Astrology of Twins
==================

Twin - or triplet... - births represent a real challenge to astrology.  Many
twins grow in the same environment and display similar characteristics as
adults.  But some twins are seemingly different individuals: they act
differently, behave differently, and are motivated by different needs, even
though they are brought up in the same environment.  There is no astrologic
explanation for these differences.

When confronted with these types of situations, rather than admitting they do
not know, astrologers generally rely on an escape clause.  They assert that
since the second child is born a few minutes after the first twin, he or she
may have a different ascendant, and thus project a different personality.
This response is meaningless.  A new ascendant - i.e., 30 degrees of a sign -
arises on the horizon every two hours.  This would translate to 1800 minutes
of arc in 120 minutes, or 15 minutes of arc in one minute.  If the twins were
born two minutes apart, the difference in their ascendants would be only half
a degree.  That is, the first child may have the ascendant at 15 degrees of
Scorpio, the second at 15 Scorpio 30.  Astrology cannot differentiate between
the two.

It is possible that the first child has the ascendant at 29 Scorpio 42 and
the second child at 0 Sagittarius 12.  In this case the two ascendants are
apparently in different signs, but this more a theoretical difference.  When
the ascendant - or planets - are so close to the next sign (or to the cusp of
the next house), the adult person may project as a Scorpio, or Sagittarius,
or both.  This also applies to the other twin.  The apparent difference in
"personalities" cannot be explained by astrology, but there are other
possibilities.

o  There may be genetic differences between the twins - perhaps their DNA
   structures differ.  (I am not a molecular biologist.)

o  One twin child may become annoyed with the similarities and make a
   conscious effort to be more unique or different.  This process is subtle
   at first, and may begin as feelings and nuances, leading to a more
   tangible phase of observations and mental adjustments.  Gradually his or
   her responses to situations may become "intentionally" different.
   Initially the differences may be only artificial, but this effort has
   cumulative consequences.  As the years pass, the differences may become
   more pronounced and real.  This type of personality development is in the
   realm of child psychology, not astrology.

o  There is also a continuous series of feedback from experiences which may
   differ.  For example, if one child displays capricious behavior and is
   punished for it, the second child is "wiser" by the experience of the
   first child, even though he or she may possess the same ingredients.  If
   the punishment is severe, or one twin is corrected repeatedly, while the
   other twin merely observes and learns, the twin who is corrected may
   gradually become rebellious.  There may even arise intentional or
   unintentional competition between the twins.  Even subtle differences in
   upbringing can lead to personality differences in children.  This process
   is also in the realm of psychology.

o  The environment and circumstances can also play a vital role. For example,
   if one twin decides to marry and settle down in a small town in Iowa,
   while the other twin moves to New York to begin a professional career, the
   difference between the two environments is so drastic that, in time, their
   respective circumstances will mold two different individuals. Their
   individuality - the Sun - is likely to remain similar at the core, but
   this may not be visible from the way the twins interact with their
   respective environments.  (The impact of the environment and circumstances
   on a person was discussed in detail in Part-I, including the scenario with
   "Baby Rich," Baby Poor," and "Baby Ill.")  The differences in heredity,
   environment, upbringing, and circumstances readily explain why people with
   the same or similar natal charts eventually evolve into different adults.

The Sun eventually becomes the more dominant element.  Therefore, as the
twins -in Iowa and New York - begin to age, their individuality will
converge, in spite of the differences in sophistication and worldliness
displayed on the surface.  The astrologic patterns which were apparently
incongruous, will manifest similar again.