allows us to flirt with impermanence with the rise and fall of form and substance. Earth is by definition – ‘soil, ground’ and it affords the eternal, ineffable Spirit to manifest.

Just as we explored the three expressions of the element of Fire, so do does Earth find its representation in a variety of ‘styles’. Our planet IS Earth, and as such, each of the earth signs have a particular appreciation

Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn – Tangible Expressions of the Intangible

TAURUS, the first of the Earth signs is the STOP! to Aries’ GO! Because Taurus is the second sign, it can serve to consider it in relation to the first, where Aries is bolting into identity and creation, Taurus is setting up shop, measuring the parameters and staking a claim. It’s all about consolidation, rooting, growing and sloooooooooooow motion.

Symbolised by ‘The Bull’, it has two horns and broad shoulders, fit for the purpose of creation, generative and balanced. In contrast to its fiery predecessor, Taurus is solid and often stolid and slow to rouse.

This unhurried pace has much to recommend it insofar as there is time to linger, to literally smell the roses and appreciate the lusciousness of life and promise of Spring. Sensually driven, Taurus revels in beauty (as it is Ruled by the Goddess of Beauty herself – Venus), comfort, good food and the natural world.

Typically conservative and measured in its approach, The Bull can seem immovable and obstinate when challenged or feeling uncertain. Better to hold one’s ground than to risk (<—- DANGER!) what is unknown… If threatened, Taurus is a formidable foe…powerful and determined, patient and unrelenting.

VIRGO – Like Taurus, follows a fire sign… but in this instance we see a development in form, of the creative impulse that is Leo. Virgo is the Queen of refinement, adjustment, precision and perfection. Where the glorious swathe of colour is splashed by the enthusiastic Lion, Virgo with its ability to understand ‘what works’ emerges, to adjust the shading and arc of the design.

Virgo, of all the signs, gets a bit of a bad rap. It is it symbolised by The Virgin and as such does not boast a glamorous, sexy kind of vibe. She is Mistress of teh Harvest and as such is responsible for sorting the wheat from the chaff. She is thoughtful and ruled, as she is, by Mercury is keen to understand and analyse. This iteration of ‘Earth’ signs is consumed with practical application and the drive for meticulous examination and perfecting the minutiae of form so that it may serve the larger vision or intention. Service is a key element in the understanding of Virgo.

One of the affinities of Virgo is a keen interest in health, hygiene and natural lifestyle. Again, earth… herbalism, homoeopathy, nutrition… These are all disciplines that illustrate the connection with Chiron (The Wounded Healer), the ‘other’ planetary ruler of Virgo.

When stressed, Virgo is very prone to stress because of their exquisite sensitivity, the default setting can be critical, perfectionistic and very tense.

CAPRICORN – The third and final development of the earth element by sign. Capricorn is the ultimate CEO. This is a sign that combines the innate practicality and no nonsense groundedness of the earth signs with POWER and ambition. Not content with smelling the roses and appreciating the bounty of nature, nor with the intensive scrutiny of detail, Capricorn wants to take charge and direct.

The symbol associated with Capricorn is the Fish Goat, an arcane and unlikely combination of a mountain goat, scaling the heights of mountains with surety and strength, with the tail of a fish extending down into the waters of the unconscious, drawing on the primordial intuition of the seas.

To ‘drill down’ into the symbol, the heights that Capricorn aspires to are informed by experience, and a formidable interest in proving ‘what is possible’. Magnificent strategists, they have an exalted view (informed by the idealism of Sagittarius) that enables them to orchestrate the unfolding vision. This is THE sign of achievement, because achievement is evidence, it is irrefutable proof of what might have been a dream. Reality actualised, proof of concept. These are ideas that perfectly echo the qualities of Saturn, Capricorn’s ruler.

Like the other earth signs, Capricorn can seem a somewhat sober sign, serious, focussed and dedicated. There is BUSINESS to attend to, dependable and thorough they can sometimes lose sight of the importance of emotional connection and might be accused of a lack of empathy.

Earth is the ballast, the embodiment of all that is desired with Fire. If Fire reaches UP, Earth grabs us by the ankles and demands that our feet stay connected to what is REAL and tangible. Earth is the matter of creation.

Open Fire © Allan Purves

Elemental Truths – Part One – Fire!

Astrology… there are SO many facets to it. No longer do we identify ourselves solely by our Sun Sign (corresponding to the time of year we are born). In the past few years there has been a dramatic upswing in the interest in astrology, fuelled by social media and online astrologers. This is all ‘perfectly on point’, as we have been moving, incrementally into the Age of Aquarius (no longer just a song from the swinging 60’s!) and Aquarius IS the sign of Astrology!! This is the year when we have, at last, tipped into Aquarius fully, without a backward glance.

So… you know your Sun sign, all well and good to recognise the characteristics that are typically associated… Taurus is stubborn/loyal, Cancer is sensitive/emotional, Virgo is particular/fussy. Incomplete generalisations that lead to a skewed sense of simplicity.

If you dive into the subject, seeking a nuanced understanding one of the ‘organising principles’ that emerge, we discover the Elements. When we think of the Elements we are talking about the basic building blocks of life, these are abstract principles that inform our expression as human beings. There are four elements represented in Astrology… FIRE, EARTH, AIR and WATER. These primary forces inform our experience on many complex levels and reveal a subtle face to what we understand as The Signs. Each of the twelve signs are divided between the four elements and provide us with an expanded and developed understanding of the unique characters associated with the element.

FIRE – what do we know? FIRE is inherently Yang, it’s going to capture your attention! Radiant, warming, inspiring, comforting, action-oriented, passionate, creative, innocent, child-like, generative, scorching, raging, burnishing. These are common qualities of Fire signs. HOWEVER… there are distinctive characters in this box of matches!

STYLES OF FIRE – Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius

ARIES, is first out of the blocks… always. Headstrong, lusty, BURSTING with Life, Spring anyone? As the first of the Signs of the zodiac and it is the PERFECT demonstration of I’M FIRST! and READY or NOT! No surprises that the dates for Aries coincide with Spring Equinox (in the Northern hemisphere). We have been carefully schooled to think of December 31 as the beginning of the new cycle, when in truth, the beginning of the new year is March 21. I certainly feel as though the first couple of months of the year are like an ending of sorts, the shorter days, colder temperatures, time to withdraw and rest.

Aries is the epitome of leap first, look later… rushing headlong into the new, to discover what is and what isn’t – in a very direct way. Sometimes thought of as brash, The Ram is forthright but NOT calculating- PASSION and excitement, an adrenalin rush all in one packet. If you see one coming, either get out of the way or put on your running shoes to follow in their wake.

LEO, the second of the fire signs is a TOTALLY different kind of cat. Much of the warmth of Leo is radiant, bright, enthusiastic and cheerful. Just as the Sun is the star in the centre of our galaxy, so is Leo the centre of the story, the world gravitates and surrounds the life-giving Lion. And so we have a fixed expression of fire, it resides in its place, welcoming those who draw near. Sharing, benevolent, generous and encouraging. Majestic and regal, you may find yourself wanting to take your place at their feet.

Just as the ego is the lens though which our personality is projected, if it is neglected or humiliated or ignored Leo can display an inflated sense of self and be demanding, churlish and dramatic or, just as worryingly, a diminished sense of self-worth…anxious, unconfident, flat and unengaged.

When the Beatles wrote, ‘All You Need is Love’… they were singing Leo’s song.

SAGITTARIUS, if Aries is first out of the blocks rushing headlong into the next adventure and Leo is steady, is occupying the centre of the universe, the third of the fire signs is on the run, aiming his arrow to the next frontier. But with Sagittarius, make no mistake, THERE IS NO FINAL FRONTIER… The Quest is the whole story. Searching, seeking, exploring, questioning ALWAYS expanding into the next step, pushing the boundaries. This is so beautifully summed up by the child’s eternal and exhausting question WHY?

Restlessness is Sagittarius’ M-O. Always on to the next… freedom loving, philosophising, expect BIG, dreams, visions, ideas… Sagittarius also includes a healthy dollop of intuition and ENTHUSIASM writ large. Because the quest is so compelling, there can be a woeful lack of awareness for mundane matters, commitments or the feelings of others. IMPULSIVE and occasionally outspoken to the point of crudeness, the half man/half horse sometimes succumbs to his animal nature and speaks before he thinks. The bluntness of delivery is seldom intended to offend but can ruffle feathers and feelings nonetheless in his relentless pursuit of the TRUTH.

So… FIRE?! It can burn, sizzle, warm and inspire… Draw near and be advised that it will never be boring! Fire is ALWAYS aspiring, moving up and reaching… raising our gaze and inviting us to ‘Up our game’.

Open Fire © Allan Purves
Open Fire © Allan Purves

Marlow Purves, BA LCH : Healer, Homoeopath & Astrologer

I have been studying and practicing Homoeopathy and Astrology for over 35 years, during which time I’ve incorporated many different tools into my practice; counselling, guided meditation and healing journeys.
I gained a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and English Literature (1985), a Licentiate of College of Homoeopathy (1990) and became a Member of the Guild of Homoeopaths (2001). In addition to private practice, I offer workshops in Homoeopathy and in Astrology. My personal experience as a patient of Martin Miles in the 1980’s not only changed my life but inspired me to undertake study and consequently practice myself. During that time, I also had the good fortune to meet Margaret Koolman, a wise and insightful Astrologer, who likewise inspired me to venture further…
Over the last 35 years I have traveled and lived between Canada and the UK where I have raised my family (now grown), practiced and taught both Homoeopathy and Astrology. Presenting seminars in homoeopathy for Midwives, Hospice Workers and lay people, I have endeavoured to encourage and equip people to manage their acute health concerns safely and effectively.

My passion for astrology has grown out of a personal interest and inquiry into self-development and understanding. I have been offering series of classes for beginners, as well as those wishing to carry their studies further into the practical application of the principles. These classes are offered online, in real time, to enable maximum participation.

In 2017, I began to explore Family Constellations and have been enjoying collaborating with Family Constellations Practitioner, Elaine Harris, to offer workshops combining the healing power of homoeopathy within the system of Family constellations. Passionate about my work with people, I am endlessly inspired by their journeys and courage in the face of life’s challenges. It is my privilege to share this work.

I am currently practicing in Cambridge, UK and available for consultation in person or by Zoom, Telephone: (44)07528-188901 or in person.

Are you a Cusp Kid?

No, it has nothing to do with teeth!

Those of us who were born ‘on the cusp’, in astrological jargon, were born on or about the 20/21/22 of the calendar month. Most tabloid astrologers will suggest particular dates as the definition of an astrological sign, and this can be confusing as they are not fixed.

These dates mark a transition from one sign to another. I’m one of those kids… and for the first 16 years of my life I ‘identified’ as a Gemini. I recognized my nature as being perennially curious, changeable, alternately sociable and reclusive, nothing seemed more compelling than the promise of good conversation or a new idea.

At 16, I met an astrologer who offered to ‘read my chart’…ushering in a whole new perspective.

As it transpired, after using my precise time of birth, it was determined that I was, NOT, in fact, a Gemini but a Taurus on the cusp… A verrrrry end of, squeaking-over-the-edge but irrefutably, Taurus. After I broke the news to my mother, who had always assured me that I was *such a Gemini*, I began to ‘try on’ my new persona, to test the waters.

So I found myself stepping into a whole different territory, exploring what it might mean if I am a Taurus after all. Fast forward thirty-some years and my fascination with astrology only grows and invites me to look twice.

I now can recognise and revel in my slowness, my love of all things green and earthy, my practical, sensuous self.

So… how DO you know whether you are one sign or the next? The zodiac is not precisely synchronised with our Gregorian calendar. Once every four years (Leap year) we have inserted an extra day in order to rectify the measure of the earth’s journey around the sun. The Equinoxes, days of equal daylight and night, mark the beginning of Spring and of Autumn (and occur at 0 degrees Aries and 0 degrees Libra)and the Solstices, (days of longest or least light, 0 degrees Cancer and 0 degrees Capricorn) occur at the 20/21/22nd of the month. This has a subtle but distinct knock-on effect for each of the zodiacal signs. The zodiac is a two dimensional representation of the planets movements around the sun, from our perspective on earth.

Each of the signs is allocated 30 degrees, 1/12 of the 360 degree circle. So, when we are determining the cusps or beginnng and ends of signs, we are superimposing a hypothetical (30degree) model on a movable (time) feast!

Now, what does it mean to be born at the very end of one sign or the very beginning of another? From an astrological perspective, these are sometimes referred to as the critical degrees of a sign. Critical in that they hold a certain weight or gravitas. Those of us born with the Sun in the final degree of a sign are said to be at a point of fullness, ripeness and potential mastery of that particular sign’s expression.

In my mind’s eye, I imagine the sun as a traveller and as it makes it’s way through the constellation of a certain sign, it gathers up the experience, both shadow and light of that particular sign’s ‘style’ of expression. The Sun, represents the quality of integration and when it’s placed in a certain sign, it becomes the lens through which the Spirit is expressed.

As the movement of the planets is inexorable, it makes sense that the ‘steps’ it takes as it moves from the 29th degree of one sign to the first degree of the next is a bit like stepping across a threshold. This threshold between signs marks the boundary between very different energies, inviting us into a totally different room.

At the very end of a sign, we have said that there is a certain sense of mastery of the quality and the element of the sign. At the beginning of the next sign, there is a sense of innocence and naivete – a freshness to the new territory. Awkwardness and a sense of the un-skilled infuses this placement, this is balanced with enthusiasm and willingness to engage with the new elemental energies.

A common experience for those born on the cusp of a sign is a bit like having a foot in each world. The terminal degrees lend themselves to a sense of closing down or perhaps a hankering for something unknown, utterly different. For those at the beginning of the sign, a bit of discomfort, sense of not knowing or understanding how the ‘system’ works from this new vantage point.

Astrology is a complex art and as such never really relies on only one key element to tell the whole story. As with all life, we are multi-coloured and multi-faceted with shadings to temper the absolutes of symbolic systems.

One of the most marked tempering elements of the chart is represented by the Ascendent or Rising Sign. If, for example, the Rising sign of a person who was born on the cusp of Taurus/Gemini is Taurus, they would be far more likely to strongly identify with their recognizably Taurean, earthy characteristics. If the Rising sign falls in Gemini, the individual may identify, on first glance with more of the changeablity of the airy Twins…

The time we are born is one of the important details that an astrologer will ask you. It is with this information combined with the place and date of your birth that the correct calculation will reveal the Ascendent or Rising sign.

For those of us who are born on the ‘cusp’ of a sign this is a critical factor in understanding the nature of your astrological profile.

Curious? Get in touch for a reading and expand your understanding and maybe change your mind!

Winter Solstice – Birth of The New Consciousness

Winter Solstice 2019: When Is the First Day of Winter? | PEOPLE.com

Many astrologers have been waiting for this moment for decades. It is the crowning of a most challenging and transitional time over these past months. Old structures, institutions and ways of being have had to change, fall away, decay and transform. They have outlived their usefulness and the advent of a virus has proved to be a necessary catalyst in our collective transformation. There is an important conjunction between Jupiter and Saturn at 0 degrees Aquarius on Dec 21st. It also coincides with the sun entering Capricorn, which marks the Winter Solstice, the tipping point into a new cycle as the sun pauses at its lowest point (in the Northern hemisphere) before ascending in the sky towards its fulfillment at the Summer Solstice.

Jupiter and Saturn are planets that are known as the Cosmic Regulators, they are social planets that indicate, by virtue of their duration of their orbits around the Sun, forces which symbolically represent the movement between an in-breath and an out-breath.  Saturn is known for contraction, boundaries, rules, karma, consequences and the laws of the material world. It is earthy in nature. Jupiter is almost opposite in principle as it represents expansion, development, exaggeration, growth and benevolence. It is watery in nature.

As these two Titans come together at the beginning of Aquarius, they represent a significant changing of the guard, a foray into a different form of regulation, the long lauded New Order.

Typically, Capricorn, the sign that they have been inhabiting for the past number of years is well represented by the Patriarchy. It is the ‘Old Guard’, top-down authority with more than a touch of paternalism. For example, the exchange that might be understood in terms of Capricorn authority is: I will tell you what to do, how to think, how to behave… IF you follow my instructions and obey, I will extend my protection.


Aquarius is a game changer and, as with each of the successive signs of the zodiac, represents an entirely new type of expression.  Aquarius is an Air sign, it is all about the new, innovation, revolution, quirkiness, the individual, the one-off. If Capricorn is top-down authority, Aquarius is personified by internalized, individual authority. This is NOT to be confused with Chaos and getting for self, but rather an internalized sense of responsibility and authority. This authority is based on the individual, as one of many individuals, NOT a hierarchical ‘power over’ structure such as Capricorn, but a ‘power with’ expression.

Long heralded as the dawn of the New Age, Aquarius is a sign associated with universal brotherhood, peace and veneration of the individual as part of a whole multi-faceted One. Aquarius is one of the signs on The Cross of Love, and in this sense it is the love for humanity and all creation rather than the love of a particular person or thing. This Winter Solstice  (dawn of the new cycle of increasing Light, in the Northern hemisphere) is a potent turning point and marks the sowing of the seeds of this burgeoning Consciousness.

We will collectively be entering a new phase of our evolution, one that may require us to take a stand for our principles, while acknowledging and respecting the rights of others to stand for their principles. We are going to be experimenting with ‘Live and Let Live’. There is a saying that resonates with many and has been used as a guide for conduct in magickal circles. And It Harm None, Do As You Will. The responsibility of our actions lies with each of us, and has implications for the way we might evolve. Quantum Physics is able to verify the interconnectedness of all life, and so too… each of our decisions and actions have consequences for the whole. No longer will we be able to blindly follow the rules and point the finger of blame at others. It is time for us to awaken to our own authority and to stand in that as we assume responsibility for our creations. We are united in our humanity and unique in the expression of All that Is.

These are truly exciting and important times to be alive.

Blessings for the Solstice and Christmas Season.