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Photo by Fayette Reynolds M.S.: https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/photo\/cell-seen-under-microscope-11198504\/<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, did you hear about Jean M. Purdy in relation to IVF before the movie \u2018Joy \u2013 The Birth of IVF\u2019? Maybe you even haven\u2019t heard about the movie! To be honest, I never thought nor about this subject neither about the inventors before. Probably my bad\u2026However, this movie, which touched my Pisces Moon quite a lot, pushed me to search for \u2018the birth\u2019 of this revolutionary technique in medicine. There is a part in the movie which is very important and more or less along the lines as the following: \u201cIVF is a choice given to the women to decide how to proceed with their lives!\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All these arguments bring us back to the IVF inventors among whom Jean M(arian) Purdy was maybe the least known or recognised. She played a crucial role in the development and introduction of IVF to the world along with Robert Edwards (biologist and physiologist) and Patrick Steptoe (obstetrician and gynaecologist, and surgeon) She was initially hired to manage the IVF lab. However, in addition to this role she \u201cprepared culture media, helped to monitor gametes and embryos and recorded data. Her nursing qualification was valuable for applying sterile techniques and provided a grounding in reproductive physiology and anatomy\u201d 3 <\/sup>It was also known that she had formed a special bond with the women who were going through IVF treatment and provided an emotional support for them. Despite of her significant contributions as an embryologist and her dedication to the cause as well as to the patients, it took many years to see her name as part of the team! Unfortunately, her short life which ended in 1985 due to cancer didn\u2019t let her see the full recognition!<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to her birth certificate in hand, it was April 20, 1945 when Jean was born in Cambridge as the second child of Gladys and Geroge Purdy after her two years senior brother John (no time indication in the birth chart in hand leading up to noon chart acceptance whether we like it or not).<\/p>\n\n\n\n April 1945\u2026When the World War II was nearly coming to an end, all the world was getting ready to recover from the losses, the grief, the pain this war caused everyone, making them leave something behind, tangible or intangible\u2026There were absolutely no winners even though some nations believed that they were so!<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this chaos, transformation, rebuilding, transition, recreating ideals and dreams, how did the sky look like for Jean when she said \u2018Hello\u2019 to the world?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If we look into the generational planets, Uranus was in Gemini, Neptune was in Libra and Pluto was in Leo. Something pioneering and energetic coming through the air and fire sign placements\u2026And now, the direction is no different with Uranus and Neptune with their ingresses into Gemini and Aries respectively while Pluto is already settling down in the opposite sign of Leo which is Aquarius.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Looking at the noon chart, Purdy seemed to have Sun in Aries (29\u00b057\u2019). Yes, you didn\u2019t read it wrong. It is one of the critical degrees which is also known as the anaretic degree. My intake about this last degree in general is as follows: The last degree feels like the owner of a party compared to the first degree which feels more like a guest just arriving to the party. It is possible to say that the last degree position does know all about the intrigues, got warmed up, comfortable where it is. There is an awareness that it needs to leave or wrap up soon as the party started long time ago, and will come to an end which might make it a bit nervous but\u2026But, at the same time it is willing and trying to make the best out of the last moments, making a lot of effort to live and breathe this familiar environment in to the maximum. So, it is somewhere that you would like to make the closing in the best way possible so that you are showing your last tricks and best of your performance before the inevitable farewell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this regard, considering her courage, her pioneering qualities, pushing just forward as if there is no tomorrow, it will not be surprising to see that Purdy had Sun in the very last degrees of cardinal, fire sign Aries. Impatience of fulfilling the life as much as possible, contributing to as many things as possible\u2026Considering her short life on this earth which touched many hearts, many souls maybe she had all the right to hurry\u2026 It is true that in her progressed chart, it wouldn\u2019t have taken a long time for her Sun to move into the fixed and earthy sign Taurus but the foundation was still based on the last degree of Aries. In any case, once we start, we plan, we may sometimes need to be told \u2018Now, it\u2019s time to slow down to make sure that everything is based on steady ground promising consistency, stability without any rush!\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is interesting to see that in terms of Sabian symbols the last degree of Aries is described as follows: \u201cA Duck pond and its young brood: Although you may sometimes wish for more exciting adventures \u2013 it feels good to have a place to hang one\u2019s hat and people and a place to call one\u2019s own. Nurture, family and contentment. Realise limitations. Reliability. The problems and joys in the responsibilities of having a brood to look after.\u201c 1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n When we think about IVF and the joy, the light that it brings to the life of people who would like to have a chance to add a new member to their existing family, it is possible to assume that \u201cnurture and family\u201d could have been an important goal in life for Purdy as she might have felt that she was carrying a responsibility to create a protective, caring structure for new generations to come into life and maybe pushing herself out of her comfort zone to step into an unknown path full of nurturing along with that caring structure (Saturn in Cancer conjunct NN in Cancer, in addition to possible Cancer rising in line with the noon chart). If we also consider the impact of Jean\u2019s compassionate, emotional, empathetic drive (Mars in Pisces dispositor of her Venus Rx, Mercury Rx and Sun in Aries: stellium in Aries) on her thinking, her way of communication, her way of relating to other people in a brave, energetic, enthusiastic way supporting her core identity, we might start to grasp the essence of her motivation and role in IVF journey much better. We could even argue that she was called to this world to serve the greater good. A call which might have been in alignment with the spiritual warrior living in the far alleys of her heart (Mars in Pisces conjunct MC in Pisces). Even though we don\u2019t know the exact time of her birth, maybe it\u2019s the right time seeing all these empathetic, emotional placements especially impacting her view of life and the type of vocation she eventually chose (Ascendant in motherly Cancer and MC in compassionate, sensitive Pisces).<\/p>\n\n\n\n It might seem like Jean could have been much calmer and maybe more introvert than what we could expect from a fiery expression when it comes to values, relationships, ideas or beliefs but was she really like that? (Venus Rx in Aries, Mercury Rx in Aries and Jupiter Rx in Virgo \u2013 within her lifetime, all these planets stationed direct in terms of secondary progressions) According to people in her nearby environment she was \u201cquiet, unassuming, self-effacing, all of which were true, but anyone who called her mouse-like never knew how she could roar at social injustices or become defensive when the IVF team was attacked by establishment figures.\u201d and \u201cdespite the reproaches she did not feel any conflict with her Christian faith, regarding IVF as a calling to help couples have the children that nature denied.\u201d3<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n And as it is, it might not be surprising to see Leo Moon holding hands with the stationing direct Pluto in Leo as well. It feels like her soul has come to this world to break down taboos, to transform herself and the society through creativity and authenticity, giving a chance of rebirth maybe first to herself, and later to other people. At this point, it is worth mentioning that in line with her creative, performative soul (Moon in Leo), Jean (called as Jeannie by her friends) took violin classes from an early age and she also played violin the school orchestra.3<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n We might wonder what about communication, what about ideas? It is true that she might have been thinking in a leading role, setting up all these line of communication with courage though her understanding of bravery could have been different and more internal (Mercury Rx in Aries). But, still missing an important essence of that natural way of talking, exchange of ideas (no placements in air signs in terms of traditional planets). Wondering how much effort she could have made to overcome these obstacles\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having said that, we may also contemplate about what kind of meaning Jean found in life, what was her purpose, her journey and understanding of growth in life? She might have been quite reserved in putting out her beliefs, her sense of philosophy which could have been about providing service, giving support to people in need in a practical way (Jupiter Rx in Virgo \u2013 traditionally in detriment) which may in a sense of speaking a different language compared to her more emotion based drive in life (Mars in Pisces). However, this reserved attitude regarding expansion, sense of growth might have started fizzling out especially when she was around 24 (her progressed Jupiter stationed direct at this age) corresponding more or less to the time she joined the IVF team as if she started seeing and expressing her journey ahead in a much clear way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 24 years old Jean carries us to the world of 1969. It was the time when the first research paper about IVF by Edwards, Bavister and Steptoe was published in Nature journal2<\/sup>. It was a different world, a different generation. Not \u2018Silent Generation\u2019 anymore like back in 45\u2019, instead Gen X was on the stage. And first successful embryo transfer and the world\u2019s first IVF baby\u2019s birth were still corresponding to the times of Gen X. Looking at the generational\/outer planets shift, we see that during those years Pluto had moved first to Virgo and later started enjoying its presence in harmonious, compromising, somehow diplomatic Libra. In a way, if some views were being put aside and new ones were created, that was for bringing more beauty, more peace to certain areas of our lives along with an emphasis on equality and relationships. In the meantime, Neptune was moving from Scorpio to Sagittarius; carrying dreams, ideals to a different level, exploring and understanding the world in a different way, through different lenses or images. For Uranus, the journey was more from Libra to Scorpio. If we stop at Libra a minute, it is possible to say that it could represent a perspective change in the way the relationships are realised or the justice was prevailed. And coming to Scorpio, maybe it wasn\u2019t surprising to experience those sudden breakthroughs in the reproductive system which would leave its mark in the world for good. Even though times were changing, there were still debates going around the morality behind IVF and the team was being accused of \u201cbreaking moral boundaries by experimenting with embryos, and discounting the risks of creating unhealthy children.\u201d 3<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n It is worth indicating that while Edwards, Steptoe and Purdy were working very hard for the development of IVF in UK, Dr. Landrum B. Shettles in US was also pushing forward for the first test tube baby at the Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in NYC. He was so near to achieving the first IVF in the world\u2019s history in September 1973 but unfortunately had been stopped by the new chairman also costing the chance of a baby of their own for Del Zio couple. Then this was brought to court by the couple and went to trial in July 1978 (Del Zio v. Columbia Presbyterian Hospital<\/em>, U.S. Dist. Lexis 14550 (1978). It is very literal to see that the trial date was very close to the time when baby Louise Brown, the first IVF baby, was born in July 25, 1978. Her middle name was put as \u2018Joy\u2019 by Steptoe. That\u2019s how the court decided to award the couple monetary compensation for the damages caused by the prior decision of the hospital.4<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n It is also interesting to witness the change of nodes from Libra-Aries axis to Virgo-Pisces axis in July 1978. It was like a shift from the others vs me towards a \u2018How can I be of service? What can I do to make things better in terms of efficiency, practicality along with the possible healing accompanied?\u2019 Reminding ourselves that there is still an innate part with compassion, empathy serving as the foundation for what is being evolved into.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If we rewind back from July 1978 a bit, in November 1, 1977 our Wounded Healer centaur Chiron\u2019s discovery was on the news though I personally like calling it the mentor or the bridge. Chiron was in the first degrees of Taurus during its discovery as if heralding the new possessions to be kept for good. It could have meant a steady, grounded healing was on the way for some even though 100% or healing for everyone might not always be guaranteed unfortunately. This discovery and the meaning it brought into our lives may also have indicated that we were not anymore bound by the old methods of the past and there could be a bridge carrying us forward to the future, to a new world. (chart Chiron discovery) With these hopes in mind, on Nov 10, 1977 a light appeared for Brown family at the end of the tunnel. Things were prone to change as the lights were promising to come together once again, like they did every month and continue do so forever. New seeds were being planted under the darkness of the new moon and the freshness but somehow unknown quality of a new moon was still present on Nov 12, 1977. That\u2019s the date when embryo transfer for little Louise was realised late at night. Nevertheless, the mood was set for exploring new horizons, being adventurous. Maybe there was no choice other than keeping hope for the future (new moon phase with Moon in Sagittarius). 5<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Chiron discovery chart – astro.com<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nov 10, 1977 (noon chart)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nov 12, 1977 (embryo transfer)<\/p>\n\n\n\n And when it was 23:47 on Jul 25, 1978 in Oldham, IVF team finally experienced \u2018joy\u2019 with the birth of Louise Joy Brown after years of driving back and forth between Oldham and Cambridge, spending hours in the lab. It feels like that courageous, warrior soul of little Louise might have lightened up Jean\u2019s words and ideas that were kept inside, maybe not spoken out as loud as they should have been, and her bravery in expressing what is valuable for her which was more internal rather than external for many years (Louise\u2019s Moon in Aries conjunct Jean\u2019s Venus Rx and Mercury Rx in Aries being their direct midpoint). It\u2019s also quite interesting to see the connection between their life journeys, what they are aspired by and where they consider as home, at least what feels like home for them (Conjunction-opposition aspects between Louise\u2019s Nodal axis and MC\/IC axis and Jean\u2019s Nodal axis and MC\/IC axis). It is also possible that Jean\u2019s understanding of healing might have opened this path for Louise to have a future, to have the possibility or chance to move forward to somewhere maybe far away from what feels like a comfort zone for her (Jean\u2019s Chiron in Virgo conjunct Louise\u2019s NN in Virgo and SN in Pisces). Thanks to Jean\u2019s insistence in pushing forward, expanding her horizons for giving service whatever it takes, Louise is still here today to spread her love maybe not in a romantic way but making sure that with her actions love and harmony are perceived as taking part in the unveiling of a plaque dedicated to Jean at Bourn Hall (Jean\u2019s Jupiter Rx in Virgo conjunct Louise\u2019s Venus in Virgo).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Synastry chart Purdy outer wheel – Brown inner wheel<\/p>\n\n\n\n Synastry chart Brown outer wheel – Purdy inner wheel<\/p>\n\n\n\n Maybe Jean was not recognised in her lifetime, maybe Nobel committee rejected to put her name in the prize which was presented to Edwards as he was the only one alive that time. However, there is one truth that we know; she touched many hearts, she helped many new souls coming into this world giving joy to their families who longed for an additional member in their families. Thank you Jean for all the joys you have helped to be brought into this world!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1<\/sup>List of Symbols – Sabian Symbols<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n 2 <\/sup>Edwards RG, Bavister BD, Steptoe PC. Early stages of fertilization in vitro of human oocytes matured in vitro. Nature 1969;221:632\u20135.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3 <\/sup>https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/14647273.2017.1351042<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/amethystastrotarot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Purdy-natal-250x250.jpg\")
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