Quicksilver Lightning ~
Mercury's Children
"Just For Love"
John Cipollina
Cipollina photo (Ed Perlstein) from BAM interview about Raven, with Phil Allen ~
“I consider myself a music technician, really into electronics and crafting guitars. I only play so I can buy more pearl inlay…” JC heroes- Link Wray, Les Paul, Mickey “Love Is Strange” Baker and Fender wizard Doc Kaufman.
Click photo - go to SF Haight.
A star is born! John Cipollina was born John Holland Mallett, III, in
Berkeley CA under the royal star
REGULUS. His Sun rose the morning of 8/24/43 parallel to the zodiacal doorway that binds Leo, The Lion to The Corn Maiden, Virgo (Demeter, Ceres). The alchemical implications are sometimes distilled as Trump XIV, Temperance, that would be, in psychedelic era terms, 'The White Rabbit' and 'The Red Dog.' The esoteric symbols are The White Eagle and The Red Lion. Art forms: the Leo/Virgo theme is represented as the Lady, the Lion, and the Unicorn. Visit The Cloisters [Met, NY} for tapestry example. Go Hogwarts [Harry Potter] for Gryffindor Commonroom.
JC Mercury conunction with Crater, the Cup orange alpha star, Alkes
Alchemy – The Bowl with the gilt of its stars; the Cup, Cauldron, Grail and Bowl
Whoever derives hence his birth and character will be attracted by the well-watered meadows of the countryside, the rivers, and the lakes. "In early Greek days it represented the cup of Apollo/Phoebus. According to Ptolemy it is like Venus and in some degree like Mercury. It gives a kind, generous, cheerful, receptive, passionate and hospitable nature with good mental abilities, but subject to apprehension and indecision, usually some eminence." -Vivian E. Robson (The Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology, 1923)
Some blessings linked to the dynamic Leo/Virgo cusp: insight into archetypes, acting, musical theory that unlocks doors Pythagorean style, an inner integrity of brass, interpretive gifts (poet, musician Mercury with pipes & lyre) and prophecy. And for the audience ~ measured taste in style, dress, and story-telling. A dash of luck to the mix ~ the right combination for the players who would set the stage for America's most significant sequel to France at her apex during the 1880s!
And JC would prove the beckoning pied piper on the mythic bridge that was the Hashbury era, an evolving window of power in the San Francisco mystic triangle.
The line between Leo and Virgo, the cusp, is what Cipollina represents best through
his musical range, a wide angle talent. His vision of 360 degrees suggests the eye
of fiery Leo through sorted, styled mechanics, recognized as Virgo. This point is
effectively refered to in Jung's dream analysis study as the 'centre' ~
"where the consciousness meets the psyche." Gary Duncan's perfect conjunction of
Mercury and Moon along this route of heaven, late in the Leo degrees, refers to one of
Quicksilver's magical trademarks, the Goddess aloft on the winged horse -
or is she a
Valkyrie? Bobby Weir of the Grateful Dead has an exact mirror of this Mercury/Moon
aspect in the sign of transformation, suggestive of the lightning skull, 'Steal Your Face.' The identical aspect appears on the event of Chopin's Lunar Return (superimposed on Sting's Rainforest Initiation, the match is exact.)
Phil Lesh and
Robert Plant have similar aspects as well.
Radiant images projected by the Sun with Regulus at this degree attracted to
JC early on those game scenarios and players tuned to similar frequencies. We often find
beautiful that which we can recognize within ourselves. Perhaps this power degree simply
animated Cipollina's 'genre fusion' work - the natural discriminating bent to his nature to properly assign value to each musical repertoire he learned. Cipollina's Moon in Gemini, like that of Grateful Dead bass Phil Lesh, is drawn to innovation and the electrical spark associated with St. Elmo's Fire (electrical phenomena on ship riggings during storms at sea) so typical of Haight lifestyles. Gary Duncan's Mars/Polaris conjunction in Gemini is exact so the security factor of the great North Star is combined with the silver-akasha of his Mercury/Moon, providing the ultimate frequency for 'Shape-Shifting' powers of the shaman and ancient Cabieri. Mystery dramas instructed the masses and elite about these cosmic forces. They were dedicated to Ceres/Demeter, anciently the Terran Goddess governing the constellation Virgo.
Cover art from 'Just For Love' set in Hawaii. 'Quicksilver Messenger Service,' released May 1, 1968 is still considered classic psy-rock and so is 'Happy Trails.' Song titles on both highly rated CDs reflect the star charts of band members.
Duncan shares a star chart
Regulus (Alpha Leonis)
tie-in with numerous rock & roll musicians, to conjunct Cipollina’s Sun, probably giving rise to the ‘dueling guitarist’ image. The Quicksilver delivery system legend is certainly benefited.
Early in Duncan’s career his powerful Jupiter/Neptune conjunction in Libra established the
allies needed to bridge any gap from opacity or coarseness ('To live outside the law, you must be honest' as Dylan says.) In the classic texts this is referred to as, "a great love of humanity, the abillity to give love to those who are in need of it, the enjoyment of moulding or shaping things, and an interest in metaphysical and religious problems."
Duncan's ascendant suggests chemistry, charishma, metallurgy with his Jupiter
(higher mind) hub that is central for this dynamic, lean, clean machine ~ several overtones of the Gilgamesh/Hercules mythology resonate within the emerging pattern. So the conscientious churning of SOMA (liquer of the brow) works to circulate talent through the mainstream. See
the Neptune and Libra influence of The Grateful Dead as well.
Every twist and turn throughout Cipollina's career is clearly linked with Solar
patterning changes. He helped form Quicksilver Messenger Service in 1965, when his
Ascendant moved into zero degree of his Sun. When Cipollina left Quicksilver on October 5, 1970 his Midheaven (the public image, reputation, destiny) shifted to Gemini at zero degrees, exactly above his Mars. Cipollina's pet wolf exemplified the qualities of this
point, the sensitivity associated with the 6th sense abilities, and routinely
demonstrated a similar natural aversion to mortals of less than truthful character. ('To live outside the law, you must be honest.' Dylan) Anciently, the wolf is known as Gemini's pet. Of course, there were rumors and other reasons that justified the wolf-like characteristics... but most people discussed those over the back fence.
People watched the public image shift in 1970, to take up a routed Gemini aura
at that career intersection; this juncture began the 'Man of A Thousand Bands' phase
that would continue throughout the following two decades.
Gary Duncan spoke about The Fillmore and The Avalon in an interview at San Rafael’s ‘Power Lounge’: "If you just look at them, you’d see it. I think it was Phil Elwood, that made this observation, and it pretty well says it.
He said, ‘When you walk into the Fillmore, and you looked up the stairs, you saw Bill Graham standing there.
Like the Colossus of Rhodes. When you went into the Avalon,
you saw Chet Helms walking around, and he looked like Jesus…’ That’s where it was at, just two totally different kind of places."
Quicksilver Messenger Service & Big Brother and The Holding Co. were twin bands during the 60s, often
performing on double bills that evolved into legend.
The Tribal Stomp, promoted by Chet Helms (The Family Dog) is a survivor, and one of the best ‘gathering of the tribe’ happenings of the psychedelic era that featured both these eminent acid rock bands, acting in The Twins (Gemini, the celestial twins representing the intellect and physical vehicle) format.
Peter Albin (Gemini Sun, Jupiter and Mars in Leo) would later be Big Brother’s rep in The Dinosaurs, one of Cipollina’s favorite 80s bands. Jerry Garcia, Leo native of The Grateful Dead, another frequent musical collaborator, shared melodics bestowed through Sun, Mars and Mercury in Leo resonance. Transcription of Chet Helms on "People Are Talking."
Go to
San Francisco Haight-Ashbury page.
The peculiar 'ship at sea' experience felt by many in 1090 Page power spaces is captured within
'What About Me' cover art. Famous sister bands poster from the "Gurley Mountain Man - Lord of The Earth" roll of film shot in an elegant Marin forest setting: Quicksilver Messenger Service/Big Brother & The Holding Co.
Gary Duncan
The 5 Destiny Path
The pentad – 5 – is the union of an odd and an even number (3 and 2). Among the Greeks, the pentagram was a sacred symbol of light, health, and vitality. It also symbolized the fifth element –ether--because it is free from the disturbances of the four lower elements. It is called equilibrium, because it divides the perfect number 10 into two equal parts.
The pentad is symbolic of Nature, for, when multiplied by itself it returns into itself, just as grains of wheat, starting in the form of seed, pass through Nature’s processes and reproduce the seed of the wheat as the ultimate form of their own growth. Other numbers multiplied by themselves produce other numbers, but only 5 and 6 multiplied by themselves represent and retain their original number as the last figure in their products.
The pentad represents all the superior and inferior beings. It is sometimes referred to as the hierophant, or the priest of the Mysteries, because of its connection with the spiritual ethers, by means of which mystic development is attained. Keywords of the pentad are reconciliation, alternation, marriage, immortality, cordiality, providence, and sound. Among the deities who partook of the nature of the pentad were Pallas, Nemesis, Bubastia (Bast), Venus, Prometheus, and the messengers of Jupiter. To increase, to bless, charismatic; theatre, whole-hearted enthusiasm, animation, transmuting the elements of emotion into matter sufficient to enlarge the mass of the magickal image.
See Numbers 1-9 for Energy Pattern key to TREES by Zodiacal Sign, Aries through Pisces, and
Robin Hood
Gary Duncan's birthday on
the Roman Calendar
Thunder & Lightning - John Cipollina
From: Faroutdog 0:55
Note: Cipollina's morning time of birth was provided by his mother, who was kind enough to share her personal thoughts in a few phone conversations about her marvellous clan. The star chart for Duncan originally posted at this site has been adjusted since the accurate evening time of birth was provided. Several different online birthtimes are provided for Duncan's nativity so check your info, as always.
AT LAST!! Email note ~ The Must-have John Cipollina Video Documentary Available
Now! This was the flim screened at the Fillmore Tribute & Mill Valley Film
Festival. It's excellent - may even show the Golden Gate jam from the movie "'68" (also with Neil Young) and parts of the flick about "The Fillmore"! Jesse Block has also served up the film, 'Grateful Dawg' (featuring timeless collaborations of Garcia and Grisman) and 'Hot Tuna Live At Sweetwater' (1994 MVFF, sponsored by The Sundance Channel. The 73 minute video, 'Strings and Frets Play Great Guitarists' directed/produced by Block also features Jorma Kaukonen in a "musical tribute to some contemporary virtuosos of the instrument without which twentieth century popular music would not exist - the guitar." Still searching for Cipollina and Hendrix backstage jam at Monterey Pop - anyone know about the tapes?
"The video documentary "John Cipollina: Electric Guitarslinger" is finally
available!!
This one hour retrospective includes interviews with John, his family,
Jerry Garcia, Bill Graham, Nick Gravenites, Nicky Hopkins, Dan Healy,
Merl Saunders, Greg Elmore, David Freiberg, Barry "The Fish" Melton Spencer
Dryden, Paul Kantner, Peter Albin, Terry Dolan, and others.
Right, Ceres [Roman Demeter] is the daughter of Kronos and Rhea, Olympian goddess of the agricultural cycle [especially cereals, named in her honour] and secrets of nature. She is the mother of Proserpine by Zeus and oversees the most important of the ancient mysteries, believed to have originated fourteen hundred years before the birth of Christ, that eventually spread to Rome and Britain. Scholars allocate the Lesser Mysteries [Spring] at the annual festival, to Persephone. The Greater Mysteries [Autumn] at Eleusis, dedicated to Ceres, were held every five years. Observances probably coincided with the celebration of the Equinox. Ceres is pictured variously with symbols linked to both her parents, Mystery Play themes, and the Olympic games: a poppy garland, corn at harvest, a sheaf of grain, polos, scepter, torch, and sacrificial bowl. During the Mysteries she rides in a chariot drawn by winged serpents. The Summer of Love was a time the Haight and, for that matter much of California, explored diets attributed to the philosophic strata, so menu experimentation with Buddhist, Hare Krishna, and macrobiotic ratios, all Ceres* ruled.
Also included is concert footage from Quicksilver Messenger Service,
Copperhead, Thunder & Lightning, Dinosaurs, Fish & Chip, Zero,
Terry & The Pirates, The Grateful Dead, and Link Wray and more.
To get ordering information for "John Cipollina: Electric Guitarslinger",
visit the John Cipollina website at www.johncipollina.com, or send an email
requesting ordering information to cipollinafan@hotmail.com
Click Ceres Priestess right for more about Orpheus, San Francisco Diggers, and the Panhandle during The Summer of Love. Catch a Cipollina cameo in the movie '68 - this is excellent, live music in Golden Gate Park during the phase out segment of hippie influence in classic Summer of Love style! San Francisco premiere of the film was a benefit for Mimi Farina's Bread and Roses hosted by Peter Coyote.
* Astrologically, Ceres is one of the smaller planets, or asteroids, which are mostly between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. More than 1,200 of these tiny planets have been discovered. Ceres, the largest, was the first to be found. Its diameter is only 480 miles. It was seen by accident on January 1, 1801, by Giuseppe Piazzi, at Palermo. The printer of Piazzi’s new catalog of stars had accidentally listed an extra star. When Piazzi looked for it while checking the catalog, he found Ceres, to everyone’s surprise. The asteroid was lost again, but mathematician K.F. Gauss, a by a new method, predicted the place in the sky where Ceres was discovered again a year later. Ceres is named for the Roman goddess of agriculture, who was the mother of Proserpine. Their mythology that taught Ceres wandered through the world carrying two torches [intuition and reason] looking for her lost daughter [the soul] helped the Greeks explain the seasons. See also Persephone, a character in THE MATRIX trilogy.
Note: The White Rabbit and the Red Dog
"We have seen earlier how saloon life dominated the social life at the end of the nineteenth century. It is not surprising then that in 1892, Jack Daniel opened two saloons in Lynchburg: The White Rabbit and The Red Dog. While the explanation of the origin of these names is now lost, we can speculate that ‘The White Rabbit’ was derived from Louis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderlannd. Perhaps there was a favorite dog of Jack Daniel’s which happened to be red; however, ‘The Red Dog’ was more likely a clever way of naming (and advertising) his whiskey. We have learned earlier that the raw whiskey fresh out of the doubler is called ‘white dog’ and the ages whiskey, once it has taken on its distinctive red coloring from the charred barrels was called ‘red eye’ so perhaps, ‘The Red Dog’ was simply another designation for the whiskey which Jack Daniel made and sold in his saloons."
-Mark H. Waymack, Richard Harris, James F. Harris, The Book of Classic American Whiskeys
Quicksilver Lightning ~
Mercury's Children
Every twist and turn throughout Cipollina's career is clearly linked with Solar
patterning changes. He helped form Quicksilver Messenger Service in 1965, when his
Ascendant moved into zero degree of his Sun. When Cipollina left Quicksilver on October 5, 1970 his Midheaven (the public image, reputation, destiny) shifted to Gemini at zero degrees, exactly above his Mars. Cipollina's pet wolf exemplified the qualities of this
point, the sensitivity associated with the 6th sense abilities, and routinely
demonstrated a similar natural aversion to mortals of less than truthful character. ('To live outside the law, you must be honest.' Dylan) Anciently, the wolf is known as Gemini's pet. Of course, there were rumors and other reasons that justified the wolf-like characteristics... but most people discussed those over the back fence.
Quicksilver Messenger Service & Big Brother and The Holding Co. were twin bands during the 60s, often
