Fernando Pessoa and the Book of Disquiet

Fernando Pessoa's Natal Chart

Bernardo Soares is characterized by the poet as a semi-heteronym:

““It is a semi-heteronym because, although the personality is not my own, it is not dissimilar to mine, but rather a mere distortion of it.” In a correspondence to Adolfo Casais Monteiro, dated January 13, 1935

Fernando Pessoa's Vibrational Chart of Vibration 11

Vibration 11, also known as Harmonic 11, pertains to a persistent restlessness within current situations always seeking for something more or different. It also indicates whether an individual is prone to boredom and how much it needs an ongoing stimulation. Consequently, it represents a vibration characterized by significant instability. This vibration is intricately connected to music, as each note transitions to the next, creating a cycle of perpetual change.

n the poet's vibration 11, Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter are conjuct, and these three planets are connected by an opposition aspect to Saturn, forming a trine with Mars (which also forms a sextile to Saturn). Additionally, Jupiter and Mercury form a T-square with Saturn and the Sun (square). The Moon is in a sesquiquadrate aspect to Venus, and Jupiter is in a relationship with Venus. Although subtle, there exists a quincunx between the Sun and Mars.

Fernando Pessoa's constant daily restlessness and his unending quest for something greater and distinct instill in him an irresistible and relentless urge to write elegantly and literarily about his fascination with magnificent ideas concerning what is essential, fundamental, and enduring, yet also real and tangible, derived from his engagement with the surrounding world in his everyday life. The poet is driven to undertake this endeavor as a daily and ongoing task.

“(...) “The Book of Disquiet is profoundly anchored in an aesthetic of ennui and sadness.” Bloom, Harold. The Western Canon, New York: Riverhead Books, 1994

His musical sensibility, distinctly representative of vibration 11, is clearly apparent in the work, and the poet is so aware of this mental process that he articulates it in his own manner.

“My soul is a concealed orchestra; I am unaware of the instruments that play and resonate, strings and harps, kettledrums and drums, within me. I recognize myself solely as a symphony.”

“(...) a “symphony of words,” in which the musicality and aesthetics of the language hold equal significance to the themes explored. Lourenço asserts that the rhythm and cadence of Bernardo Soares’ prose render the book an experience that can be felt almost like a musical composition.” Lourenço, Eduardo. Pessoa Revisitado, Lisbon: Gradiva, 1990

The alignment of the martian function with Saturn, in a sextile, encourages you to explore further and finish the challenging tasks that require attention and collaboration.

“Life is replete with paradoxes, much like roses are abundant with thorns.”

Saturn's relationship with Mercury and Venus reveals its sophisticated analytical perspective on humanity's profound existential themes.

“I was born during an era when many young individuals had abandoned their faith in God, for the same reason that their elders had experienced it — without understanding why”

“The sensation of void and profound self-reflection indicates a person on the outskirts of society, existing in a state of constant internal exile.” Seixo, Maria Alzira. Fernando Pessoa: The Never Written Novel, Lisbon: Editorial Presença, 1978

The Moon, associated with Venus and Jupiter, reveals its connection to the profound aspects of the Soul, enhancing its emotional states in a graceful and pleasing manner.

“The absence of linearity or a unified narrative acts as a metaphor for the protagonist’s emotional and existential turmoil.” Quadros, António. Fernando Pessoa: Life, Personality and Genius, Lisbon: Bertrand, 1981

The book, which compiles approximately 500 fragments composed between 1913 and 1934, one year prior to the poet's passing, elucidates the Sun-Mars quincunx, indicating a challenge in attaining a concrete goal.

This is a concise yet significant analysis of one of Fernando Pessoa's most important vibrations or harmonics. The behavioral pattern is linked to the creation of a work that reflects the characteristics of this vibration, through the planetary functions and interrelations present in the poet's chart.

It is not surprising, therefore, that “The Book of Disquiet” is regarded as one of Fernando Pessoa’s most significant works.

Vibrational Astrology follows an evidence-based methodology, where the analysis incorporates analytical and statistical research. This approach provides a greater level of confidence in the interpretations developed compared to other methods.