Chasing the Dragons - An Introduction to Draconic Astrology

by Victor Olliver

Chasing the Dragons - An Introduction to Draconic Astrology
Order at Wessex Astrologer or amazon.com

What is a review?

To me, it is an interaction between a book and a reader. I suppose, the author may come into the equation at some stage as well.

Well, a book with the sole purpose of exploring the soul’s purpose certainly clicked with me (my tropical North Node being in Pisces in the 8th house).

Then, you might ask, why in heaven’s name did it take me more than a year to finally write this review? Frankly, I couldn’t say. There was always something getting in the way. But then, this might also have been the way it was meant to be - who knows.

But enough of personal chitchat! Here goes:

What’s the book about?

As the title states: it is about Draconic Astrology, and it is meant as an introduction. This is very useful, as Draconic seems to be on the rise in the astrological world, from a niche interest to ever-spreading popularity (in certain niches of the astro community). But what do Dragons have to do with astrology, you might ask. A fair question, which is explained in the first chapter of the book, providing a brief history of Draconic Astrology. Indeed, it has to do with the Moonʹs Nodes, which - by the ancients - were thought to be a dragonʹs head (North Node) and tail (South Node), with this dragon occasionally gobbling up the Sun or Moon during an eclipse and excreting them again. Of course, nowadays we know that there is no such thing as a dragon and that eclipses are to do with the relative positions of the Sun, Moon, Earth and the Moonʹs Nodes.

In Draconic - or Nodal - Astrology, the natal Moonʹs Nodes are advanced in the zodiac to 0° Aries/Libra, with the North Node on the Aries point. Accordingly, all other chart factors, planets and axes, are moved by the same number of degrees, though the house positions remain the same. Actually, itʹs more like moving the zodiac forward until the North Node reaches 0° Aries. This results in the chart and aspect patterns remaining the same but sign balances shifting according to the distance between the tropical and the draconic nodes. 

Want to know more? Well, start reading the book!

To me, the point that really got me hooked was the authorʹs statement that Draconic Astrology is about discovering one's soulʹs purpose! I know, I already mentioned that. Anyway, letʹs hear the author speak:

Draconic astrology addresses the question of what is likely to lead to engaging a sense of purpose towards self-fulfilment (…) The Moonʹs nodes, then, are concerned with life or spiritual purposes that are intended to bring out the very best in the individual. This process may be liberating, fraught with challenge or feel the most natural thing in the world. Each life is unique.

The reasons for the quest for oneʹs life purpose are varied.

• Dissatisfaction with the current life direction
• Recurring life patterns that are obstructive or frustrating
• A sense of not reaching oneʹs full potential
• Curiosity
• Serious illness or facing death

To mention just a few.

Olliver points out in his Introduction that Draconic is not the point to start if youʹre completely new to astrology. Itʹs a specialist technique which complements tropical (or sidereal) astrology and requires fundamental knowledge in chart reading. Indeed, the tropical chart is always the basis for analysis, with the draconic providing extra information with regard to the meaning of the individualʹs life.

The draconic chart in some instances may very well reveal new things about a personʹs life purpose that are not apparent in the tropical, but for the most part there is a continuation of themes between the tropical and draconic.

What, then, is the sole (soul) purpose of this book?

My book here sets itself the task of explaining in straightforward terms how to use draconic astrology based on my client and celebrity chart work - it takes the subject much more in the direction of life or spiritual purposes as the raison dʹetre of draconic, and how in particular it is applicable to natal, predictive, mundane and relationships astrology.

The special thing about this introduction is that it is really well-structured and ʺfocusses on a step-by-step approachʺ to the subject ʺto speed up understanding.ʺ 

How does this work?

Victor Olliver explains his approach in clear language and easy-to-follow steps, illustrated amply by corresponding chart analyses of celebrities and clients. So, the steps are:

1. Analysis of the tropical chart
2. Analysis of the draconic chart
3. SOS - Synastry of Self (I love this one!): the comparison of the tropical and draconic charts

Chapter two is called ʺSoul, the draconic meaning of a life and … how a royalʹs angst is universalʺ - I do love these titles and the witty, often tongue-in-cheek language Olliver uses!

In this particular chapter, he employs the Netflix drama The Crown to illustrate the method of Synastry of Self. Regarding the soulʹs purpose, the (then) Prince of Wales (ʺWails?ʺ - What a play of words! Couldn't help laughing out loud.) ruminates:

I am both free and imprisoned...Nor can I be the thing for which I was born. I am existing in a timeless and slightly ridiculous abyss...

Whether this has changed since he has taken over kingship, we donʹt know… sorry, Iʹm straying…

In his analysis, Olliver aptly describes the dilemma the slightly exaggerated TV persona of Charles represents - or should we say that the TV series may get to the bottom of Charlesʹ dilemma between his social role and his real calling?

Only when we put the two charts together, do we get a clearer sense of purposes and circumstances. In his tropical/draconic biwheel SOS chart, abundance of inherited privilege and wealth is more plainly shown. … But I also see the maverick, independent thinking and decidedly troublesome tropical Uranus - aka the ʹawakenerʹ - … Part of his life purpose is indeed to cause ʹtroubleʹ, to pioneer new ways of living. … This can only be achieved by balancing abundant entitlement and natal innovativeness. His royal profile may indeed help him in his labours, yet his true purpose is much more to do with the protectiveness he can bestow on those themes about which he feels passionately…. The real or imagined Charles may or may not wonder as to his life purpose and its frustrations. Yet given the range of his known interests and accomplishments in the areas of organic farming and environmentalism, it might be suggested that he has already tapped his soul purpose.

ʺThe timeless quest for life meaningʺ is also a sub-chapter I really like, due to its philosophical, reflecting nature, and I could provide you with another list of quotes which I have marked in the book. However, I donʹt want to overwhelm you, the reader, with an avalanche of quotations, nor do I want to give it all away. So, Iʹll stick with one that particularly spoke to me for now (starting with a quote from Tolkien in ʹThe Riddle of Striderʹ):

ʹNot all who wonder are lostʹ. Wondering may be part of oneʹs life story, a seemingly aimless succession of experiences thatʹs transient in feel, or ʹpurposelessʹ. I have learnt one thing from astrology, and draconic in particular: No life or experience is without purpose.

Amen to that!

The technique

In chapter three, the reader can finally find the promised detailed step-by-step explanation of how to interpret the draconic chart and SOS. Matters to be considered are:

• The structure of the two charts (tropical and draconic): house modalities, sign modalities and elements
• The lunar phase of birth
• Chart shape
• Delineation: planet positions, aspect patterns etc.
• Promotions and demotions of planets in the draconic chart
• Tropical and draconic synastry of self
• Synthesis

Short key phrases on the meanings of signs and planets in draconic interpretation help the beginner along, distinguishing the different levels in tropical and draconic.

This three-step approach is extensively applied in and illustrated by the interpretation of charts of well-known people, such as Queen Victoria, Karl Marx, Hedy Lamarr, Greta Thunberg, Oprah Winfrey, Nelson Mandela and Britney Spears. (A sneak preview of which you can read here: Draconic Astrology - Finding your soul purpose)

More ways of working with the draconic zodiac

But the varied uses of draconic astrology do not stop at natal chart reading. The more versed practitioner can also use the method for forecasting with transits and solar return charts. Olliver introduces and illustrates the different forecast techniques, using different zodiacs, again with numerous examples: Britney Spears, Donald Trump, Pope Francis I, Olliver himself, and even a company (!), providing ground for a discussion whether corporate entities can also have a soul purpose.

Another use of the method is in synastry, as the author aptly shows in an analysis of Harry and Meghanʹs relationship, and that of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.

My favourite chapter...

 … has to be the last one: draconic case studies from Olliverʹs files. These are real people, very much alive and a bit like you and me (well, okay, some are far more well-known than you and me, but still not with that unreachable celebrity status of the usual suspects - no offense!). Among those are astrologers like Anne Whitaker, Sue Brayne and Alex Trenoweth, as well as astro publisher Margret Cahill, but also two ʹjust peopleʹ.

I found it especially interesting to read the written reports, which - again - let the reader follow the well-structured step-by-step approach. But they also contain the comments and reactions of the clients while or after reading their report. These are what makes the interpretations truly come alive for me! They even made a lowly editor at Astrodienst long for one of those analyses...Must be her Cancer Moon in 11...or the nodal axis in 2/8…

And I bow to Victor for leaving all the comments in the text, even if one or two didnʹt quite agree with the interpretation. Though, of course, there may still be room for the people concerned to explore their own soul further. For the most part, however, it was exciting to read how accurately they found themselves portrayed.

Epilogue

And just as I thought, I couldn’t be surprised anymore, I read the epilogue, starting thus:

What might be the soul purpose of this book? Do books have souls?

Good question! Of course, they do! - Unfortunately, the author does not discuss this highly philosophical question in detail, but - just as interestingly - shares the story of how he came to write this book and what that process implied for his own soul purpose. And let me tell you: it really shows in his tropical and draconic charts and transits!

Well, maybe - just maybe - there may be an explanation in the draconic and tropical transits for my unforgivable delay in writing this review (finally published on 19 April 2023, 9:45 AM, in Zuerich, Switzerland). (Any possible feedback on that hypothesis by the author himself will, of course, be shared here in due course. Should there be no deeper meaning, I will put it down to the soul reason that other things kept getting in the way.)

I suppose, you have learnt a lot about the reviewerʹs relationship with the book by now. But I also found that I learnt a lot about the worthy author, which I had previously not perceived in his public persona. Reading Chasing the Dragons seems to have revealed some of his soul to me. Thank you, Victor.

Where to order:
The Wessex Astrologer or amazon.com

The draconic purpose of Karin Hoffmann’s book review. A reply from Victor Olliver Dear Karin First, thank you for your review of my book Chasing the Dragons: An Introduction to Draconic Astrology. To capture the interest of Astrodienst is in itself a compliment. But to have the book praised by Astrodienst’s Editor – well, this is wonderful. And I appreciate your care in working through the book and explaining certain ideas. Karin: Thanks, Victor. It has been a pleasure. As I was reading your response, I was tempted to take it a small step further … wait and see! You gave the ‘birth’ moment of your review – when it was published – and you wondered (perhaps a little mischievously) whether there’s any clue in the natal chart to account for your “unforgivable delay” in writing the review. Better late than never is what I say! Karin: Or does it have anything to do with me, I wonder? - My tropical Saturn at 2° Taurus, wanting to do things properly and taking its time, is midpoint the reviewʹs tropical North Node and Sun. Plus, my Cancer Moon conjoins the tropical review Ascendant: it was a matter of being in the right mood for giving birth. Also tropical review Neptune conjoins my North Node in Pisces, totally attracted to spiritual t(r)opics but needing to work on them (NN). The tropical review chart Tropical review chart I drew up the tropical chart for your review – and I note that the two planets associated with astrology – Mercury and Uranus in old and modern astrology respectively – are conjunct in the 11th house. We could say about this conjunction that the ideas assessed in the review are new and pioneering and somewhat unorthodox (as draconic astrology is) – but because the two planets are in Taurus, these ideas perhaps are likely to take their time to surface. My own Mercury is in Taurus, so I am used to doing things at my own pace. Karin: They are also adjacent to my MC in Taurus in the 10th: I was destined to deal with this topic. The chart does reveal things about the nature of your review. You’ll see a Kite shape built around the oppositional nodal axis: a water Grand Trine attached to two sextiles pointing to the North Node and Sun at the apex in the 10th-11th houses. These represent the themes that you are writing about: the use of the North Node to create the draconic chart of the ‘self’ (Sun). And note that the Moon is included in the Aries stellium in the 10th: the draconic chart is a Moon-based one because the nodes in question are lunar. Quite a remarkably literal horoscope for your review! The draconic review chart I then got to think: Does Karin’s review have a ‘soul’ purpose? So, I created the draconic version of the tropical chart. Draconic review chart Notice how the two planets representative of astrology, Mercury and Uranus, shift to Aries, the sign of fresh things: this underlines the entirely novel approach of draconic astrology. It’s a new territory to most astrologers. Karin: Approaching my tropical Venus in Aries in 9 - I love discussing the unusual, especially if connected to broadening my horizon! The tropical Aries stellium in the 10th house has moved into Pisces, indicating the spiritual nature of the subject: the question of finding one’s soul purpose involves an examination of the metaphysical essence of life that can include past lives. Notice also that Mars disposits Mercury/Uranus – and draconic Mars is in Gemini, sign of the written word (your review) in the 1st. Karin: Mars almost conjoins my tropical Mercury - talk of spontaneous and write-in-one-quick-session-review! And: I donʹt know what to make of it, but draconic review Lilith is exactly conjunct my tropical Lilith. Both totally independent approaches to life?? The SOS biwheel chart I then put the two charts together in a synastry biwheel. Synastry of Self biwheel This is a most revealing chart – and tells us more of the essential purpose (or subject) of your review. The draconic North Node is out-of-sign conjunct tropical Neptune at the top of the horoscope: this describes the spiritual theme of nodal examination, linked to the pioneering Aries stellium in the draconic 9th house. We really are in a new place (the 9th). Karin: Draconic South Node is conjunct my tropical Uranus at 0° Libra. And actually my whole stellium of Pluto, Jupiter, South Node, PoF and Uranus are the 3rd review house! Pouring my all into the writing of it :-) Draconic Mercury and Uranus in Aries are shifted into the 10th house and are now conjunct tropical Moon, Jupiter and Sun – which together apply higher knowledge to the self via a lunar-based chart, in the chart zone of life direction in the sign of a breakthrough. Tropical Mercury and Uranus in Taurus are conjunct draconic Part of Fortune – spotlighting a gainful strength (the acquisition of knowledge in this instance). Draconic Venus, dignified in Taurus and dispositor of draconic Mercury/Uranus, sits on top of the tropical North Node in the 11th house: this goes to the heart of draconic. Its purpose is to identify those life challenges and experiences that will help harmonize the soul, to bring balance within the self where there may be dissatisfaction, frustration or disappointment. Venus seeks to find symmetry. Karin: And my draconic Saturn sitting bang on tropical North Node and draconic Venus, trying to give it some structure and make sense of it all. There’s a lot else going on in this chart. But I have probably written too much already. Karin: Me too! But back to the question of why it took you so long to write your review. I am tempted to think your own soul has a good sense of timing. You got the review out at a perfect moment, captured in these charts. Karin: Well, just as the book tells us something about you, the author, it seems that the review tells of my relationship to the review. Many thanks. Karin: And thanks to you! This has been fun! Victor Olliver is the editor of The Astrological Journal, published by the Astrological Association.