Young Annie Besant, the Social Reformer
It was no wonder she was also denounced as an agitator, a firebrand, and that all orthodox society turned up at her its most respectable nose. Cardinal signs in cardinal houses signified her executive abilities and her dominant nature. She knew she had power through the word and through her pen, and she used it to open the hearts and minds of men to justice. Her Mistress Truth would thus dissipate religious bigotry. (Neptune (religion) semi-square (freedom) Uranus, plus Uranus opposition Mercury (writing); and Mars quincunx Mercury).
Legal Difficulties for Annie Besant from Writing
In 1877, Bradlaugh and Annie wrote (Mercury) a pamphlet advocating voluntary birth control. They were charged with publishing material that was “likely to deprave or corrupt those whose minds are open to immoral influence.” They were both found guilty of publishing (Jupiter) obscene material and sentenced to six months in prison. (Mercury square Jupiter) The Court of Appeal quashed the sentence.
From 1874 to 1886, she was an atheist. To a woman of her temperament, filled with passionate desire for the bettering of the world, the elevation of humanity, a lofty system of ethics was of even more importance than a logical, intellectual conception of the universe.
Annie Besant then wrote and published her own book, The Laws of Population. It advocated voluntary birth control, better pay for workers and their starving families. Newspapers accused her of writing “an indecent, lewd, filthy, bawdy and obscene book.” Her husband used the publicity of the case to persuade the courts that he, rather than Annie, should have custody of Mabel, their daughter. Hence, he was given custody of Mabel. The judge denied her custody of her daughter, because she was an atheist. (Retrograde Saturn quincunx Sun). As parent, (Saturn) she separated (quincunx) from her child (Sun). She became seriously ill, but then vowed that all children would be hers to love and help.
Railing Against Religion and Repression
Annie Besant continued writing. Her pen lashed out at the orthodox teachings of the Church: the eternal torture, the infallibility of the Christian Church, its persecutions, its religious wars, its cruelty and oppressions. Thus, she leveled all the strength of her brain and tongue with unsparing hand, to expose the history of the Christian Church. It was the church that robbed her of her Mabel. Later, she admitted that she was combative and self-assertive. (Aries planets and ascendant.)
In 1888 she became friends with George Bernard Shaw, Walter Crane and Edward Aveling, when she joined the socialist organization known as the Fabian Society. She joined and wrote (Mercury) for other socialist organizations urging political change. (Uranus is co-ruler of the 11th house of organizations) They worked for the redistribution of political power and the elimination of poverty. (Uranus opposition Mercury square the part of fortune in the 10th house.) She resigned her membership in the National Secular Society because it was too materialistic.
Turning on to Theosophy and Wisdom Teachings
On May 10th, 1889, Annie Besant became the beloved pupil of Madame H.P. Blavatsky, the co-founder of the Theosophical Society. Annie said “theosophy is the glory of my life.” Annie at last, found her Mistress Truth. (P. Venus conjoined natal Sun exactly and p. Mercury trined the ascendant exactly.) Theosophy is based on the Ageless Wisdom Teachings as was known by Pythagoras and other great individuals.
In 1893, she wrote her autobiography. It reflected her feelings, beliefs and the events of the time. Six retrograde planets allowed her to express her inner Self (natal Mercury conjoins Venus and the Sun). When her children grew into adulthood, they joined her and became Theosophists.
While living in India, she founded the Central Hindu College at Benares in 1898. (Progressed Part of Fortune sextile Mercury (learning) trine Uranus, co-ruler of organizations.) She continued to write letters to British newspapers arguing the case for women’s suffrage. She also joined the struggle for Indian Home Rule and, in 1916, established the Indian Home Rule League and became its president.
President of Theosophical Society & Krishnamurti
The British authorities interned Annie Besant at times during the first World War. (P. ascendant opposes Part of Fortune in the 10th house of authorities). As President of the Theosophical Society from 1907 (P. Sun sextile Sun), she also wrote an enormous number of books and pamphlets on theosophy.
She traveled in 1926-27 in England and in the United States with her protégé Jiddu Krishnamurti, whom she announced as the new Messiah. However, the young man himself, denounced all claims about himself as the World Teacher. This was, consequently, her big error. She died in India on September 20, 1933 at the age of 86. (p. Sun conjoins natal MC, within minutes; p. ascendant squares natal Pluto; Natal Mars is at the apex of a yod with p. Mercury sextile natal Mercury.)
Annie wrote in her own autobiography: I ask no other epitaph on my tomb but: “‘She tried to follow Truth.‘”
References:
1 Born on Oct. 1, 1847 at 5:39 PM local time in London, England; 00W05; 51N32. 2 Annie Besant Biography – Biography Online
About the Author
Marguerite dar Boggia presently serves as Membership Secretary for ISAR, the International Society for Astrological Research. She was past Secretary and Director of ISAR and Publisher of its journal, Kosmos. She co-founded, and is past Secretary and Director of United Astrology Congress (UAC). Her present efforts are to aid in the expansion of humanity’s consciousness by offering, three free pages weekly online of the ageless wisdom studies as known by Pythagoras and Plato. Reach Marguerite online at www.FreePythagorasTeachings.com
