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Larousse Encyclopedia of

ASTFOCGY
Jean-Louis Brau
Helen Weaver
and Allan Edmands

Edited and with a preface by Helen Weaver

Consulting and Contributing Editors:

Robert Hand, Charles Harvey, and Charles Jayne

McGraw-Hill Book Company

New York London St. Louis San Francisco
Mexico Toronto Hamburg
DICTIONNAIRE DE L'ASTROLOGIE

English translation and adaptation copyright © 1980 by Librairie Larousse, U.S.A., Inc.

Copyright © 1977 by Librairie Larousse

All rights reserved.

Printed in the United States of America

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any
form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without
the prior written permission of the publisher.

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

Brau, Jean Louis.
Larousse encyclopedia of astrology.
Translation of Dictionnaire de l'astrologie.
1. Astrology—Dictionaries. I. Weaver, Helen, joint author. II. Edmands, Allan, joint author. III.
Title.
BF1655.B713 133.5'03'21 80-14845
ISBN 0-07-007244-2

Editor-in-Chief: Philip M. Rideout with Dodie Edmands and Jeanette Mall

Design: BOOKGRAPHICS
Line Art: Allan Edmands and Gary Tong
Typography: Thomas D'Espinosa, DEKR Corporation
Jacket Design: BOOKGRAPHICS

1234-DODO-83210
FOREWORD
The new Larousse Encyclopedia of Astrology is a masterly achievement on the
part of all who shared in its creation. It has been translated from the French by
Helen Weaver; but actually considerably more than a translation is involved,
since she has greatly broadened the scope of the original edition. In this task
she had the help of Allan Edmands, particularly on the technical and historical
articles. There is very little that has not been included. It is also authoritative,
for they consulted a number of experts in the field on all moot points. Hence
disputed issues can usually be resolved.
Having had a hand in the creation of Nicholas de Vore's Encyclopedia of
Astrology of 1947, I can appreciate the magnitude of their accomplishment.
Excellent as that earlier encyclopedia was, much has happened in astrology in
the interim, and there was an urgent need for updating. The Larousse Encyclo­
pedia is a real contribution to modem astrology.
Charles Jayne
PREFACE
The resurgence of astrology in the twentieth century is a phenomenon un­
paralleled in the long history of this remarkably durable human activity. A
recent Gallup poll found that 29 percent of Americans believe in astrology and
think their lives are governed by the positions of the stars. Astrology columns
are carried by 1,200 of the nation's 1,750 daily newspapers and a variety of
popular magazines. The signs of the zodiac appear on many of the artifacts of
modem civilization. New books on astrology, from mass market potboilers to
serious works, are published regularly. Scholarly journals are issued by organ­
izations devoted to the reintegration of astrology and science, and courses in
astrology are being offered in a dozen American universities.
Some people see the current popularity of astrology as part of a rising tide
of irrationality that is threatening the very foundations of Western civilization.
To this group belong the 186 scientists who signed a statement issued by the
Humanist magazine in 1975 condemning astrology as "a cult of unreason and
irrationalism . . . being foisted on an unsuspecting public." Other people see
the current renewal of interest in astrology and other occult subjects as part of
an evolutionary process, a necessary balance to an overemphasis on reason that
has characterized Western society since the Renaissance. However one views
the phenomenon, there is no denying its reality.
Yet in spite of the extraordinary popularity of astrology and the proliferation
of literature on the subject, to date there has been no reliable guide to the
language of astrology written for the general reader. There are dictionaries and
encyclopedias of astrology, of course, but most of them are so specialized or
technical as to be of very little help to the beginner. The only really good one—
Nicholas de Vore's Encyclopedia of Astrology—was published in 1947 and has
never been updated. In those thirty years astrology has been in a state of rapid
transition. De Vore's Encyclopedia, although it reflects the work of early twen­
tieth-century modernizers like Alan Leo, is still very much grounded in the
traditional principles of Ptolemy, the Greek astronomer who compiled and
systematized the astrology of the ancients in the second century A.D. But the
results of the latest research, both by astrologers working to bring the field up
to the standards of an empirical science and by scientists working in related
fields, are placing this traditional Ptolemaic astrology in a new perspective.
Statistical tests are validating some parts of traditional doctrine and giving other
parts a vote of no confidence. Some of this research is revealing correlations
between planetary patterns and human behavior of which Western astrologers
have been previously unaware.
The Larousse Encyclopedia of Astrology is designed to fill this gap: to provide an
accurate, understandable, and interesting reference book that will be helpful
not only to astrologers and students of astrology but also to the general reader.
Beginners will find step-by-step instructions for calculating a horoscope based
on the time and place of birth, as well as descriptive articles on the signs of the
zodiac, the planets, the houses, and the aspects that will provide them with
vi Preface

the basic tools of chart interpretation. To show how an astrologer proceeds

from the delineation of the separate parts of a birth chart to a synthesis of the
whole, the editors have included a sample chart interpretation based on the
horoscope of the anthropologist Margaret Mead. Those who wish to use this
book as a textbook will find, immediately following this preface, a study guide
in which entries are listed in order of increasing complexity. The study guide
is followed by a list of abbreviations and symbols commonly used in astrology.
Students will find definitions of technical terms and explanations of the
celestial geometry involved in chart calculation, with sixty diagrams and tables;
a table of Standard Time meridians and information on Daylight Saving Time
throughout the English-speaking world; and biographies of leading astrologers,
complete with birth and death information, when available. Also included are
introductions to branches such as electional, esoteric, horary, locational, med­
ical, and mundane astrology; techniques such as transits, progressions, direc­
tions, solar returns, chart comparison, and composite charts; and approaches
such as the sidereal zodiac, humanistic astrology, statistics, computers, the
Uranian system, harmonics, and heliocentric astrology.
Professionals will find historical articles on such topics as Chinese, Hindu,
Egyptian, and Pre-Columbian astrology; a comparative presentation of twenty
different systems of house division, with diagrams showing how each is de­
rived; information on two different dwad and decanate systems; an article on
meaningful precision in astrological calculation, and one on professional ethics;
a table of fixed stars; and a host of technical and astronomical information
relevant to the theory and practice of astrology.
And skeptics—should this book fall into their hands—will find remarks on
astronomy, relativity, the precession of the equinoxes, and statistics that might
well challenge some of their cherished preconceptions.
In a real sense, then, this volume combines the functions of a dictionary, an
encyclopedia, and a textbook. It defines the terms used in all the major branches
of Western astrology, together with a good representation of those used in the
East; it places those terms in historical perspective and explains how they fit
into the theory of astrology; and it shows how they are used in practice by
means of concrete examples and graphic illustrations. In using this threefold
approach, the Larousse Encyclopedia reflects the spirit of Jean-Louis Brau's dic-
tionnaire de I'astrologie, of which it is an expanded version.
The French text called itself a dictionary but was really a mini-encyclopedia.
Not content with merely giving definitions, the author also gave delineations—
that is, examples of the meaning of the planets in the signs and houses, a
feature generally restricted to textbooks. Brau's book was also informed by a
sense of history: There were articles on the contributions of various periods and
peoples, from Chaldean astrology to the present, as well as biographies of
astrologers and other figures important in the development of astrology. Fur­
thermore, Brau did not limit himself to Western astrology but included instruc­
tions for finding one's sign according to the Chinese Buddhist zodiac and
descriptions of the characteristics of each sign.
 Preface vii

On the other hand, from the point of view of English-speaking readers, there
were certain omissions in Brau's presentation. Thus, there were entries on Jean-
Baptiste Morin and Paul Choisnard but none on Alan Leo or Dane Rudhyar.
There was a perceptive analysis of the schools of modem astrology but no
mention of Alfred Witte, Reinhold Ebertin, or John Addey, and only a passing
reference to the pioneering research of French statisticians Michel and Fran^oise
Gauquelin. The vexed question of house division was more or less avoided.
In keeping with the international spirit of the original, Allan Edmands and
I have added entries on modern American, British, and German astrologers as
well as scientists whose work has a bearing on astrology. In keeping with its
inclusiveness, we have added material to reflect the multiplicity and controversy
that characterizes modern astrology. And in keeping with its educational aims,
we have expanded the interpretive entries to include more examples. The
French edition contained 442 entries and 24 diagrams; the American edition
contains 761 entries and 60 diagrams.
In the interests of clarity and organization, we have adopted some of the
stylistic devices of standard reference works. For example, terms used within
an entry that are defined elsewhere in entries of their own are set in small caps,
thus: aspect. Additional cross-references appear in parentheses to guide the
reader to related subjects, thus: (see aspect).
While we do not consistently give the derivations of words, we do include
etymologies when they help to clarify meaning, make words easier to remem­
ber, or simply when they are interesting. Thus we noted that the word cardinal,
which describes the signs of the zodiac that the Sun enters at the beginning of
a new season, comes from the Latin word for "hinge" or "turning point."
Although the emphasis has been on the terms and concepts used in modern
astrology, we have included some archaisms and near-archaisms—terms such
as affliction, besieged, and via combusta—which readers might come across in the
older textbooks.
But while we have included some archaic terminology, we have taken pains
not to perpetuate certain outmoded assumptions, such as the sexism that con­
tinues to pervade much of modern astrology. We point out that the use of the
words masculine and feminine to distinguish the more assertive fire and air signs
from the more responsive earth and water signs often reflects a stereotyped
view of sex roles that is increasingly being called into question. Whenever
possible, we have tried to avoid the conventional use of man as a generic term
for the human race. The medieval notion that "man is a microcosm of the
universe" has been updated to include woman.
Another area subjected to scrutiny is the determinism that underlies much
of classical astrology. We point out that terms such as malefic and benefic to
describe planets or aspects are giving way to terms like challenging and helpful,
or hard and soft. In general we have tried to avoid language that implies that
the planets actually determine human behavior, a notion that is repellent to
many people and to which, in fact, very few astrologers subscribe. Many
modern astrologers view the planets in terms of information rather than influ­
viii Preface

ence and consider astrology to be a symbolic language rather than an empirical

science. Others believe that there is an actual physical influence that has not as
yet been understood or measured. But since there is no direct evidence of such
influence, we have chosen not to speak in terms of causality. For example, it
would be presumptuous to assert that "Saturn on the Ascendant makes a
person serious, hard-working, and thrifty." We have tried to restrict ourselves
to language such as "Saturn on the Ascendant is associated with seriousness,
industry, and economy." Since the idea of causality is built into the English
language, avoiding it sometimes makes for awkward sentence structure. Any
causal terms that may have crept in should be taken with a grain of salt.
It may seem strange to some readers to find technical terms like azimuth and
right ascension cheek by jowl with interpretive material on everything from the
music of the spheres to the Age of Aquarius. Those not familiar with astrological
literature—and some of those who are—may find this book a surprising mixture
of astrology and astronomy, of philosophy and science. We would remind those
readers that originally astrology and astronomy were a single discipline and
that their separation is a relatively recent phenomenon when viewed from the
perspective of history. The first astrologers were also the first astronomers,
members of a priestly class who observed the motions of the heavenly bodies
and interpreted those motions in terms of human affairs. The Greeks who
modernized the ancient astrology of the Chaldeans made no distinction between
philosophy and science. The medieval mind was dominated by the idea that
each individual is a microcosm, a miniature version of the cosmos, and that
everything in nature is linked together by a system of mysterious sympathies
and correspondences. While not all astrologers were astronomers, a great many
were; and some of the greatest astronomers the world has known, including
Ptolemy, Brahe, Kepler, and Galileo, were practicing astrologers.
This situation of cooperation—or at any rate peaceful coexistence—between
astrology and astronomy continued well into the seventeenth century. Then,
for a variety of reasons, astrology fell into disfavor, first with scientists and then
with educated people in general. With the new scientific discoveries, the de­
velopment of the scientific method, and later, the invention of the telescope,
science began to concern itself more and more with measurement and to leave
questions of meaning to philosophy and theology. As science focused its atten­
tion outward onto measurable phenomena, human beings were thought of
primarily as objective observers of nature rather than subjects of observation.
Astronomy, the observation of the stars, began to separate itself from astrology,
the interpretation of their significance to human beings. The organic model of
the universe that prevailed in the Middle Ages—the concept of the microcosm
within the macrocosm—was replaced in the eighteenth century by the mechan­
ical model of the clock. Astrology, which retained the medieval idea that man
is intimately connected to his cosmic environment, was dismissed as irrational
superstition. Whereas in the Renaissance astrology had been an integral part
of the curriculum, it was henceforth banished from the universities.
It was not until the twentieth century, when the new physics challenged the
 Preface ix

Newtonian model of the universe and the social sciences reinstated human
behavior as a fit subject for scientific inquiry, that the foundations were laid for
a revival of serious astrology. (Popular astrology had survived, of course, but
had been degraded to the level of fortune-telling, which made it all the more
vulnerable to the contempt of science.) By mid-century Jung could write that
astrology was once again knocking on the doors of the universities, and at this
writing astrology is once again being taught at the university level, for the first
time since the Renaissance.
After three hundred years of stagnation, during which it has been cut off
from the mainstream of science, astrology is in the throes of rebirth. Current
research has revealed the need to reassess traditional doctrine and, as Kepler
once put it, to “separate the gems from the slag." At long last astrologers are
coming out of their defensive isolation and developing a healthy respect for the
scientific method. And although it cannot be said that scientists in general are
developing a respect for astrology, there are a few scientists, impressed by
research that reveals significant correlations between planetary motions and
human behavior, who are beginning to listen. It may be only a matter of time
before the gulf between astronomy, the science of observation, and astrology,
the technique of interpretation, will be bridged and the two activities will seem
no longer conflicting but complementary.
Such an integration can only be mutually enriching. For an astrology that
refuses to submit to the rigors of controlled experiment is in danger of being
overwhelmed by a mass of contradictory opinion; while a science that refuses
to deal with questions of human value is in danger of being engulfed—and
engulfing the world—in its own unbridled technology. So it is as a challenge
to the imagination and as an act of faith in the ultimate reintegration of astrology
and science that the language of quality and the language of quantity are here
presented side by side. It is hoped that this book will not only provide readers
with answers but will also raise some questions that had not occurred to them.
I would like to thank Pierre Larousse for his revolutionary idea of popularizing
the encyclopedia in order to share elitist knowledge with ordinary people; Philip
Rideout, my editor, for his imagination, sensitivity, and patience; Allan Ed­
mands, without whose enthusiasm and expertise I could not have faced the
task of revision; Dodie Edmands, for her eagle-eyed copy editing; and Mary
Orser, for the use of her professional library. Also, the American Museum of
Natural History, for supplying biographical information on Margaret Mead; the
C. G. Jung Foundation, for their courteous assistance; Charles Emerson, for
sharing his private files on Vernon Clark; Charles Jayne, for his generous help
and encouragement; and Dane Rudhyar, for continued inspiration. I am espe­
cially grateful to Robert Hand and Charles Harvey, whose critical reading of
the manuscript and many invaluable suggestions added significantly to the
quality of the book.
Finally, I want to dedicate my work on this book to my father, the late Warren
Weaver, a scientist who listened and who, at the end of his life, found the
courage to open his mind to astrology. —Helen Weaver
 How to Use This Book as a Textbook
The way to learn a language is to speak it; the way to learn astrology is to
study your own birth chart. To master astrology, you must immerse yourself
in the meanings of the signs, planets, houses, and aspects as you would the
grammar and vocabulary of a new language. But at the same time, you must
try to understand those meanings within the context of your own chart and the
charts of the people you know best.
Within its alphabetized entries, the Larousse Encyclopedia of Astrology contains
complete instructions for setting up birth charts as well as the basic tools for
interpreting them. Thus, although it is organized as a reference book, it may
also be used as a textbook. If you have little or no knowledge of astrology and
would like to begin learning it, you may find it helpful to consult entries in the
suggested order. On the other hand, you may prefer another order, or no order
at all. If you do use the study guide, feel free to stop and explore related
subjects by following up cross-references. (Cross-referenced terms are set in
small caps to indicate that they are discussed elsewhere in entries of their
own.)
1. Read astrology and astronomy.
2. Read signs of the zodiac. Look up your Sun sign in the table and read the
entry for that sign.
3. Read birth chart and Ascendant.
4. Read birthtime. Read and study time and determine from the table
whether Daylight Saving Time was in effect at the time and in the locality
of your birth. Read ephemeris and table of houses.
5. Obtain a table of houses and an ephemeris for the time of your birth.
Assemble paper, pen, ruler, and compass or blank chart forms; read chart
form. Read and study chart calculation and, following its step-by-step
instructions, set up your own birth chart.
6. Read the entry for the sign on your Ascendant.
7. Read planets, Sun, and Moon, and then read the entry for the sign
occupied by your Moon. You now have a basic understanding of Sun,
Moon, and Ascendant in your own chart and are ready to expand your
knowledge.
8. Read qualities, cardinal, fixed, and mutable; elements, fire, earth,
air, and water; and polarity. Then read the entries for the signs that are
occupied by planets in your chart. Read rulership, domicile, and exal­
tation.
9. Read and study houses. Then read hemisphere; Descendant, Midheaven,
and Imum Coeli; angular, succedent, and cadent; and dignity.
10. Read benefic and malefic. Then read the entries for the planets in this
order: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and
Pluto. Pay special attention to the suggested delineations for each planet
in the sign and house it occupies in your chart.
 Abbreviations and Symbols xi

11. Read and study aspect. Find the aspects in your chart. Next read con­
junction, opposition, square, trine, sextile, and the entries for any
minor aspects you may have identified. Read retrograde and applying
aspect.
12. Read major configuration and check the entries for double biquintile,
DOUBLE QUINCUNX, GRAND CROSS, GRAND TRINE, KITE, MYSTIC RECTANGLE,
and T-square to determine whether there are any major configurations in
your chart.
13. Read Part of Fortune. Calculate your Part of Fortune and enter it in your
chart.
14. Read ecliptic and nodes, and enter the Moon's nodes in your chart.
15. Read the entries for any remaining signs of the zodiac not occupied by
planets in your chart.
16. Read the analysis of Margaret Mead's chart in chart interpretation. Write
an interpretation of your own chart.
17. Calculate and study the charts of your parents, teachers, friends, lovers,
children, and other people you know well.
18. Read transit, progression and direction, solar return, chart com­
parison, composite chart, and ETHICS.

Abbreviations and Symbols

Commonly Used in Astrology

Asc. Ascendant MC Medium Coeli, or Midheaven

8 declination 3 retrograde
Desc. Descendant a right ascension
D direct SD stationary direct
GMT Greenwich Mean Time SR stationary retrograde
GST Greenwich Sidereal Time ST Standard Time or sidereal time
IC Imum Coeli sz sidereal zodiac
X longitude TZ tropical zodiac
/3 latitude d day
LMT local mean time h hour
LST local sidereal time m minute of time
xii Abbreviations and Symbols

s second of time T Aries

+ north declination or latitude, or Taurus
positive altitude M Gemini
- south declination or latitude, or To Cancer
negative altitude
S] Leo
° degree of arc
TTP Virgo
' minute of arc
— Libra
" second of arc
IT], Scorpio
d conjunction (0°)
Z1 Sagittarius
§ opposition (180°)
kJ Capricorn
□ square (90°)
tn Aquarius
A trine (120°)
X Pisces
* sextile (60°)
O Sun
v semisextile (30°)
J Moon
a quincunx (150°)
5 Mercury
L semisquare (45°)
2 Venus
□ sesquisquare (135°)
d, 5 Mars
★, Q quintile (72°)
'K Jupiter
± biquintile (144°)
h Saturn
• New Moon
Iji, 5 Uranus
2) First Quarter
W Neptune
O Full Moon
B Pluto
C Third Quarter
® Earth or Part of Fortune
4 eclipse of the Sun
north node
t eclipse of the Moon
W south node
Absolute Longitude: See celestial trology. Over the years his own ex­
LONGITUDE. periments and observations, as well
as his analysis of the statistical work
Acceleration: See longitude accel­ of others, such as Donald Bradley,
eration; TIME ACCELERATION. Brigadier R. C. Firebrace, and Michel
Gauquelin, have led him to the con­
Accidental Dignity: See dignity. clusion that all astrological symbol­
ism may be understood in terms of
Adams, Evangeline: See astrology the fundamental concepts of cycle
AND THE LAW. and number. He has demonstrated
that all astrological effects—from
Addey, John (June 15, 1920, about signs, houses, aspects, and mid­
8:15 A.M., Barnsley, Yorkshire, Eng­ points to such refinements as degree
land-): British philosopher and as­ areas and the Hindu shodasavargas—
trologer. Addey obtained his Master can most fruitfully be understood in
of Arts degree from Saint John's Col­ terms of the harmonics of cosmic pe­
lege, Cambridge. His serious interest riods. In the theory of harmonics he
in astrology began while he was still has uncovered a unifying principle—
at school. In 1946 he joined the which in fact harks back to Pytha­
Astrological Lodge of the Theosoph­ goras—capable of bringing together
ical Society, serving as its vice-pres­ all schools and traditions of astrology
ident from 1951 to 1958. In 1951 he and even of integrating astrology
obtained the Faculty of Astrological into the total spectrum of scientific
Studies Diploma. thought, where, in Addey's own
In the summer of 1955, his dissat­ words, "astrology is destined to as­
isfaction with the confused and un­ sume an almost central role."
certain state of the art led him to try In 1958 he inspired other astrolo­
to find an acceptable and secure sci­ gers to join him in founding the
entific approach to the subject. In his Astrological Association to promote
studies of 1956-57 on cases of lon­ the serious development and integra­
gevity and polio, he perceived the tion of astrology. From 1961 to 1973,
beginning of a "wave theory" of as­ as president of the Association, he
2 Adjusted Calculation Date

Affliction: Condition of a planet that

receives difficult aspects from other
planets, especially the malefics, or
that is in conjunction or parallel with
the malefics. For example, the Moon
is afflicted if it is squared by Venus
and opposed by Jupiter; more so if it
is squared by Venus and opposed by
Mars; and even more so if it is con­
junct Saturn and squared by Mars.
Afflictions from benefics are consid­
ered to be easier to resolve. The most
difficult afflictions are those that af­
fect Sun, Moon, or Ascendant. A
John Addey. planet that receives many difficult
built it into the leading organization aspects and few or no harmonious
of its kind; he was also editor of the aspects is said to be heavily afflicted.
Astrological journal. In 1970 he created Afflictions in a birth chart repre­
the Urania Trust, an educational sent psychological problems that re­
charity dedicated to the reintegration quire conscious effort if the native is
of astrology and astronomy into a to realize his or her full potential as
single science. a human being. The person with
Addey's quantitative work has not Moon conjunct Saturn and squared
been motivated by a desire to incor­ by Mars has to contend with very
porate astrology into the materialist powerful emotions, especially anger,
world view, but rather by the aspi­ that he or she may be afraid to ex­
ration "to get past the [materialist] press, a situation that can generate
scientists, who stand between astrol­ tension and frustration, but also mo­
ogy and its future supporters." For tivation for self-understanding and
Addey the universe is a manifest change. Heavily afflicted charts are
expression of an inner and higher sometimes associated with neurosis
order of Truth, which may be re­ and psychosis, but they are often also
vealed in part by the observation of the charts of highly creative people
the comos as the "written" Word of who accomplish a great deal, illus­
God. trating the truth of Blake's dictum,
Addey's major publications are As­ "Without contrarieties, no progres­
trology Reborn (1972), Harmonics in sion." (See benefic; malefic.)
Astrology (1976), Harmonics Anthology
(1976), and Selected Writings (1976). Age of Aquarius: See Aquarian
—Charles Harvey Age.

Adjusted Calculation Date (ACD): Ages, Astrological: See preces-

See progression and direction. SIONAL AGE.
 agricultural astrology 3

Ages o£ Man: An ancient theory ac­

cording to which succeeding periods
in the life of a human being are ruled
by the planets, usually in the order
of the length of their cycles. Thus
infancy is ruled by the Moon, early
education by Mercury, adolescence
by Venus, early adulthood by the
Sun, the prime of life by Mars, mid­
dle age by Jupiter, and old age by
Saturn. (These planetary periods cor­
respond roughly to the "Seven Ages
of Man" described by Shakespeare in
As You Like It, 2.7. 143-66, with the Dutch copper engraving depicting the Seven
curious omission of the Sun.) Ages of Man. (The Bettman Archive.)
Authorities disagree on the length sponses, is still dominant in child­
of these periods. The system that as­ hood; Mercury still rules the learning
signs 7 years to each planet fits in process, especially the acquisition of
rather neatly with the quarter cycles reading, writing, and arithmetic
of both transiting Saturn and the pro­ skills; and so on. The role of the mod­
gressed Moon. It will also be noted ern planets—namely, the transfor­
that in the Catholic church, confir­ mation of consciousness and the de­
mation takes place at the canonical velopment of psychic ability—seems
"age of discretion" (Mercury), at less geared to a temporal frame of
about age 7 years, thus ending the reference of this kind. (See cycle.)
"age of innocence" (Moon); that the
age of confirmation for Jews—an an­ Agricultural Astrology: The branch
cient rite of puberty (Venus)—is ap­ of astrology that deals with the plant­
proximately 14; and that the age of ing and harvesting of crops. This
legal majority (Sun) is still fixed at may be the oldest branch of astrol­
21. ogy, because even before the inven­
However, greater longevity and a tion of zodiacs or calendars, it was
slower aging process have caused the possible to observe the effects of
periods ruled by the outer planets, planting or harvesting in relation to
Jupiter and Saturn, to expand con­ the phases of the Moon. Planting by
siderably; and the modern planets, the Moon is traditional in the East.
Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto, have In the West, astrological advice to
never been satisfactorily integrated farmers and gardeners is included in
into the scheme. But despite the lack popular almanacs such as Raphael's
of clear boundaries between one age Almanac, The Farmer's Almanac, and
and the next, these rulerships are still Llewellyn's Moon Sign Book. Raphael
relevant. The Moon, standing for the recommends sowing when the Moon
unconscious and instinctual re­ is in the earth or water signs of the
4 air

tropical zodiac. Llewellyn prefers the Air Signs: See air.

water signs for planting and pays at­
tention to the phase of the Moon as Air Trigon: See air.
well. For example, annuals and non­
root crops are said to do better if Air Triplicity: See air.
planted under a waxing Moon; per­
ennials and root crops under a wan­ Albohali: See Islam, astrology in.
ing Moon.
Orthodox studies of the relation of Albumazar (Latinized name of abu-
plant growth to lunar cycles tend to Mashar Ja'far ibn-Muhammad; A.D.
confirm the importance of phase 805, Balkh, Khorasan province, Per­
rather than sign and suggest that re­ sia-886): Arab philosopher and as­
sponse varies according to species. trologer of the school of Baghdad,
The American biologist Frank Brown pupil of Jacobus Alkindi (800-874).
has done extensive research on the His writings were widely respected
response of various organisms to lu­ for several centuries. Among the
nar cycles. Brown has found a con­ most important are The Book of the
sistent variation in a seed's capacity Astrologer and The Flowers of Astrol­
to absorb water, which is correlated ogy, one of the first books to be
with lunar phase and is unaffected printed by Gutenberg. Besides for­
by external magnetic fields. mulating the physical laws of the
tides, Albumazar originated the
Air: According to Hermetic theory, theory of cycles, based on the
one of the four elements, under geometrical symbolism of the
which the signs Gemini, Libra, and Hermetists of the Neo-Alexandrine
Aquarius, known as the air triplicity school, whereby great historical
or air trigon, are classified. In astrol­ events are subject to the return of the
ogy air stands for communication, aduar and the akuar (cycles of 360 so­
relationship, and intellect. Alan Leo lar years and 120 solar years, respec­
calls the air signs the “humane" tively).
signs. Originally they were all rep­
resented by human figures (the old Alcabitius System: See house divi­
symbol for Libra was a woman hold­ sion.
ing a scale).
An overemphasis of air signs in a Allan, William Frederick: See Leo,
chart may indicate a personality that Alan.
is overly verbal or intellectual. A lack
of air may be associated with diffi­ Allen, Garth: See sidereal zodiac.
culty in thinking clearly or expressing
oneself, a disadvantage that may be Altitude: Angular distance measured
considerably offset by a well-placed, in degrees, minutes, and seconds
well-aspected Mercury. (Also see above or below the horizon of any
Chinese astrology.) locality, which is considered to have
 angular distance 5

an altitude of 0°. Altitude above the dant) or public image (Midheaven

horizon is positive; altitude below the and Imum Coeli); but see angular,
horizon is negative. The zenith has and Gauquelin, Michel and Fran­
the maximum altitude above (+90°), chise.
and the nadir the maximum below
(-90°). (See celestial coordinates; Angular: A term used to describe the
ELEVATION.) houses in a horoscope that immedi­
ately follow the angles, proceeding in
Anareta (from the Greek anairetes, a counterclockwise direction, or the
destroyer): The destroyer of life; a planets occupying such houses (see
malefic or other planet that is in un­ angle). The angular houses are the
favorable aspect to the hyleg. The First, Fourth, Seventh, and Tenth;
term is seldom used in modern as­ they correspond to the cardinal
trology. signs, and planets in those houses
are associated with initiation and
Androgynous (from the Greek an- leadership. A planet is said to be
dros, man, and gyne, woman): Hav­ strengthened by being angular, just
ing the characteristics of both sexes; as it is weakened by being cadent—
a term used to describe the planet that is, placed in one of the houses
Mercury, which Ptolemy classified immediately preceding the angles of
as neither masculine nor feminine. the chart.
The angular houses are regarded
Angle: In a birth chart, one of the as the strongest in the chart, the tra­
four cardinal points representing the ditional order of strength being: First,
places where the horizon plane of Tenth, Seventh, and Fourth. Planets
the birthplace and the meridian occupying these houses are thereby
plane intersect the ecliptic. The an­ accidentally dignified and are be­
gles are referred to variously as As­ lieved to have a conspicuous influ­
cendant, Descendant, Midheaven, ence on the native's personality, es­
and Imum Coeli; east, west, north, pecially if they are on or near the
and south; or the cusps of the First, angles (see dignity). The traditional
Seventh, Fourth, and Tenth Houses, importance of angular planets (es­
respectively. The houses of which pecially those near the First and
these angles form the cusps are called Tenth House cusps) in influencing
angular houses (see cusp; house divi­ personality and profession has re­
sion). cently been confirmed by statistical
The four angles are the most sen­ evidence, although the traditional
sitive points on the birth chart, and meaning of angular houses has not
traditionally any planet on or near an (see Gauquelin, Michel and Fran­
angle, especially if it is in an angular chise).
house, will have a strong and con­
spicuous influence on the native's Angular Distance: 1. Any distance
personality (Ascendant and Descen­ on an arc that can be expressed in
6 angular signs

degrees, minutes, and seconds. 2. natal chart or reaches that degree by

The distance in arc, expressed in de­ progression, direction (see progres­
grees of celestial longitude, be­ sion and direction), or transit, the
tween two straight lines, each con­ two bodies have a relationship simi­
necting a planet or other point with lar to an aspect. The antiscion has
a hypothetical observer located at a been compared to a conjunction
point on the Earth, usually the birth­ and the contrascion to an opposi­
place of an individual. Angular rela­ tion. If both planets related by antis­
tionships between planets, especially cion have 0° celestial latitude (that
certain recognized divisions of the is, if both are on the ecliptic), the
circle, are referred to in astrology as aspect is actually a parallel; if both
aspects (see aspect). planets related by contrascion have
0° latitude, the aspect is a contrapar­
Angular Signs: See cardinal. allel (see parallel). Some astrologers
refer to antiscions as "solstice
Annular Eclipse: See eclipse. points"—an ambiguous usage which
is best avoided.
Anomalistic Period: In the orbit of a
satellite around a primary, the period Antivertex: See East Point; Vertex.
between one closest approach to the
primary and the next. The anomal­ Aphelion (from the Greek apo, away,
istic period of a planet is measured and helios, Sun): The point in a
from one perihelion to the next; of planet's orbit that is most distant
the Moon, from one perigee to the from the Sun, or the moment when
next. There is very little difference in the planet is at that point. (See pe­
duration between an anomalistic pe­ rihelion.)
riod and a sidereal period. (See or­
bit.) Apheta: See hyleg.

Antiscion: A point that is equidistant Apogee (from the Greek apo, away,
with a given planet from either sol­ and gaia, Earth): The point in the
stice point (0° Cancer or 0° Capricorn) Moon's orbit that is most distant
but on the opposite side. For exam­ from the Earth, or the moment when
ple, if Mars is at 18° Gemini, its an­ the Moon is at that point. (See peri­
tiscion is at 12° Cancer; likewise if gee.)
Saturn is at 23° Pisces, its antiscion
is at 7° Libra. The contrascion is a point Apparent Horizon: See horizon.
equidistant with a given planet from
either equinox point (0° Aries or 0° Li­ Apparent Motion: Motion observed
bra) but on the opposite side; it is from a geocentric point of view—that
always directly opposite the anti­ is, motion relative to the Earth,
scion. When a planet is at the anti­ which is thought of as stationary.
scion degree of another planet in a The Sun, Moon, planets, and stars
 approaching aspect 7

have a daily apparent motion of ris­ ful in describing circumstances in the

ing in the east, culminating on the vicinity of the observer.
local meridian, and setting in the
west. This apparent motion results Apparent Solar Time: See time.
from the Earth's rotation on its axis.
Applying Aspect (or Approaching
The Sun has a yearly apparent mo­
Aspect): An aspect in which one
tion around the entire zodiac along
planet is approaching the point of
the ecliptic, a motion that is actually
exactitude; an aspect that has not yet
the Earth's annual orbit around the
become exact. For example, if the
Sun. A planet in its circuit through
Moon is at 10° Cancer and Pluto is at
the zodiac apparently stops, travels 16° Libra, the Moon is said to be ap­
backward for a while, stops again,
plying to a square with Pluto. The
and resumes forward motion—an il­
faster-moving body is said to be ap­
lusion caused by the Earth's own
plying to the aspect with the slower
motion relative to that of the planet
one. A doubly applying (or doubly ap­
(see retrograde). All the constella­ proaching) aspect is one in which both
tions as a unit—the entire starry fab­ planets are moving toward the aspect
ric of the heavens—appear to move
point. In the foregoing example, if
slowly forward through the tropical
Pluto were retrograde, the aspect
zodiac, but this appearance is due to
would be doubly applying.
another of the Earth's own motions, A separating aspect is one in which
the "wobble" of its rotational axis
the faster-moving planet is moving
about the ecliptic pole (see preces­
away from the aspect point. For ex­
sion OF THE EQUINOXES).
ample, if the Moon is at 18° Cancer
That the Earth is not the stationary and Pluto is at 16° Libra, the Moon
center of the universe around which is said to be separating from a square
all else moves was known to several with Pluto. A doubly separating aspect
observers in ancient Greece, but the is one in which both bodies are mov­
geocentric concept continued to be ing away from the aspect point, as
dominant in the human imagination would be the case in the example just
until it was challenged by Nicolaus cited if Pluto were retrograde. An ap­
Copernicus (1473-1543). Now most plying aspect is said to be stronger
people are aware that apparent mo­ than a separating one, and its
tion is really a result of the Earth's strength is said to be greatest imme­
motion. Nonetheless, apparent mo­ diately before it becomes exact.
tion is the motion actually observed Applying and separating should
and measured; "true" motion is cal­ not be confused with dexter and sin­
culated or derived from it by mathe­ ister aspects, which indicate the phase
matics. Moreover, according to the of an aspect in the complete 360°
theory of relativity, any given obser­ cycle (see dexter aspect).
vational viewpoint, including that of
the Earth considered as stationary, is Approaching Aspect: See applying
as valid as any other and may be use­ aspect.
8 Aquarian Age

Aquarian Age: The next great pre- evidenced by communism, socialism,

cessional age after the Piscean Age; communes, intentional and spiritual
the post-Christian era. Many astrol­ communities, nonbiological families,
ogers believe that the human race is tribalism, Woodstock Nation, group
currently in a state of transition be­ therapy, and group sex; internation­
tween the Piscean Age and the alism; the rise of technology, includ­
Aquarian Age. Evidence for this be­ ing computers and space travel; tel­
lief includes the accelerating rate of evision, which turns the planet into
social and cultural change; the de­ a small town; the trend toward social
cline of many of the institutions of planning and equal distribution of
Western society, such as orthodox wealth instead of resigned accept­
religion in general and Christianity in ance of an unjust social and economic
particular; the changing role of hierarchy; and in general, an empha­
women; the collapse of the economy; sis on science and reason rather than
the rise of violence and the threat of religion and faith.
global extinction by nuclear war or Since constellations have invisible,
ecological disaster or both—a total nebulous, and overlapping bounda­
picture that is interpreted by some ries, there is no agreement as to the
observers as a general collapse of exact location of this critical cusp; but
Western civilization as we know it. some astrologers believe the "eye of
During the Piscean Age, Western the storm" will be experienced before
culture has been dominated by the year 2000. The entrance of Pluto,
Christianity, a religion of salvation planet of profound collective trans­
that offers the promise of eternal life formation, into its own sign of Scor­
in exchange for self-denial in this life. pio in 1984, and the conjunction of
The Piscean model of human perfec­ Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune in Ca­
tion is Christ, the son of God, who pricorn in 1988-89 are sometimes
agreed to become human and to suf­ cited as decisive. Some astrologers
fer death in exchange for the poten­ regard the entrance of the star Al­
tial salvation of the human race. Pis­ cyone into tropical Gemini in 2001 as
cean virtues are renunciation, self­ marking the change; others look for­
sacrifice, otherworldliness, deferred ward to Regulus's entry into Virgo in
pleasure, the accumulation of credit 2012 (see star). However, calcula­
for the future (capitalism) rather than tions by astrologers using the sider­
enjoyment of the present. Curiously, eal zodiac would place the begin­
the early symbol for Christianity was ning of the Aquarian Age far into the
the fish, which is also the symbol for future. For example, Robert de Luce
the sign of Pisces; and Jesus told the would place the beginning in A.D.
twelve apostles that they were "fish­ 2157, Cyril Fagan in A.D. 2374. (See
ers of men." PRECESSION OF THE EQUINOXES.)
Indications often given for the im­
minence of the Aquarian Age include Aquarius (glyph —): The eleventh
the rise of group consciousness, as sign of the zodiac, which the Sun
 Aquarius 9

says, "And ye shall know the truth,

Aquarius and the truth shall make you free"
(John 8:32). They are dedicated to the
realization of the ideal society, char­
acterized by liberty, equality, and
fraternity. Where Leo, the opposite
sign on the zodiac wheel, believes in
monarchy and the divine right of
kings, Aquarius believes in democ­
racy and the divine right of human
beings.
Rulership of Aquarius was tradi­
tionally assigned to Saturn, a planet
that accords with the sign's rational­
ity and interest in government and
science. After the discovery of Ur­
anus, that planet became the modern
ruler of Aquarius, as appropriate to
transits during the second month of its unconventionality and interest in
winter, from about January 21 to social reform and progress. Guided
about February 20. The symbol for by reason rather than convention,
this sign is the water bearer. Its po­ Aquarians reject the prevailing
larity is positive, its element is air norms, now reaching into the future
(see elements), its quality is fixed to discover the new technology of to­
(see qualities), its ruling planet is morrow, now delving into the past
Uranus (see rulership), its tradi­ to revive the simpler ways of yester­
tional ruler is Saturn, and its natu­ day. Either way, these independent
ral house is the Eleventh. thinkers seem slightly "out of synch"
In Aquarius the intellectuality of with their time. Aquarius can pro­
air and the persistence of fixity are duce cranks, agitators, and fanatics—
combined with the innovating force "rebels without a cause"—or human­
of Uranus to create an individual itarian leaders and inspired geniuses
who can be liberal and opinionated of the highest kind.
at the same time. The symbol for All the air signs are concerned with
Aquarius is a human figure holding relationship, but while Gemini is the
a jug of water; yet Aquarius is an air sign of brothers and sisters and Libra
sign. The water here does not rep­ of husbands and wives, Aquarius is
resent emotion, but truth. Aquari­ the sign of friends. Most Aquarians
ans—who include not only Sun-sign feel more at home in a group of peo­
Aquarians, but all in whose charts ple with like interests than in an in­
the sign is emphasized—are seekers timate situation.
and disseminators of truth. This is Even Aquarian babies come to life
the same truth of which the Bible in company and delight in cutting
10 Aquinas, Saint Thomas

into adult conversations with their demanding technical skill, film mak­
own babbling comments. Parents are ing seems to be a natural. Famous
sometimes troubled by their Aquar­ Sun-sign Aquarians include Susan B.
ian offsprings' unpredictable sleep­ Anthony, Francis Bacon, Colette,
ing and eating patterns, not to men­ Charles Darwin, James Dean,
tion their frequent insurrections. Charles Dickens, Thomas Edison,
Aquarian children have minds of Sergei Eisenstein, Federico Fellini,
their own and will not react well to W. C. Fields, John Ford, D. W. Grif­
an arbitrary show of authority. But fith, Abraham Lincoln, Charles Lind­
their originality and ingenuity will bergh, Thomas More, Wolfgang
make their parents proud. Amadeus Mozart, Thomas Paine,
Aquarians are capable of love, but Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Franz
their version is somewhat imper­ Schubert, Gertrude Stein, and Adlai
sonal. Much of their energy is likely Stevenson. (See birthstones; col­
to go into group activities, public life, ors; DAYS OF THE WEEK; METALS.)
or some absorbing project of value to
mankind, and their partners must Aquinas, Saint Thomas (1225?-74):
give them freedom to pursue their Italian scholastic philosopher and
distant goals. Though seldom pas­ theologian, author of the systemati­
sionate, they are faithful and can be zation of Catholic doctrine known as
highly imaginative lovers. Uranus Thomism. Aquinas acknowledged
rules unconventionality, and Aquar­ the influence of the planets but be­
ius is associated with homosexuality, lieved that human beings could mod­
bisexuality, and group sex. Their ify that influence by the use of rea­
most compatible signs are Gemini, son. In reconciling astrology with the
Libra, Sagittarius, and Aries; Capri­ Christian doctrine of free will, Aqui­
corn, Pisces, Cancer, and Virgo are nas arrived at a position that is very
neutral; Taurus and Scorpio are likely close to that of modern esoteric as­
to be difficult. With another Aquar­ trologers. In Summa Theologica, he
ius, there is a good basis for friend­ wrote, "Are the celestial bodies the
ship. With Leo there will be both at­ cause of human action? I reply that
traction and tension; but ultimately one must say that the celestial bodies
the- question of compatibility can be exert a force upon men directly and
answered only by careful comparison through themselves . . . but they only
of two whole birth charts. act indirectly and by accident on the
Aquarians like to work in groups, forces of the soul which animate the
or if alone, they must feel that their bodily organs. . . . Most men follow
work makes a contribution to man­ their corporal passions; their actions
kind. The sign is associated with in­ therefore for most of the time are
tellectual activity, especially writing, subject to the influences of the celes­
inventing, and science; politics, usu­ tial bodies. There are but a few wise
ally liberal; and the arts, especially men alone who moderate these influ­
music. Because it is a group effort ences by their reason. This is why in
 Aries 11

many cases astrologers announce Arcturan System: See house divi­

true things, especially for events sion.
which depend on humans in
groups." (See Christianity and as­ Aries (glyph V): The first sign of the
trology.) zodiac, which the Sun transits during
the first month of spring, from about
Arabian Parts: A group of points
March 21 to about April 20. The sym­
used by Arabian astrologers, ob­ bol for this sign is the ram. Its po­
tained by adding the difference in larity is positive, its element is fire
celestial longitude between two
(see elements), its quality is cardinal
planets to the celestial longitude of (see qualities), its ruling planet is
the Ascendant. For example, the lon­ Mars (see rulership), and its natu­
gitude of the Ascendant plus the lon­ ral house is the First.
gitude of the Moon minus the lon­ The Sun's entrance into Aries
gitude of the Sun equals the Part of marks the first day of spring and the
Fortune. The Part of Love is the As­
beginning of the astrological year.
cendant plus Venus minus the Sun; Aries is essentially a sign of begin­
the Part of Spirit is the Ascendant nings, of boundless creativity and
plus the Sun minus the Moon. Ac­ pure energy. Arians—who include
cording to some authorities, the Ara­ not only Sun-sign Arians, but all in
bian parts should be calculated in whose charts the sign is empha­
right ascension rather than longi­
sized—must be up and doing for the
tude and then brought back to the sheer joy of it, especially if the activ­
ecliptic. ity involves adventure, the explora­
Ancient astrologers attributed con­ tion of unknown territory, and even
siderable importance to these Ara­ danger. The rulership of Mars be­
bian parts; modern astrologers gen­ stows strength and courage, and a
erally ignore them, with the strong desire nature, which means
exception of the Part of Fortune. It both sexual desire and the drive to
should also be noted, however, that conquer and possess material things,
the Uranian system of astrology, power, and fame. The incredible Ar­
with its use of mathematical formu­ ies energy in initiating new projects
las, midpoints, and planetary pic­ is a blend of the enthusiasm and self­
tures, owes a great deal to the Ara­ confidence of fire and the outgoing
bian theory of parts. For example, the activity of cardinality. The polar op­
midpoint between the Moon and As­ posite of indecisive Libra, Arians sel­
cendant is also the midpoint between dom have time to look before they
the Sun and the Part of Fortune; thus leap; they simply rush forward head­
a square or opposition to the Part of long, for it is their business to lead
Fortune makes a complete planetary and to inspire.
picture. (See Islam, astrology in.) Aries babies are in such a hurry to
Arc of Direction: See progression advance that they may walk at nine
AND DIRECTION. months. But walking won't suffice
12 Aries

Aries natives' strong sex drive

V Srie9 makes them passionate lovers, but
their desire for conquest and love of
novelty can lead to a Don Juan or
femme fatale syndrome that is ulti­
mately unsatisfying. As the sign of
individualism, Aries does not have a
natural instinct for partnership.
However, Aries natives have a great
love of children, with whom they
identify as primitive beings, and they
are capable of forming stable rela­
tionships with those who respect
their need for independence. Their
most compatible signs are Leo, Sag­
ittarius, Gemini, and Aquarius. Tau­
rus, Virgo, Scorpio, and Pisces are
neutral, while Cancer and Capricorn
for long; almost all Aries children are likely to be difficult. A pair of
prefer running. Aries children are Arians would probably compete for
sometimes labeled “hyperactive" by dominance. With Aries and Libra
their teachers, but their parents be­ there is both attraction and tension,
come accustomed to their fights with the outcome depending, as with all
friends, frequent accidents from combinations, on other factors in the
which they quickly rebound, and two charts (see compatibility).
noisy resistance to bedtime. Their Before the feminist movement Ar­
overflowing energy finds a healthy ies was thought to be an unfortunate
outlet in competitive sports. sign for women, but recently the
The Aries personality has the vir­ powerful Aries woman has started
tues of its defects: An unconscious coming into her own. Pearl Bailey,
egotism, which may express itself as Joan Crawford, Bette Davis, Billie
arrogance, aggression, and even vio­ Holiday, Erica Jong, Clare Booth
lence, can coexist with a childlike in­ Luce, Bessie Smith, Gloria Steinem,
nocence, a total absence of guile, and and Gloria Swanson all have Sun in
a devout love of freedom. The es­ Aries.
sence of Aries is the life force itself, Aries people are drawn to such di­
the desire to be born and the will to verse occupations as explorer, ad­
survive, and the intensity of the Ar­ venturer, military leader, athlete, ac­
ies energy makes both the primitive tor, musician, researcher, and artist.
and the evolved types virtually un­ The influence of Mars, which rules
stoppable. In contrast to legalistic, metals and firearms, gives them a
diplomatic Libra, Aries is a law unto natural affinity for metallurgy, me­
itself, responsible only to its own un­ chanics, surgery, butchery, and po­
predictable impulses. licework. A few famous male exam-
 Ascendant 13

pies of the indomitable Aries spirit very specific and personal, indicating
are Johann Sebastian Bach, Otto von the first impression made on other
Bismarck, Marlon Brando, Giovanni people, the native's distinctive style
Casanova, Charles Chaplin, Charle­ of interacting with them, his or her
magne, Cesar Chavez, Thomas Jef­ outward personality and manner­
ferson, Wilhelm Reich, John D. isms—even physical appearance.
Rockefeller III, Ravi Shankar, and Combined with Sun sign and Moon
Vincent van Gogh. (See birthstones; sign, the Ascendant can provide
colors; days of the week; metals.) much preliminary information about
the native's personality.
Armillary Sphere: An instrument One sign of the zodiac may take
consisting of an assemblage of rings, from less than V2 hour to over 3
or armils (from the Latin armilia, hours to cross the horizon, but
bracelet), representing the celestial within 24 hours, all twelve signs will
equator, two parallels of declina­ have risen. Thus, the average time it
tion (corresponding to the Tropics of takes for a sign to rise is 2 hours.
Cancer and Capricorn), the ecliptic, Since there are 30° in a sign, a new
the horizon, and the meridian, with degree appears on the horizon on the
which ancient astronomers made ap­ average of every 4 minutes. It follows
proximate observations, calculated that in order to determine an accurate
house cusps, and so on. It is said to Ascendant, an astrologer must have,
have been invented by Thales or An­ in addition to the terrestrial lon­
aximander (sixth century B.C.). (See gitude and latitude of the birth­
COSMOGRAPHY.) place, a reasonably precise time of
birth. Without this information he
Ascendant (from the Latin ascendere, cannot determine a true Ascendant,
to rise; often abbreviated Asc.): The and without a true Ascendant, the
degree of the zodiac rising at the horoscope has approximately the
eastern horizon of the birthplace at value of a negative that is out of fo­
the moment of birth—that is, the cus: better than nothing, but leaving
eastern point of intersection of ho­ much to be desired.
rizon and ecliptic—usually the In most systems of house division
cusp of the First House (see cosmog­ the Ascendant is identical with the
raphy; house division). Historically, cusp of the First House. The sign on
Ascendant has been synonymous with that cusp is known as the Ascendant
horoscope (from the Greek hora, hour, sign, or rising sign. A person with
and skopos, watcher), but the two the Sun in Taurus who has the cusp
words have come to have different of the First House at 20° Gemini, for
meanings. example, is said to be "Taurus, with
Knowledge of the Ascendant is of Gemini rising."
the utmost importance in interpret­ The planet that rules the sign on
ing a birth chart. Since it expresses the Ascendant is regarded as the
the exact moment when the native ruler of the Ascendant (see ruler­
begins independent existence, it is ship). Many astrologers regard this
14 Ascendant arc

planet as the ruler of the entire chart.

In the example cited, the ruler of the
Ascendant is Mercury, because Mer­
cury rules Gemini, the sign on the
Ascendant, or First House cusp.
Any planet that is close to the As­
cendant—some astrologers use an
orb of 15° in either direction—exerts
a powerful influence on the Ascend­
ant. This is true to a lesser degree of
any planet posited in the First
House. If there are several planets in
the First House, the one that most
strongly colors the Ascendant is the
one closest to the cusp.
The Ascendant was once regarded
as more important than the Sun, the
reverse of the situation in the twen­
tieth century, in which media-fed
consumerism and the desire for in­
stant knowledge has given rise to
commercialized Sun-sign astrology.
Thus tradition has it that Louis XIV
was a Sun-sign Virgo with Leo ris­
ing, the qualities of despotic Leo out­ Figure 1. The distinction between long and
weighing those of modest Virgo and short ascension. The changing signs on the
Ascendant (A) is a phenomenon of the Earth's
earning him the nickname of "Sun diurnal rotation, expressed as a continuous
King." Even today some astrologers unvarying motion of the celestial equator rel­
believe that the Ascendant is more ative to the horizon. The ecliptic is “tied” to
the celestial equator. Thus, when the angle
immediately revealing of the native's between the ecliptic and the horizon is small,
personality than is the Sun sign. In signs will cross the Ascendant rapidly. When
any case, the importance of the As­ the angle is large, signs will cross the Ascend­
ant slowly. The two situations illustrated here
cendant is one reason why the ready­ are for midlatitudes north of the Equator. In
made horoscopes published in news­ the Southern Hemisphere the situation is re­
papers and magazines are mislead­ versed, since Aries through Virgo are on the
portion of the ecliptic that is below the celestial
ing. equator, while Libra through Pisces are above
it. A = Ascendent, D = Descendant, E = East
Ascendant Arc: See progression Point, W = West Point.
AND DIRECTION. Ascension, Long or Short: Because
of the obliquity of the ecliptic, in mid­
Ascendant House System: See house latitude regions the angle between
DIVISION. the horizon and the ecliptic varies
hour after hour, causing some signs
Ascending Node: See nodes. to move across the Ascendant faster
 aspect 15

than others. The faster-moving signs when they are opposite each other
are called signs of short ascension; the on the zodiac, that is, when they
slower-moving signs are called signs form an angle of 180°; the square,
of long ascension. In the Northern when they form an angle of 90°; the
Hemisphere signs of short ascension trine, when they form an angle of
are Capricorn through Gemini (with 120°; and the sextile, when they form
Pisces and Aries being the shortest); an angle of 60° (see figure 2).
signs of long ascension are Cancer Minor aspects include the semi­
through Sagittarius (with Virgo and square (45°), sometimes called the oc-
Libra being the longest). In the tile, and the sesquisquare (135°), also
Southern Hemisphere midlatitudes called the sesquiquadrate or sesquare;
the situation is reversed. (See the semisextile (30°) and the quincunx
figure 1.) (150°); the quintile (72°), the biquintile
(144°), and the decile (36°). The minor
Aspect (from the Latin aspicere, aspec- aspects are a fairly modern innova­
tum, to look at): Angular relationship tion. Ptolemy recognized only the
between two planets or important major aspects; he did not consider
points on the zodiac; one of a set of the conjunction an aspect, although
specific angles. In a birth chart, as­ he treated it as one, and dismissed
pects are the building blocks of char­ the quincunx as the "inconjunct."
acter, and the interpretation of a The minor aspects, including the
chart depends to a great extent on quintile group, were introduced by
the study of aspects. It is worth not­
ing that the archaic meaning of aspect
was "glance," "gaze," or "appear­
ance." Its use in astrology is part of
an anthropomorphic legacy in which
planets are "lords" and "rulers" and
have "domiciles" and "mansions."
Thus the planets' aspects were how
they "looked at" each other—that is,
in a friendly or unfriendly manner.
This may explain why classical as­
trologers did not consider the con­
junction, when two planets occupy
the same degree, as an aspect but
rather as a position.
The German astronomer Johannes
Kepler was the first to formulate a Figure 2. Aspects. O is the point of refer­
ence—usually the Earth. A, B, C, D, and E are
general theory of aspects and to di­ possible directions for planets or other impor­
vide them into major and minor. Ma­ tant points. Planets A and B are opposed; an­
jor aspects include the conjunction, gle AOB is 180°. Planets A and C are trine;
angle AOC is 120°. Planets A and D are square;
when two planets have the same ce­ angle AOD is 90°. Planets A and E are sextile;
lestial longitude; the opposition, angle AOE is 60°.
16 aspect

Kepler; the semisextile and quincunx example, a conjunction of Moon and

may have been introduced by Jean- Venus would be helpful, whereas a
Baptiste Morin. (See antiscion; conjunction of Mars and Saturn
PARALLEL.) would be difficult. The trine, which
Classical astrologers characterized combines signs of the same element,
aspects as benefic or malefic, that is, is considered helpful; the sextile,
good or bad. Most modern astrolo­ which combines signs of harmonious
gers find these terms antiquated and elements, perhaps even more so. The
feel that they convey an unfortunate sextile seems to require a little more
determinism; they prefer to use such effort on the native's part; the trine
words as helpful and challenging, or is sometimes associated with laziness
soft and hard, to distinguish the two and lack of motivation. The opposi­
general categories of aspects. It will tion and square are deemed difficult,
be noted that the hard aspects all de­ although the stress they indicate may
rive from repeated division of the cir­ also be a spur to personal growth.
cle by two, whereas the soft aspects The general consensus of modem as­
represent division of the circle by trologers is that the square is harder
three, five, six, or twelve. to resolve than the opposition. This
The quality of the conjunction is may be because in an opposition the
regarded as dependent on the nature two planets are usually in signs of
of the planets it brings together. For harmonious elements, whereas this
is usually not the case in the square
(see compatibility).
In interpreting a birth chart, the
different aspects are not given the
same strength. Most astrologers find
that the closer an aspect is to being
exact, the stronger it is; but its
strength also depends on the orbs of
the planets involved. An orb is a
spherical space of variable size sur­
rounding a planet or sensitive point
within which its influence or recep­
tivity with respect to other bodies is
considered to operate. The exact size
of the orbs of the planets has never
been established, but the general rule
is the faster the planet or point is
moving—and thus the sooner it will
form a given aspect with another
planet—the wider its orb. Thus the
Architectural "sextant” of sixty steps at the
observatory at Samarkand. Each step enabled
Moon or Ascendant may have orbs
astrologers to observe the sky from a different of up to 15°, whereas Uranus, Nep­
angle. (Photo by Boudot-Lamotte.) tune, or Pluto may be assigned only
 aspect 17

2°. An exception to this rule is the Pisces, the two planets are within orb
Sun, which is granted an orb com­ of a trine, but their signs are in
parable to the Moon's by virtue of its square. The trine is said to be "out of
importance. Orbs for aspects be­ sign." The aspect "works," espe­
tween Sun, Moon, or faster-moving cially since it is doubly applying, but
planets and slower-moving planets is weaker than it would be if Mercury
are an average of the greater and the were in 0° Cancer, and in trine to
lesser orb. Jupiter by sign as well as by longi­
By the same token, orbs for apply­ tude. Out-of-sign aspects are less
ing aspects are greater than those for conspicuous than in-sign aspects and
separating aspects (see applying as­ hence are easily overlooked, even by
pect). Orbs also vary according to the experienced astrologers.
strength of the aspect. Thus the orb The foregoing discussion of as­
allowed for a major aspect, such as pects represents a blend of traditional
the conjunction or opposition, is and modern ideas. The major aspects
wider than that permitted for a minor are traditional, the minor aspects
aspect, such as the quintile or ses- modern; the idea of good and bad
quisquare. Orbs are increased in aspects is traditional, the more neu­
cases where there is translation of tral approach implied by hard and soft
light. Finally, orbs vary according to is modern. The idea of orb is a fairly
the strength and importance of a recent one; there is good reason to
planet within a particular chart. Thus believe that in defining the major as­
a slow-moving planet such as Saturn pects, Ptolemy was really talking
may be given a wider orb than usual about the relationship between signs:
if it is the ruler of the Ascendant, In other words, any two planets in
dignified by sign or house position, water signs would be in trine, re­
culminating or on an angle, the gardless of degree. This is still the
ruler of a stellium, part of a major approach taken by Hindu astrology
configuration, or emphasized in (see India, astrology in).
some other way. The latest trend in aspect theory,
With all these factors to consider, which reflects the impact of Nelson's
there can be no hard-and-fast rules, work in weather forecasting and Ad­
but many astrologers allow 8° to 10° dey's work in harmonics, is toward
for the conjunction, 6° to 8° for the more aspects and smaller orbs. The
opposition, 5° to 6° for the square, 4° study of harmonics has introduced
to 6° for the trine and sextile, and 2° the possibility that all divisions of the
for the minor aspects. circle may be relevant—or at least
The strength of an aspect is de­ many more than have been consid­
creased if it is "out of sign," that is, ered in the past. And Nelson's suc­
if the planets are within orb of aspect cess in predicting radio disturbances
but their respective signs do not cor­ by observing patterns in the heli­
respond to the aspect involved. For ocentric positions of the planets
example, if Mercury is at 27° Gemini (what he—independently of Addey—
and Jupiter is retrograde at 3° calls "simultaneous multiple harmon­
18 aspectarian

ics") suggests that aspects are more Mars and Jupiter (but see Chiron).
powerful in groups than singly. Nel­ The four largest—Ceres, Pallas,
son's findings provide a heliocentric Juno, and Vesta—were discovered
parallel to the Uranian use of "pla­ in 1801, 1802, 1804, and 1807, respec­
netary pictures" (see Uranian sys­ tively. Because of the difficulty in ob­
tem). The importance of major con­ taining accurate positions, the aster­
figurations in the work of heliocentric oids were ignored by most astrol­
astrologers Michael and Margaret Er- ogers until 1973, when Eleanor Bach
lewine is part of the modern trend to undertook to have an astronomer
consider aspects in combination prepare an ephemeris of the first
rather than in isolation. four. Her pioneering work led to
Amid the current uncertainty over greater use of the asteroids among
such questions as house division, serious astrologers, especially those
rulership, and even the validity of with a humanistic orientation. A
the zodiac itself, aspect theory stands more accurate ephemeris for these
out as one of the few areas where bodies was published under the di­
astrological tradition is being both rection of Dr. Zipporah Dobyns in
supported and refined by research. 1977.
The exploration of aspects may well Bach assigns all the asteroids to
be the wave of the future. (See con­ Virgo. She believes that they are re­
junction; MUNDANE ASPECT; OPPOSI­ lated to the general welfare of hu­
TION; parallel; sextile; square; mankind and have a civilizing or hu­
trine; and so on. Also see harmon­ manizing influence that is peculiarly
ics.) feminine. She associates them with
women's liberation, ecology, nutri­
Aspectarian: A section included in tion, birth control, and abortion re­
most ephemerides that lists all the form. Dobyns assigns Ceres and
major planetary aspects for a given Vesta to Virgo and Juno and Pallas to
period, usually a month, in order of Libra. She associates Ceres and Vesta
formation (see aspect). The time with the work ethic and service and
when an aspect reaches exactitude is Juno and Pallas with justice and
generally given in Ephemeris Time or equality, especially women's libera­
Greenwich Mean Time (see time), tion.
either of which may be converted to
the desired local time by adding (east Astrocartography: See locational
of Greenwich) or subtracting (west of ASTROLOGY.
Greenwich) the appropriate number
of hours. (See sample page from an Astroeconomics: The application of
ephemeris, page 48.) astrological principles to the world of
business and finance. Astrologers
Asteroids (also called Minor Planets specializing in this area may study
or Planetoids): Thousands of small the charts of large corporations or
bodies invisible to the naked eye, corporation executives (natal as­
nearly all of whose orbits lie between trology) or correlate the motions of
 astrology 19

the planets with trends in interna­ der to erect horoscopes before the
tional trade and the stock market publication of ephemerides. Pto­
(mundane astrology). Fluctuations lemy gave the name to the armil-
in the Dow Jones Average have been lary sphere, a usage that persisted
linked to the cycles of Jupiter and until the twelfth century. Certain as­
Saturn: Jupiter, the principle of ex­ trologers of the late nineteenth cen­
pansion, is associated with opti­ tury, including Julevno, used the
mism, rising prices, and inflation; term to refer to a kind of protractor
Saturn, the principle of contraction, with movable arms that was used to
with caution, falling prices, and determine aspects.
scarcity. The great technical astrolo­
ger L. E. Johndro supported himself Astrological Age: See precessional
partly by playing the stock and com­ age; precession of the equinoxes.
modity market; he also advised
prominent business people about Astrology (from the Greek astron,
their investments. star, and logos, discourse): Literally,
the science of the stars; the parent of
Astroflash: See Barbault, Andre; astronomy and, among the an­
COMPUTERS AND ASTROLOGY. cients, synonymous with it. Astrol­
ogers generally recognize four broad
Astrolabe (from the Greek astron, stages in the history of astrology:
star, and lambanein, to take): A com­ preliterate astrology, which preceded
pact instrument said to have been in­ recorded history; ancient astrology,
vented by Hipparchus (second cen­ from the dawn of history to about the
tury B.C.) for observing the positions second century A.D.; classical, or tra­
of the heavenly bodies and determin­ ditional, astrology, from the second
ing their elevation above the horizon. century A.D. to 1700; and modern
Astrologers used the astrolabe in or- astrology, from 1700 to the present.
Modern astrology might be defined
as the study of the movements of the
Sun, Moon, and planets in relation
to events on Earth, especially human
personality and behavior; or, con­
versely, as the study of human affairs
in relation to their cosmic environ­
ment. The central assumption of as­
trology is that the positions of the
Sun, Moon, and planets at the birth
of an individual or the beginning of
an enterprise are related in a signifi­
cant and observable manner to the
intrinsic character and later devel­
Astrolabe of Abu Bakr ibn Iusuf. Each disk
corresponds to a season. (Musee Paul-Dupuy,
opment of that individual or enter­
Toulouse; photo by Lauros-Giraudon.) prise.
20 astrology

Herodotus' remark that "by ob­ ticipating potential health problems

serving the day of a person's birth, and diagnosing physical or mental
one can predict his destiny" implies illness, and esoteric astrology,
a deterministic conception of astrol­ which sees the birth chart as a guide
ogy that was already being opposed to spiritual awareness and evolution.
by the beginning of the Christian era. Mundane (or judicial, or political)
The adage astra inclinant, non necessi- astrology focuses on collective
tant ("the stars incline, they do not rather than personal history and at­
compel") has by now become a com­ tempts to anticipate the course of
monplace. Indeed, there are few as­ public events and cultural trends by
trologers who have denied that hu­ studying the positions of the planets
man beings have the ability to at equinoxes, solstices, lunations,
exercise free will. eclipses, and major planetary con­
Although astrology was long con­ junctions, as well as planetary pat­
sidered a means of divination and is terns and cycles seen at long range.
still associated in the public mind Under mundane astrology are also
with prediction, many contemporary included astroeconomics, the ap­
astrologers are less interested in pre­ plication of astrology to the world of
dicting the future than in exploring business and finance, astromete­
the psyche and revealing the multi­ orology, or meteorological astrology,
ple facets of a personality. They re­ the application of the theory of as­
gard the birth chart as a complex pects to the forecasting of weather
mass of information pertaining to the conditions and earthquakes and un­
individual's potential rather than a doubtedly the oldest branch of all,
blueprint of his fate, and the stars as agricultural astrology, the appli­
descriptive symbols rather than de­ cation of astrological principles to the
termining causes of his tempera­ planting and harvesting of crops.
ment. (See cycle; eclipse; lunation.)
Astrology has several different Horary astrology is a form of
branches and subbranches. The most divination in which a horoscope is
familiar, and the one that is the pri­ cast for the moment a question is
mary focus of this volume, is natal asked. Electional astrology is the
(or genethliacal) astrology, which in­ study of transits (see transit) with
volves the calculation and interpre­ a view to choosing a favorable mo­
tation of birth charts for individuals ment for initiating a new enterprise—
(known as natives), as well as the for example, starting a business,
study of transits, progressions, and going on a trip, or getting married.
directions to such charts (see pro­ Locational astrology is the appli­
gression and direction; transit), cation of astrological principles to the
and their comparison with other choice of a new location.
charts (chart comparison, or syn- Overlapping these basic branches
astry). Under natal astrology are also of astrology, there are various
included medical astrology, which schools of thought on specific ele­
uses the birth chart as an aid in an­ ments of astrological theory, reflect­
 astrology and the law 21

ing the current state of the art. Thus

there is the geocentric versus the
heliocentric approach; the tropi­
cal zodiac versus the sidereal zo­
diac; the scientific or statistical
school versus the humanist approach
or the symbolist school; the Uranian
system versus the classical, or Ptole­
maic, system—not to mention the sev­
eral different systems of house divi­
sion. Ideally all these different
approaches ought eventually to form
part of one integral astrology, once
the underlying principles of the sub­
ject are fully understood. (See Ad-
dey, John; humanistic astrology;
MODERN ASTROLOGY; STATISTICS AND
ASTROLOGY.)

Astrology and the Law: Astrology Evangeline Adams. (The Bettman Archive.)
was outlawed in England in 1736 un­ City in 1914 on a charge of fortune­
der the Witchcraft Act and again in telling, Adams insisted on standing
1825 under the Vagrancy Act, which trial. She came to court armed with
classified astrologers with "rogues reference books, expounded the
and vagabonds." As late as 1964 as­ principles of astrology, and illus­
trologers were still liable to prosecu­ trated its practice by reading a blind
tion under these laws as "fortune­ chart that turned out to be that of the
tellers," but few cases have been judge's son. The judge was so im­
brought to trial. A famous exception pressed by her character and intelli­
is the case of astrologer Alan Leo gence that he ruled in her favor, con­
(1860-1917). Leo was tried and ac­ cluding that "the defendant raises
quitted in London in 1914; in 1917 he astrology to the dignity of an exact
was arrested again on a charge of science." Fortune-telling is still illegal
"pretending and professing to tell in New York, but thanks to Evange­
fortunes." His lawyers argued that line Adams, astrology is no longer
he was not an imposter, since he regarded as fortune-telling.
made no claims to predict the future In France the legal status of astrol­
with certainty, but merely indicated ogers is unclear. Some jurists main­
tendencies. A skeptical judge fined tain that vendors of horoscopes are
him £30. liable to prosecution under a law de­
In America, however, astrologer signed to punish "all persons who
Evangeline Adams won a major vic­ make a profession of predicting the
tory in the battle for astrological re­ future or interpreting dreams."
spectability. Arrested in New York However, the majority of jurists dis­
22 astrometeorology

agree, pointing out that this article, joined a group of orthodox scientists
broadly interpreted, could apply at New York University who con­
equally well to psychoanalysts. An­ ducted a comprehensive computer­
other article designed to curb fraud ized survey of weather patterns, in­
has occasionally been cited, but its cluding a study correlating lunar
application would oblige the judge to phase and rainfall.
exceed his rights in denying the va­ Traditionally astrologers have
lidity of astrology. As Robert Ama­ based weather forecasts on the geo­
dou points out, “Even if a wise judge centric positions of the planets,
decided that only the authors of whereas meteorologists, who are just
identical printed horoscopes that are beginning to explore the relationship
sent out to all customers are liable to between planetary patterns and con­
conviction, the court would then find ditions in the Earth's atmosphere,
itself in the position of having to for­ work within a heliocentric frame­
mulate the rules for sound divina­ work. The scientist who has had the
tion." In the absence of precise leg­ most success in predicting sunspots
islation, French law ordinarily and the disturbances in radio recep­
prosecutes only astrologers who sell tion that are associated with them is
talismans or who publish offers that radio engineer John Nelson. Nel­
fall under the heading of false adver­ son's system, which is based on a
tising. Reputable astrologers in all complex system of heliocentric pla­
countries are only too happy to see netary patterns he calls "simultane­
these individuals brought to justice. ous multiple harmonics," enables
(See ethics.) him to predict storms with 90 percent
accuracy.
Astrometeorology (or Meteorological Weather prediction, like the pre­
Astrology): The study of planetary diction of human behavior, is an ex­
positions in relation to weather con­ tremely complex undertaking be­
ditions and earthquakes. Although cause of the number of variables.
meteorology is a comparatively re­ Any attempt to forecast weather con­
cent science, meteorological astrol­ ditions should take into account not
ogy may well be one of the oldest only planetary patterns but also cli­
branches of astrology. The earliest mate, geography, and season.
zodiacs were devised partly to antic­
ipate changes in the weather, such as Astronomical Year: See tropical
the annual flooding of the Nile. YEAR.
In the 1950s and 1960s the Ameri­
can sidereal astrologer Donald Brad­ Astronomy (from the Greek astron,
ley did extensive statistical research star, and nomos, law): The science
on the relationship between record that studies the heavenly bodies in
rainfalls and the positions of the order to formulate the natural laws
planets—especially Jupiter, tradition­ that govern them and to comprehend
ally associated with rain—at the time the physical structure and evolution
of lunar ingresses. Bradley also of the universe. The earliest astro­
 astronomy 23

nomical study—observations of the their day; conversely, the individuals

motions of the Sun, Moon, stars, and responsible for some of the greatest
planets—probably arose from the advances in astronomical knowl­
need of agricultural societies for an edge—for example, Tycho Brahe, Jo­
accurate calendar. Astronomy was hannes Kepler, Galileo Galilei, and
once synonymous with astrology, Isaac Newton—were practicing as­
and the observation and interpreta­ trologers or at least took astrology
tion of the heavens was originally the seriously.
province of priests. Current specu­ The present schism between as­
lations of astronomers investigating trology and astronomy began in the
such bizarre phenomena as quasars sixteenth century with Copernicus's
and black holes are beginning to displacement of the Earth as the cen­
sound more and more like meta­ ter of the universe, and expanded
physics and religion. But most ordi­ with the telescopic discovery in 1781
nary astronomical investigations aim of Uranus, which overthrew the ven­
simply to quantify the macrocosm— erable symmetry of astrology's seven
that is, to determine the distance, planets (see modern astrology).
size, density, temperature, bright­ Contemporary astronomers typically
ness, speed, and age of objects and consider astrology a quaint supersti­
phenomena in the heavens. Modem tion, a laughable pseudoscience with
astronomers, using huge optical and no basis in fact. A statement issued
radio telescopes, make their meas­ by Humanist magazine in 1975 and
urements with the aid of visible light signed by 186 scientists, including
and its analyzed spectra, radio many astronomers, condemned as­
waves, infrared rays, X rays, cosmic trology as a "cult of unreason and
rays, and radar beams. irrationalism . . . being foisted on an
For thousands of years and until unsuspecting public."
the last two or three centuries, as­ Most astronomers' objections to
tronomy was a part of astrology. The astrology are based on two principal
relationship of astronomy to astrol­ arguments: (a) that the signs of the
ogy was similar to that of the eyes to zodiac do not coincide with the con­
the brain: Astronomy provided the stellations after which they were
visual data; astrology interpreted the named; and (b) that planetary "action
data as they related to human beings. at a distance" is impossible. The first
According to Ralph Waldo Emerson, argument is known and accounted
"astrology is astronomy brought to for by most astrologers (see tropical
earth and applied to the affairs of zodiac), and the second has recently
men"; according to Emily Dickinson: been seriously questioned by scien­
Nature assigns the Sun— tific investigations (see Nelson,
That—is Astronomy— John; relativity, theory of); but
Nature cannot enact a Friend—■ these facts are largely ignored by as­
That—is Astrology. tronomers intent on discrediting as­
All the great astrologers of antiquity trology.
were also capable astronomers in Astrologers, for their part, have
24 Augustine, Saint

been guilty of the most profound ig­ Axis: 1. A straight line about which
norance of astronomy. Many of them rotation occurs and which is perpen­
seem to regard the physical structure dicular to the direction of rotation.
of the universe, especially anything For example, the Earth's axis extends
beyond our solar system, as irrele­ from the North Pole to the South
vant, and quantification in any form Pole (also from the north celestial
as a threat to the human and spiritual pole to the south celestial pole) and
significance of astrology. There are is perpendicular to the Equator (also
exceptions. For example, Theodor to the celestial equator). The Earth
Landscheidt finds astrological signif­ rotates about this axis in the plane of
icance in quantum mechanics, the the Equator. Any plane can have an
space-time continuum, and .the evo­ axis perpendicular to it. For example,
lution and structure of the galaxy (see the ecliptic has an axis perpendic­
Galactic Center; galaxy); and Mi­ ular to its plane about which the
chael and Margaret Erlewine inte­ Earth's rotational axis revolves in
grate into their heliocentric as­ 25,800 years (see precession of the
trology the most recently dis­ equinoxes). 2. One of the two inter­
covered astronomical phenomena, secting lines, or axes, of a birth
including quasars, pulsars, and black chart—the horizon and the merid­
holes. ian—that divide it into four quad­
rants. 3. Any line connecting polar
Augustine, Saint: See Christianity opposites; for example, the opposi­
and astrology; Middle Ages, as­ tion from Cancer to Capricorn is
trology IN THE. along the Cancer-Capricorn axis. The
term is sometimes used to mean po­
Autumnal Equinox (or Autumn larity. 4. A term used in cosmobiol-
Equinox): See equinoxes. ogy to refer to (a) a factor that stands
at the midpoint of two other factors
Autumnal Ingress (or Autumn In­ and thereby activates the midpoint;
gress): See ingress. or (b) the actual midpoint itself.

Axial Rotation: The spinning of any Ayanamsa (or Ayanamsha) (from the
celestial body around its axis. The Sanskrit for precession): The differ­
axial rotation of the Earth causes the ence in celestial longitude be­
apparent diurnal motion of the Sun, tween the Indian sidereal sign and its
Moon, planets, and stars from their corresponding Western tropical sign.
rising at the eastern horizon to their The ayanamsa used by Western si­
culmination on the local meridian to derealists is that of Fagan and Brad­
their setting at the western horizon. ley. Its precise value was arrived at
One complete axial rotation of the by empirical and statistical methods;
Earth takes 23 hours 56 minutes 4.09 in 1950 it was approximately 24°. In
seconds of mean solar time, a period India there are several different aya-
known as the sidereal day (see time). namsas in use. Because of preces­
 azimuth circle 25

sion of the equinoxes, the value of increase in a westward direction from

an ayanamsa increases by about 1.4° the North Point, or eastward from
every hundred years. (See India, as­ the South Point; and sometimes in
trology in; sidereal zodiac.) both directions, in which case there
is an east (or positive) azimuth and
Azimuth (from the Arabic al-sumut, a west (or negative) azimuth. An azi­
plural of al-samt, the way, direction, muth circle, or vertical circle, labeled
arc): Angular distance measured in by a specific number of degrees is a
degrees, minutes, and seconds along great circle perpendicular to the
the horizon, usually in an eastward horizon at a point that number of de­
direction from the North Point. The grees from the azimuth starting
azimuth of the North Point is 0°, the point. (See celestial coordinates.)
East Point 90°, the South Point 180°,
and the West Point 270°. However, Azimuth Circle: See azimuth.
azimuth is sometimes considered to
Babilius: See Romans, astrology two books, de la Psychanalyse de
AMONG THE. I’Astrologie, a psychological interpre­
tation of astrology, and Traite pratique
Bach, Eleanor: See asteroids. d'Astrologie, a textbook widely used
in France, Belgium, Switzerland, It­
Bacon, Francis (1561-1626): English aly, and Spain.
philosopher, statesman, and essay­ Barbault was a leading force in the
ist; regarded as the father of modern Centre International d'Astrologie
science and, with Descartes, of mod­ from its formation in 1946 and served
ern philosophy. Bacon was an ardent as its vice president from 1953 to
believer in and champion of astrol­ 1967. In 1967 he caused a sensation
ogy. In Astrologia Sana, he expressed by opening, on the Champs-Elysees
the opinion that astrology had rule in Paris, the first computerized as­
over the fates of princes and nations. trology service, Ordinastral-Astro-
Bacon, Roger: See Middle Ages, as­
flash, which turned out thousands of
trology IN THE.
horoscopes a day, complete with in­
terpretations. Barbault's colleagues
Bailey, Alice: See esoteric astrol­ criticized him for engaging in this
ogy. commercialized form of astrology,
but Astroflash quickly spread to sev­
Barbault, Andre (October 1, 1921, enteen other countries of Europe,
5:00 P.M., Champignelles/Yonne, America, Africa, and Australia. In
France-): French astrologer, author, the same year Barbault founded the
and popularizer of astrology. An au­ serious quarterly journal I'Astrologue,
todidact, Barbault was collecting and now in its fiftieth issue, whose con­
studying birth charts by the age of tributors have included numerous
fifteen. His discovery of Freud at the scientists and academicians, and
age of nineteen convinced him that such notables as Jean Cocteau, Andre
the symbolic language of astrology Breton, and C. G. Jung.
can only be understood in the light Although it is his psychoanalytic
of Freudian concepts, especially the approach to astrology that has been
unconscious. In 1961 he published most influential in shaping modem
 biquintile 27

French astrological practice, much of ing away from the categorization of

Barbault's work as a serious astrolo­ planets and aspects as good or bad
ger has been devoted to mundane and the outmoded determinism this
astrology. Concentrating his atten­ implies. They tend to regard the
tion on the nineteenth and twentieth planets as energies that can operate
centuries, he began by correlating se­ for either good or ill, depending on
ries of related events with the sy­ how they are used. Thus Jupiter is a
nodic cycles of pairs of planets. His principle of expansion and Venus is
analysis of the great trends of mod­ a principle of magnetism, either of
ern history is set forth in les Astres et which can lead to excess. Similarly,
I'histoire (1967). His efforts to verify in referring to aspects, the words be­
his correlations led to a systematic nefic and malefic are being replaced
technique of prediction with which with such terms as helpful and stress­
he successfully forecast crises in ful, or soft and hard.
French government as well as a
dozen of the milestones in the inter­ Berosus: Babylonian priest, histo­
national history of the last quarter rian, and astrologer born around 330
century (see le Pronostic experimental B.C. A contemporary of Alexander,
en astrologie, 1973). In his latest work, he left Mesopotamia and settled on
I’Astrologie mondiale (1979), he turns the Greek island of Cos, where he
from individual synodic cycles to the taught astrology. Around 280 B.C. he
solar system as a whole and recon­ wrote a history of Babylonia, of
ciles some of the concepts of tradi­ which only fragments remain. It was
tional cosmology with those of mod­ through his teaching that Chaldean
em geophysics. astrology spread to Greece. (See
Generally considered France's Greeks, astrology among the.)
greatest living astrologer and widely
read in Europe, Barbault is known in Besieged: A somewhat archaic term
the United States chiefly as the au­ used to describe a planet or other sig-
thor of the programs for Astroflash, nificator located between, and
and not one of his thirty-odd books within orbs of, two other planets, es­
has been translated into English. (See pecially two malefics, in which case
COMPUTERS AND ASTROLOGY. it was held to be severely afflicted;
but also two benefics, in which case
Benefic: Literally, “doing good"; a it was held to be "favorably be­
term applied by ancient and classical sieged."
astrologers to planets or aspects re­
garded as having a favorable influ­ Bicorporeal Signs: See double signs.
ence; the opposite of malefic. Pto­
lemy classifies Jupiter, Venus, and Biquintile (symbol ±): A minor as­
the Moon as benefic planets and the pect of 144°, introduced by Kepler,
trine and sextile as harmonious as­ based on the division of the circle by
pects. Modem astrologers are mov­ five (i.e., 144° equals two-fifths of
28 birth chart

360°). It is regarded as indicative of been several sets of these correspon­

talent. dences; hence, there is no agreement
as to which gems correspond to
Birth Chart (also called Natal Chart which signs. The following list is
or Nativity): A stylized diagram of suggestive, if not definitive:
the heavens showing the positions of
the Sun, Moon, planets, and impor­ Aries diamond, ruby,
tant points on the zodiac in degrees bloodstone,
of celestial longitude with respect carnelian, garnet
to the horizon of a given birthplace Taurus emerald, jade, moss
at the time of an individual's birth. agate
The above terms are distinguished Gemini agate, cat's eye, crystal,
from the terms horoscope, map, sky aquamarine
map, and figure, which can also be Cancer jacinth, pearl,
applied to the chart of a moment, moonstone, opal,
event, or phenomenon other than quartz
the birth of an individual (see hor­ Leo sardonyx, chrysolite,
oscope). The erection and interpre­ topaz
tation of birth charts is the primary Virgo sapphire, agate,
technique of natal astrology, as jacinth, opal
distinguished from such secondary Libra coral, emerald, opal
techniques as progressions, direc­ Scorpio beryl, obsidian, ruby,
tions, transits, and solar returns. (See sardonyx, topaz
chart calculation; chart inter­ Sagittarius turquoise, amethyst,
pretation; PROGRESSION AND DIREC­ lapis lazuli
TION; SOLAR RETURN; TRANSIT.) Capricorn gems in general; onyx,
jet, garnet
Birthday Locality Chart: See loca­ Aquarius white coral, amber,
tional ASTROLOGY. chalcedonyx,
amethyst, pearl
Birthplace System: See house divi­ Pisces aquamarine, ivory,
sion. sardonyx, jade

Birth Sign: See Sun sign.

Birthstones: According to Hermetic

theory, certain precious or semipre­
cious gems were associated with cer­
tain signs of the zodiac and were re­
garded as beneficial and even
therapeutic for natives of those signs,
who sometimes wore them as talis­ Rings engraved with astrological symbols,
mans. Unfortunately, there have used as talismans. (After Abraham Gorlaeus.)
 Brahe, Tycho 29

Birthtime: An accurate time of birth entitled Where to Write for Birth and
is essential for the calculation of a Death Records which lists the ad­
satisfactory birth chart, yet even with dresses of these agencies, write to:
the current revival of interest in as­ The Superintendent of Documents,
trology it is sometimes hard to come U.S. Government Printing Office,
by. Most birthtimes are rounded off Washington, D.C. 20402.
to the nearest quarter hour, half If you were adopted, born at
hour, or even hour. Many hospitals home, or for some other reason are
now record time of birth, but they do unable to obtain an accurate birth­
so without any great concern for pre­ time, you should explore the possi­
cision and often, one suspects, sev­ bility of having your chart rectified
eral minutes after delivery has oc­ by a competent astrologer. In the
curred. But even under ideal meantime, you can work with a so­
circumstances—an astrologer hus­ lar chart. (See precision; rectifi­
band or midwife standing by with cation.)
one eye on the mother and the other
on an accurate timepiece—the ques­ Bonati, Guido: See Middle Ages,
tion arises, When does birth occur— astrology in the.
crowning (first appearance of the
baby's head), delivery, first cry, first Bonaventura: See Middle Ages, as­
breath, or the severing of the umbil­ trology IN THE.
ical cord? All of these stages in the
birth process are surely of vital im­ Borrowed Light: See translation
portance, but the consensus of as­ OF LIGHT.
trologers seems to be that the begin­
ning of the infant's independent Bradley, Donald: See sidereal zo­
existence coincides with the first in­ diac.
take of breath that normally follows
his or her first cry. Brahe, Tycho (April 13, 1546, Kund-
The natural source of birth infor­ storp, Denmark-October 21, 1601,
mation is the mother, but unfortu­ Prague): Danish astrologer and as­
nately her memory is often no more tronomer. Under the patronage of
accurate than that of the father, sis­ King Frederick II, he taught astron­
ter, or other relatives. Time of birth omy at the University of Copenhagen
is often shown on the birth certifi­ and founded an observatory on the
cate. If it is not, it may still be on file island of Hven, which he received as
at the hospital or, in the United a fief from the king. After Frederick's
States, at an office of the Department death, he moved to Prague, where
of Health in each of the fifty states. he was received by Emperor Rudolf
Hospitals usually supply the infor­ II and took as his assistant Johannes
mation free of charge; the state Kepler. Tycho Brahe was the great­
agency will send a copy of the doc­ est astronomer since Hipparchus,
ument for a small fee. For a pamphlet and to him we owe the most precise
30 Brown, W. Kenneth
trology, the new contributions of Is­
lam, known through Latin transla­
tions, were gradually, over the
centuries, added to the teachings of
the Greeks, especially Ptolemy.
At first astrology was regarded
with suspicion by the temporal and
spiritual powers of Christian Byzan­
tium. In the fourth century the East­
ern Church formally condemned its
determinism, a position that was up­
held four centuries later by Saint
John of Damascus. But these efforts
were in vain, and from the eighth
century until the capture of Constan­
tinople by the Ottoman Turks in 1453
astrology flourished in Byzantium.
Michael Psellus (1018-78), a By­
zantine philosopher who reformed
Tycho Brahe. (The Bettman Archive.)
the university, taught astrology,
observations that were made before along with rhetoric, philosophy, and
the invention of the telescope. He cosmogony. His belief in astrology
designed accurate metal instruments influenced two of his friends, Mi­
and discovered exploding novae. The chael Caerularius, author of the
accuracy of his observations, which schism between the Greek Church
was unprecedented, led Kepler to the and Rome, and John Xiphilin, both
discovery of the laws governing the of whom held the post of patriarch
motions of the planets. An enthu­ of Constantinople. In the last years
siastic practitioner of mundane as­ of the empire, the Platonic philoso­
trology, he developed the theory of pher Gemistus Pletho (ca. 1355-
aspects, with special attention to the 1450), a pioneer in the revival of
relationship between the great con­ learning in Western Europe who had
junctions and natural cataclysms (see visited the Muslim court of Adriano­
aspect). ple before heading a school of phi­
losophy at Nistra, was convinced of
Brown, W. Kenneth: See Johndro, the scientific validity of astrology. He
L. E. traveled to Florence, where he met
Petrarch and played an important
Buffalo: See Ox. role in spreading Byzantine astrology
in Renaissance Italy.
Byzantium, Astrology in: Cross­ In the golden age of Byzantium,
roads of many civilizations, Byzan­ however, astrology was not available
tium inherited the use of magic and to the common people. The astrolo­
sorcery from the Orient. As for as­ gers were philosophers, mathemati-
 Byzantium, astrology in 31

cians, and often priests, and they had nevertheless beaten. This did not
no dealings with the magicians, ven­ prevent him from commissioning
dors of amulets and potions, fortune­ Michael Glykas to write a Defense of
tellers, and mountebanks who Astrology in answer to a monk who
abounded in the marketplaces of all had attacked it. During the twelfth
the cities of the empire. Their serv­ century, Byzantine astrology reached
ices were expensive, and it was its peak. It was then that two impor­
mostly among the aristocracy that tant astrological poems were written,
they recruited their clientele. There one by Theodore Prodrome, the
were also many emperors who called other by John Kamateros, a sort of
in astrologers to advise them, even keeper of the seals to the emperor,
if their predictions sometimes proved dedicated to Manuel Comnenus. Al­
to be false. In 792 Pancratos, astrol­ though Alexius Comnenus was
oger to Constantine VI, predicted somewhat skeptical about astrology,
that his master would win a certain his daughter, Anne, one of the few
battle, whereas he suffered a crush­ educated women in the empire, prac­
ing defeat. And in 1154 Manuel Com- ticed it herself and wrote a history of
nenus, who was at war with the king it in which she erroneously con­
of Sicily, consulted his astrologers cluded that it was a recent phenom­
before preparing his fleet, which was enon. (See DAYS OF THE WEEK.)
Cabala (also Cabbala, Cabbalah, Ka- work of Michel and Franchise Gau-
bala, Kabbala, Kabbalah, Qabbala, quelin demonstrates that cadent
or Qabbalah): A system of philoso­ houses, particularly the half adjoin­
phy, at first handed down orally and ing the angles, give exceptional
later committed to writing, based on strength to a planet; for example,
mystical interpretation of the Scrip­ Mars is at its most "combative” and
tures and practiced by ancient Jewish "self-willed" in this position.
rabbis and certain medieval Chris­
tians. Cabalist thought had a pro­ Calendar Year: See tropical year.
found impact on all the occult teach­
ings, particularly those concerned Campanus, Johannes (also known as
with divination, such as numerology Giovanni Campanella; d. ca. 1297):
and the Tarot. Cabalists shared with Italian mathematician and geometer
astrologers the medieval idea that of the thirteenth century. He trans­
man is a microcosm. (See Hebrews, lated Euclid's Elements from the Ar­
ASTROLOGY AMONG THE; MICROCOSM.) abic. He is also reputed to have per­
fected a method of house division
Cadent (from the Latin cadere, to fall): that is still used by some astrologers,
Term used to describe the houses in although there is some uncertainty as
a horoscope that "fall away" from the to the identity of this person.
angles, or the planets occupying
such houses. The cadent houses are Campanus System: See house divi­
the Third, Sixth, Ninth, and Twelfth; sion.
they correspond to the mutable
signs, and planets in those houses Cancer (glyph 25): The fourth sign of
are associated with distribution and the zodiac, which the Sun transits
service. According to traditional as­ during the first month of summer,
trology, a planet is weakened by from about June 21 to about July 22.
being cadent, just as it is strength­ The symbol for this sign is the crab.
ened by being angular—that is, Its polarity is negative, its element
placed in one of the houses following is water (see elements), its quality is
the angles of the chart. However, the cardinal (see qualities), its ruling
 Cancer 33

clude not only Sun-sign Cancers, but

-Cancer all in whose charts the sign is em­
phasized—remain deeply connected
to the early part of their lives, even
though it may not have been espe­
cially tranquil. As babies they are
given to inexplicable crying jags and
seem more subject than other infants
to visceral discomfort. Cancer chil­
dren are famous for their protective
attitude toward younger siblings and
their worried concern for the well­
being of every family member, and
as they grow older, this maternal
quality becomes more conspicuous.
Even adult Cancerians are deeply
connected to their mother. They
crave the total intimacy of the baby
planet is the Moon (see rulership), at the breast, and since no adult re­
and its natural house is the Fourth. lationship can re-create the perfect
In Cancer, the activity of cardinal­ fulfillment of those moments, they
ity, the emotionality of water, and may often feel unsatisfied. They may
the instability of the Moon combine hold on to old hurts and resentments
to produce a paradoxical creature simply out of fear of the unknown.
whose extreme sensitivity does not And yet in their very sensitivity,
always show on the surface. Like the there is a great source of strength.
crab that is their animal symbol, Can- Once Cancerians can overcome their
cerians develop a tough outer shell shyness, their passivity, and their
to protect the vulnerability within. preoccupation with themselves and
This shell may be their home, a place can learn to master their turbulent
they can retreat to, full of familiar moods, there is almost nothing they
treasures they have collected to con­ cannot accomplish. With their gifts of
sole their psyche in an alien world. imagination, intuition, and insight
It may also be a system of psycholog­ and their ability to get in touch with
ical defenses they have created in or­ their inner experience, they can re­
der to avoid pain. Also like the crab, verse the tide of negativity and turn
Cancerians will move sideways to suffering into success.
avoid a confrontation, but when at­ Because relationships are so im­
tacked, they will hang on tena­ portant to them, Cancerians in love
ciously: Crabs will risk losing a claw can be both demanding and gener­
before they will release their prey. ous. They are passionate and pos­
The Moon rules infancy and moth­ sessive, sometimes holding on to a
erhood, and Cancerians—who in­ relationship long after it has proved
34 Capricorn

unrewarding. Since Cancerians like nae for changing public tastes and
to perpetuate the mother-child bond, trends. The list of famous Sun-sign
they often pick partners they can Cancerians includes Ingmar Berg­
mother or whom they can look up to man, John Calvin, Jean Cocteau,
as a parent figure or, better yet, part­ Mary Baker Eddy, Stephen Foster,
ners with whom they can alternate Buckminster Fuller, Hermann Hesse,
between the two roles, playing the Franz Kafka, Helen Keller, Reinhold
child today and the mother tomor­ Niebuhr, George Orwell, Marcel
row, as the mood strikes them. Their Proust, Rembrandt van Rijn, Nelson
sensitivity to others' moods is a two- Rockefeller, Jean-Jacques Rousseau,
edged sword, making them both im­ Peter Paul Rubens, Georges Sand,
possibly touchy and wonderfully and Henry David Thoreau. (See
sympathetic. But Cancerians will BIRTHSTONES; COLORS; DAYS OF THE
atone for their moodiness by their week; metals.)
loyalty to their mates and will make
their home and family the center of Capricorn (glyph kJ): The tenth sign
their life. Their most compatible of the zodiac, which the Sun transits
signs are Scorpio, Pisces, Taurus, during the first month of winter,
and Virgo; Gemini, Leo, Sagittarius, from about December 22 to about
and Aquarius are neutral; and Aries January 20. The symbol for this sign
and Libra are likely to be difficult. is the mountain goat. Its polarity is
With Capricorn, their polar opposite negative, its element is earth (see
in the zodiac, there is both attraction elements), its quality is cardinal (see
and tension. With another Cancer, qualities), its ruling planet is Saturn
there may well be too much feeling (see rulership), and its natural
for one home to withstand. But in all house is the Tenth.
cases, the success of the relationship The old symbol for Capricorn is a
will depend on how the two charts mythological creature with the head
interact and not on the compatibil­ of a goat and the tail of a fish, an
ity of Sun signs alone. image that contains the idea of evo­
With their acute perceptions and lution: the long, slow climb of animal
psychic ability, Cancerians can suc­ life out of the primordial slime and
ceed in many professions, but they upward toward the stars. The idea of
are at their best in activities where ascent is echoed by Capricorn's rul­
they can express their imagination ership of the knee, which must bend
and their need to nurture. The sign in order for the body to climb. The
is associated with such diverse fields Sun is also climbing northward in
as homemaking, advertising, interior Capricorn, for it enters the sign at the
decorating, antiques, cooking, coun­ winter solstice, the longest night of
seling, nursing, teaching, editing, the year. Thus Capricorn is the sign
writing, and the arts. Contrary to of hope, ambition, and aspiration.
popular opinion, Cancerians can be The practicality of earth, the initi­
very successful at business: cautious, ating energy of cardinality, and the
conservative, and with keen anten­ sobering influence of Saturn combine
 Capricorn 35

and planners, but it sometimes limits

5> iapiicotnus spontaneity.
Contrary to popular belief, and the
influence of Saturn notwithstanding,
Capricorn is not necessarily a sex­
ually cold sign. All the earth signs
are sensual, and once Capricorns
overcome their anxieties about not
being good enough and learn to re­
lax, they can be lusty and imaginative
lovers. The women often have the
type of classic beauty based on good
bone structure that is sometimes seen
in the pages of high-fashion maga­
zines. Both sexes are often attracted
to older partners and are capable of
marrying for money or prestige.
Their most compatible signs are Tau­
rus, Virgo, Scorpio, and Pisces; Sag­
to make up a nature that is oriented ittarius, Aquarius, Gemini, and Leo
toward leadership and excellence. are neutral; and Aries and Libra may
Capricornians—who include not be difficult. With another Capricorn,
only Sun-sign Capricorns, but all in there is often mutual respect. With
whose charts the sign is empha­ Cancer, their polar opposite on the
sized—are serious people. Capricorn zodiac, there will be both attraction
children are in a hurry to grow up and tension; but ultimately the ques­
and assume responsibility. They feel tion of compatibility can be an­
a strong connection with older peo­ swered only by careful comparison of
ple, especially their fathers, whose two entire charts.
approval they seek and whom they With their love of work, patience,
look up to as teachers. and high standards, Capricorns can
As adults, Capricorns continually rise to the top of almost any field.
seek to improve themselves, whether With their understanding of money,
by making more money, furthering power, and timing, they have a nat­
their education, or choosing a spirit­ ural flair for business, but with their
ual path, usually one involving dis­ intuitive sense of form and their tire­
cipline or where they follow the less pursuit of quality, they can
teachings of a master. Saturn rules achieve wonders in the arts. Their
the limitations of the material world, fascination with the structure of the
especially time and space, and the universe may take them far in sci­
Capricorn awareness of time takes ence, and their sense of responsibil­
the form of anticipating the future ity may inspire them to assume the
rather than living in the present. This role of religious leader or even mar­
makes them wonderful organizers tyr. As the sign ruling government,
36 caput draconis

Capricorn has an affinity for politics, and the two solstices. The cardinal
and here we may see statesmen who signs are Aries, Cancer, Libra, and
devote their lives to their convictions, Capricorn. The Sun's entrance into
as well as ruthless opportunists who any of these signs marks the begin­
will stop at nothing in their compul­ ning of a new season. The cardinal
sive drive for power. This sign is also signs are characterized by outgoing
associated with teaching, masonry, energy, initiative, and activity; on the
excavation, construction, clockmak­ negative side, they are associated
ing, jewelry making, mining, geol­ with lack of staying power.
ogy, real estate, accounting, and In classical astrology, the cardinal
photography. The list of Sun-sign signs were known collectively as the
Capricorns who have “made it" is cardinal quadruplicity, since there are
endless; here is a representative sam­ four of them. They are also some­
ple: Muhammad Ali, Joan of Arc, Pa­ times referred to as the cardinal cross,
blo Casals, Carlos Castaneda, Paul since if planets in them are connected
Cezanne, Marlene Dietrich, Benja­ by straight lines, they form a cross.
min Franklin, J. Edgar Hoover, Jo­ A grand cardinal cross is a major con­
hannes Kepler, Martin Luther King, figuration in which two pairs of op­
Jr., Henri Matisse, Sir Isaac Newton, posing planets, all in cardinal signs,
Richard Nixon, Louis Pasteur, Elvis are in square aspect to each other,
Presley, Helena Rubinstein, Albert forming a cross (see grand cross).
Schweitzer, Joseph Stalin, Mao Tse-
Tung, Swami Vivekananda, and Carter, Charles Ernest Owen (Janu­
Woodrow Wilson. (See birthstones; ary 31, 1887, 10:55 P.M., Poole, Dor­
colors; days of the week; metals.) set, England-October 4, 1968, 4
P.M., London): English astrologer
and author. Carter came to astrology
Caput Draconis: The Dragon's Head,
in 1910 at the age of twenty-three
or north node of the Moon (see
after seeing an advertisement of Alan
nodes).
Leo's for “shilling" horoscopes. In
1913 he married Gwendoline Phyllis
Cardinal (from the Latin cardo, hinge Collet. In 1920 he revived the Astro­
or turning point): One of the three logical Lodge of the Theosophical So­
qualities, or modes, that characterize ciety, which had virtually become
the signs of the zodiac, the other two defunct when Alan Leo died three
being fixed and mutable. The car­ years before. He was elected presi­
dinal quality has been compared to dent, a post he held until 1952. In
centrifugal force in physics, or to en­ 1923 his magazine Uranus appeared;
ergy itself. The cardinal signs of the in 1926 he initiated the printed quar­
zodiac (also called angular, inflating, terly Astrology, which he edited until
leading, moving, or movable signs) 1959. His many articles and editorials
are the four signs whose cusps co­ show broad and deep interests in all
incide with the cardinal points of the branches of astrology, scientific and
ecliptic, that is, the two equinoxes holistic.
 Cat 37

encouragement, and he became its

first president. In 1951 he published
his last book, An Introduction to Polit­
ical Astrology—the outcome of a great
deal of observational and statistical
work during World War II.
Charles Harvey writes of Charles
Carter, “He was a man of intellect
who brought real standards and a
splendid measure of sound common
sense to an area previously awash
with vague assertions. His mixture of
observation, experiment, and a keen
sense of first principles was an ex­
tremely important influence both on
the development of the Faculty of
Astrological Studies and the Astro­
logical Assocation, and personally on
the work of John Addey and many
other less well known figures in Brit­
ish astrology. His influence is still
very much alive."
Charles Carter.

Carter was not primarily an astro­ Cat: The fourth sign of the Chinese
logical initiator, in spite of the con­ zodiac, including all persons born
siderable originality of his thought; between
his contribution was rather in bring­
January 29, 1903, and February 16, 1904 (water)
ing a greater unity, clarity, and depth February 14, 1915, and February 3, 1916 (wood)
to existing concepts. His first book, February 2, 1927, and January 23, 1928 (fire)
published in 1924, was The Encyclo­ February 19, 1939, and February 8, 1940 (earth)
paedia of Psychological Astrology. His February 6, 1951, and January 27, 1952 (metal)
January 25, 1963, and February 13, 1964 (water)
most popular book was his Astrolog­
February 11, 1975, and January 31, 1976 (wood)
ical Aspects, which was first published January 29, 1987, and February 17, 1988 (fire)
in 1930 and by 1970 had run into ten
editions. Others were The Principles Talkative, theatrical, endowed
of Astrology (1925), a textbook; The with a rich imagination, the Cat is
Seven Great Problems of Astrology also vain and somewhat superficial.
(1927); The Zodiac and the Soul (1928); On the other hand, natives of this
Symbolic Directions (1929); The Astrol­ sign have amazing self-control and
ogy of Accidents (1932); Some Principles are neither envious nor jealous, qual­
of Horoscopic Delineation (1934); and ities that, added to their good taste
Essays on the Foundations of Astrology and refinement, help to atone for
(1947). In 1948 the Faculty of Astro­ their faults. Money does not interest
logical Studies was formed with his them, but they are very good at busi-
38 cauda draconis
gitude is within 17' of that of the
Sun. Being cazimi was once thought
to strengthen the planet's influence
as much as being combust the Sun
weakened it. Modern astrologers
tend to disagree, although as in all
conjunctions, the positive or negative
nature of the influence will vary ac­
cording to the nature of the planet
involved.
ness; they are particularly successful
in professions requiring diplomacy Celestial Coordinates: A pair of
and a gift for getting along with numbers used to determine the po­
people. sition of an object on the celestial
Frivolous and fun-loving, in rela­ sphere relative to a central reference
tionships they prefer a light flirtation; plane (or great circle) and the two
the grand passion is not their cup of poles of that plane. The coordinates
tea. Their sense of family is not par­ may be specific to a particular loca­
ticularly strong, although they are tion on the Earth's surface (the alt­
affectionate. azimuth system), the axial rotation of
Compatible signs: Cat, Dog, the Earth (the equatorial system), the
Dragon, Goat, Horse, Monkey, Ox, Earth's orbital revolution around the
Serpent, and Tiger. Sun (the ecliptic system), or some
Neutral sign: Pig. other scheme.
Incompatible signs: Cock, Rat. The alt-azimuth system is useful in
The list of famous Cats includes surveying and navigation. The cen­
Fidel Castro, Marie Curie, Albrecht tral reference great circle is the local
Diirer, Albert Einstein, W. C. Fields, horizon, which is divided into 360°
Garibaldi, Joan of Arc, John Keats, of azimuth, usually measured from
Martin Luther, George Orwell, Eva the North Point in an eastward di­
Peron, Joseph Stalin, Leon Trotsky, rection. The poles of the horizon
Queen Victoria, Orson Welles, and plane—that is, the two points most
Walt Whitman. (See Chinese as­ remote from the horizon—are the ze­
trology.) nith and the nadir. Angular distance
away from the horizon is measured
Cauda Draconis: The Dragon's Tail, in degrees, minutes, and seconds of
or south node of the Moon (see altitude. Positive altitude is above the
nodes). horizon, negative altitude below;
maximum positive altitude occurs at
Cazimi: Literally, “the heart of the the zenith (+90°), maximum negative
Sun"; a term used by Arabian astron­ altitude at the nadir (-90°). The alti­
omers to refer to the center of the tude of the horizon is 0°. The alt-azi­
solar disk. In astrology it is used to muth coordinates of heavenly bodies
describe a planet whose celestial lon­ are valid only for a specific place on
 celestial coordinates 39

ing celestial bodies at specific times,

since it is keyed to the Earth's rota­
tion. The central reference great circle
is the celestial equator, divided into
360° of right ascension (or 24 hours of
sidereal time), measured from the
vernal point in an eastward direc­
tion. The points most remote from
the equatorial plane are the north
and south celestial poles. Angular dis­
tance away from the celestial equator
is measured in degrees, minutes, and
seconds of declination; north declina­
tion is toward the north celestial
pole, south declination toward the
south celestial pole. Each pole has

Figure 3. The alt-azimuth system. The star

Capella has recently risen over the eastern ho­
rizon. At this moment it has an azimuth of
30°, measured from the North Point along the
horizon in an eastward direction; and an alti­
tude of +40°, measured from the horizon
along the azimuth circle of 30°. The local me­
ridian is an azimuth circle.
the Earth; the coordinates change
from moment to moment—a great
disadvantage for locating them. In
figure 3 we see the alt-azimuth po­
sition of the star Capella from the
viewpoint of Puttalam, Sri Lanka, at
12:12 A.M. on November 15, 1980:
Capella has 30° of azimuth and +40°
of altitude, expressed as 30°, +40°. nidir

Azimuth is sometimes measured Figure 4. The equatorial system. The star

from the South Point; and sometimes Capella has a right ascension of 78°48' (5h 15m
in both directions from the South 12s), measured from the vernal point along the
celestial equator; and a declination of 45°59'
Point (180° of east, or positive, azi­ north (45N59) measured from the celestial
muth; 180° of west, or negative, azi­ equator along the right-ascension meridian of
muth). 78°48', which is also the hour circle of 5h 15m
12s. The local meridian is the right-ascension
The equatorial system is the favorite meridian that is at any moment connecting the
of astronomers; it is useful for locat­ zenith and nadir.
40 celestial equator

maximum declination (90N and 90S, ecliptic, divided into 360° (or twelve
respectively); the declination of the signs of 30° each) of celestial longitude,
celestial equator is 0°. The equatorial measured from the vernal point in an
coordinates of a celestial body change eastward direction. The points most
very slowly, averaging no more than remote from the ecliptic plane are the
1° every 72 years for right ascension north and south ecliptic poles. Angular
and much less for declination. Unlike distance away from the ecliptic is
alt-azimuth coordinates, they are ap­ measured in degrees, minutes, and
plicable to every location on the seconds of celestial latitude; north lat­
Earth. In figure 4 we see the equa­ itude is toward the north ecliptic
torial coordinates of Capella. pole, south latitude toward the south
The ecliptic system, which is keyed ecliptic pole. Each pole has maximum
to the Earth's orbit around the Sun, celestial latitude (90N and 90S, re­
or ecliptic, is used by astrologers to spectively); the latitude of the ecliptic
locate planets, since the planets is 0°. The ecliptic coordinates of a ce­
never stray far from the ecliptic. Its lestial body change very slowly, ce­
central reference great circle is the lestial longitude about 1° every 72
years and celestial latitude hardly
changing at all. Like equatorial co­
ordinates and unlike alt-azimuth co­
ordinates, they are applicable to
every location on the Earth. In figure
5 we see the ecliptic position of Ca­
pella.

Celestial Equator: The Earth's Equa­

tor projected onto the celestial
sphere; the great circle perpendic­
ular to the Earth's axis of rotation.
(See CELESTIAL COORDINATES.)

Celestial Latitude: Angular distance

measured in degrees, minutes, and
seconds north or south of the eclip­
tic, which is considered to have a
latitude of 0°. Maximum celestial lat­
Figure 5. The ecliptic system. The star Ca- itude is at the north ecliptic pole (90°
pella has a celestial longitude of 81°34' (21°34' north) and the south ecliptic pole (90°
Gemini), measured from the vemal point
along the ecliptic; and a celestial latitude of south). Celestial latitude does not
22°55' north (22N55), measured from the eclip­ correspond to terrestrial latitude (see
tic along the longitude meridian of 81°34'. declination). The celestial latitude
Longitude meridians extend from the north
ecliptic pole to the south ecliptic pole, neither of the Sun, which is on the ecliptic
of which is situated on the local meridian. by definition, is always 0°. Most
 celestial longitude 41

dimension in the heavens—that of

celestial longitude. This can lead
to errors in the determination of as­
pects involving stars or such large-
latitude planets as Mercury or Pluto.
Disregard of latitude can also lead an
astrologer to place a planet in the
wrong house. For example, consider
a birth chart cast for July 4, 1980, at
35° north terrestrial latitude, in which
the Ascendant has a celestial longi­
tude of 15°02' Libra (see figure 6).
Since Pluto has a longitude of 18°59'
Libra that day, most astrologers
would place Pluto in the First House.
But actually Pluto, with a celestial lat­
itude of 17N12 (17T2' north) that
day, is well into the Twelfth House.
(See celestial coordinates.)
Figure 6. The importance of celestial lati­
tude. Pluto's celestial longitude (X) is 18°59'
Because of latitude the body of a
Libra. The longitude of the Ascendant (A) is planet can rise at a degree some dis­
15°02' Libra. Thus it would seem that Pluto is tance removed from its zodiacal po­
below the horizon in the First House, as is the
ecliptic after 15°02' Libra. But Pluto is not on
sition. In large parts of the world
the ecliptic. It is 17°12' of celestial latitude (/3) there can be differences between the
above it, which makes its position (®) well Rising Point and the Ascendant of up
above the horizon in the Twelfth House.
to 20° for the Moon and Mars, up to
10° for Saturn, and up to 5° for Ju­
planets stay within 4° of latitude piter. In the case of Pluto, which can
north or south of the ecliptic, but the have over 17° latitude, the difference
Moon can achieve a maximum lati­ can be very much greater.
tude of 5°18', Mercury of 7°0', and
Pluto of 17°19'. Comets or stars can Celestial Longitude: Angular dis­
have any latitude. The daily latitude tance measured in degrees, minutes,
of the planets is often included in and seconds along the ecliptic in an
ephemerides (see sample page from eastward direction from the vernal
an ephemeris, page 48). point, whose longitude is 0°. Celes­
Celestial latitude may either be geo­ tial longitude does not correspond to
centric, in which case it is calculated terrestrial longitude. Most astrol­
as if the object were being seen from ogers reckon longitude in degrees of
the center of the Earth, or heliocentric, signs (each of the twelve signs hav­
in which case it is calculated as if ing 30°), but some astrologers—and
from the center of the Sun. all astronomers—reckon longitude in
Many astrologers ignore celestial cumulative degrees from 0° to 360°,
latitude, confining themselves to one called absolute longitude, as follows:
42 celestial meridian

Absolute Longitude sign degrees, minutes, and (for the

Sun and Moon) seconds. (See sample
0°-29° Aries 0°- 29° page from an ephemeris, page 48.)
0°-29° Taurus 30°- 59°
0°-29° Gemini 60° - 89° Celestial Meridian: See meridian.
0°-29° Cancer 90°-119°
0°-29° Leo 120°-149° Celestial Sphere: The sky as it ap­
0°-29° Virgo 150°-179° pears to an observer, who sees the
0°-29° Libra 180°-209° heavenly bodies as though they were
0°-29° Scorpio 210°-239° displayed on the inner surface of a
0°-29° Sagittarius 240°-269° sphere—or dome, since the lower
0°-29° Capricorn 270°-299° half of the sphere is hidden beneath
0°-29° Aquarius 300°-329° the local horizon. The observer
0°-29° Pisces 330°-359° seems to be in the center of the
sphere. Of course, it is now nearly
Thus the longitude of Margaret universally accepted that (a) the stars
Mead's Sun (see chart calcula- and planets are at varying distances
tion) can be expressed as either from the Earth; and (b) the Earth—
23°57' Sagittarius (usually written not to mention any specific location
23z’57) or 263°57'. Absolute longi­ on its surface—is no more the center
tude is invaluable to the astrologer of the universe than any other place.
when calculating the Part of Fortune, Nonetheless, the celestial sphere re­
midpoints, and harmonic charts, or mains a useful concept for orienting
when using an electronic calculator. oneself to objects in the sky and for
A longitude circle, or longitude merid­ measuring the motions of those ob­
ian, is a great circle perpendicular to jects (and the motions of the Earth as
the ecliptic at a point a certain num­ well). (See celestial coordinates;
ber of longitude degrees from the COSMOGRAPHY.)
vernal point (compare right ascen­
sion). For example, as of 1980 the Ceres (glyph ? ): The largest of the
star Alphecca is on the longitude cir­ asteroids, discovered in 1801. Zip-
cle of 222° (or 12° Scorpio), even porah Dobyns associates it with per­
though it is remote from the ecliptic sonal service and nurturing; Eleanor
(its celestial latitude is 44N20—that Bach with fertility, nourishment, and
is, 44°20' north). health.
Celestial longitude may be either
geocentric, in which case it is calcu­ Chaldean Astrology: For centuries
lated as if the object were being seen the discovery of astrology has been
from the center of the Earth, or heli­ attributed to the Chaldean priests.
ocentric, in which case it is calculated Translations of the cuneiform tablets,
as if from the center of the Sun. especially those in the library of
Most available astrological ephem­ Ashurbanipal, king of Assyria from
erides list the positions of the planets 669 to 626 B.C., reveal that astrolo­
in geocentric longitude expressed in gers were making periodic reports to
 Chaldean astrology 43

their sovereign, advising him about mapped the entire sky, improved
the likelihood of war or bumper methods for recording time, success­
crops. They based their forecasts on fully forecast eclipses, and deter­
such phenomena as the Moon having mined the precise length of the solar
extreme south declination (“When year to within 26 minutes. After the
the Moon is low in appearance, the Persians conquered Babylon in 538
submission [of the people] of a far B.C., the word Chaldean came to
country will come to the king"), mean the native priesthood in Baby­
which happens about once a decade, lon, as distinguished from the Per­
or a conjunction of Mars and Jupiter sian priesthood, who were called
(“When Mars approaches Jupiter, in magi. After the Macedonians con­
that year the king of Akkad will die quered the area in the late fourth cen­
and the crops of that land will be tury B.C., the word Chaldeans was
prosperous"), which occurs once used to describe Greeks who had
every 2 years. These interpretations studied in the Babylonian schools of
echo those traditionally believed to astrology. The Romans referred to all
have been supplied the Akkadian astrologers as Chaldeans, no matter
king Sargon in the middle of the what their nationality (see Romans,
third millennium B.C. ASTROLOGY AMONG THE).
The word Chaldean is the source of Actually, all the Mesopotamian
considerable confusion. We learn peoples—that is, all those living be­
from Genesis (11:31) that Abraham tween the Tigris and Euphrates riv­
emigrated from “Ur of the Chal­ ers—were involved in the develop­
dees"; since Ur was the principal city ment of astrology, and ultimately the
of the Sumerians, and since Abra­ total contribution of the “Chaldeans"
ham's departure was early in the sec­ cannot be separated from that of the
ond millennium B.C., when the Su­ Sumerians, the Amorite Babyloni­
merians were still flourishing, we see ans, or the Assyrians. Astrology, ob­
that the Hebrews regarded the Su­ viously, was not made in a day. The
merians as Chaldeans. In Mesopota­ Sumerians of the early third millen­
mian records, however, the first nium B.C. identified the four royal
mention of the Chaldeans is in the stars—Aldebaran, Regulus, Antares,
seventh century B.C. Herodotus and Fomalhaut—as marking the po­
identifies the Chaldeans as the peo­ sition of the equinoxes and sol­
ple who took over Mesopotamia in stices. A thousand years elapsed be­
606 B.C. and ruled from Babylon, tween these first empirical obser­
and it is these “new" Babylonians (as vations and the general astrological
distinguished from the Amorite Bab­ theology advanced by the Amorite
ylonians, whose empire flourished in Babylonians in the early second mil­
the first half of the second millen­ lennium B.C. That theology was fur­
nium B.C.), particularly the priests, ther refined by the Chaldeans, or
who are famous for developing as­ “new" Babylonians, a thousand
trology, which was then indistin­ years later.
guishable from astronomy. They Mesopotamian theology was very
44 Chaldean astrology

conducive to the development of as­ manu (Saturn), ruled by Ninib; Bibu

trology. Fundamental to it was the (Mars), ruled by Nergal; and Musta-
conviction that conditions in heaven barru (Mercury), ruled by Nebu. To
corresponded exactly to conditions these were added the two luminar­
on Earth, which is the sense of the ies, Sin (the Moon), who was a mas­
astrological adage “as above, so be­ culine god, and Shamash (the Sun).
low." Overall, this correspondence Thus out of the observation of the
was viewed pessimistically, for if the sky by the shepherds of the desert
world of the gods was just as capri­ and attempts to interpret the phe­
cious as the world of mankind, nomena observed by the priests,
where was there room for hope? there arose a cosmogony, that is, a the­
Mesopotamian theology was, of ory of the celestial system that is the
course, a product of its environment: origin of modern astrology, although
a land subject to unpredictable, fa- at the time it was primarily mytho­
mine-producing floods and droughts logical. But what of the condition of
and totally vulnerable to military in­ man, so small and weak in compari­
vasion. Astrology was a way of dis­ son with this cosmic infinity? For the
covering the will of the perverse gods Chaldeans, the answer to this ques­
and the law of Necessity, which even tion was self-evident: “The seven
the gods had to obey, and it was stars subject to Anu foretell future
more scientific than interpreting events and reveal to men the benev­
dreams or examining sheep livers. olent plans of the gods," according
The Babylonians believed that one to the Greek historian Diodorus Si-
day a female monster named Tiamat cilus (first century B.C.), who studied
was brought forth by the primordial Chaldean civilization.
waters that covered the sky as well Astrology was born. But before the
as the Earth. The god Marduk (Bel), new science could become more pre­
or Ashur, sliced her in two with his cise, it was necessary to define the
sword and turned the two halves into zodiac and to build up a body of cor­
two superimposed vaults, both im­ respondences between celestial and
mobile: the rounded dome of the terrestrial events through painstak­
heavens and the flattened arch of the ing observation. It was to this task
Earth. In the celestial dome certain that the Chaldean astrologer­
stars were led by the gods along reg­ priests—there was no distinction be­
ular paths, under the omnipotent eye tween the two functions at this
of Marduk: These were the fixed time—devoted themselves for cen­
stars. Others, however, were not turies.
subject to a regular course fixed by The apparent motion of the Sun
Marduk, but to a vaster trajectory always takes place in the same part
subject to Anu, the universal Father. of the sky, the narrow zone we now
These privileged stars, which were in call the ecliptic. By observing at night
fact the planets, were five in number: the part of the sky through which the
Dapinu (Jupiter), ruled by Marduk; Sun apparently traveled during the
Kilbat (Venus), ruled by Ishtar; Kai- day, the Chaldean priests noticed
 chart calculation 45

that every month the Sun travels tween Christ and the Moon god of
across a different background of fixed the ancient Chaldeans.
stars. This observation was the origin A-ru (Leo) was identified with the
of the sidereal zodiac, which was star Regulus, which appeared when
divided into twelve parts, each one the Sun was as ferocious as the king
bearing the name of the constellation of beasts. Shi-ru, or Ki (Virgo),
across which the Sun traveled. Al­ whose Chaldean name means "ear of
though the Greeks later gave them wheat," was the archetypal symbol
other names, corresponding to their of the mother (the worship of Mary
own mythology, these early astro­ considerably antedated Christianity).
logical signs were rather similar to Zibanitu, or Nuru (Libra), suggests
our own. the balance between day and night
Kusarikkut (Aries), the first sign of as well as between life and death.
the zodiac, was a transitional phase, Akrabu (Scorpio), corresponding
for some stars of the constellations of at that time to the autumn equinox,
Pisces and Cetus appear in this part represented the snake man who was
of the ecliptic. It was the sign of ag­ said to have helped Tiamat resist the
riculture. Te-te (Taurus), represented attack of Marduk. Pabilsag (Sagittar­
by a bull harnessed to a chariot, sug­ ius) is an extension of the previous
gests the bull that was used by the sign; indeed, some authorities be­
goddess Ishtar to fight Gilgamesh, lieve that the arrow of Sagittarius is
the legendary hero. Tua-mu or Mas- really the sting of the scorpion.
masu (Gemini) corresponds to the Sakhu, or Enzu (Capricorn), had
two brother gods Nebu and Marduk, the same symbolism as today, a re­
whom the Greeks called Castor and markable case of persistence. Gu, or
Pollux. The dual nature of this sign Mulgula (Aquarius), means "the
is a vestige of the struggle between great man" and stood for Gilgamesh,
the two warring brothers. who corresponds to the Greek Her­
Nangaru, or Al-lul (Cancer), is a cules.
sign charged with symbolism. Al-lul Finally, Nunu, or Zib (Pisces), the
means "the claw of the crab," which twelfth and last sign of the zodiac,
suggests the crescent shape of the completed the soli-lunar year of the
Moon, ruler of this sign. Nanguru Chaldeans with the death of nature
means "carpenter," but it also stands before the resurrection of spring (see
for the cradle with curved rockers lunar year).
used by the Aramaeans. The cradle
of Jesus, born the son of a carpenter, Chart: See birth chart.
must have been of this kind. Many
astrologers have speculated that the Chart Calculation: The birth chart is
birth chart of Jesus had Cancer on the foundation of all astrological pro­
the Midheaven, no doubt due to the cedure. It is the basis on which an
tradition that he was born at mid­ astrologer can make a preliminary in­
night on December 25. Hence the terpretation of the native's personal­
analogy often seen by Cabalists be­ ity and character and then go on to
46 chart calculation

calculate progressions, directions, ence work that gives longitudes and

and transits, or engage in chart com­ latitudes); and a source of determin­
parison. ing local time zones and whether or
The interpretation of a birth chart not Daylight Saving (or Summer)
requires considerable expertise, in­ Time was in effect. (Examples are
cluding knowledge of a body of Neil Michelsen's American Atlas or
rules, many of them centuries old, Doris Chase Doane's Time Changes in
that constitute astrological tradition. the USA, Time Changes in Canada and
An introduction to that tradition is Mexico, and Time Changes in the World;
one of the main purposes of this vol­ for abbreviated information on time
ume. On the other hand, the opera­ zones and time changes, see time.)
tions involved in calculating and As an aid in calculation some astrol­
drawing up a birth chart for a given ogers use a four-operation calculator,
moment are within reach of every­ others use proportional logarithms,
one, provided he or she proceeds others use tables of diurnal motions,
carefully and pays attention to de­ and still others use a slide rule. We
tails. will explain how to proceed with a
A few tools are essential. You will calculator and with logs. In addition
need an ephemeris and a table of to paper, pen or pencil, and ruler,
houses; an atlas (or any other refer- you may want to use one of the styles

Note 1: The procedure described in this entry Note 2: Students who have some experience
is the so-called direct method. The editors with astrological calculations may be surprised
have selected it because it is the method pre­ to find instructions to round off values in steps
ferred by the majority of those astrologers who 1, 10, 13, 14, 15 (note), and 18. There may be
acted as consultants on this book. However, some who will point out, in step 8, that the
it is not the only possible procedure for cal­ amount to subtract from GST to correct a noon
culating accurate birth charts. The traditional, ephemeris to midnight is really 12 hours 1
or "LMT," method, still used by most astrol­ minute 58 seconds, not 12 hours 2 minutes;
ogers in the United States, differs from the or, in step 9, that the solar-sidereal correction
direct method in a few essential steps in the is really 9.86 seconds per hour, not 10 seconds
calculation of house cusps, yet it produces the per hour; or, in steps 16 through 20, that Uni­
same results. According to the LMT method, versal Time (UT) is used instead of Ephemeris
one converts the Standard Time of birth (step Time (ET). The editors of this encyclopedia feel
2) to local mean time (LMT), the actual solar that such precision is excessive if a birthtime
time-at the birthplace (see time). Then one has been rounded to the nearest minute. It
adds the following values: the listed Green­ may be objected that rounding off other entry
wich sidereal time (GST) in the ephemeris; the values (such as longitude and latitude) and
time elapsed since GST (that is, the LMT, plus intermediate values (such as LST) tends to
an additional 12 hours only if the LMT is P.M. compound whatever error is introduced by the
and one is using a midnight ephemeris, or if approximated birthtime. But this compound­
the LMT is A.M. and one is using a noon ing at worst only amounts to a matter of sec­
ephemeris); time acceleration, and longi­ onds. Naturally, very precise values are
tude acceleration. The result is the local si­ needed in order to obtain accurate indications
dereal time of birth (LST). This will be the from such techniques as primary directions
same quantity arrived at in step 12 by the di­ and solar and lunar returns. If such precise
rect method, which converts Standard Time to values are desired, we recommend that the
Universal Time and then back to local time. student have his or her chart rectified by an
Astrologers using either method employ Uni­ experienced astrologer (see rectification).
versal (or Greenwich) time in the calculation For a more extensive discussion of the reasons
of the planets' positions. for rounding, see precision.
 chart calculation 47

of blank chart forms available at time is midnight, express it as 0:00.

many astrological bookstores (see If it is between 12:01 and 12:59 A.M.,
chart form). change the 12 to 0 and drop the A.M.
For our example we are using the If the time is 1:00 to 11:59 A.M., sim­
birth data of Margaret Mead, who ply drop the A.M. If the time is noon,
was born at 9:00 A.M., December 16, express it as 12:00. If the time is be­
1901, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. tween 12:01 and 12:59 P.M., simply
(For the source of this birthtime, see drop the P.M. If the time is between
CHART INTERPRETATION.) We will first 1:00 and 11:59 P.M., add 12 hours to
assume, for purposes of instruction, it and drop the P.M. According to
that the time of 9:00 A.M. is accurate the 24-hour clock, Mead's 9:00 A.M.
to the minute. Later, we will indicate birthtime is expressed simply as 9:00.
shortcuts for cases where the birth­ 4. Find the Standard Time merid­
time is more vague. ian for the birthplace. On page 283
we see that the Standard Time me­
ridian for the Eastern time zone in
BIRTHTIMES ACCURATE TO the United States is 75W.
THE MINUTE 5. Divide the value of the Standard
Houses Time meridian by 15. In Mead's case,
1. Find the terrestrial coordinates this is 75 4- 15 = 5.
(latitude and longitude) of the birth­ 6. If the Standard Time meridian
place, round the values to the nearest is west, add the value from step 5 in
quarter degree, and enter on your hours to the Standard Time (from
worksheet. The coordinates given for step 3). If the Standard Time merid­
Philadelphia in Michelsen's American ian is east, subtract. This is the Uni­
Atlas are 39N57 (latitude) and 75W10 versal Time (UT). If the result is more
(longitude), which can be rounded to than 24 hours, subtract 24 hours and
40N and 751/4W. add 1 day: In this case the UT is for
2. Determine whether or not Day­ the day after the recorded birthday.
light Saving (or Summer) Time was Write the UT and the UT date (either
in effect. If so, subtract 1 hour from the recorded birthday or the day
the given birthtime to arrive at Stan­ after) on your worksheet. Be sure to
dard Time. (If Double Summer Time write the letters UT next to the time.
was in effect, subtract 2 hours. Some In Mead's case, the Standard Time
localities only advance V2 hour for meridian is west, so we add 5 hours
Daylight Saving Time; for these sub­ to her birth Standard Time of 9:00,
tract V2 hour.) We see on page 285 obtaining a UT of 14:00, still on De­
that the United States did not ob­ cember 16.
serve Daylight Saving Time before 7. Find out whether your ephem­
1918. Thus, we know that the 9:00 eris gives data for Greenwich mid­
A.M. birthtime is already Standard night (0 hours) or Greenwich noon
Time. (12 hours). This fact is usually given
3. Express the Standard Time ac­ on the title page or somewhere
cording to the 24-hour clock. If the nearby. (If not, use the following
48 chart calculation
DECEMBER 1901
LONGITUDE
DAY SID. TIHE O I> 9 2 3ou- HEARf) TRUE Q V 9 * ¥ e
h

1 4 36 37 W 6 40 isq 4 30 21Q 46 I 124 134 I9R 214 8 25® 18 8® 11 14® 29 14® 14 16H 34 OS 41R 178 52R
2 4 40 34 7 31 28 21 2 48 49 28 12 13 I7D 22 36 26 21 57 14 41 14 20 16 38 o 39 17 51
3 4 44 30 10 8 23 1 14 1 1 46 17 28 37 12 2 13 17 24 3 27 23 6 43 14 54 14 26 16 42 0 38 17 60
4 4 46 27 1 9 16 23 40 31 29 48 4 1 69 13 18 26 32 28 24 7 29 18 7 14 33 16 46 o 36 17 4B
0 4 82 23 12 10 10 6a 61 82 I ia 62 30 1 86 13 19 27 I 29 26 8 15 13 20 14 39 16 49 0 34 17 47
6 4 86 20 13 11 6 17 60 34 23 46 38 1 83 13 21 28 31 Og 26 9 1 15 32 14 46 16 53 0 33 17 46
r 8 0 16 14 12 3 29 41 13 64 34 50 1 49 13 23 OH 1 27 9 47 16 45 14 52 16 56 0 31 17 46

8 8 4 13 18 13 I 114 27 66 17 20 58 1 46 13 24R 32 2 27 IO 33 16 SB 14 68 17 0 0 30 17 44
9 8 8 9 16 14 0 23 14 19 29 8 19 1 43 13 23 3 3 3 27 1 19 16 1 I 16 17 3 0 2B 17 43
10 8 12 6 17 18 1 BH 3 17 1OH 89 29 11 40 13 21 4 35 4 26 12 6 16 26 15 1 17 7 0 26 17 41
11 8 16 3 18 16 2 16 87 11 22 66 34 1 37 13 17 6 28 12 52 16 38 15 18 17 11 o 25 17 40
12 8 19 89 19 17 4 28 87 61 8U 1 11 I 34 13 11 7 38 23 13 38 16 61 IB 24 17 16 0 23 17 89
13 8 23 86 20 IB 7 1 IU 6 44 17 14 40 1 30 13 4 9 10 7 21 14 23 17 4 18 31 17 18 o 21 17 38
14 8 27 32 21 19 1 1 23 28 29 38 19 1 27 12 87 10 42 8 18 15 1 1 17 17 15 38 17 22 0 20 17 37

19 8 31 49 22 20 18 as 64 21 12- 13 28 1 24 12 49 12 IB 9 16 16 58 17 31 IB 44 >7 25 0 IB 17 86
14 8 38 49 23 21 19 18 38 81 23 43 1 21 12 44 13 47 10 11 t6 44 17 44 16 Bl 17 29 o 16 17 84
17 8 39 42 24 22 24 IM 31 20 8M 4 67 1 18 12 39 15 20 1 7 17 31 17 68 15 SB 17 33 0 15 17 33
16 8 43 38 26 23 30 14 42 48 21 25 10 1 IS 12 370 16 63 12 2 18 17 18 11 16 8 17 36 o 18 17 32
19 8 47 38 26 24 39 28 12 IS 8T 4 15 1 11 12 37 18 26 12 56 19 4 18 26 16 12 17 40 0 11 17 31
20 8 8[ 32 27 28 41 12T 18 19 3 30 1 8 12 38 19 59 13 50 19 51 16 38 16 IB 17 44 0 9 17 30
21 8 98 28 28 26 47 26 10 46 38 23 0 1 8 12 39 21 33 14 43 20 37 18 52 16 25 17 47 0 8 17 29

22 8 89 28 29 27 94 108 39 63 18 O 59 11 2 12 39R 23 6 IS 35 21 24 19 5 16 32 17 51 0 6 17 28
23 6 3 21 OU 29 0 28 28 43 2S 53 18 10 89 12 39 24 40 16 27 22 11 19 19 16 39 17 58 0 4 17 26
24 6 7 16 30 7 ion 22 62 17 53 22 10 68 12 38 26 14 17 IB 22 SB 19 83 16 46 17 66 0 3 17 28
28 6 1 I 14 2 31 14 28 23 41 28 52 40 10 82 12 30 27 48 18 8 28 44 19 47 16 53 IB 2 0 I 17 24
26 4 IS 1 1 3 32 21 IOS 19 9 17 42 0 10 49 12 23 29 22 18 57 24 31 20 O 17 0 IB 5 29K 59 17 25
27 4 19 7 4 33 29 26 0 14 20 12 59 10 46 12 14 ow 57 19 46 25 IB 20 14 17 7 IB 9 29 68 17 22
26 6 23 4 8 34 37 9q 19 32 16 19 23 10 43 12 8 2 32 20 33 26 5 20 2B 17 14 18 12 29 56 17 21

29 6 27 1 6 38 49 29 12 12 29 67 63 10 40 1 6? 4 7 21 19 26 52 20 42 17 21 IB 16 29 64 17 20
30 6 30 87 7 36 64 64 36 28 134 8 11 10 66 1 51 43 22 5 27 39 20 66 17 28 IB 19 29 52 17 19
31 6 34 84 BU 38 3 194 33 20 284 32 28 104 33 114 4? 7® 19 22g 49 26® 26 21® 10 17® 38 IW 23 29B 51 171 18

DECLINATION and LATITUDE

DAY 0 > J 12tu* s s u 5 DAY
¥ 9 e
DECL DECL LAT DECL DECL LAT DECL LAT DECL LAT DECL LAT DECL LAT DECL LAT DECL LAT DECL LAT

1 21840 11R18 5615 9R20 16833 1R33 23660 2846 24825 16 4 22854 0814 22829 0R13 1 22849 08 3 226 IS 1812 13R38 9BIB
2 21 SO 7 17 8 4 5 12 17 2 1 27 23 37 2 46 24 29 I 4 22 82 0 14 9ft 0 18 9 22 81 O 3 2! 15 1 12 18 3? 9 IB
3 21 59 3 4 4 39 0 57 17 31 1 20 23 23 2 44 24 21 1 4 22 81 0 14 22 26 0 13 9 22 52 0 9 22 IB 1 12 13 37 9 IB
4 22 a 1810 4 O 3816 17 69 1 12 23 8 2 42 24 19 1 5 22 SO 0 14 22 27 0 13 13 22 83 0 3 22 15 1 12 13 37 9 10
8 22 16 8 16 3 12 7 13 18 27 1 8 22 58 2 39 24 16 1 8 22 48 0 14 22 26 0 12 17 2« 86 0 3 22 15 1 12 13 37 9 IB
6 22 24 9 6 2 16 10 62 16 64 0 56 22 37 2 37 24 14 I 5 22 4? 0 14 22 26 0 12 21 22 56 0 3 22 15 1 12 19 34 9 IB
7 22 31 12 32 1 15 14 4 19 20 0 51 22 21 2 34 24 11 1 5 22 45 0 14 22 25 0 12 25 2' 58 0 3 22 15 I 12 13 36 9 17
29 22689 OB 3 22R18 1812 13R36 9817
A 22 ftfl IS 27 n 11 19 *6 n as 22 R 24 7 1 fl
9 22 44 17 44 0554 18 35 20 1 I O 36 21 46 2 2B 24 3 I 6 22 42 0 14 22 24 0 12
10 22 50 19 IS 1 56 19 42 20 36 0 29 21 30 2 26 23 60 1 6 22 41 0 14 22 23 0 12
11 22 56 19 66 2 63 19 5? 20 59 0 22 21 13 2 21 23 55 1 6 22 39 0 14 22 23 0 12
12 23 1 19 44 3 43 19 17 21 21 0 14 20 66 2 IB 23 61 1 6 22 30 o in 99. 29 O IP
13 23 6 18 36 4 24 17 43 21 43 0 7 20 36 2 14 23 46 1 6 22 36 0 13 22 21 0 12 VOID Of COURSE P
14 23 10 16 37 4 S3 15 19 22 4 0 0 20 17 2 10 23 41 1 6 22 35 0 13 22 21 0 12 PHEROHERA LAST ASPT P IRCRES8
IS 23 14 13 SO S B 12 10 22 23 OB 7 19 SB 2 6 23 36 1 6 22 33 10 18 22 20 10 12 b ■ 1 12pall
16 23 17 IO 22 S 9 8 25 22 42 0 14 19 3B 2 1 23 30 1 7 22 31 0 IS 22 19 0 12 2 21 49 • 4 10aa 6
17 23 20 6 22 4 54 4 12 22 89 0 20 19 19 1 56 23 24 I 7 22 30 0 IS 22 IB 0 11 1 5 llnaSl 7 A 0»b38
18 23 22 1 59 4 23 OR 18 23 16 O 27 18 59 1 51 23 18 I 7 22 28 0 18 22 IB 0 11 IB 20 38 p B 9 a *22 9 H IpwdB
19 23 24 2637 3 37 4 65 23 30 O 34 18 3B 1 46 23 12 1 7 22 26 0 15 22 17 0 1 I 25 12 16 0 11 2aoS3 12 H 2a* 3
20 23 26 7 1 1 2 38 9 23 23 44 0 40 18 16 1 41 23 6 1 7 22 24 0 15 22 16 0 11 13 llaoS2
21 23 27 11 29 1 28 13 26 23 57 O 46 17 8? 1 35 22 56 1 7 22 23 0 ts 22 IS 0 11
h • IB 8pa38 19 T 9a ■ 9
22 23 27 13 12 0 1t 16 48 24 9 O 52 17 36 I 29 22 61 I 7 22 21 0 IS 22 18 0 11 21 4a a 8 21 0 6a*23
23 23 27 18 1 IS 9 18 60 24 19 0 56 17 14 1 23 22 44 I 7 22 19 0 16 22 14 0 11 I 6 I9S58 22 6pm2B 23 X 7bb22
24 23 27 19 39 2 24 19 66 24 28 1 4 16 83 1 17 22 36 1 7 22 17 0 16 22 13 0 11 25 7aa28 28 • 7aa23
25 23 26 19 53 3 30 19 28 24 36 1 10 16 31 1 1 1 22 2B 1 7 22 18 0 16 22 12 O 11 27 ObbSI 27 0 BaalB
26 23 24 IB 43 4 20 IT 40 24 42 1 18 16 10 1 4 22 20 1 7 22 13 0 16 22 12 0 I1 31 2 O
27 23 22 16 20 4 S3 14 46 24 47 1 20 18 48 0 57 22 11 I 7 22 11 0 16 92 11 O I1 31 1 p-Ufr
28 23 20 13 0 5 6 11 6 24 81 1 26 IS 26 0 SO 22 3 1 7 A ’ tr
22 9 O 16 22 IO 0 11
J
29 23 17 9 3 B I 6 66 24 83 1 30 IS 4 0 42 21 34 1 7 22 7 0 16 22 9 0 1 1 22 3 0 B 14 APOGEE
30 23 14 4 46 4 39 2 38 24 64 1 34 14 42 0 34 21 48 I 7 22 3 0 16 22 B 0 10 26 8 58 24 a PF.RTCrJt
31 23610 0R2B 4S 3 1844 24834 1839 14S20 0626 2183S 18 7 228 3 0616 22S 7 OR 10

DAILY ASPECTARIAN
1 P^V laa 4 MI 2 3 O«p a 22 M» 7 98 16 o-p 9ao39 Th *«T 7p*36 DaH 6 26 12m41 8a
8u paT 2 41 M5 8 44 MU 9 22 R vum P"V 10 97 TMV 1 IB P«%
P*K 4 56 poll 7 17 P «T 11 20 19 MT 6an84 9 39 20 Mt 9a*19 P"9 2 52 Pa* 10 9
P«T 9 41 MM IO 2 MB 12par46 F l>*% B 43 10 SB F po% 7 29 23 9»% 6a*3 3 P<U 4 2 P’U 10 44
D°B I2p*11 Me 1 1 Bl OHM 5 86 11 62 p*e 9 20 N P"T 7 28
P"* 8 1 ChcM 10 43 P** 12pa10 17 lamlO Pa* 9 47 ^P 8 44 27 PW 30 QaP
6 9"V p«e 12 44 T *"e 1 20 MU 11 26 P’S 10 5 r Tllli 0 59 H P«T
2 P’S laaBO F OIIA 9 Jf-af 6us43 7 34 P^T 1 56 P«T 2pa 6 p«u TR% 2 12
OliV H P"B
H pflb 2 30 2pa 2 p^u 2 41 Pa* 8 IB P«T 7 PM* 4 64 TUA 8 18
P-V 4 14 9HA 6 61 >«V 2 40 14 ><* bia a 2 47 P«v 6 19 poT 9 47
P*T 3p> 0 *«% 9 16 J>zu» 4 26 6 10 80 **% 10 34 21 cup 24 9aE UNA 9 40
Oop 9 49 O<p 10 66 9"V 6 39 P-V Ipaia OHT 12pa26 8 p»v 36 T P«% 10 17 pxf 11 7 31 PaU
9 H 11 30 O*’!’ 8 43 *UT 2 6 P»9 48 TUT 6 41 p*e 11 14 p<e T PHt
3 M9 2am27 M9 10 38 4 4 T*L 7 31 MV 7 44 PA* 11 42 P’T 1 37 */*
T Pa% 6 14 7 P»* J>*» 10 S3 P^F 5 19 p<e 10 29 PW l2t>a!0 B"P 5 10 Par 6
PaL 7 1 I 8 MV 1 41 P9B 5 41 IB M% 2am29 9«V 10 86 P"U 2
IO
52 pue 6 2 MT 7 96
M1*1 10 33 M9 3 58 on* 8as4S *11% 8 4 W VUT 3 IB P9T 11 4 9«T B SO 901 8 35
Me I2po39 P^T 4 36 T OZE 10 13 P»V 4 24 pue P«T 9 13 0^9 8 41
LUM 3 2 Me 13 3pal2 18 pue las39 poe 4 P«V 7 U8V 10 14
B«V 7 46 J>«5 8 39 8a cup 2 56 peT 5 13 28 9a^6
4 M* 4an 7 Due 8 25 MN 1 I 20 P*V 6 52 MU 20 22 cap 25 pr* 8 P"% ln*4l
V MV 10 6 9UV 8 u«e 6 1 P^ 48 6u PAV 7 14 V P*v 1M8 I 46
MV 1 pe>33 t^T 11 0as26 *nu I I 37 **e 10 1 PD9 6 33 orp Pat 9 20
OUT 9 37 **U 1 36 W 1 26 M* Ipv42 *«T 1 1 41 PA% 9 40 B MW 3
5 P’9 R6
30 2 63 P9V 8 46 Ol* I2p*39 p«e 1 1 6 V H 26 b«L 7 32
8 BUT 3aa26 p»T to 0 M9 7 33 P-% 6 46 oop 6 38 P’op 11 46 VS 0 30
Th jotf 5 4 *HV 8 8 P>T 6 17 P‘9 11 30 o u 12t>*36 26 1*9 0 57
BIIM 7 66 8 j«e MT 9 54 *«U 11 96 PaU 1 67 Th ■ M 9 31 4 q
9 S Ipa32 8a MS 7 13 12 MV 2aw49 PaB 10 8 onr 2 35 10 u
OxJ> 1 46 MV 6 12 Th J>»9 3paS6 P>ai 10 21 19 po> 3ac28 PB9 6 17
_____ P«E 1 1 26 29 P*T 6ea03

Figure 7. Sample page from The American Ephemeris 1901-1930. (Reprinted by permission of Astro
Computing Services.)
 chart calculation 49
14h 36m 0s MC 219° 0' 0" 14h 40m 0 MC 220“ 0' 0"
11° 25' 58" N rq, 12° 26' 45"
11 12 Ascendant 2 3 LAT II 12 Ascendant J 3
Z10 35.9 V5 8 16.1 6 36.6 X 7 17.7 T 9 47.7 0° Zll° 32.1 V5 9 11.4 X 7 35.4 X 8° 21.7 T10 52.7
9 33.9 6 42.2 4 55.3 5 56.1 9 9.0 5 10 30.5 7 38.2 5 55.2 7 1.5 10 15.3
8 32.5 5 5.9 3 7.9 4 27.2 8 26.4 10 9 29.4 6 2.6 4 8.9 5 34.2 9 34.1
7 30.8 3 25.9 1 12.4 2 48.4 7 38.5 15 8 28.0 4 23.2 2 14.3 3 57.1 8 47.8
7 18.3 3 5.3 0 48.1 2 27.3 7 28.2 16 8 15.6 4 2.7 1 50.2 3 36.3 8 37.7
7 5.8 2 44.5 0 23.3 2 5.5 7 17.5 17 8 3.1 3 41.9 1 25.7 3 14.9 8 27.4
6 53.2 2 23.4 V529 58.1 1 43.2 7 6.5 18 7 50.5 3 20.9 1 0.6 2 52.9 8 16.8
6 40.5 2 2.0 29 32.4 1 20.2 6 55.1 19 7 37.9 2 59.7 0 35.0 2 30.3 8 5.8
6 27.8 1 40.4 29 6.1 0 56.6 6 43.4 20 7 25.2 2 38.1 0 8.9 2 7.0 7 54.4
6 14.9 1 18.5 28 39.2 0 32.2 6 31.2 21 7 12.4 2 16.2 V529 42.3 1 43.1 7 42.6
6 2.0 0 56.2 28 11.8 0 7.2 6 18.6 22 6 59.5 1 54.1 29 15.0 1 18.3 7 30.5
5 48.9 0 33.7 27 43.7 “29 41.3 6 5.6 23 6 46.4 1 31.5 28 47.1 0 52.8 7 17.8
’ 5 35.8 0 10.7 27 15.0 29 14.5 5 52.0 24 6 33.3 1 8.7 28 18.5 0 26.5 7 4.7
1 5 22.5 Z29 47.4 26 45.5 28 46.9 5 38.0 25 6 20.0 0 45.4 27 49.2 «29 59.2 6 51.1
5 9.0 29 23.7 26 15.3 28 18.2 5 23.3 26 6 6.6 0 21.7 27 19.1 29 31.0 6 36.9
1 4 55.4 28 59.6 25 44.4 27 48.6 5 8.0 27 5 53.0 Z29 57.6 26 48.3 29 1.7 6 22.1
J 4 41.7 28 35.0 25 12.5 27 17.8 4 52.0 28 5 39.3 29 33.1 26 16.6 28 31.3 6 6.6
4 27.7 28 9.9 24 39.8 26 45.8 4 35.3 29 5 25.3 29 8.1 25 44.0 27 59.8 5 50.5
4 13.6 27 44.4 24 6.2 26 12.6 4 17.8 30 5 11.2 28 42.5 25 10.4 27 26.9 5 33.5
3 59.3 27 18.3 23 31.6 25 38.0 3 59.4 31 4 56.9 28 16.5 24 35.9 26 52.7 5 15.7
3 44.8 26 51.7 22 55.9 25 1.9 3 40.1 32 4 42.4 27 49.9 24 0.3 26 17.0 4 57.0
3 30.1 26 24.5 22 19.1 24 24.2 3 19.7 33 4 27.6 27 22.6 23 23.6 25 39.8 4 37.3
3 15.1 25 56.7 21 41.1 23 44.8 2 58.2 34 4 12.6 26 54.8 22 45.6 25 0.8 4 16.4
2 59.9 25 28.2 21 1.9 23 3.6 2 35.5 35 3 57.4 26 26.3 22 6.4 24 20.0 3 54.4
2 44.4 24 59.0 20 21.3 22 20.4 2 11.4 36 3 41.9 25 57.0 21 25.9 23 37.1 3 31.0
2 28.6 24 29.1 19 39.4 21 35.0 1 45.8 37 3 26.1 25 27.0 20 43.9 22 52.2 3 6.2
2 12.5 23 58.4 18 55.9 20 47.3 1 18.5 38 3 9.9 24 56.3 20 0.4 22 4.9 2 39.7
1 56.1 23 26.9 18 10.8 19 57.1 0 49.3 39 2 53.5 24 24.7 19 15.2 21 15.0 2 11.4
1 39.3 22 54.5 17 24.1 19 4.2 0 18.0 40 2 36.7 23 52.2 18 28.4 20 22.4 1 41.0
1 22.2 22 21.2 16 35.5 18 8.2 X29 44.4 41 2 19.5 23 18.8 17 39.7 19 26.8 1 8.4
1 4.7 21 47.0 15 45.0 17 9.1 29 8.2 42 2 1.9 22 44.4 16 49.0 18 28.0 0 33.3
0 46.8 21 11.7 14 52.4 16 6.4 28 29.1 43 1 44.0 22 8.9 15 56.2 17 25.5 X29 55.2
0 28.4 20 35.3 13 57.6 14 59.8 27 46.6 44 1 25.5 21 32.3 15 1.2 16 19.1 29 13.9
0 9.6 19 57.7 13 0.5 13 49.0 27 0.2 45 1 6.6 20 54.5 14 3.8 15 8.5 28 28.9
IH,29 50.3 19 18.9 12 0.9 12 33.6 26 9.5 46 0 47.2 20 15.5 13 3.9 13 53.2 27 39.5
29 30.5 18 38.8 10 58.7 11 13.1 25 13.8 47 0 27.3 19 35.1 12 1.2 12 32.7 26 45.2
29 10.1 17 57.3 9 53.6 9 47.1 24 12.2 48 0 6.7 18 53.3 10 55.6 11 6.6 25 45.2
28 49.1 17 14.3 8 45.5 8 15.0 23 3.8 49 01,29 45.6 18 10.0 9 47.0 9 34.3 24 38.4
28 27.5 16 29.7 7 34.1 6 36.2 21 47.4 50 29 23.8 17 25.1 8 35.0 7 55.1 23 23.8
28 5.2 15 43.5 6 19.3 4 50.1 20 21.5 51 29 1.3 16 38.4 7 19.4 6 8.5 21 59.8
27 42.1 14 55.5 5 0.8 2 56.1 18 44.3 52 28 38.1 15 49.9 6 0.1 4 13.7 20 24.7
27 18.3 14 5.5 3 38.4 0 53.3 16 53.5 53 28 14.1 14 59.4 4 36.7 2 9.8 18 36.0
26 53.6 13 13.5 2 11.8 V528 41.0 14 46.4 54 27 49.2 14 6.9 3 9.0 M29 56.2 16 31.0
26 28.0 12 19.4 0 40.8 26 18.4 12 19.1 55 27 23.4 13 12.1 1 36.8 27 31.9 14 5.9
26 1.5 11 22.9 Z29 5.0 23 44.7 9 27.3 56 26 56.5 12 14.9 Z29 59.7 24 56.1 11 16.1
25 33.9 10 23.9 27 24.3 20 59.2 6 5.0 57 26 28.7 11 15.2 28 17.4 22 7.9 7 55.5
25 5.2 9 22.3 25 38.3 18 1.1 2 5.2 58 25 59.6 10 12.7 26 29.7 19 6.6 3 56.5
24 35.3 8 17.8 23 46.7 14 49.9 ^22 19.2 59 25 29.3 9 7.3 24 36.2 15 51.7 »29 10.0
24 4.1 7 10.3 21 49.3 11 25.3 21 37.2 60 24 57.7 7 58.7 22 36.7 12 22.8 23 25.4
23 31.4 5 59.5 19 45.9 7 47.4 14 49.9 61 24 24.5 6 46.8 20 31.0 8 39.9 16 32.0
22 57.1 4 45.2 17 36.1 3 56.5 6 51.4 62 23 49.8 5 31.3 18 18.7 4 43.5 8 22.8
22 21.2 3 27.2 15 20.0 Z29 53.5 V527 44.4 63 23 13.3 4 11.9 15 59.8 0 34.5 V528 59.8
21 43.4 2 5.1 12 57.2 25 40.1 17 45.7 64 22 34.8 2 48.3 13 34.0 Z26 14.8 18 41.0
21 3.5 0 38.8 10 27.8 21 18.2 7 26.7 65 21 54.2 1 20.3 11 1.4 21 46.5 8 1.1
20 21.4 UV29 7.8 7 51.7 16 50.5 Z27 26.0 66 21 11.2 (0,29 47.5 8 22.0 17 12.5 Z27 42.6
5 • 6 Descendant 9 S 5 6 Descendant 8 S ■
« 11° 25' 58"
LAT
12° 26’ 45”
2h 36m 0s MC 39° 0' 0" 2h 40m 0 s MC 40° 0' 0"

Figure 8. Sample columns from AFA Table of Houses: Koch System. (Reprinted by permission of the
American Federation of Astrologers.)
50 chart calculation

rule: If the sidereal time given for press in its simplest form and round
January 1 of any year is 6+ hours, it to the nearest minute. If the GST is
is a midnight ephemeris; if it is 18+ greater than 24 hours, subtract 24
hours, it is a noon ephemeris.) The hours. In Mead's case:
ephemeris we will be using to cal­
culate Mead's chart is a midnight 14:00 UT
ephemeris. 5:35:45 GST—Oh
8. Turn to the page in your ephem­ + 2:20 s-s correction
eris for the UT date (from step 6) and ~ 19:37:65,
find the column giving the Greenwich
sidereal time (GST) for each day of the which simplified is
month. (GST is generally given on 19:38:05 birth GST,
the left, as it is in the sample page
[figure 7], and is usually headed sim­ which we round to 19:38.
ply sidereal time or Sternzeit.) If you 11. Multiply the value of the birth
are using a midnight ephemeris, di­ longitude by 4 and express in min­
rectly under the UT you wrote down utes of time. Simplify this result, if
in step 6 write the GST given for the necessary, to hours and minutes.
UT date. Write GST—Oh next to it. This is the longitude correction. Multi­
The GST given in our sample ephem­ plying Mead's birth longitude of 75V4
eris page for December 16, 1901, is by 4, we obtain 301 minutes, which
5h 35m 45s, or 5:35:45. can be simplified to 5 hours 1 minute.
(For a noon ephemeris, subtract 12 12. If the birth longitude is west,
hours 2 minutes from the GST given subtract the longitude correction
for the UT date in order to obtain the from the birth GST. If the birth lon­
GST corrected to midnight. To do gitude is east, add the longitude cor­
this subtraction, it may first be nec­ rection. The result is the local sidereal
essary to add 24 hours to the given time (LST). Mead's birth longitude is
GST.) west, so we subtract.
9. Calculate the solar-sidereal correc­
tion. This amounts to 10 seconds for 19:38 birth GST
every hour, or 1 second for every 6 — 5:01 longitude correction
minutes, of UT. Express the result in 14:37 LST
minutes and seconds and write un­
der the ephemeris GST. (Be sure to (For birthplaces of south latitude,
keep minutes under minutes and add 12 hours to the LST to arrive at
seconds under seconds!) The solar- the adjusted LST. If the result is more
sidereal correction for Mead is 14 than 24 hours, subtract 24 hours.)
hours x 10 seconds/hour = 140 sec­ You are now ready to find the Mid­
onds, or 2 minutes 20 seconds. heaven and the other house cusps.
10. Add the UT, the ephemeris Write the roman numerals corre­
GST, and the solar-sidereal correc­ sponding to the houses on your
tion. The result is the birth GST. Ex­ worksheet, one under the other, in
 chart calculation 51

this order: X, XI, XII, I, II, III. main column corresponds exactly to
13. Open your table of houses. the LST of birth, find the two adja­
(See sample page from the Koch ta­ cent main columns for the sidereal
ble, figure 8.) Observe that there are times before and after the LST. Since
main columns divided into subcol­ Mead's LST is 14:37, we need the col­
umns corresponding to the Eleventh, umns with 14:36 and 14:40 at their
Twelfth, First (Ascendant), Second, upper-left corners.
and Third Houses. Running across Round the sidereal time given in
these columns are rows correspond­ the earliest main column to the near­
ing to latitudes, usually from 0° to est minute. In our sample this has
66°. At the top of each main column already been done. The sidereal time
three values are normally given: a for the earlier main column is 14:36.
specific sidereal time on the left; the Subtract this earlier time from the
corresponding celestial longitude on LST and divide by 4, disregarding
the Midheaven (here abbreviated the unit. In Mead's case, 14:37 (LST)
MC) in the center, and the corre­ — 14:36 = 1 minute, or—disregarding
sponding right ascension on the the unit—1. Dividing by 4, we get 74.
right. 14. Calculate the Midheaven, or
Find the main column with the si­ Tenth-House cusp. To do this, find
dereal time that is closest to the LST the difference in minutes between
of birth. If the sidereal time at the top the MC in the earlier column and that
of one of the main columns is the in the later column. Both values
same as the LST of birth and if the should be rounded to the nearest
birth latitude was rounded to the minute. Multiply the result by the
nearest whole degree, you can copy fraction found at the end of Step 13,
the house cusps directly from the ta­ round the result, and add to the fig­
ble of houses. (If the latitude was not ure in the earlier column, rounding
rounded to the nearest whole degree, to the nearest quarter degree. In
see note on page 52.) For the Tenth- Mead's case, the MC in the earlier
House cusp, take the value given in column is 11°25'58" Scorpio, which
the center at the top of the main col­ we round to 11°26'; the MC in the
umn. For the other house cusps, take later column is 12°26'45" Scorpio,
the values given in each house sub­ which we round to 12°27'. The dif­
column for the birth latitude, and ference between them is TT, or 61'.
round them to the nearest quarter Multiplying this by 74, we get 1574',
degree. Find the appropriate sign by which we round to 15'. When we add
reading upward from the latitude; do this to the figure in the earlier main
not simply take the sign at the top of column, 11°26' Scorpio, we get 11°4T
the subcolumn. (For birthplaces of Scorpio, which we then round to
south latitude, use the opposite sign 1174° Scorpio, which is Mead's Mid­
for each house cusp; see signs of the heaven. (For birthplaces of south lat­
zodiac.) itude, use the opposite sign; see
If no sidereal time at the top of a SIGNS OF THE ZODIAC.)
52 chart calculation

15. Repeat the operation for the in the subcolumn for the Eleventh-
Eleventh-, Twelfth-, First-, Second-, House figure the difference between
and Third-House cusps, using the the value given for the whole-num­
values given for the appropriate lat­ ber latitude degree less than the birth
itude degrees in each house sub­ latitude and the value given for the
column. (If the latitude was not whole-number latitude degree greater
rounded to the nearest whole degree, than the birth latitude. (For birth­
see note after this step.) Remember places with south latitude, use the
that the appropriate sign on the cusp corresponding north latitude.) Mul­
is found by reading upward from the tiply this difference by the remaining
latitude; do not simply take the sign fraction of a degree in the birth lati­
at the top of the subcolumn. Write tude and round to the nearest min­
the results opposite the roman nu­ ute. For example, the latitude of New
merals corresponding to the houses York City is 40°45' north (40N45),
on your worksheet, rounding to the which is rounded to 403/iN. In the
nearest quarter degree. (Remember Eleventh-House subcolumn, the dif­
to use the opposite signs for birth­ ference between the value for lati­
places of south latitude.) Here are the tude 40N (1°39.3') and that for lati­
results for Mead's chart: tude 41N (1°22.2') is 17.1', rounded
to 17'. Multiplying by 3/4, we get sl/4,
X 113/4° (Tl,
or 12%, which can be rounded to 13.
XI 2° Z
Put a plus sign (+) in front of this
XII 23V4° Z
number if the values increase going
I 173/4° k5
down the subcolumn and a minus
II 19V2° st
sign (—) if the values decrease going
III 03/4° Y
down the subcolumn. Write this
The cusps for the Fourth through number to the left of the roman nu­
Ninth Houses have the same degrees meral XI on your worksheet. Repeat
as those for the Tenth through Third for the Twelfth, First, Second, and
Houses, but they have the opposite Third Houses. Then repeat step 14
signs. All cusps can now be copied for these five houses, using the val­
onto a chart form and the houses ues given for the smaller whole­
drawn on the chart, if necessary. number latitude degree in each sub­
Note: The foregoing system for cal­ column. Add or subtract (as indi­
culating house cusps is appropriate cated) the number of minutes you
in cases where latitude of birthplace wrote to the left of the roman nu­
has been rounded to the nearest meral for each house cusp, and
whole degree. In cases where the lat­ round the result to the nearest
itude has not been rounded to the quarter degree. Write the results to
nearest whole degree, in figuring the right of the roman numerals and
cusps for all except the Tenth House, copy onto the chart.
it is necessary to interpolate. To do
this for the Eleventh-House cusp, Planets
turn to the earlier main column, and 16. In calculating the positions of
 chart calculation 53

the planets, we will be working with the nearest tenth of a minute; other­
two different dates in the ephemeris, wise round it to the nearest minute.
a prior date and a following date. For a The motion of the Moon and the
midnight ephemeris, as in our ex­ planets should be rounded to the
ample, the prior date is the UT date. nearest minute.
(For a noon ephemeris, if the UT For example, let us consider the
is greater than 12:00, subtract 12 daily motion of Mead's Sun. The lon­
hours from it; the prior date is the gitude given for the prior date is
UT date. If the UT is less than 12:00, 23’21'19" Sagittarius, which we
add 12 hours to it; the prior date is round to 23°21.3'. The longitude for
the day preceding the UT date. In the following date is 24’22'24" Sagit­
either case, you will be working with tarius, which we round to 24°22.4'.
an adjusted UT in subsequent steps. The difference is 1’1.1', or 61.1'.
If the UT is exactly 12:00, the planets' We can round the longitude of the
positions can be read directly from Moon to the nearest minute. The
the UT date.) Moon's prior-date longitude is
17. On your worksheet, write out 18°35'51" Aquarius, which we round
the glyphs for the planets, one under to 18°36'. The following-date longi­
the other, in this order: O (Sun), J tude is l°31'20" Pisces, which we
(Moon), 5 (Mercury), 9 (Venus), d round to 1°31' Pisces and then ex­
(Mars), If (Jupiter), b (Saturn), Ffl press as 31°3T Aquarius so that we
(Uranus), UZ (Neptune), and or P can subtract the prior-date longitude.
(Pluto). The difference is 12°55', or 775'.
18. Find the daily motion of each Here are the calculated daily mo­
planet and write it to the left of the tions for all Mead's planets:
corresponding glyph. The daily mo­
tion is the difference between the 1’1.1' = 61.1' O
longitude given for the prior date and 12’55' = 775' 2)
the longitude given for the- following 1’33' = 93' 5
date. As with the table of houses, 56' 9
always read upward from the date to 47' d
find the sign; do not simply use the 14' V
sign at the top of the column. If the 7' b
longitude for the prior date is greater 4' Ffi
than that for the following date, the -1' W
planet is retrograde: Write the sym­ -r
bol 1$ after the planet's glyph and
insert a minus sign (-) in front of the Note that Neptune and Pluto are re­
daily motion. If you will be using a trograde.
calculator, express the daily motion 19. Find the longitudes of the
in minutes; if you will be using log­ planets for the UT (or adjusted UT).
arithms, express it in degrees and To do this by calculator, divide the UT
minutes. If you use a calculator, the (or adjusted UT) in hours and deci­
Sun's motion should be rounded to mals of hour by 24. Store this decimal
54 chart calculation
Hours or Degrees
Mln. 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
0 3.1584 1.3802 1.0792 9031 7781 6812 6021 5351 4771 4260 3802 3388
1 3.1584 .3730 .0756 07 63 6798 09 41 62 52 3795 82
2 2.8573 .3660 .0720 8983 45 84 5997 30 53 44 88 75
3 .6812 .3590 .0685 59 28 69 85 20 44 36 80 66
4 .5563 .3522 .0649 8935 10 55 73 10 35 28 73 62
5 2.4594 1.3454 1.0614 8912 7692 6741 5961 5300 4726 4220 3766 3355
6 .3802 .3388 .0580 8888 74 26 49 5289 17 12 59 49
7 .3133 .3323 .0546 65 57 12 37 79 08 04 52 42
8 .2553 .3258 .0511 42 39 6698 25 69 4699 4196 45 36
9 .2041 .3195 .0478 19 22 84 13 59 90 88 38 29
10 2.1584 1.3133 1.0444 8796 7604 6670 5902 5249 4682 4180 3730 3323
11 .1170 .3071 .0411 73 7587 56 5890 39 73 72 23 16
12 .0792 .3010 .0378 51 70 42 78 29 64 64 16 10
13 .0444 .2950 .0345 28 52 28 66 19 55 56 09 03
14 .0122 .2891 .0313 06 35 14 55 09 46 49 02 3297
15 1.9823 1.2833 1.0280 8683 7518 6600 5843 5199 4638 4141 3695 3291
16 .9542 .2775 .0248 61 01 6587 32 89 29 33 88 84
17 .9279 .2719 .0216 39 7484 73 20 79 20 25 81 78
18 .9031 .2663 .0185 17 67 59 09 69 11 17 74 71
19 .8796 .2607 .0153 8595 51 46 5797 59 03 09 67 65
20 1.8573 1 2553 1.0122 8573 7434 6532 5786 5149 4594 4102 3660 3258
21 .8361 .2499 .0091 52 17 19 74 39 85 4094 53 52
22 .8159 .2445 .0061 30 01 05 63 29 77 86 46 46
23 .7966 .2393 .0030 09 7384 6492 52 20 68 79 39 39
24 .7781 .2341 1.0000 8487 68 78 40 10 59 71 32 33
25 1.7604 1.2289 0 9970 8466 7351 6465 5729 5100 4551 4063 3625 3227
26 .7434 .2239 .9940 45 35 51 18 5090 42 55 18 20
27 .7270 .2188 .9910 24 18 38 06 81 34 48 11 14
28 .7112 .2139 .9881 03 02 25 5695 71 25 40 04 08
29 .6960 .2090 .9852 8382 7286 12 84 61 16 32 3597 01
30 1.6812 1.2041 0.9823 8361 7270 6398 5673 5051 4508 4025 3590 3195
31 .6670 .1993 .9794 41 54 85 62 42 4499 17 83 89
32 .6532 .1946 .9765 21 38 72 51 32 91 10 77 83
33 .6398 .1899 .9737 00 22 59 40 23 82 02 70 76
34 .6269 .1852 .9708 8279 06 46 29 13 74 3995 63 70
35 1.6143 1.1806 0.9680 8259 7190 6333 5618 5003 4466 3987 3556 3164
36 .6021 .1761 .9652 39 74 20 07 4994 57 79 49 57
37 .5902 .1716 .9625 19 59 07 5596 84 49 72 42 51
38 .5786 .1671 .9597 8199 43 6294 85 75 40 64 35 45
39 .5673 .1627 9570 79 28 82 74 65 32 57 29 39
40 1.5563 1.1584 0.9542 8159 7112 6269 5563 4956 4424 3949 3522 3133
41 .5456 .1540 .9515 40 7097 56 52 47 15 42 15 26
42 .5351 .1498 .9488 20 81 43 41 37 07 34 08 20
43 5249 .1455 .9462 01 66 31 31 28 4399 27 01 14
44 .5149 .1413 .9435 8081 50 18 20 18 90 19 3495 08
45 1.5051 1.1372 0.9409 8062 7035 6205 5509 4909 4382 3912 3488 3102
46 .4956 .1331 .9383 43 20 6193 5498 00 74 05 81 3096
47 .4863 .1290 9356 23 05 80 88 4890 65 3897 75 89
48 .4771 .1249 .9330 04 6990 68 77 81 57 90 68 83
49 .4682 .1209 .9305 7985 75 55 66 72 49 82 61 77
50 1.4594 1.1170 0.9279 7966 6960 6143 5456 4863 4341 3875 3455 3071
51 .4508 .1130 .9254 47 45 31 45 53 33 68 48 65
52 .4424 .1091 .9228 29 30 18 35 44 24 60 41 59
53 .4341 .1053 .9203 10 15 06 24 35 16 53 35 53
54 .4260 .1015 .9178 7891 00 6094 14 26 08 46 28 47
55 1.4180 1.0977 0.9153 7873 6885 6081 5403 4817 4300 3838 3421 3041
56 .4102 .0939 9128 54 71 69 5393 08 4292 31 15 35
57 .4025 .0902 .9104 36 56 57 82 4799 84 24 08 28
58 .3949 .0865 .9079 18 41 45 72 89 76 17 01 22
59 .3875 .0828 .9055 00 27 33 61 80 68 09 3395 16

Figure 9. Table of proportional logarithms. (Reprinted by permission of the American Federation

of Astrologers.)
 chart calculation 55

Hours or Degrees
Min. 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
0 3010 2663 2341 2041 1761 1498 1249 1015 0792 0580 0378 0185
1 04 57 36 36 56 93 45 11 88 77 75 82
2 2998 52 30 32 52 89 41 07 85 73 71 79
3 92 46 25 27 47 85 37 03 81 70 68 75
4 86 41 20 22 43 81 34 0999 77 66 64 72
5 2980 2635 2315 2017 1738 1476 1229 0996 0774 0563 0361 0169
6 74 29 10 12 34 72 25 92 70 59 58 66
7 68 24 05 08 29 68 21 88 66 56 55 63
8 62 18 00 03 25 64 17 84 63 52 52 60
9 56 13 2295 1998 20 60 13 80 59 49 48 57
10 2950 2607 89 1993 1716 1455 1209 0977 0756 0546 0345 0153
11 45 02 84 89 11 51 05 73 52 42 42 50
12 38 2596 79 84 07 47 01 69 49 39 39 47
13 33 91 74 79 02 43 1197 65 45 35 35 44
14 27 85 69 74 1698 38 93 62 42 32 32 41
15 2921 2580 2264 1969 1,694 1434 1189 0958 0738 0529 0329 0138
16 15 75 59 65 89 30 85 54 34 25 26 35
17 09 69 54 60 85 26 82 50 31 22 22 32
18 03 64 49 55 80 22 78 47 27 18 19 29
19 2897 58 44 50 76 17 74 43 24 15 16 25
20 2891 2553 2239 1946 1671 1413 1170 0939 0720 0511 0313 0122
21 85 47 34 41 67 09 66 35 17 08 09 19
22 80 42 29 36 63 05 62 32 13 05 06 16
23 74 36 23 32 58 01 58 28 09 01 03 13
24 68 31 18 27 54 1397 54 24 06 0498 00 10
25 2862 2526 2213 1922 1649 1393 1150 0920 0702 0495 0296 0107
26 56 20 08 17 45 88 46 17 0699 91 92 04
27 50 15 03 13 40 84 42 13 95 88 90 01
28 45 09 2198 08 36 80 38 09 92 85 87 0098
29 39 04 93 03 32 76 34 05 88 81 83 94
30 2833 2499 2188 1899 1627 1372 1130 0902 0685 0478 0280 0091
31 27 93 83 94 23 66 26 0896 81 74 77 88
32 21 88 78 90 19 63 23 94 78 71 74 85
33 16 83 73 85 14 59 19 91 74 68 71 82
34 10 77 68 80 10 55 15 87 70 64 67 79
35 2804 2472 2164 1875 1605 1351 1111 0883 0667 0461 0264 0076
36 2798 67 59 71 01 47 07 80 64 58 61 73
37 93 61 54 66 1597 43 03 76 60 54 58 70
38 87 56 49 62 92 39 1099 72 56 51 55 67
39 81 51 44 57 88 35 95 68 53 48 51 64
40 2775 2445 2139 1852 1584 1331 1092 0865 0649 0444 0248 0061
41 70 40 34 48 79 27 88 61 46 41 45 58
42 64 35 29 43 75 22 84 57 42 37 42 55
43 58 30 24 38 71 18 80 54 39 34 39 52
44 53 24 19 34 66 14 76 50 35 31 35 48
45 2747 2419 2114 1829 1562 1310 1072 0846 0632 0428 0232 0045
46 41 14 09 25 58 06 68 43 29 24 29 42
47 36 09 04 20 53 02 64 39 25 21 26 39
48 30 03 2099 16 49 1298 61 35 21 18 23 36
49 24 2398 2095 11 45 94 57 32 18 14 20 33
50 2719 2393 2090 1806 1540 1290 1053 0828 0614 0411 0216 0030
51 13 86 85 02 36 86 49 24 11 08 13 27
52 07 82 80 1797 32 82 45 21 08 04 10 24
53 02 77 75 93 28 78 41 17 04 01 07 21
54 2696 72 70 88 23 74 37 14 01 0398 04 18
55 2691 2367 2065 1784 1519 1270 1034 0810 0597 0394 0201 0015
56 85 62 61 79 15 66 30 06 94 91 0197 12
57 79 56 56 74 10 61 26 03 90 88 94 09
58 74 51 51 70 06 57 22 0799 87 84 91 06
59 68 46 46 65 02 53 18 95 83 81 88 03
56 chart calculation

quotient in the calculator memory so of 14 hours (the UT), or .2341, to the

that it can be recalled by pressing the log of 12°55' (daily motion), or .2691.
constant function key, which we here The result is .5032, the antilog of
label K. Multiply each planet's daily which is 7°32'. Adding the result by
motion in minutes by K. By loga­ either method to the prior-date lon­
rithms, from the table (see figure 9), gitude of 18°36' Aquarius, gives the
find the log of the UT (or adjusted Moon's position as 26°08' Aquarius.
UT) in hours and minutes and mark The calculated longitudes for all
it PL (for permanent log). Add to it Mead's planets are as follows:
the log for the daily motion of each
planet in degrees and minutes. Find O 23Z56.9 or 23Z57
the sum in the log table and convert J 26-08
it back into degrees and minutes of $ 14^41
longitude (this is called finding the 2 10-44
antilog). d 17V512
Finally, add the result—whether If 17kJ52
derived by calculator or by loga­ h 15V356
rithms—to the prior-date longitude 1+1 17z’31
of the planet (subtract if the planet is W oosi5
retrograde). 17H28
For example, to find the longitude
of Mead's Sun by calculator, divide 20. The birth longitude of the mean
14.000 (the UT) by 24 and store in the north node is determined in the same
memory. This quotient—.5833333— way as the longitudes of the planets.
can now be recalled by pressing K. Assume a daily retrograde motion of
Clear the display window. Now mul­ 3'. Mead's north node, then, is ll°20'
tiply 61.1' (the Sun's daily motion) Scorpio. The south node (which is
by K. The result is 35.641664', which always exactly opposite the north
is rounded to 35.6'. By logarithms, node) is at ll°20' Taurus.
add the log of 14 hours (the UT), or Now the planets and nodes can be
.2341, to the log of TT (daily mo­ entered on the chart form in their
tion), or 1.3730. The result is 1.6071, appropriate houses, as determined
the antilog of which rounds to 0°36'. by their longitude. After entering the
Adding the result by either method planets, many astrologers draw col­
to the prior-date longitude of 23°21.3' ored lines between any planets that
Sagittarius (calculator) or 23°21' Sag­ form aspects so that these may be
ittarius (logs), gives the Sun's posi­ easily identified. For a graphic illus­
tion as 23°56.9' Sagittarius (calcula­ tration and interpretation of Mar­
tor) or 23°57' Sagittarius (logs). garet Mead's chart, see chart inter­
To find the longitude of Mead's pretation.
Moon by calculator, multiply 775'
BIRTHTIMES NOT ACCURATE TO
(daily motion) by K. The result is
THE MINUTE
452.0833', which is rounded to 452',
or 7°32'. By logarithms, add the log When the birthtime is not accurate
 chart comparison 57

to the minute, it is pointless for the time or place. Display the planets on
astrologer to calculate the chart with a chart form using the format de­
a precision appropriate for an exact scribed under solar chart or sun­
birthtime. If the birthtime is accurate rise CHART.
to the nearest quarter hour, round off —Allan Edmands
the latitude and longitude of the Chart Comparison (also called Syn-
birthplace to the nearest whole-num­ astry): The comparative study of two
ber degree. Use the main column in or more charts of individuals, na­
the table of houses that is closest to tions, corporations, and so on, for
the LST, and take the house cusps the purpose of determining compat­
directly from that column. Round the ibility, improving communication, or
longitudes of the house cusps to the illuminating problems within a per­
nearest degree, and understand that sonal, political, or professional rela­
there is a 3°-4° margin of impreci­ tionship. In chart comparison partic­
sion. Round the Sun's longitude to ular attention is paid to major
the nearest minute and the Moon's aspects between charts, especially
to the nearest tenth of a degree. conjunctions and oppositions, and
If the time is accurate only to the especially those between Sun, Moon,
nearest hour, do not use UT in cal­ and Ascendant. In addition relative
culating the houses. Use UT (or ad­ element dominance and hemisphere
justed UT) only in calculating the emphasis, major configurations,
planets' positions. For the houses ob­ heavily afflicted planets, and other
tain an approximate sidereal time by factors important in interpreting sin­
adding the GST given in the ephem­ gle charts are also brought into play.
eris for the birthday to the Standard For example, a Sun-Mercury con­
Time of birth expressed according to junction between charts—one per­
the 24-hour clock (see step 3). If you son's Sun within orb of conjunction
are using a noon ephemeris, correct of another person's Mercury—indi­
the given GST to midnight (see step cates ease of communication, mental
8). Determine the signs on house stimulation, and possible business
cusps, but not the degrees, and un­ contact. The two people "speak the
derstand that there may be a margin same language," can discuss their re­
of imprecision of one sign. Round the lationship openly and deal rationally
longitudes of the Sun, Mercury, and with any differences that may arise.
Venus to the nearest tenth of degree, They may give each other important
and round the longitude of the Moon information, especially about busi­
to the nearest degree. Consider seri­ ness matters, act as go-betweens for
ously the possibility of having the each other, or have an employer-em­
chart rectified (see rectification). ployee relationship, the Sun repre­
If only the birthdate is known, rec­ senting the employer and Mercury
tification is strongly urged. Use none the employee.
of the foregoing steps. Take the Aspects between Venus and Mars
planets' positions directly out of the are important in the charts of lovers,
ephemeris, without correcting for since Venus rules affection and Mars
58 chart form

sexuality. Jupiter contacts indicate In mundane astrology, the tech­

possibilities for growth and expan­ niques of chart comparison can be
sion, while Saturn contacts are as­ applied to the study of a political sit­
sociated with seriousness and stabil­ uation, such as a war or peace treaty
ity. Uranus may show a sudden between two nations, by setting up
meeting or unorthodox arrangement; and comparing the charts of the
Neptune, mutual confusion or illu­ founding of the respective entities.
sion; and Pluto, intense feelings or a Authorities differ as to the orbs for
power struggle. major aspects between charts, but
Chart comparison is very ancient; many astrologers would agree with
Ptolemy writes in the Tetrabiblos that Margaret Hone and Robert Hand in
“marriages for the most part are last­ allowing 2° to 3°. (Also see composite
ing when in both the genitures the chart.)
luminaries happen to be in harmo­
nious aspect, that is, in trine or in Chart Form: A graphic model de­
sextile with one another . . . and even signed to be used by astrologers to
more when the husband's Moon is in display the positions of the Sun,
such aspect with the wife's Sun." Moon, planets, and other important
The positions of the luminaries and points in a horoscope. The chart form
Ascendant in the charts of marriage is thus a two-dimensional frame of
partners were studied in the 1950s by reference for representing a moment
the Swiss psychologist Jung, who of time in the three-dimensional solar
used astrology in connection with his system. The form generally used by
clinical work. modern astrologers is circular, with
Chart comparison is widely prac­ the circumference of the circle rep­
ticed in India, where even the poor­ resenting the ecliptic. There are
est families would not consider con­ three basic styles of circular ecliptic
tracting a marriage without first
consulting an astrologer. Hindu
methods place special emphasis on
the Moon's lunar mansion in each
partner, there being tables of com­
patibility for different placements.
Many factors are considered and, for
example, where a daughter's chart
shows the danger of widowhood, a
husband is sought with suitable con­
traindications.
Chart comparison is commonly
used, in conjunction with elec-
tional astrology, to choose a fa­
vorable day for a marriage or to make
a decision regarding a business part­
Figure 10. An equal-house chart form. (Re­
nership or professional collaboration. printed by permission of Arcane Publications.)
 chart form 59

easier to see and identify the aspects:

A square really looks like a square.
In most 360° forms the circle is di­
vided into twelve 30° segments rep­
resenting the signs of the zodiac. In
one type (figure 11) the segments are
identified by printed glyphs begin­
ning with Aries on the left and pro­
ceeding counterclockwise around the
wheel. In another type, useful with
the Uranian Earth House system
(again see house division), the
printed zodiac begins with Libra on
the left. A third type (figure 12) has
Figure 11. A calibrated chart form with
printed glyphs, designed by Paul Choisnard. no printed glyphs; these are filled in
by the astrologer.
forms: the equal-house, the cali­ In the harmonic style of chart form
brated 360° wheel, and the harmonic. the positions of the planets and
The equal-house style of chart form points are displayed on a circle cali­
(not to be confused with the Equal brated into a number of degrees that
House system of house division) is a factor of 360°, such as 90°, 72°,
stresses the perspective of the birth­ 60°, 45°, 30°, or 7V2°. Such a harmonic
place (see figure 10). The horizontal format is useful for instantly making
line represents the actual horizon, a particular aspect visible, and for
or ground, of the birthplace, and the displaying midpoints (see harmonic
vertical line represents the local me­ chart, harmonics). For example,
ridian, local north and south, and
local up and down. Seen from the
birthplace, the houses are equal (pro­
vided the house system is specific to
the birthplace and is not based on
direct division of the ecliptic; see
house division); it is the ecliptic that
may appear distorted.
The calibrated 360° wheel displays
the heavens from the perspective of
the Earth as a whole (or, in a heli­
ocentric chart, from the perspective
of the Sun). Here the ecliptic is not
distorted; it is the birthplace and its
local horizon, meridian, and houses
that may appear askew. The great
Figure 12. A calibrated chart form without
advantage of this style over the printed glyphs. (Reprinted by permission of
equal-house style is that it makes it Arcane Publications.)
60 chart form

ecliptic plane (which in the ordinary

form is really one-dimensional, since
no attempt is made to represent pla­
netary distances).
The use of printed chart forms is
comparatively recent. In antiquity
and the early part of the Christian
era, there were no fixed rules for
drawing up the horoscope. Each
school of astrologers had its own way
of representing the positions of the
planets at the time of a nativity.
Often the information was simply re­
corded in linear fashion, and the as­
trologer relied on a mental image of
Figure 13. A 90° dial chart form. (Reprinted
by permission of Ebertin Verlag.) the heavens at the moment in ques­
tion.
the 90° format—called the 90° dial— In the Middle Ages, two styles of
consists of four superposed sectors, charting were commonly used. In the
each of 90° (see figure 13). Positions first, twelve triangles corresponding
that are approximately 0°, 180°, or 90° to the twelve houses were placed in­
apart on the ecliptic will appear on side a ring formed by two concentric
the 90° dial as conjunct; positions that circles, and the time and place of
are 45° or 135° apart will appear as birth were written inside the smaller
oppositions; positions that are 22V20 circle. The second style, which was
or odd-number multiples thereof will the one most often used until the
appear as square. The 90° dial is early twentieth century, consisted of
widely used in cosmobiology and three squares inscribed one inside
the Uranian system of astrology.
With any of these circular forms
larger concentric circles can be added
to show the positions of progressed
or transiting planets. In addition to
the ecliptic forms, there are circular
forms based on the celestial equa­
tor (useful for primary directions;
see PROGRESSION AND DIRECTION), the
prime vertical, or the horizon. A
few astrologers spurn the circle and
prefer to use a linear form. At the
other extreme, there have been a few
attempts to design a form utilizing
celestial latitude, extending the
chart out of the two-dimensional Figure 14. A medieval chart form.
 chart interpretation 61

the other so as to form twelve trian­

gles (see figure 14). Each triangle cor­
responded to a house, as in the first
style, and in it the astrologer noted
the sign included in that house and
the planets with their longitudes.
Sometimes lines were drawn be­
tween the houses to indicate aspects.

Chart Interpretation: The art of

translating the symbols contained in
a horoscope into statements about
human experience. Interpretation in­
cludes delineation—the translation of
a specific piece of information such
Figure 15. Geocentric birth chart of Margaret
as a planet's sign or house position, Mead.
an aspect, and so on—and synthesis,
the weaving of all these separate the chart of this sixteen-year-old
pieces into a whole. While the cal­ girl who was to become an interna­
culation of a birth chart involves op­ tional celebrity and who at her death
erations that can be performed al­ would be hailed by the New York
most immediately by anyone with an Times as "a pioneer whose innova­
elementary understanding of math­ tions in research method have helped
ematics and a little patience, its in­ social anthropology to come of age as
terpretation is a skill that is acquired a science."2 In the first place, his eye
gradually. It is difficult to teach and would immediately have been drawn
can best be learned by calculating the to that trio of planets in Capricorn
charts of people one knows well, closely flanking the Ascendant:
starting with oneself, and studying Mars and Saturn rising, and Jupiter
them over a period of time. just about to rise. The Ascendant has
Let us take as an example the chart traditionally been regarded as the
of anthropologist Margaret Mead, most sensitive point in the chart and
born December 16, 1901, at 9 A.M. in any planets there as strongly influ­
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (see fig­ encing the personality. Jupiter on the
ure 15). The source of the birthtime Ascendant indicates self-confidence,
is a letter from Dr. Mead to the au­ broad interests, expansiveness, and
thor of this entry. Her horoscope was a tendency to be stout; Mars, physi­
cast in 1918 by a certain Dr. Twing, cal energy, courage, and self-asser­
a physicist friend of the family who tiveness; Saturn, seriousness, organ­
was also an astrologer. Dr. Mead had izing ability, ambition, and a
misplaced the chart but remembered tendency to short stature. The Times
the time.1 obituary reads, "The slight but
One cannot help wondering what sturdy Dr. Mead was possessed of
Dr. Twing saw when he looked at virtually boundless energy, an un­
62 chart interpretation

quenchable curiosity, a tenacious a frequency significantly above the

memory, and a genius for organizing chance level.
her time."3 As for courage, a woman The placement of Mars, Saturn,
who lived with equanimity among and the Sun in the Twelfth House
cannibals and headhunters surely shows a person who needs a certain
possessed that quality in abundance; amount of solitude and will probably
and as for self-assertiveness, Mead's spend some time in isolation from
feistiness was legendary, and the the world. Mead had a lifelong ad­
way she had of banging her forked diction to attic retreats. Her family
stick on the floor for emphasis earned was perpetually moving, and as soon
her such epithets as "stormy petrel." as they arrived at a new house, "I
Capricorn gives a liking for respon­ ran ahead to find a room for myself
sibility and is often emphasized in as far away as possible from every­
the charts of first children who as­ one else."5 The Twelfth House also
sume a parental role with their describes the long, lonely stretches of
younger siblings. Margaret was the time spent in the field, totally cut off
oldest and by the age of eight was from her family and friends with little
taking over preparations for family or no news of the world; and the
festivities, filling the stockings and famous "tower office" on the fifth
trimming the Christmas tree. Saturn floor of the American Museum of
occupies its own sign of Capricorn, Natural History, which she occupied
and since that sign is on the Ascen­ during her entire 52-year association
dant, Saturn is also ruler of the chart. with the museum.
Chart ruler conjunct the Ascendant The conjunction of Mercury, Ura­
gives a powerful ego, and Saturn nus, and the Sun in Sagittarius, ruled
there gives an air of authority. Saturn by Jupiter, repeats and swells the
conjunct the Ascendant can also give Jupiterian theme announced by that
a strong sense of mission and ur­ planet's placement on the Ascendant
gency, of serious work to be done and underlines its qualities of open­
and time running out. Mead writes ness, curiosity, and broad perspec­
that when she was a graduate stu­ tive. Sagittarius is associated with the
dent, she used to wake up saying to professions, teaching, and travel; it
herself, "The last man on Raratonga indicates an interest in abstract ideas
who knows anything about the past and systems of values and a ten­
will probably die today. I must dency to relate single experiences to
hurry."4 larger wholes. There is a strong at­
The statistical research of the Gau- traction to philosophy and religion;
quelins has shown a strong correla­ indeed, Mead was criticized by her
tion between planets rising just colleagues in anthropology for over­
above the Ascendant at birth and stepping the traditional limits of sci­
later choice of profession; specifi­ entific observation and "preaching"
cally, Mars and Saturn were found about the lessons to be learned from
rising in the charts of scientists with certain so-called primitive societies.
 chart interpretaton 63

It is interesting to note that Mead's incredible range of interests one

Sun is within V/j0 of the point on the thread could be found to predomi­
zodiac that corresponds to the center nate, it was her passionate interest in
of our galaxy. Theodor Landscheidt change and her deep sense of con­
regards this point as an information cern for the future. Her high school
center and associates it with emo­ graduation speech was about the fu­
tional equilibrium, personal magnet­ ture, and her lifelong goals were mo­
ism, and spiritual aspiration. The bility within one generation and
Sun conjunct Uranus shows unpre­ building a world where “the valuable
dictability and unconventionality, unit is a human being and not simply
traits that Mead manifested in both membership in one kind of culture
her professional and her domestic rather than another."6
life. A strong Uranus breaks up mar­ This Aquarian emphasis is re­
riages; asked to comment on her peated on a personal level by her
three divorces, Mead replied rather Moon and Venus in Aquarius. Her
smugly that all three marriages were Aquarian Venus in the First House in
successful. sextile to Uranus also gave her an
Mercury in aspect to Uranus indi­ enormous, if somewhat eccentric,
cates an original and independent charm. With Moon and Venus in the
thinker; here the two are in applying sign of groups, she was able to relate
conjunction, a strong indication of to every person in each of the eight
genius. Mercury is the most elevated villages she lived in and to remember
planet in the chart, forms aspects to them all later, sometimes after gaps
every other planet, and stands at the of many years. Aquarius is an im­
midpoint between Ascendant and personal sign; one searches her au­
Midheaven, indicating exceptional tobiography and letters in vain for
gifts of self-expression. Mead's pow­ introspection or revelations about her
erful Mercury was manifested in the private life. She scorned intimate
speed and ease with which she mas­ journals; her diaries contained the
tered seven different languages, not bare bones of events and records, in
to mention her enormous output case her work should be interrupted.
both as a writer (she wrote twenty- The Moon in Aquarius describes
four books, coauthored or edited her mother, a woman of advanced
eighteen, and turned out vast num­ ideas and egalitarian principles who
bers of scientific papers, mono­ danced for joy at the outbreak of the
graphs, and popular articles) and as Russian Revolution. It also stands for
a public speaker (in a sample year her paternal grandmother, whom
her scientific and popular lectures to­ she loved deeply and acknowledged
taled 110). as the most decisive influence in her
The Mercury-Uranus conjunction life. The Moon in the Second House
is in the Eleventh House of friends, of values and resources in trine to
brotherhood, and the future, the nat­ Neptune in Cancer indicates a deep
ural house of Aquarius. If in Mead's womanliness that was expressed by
64 chart interpretation

her love of children, her interest in ished. Every sentence was out of
child rearing, and her insistence on date. We had entered a new age."7
being a mother, in spite of a tipped Pluto is also heavily aspected, and its
uterus that caused several miscar­ close quincunx to the Ascendant sug­
riages. The Moon's close sextile to gests a powerful personality and the
the Sagittarian Sun made it possible possibility of influencing large num­
for her to integrate the responsive bers of people.
side of her nature with her need to The Part of Fortune in Pisces in the
contribute something of value to the Second House indicates considerable
world. "She wanted to be a mother talent, material success, and a per­
to the world," commented one of her sonality that best expresses itself by
friends, and indeed, in 1969, Time selfless devotion to the enduring val­
magazine named her "Mother of the ues of civilization and culture. The
World." north node conjunct the Midheaven
Mead's impact not only on her describes a person the thrust of
generation but on her age is sug­ whose life is toward professional rec­
gested by the many aspects from per­ ognition and achievement. The sign
sonal points to Uranus, Neptune, on the Midheaven shows the quali­
and Pluto. Uranus is near the mid­ ties the native aspires to and will be
point between Sun and Mercury, remembered for. Scorpio stands for
tying both into its close opposition to power, insight, and research; it is
Pluto. In addition, Uranus forms as­ also the sign of sexuality. Mead
pects to every other planet in the achieved instant fame with Coming of
chart, including close semisextiles to Age in Samoa (1928), a study of pu­
the three flanking the Ascendant. berty rites among adolescent girls;
Neptune in the Sixth House of serv­ and with Sex and Temperament in Three
ice is in out-of-sign but doubly ap­ Primitive Societies (1935) and Male and
plying trine to the Moon, denoting Female: A Study of Sexes in a Changing
both compassion and a sense of mis­ World (1949), her name became per­
sion. It not only opposes the Sun manently associated with sexual the­
(idealism and self-sacrifice—Mead ory. She is known for her open crit­
worked for a full year knowing she icism of sexual repression in our
was dying of cancer), but its mid­ society and her championing of sex­
point with Pluto is exactly opposite ual equality.
the Sun, which meant that Mead The total picture that emerges from
consciously identified with everyone this chart is one of tremendous en­
alive on the planet. An example of ergy, breadth of outlook, and con­
this planetary consciousness is her centration of purpose. Eight of the
reaction to the dropping of the first ten planets are clustered within a
atomic bomb on Hiroshima in sum­ close quintile between the elevated
mer 1945, which caught her in the Mercury and the Second-House
midst of writing. "I tore up every Moon; the other two are tied in
page of the book I had nearly fin­ closely by aspect. The almost total
 Chinese astrology 65

absence of squares (except for Venus sonality traits could be expressed in

to the Midheaven and the north these astrological terms and how
node) together with the Sun-Moon they became a language in which
sextile conveys a sense of opportun­ people could think about their own
ities rather than obstacles, which is and other people's lives. . . . Whether
borne out by Mead's self-confidence, there is anything further than this in
clear sense of vocation, and early horoscopes, we do not know. The
success; but the presence of Saturn scientific attitude is always to keep
near the Capricorn Ascendant de­ an open mind."8
notes unremitting industry. The ma­ —Helen Weaver
jority of planets rising is the signa­
ture of the self-made person. Chinese Astrology: Chinese astrol­
Margaret Mead's chart has not ogy has its roots in Taoism, the name
been chosen at random. It was se­ given to the doctrines of Lao-tse, the
lected to illustrate this book because great philosopher who lived during
Mead herself represents that integra­ the sixth century B.C. According to
tion of science and human values Lao-tse, the Tao is the intelligence,
that the editors feel is—or should inaccessible to human understand­
be—the goal of astrology. As a social ing, that governs the natural course
scientist, Mead combined careful ob­ of things, including the movement of
servation with a profound concern the stars. All the sciences, whether
for people. exact or conjectural, are part of the
Not surprisingly, this independent Tao. In fact the same word tch'eou is
thinker was also free of the usual sci­ used to refer to scientists, astrono­
entific prejudice against astrology. In mers, and astrologers.
one of her columns in Redbook she Astrology flourished in ancient
recalled her introduction to horo­ China. Marco Polo claims in his Voy­
scopes. "I was impressed then with ages that there were five thousand
the way a whole constellation of per-
1 A birthtime that is given on the hour is al­
ways regarded with suspicion. Every effort is
being made to confirm the information with
Mead's survivors, and should any discrepancy
come to light, future editions of this book will
be corrected accordingly.
2 Boyce Rensberger in The New York Times,
November 16, 1978.
3 Alden Whitman in The New York Times,
November 16, 1978.
4 Blackberry Winter: My Earlier Years (New
York: William Morrow, 1972), p. 338.
5 Ibid., p. 10.
6 Letters from the Field 1925-1975 (New York:
Harper & Row, 1977).
7 Blackberry Winter, p. 313.
6 "Margaret Mead Answers," Redbook, Jan­ Chinese astrological equipment built about
uary 1965, p. 6. 1880. (The Bettman Archive.)
66 Chinese astrology

astrologers living at the court of Ku- discoveries of astronomy into their

blai Khan. Over the years there arose cosmology, but these discoveries did
several schools that differed greatly not alter the basic principles of inter­
in their conception of the universe. pretation.
Three of these schools claimed the The Chinese calendar is essentially
majority of astrologers. based on the lunar cycle—that is,
For the first group the Sun, the the Moon's synodic period, whose
Moon, and all the stars floated freely duration is the period between New
in space according to the whims of Moons. Each day the Moon occupies
the divine winds. The second group, a different lunar mansion, or sieu,
who belonged to the school of Huen similar to a constellation. There are
t'ien, believed that the sky was a twenty-eight sieu, grouped into four
solid area on which there were paths superconstellations—the Azure Dra­
that the planets had to follow accord­ gon, the Black Warrior, the White
ing to a precise itinerary. This solid Tiger, and the Red Bird—of seven
sky was in the shape of an egg inside sieu apiece. The Moon completes a
whose shell the Earth floated like the circuit of the twenty-eight sieu in one
liquid mass of the yolk. The egg sidereal period, approximately. An
turned on its axis like a wheel, caus­ extra day or two is needed for the
ing the Sun to dip below the horizon Moon's synodic period to be com­
every evening, which explained the pleted; thus, some months have 29
alternation of night and day. The days and some 30. The sieu in which
third school, that of T'ien kai, con­ the New Moon occurs gives its name
ceived the sky to be a moving dais to the month. Each year begins on
hanging over the Earth, which re­ the second New Moon after the win­
mained motionless in the position of ter solstice and usually consists of 12
an overturned bowl. The succession months, although it is necessary for
of the four seasons was caused by some years to have an extra, inter­
the Sun's following different itiner­ calary month (see lunar year).
aries on the dais of the sky. Chinese astrology, like Western as­
Regardless of their conception of trology, has twelve signs. The main
the universe—and we can see that difference between the two systems
they were very dissimilar—all is that the Chinese signs do not cor­
Chinese astrologers followed the respond to a month but to a year and
same procedure. They recorded the that all bear the names of animals.
positions of the stars at the time of a (The twelve signs of Western astrol­
person's birth and interpreted the ogy include animals, human beings,
chart on the basis of correspondences and mythological creatures.) The
accumulated over centuries of obser­ twelve signs of Chinese astrology are
vation. It mattered little whether the Rat, Ox (or Buffalo), Tiger, Cat,
stars were drawn on a sky buffeted Dragon, Serpent (or Snake),
by divine winds, on the shell of an Horse, Goat, Monkey, Cock (or
egg, or on a moving dais. Later, Rooster), Dog, and Pig.
Chinese astrologers incorporated the There is an old legend that one
 Chinese astrology 67

New Year's Day, Buddha summoned namic, courageous, high-spirited,

all the animals in the creation to his adventurous, intemperate, rash, ar­
court. Twelve of them, more civilized gumentative, and lustful.
than the rest, turned up on time, and The element earth is ruled by and
Buddha rewarded these twelve by corresponds to Saturn: sober, re­
naming the years after them in the sponsible, realistic, enduring, pa­
order of their arrival. So in the tient, reserved, inhibited, stern, pes­
Chinese calendar a new cycle of signs simistic, and melancholy.
begins every 12 years. The current sign cycle of the
In addition to the signs, Chinese Chinese calendar is as follows:
astrology considers five elements:
1980: year of the metal Monkey
metal, water, wood, fire, and earth,
1981: year of the metal Cock
whereas Western astrology has only
1982: year of the water Dog
four: earth, water, air, and fire (see
1983: year of the water Pig
elements). Each element corre­
1984: year of the wood Rat
sponds to 2 successive years, so that
1985: year of the wood Ox
the entire elemental cycle takes 10
years. The combined sign and ele­ 1986: year of the fire Tiger
ment cycle is 60 years, and the cur­
1987: year of the fire Cat
1988: year of the earth Dragon
rent combined cycle (1924-84) is the
1989: year of the earth Serpent
seventy-seventh since the adoption
1990: year of the metal Horse
of the Sino-Vietnamese calendar in
1991: year of the metal Goat
2637 B.C.
The element metal is ruled by Ve­ To find your sign according to the
nus and corresponds to the Western Chinese zodiac, add multiples of 12
interpretation of that planet: cheer­ to the year you were born until you
ful, artistic, amorous, affectionate, arrive at one of the years listed
harmonizing, flirtatious, lazy, self- above. For example, if you were born
indulgent, and obstinate. in 1930, your sign will recur in 1942,
The element water is very different 1954, 1966, 1978, and 1990; thus you
from what it represents in Western were born under the sign of the
astrology. It is ruled by and corre­ Horse.
sponds to Mercury: mental, humor­ Note: Since the traditional Chinese
ous, witty, adaptable, studious, calendar is lunar, the day of the New
tricky, nervous, impressionable, Year is not fixed, as it is in the West,
worrisome, quibbling, and unscru­ on January 1. Chinese New Year is
pulous. always on the day (determined ac­
The element wood is ruled by and cording to time in the Far East) of the
corresponds to Jupiter: enthusiastic, second New Moon after the winter
generous, respectful, optimistic, solstice. Western astrologers recog­
boastful, pretentious, vacillating, and nize this as the New Moon in Aquar­
fanatical. ius, which can occur in January or
The element fire is ruled by and February. So if you were born during
corresponds to Mars: active, dy­ those 2 months, you may need to
68 Chiron

refer to the tables under the entries most recent fire Horse year, a record
for each of the twelve signs to deter­ number of abortions were reported
mine whether the animal for the pre­ in China, evidence of the survival of
vious year is applicable. ancestral beliefs despite the official
The Chinese zodiac has been propaganda (see Horse).
adopted by the majority of Far East­
ern peoples, with occasional varia­ Chiron (glyph ft or £ ): A tiny
tions. In Vietnam the Cock becomes planet (diameter 100—400 miles) or
the Chicken, and in Japan the Cat is asteroidal body orbiting between Sat­
replaced by the Hare; but the basic urn and Uranus, discovered Novem­
principles are the same. ber 1, 1977, by Charles Kowal. Chi­
To determine your element, find ron was named by its discoverer after
the year in the foregoing list whose the wise centaur of Greek mythology
last digit is the same as the last digit who tutored many heroes in the mil­
in your birth year. For example, if itary, medicinal, and cultural arts. Its
you were born in 1930, the last digit orbit crosses that of Saturn regularly
of your birth year is 0, so you would and that of Uranus occasionally, and
look at 1980 or 1990 on the list: Your has an inclination of 6°55.8' and a
element is metal. Again, be wary if mean sidereal period of 50.68 years.
your birthday is in January or Feb­ Its size and unexpected location have
ruary, for your element might be that led many observers to classify it as
of the previous year. Check the tables an asteroid, and to suggest that it
under the entries for each sign of the represents the first member of a
Chinese zodiac to be sure. trans-Saturnian asteroid belt.
Astrologers were once very highly Chiron's orbit was determined by
regarded by the Chinese, who ac­ Dr. Brian Marsden in late 1977 by
corded them a fearful respect. From examination of photographs of the
the emperor's court to the common object dating back as far as 1895. By
people, no one made a decision with­ early 1978 these photographs permit­
out consulting these interpreters of ted the calculation of an astronomer's
the celestial messages. Today in the ephemeris from 1937 to 1977. Two
People's Republic of China the groups of astrologers have published
profession of astrologer is forbidden ephemerides on the new body, one
by law. Nevertheless, a great many led by Canadian writer Malcolm
Chinese have their horoscopes cast Dean, editor of Phenomena, and the
secretly. A curious example of this other by American astrologer Al
persistence is the case of the fire Morrison, editor of CAO Times. The
Horse year, which was traditionally Ephemeris of Chiron 1890-2000, pub­
regarded as extremely malefic. Dur­ lished by Phenomena Publications, is
ing those years, the Chinese re­ calculated directly from orbital ele­
frained from undertaking any new ments in heliocentric and geocentric
projects, assuming that they would longitude and latitude, right ascen­
be doomed to failure; many even sion, and declination. The Ephemeris
avoided having children. In 1966, the of Chiron 1890-1979, published by
 Christianity and astrology 69

CAO Times, is based on Marsden's calculating the positions of the

orbital calculations and gives longi­ planets. Choisnard is one of the
tude and latitude only. Never before founders of the scientific movement
has such a wealth of positional data that is concerned with finding statis­
been available so soon after the dis­ tical proof for astrology. His Preuves
covery of a celestial body. et bases de I'astrologie scientifique (1921),
The discovery of a new planet or although later invalidated by the
planets orbiting between Saturn and Gauquelins as based on faulty
Uranus was predicted by both Dane methods and insufficient samples,
Rudhyar in The Astrology of Person­ remains a pioneering work in its
ality and Charles Jayne in the Spring field. Choisnard is responsible for
1961 issue of In Search. In addition, several innovations, including the
Jayne predicted that its period would use of standardized chart forms. He
be "fifty years, plus or minus two wrote some thirty books, the most
years" and that its orbit would important of which is le Langage as­
"swing inside the orbit of Saturn." tral. (See statistics and astrology.)
At least five symbols have been
proposed for Chiron; the two pic­ Christianity and Astrology: In the
tured above are those suggested by early days of the Christian Church
Dean and Morrison, respectively. As there was no official position
for Chiron's astrological significance, on astrology, although some theolo­
Dean suggests that the tiny planet gians—for example, Tertullian (160?-
may be related to the signs of Scorpio 230)—were suspicious of its pagan
and Sagittarius, a view that accords origin. Origen (1857-254?), on the
with Jungian psychologist Tony Jo­ other hand, believed that celestial
seph's interpretation of Chiron as phenomena announced terrestrial
representing the archetype of the events, though without causing
teacher and healer. The Association them.
for Studying Chiron, initially under Through the ages the conflict be­
the guidance of Al Morrison, feels tween Christianity and astrology has
that the asteroid may have no sign focused on the issue of free will and
rulership and describes its nature by grace. The determinism implicit or
such keywords as "maverick," explicit in much early astrological
"doorway," and "passage." thinking deprives man of his free
will, so that he cannot choose be­
Choisnard, Paul (February 13, 1867, tween good and evil. This led some
10:45 P.M., Saint-Denis de Sain- of the Church Fathers, notably Saint
tonge, France-February 9, 1930,11:55 Augustine (354-430), to condemn as­
P.M.): French astrologer and author, trology formally. Others, however,
at first under the pseudonym of Paul such as Synesius of Cyrene and Ju­
Flambard, later under his own name. lius Maternus, who lived around the
A graduate of the famed Ecole Poly­ time of Augustine, believed that as­
technique and an excellent mathe­ trology could lead to a better under­
matician, he reformed the method for standing of theological problems.
70 civil year

The fact that according to Christian “an abomination before the Lord."
tradition it was a star that had guided However, Jesuit professor of philos­
the three Wise Men (who in the orig­ ophy Fr. Laurence L. Cassidy points
inal Greek are called astrologers) to out the danger of quoting translated
Bethlehem was a powerful argu­ passages out of context, and reminds
ment. How was one to condemn the us that the medieval Church doctors,
study of the stars when the Holy who were thoroughly familiar with
Spirit itself had used a star to an­ the Bible, had no trouble reconciling
nounce the birth of Christ? The con­ its testimony with their belief in as­
sensus of opinion among modem trology. (See Byzantium, astrology
astrologers is that the “star” of in; Middle Ages, astrology in the;
Bethlehem was in fact a conjunction Romans, astrology among the.)
of Jupiter and Saturn in Pisces in 6-
Civil Year: See tropical year.
7 B.C., an exceptional phenomenon
that the Wise Men would have con­ Clark, Vernon (August 29, 1911, 1:24
sidered a major omen. P.M. EST, 39N18 76W30-1967):
During the turmoil of the early American psychologist, author of a
Middle Ages, Christian monasteries famous series of experiments testing
were the sole repositories of ancient the validity of astrology. One of the
literature, including works on astrol­ few orthodox scientists who have
ogy. At the same time, most of the studied the subject, Clark held a di­
secular clergy were condemning as­ ploma from the British Faculty of As­
trology because of its fatalism. But by trological Studies. In 1959 he decided
the twelfth and thirteenth centuries to test the ability of astrologers to dis­
astrology was taught in the univer­ tinguish between individuals by
sities; and Thomas Aquinas (1225- working with material derived from
74) reconciled the opposing views by birth data alone. He designed three
proposing the doctrine that although blind trials, which were given to a
celestial phenomena exerted a pow­ total of fifty astrologers from the
erful influence over unevolved na­ United States, Britain, Europe, and
tures, who “follow their corporal Australia.
passions,” it was possible to rise In the first test twenty astrologers
above these influences through the each had to match ten birth charts of
proper use of reason. This idea is real people, five male and five fe­
sometimes echoed by modern astrol­ male, with ten brief biographies de­
ogers, who speak of the possibility of scribing career, hobbies, marriage,
transcending difficult planetary con­ and health. To eliminate possible
figurations through greater self- clues, subjects of biographies were
awareness. chosen who were all bom in the
Christian fundamentalists have at­ United States over a 20-year time
tacked astrology on the grounds that span; each subject was established in
it is condemned in a number of pas­ his or her profession and had a reli­
sages in the Bible, particularly Deut. able birthtime.
18:9-14, where astrologers are called In the second test twenty astrolo­
 Cock 71

gers were each given ten pairs of trologers, astrology as it was prac­
charts and ten short case histories ticed from the time of Ptolemy (sec­
and asked to pick the chart that fitted ond century A.D.) to about the
the case history. They were not told sixteenth century.
that one of the pair was a genuine
chart and the other a chart erected Clock Time: See time.
for a random time and place. In the
Cock (or Rooster): The tenth sign of
third test thirty astrologers had to
the Chinese zodiac, including all per­
distinguish between each of ten pairs
sons born between
of birth charts, one for a person of
high intelligence and the other for a January 22, 1909, and February 10, 1910 (earth)
victim of brain damage. (The third February 8, 1921, and January 28, 1922 (metal)
test was double blind, since the data January 26, 1933, and February 14, 1934 (water)
were supplied by independent phy­ February 13, 1945, and February 2, 1946 (wood)
January 31, 1957, and February 16, 1958 (fire)
sicians and psychologists, and Clark February 17, 1969, and February 6, 1970 (earth)
himself had no knowledge of the an­ February 5, 1981, and January 25, 1982 (metal)
swers.) All three tests were also
given to a control group of twenty The Cock, dedicated in Japan to
psychologists and social workers the goddess of the Sun, Amaterasu,
with no knowledge of astrology. whom he is said to have saved one
The results of all three tests day from the wrath of the gods, is
showed that astrologers performed at the symbol of courage. Natives of the
an extremely high level of signifi­ sign are sincere, brilliant, and well
cance, whereas the control groups spoken and very successful in soci­
performed at exactly chance level. ety, although their candor is some­
The results of Clark's first and second times annoying. Among their inti­
tests, with slight variations, were mates, however, they may become
replicated by both Dr. Zipporah Do- melancholy. Neither savers nor
byns and Joseph Ernest Vidmar in spenders, they cannot decide what
the 1970s, the latter with results at a life-style to adopt and may go from
high level of significance. penny-pinching to extravagance at a
The importance of Clark's work is moment's notice. Their lack of organ­
in providing a model on which later ization and discipline are no help to
experiments can be based. He is the their career, but since they are clever
pioneer of what might be called the
holistic approach to astrological test­
ing, as distinguished from the statis­
tical approach, in which one factor of
a complex totality is isolated for
study, as in the work of Michel and
Fran^oise Gauquelin.

Classical Astrology (or Traditional

Astrology): According to most as­
72 colatitude

and stubborn, success is not out of Libra: blue

the question. Their best fields are ag­ Scorpio: dark red
Sagittarius: purple
riculture and professions requiring Capricorn: red, black
contact with the public. Aquarius: electric blue, multicolor, rainbow
In love, Cocks are not romantics. Pisces: sea green, violet, indigo
However, they are faithful, have a
sense of family, and are often able to Combust: In classical astrology, the
form lasting relationships. condition of a planet whose celes­
Compatible signs: Horse, Ox, Ser­ tial longitude is very close to that
pent. of the Sun; the orb of combustion
Neutral signs: Dragon, Pig, Rat, varies from 3° to 8°30'. A planet
Tiger. “combust the Sun" was believed to
Incompatible signs: Cat, Cock, be considerably weakened by this
Dog, Goat, Monkey. position. However, de Vore says that
Famous Cocks include Francis Ba­ some authorities made an exception
con, Amelia Earhart, Sergei Eisen­ in the case of Mars, whose influence
stein, William Faulkner, Joseph was said to be intensified; Mercury
Goebbels, J. P. Morgan, Samuel Pe- is also often considered to be an ex­
pys, Emily Post, Wilhelm Reich, ception. (Also see cazimi.)
Richard Wagner, and Edith Wharton.
(See Chinese astrology.) Comet: A luminous body, usually of
small mass, generally irregular in
Colatitude: See Vertex. shape and often with a long tail, that
follows an orbit around the Sun.
Colors: According to Hermetic the­ Comets consist of three parts, visible
ory, all things in the universe had to the naked eye: nucleus, envelope
secret affinities with man. Thus clas­ (also called coma), and tail. Little is
sical astrologers believed that there known about these celestial bodies;
were certain colors proper to each some have regular periods, whereas
sign of the zodiac. The tradition has some do not, and their behavior is
survived, although with some differ­ difficult to predict. In 1973, for ex­
ence of opinion as to which colors ample, 611 comets were counted. Of
correspond to which signs. While al­ this number, a quarter had orbits that
most all astrologers would agree that appeared truly elliptical, while the
red belongs to Aries and orange to rest followed parabolas and even hy­
Leo, other signs are more elusive. perbolas. In the latter case, they must
The following list is typical, if not have left the solar system altogether.
definitive: Ancient astronomers were aware
of comets. The first observation re­
Aries: red
ported in Chinese annals dates from
Taurus: pale green, pastels
Gemini: turquoise, iridescent shades, silver
the year 2349 B.C. In Rome, Pliny
Cancer: silver, pale blue describes comets, classifying them
Leo: gold, orange, yellow according to their appearance. Tra­
Virgo: brown, navy blue, gray, white ditionally comets have been very im-
 comet 73

incided with the comet's appearance;

thus the events occur many years
after the comet.
"The year that Mithridates was
born," writes Justin (third century
A.D.) in his Philippic History, "as well
as the year that he ascended the
throne, there appeared for seventy
days a comet of such great brilliance
that the sky seemed on fire. It was so
big that it occupied a quarter of the
heavens, and so bright that it
eclipsed the light of the sun. Four
hours elapsed from its rising to its
setting." It is possible that this de­
scription is not exaggerated; in 1910
the tail of Halley's comet extended
the full width of the sky, visible from
one horizon to the other.
Halley's comet is the best-known
Woodcut from a seventeenth century French comet in modern times. In 1705 the
book showing various types of comets. (The astronomer Edmund Halley (1656-
Bettman Archive.) 1742) noticed a similarity in the orbits
portant in mundane astrology, of the comets observed in 1531, 1607,
whereas their role in natal astrol­ and 1682, concluded that they were
ogy has been negligible. Until the really a single comet, and predicted
eighteenth century, the appearance that it would return in 1758. Halley's
of comets in the sky made a great comet has a sidereal period of
impression on the public, who re­ 76.019 years, and its next appearance
garded them as marvels heralding will be in 1986.
great events; thus comets were said It is possible, though not custom­
to have accompanied the deaths of ary, to include the position of a comet
Caesar, Constantine, Attila, and Mu­ in a birth chart. One method is sim­
hammad. Comets have always been ply to use the celestial longitude
associated with war, invasion, assas­ of the comet at its exact moment of
sination, and catastrophe, and the perihelion. This moment need not
concurrence of such events with the coincide with the individual's birth­
appearance of a comet is cited as evi­ time (or even birthday); its perihelion
dence. In fact, such events also occur identifies that particular comet on
quite frequently in years without a that particular passage near the Sun.
spectacular comet. De Vore writes What matters is that the comet is vis­
that the history-making events asso­ ibly approaching, completing, or
ciated with comets are presumed to leaving perihelion. Another method
be effected by those whose birth co­ is to use the comet's actual celestial
74 commercial astrology

longitude at the time of birth. Either (nonperiodic), which had six tails;
way, a comet's longitude position the Great Comet of 1811 (nonper­
should not be considered in the same iodic), whose nucleus appeared
way as that of a planet, for it is ex­ larger than the Sun and whose ap­
tremely likely that its celestial lat­ pearance was given as the reason for
itude will be very great—that is, that the excellent French wine of that sea­
the comet will be remote from the son; the Great Comet of 1843, whose
ecliptic. Celestial longitude is suffi­ tail was 200 million miles long; Do-
cient in determining which sign the nati's comet of 1858, whose tail was
comet is transiting, but it may not curved; the Great Comet of 1861
reveal which house it falls in; de­ (nonperiodic), through whose tail the
pending on which system of house Earth passed and which was so
division is used, rigorous trigono­ bright that it could easily be seen at
metric calculations may be necessary. midday; and Morehouse's comet of
Moreover, an aspect between a 1908, whose appearance changed
comet and a planet is quite different dramatically from day to day.
from an aspect between two planets.
Planetary aspects occur very close to Commercial Astrology: See Sun­
a plane and can be thought of in two- sign ASTROLOGY.
dimensional terms, but an aspect
from a high-latitude comet to a Common Planet: According to Ptol­
planet occurs in three dimensions. It emy, Mercury was common because
is probably for these reasons that neither benefic nor malefic, neither
comets are usually ignored in natal masculine nor feminine, and nei­
astrology. ther diurnal nor nocturnal, its na­
The traditional method of inter­ ture varying according to its condi­
preting comets was to judge the mo­ tion by sign, house, and aspect.
ment when they were first sighted.
If they were first seen in Leo this Common Signs: See mutable.
would augur badly for monarchs; if
in Virgo, for the harvest, and so on. Compatibility: While it is obviously
The interpretation of a comet in a impossible to judge the compatibility
chart should take into account its of two individuals on the basis of
color, its shape, the duration of the their Sun signs alone, this informa­
phenomenon, the sign and decan- tion can provide some preliminary
ate in which it appears, its probable clues as to their chances for a good
house position, and its three-dimen­ relationship. Because of the regular
sional aspects to planets. A comet ris­ recurrence of the four elements
ing before the Sun is said to acceler­ around the zodiac wheel, signs of the
ate the manifestation of the events it same element will always be in trine.
portends, whereas a vespertine, or Thus a Sun-sign Taurus will share a
evening, comet delays it. certain practical and workmanlike
Spectacular comets of the past in­ approach with the other two earth
clude De Cheseaux's comet of 1744 signs, Virgo and Capricorn. Simi­
 composite chart 75

larly, signs of harmonious elements Composite Chart: The chart of a re­

will be in sextile (earth and water are lationship between two or more per­
harmonious elements; so are air and sons, obtained by using midpoints
fire). Hence, Taurus and Cancer are between the planets, nodes, and
compatible; so are Gemini and Leo. other elements in the individual
Signs of inharmonious elements, charts (see midpoint). In calculating
such as earth and fire, or air and the houses of a composite chart, the
water, will form semisextiles, quin­ Midheaven is the midpoint between
cunxes, and squares: The first two the Midheavens of the charts in ques­
aspects are ambiguous; the third is tion. The Ascendant can either be the
difficult. Aries natives may feel midpoint of the two Ascendants, or
compatible with Pisces and Taurus, can be calculated for the latitude of
their neighboring signs (semisextile), the locality where the relationship is
or they may not; likewise with Virgo taking place. The composite chart is
and Scorpio, across the zodiac, at a distinguished from the relationship
peculiar angle (quincunx); but with chart, which is erected for the mid­
Cancer and Capricorn, ego problems point in time and space between the
may well arise. However, Robert two sets of birth data, a technique
Hand believes that the semisextile developed by Ronald Davison. The
and quincunx connections can be interpretation of a composite chart is
more difficult than the squares be­ similar to that of a birth chart; and
cause the signs have nothing in com­ like the birth chart, it can be used as
mon, whereas the squares are related the basis for progressions, transits,
by quadruplicity. Note that oppo­ and solar returns in order to follow
sitions bring together harmonious events and stages in the develop­
elements—Aries (fire) and Libra (air), ment of the relationship (see pro­
for example. There is tension be­ gression and direction; solar re­
tween Aries and Libra, but it can be turn; transit).
resolved more easily than in the case As a tool in the study of human
of Aries and Cancer or Aries and relationships, the composite chart
Capricorn. supplements the much older tech­
Thus Sun signs can furnish a rule- nique of CHART COMPARISON, Or St/M-
of-thumb guide to compatibility, and astry. Where chart comparison stud­
such indications are included in the ies the relationships between two
articles describing the characteristics charts, the composite chart intro­
of the individual signs. However, the duces a third element, the chart of
complexity of human behavior can­ the relationship itself. Many modem
not be reduced to any such simple astrologers find that the composite
formulas. A valid astrological assess­ chart helps them to understand the
ment of the potential for any rela­ dynamics of a relationship more eas­
tionship would require a careful com­ ily and more precisely than the con­
parative study of the birth charts of ventional techniques of synastry.
the individuals involved. (See chart The origin of the composite chart
comparison; individual signs). is obscure. Although sometimes said
76 computers and astrology

to have been developed in Germany puterized forecasts are based—those

in the 1920s, it may well predate that of ParaResearch are among the
time. The definitive works to date are best—there are certain built-in limi­
John Townley, The Composite Chart, tations. The computer can string to­
and Robert Hand, Planets in Compos­ gether separate delineations, but it
ite. cannot synthesize them into a whole.
In those areas where such faculties
Computers and Astrology: On No­ as judgment and intuition come into
vember 16, 1967, in Dusseldorf the play, it is doubtful that the computer
German women's magazine Con- will ever replace the competent and
stanze offered its readers, for the first experienced astrologer.
time, horoscopes cast by computer. The advent of the microcomputer
This electronic invasion of the realm in 1977 marked a new phase in the
of astrology was soon imitated in computer revolution. Astrological
France and the United States. One of programs written, largely by Michael
the first and most popular services of Erlewine, for the Commodore Pet,
this kind was Astroflash, whose pro­ Apple II, and TRS-80 have made it
gram was written by the well-known possible for astrologers with no
French astrologer, Andre Barbault. knowledge of programming to have
In the United States comprehen­ a variety of complex operations per­
sive calculation services were soon formed in seconds at the touch of a
offered to astrologers by Astro-Nu­ key. Erlewine's magazine Matrix is
meric and by Neil Michelsen's Astro­ the main source of information for all
Computing. These services and oth­ aspects of astrocomputing. A major
ers like them have raised the stan­ contributor is James Neely, who has
dards of accuracy in astrology. Mi­ made it possible to calculate the
chelsen's widely used American planets' positions from scratch with
Ephemeris 1931-1980 was printed di­ an accuracy to the nearest second of
rectly from the printout of his mini­ arc—an achievement for which he
computer, thus saving thousands of won the 1978 Johndro Award. Thus
dollars in typesetting. Centralized microcomputers have put reason­
computers are proving to be an in­ ably accurate chart-casting facilities
valuable tool for statistical research within reach of the average astrolo­
projects requiring the calculation of ger. At this point certain elaborate
large numbers of charts. Eventually calculations still require large com­
the computer may add substantially puters, but this situation will proba­
to our understanding of the mean­ bly change within the next few years.
ings of the signs, planets, houses, Even after microcomputers become
and aspects. more elaborate, however, centralized
Meanwhile, though, in the area of computers will continue to be useful
interpretation and prediction, the for research.
computer's role has been more com­
mercial than serious. However intel­ Conception Chart: A chart showing
ligent the programs on which com­ the positions of the Sun, Moon, and
 conception chart 77

JULIAN DAY * • 241373S.6B3333 MEAN OBLIQUITY OF ECLIPTIC « 23*27* 7* SIDEREAL AYANATSBA (SVP, « PR 6*37*32*

Geocentric computer chart of Margaret Mead. (Reprinted by permission of Astro Computing

Services.)

planets at the time of an individual's states that at or near the time of con­
conception. Since the period of ges­ ception the Moon must be in con­
tation in humans is not invariable, junction or opposition to the natal
this moment is difficult to determine; Ascendant and the Ascendant must
hence, such charts are usually hy­ be in conjunction or opposition to the
pothetical. All astrologers agree that, natal Moon. The prenatal, or lunar ep­
should precise information concern­ och, chart based on this theory was
ing the moment of conception be­ introduced to modern astrology in
come available, the resulting charts the early twentieth century by Se-
would be extremely valuable. pharial (Walter Gornold) in The Solar
The problem was not unknown to Epoch and E. H. Bailey in The Prenatal
the ancients. In his Centiloquy, Ptol­ Epoch. Both Sepharial and Bailey in­
emy describes the trutine of Hermes, sisted that these interchanges must
a formula for casting a horoscope for be exact; other astrologers could not
the time of conception. The trutine agree, so the chart fell out of favor.
78 configuration

However, L. E. Johndro and his Conjunction (symbol d): The strong­

partner, W. Kenneth Brown, made est aspect in astrology, in which two
considerable use of the conception or more planets occupy, or are within
chart. In a study of 200 obstetrical orb of, the same degree of celestial
cases from Flower Hospital in New LONGITUDE.
York City, Johndro found that while Older authorities regard the con­
the interchanges were valid, they junction as a position rather than an
need not be exact; that is, the usual aspect; Sepharial defines it as “two
orbs for conjunctions and opposi­ planets within distance of half the
tions were admissible. Johndro's sum of their orbs." To a modern as­
findings were confirmed by Eleanor trologer, the distinction seems
Hesseltine and Charles Jayne. John­ largely semantic, a vestige of the an­
dro and Jayne, codiscoverers of the thropomorphic language used to de­
Vertex, found that when the gesta­ scribe the planets. The word aspect
tion period is less than eight months, comes from a Latin verb meaning "to
the interchanges involve the Vertex look at," and its archaic meaning was
instead of the Ascendant. “look, glance, or appearance." Thus
Johndro and Jayne believe that the the planets' aspects were how they
conception chart shows how people "looked at" each, other, a concept
think or “conceive" things; thus, it is that did not apply when the planets
more important for thinkers and in­ were actually conjoined.
novators than for the average person. The conjunction has traditionally
Jayne believes that all conception been regarded as neither benefic nor
charts are ruled by Uranus and all malefic, its quality depending on
birth charts by Saturn. Johndro and the nature of the planets involved, a
Brown found that the relationship view with which modern astrologers
between the conception chart and the would agree. Thus a conjunction of
birth chart reveals how successfully the Moon and Venus in a birth chart
the native actualizes concepts. would be an indication of a warm
The conception chart is currently and affectionate nature, whereas a
used by Ronald C. Davison in Eng­ conjunction of the Moon and Saturn
land and Barbara Watters and would suggest coldness and diffi­
Charles Jayne in the United States. culty expressing emotion. The con­
Davison and Watters still use exact junction of the Sun and Moon, which
interchanges. Jayne, developing Se- occurs at New Moon and unites the
pharial's ideas, has found other ep­ two luminaries in the same sign of
ochs, both prenatal and postnatal; the zodiac, was traditionally consid­
see his A Primer of Prenatal and Post­ ered unfortunate, especially for
natal Charts (1959), A Preface to Pre­ health and longevity. It is associated
natal Charts (1978), and Paths to High with a certain freshness, naivete, and
Consciousness (1979). subjectivity, the opposite of the dia­
lectical sophistication, tension, and
Configuration: In classical astrology, objectivity associated with the oppo­
an aspect of two or more planets. sition, which occurs at Full Moon.
(See MAJOR CONFIGURATION.) A chart with many conjunctions and
 contrascion 79

few or no oppositions is character­ to different groupings representing

ized by narrowness of outlook and different images.
concentration of effort, whereas a Whatever groupings are used,
chart with no conjunctions is associ­ however, constellations helped an­
ated with breadth of viewpoint and cient peoples organize their universe.
variety of experience. Not only did they make it possible to
Conjunctions are extremely impor­ track the Sun, Moon, and planets
tant in directions and transits. In­ against a definite background of stel­
deed, of all the aspects, they are the lar patterns, but they provided illus­
most powerful triggers of moods or trations for myths about the gods in
events when formed by transiting, which the culture transmitted its
progressed, or directed planets to morals to the young. Thus the con­
planets or sensitive points in a natal stellation Leo represented the Ne-
chart (see progression and direc­ mean lion that was slain by Hercules
tion; transit). For example, a con­ and raised into the heavens by Zeus
junction of transiting Mars to natal in his honor, showing that bravery is
Ascendant would be accompanied by rewarded. Scorpius was the scorpion
conspicuous changes in the native's sent by the goddesses Artemis and
personality, which would become Leto to kill Orion, who had boastfully
more aggressive, more energetic, or threatened to kill all the animals on
more sexually oriented than usual, or Earth, showing how hubris is pun­
all three, depending on the general ished.
complexion of the chart. The signs of the zodiac have the
Orbs for conjunctions vary (see same names as the constellations that
orb), but since it is the strongest as­ occur in the vicinity of the ecliptic,
pect, a conjunction may operate but here the resemblance ends. Un­
within orbs of up to 10° or even more, like the signs, the constellations are
especially if the Sun or Moon is in­ not of equal length, and the bound­
volved. (See aspect; inferior con­ aries between them are indefinite. (It
junction; SUPERIOR CONJUNCTION.) is true that in 1930 astronomers
adopted boundaries for the conven­
Constellations: Groups of fixed stars ience of cataloguing stars, but these
that have, since antiquity, been as­ boundaries are totally arbitrary.)
signed names suggestive of the pat­ Also, there is no consensus that the
terns they supposedly form in the number of zodiacal constellations is
sky. Actually in the modern four-di­ twelve. The most important distinc­
mensional universe the stars of a tion, however, is that the constella­
constellation have no physical rela­ tions and the signs have an approx­
tionship with one another except that imate alignment only once in about
they belong to the same galaxy. Also, 25,800 years. (See India, astrology
most of the constellations bear no re­ in; precession of the equinoxes;
semblance, at least to the modem ob­ SIDEREAL ZODIAC; TROPICAL ZODIAC.)
server, to the figures they are sup­ Contraparallel: See parallel.
posed to represent, and different
cultures have assigned the same stars Contrascion: See antiscion.
80 converse progression

Hercules, Virgo, Taurus, Gemini, Pisces, Aquarius, Sagittarius, Aquila, Corona Borealis, Cancer,
Cygnus, Aries, Leo, Lepus, Scorpio.
 cosmobiology 81

Converse Progression: See progres­

sion AND DIRECTION.

Copernicus, Nicolaus (February 19,

1473, Toruri, Poland-May 24, 1543,
Frombork, Poland): Polish astrono­
mer, regarded as the founder of
modern astronomy for establishing
the theory that the Earth rotates daily
on its axis and the planets revolve in
orbits around the Sun. The heliocen­
tric view of the universe was antici­
pated by the Greeks, notably Aris­
tarchus of Samos, but was generally
ignored until Copernicus's definitive
statement in De Revolutionibus Orbium
Coelestium. The book was completed
about 1530 but was not printed until
1543, just in time for printer's proofs
to reach the author on his deathbed.
Although the success of the Co­
pernican system is generally believed
to be a decisive factor in the decline
of astrology, there is no fundamental
contradiction between the two. As­
trology studies the mutual relation­
Nicolaus Copernicus. (The Bettman Archive.)
ships between the planets and the
Earth, and its principles may be ap­ astrologer Reinhold Ebertin (Febru­
plied equally well in a geocentric or ary 16, 1901-), its foremost exponent,
heliocentric frame of reference. The as "a scientific discipline concerned
idea that Copernicus dealt the death­ with the possible correlations be­
blow to astrology is ironic, for al­ tween the cosmos and organic life,
though it is not known with certainty and the effects of cosmic rhythms
whether Copernicus himself believed and stellar motion on man." The
in astrology, it is known that he term seems to have been introduced
made no effort to deny it, erected by the German H. A. Strauss in 1928,
birth charts, and gave his master­ when the first Cosmobiological Yearbook
work to an astrologer, his friend and was issued. Cosmobiology devel­
disciple Joachim Rheticus, to publish. oped out of the work of another Ger­
man astrologer, Alfred Witte, foun­
Corona: See eclipse. der of the Uranian system of
astrology, in the 1930s. Cosmobiol­
Cosmobiology: An empirical school ogy employs many of the same tech­
of astrology defined by the German niques as Uranian astrology, includ-
82 cosmography

ing the 90° dial, but it does not make based on the cosmographic represen­
use of the hypothetical Uranian tation of the birthplace.
planets. Cosmobiologists believe that For example, let us consider a
specific interpretations can derive birthplace at terrestrial latitude 45°
only from combinations of two or north, usually expressed 45N (for ex­
more planets: The more planets in a ample, Salem, Oregon; Minneapolis,
combination, the more specific the Minnesota; Pavia, Italy; Harbin,
interpretation. They make systematic Manchuria). Figure 16 shows a topo-
use of all the midpoint combinations centric cosmography, in which the
in their charts. Prediction of future idealized "plane" of the horizon
events utilizes the technique of solar (mountains and valleys leveled out)
arcs (see progression and direc­ is tangent to the Earth's sphere at
tion). 45N. The cardinal directions are
Cosmobiology emphasizes the ob­ shown on the plane, which could be
servational, quantitative, and statis­ extended outward indefinitely, and
tical approaches to research and pays O is the precise location of the birth­
considerable attention to the compar­ place.
ative method, in which small collec­ For convenience' sake we can sim­
tions of similar cases are studied in­ plify our cosmography and make it
tensively in order to isolate common geocentric, that is, with O at the
factors and elements. A major con­ Earth's center. This will create some
tribution of this school is the devel­ error due to parallax, but for our pur­
opment of graphic techniques such pose—plotting the planetary posi­
as the 45° ephemeris, and the mid­ tions in the chart—the distortion is
point ephemeris. The center of its ac­ negligible, since the planets are so
tivities is the Ebertin Cosmobiological distant. (There is a parallax distortion
Academy in Aalen, West Germany, in the Moon's position, however,
which draws together scholars and
academics in all areas of astrological
research. However, the term cosmo­
biology is sometimes used as a euphe­
mism by astrologers unconnected
with Ebertin.

Cosmography (from the Greek /cos­

mos, the world, and graphein, to
write): Literally, "a description of the
world"; the science of the structure
of the universe and the relationships
between its parts. A knowledge of
cosmography is useful, though not
necessary, in learning to set up a
birth chart, because chart erection is Figure 16. A topocentric cosmography.
 cosmography 83

that can in certain circumstances ex­ rizon horizontal and thus positioned
ceed 1°.) The advantage of the geo­ zenith and nadir up and down, re­
centric cosmography over the topo- spectively. We can do this because
centric is that we can easily picture any position is relative. Showing the
our horizon as one of the great cir­ horizon as tilted is helpful for the to-
cles of the celestial sphere. This is pocentric view; showing it as hori­
essential, since the horizon's inter­ zontal conforms to our sensations of
section with four other such circles is walking about on a "flat" earth. Now
the basis for the houses, which con­ we can add a great circle in the third
nect the solar system to the birth­ dimension: .the prime vertical, which
place. In figure 17 we see the inter­ connects due east on the horizon
section of two great circles, horizon (East Point), zenith, due west on
and meridian, the axes of the birth the horizon (West Point), and nadir.
chart in most systems of house di­ We have pictured our local posi­
vision. On a line drawn perpendic­ tion in three dimensions, but we
ular to the horizon, straight up in the need to orient that position with re­
sky from the birthplace is the zenith, spect to the rotation of the Earth and
and straight down through the Earth the zodiac of signs. We can accom­
is the nadir. (In figure 17 the zenith­ plish this by inserting two other great
nadir axis is not vertical because we circles, the celestial equator and the
are still representing the horizon as ecliptic. The celestial equator is the
a tangent on latitude 45N.) The me­ Earth's Equator extended out into
ridian is the great circle that connects space and projected onto the starry
due north on the horizon (North background of the celestial sphere.
Point), zenith, due south on the ho­ An axis perpendicular to the plane of
rizon (South Point), and nadir.
In figure 18 we have made the ho-

Figure 18. Horizon, meridian, and prime

Figure 17. Horizon and meridian. vertical.
84 cosmography

Figure 19. Horizon, meridian, prime verti­ Figure 20. Horizon, meridian, prime verti­
cal, and celestial equator. cal, celestial equator, and ecliptic.

this circle coincides with the Earth's horizon in the northern sky (south­
rotational axis and extends upward ern sky in the southern hemisphere)
to the north celestial pole, which would is the Imum Coeli, or IC. The point
be the zenith if we were standing at where the ecliptic meets the eastern
the North Pole of the Earth. Extend­ horizon is the Ascendant; where it
ing downward, the axis reaches the meets the western horizon is the
south celestial pole, the South Pole's Descendant. The two points where
local zenith. The north celestial pole the ecliptic intersects the celestial
is quite close to the North Star (Po­ equator are the equinoxes—0° Aries
laris) these days (see precession of and 0° Libra. At the birth moment
the equinoxes), and from our 45N represented, 0° Aries is shown hav­
birthplace we would see that star at ing just risen above the eastern ho­
an altitude of 45° from the northern rizon and 0° Libra having just set be­
horizon (see figure 19). The celestial low the western horizon. Of course
equator meets the eastern horizon at the equinox points, like all points on
the East Point; it meets the western the zodiac, make a complete circuit
horizon at the West Point. of the sky (above and below the ho­
In figure 20 we have inserted the rizon) in 24 hours.
fifth great circle, the ecliptic, The foregoing geocentric cosmog­
whereon is placed the zodiac. The raphy can be compared with the he­
point where the ecliptic meets the liocentric cosmography in figure 21.
meridian above the horizon in the Note the points at which each of the
southern sky (it would be the north­ four seasons begins. At each solstice
ern sky if the birthplace were south the Sun is giving more light to one
of the Equator) is the Midheaven, or hemisphere than it is to the other.
MC. The opposite point, where the The favored half is experiencing its
ecliptic meets the meridian below the longest day and shortest night,
 cusp 85

whereas in the other half the situa­ chart is between 29° Pisces and 0°
tion is reversed. At both equinoxes, Aries, the native is said to be “on the
however, day and night are equal. cusp of Aries," or sometimes, "on
(See HELIOCENTRIC SYSTEM.) the Pisces-Aries cusp."
2. The point regarded by most as­
Culminating: Term used to describe
trologers as the imaginary boundary
a planet or star when, because of the that marks the beginning of a house
apparent movement of the sky due in a birth chart and thus distin­
to the Earth's rotation, it arrives at guishes it from the preceding house,
the upper meridian of the birth­ although most Hindu astrologers and
place, attaining its greatest possible some Western astrologers—for ex­
elevation. A planet is said to be cul­
ample, Cyril Fagan—consider the
minating when it reaches the Mid­ middle point of a house to be its
heaven. Such a planet is considered cusp. (According to this view, the
very powerful in the life of the native middle of the First House by the
and will have a conspicuous influ­ commoner method would be the be­
ence on his or her public image. ginning, or cusp, of the Second.) In
Culmination: See culminating; me­ the general opinion, however, the
ridian. cusp of a house always precedes the
house, moving around the wheel in
Cusp: 1. The degree of the ecliptic a counterclockwise direction. Thus
marking the beginning of a sign of the Ascendant is the cusp of the First
the zodiac and thus dividing that House, the line dividing the First
sign from the one that preceded it. House from the Second House is the
cusp of the Second House, and so on
around the wheel. Traditionally,
house cusps have been used to time
events—that is, when a planet trans­
its a house cusp, an event associated
with the affairs of that house should
take place. But owing partly to the
current state of confusion over sys­
tems of house division, most con­
temporary astrologers allow an orb
of 2° to 5° for house cusps. Thus a
natal planet posited in the Fourth
House but within 2° to 5° of the cusp
of the Fifth House probably "works"
for both houses. An orb of up to 15°
is often allowed for angular houses.
The vagueness of the boundaries be­
tween houses lends credence to the
idea that the cusp is the middle part
Figure 21. The heliocentric system. of the house.
86 cycle

Cycle: A regularly recurring period in postoperative hemorrhaging dur­

of time during which an event or se­ ing the Full Moon.
ries of events can be expected to oc­ Astrologers pay close attention to
cur and upon which predictions can phase within a planetary cycle. Dur­
be based. There are cycles of business ing the first half (waxing) the energies
activity, floods on the Nile, the pop­ represented by the cycle are in a
ulation of grasshoppers, the sale of process of growth; during the second
sweet potatoes, and the emotions of half (waning) the energies are re­
human beings. There are also cycles leased. The cycle can be further di­
of celestial phenomena, such as the vided into quarters and even eighths,
orbits of the planets around the Sun, and the moments in the cycle that
the observation of which has made correspond to the boundaries of
it possible to compile ephemerides. these divisions, or phases, are consid­
Any demonstrated correspondence ered critical. There are two types of
between planetary cycles and terres­ planetary cycles, sidereal (or tropical)
trial events indirectly supports the and synodic.
underlying assumption of astrology: The sidereal cycle (or period, or rev­
that the motions of the planets are olution) of a planet is the length of
related to, and thus a guide to, the time it takes to complete one revo­
understanding of the behavior of hu­ lution around the Sun (see sidereal
man beings. One as-yet-unproved period). In the case of the Moon, the
astrological hypothesis is that the sidereal month is the period of one
tidal effects of recurring planetary complete revolution around the
patterns provoke activity on the Sun, Earth, measured by recurring align­
such as sunspots and solar wind, ment to a star. For planets outside
causing electrical changes in the the Earth's orbit astrologers normally
Earth's ionosphere, which in turn af­ regard the planet's cycle as the time
fect the weather, our state of mind, it takes it to make one complete cir­
and ultimately our behavior. To dem­ cuit of the zodiac—really a tropical
onstrate the validity of this hypoth­ period, not a sidereal period—al­
esis, it would be necessary to prove though this introduces some irregu­
each link in the chain of causation. larity due to our geocentric viewpoint
The impact of solar activity on our (see retrograde). The irregularity is
ionosphere has been demonstrated regarded by most astrologers as part
by John Nelson; the relation of the of the cycle's meaning. A planet's
sunspot cycle to planetary cycles has completion of its cycle is known as
been demonstrated by Geoffrey its return.
Dean. Also significant is the ob­ Many astrologers use the sidereal
served correspondence of the Moon's or tropical cycles of the planets—that
cycle not only to oceanic tides but to is, the time it takes them to return to
the tides in the human body: In a 3- their natal positions in a given birth
year study involving over one thou­ chart—in the study of personality de­
sand patients, Dr. E. J. Andrews ob­ velopment. Each phase of a planet's
served a regularly recurring increase cycle is a turning point in the devel­
 cycle 87

opment of the individual born at the The cycles of Uranus, Neptune,

beginning of that (or a prior) cycle. and Pluto are more properly associ­
The sidereal or tropical cycles most ated with changing trends in society
often studied in natal astrology are as a whole than with the develop­
those of the progressed Moon and ment of an individual. For example,
transiting Saturn, both of which, cur­ Dane Rudhyar has correlated Pluto's
iously, are approximately 28 years. It cycle of nearly 250 years with the du­
takes Saturn about that length of ration of a style within a culture. The
time to transit all twelve signs of the most comprehensive work on cycles
zodiac and arrive at its natal position to date is Alexander Ruperti's Cycles
in an individual's chart (the Saturn of Becoming (1978), which considers
return). It takes the Moon about 28 the whole spectrum of solar, lunar,
days to transit all twelve signs, and and planetary cycles.
since progressions operate on the The synodic cycle always involves
principle "a day for a year,” the cycle two planets, and is defined as the
of the progressed Moon is also about interval between one conjunction
28 years. Thus both progressed and the next. When astrologers refer
Moon and transiting Saturn will be to the synodic period of a single planet,
at half-cycle, or in opposition to their it is understood that the other body
natal positions, at approximately age is the Sun. Thus the synodic period
14, a time characterized by the ten­ of Jupiter is the interval between one
sions and self-consciousness of ado­ Sun-Jupiter conjunction and the
lescence. Both cycles will be com­ next. The synodic period of the Moon
pleted at about age 28, a time is the interval between one Sun-
characterized by awareness of the Moon conjunction and the next. The
passing of time and a new sense of classic work on the soli-lunar rela­
responsibility and often experienced tionship is Dane Rudhyar's The Lu­
as the end of youth and the begin­ nation Cycle.
ning of maturity. The synodic-cycle of Jupiter and
The planetary cycle perhaps most Saturn is very important in mundane
conspicuous for its effects is the astrology. The mean interval be­
Uranus cycle. Since it takes Uranus tween two heliocentric conjunctions
approximately 84 years to make a of these two bodies is 19.859 years.
complete circuit of the zodiac, it will These progressive conjunctions do
oppose its natal position at about age not take place in the same region of
42. Uranus rules rebellion, the un­ the zodiac, but advance an average
expected, the sudden breaking of of 243° of CELESTIAL LONGITUDE, Or a
long-standing habits. The Uranus little over eight signs, which main­
opposition is a time characterized by tains the cycle in the same element
that last fling at freedom, which may for slightly less than 200 years. Table
mean switching professions, getting 1 shows the heliocentric longitudes
divorced, or moving to California, of all Jupiter-Saturn conjunctions
and which has given rise to the pop­ from 1802 to 2000. Not until the 1842
ular expression "life begins at forty." conjunction did the cycle finally es-
88 cycle

tablish itself in the earth element, The synodic cycle of Neptune and
where it remained for the following Pluto has an interval of approxi­
six conjunctions. The conjunction of mately 493V2 years. This cycle has
1981 marks the cycle's first foray into been associated with major cultural
air, but it will not be firmly estab­ expressions, alternating between a
lished there until the conjunction of rational, aggressive, extraverted cul­
2019. The change of element was ture and one that is spiritual and in­
called trigonalis by the ancients and troverted. The conjunction of 1892,
was considered extremely important the "closing of the frontier," marked
both politically and economically. It the end of five centuries of Western
is now generally known as the great aggressive expansion and rational in­
mutation conjunction. It is a curious quiry and the beginning of an age in
fact that no U.S. president elected to which the Western powers are de­
a term during which one of the seven clining, science is beginning to re­
conjunctions established in earth was semble mysticism (relativity and
to occur, managed to survive the quantum mechanics), and astrology
presidency. has once again emerged from obscu­
Every third conjunction occurs in rity.
the same area of the zodiac, with an
advance averaging about 9°. This pe­ Table 1. Conjunctions of Jupiter and
riod, which has a mean interval of Saturn.
59.577 years, is the first-order recur­
Heliocentric
rence cycle of Jupiter and Saturn. The Year Longitude Element
ancients regarded it as the lag inter­
val between the appearance of any 1802 07 Virgo earth
innovation and its widespread use in 1821 22 Aries fire
1842 08 Capricorn earth
the culture. Every fortieth conjunc­ 1862 17 Virgo earth
tion again occurs in the same area of 1881 01 Taurus earth
the zodiac, this time with an advance 1901 16 Capricorn earth
of less than 1°. This period, which 1921 26 Virgo earth
had an interval of almost 800 years, 1940 11 Taurus earth
1961 23 Capricorn earth
is the second-order recurrence cycle, and 1981 08 Libra air
has been associated with the cyclical 2000 21 Taurus earth
recurrence of civil strife in China.
Daily Motion: The angular distance Sonntag or Dutch Zondag). The as­
along the ecliptic, measured in de­ trologers of the Byzantine Empire be­
grees, minutes, and seconds of ce­ lieved that each day was lucky for
lestial longitude, that is traveled natives of the sign ruled by its planet.
by a planet or luminary in a 24-hour Thus Wednesday is lucky for Gem-
period. It is necessary to know a inis and Virgos because all three are
planet's daily motion for a particular ruled by Mercury. The complete list
day in order to calculate the planet's of rulerships follows:
position at the time of birth. (See
CHART CALCULATION.)
Sign Ruling Planet Lucky Day
Aries Mars Tuesday
Daylight Saving Time: See time. Taurus Venus Friday
Gemini Mercury Wednesday
Days of the Week: It was in Rome, Cancer Moon Monday
in the reign of Augustus, that the Leo Sun Sunday
Virgo Mercury Wednesday
days of the week were named after
Libra Venus Friday
the planets that were believed to rule Scorpio Mars Tuesday
them. The first day corresponded to Sagittarius Jupiter Thursday
the Sun, the second to the Moon, the Capricorn Saturn Saturday
third to Mars, the fourth to Mercury, Aquarius Saturn Saturday
the fifth to Jupiter, the sixth to Ve­ Pisces Jupiter Thursday
nus, and the seventh to Saturn.
The Old Testament used the Ro­ Dean, Malcolm: See Chiron.
man week, and the Christians also
adopted the Roman system. How­ Debility: A term describing the con­
ever, for the Lord's day of rest they dition of a planet that is weakened
chose not the seventh, the traditional by sign or house position; the oppo­
Jewish day of rest, but the first, in site of dignity. A planet in detri­
memory of the resurrection of Jesus. ment or fall is in a state of debility,
Only in a few Germanic languages is as is a planet in a cadent house or
the Lord's day still called "the day of in a house opposite the house of
the Sun" (English Sunday, German which it is natural ruler (see natural
90 decanate

house). Hence the Moon is in debil­ planets that rule the other two signs
ity in Capricorn, the sign of its det­ in the same element, in the order in
riment, and in Scorpio, the sign of its which the signs occur in the zodiac.
fall; in the Ninth House, because it Thus the first, or “Aries,'' decanate
is cadent, and in the Tenth House, of Aries is ruled by Mars; the second,
because the Moon is the natural ruler or “Leo," decanate by the Sun; the
of the Fourth House. The term is sel­ third, or “Sagittarius," decanate by
dom used by modem astrologers; Jupiter. Similarly the first, or "Tau­
and the statistical research of Michel rus," decanate of Taurus is ruled by
and Fran^oise Gauquelin seems to Venus; the second, or “Virgo," de­
indicate that in fact those with the canate by Mercury, the third, or "Ca­
Moon in the Ninth and first part of pricorn," decanate by Saturn; and so
the Tenth House possess a very on. (See rulership.)
strong lunar component in their psy­ In interpretation, the decanate sys­
chology. tem allows for greater subtlety in as­
sessing planetary emphasis in a
Decanate (also Decan; from the Latin chart. Thus an already existing
decern, ten): One of thirty-six 10° sub­ Uranus emphasis in a chart would be
divisions of the signs of the zodiac. further heightened if, for example,
Each 30° sign is divided into three the Sun were in the third, or "Aquar­
such segments, referred to as the ius," decanate of Gemini, that is, the
first, second, and third decanates. decanate ruled by Uranus.
Each decanate has been assigned a
planetary ruler. There are at least two Decile (or Semiquintile): A minor
such rulership systems, the Chal­ aspect, introduced by Kepler, formed
dean (or Western) and the Oriental. when two planets are 36° apart, or
According to the Chaldean system, separated by one-tenth of the 360°
the first decanate of Aries is ruled by zodiac. It is half a quintile, an aspect
Mars, the second by the Sun, the of 72° that is associated with talent,
third by Venus; the first decanate of and thus has a mildly favorable influ­
Taurus is ruled by Mercury, the sec­ ence.
ond by the Moon, and the third by
Saturn; the first decanate of Gemini Declination: Angular distance meas­
is ruled by Jupiter, the second by ured in degrees, minutes, and sec­
Mars, and the third by the Sun; and onds north or south of the celestial
so on around the wheel, in the Chal­ equator, which is considered to
dean order of the planets, ending have a declination of 0°. Declination
with the last decanate of Pisces ruled has a correspondence to terrestrial
by Mars. LATITUDE but On the CELESTIAL
The Oriental system, which is the sphere. For example, any object that
one preferred by modern astrologers, reaches the zenith at a location 42°
assigns the first decanate of each sign north terrestrial latitude has a decli­
to the planet that rules that sign, and nation of 42° north, expressed 42N.
the second and third decanates to the The declination of the Sun reaches a
 delineation 91

maximum of 23°27' north or south Since there is very little agreement

(at the summer and winter solstices, among these systems, and since the
respectively) and has 0° declination majority of them were arrived at
at both spring and autumn equi­ through nonastrological means and
noxes. The declination range of the are presented in symbolic language,
planets does not exceed that by very the field is, as Geoffrey Dean puts it,
much, but the Moon sometimes “one of total confusion." However,
reaches a declination of nearly 29° a few empirical studies have been
north or south. made, the most extensive one by
Just as there are parallels of terres­ E. C. Matthews, and more limited
trial latitude on the Earth's surface, ones by Carter, Wemyss, and Eber-
there are parallels of declination on tin. Carter, Ebertin, and Wemyss
the celestial sphere. There is also an working independently all found a
aspect known as parallel of declination correlation between malfunction of
used by many astrologers. For this the pancreas and the Cancer-Capri­
reason the daily declination of the corn axis (17° according to Carter; 16°
planets is often included in an according to Ebertin). The fact that
EPHEMERIS. (See CELESTIAL COORDI­ there is scant evidence to date for the
NATES; parallel; and the sample validity of degree areas does not rule
page from an ephemeris, page 48.) out the possibility of such effects.
Degree meanings is an area that calls
Degree Meanings: Intrinsic mean­ out for clarification and that should
ings assigned to individual degrees lend itself admirably to the kind of
of the zodiac, in the absence of a statistical research made possible by
planet occupying or aspecting the the use of the computer. (See com­
degree. Traditionally, such meanings puters and astrology; star; statis­
have often been attributed to fixed tics AND ASTROLOGY.)
stars located at those degrees, but the
question of whether these meanings Delineation: The interpretation of a
are subject to precession has never piece of astrological information,
been satisfactorily answered. Other such as a planet's sign or house po­
possible sources of degree meanings sition, an aspect, or a major config­
are planetary nodes or perihelia, ra­ uration. For example, the delinea­
dio sources, and harmonics. There tion of Mars in Virgo in the Sixth
are at least thirty different sets of de­ House might be a tendency to put a
gree meanings in existence, of which great deal of energy into work. If
fourteen are currently in print. One Mars were conjunct Neptune, this
of the best known systems is the Sa- could amount to an obsession that
bian Symbols, which were obtained could endanger the person's health,
through a medium and adopted by especially if Mars were afflicted from
Marc Edmund Jones and Dane another house (see affliction). If
Rudhyar. Other important systems Mars were the focal point of a T-
include Carelli's, Charubel and Se- square, for example, the delineation
pharial's, Kozminsky's, and Gordon's. would be expanded accordingly.
92 depression

The term delineation is sometimes than someone with the Moon in Can­
applied to the interpretation of the cer. The detriments of the other
chart as a whole, but this putting to­ planets are as follows: Mercury in
gether of the pieces is more properly Sagittarius and Pisces, Sun in Aquar­
called synthesis. (See chart inter­ ius, Mars in Taurus and Libra, Jupiter
pretation.) in Gemini and Virgo, Saturn in Can­
cer and Leo, Uranus in Leo, Neptune
Depression: Archaic term for fall. in Virgo, and Pluto in Taurus.

Descendant: On a birth chart, the De Wohl, Louis: See official as­

point opposite the Ascendant—that trologers.
is, the western point of intersection
of horizon and ecliptic; usually the Dexter Aspect (from the Latin dexter,
cusp of the Seventh House. The Des­ right): According to Ptolemy, an as­
cendant represents the point on the pect formed by a planet to a slower-
horizon of the birthplace where the moving planet to the right of it as
Sun appears while setting. Any observed in the sky, or behind it in
planet on the Descendant (and thus the zodiac. It is distinguished from a
in opposition to the Ascendant) will sinister aspect (from the Latin sinister,
strongly color and complicate the left), an aspect formed by a planet to
personality of the native and proba­ a slower-moving planet to the left of
bly increase his or her self-aware­ it, or ahead of it in the zodiac. Dexter
ness. corresponds to waxing and sinister to
waning (see cycle). Ptolemy consid­
Descending Node: See nodes. ered a dexter aspect to be more pow­
erful than a sinister one. Theodor
Detriment: In classical astrology, the Ram, a modern Dutch astrologer, re­
condition of a planet when placed in gards the dexter aspect as more ex­
the sign opposite the sign or signs it traverted than the sinister, while
rules; the opposite of domicile. Dane Rudhyar considers dexter as­
Since the Moon rules (or has its dom­ pects to be more subjective. Nicholas
icile in) Cancer, it is in detriment in de Vore compares the dexter aspect,
Capricorn; since Venus rules both with its increasing interval, to the
Taurus and Libra, it is in detriment Doppler red shift; and the sinister
in both Scorpio and Aries. The an­ aspect, with its decreasing interval,
cients held that a planet in detriment to the Doppler violet shift; and sug­
is like a person in someone else's gests that the first is ruled by Mars
home: It operates at a disadvantage and the second by Venus or Jupiter.
and expresses its own nature only The terms dexter and sinister should
with effort. Thus since it is the nature not be confused with applying and
of the Moon to respond, a person separating, which distinguish be­
with the Moon in Capricorn will find tween aspects approaching or leav­
it harder to express his or her feelings ing exactitude (see applying aspect).
 dispositor 93

Dignity: A somewhat antiquated tion) may indicate fine perceptions or

term describing the condition of a emotional rigidity; and Moon on the
planet that is strengthened by either Ascendant (angle) may mean great
sign position (essential dignity) or openness and flexibility or extreme
house position (accidental dignity). A vulnerability to the slightest change
planet is essentially dignified by in external surroundings. (See rul­
being placed in the sign it rules (that ership.)
is, in domicile); in a sign of the same
element, or triplicity, as the sign Direct: A term used to describe a
it rules, in which case it is said to be planet that appears from the per­
“in dignity of triplicity" (unless it is spective of the Earth to be moving
in fall in that sign); or in the sign of forward through the zodiac from
its exaltation. Thus the Moon is es­ west to east, in order of the signs;
sentially dignified in Cancer, the sign the opposite of retrograde. In chart
it rules; in Pisces, one of the other interpretation, a planet's influence is
two water signs (but not in the re­ regarded as stronger, more conspic­
maining water sign, Scorpio, where uous, and more understandable
the Moon is in fall); and in Taurus, when it is direct, and as weaker,
the sign of its exaltation. more elusive, and more confusing
A planet is accidentally dignified when it is retrograde. (Also see sta­
by being highly elevated (see eleva­ tionary.)
tion); on an angle, or in an angular
Direction: See progression and di­
house (unless it is a house where the rection.
planet is in natural detriment); or in
a house of which it is the natural Direct Midpoint: See midpoint.
ruler (see natural house). Thus the
Moon is accidentally dignified if on Dispositor: In classical astrology, the
the Midheaven or Ascendant, or in ruler of the sign in which another
the First, Fourth (both because it is planet is placed. For example, if Mer­
an angular house and because the cury is in Taurus, Venus (which rules
Moon is its natural ruler), or Seventh Taurus) is said to be Mercury's dis­
House. (Although the Tenth House positor. If Mercury is in one of the
is angular, the Moon is not dignified two signs it rules, Gemini or Virgo,
there, since it is in natural detri­ it is its own dispositor; it “disposes
ment.) of itself," which makes it stronger
A planet that is dignified, whether than if it were disposed of by another
essentially or accidentally, is thereby planet. In many birth charts there is
made stronger, but this added a final, or ultimate, dispositor, a planet
strength was not necessarily consid­ that disposes of all the other planets,
ered an advantage. Thus the Moon sometimes at two or three removes,
in Cancer (domicile) may manifest as as well as of itself. Being the final
deep sympathy or defensive hyper­ dispositor adds considerably to a
sensitivity; Moon in Taurus (exalta­ planet's importance in a chart.
94 diurnal arc

Diurnal Arc: See house division.

Diurnal Planets (from the Latin dies,

day): According to Ptolemy, Sun, Ju­
piter, and Saturn. The Sun and Ju­
piter were classified as diurnal be­
cause they were masculine planets,
and "the day is more masculine be­
cause of its heat and active force."
Saturn was classified as diurnal by
the principle not of affinity but of
complementarity, so that its coldness fidelity are proof for any test. They
would be offset by the warmth of can be counted on in any situation,
day. Later the term was extended to for they keep their promises. Me­
include those planets in a birth chart thodical workers, shrewd, practical,
that were placed above the horizon. they use their talents in the service
The term is seldom used in modem of an ambition that is sometimes un­
astrology. bridled. They have a natural vocation
for industry, research, and politics,
Diurnal Signs: In classical astrology, especially union organizing and rev­
the masculine signs: Aries, Gemini, olution.
Leo, Libra, Sagittarius, and Aquar­ Love at first sight is unknown to
ius. (See POLARITY.) them, but when they have chosen a
partner, they can be tender and sen­
Dobyns, Zipporah: See asteroids; timental and as jealous as they are
Clark, Vernon. faithful.
Compatible signs: Cat, Dog, Pig,
Dodecile: See semisextile. Tiger.
Neutral signs: Horse, Monkey, Ox.
Dog: The eleventh sign of the Incompatible signs: Cock, Dragon,
Chinese zodiac, including all persons Goat, Rat, Serpent.
bom between Famous Dogs include Al Capone,
Winston Churchill, Claude Debussy,
February 10, 1910, and January 30, 1911 (metal)
January 28, 1922, and February 16, 1923 (water)
Judy Garland, Victor Hugo, Akira
February 14, 1934, and February 4, 1935 (wood) Kurosawa, Sophia Loren, Norman
February 2, 1946, and January 22, 1947 (fire) Mailer, Moliere, Ralph Nader, Elvis
February 16, 1958, and February 8, 1959 (earth) Presley, Bessie Smith, Socrates, and
February 6, 1970, and January 27, 1971 (metal)
January 25, 1982, and February 13, 1983 (water)
Voltaire. (See Chinese astrology.)

Anxious, withdrawn, intransigent, Domicile (from the Latin domus,

demanding of others as well as of home): In classical astrology, the con­
themselves, natives of the sign of the dition of a planet when placed in the
Dog are antisocial creatures. How­ sign it rules, and where it is therefore
ever, their sense of duty and their "at home"; the opposite of detri-
 double signs 95

ment. (The sign of a planet's domi­ Double-Bodied Signs: See double

cile was also known as its sign of elec­ SIGNS.
tion—that is, the sign in which it had
"elected domicile.") The Sun is in Double Quincunx (also called Eye of
domicile in Leo, the Moon in Cancer, God, Finger of God, Hand of God,
Venus in Taurus and Libra, and so and Yod): A major configuration
on. (See rulership.) in which two planets are in sextile
The ancients held that a planet in to each other, with a third planet at
domicile is like a person in his or her inverse midpoint, forming quin-
cuNxes to both ends of the sextile.
own home: It operates freely and eas­
ily and expresses its nature without Since the quincunx itself is contro­
restraint. Thus, since it is the nature versial, the double quincunx is like­
of the Sun to radiate energy, to cre­ wise something of a mystery. The
ate, and to rule, for example, people sextile is associated with opportu­
nity, and the quincunx, lying as it
with the Sun in Leo will feel at home
does midway between the trine and
when they are in the center of their
the opposition, may represent a kind
world, whether it be the artist's stu­
of offbeat wisdom. Any major config­
dio, the stage, or the arena of life.
uration tends to focus the energies of
the chart and provide a sense of pur­
Double Biquintile: A major config­ pose. The double quincunx is often
uration in which two planets are in
associated with a strange or unusual
quintile to each other, with a third
destiny; humanistic astrologer Mi­
planet at inverse midpoint, forming chael Meyer associates it with spirit­
biquintiles to both ends of the quin­
ual sensitivity, citing the example of
tile. Quintiles and biquintiles belong Meher Baba.
to the fifth harmonic (see harmon­ Another example of the double
ics) and are associated with talent.
quincunx is the chart of Lenny Bruce,
All major configurations tend to pro­ in which a Tenth-House Sun-Mer­
vide focus for the chart and hence to cury conjunction in Libra is in sextile
be integrative. Michael Meyer asso­ to a Ninth-House Neptune in Leo,
ciates this configuration with unique and a Third-House Uranus in Pisces
self-expression and inspiration. An forms quincunxes to both ends of the
example of the double biquintile is sextile. The qualities of iconoclasm,
the birth chart of William Blake, in wild imagination, and obsession with
which a Fifth-House Sun-Jupiter justice and the law that characterized
conjunction in Sagittarius ("Bring me the tormented comic are accurately
my arrows of desire!") is in quintile described in this configuration. With
to a Seventh-House Saturn in Aquar­ close aspects of Sun and Mercury to
ius, with a Twelfth-House Moon in the outer planets, he became a
Cancer at inverse midpoint: creative spokesman for rebellious elements of
self-expression, moral responsibility, his generation.
mystic receptivity, and the impulse
to communicate brought into perfect Double Signs (also called Double­
potential harmony. bodied Signs and Bicorporeal
96 Double Summer Time

Signs): Gemini, Sagittarius, and

Pisces; so called because of the dual
nature of their symbols, which are
the twins, the centaur, and the
fishes, respectively.
Double Summer Time: See time.

Draconic Period (or Nodical Period):

The period between one transit of a to be for architecture, medicine, or
planet or the Moon over its ascend­ the law. If they go into politics, they
ing node with the ecliptic and the are more at home behind the scenes
next. The Moon's draconic period, of the party machinery than in the
the nodical month, is 27 days 5 hours public eye.
5 minutes 35.8 seconds—almost 3 They are great lovers, but their
hours shorter than the Moon's si­ possessiveness sometimes causes
dereal period. (See NODES.)
them to suffer from jealousy. The fe­
Dragon: The fifth sign of the Chinese males of the sign are particularly sen­
zodiac, including all persons born sual and seductive. But both sexes
between prefer the single state to the bonds of
matrimony.
February 16, 1904, and February 4, 1905 (wood) Compatible signs: Cat, Goat, Mon­
February 3, 1916, and January 23, 1917 (fire)
key, Serpent, Tiger.
January 23, 1928, and February 10, 1929 (earth)
February 8, 1940, and January 27, 1941 (metal)
Neutral signs: Cock, Pig, Rat.
January 27, 1952, and February 14, 1953 (water) Incompatible signs: Dog, Horse,
February 13, 1964, and February 2, 1965 (wood) Ox.
January 31, 1976, and February 18, 1977 (fire) Famous Dragons include Louisa
February 17, 1988, and February 6, 1989 (earth)
May Alcott, Sarah Bernhardt, Salva­
The earthy nature of the Dragon dor Dali, Marlene Dietrich, Sigmund
gives natives of this sign strength, Freud, Immanuel Kant, Helen Keller,
will power, and perseverance in the Martin Luther King, Jr., Abraham
realization of their ideals. Outspoken Lincoln, Friedrich Nietzche, Edgar
and totally incapable of meanness, Allan Poe, Jean-Jacques Rousseau,
they abhor the vanities of this world. George Bernard Shaw, Shirley Tem­
What makes them happy are small ple, Marshall Tito, and Oscar Wilde.
circles of intimates with whom they (See Chinese astrology.)
can communicate in a warm, conge­
nial atmosphere. Their sometimes Dragon's Head: The north, or as­
brutal frankness often arouses the cending, node of the Moon; the point
hostility of those around them. Intel­ where the Moon's orbit intersects the
ligent, obstinate, and industrious, plane of the ecliptic when the Moon
they will rise in almost any profes­ is moving in a northerly direction.
sion, but their vocation is more likely (See nodes.)
 dwad 97

Dragon's Tail: The south, or de­ first 21/2° of Gemini is allocated to

scending, node of the Moon; the Gemini, the second 21/2° to Cancer,
point where the Moon's orbit inter­ and so on around the wheel. The sec­
sects the plane of the ecliptic when ond system allocates the first dwad
the Moon is moving in a southerly of a sign to Aries, the second dwad
direction. (See nodes.) to Taurus, and so on, so that each
sign becomes a mini-zodiac. The sec­
Dwad (from the Sanskrit dwadasamsa, ond system corresponds to the
12-division): One of twelve 2°30' sub­ twelfth harmonic (see harmonics).
divisions of a sign of the zodiac. Each In Hindu astrology, from which the
dwad is allocated to a different sign, concept derives, the dwads are
according to one of two systems. The sometimes assigned to the traditional
first system allocates the first dwad ruling planets of the signs instead of
of a sign to that sign, the second to the signs. The use of dwads is sim­
dwad to the sign that follows it in the ilar to that of decanates. (See deca-
zodiac, and so on. For example, the nate; India, astrology in.)
Earth: 1. According to Hermetic ternation of night and day, and of its
theory, one of the four elements revolution around the Sun, which
under which the signs Taurus, Virgo, causes our year, is attributed to Co­
and Capricorn, known as the earth pernicus (1473-1543), although his
triplicity or earth trigon, are classified. ideas were anticipated by ancient as­
In astrology earth stands for practi­ tronomers—in particular, Aristar­
cality, sensuality, and caution. An chus of Samos (third century B.C.).
overemphasis of earth signs in a birth The heliocentric (Sun-centered) sys­
chart is associated with sluggishness, tem of Copernicus replaced the geo­
materialism, and lack of imagination. centric (Earth-centered) system of
A lack of earth is associated with im- Ptolemy, which most people had ac­
practicality, unreliability, and care­ cepted unquestioningly for almost
lessness, qualities that may be con­ 1,500 years.
siderably offset by a well-placed, Most astrological charts are geo­
well-aspected Saturn. (Also see centric, that is, they are calculated for
Chinese astrology.) a given location on the Earth's sur­
2. The planet we inhabit; once face and show the positions of the
thought to be flat and the center of planets from the perspective either of
the universe, now known to be that location or of the center of the
spherical and to revolve in an ellip­ Earth. Such charts do not include the
tical orbit around the Sun together Earth as a planet, but use it rather as
with the other planets in our solar a point of observation—the specific
system, of which it is fifth in size terrestrial longitude and latitude of
(7,900 miles in diameter) and third in the birthplace. The continued use of
distance from the Sun (93 million geocentric charts does not invalidate
miles). The Earth's axis is tilted with astrology, which studies the angular
respect to the plane of the ecliptic relationships between the planets
at an angle of 66°33', causing our sea­ with respect to Earth, nor does it
sons (see cosmography). The Earth mean that astrologers are unaware of
has one satellite, the Moon. the Copernican revolution. The geo­
The discovery of the Earth's rota­ centric chart is a convention the va­
tion on its axis, which causes the al­ lidity of which is confirmed by Ein­
 eclipse 99

stein's theory of relativity, which north

refutes the older notion that space

and time are absolute entities inde­
pendent of each other. Instead, each
moving system conditions its own
space and time, and each is a frame
of reference as valid as any other.
Some astrologers do use heliocen­
tric charts, and in such charts the
Earth appears as a planet, repre­
sented by the astronomical symbol
©, which also happens to be the as­
trological symbol for the Part of
Fortune. (See geocentric system;
heliocentric astrology; heliocen­
tric system; relativity, theory of.)

Earth House System: See house di­

vision. Figure 22. Eastern and western great-circle
intersections. E = East Point; e = "Eastern
Point"; A = Antivertex; W = West Point; <o
Earthshine: See eclipse. = "Western Point"; V = Vertex; A = Ascend­
ant; D = Descendant; N = North Point; S =
Earth Signs: See earth, 1. South Point; V = vernal equinox; — = autum­
nal equinox.

Earth Trigon: See earth, 1. ridian," the great circle passing

through the celestial poles at right
Earth Triplicity: See earth, 1. angles to the meridian; or the Anti­
vertex, the eastern intersection of the
Eastern Point: See east point. ecliptic and prime vertical (see figure
22). The West Point corresponds to
East Point (also called Equatorial As­ the East Point in the west; the Western
cendant): The point where the east­ Point to the Eastern Point; and the
ern horizon intersects the prime Vertex to the Antivertex. (See cos­
vertical and the celestial equa­ mography.)
tor; in some systems of house divi­
sion, the cusp of the First House. East-West Meridian: See east point.
The East Point should not be con­
fused with the Ascendant, which is Ebertin, Reinhold: See cosmobiol­
the point where the eastern horizon ogy.
intersects the ecliptic. Nor should it
be confused with the Eastern Point, a Eclipse: The partial or total blocking
name used by C. E. O. Carter to of the light, or occultation, of one
describe the eastern intersection of heavenly body by another. Astrology
the ecliptic with the “east-west me- is concerned with eclipses that in­
100 eclipse

volve the Sun, the Moon, and the

Earth; the two types of such eclipses
are the solar eclipse and the lunar
eclipse.
The solar eclipse occurs during any
New Moon, or conjunction of the
Sun and the Moon, in which the
Moon passes directly between the
Earth and the Sun and casts its
Figure 23. A solar eclipse.
shadow on the surface of the Earth.
(During most New Moons, the lu­ the surface of the Moon. If the Moon
minaries are not in complete align­ is particularly close to the Earth, the
ment: The Moon has the same celes­ eclipse is total. If the distance be­
tial longitude as the Sun but a tween the Moon and the Earth is
different celestial latitude.) If, greater, the eclipse may only be pen-
during an eclipse, the Moon is par­ umbral: The Moon is passing through
ticularly close to the Earth—that is, the penumbra, or half shadow, of the
near its perigee—the eclipse is total in Earth. If the Moon has sufficient lat­
the band of the Earth that is touched itude, the eclipse will be partial: Only
by the Moon's shadow cone. At that a portion of its surface is occulted by
time the Sun's corona, its extremely the Earth. Because of the Earth's at­
hot outer atmosphere, which is nor­ mosphere, the edge of its shadow on
mally invisible, can be seen. If the the Moon is very vague. Also, there
distance between the Moon and the occurs a refraction of certain wave­
Earth is greater, the eclipse may be lengths of light in the Earth's atmos­
annular: The Moon only blocks the phere that gives a deep red appear­
central portion of the Sun, and a ring ance to the fully eclipsed Moon. It is
of the Sun's light may be observed usually possible to discern earthshine,
around the edge of the Moon. An infrared radiation refracted around
eclipse is partial when only part of the Earth by the atmosphere, on the
the Sun is blocked by the Moon. This eclipsed Moon. (See figure 24).
occurs when the Moon has sufficient Either type of eclipse is possible
latitude, as well as in those regions only when the Sun and Moon are
of the Earth that are near the band of near the lunar nodes—that is, the
totality of total eclipse but not in it. points where the Earth's orbit, or the
Since the Moon has no atmosphere, ecliptic, intersects the orbit of the
the edge of its shadow during any Moon. Since the Moon's orbital
solar eclipse is sharply defined. (See speed is more than twelve times as
figure 23.) great as the Sun's apparent motion,
The lunar eclipse occurs during we need consider only those luna­
any Full Moon in which the Earth tions when the Sun is close to one of
passes directly between the Moon the two nodes—that is, twice a year,
and the Sun and casts its shadow on approximately 6 months apart.
 eclipse 101

Lunar eclipses can be observed the chart; but modem astrologers

from anywhere that the Moon is vis­ tend to see them in a more positive
ible above the horizon. Total eclipses light. The effects of an eclipse trans­
of the Sun, on the other hand, are iting Sun, Moon, Ascendant, or Mid­
rare for any given location, occurring heaven may not be felt until another
about once every 361 years. The max­ planet, particularly Mars or Saturn,
imum number of eclipses possible in transits the same degree and triggers
a year is seven: either five solar and the release of the pent-up energy.
two lunar, or four solar and three Some astrologers believe that the
lunar. last eclipse prior to birth is of impor­
The Saros cycle, discovered by the tance to the native and that its path
ancient Chaldean astrologer-priests, may mark areas on the Earth that will
is a period of 6,585 days (18 years, 10 be of significance in the life. For ex­
to 12 days, depending on which of ample, the eclipse of February 29, 357
the years are leap years) in which the B.C., prior to the birth of Alexander
Sun, Moon, and lunar nodes return the Great, was on the Midheaven at
so nearly to the same relative posi­ his birthplace, Pella in Macedonia. Its
tions that the eclipses of the follow­ path of totality swept through the
ing cycle occur in approximately the very lands which he was later to con­
same order, for the same length of quer: Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Per­
time, and so forth. This cycle enabled sia. Similarly, the path of the eclipse
the priests to predict the next eclipse that occurred on the day of Karl
with great precision. Marx's birth (May 5, 1818) swept
Eclipses have always had a prom­ right across the then Russian Empire.
inent place in mundane astrology. The subject of eclipses has been stud­
The ancients believed they por­ ied by Sepharial, L. E. Johndro,
tended some dire calamity—a crucial Charles Jayne, Charles Emerson, and
battle or the death of a great leader— Robert Jansky. Jayne believes that an
or the beginning of some important eclipse is an energizer whose basic
undertaking. In natal astrology qualities are intensity, fatality, and
eclipses have traditionally been re­ unpredictability.
garded as malefic, especially when A total eclipse of the Sun has a
they fall on an angle or a planet in profound impact on living creatures.
When their circadian rhythm is thus
interrupted, many animals will react
to the drop in temperature and the
sudden twilight by settling down for
a night's sleep. In contrast, human
beings—astronomers in particular—
tend to become extremely excited,
and an astronomer who realizes,
only seconds from totality, that he or
Figure 24. A lunar eclipse. she has left an important camera lens
102 ecliptic

at home may suffer extreme depres­ ogy as it was practiced in ancient

sion or temporary insanity. Egypt. The traditional view that
Egyptian astrology began several
Ecliptic: The Sun's apparent path thousand years ago has recently been
around the Earth, also called via solis, challenged by scholars. Yet it has
or the Earth's orbit as viewed from been extremely well documented
the Sun; a great circle used by as­ that the Egyptians, at least as far back
trologers, so named because it is on as the fourth millennium B.C., had
this circle that eclipses of the Sun and a thorough understanding of basic
Moon occur. In the course of its ap­ astronomical principles. For exam­
parent motion along the ecliptic, ple, the Great Pyramid of Khufu,
the Sun passes through the twelve built ca. 2600 B.C., had long sighting
signs of the zodiac; one such revo­ tubes accurately oriented toward
lution constitutes a year. The plane Thuban, the first star in the constel­
of the ecliptic is tilted with respect to lation of the Dragon, which would
the plane of the celestial equator have been the North Star at that time
by approximately 23°, an angle that (see PRECESSION OF THE EQUINOXES).
has been decreasing steadily for over In The Case for Astrology John An­
2,000 years. The ecliptic intersects the thony West and Jan Gerhard Toon-
celestial equator at the two points the der point out how unique the Egyp­
Sun transits at the spring and fall tians would have been among all
EQUINOXES. other ancient peoples if they had
Distance along the ecliptic circle is studied astronomy without applying
measured in degrees and minutes of it to their earthly situation. In fact it
celestial longitude, beginning is well known that Egyptian priests
with the vernal point; the entire had a monopoly on knowledge of the
ecliptic has 360° of longitude. Dis­ universe and kept it a secret from
tance above or below the ecliptic is ordinary people, who were consid­
measured in degrees and minutes of ered too profane. In order to main­
celestial latitude; the latitude of tain this secrecy, the knowledge was
the north ecliptic pole is 90° north. transmitted orally to the next gener­
The paths of the Moon and the ation of priests; very little of this tra­
planets do not coincide with the dition was committed to writing and
ecliptic, but they are all reasonably thus made available for scrutiny by
close. Pluto's orbit has the greatest modern scholars. Nonetheless, hints
inclination to the ecliptic; Pluto can abound concerning the antiquity of
reach a latitude of 17°. Mercury, with Egyptian astrology. Imhotep, the ar­
the next greatest inclination to the chitect who designed the “stepped"
ecliptic, can reach a latitude of 7°. pyramid of Zoser (Third Dynasty, ca.
(See celestial coordinates; cos­ 2700 B.C.), was renowned not only
mography.) as the father of medicine but as
“Chief of the Observers," an epithet
Egypt, Astrology in: We have very that probably refers to his role as an
little precise knowledge about astrol­ astrologer. The Great Sphinx at Gi-
 Egypt, astrology in 103

tionally believed to have arisen about

2000 B.C. from the worship of Thoth,
god of healing, intelligence, and
writing. Modem scholars, however,
have insisted that this theory was an
invention of Greeks living in Egypt
about the time of Christ.) Astrology
was a part of the larger body of sa­
cred knowledge—including architec­
ture, medicine, and alchemy—that
attempted to translate cosmology
into guidelines for daily life.
The Calendar of Favorable and Unfa­
vorable Days assigns every hour and
every day to the control of a god,
who intervened directly in the lives
of humans. Thus a birth taking place
on the fifth of the month of Phaophi
was inauspicious (risk of death by a
bull), whereas the sixth and ninth
Carved zodiac on the ceiling of the vestibule were particularly auspicious. The
of the Temple of Hathor, Egypt. Begun in the tenth of the month of Choiak, the
reign of Ptolemy IX, this temple was com­ twentieth of the month of Thoth, and
pleted under Nero, or between 80 B.C. and
A.D. 68. (Louvre, Paris; photo by Giraudon.) the fourth of the month of Athyr
were associated with presages of vi­
zeh (third millennium B.C.) embod­ olent death. The twenty-sixth of the
ies the fixed signs: It has the body of month of Thoth, the anniversary of
a bull (Taurus), the paws of a lion the titanic battle between Seth and
(Leo), the wings of an eagle (Scor­ Horus, was a day of evil omen. Noth­
pio), and the head of a human being ing undertaken on that day could
(Aquarius). And the Calendar of Fa­ come to good, and most Egyptians
vorable and Unfavorable Days, which abstained from work.
dates from the beginning of the New The priests learned over the cen­
Empire (ca. 1570 B.C.), tells how the turies to determine the positions of
subjects of Pharaoh Ahmosis I, foun­ the constellations, including Orion,
der of the Eighteenth Dynasty, made Cassiopea, and the Great Bear, and
predictions that resembled astrologi­ of various stars, including Sirius.
cal horoscopes. They divided the stars into two cat­
According to the Egyptologist egories. The first group they called
Schwaller de Lubicz, the Egyptians the "indestructible" (khemu-sek), that
regarded the universe as a conscious is, those that were always visible in
whole in which all the parts were in­ the same place. The second group
terrelated. (This concept would later they called the "indefatigable,"
appear as Hermetic theory, tradi­ (khemu-urz), those that wandered in­
104 Einstein, Albert

cessantly through the sky on their highly regarded in the Roman world
paths: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupi­ for centuries.
ter, and Saturn.
The Egyptians assigned particular Einstein, Albert: See relativity,
importance to thirty-six stars in all, THEORY OF.
each of which governed one of thirty-
six 10-day periods in the year. The Election, Sign of: In classical astrol­
very accurate Egyptian year began on ogy, the sign in which a planet has
the day of the heliacal rising of Sir­ "elected domicile," that is, the sign
ius. The priests came to believe that that it rules. (See domicile; ruler­
each star had a certain influence over ship.)
the destiny of those born during the
10-day period it ruled. Electional Astrology: The branch of
The postimperial period (ca. 1090 astrology concerned with choosing
to 332 B.C.) was characterized by an the most favorable moment to begin
expansion of trade between Egypt any undertaking, such as getting
and the Middle East. Mesopotamian married, going on a trip, starting a
influence in Egypt dramatically in­ business, signing a contract, building
creased after the Persian conquest in a house, or moving into a new home.
525 B.C. Mesopotamian influence In electional astrology the principles
may have begun somewhat earlier; of natal and especially of horary
perhaps it was Babylonian star wor­ astrology are applied in reverse. In­
ship (see Chaldean astrology) that stead of starting with a time and a
inspired Pharaoh Amenhotep IV configuration of planets and inter­
(Ikhnaton, reigned 1377-60 B.C.) to preting the results, the astrologer
impose on Egypt his short-lived starts with a desired result and tries
monotheistic worship of the Sun to find a time and a configuration of
(Aton), Lord of Heaven and Earth. planets that will help to bring it
But after the Persian conquest large about.
numbers of Chaldeans took up resi­ In preparing an electional chart
dence in Egyptian towns, among (once called an inceptional figure), the
them soothsayers and astrologers astrologer must first make a careful
who soon built up a flourishing busi­ study of the birth chart in question,
ness while refusing, of course, to re­ in order to avoid times when any af­
veal their secrets. (Tradition has it flictions therein would be activated.
that it was a priest named Manetho He or she must also determine if the
who popularized Mesopotamian as­ desired result may be beyond its po­
trology in the third century B.C.) tential, for nothing can take place
About 150 B.C. the esoteric treatises that is not promised in the natal
of the mythical King Nechepso and chart. Next the astrologer studies the
his priest Petosiris were written, glo­ sign positions and aspects of the
rifying the Egyptian version of star transiting planets within the period
worship. These treatises, pretending of time available. Of particular im­
to a much greater antiquity, were portance in an electional chart are the
 elevation 105

Ascendant and Midheaven, the ple to which all forms of matter could
house positions of the planets, and be reduced. For Thales, this element
the condition of the Moon by sign, was water; for Anaximander, it was
house, and aspect, since these are the the “moist”; for Anaxagoras, it was
fastest-moving elements in a chart air; and for Heraclitus, it was fire.
and hence those over which the as­ Empedocles (fifth century B.C.) rec­
trologer has the most control. Clas­ ognized four primary elements, fire,
sical astrologers believed that the air, water, and earth, and maintained
Moon should be not only free from that there was no hierarchy among
any serious affliction but also swift in the four. His theory was accepted al­
motion and increasing in light (wax­ most unanimously by the thinkers of
ing). There is a vast literature of rules ancient Greece; Plato propounded it
and aphorisms relating to elections; in Timaeus.
Ptolemy, Guido Bonatus, Roger Ba­ The Pythagoreans (sixth century
con, Jerome Cardan, and William B.C.) adapted the theory of the four
Lilly all contributed to the subject. elements to human physiology as the
theory of the four humors, fluids
Electional Chart (or Electional Fig­ whose proportions in the body de­
ure): See ELECTIONAL ASTROLOGY. termined health and temperament:
blood (air); phlegm (water); choler,
Electrical Ascendant: See John­ or yellow bile (fire); and melancholy,
dro, L. E. or black bile (earth). This idea contin­
ued to dominate medicine until after
Elements: The four fundamental the Renaissance.
substances—fire, air, water, and Claudius Ptolemy (second century
earth—which provide one of the two A.D.) applied the theory of the four
primary classifications of the signs of elements to astrology, assigning to
the zodiac, the other being the qual­ each element three signs which to­
ities, or modes. The fire signs are Ar­ gether made up the "triangle” (tri­
ies, Leo, and Sagittarius; the air signs plicity) of that element.
are Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius; the The Chinese have five elements:
water signs are Cancer, Scorpio, and metal, water, wood, fire, and earth.
Pisces; and the earth signs are Taurus, (See Chinese astrology.)
Virgo, and Capricorn. The common
attributes of the fire signs are energy Elements, Harmonious: See com­
and enthusiasm; of the air signs, in­ patibility.
tellect and communication; of the
water signs, emotion and sensitivity; Elevation: The distance of a celestial
and of the earth signs, practicality object above the horizon; altitude.
and stability. (See compatibility; The planet most highly elevated in a
and entries under individual ele­ chart is thereby strengthened, espe­
ments.) cially if it is in the Tenth House or
The early Greek philosophers conjunct the Midheaven. Elevation is
sought a single fundamental princi­ one of the ways a planet may be ac­
106 elongation

cidentally dignified. In classical as­ quency than the other planets makes
trology, the elevation of a malefic these conjunctions far less significant
(Mars or Saturn) in a chart, especially in a birth chart. The term elongation
above the Sun or Moon, was held to was also once a synonym for aphe­
be highly unfavorable. A modem as­ lion. (See figure 25.)
trologer would make a careful study
of the aspects of the elevated planet Ennius: See Romans, astrology
in relation to the chart as a whole AMONG THE.
before becoming alarmed.
Ephemeris (plural Ephemerides;
Elongation: The angular distance of from the Greek ephemeros, existing no
an inferior planet from the Sun, as longer than a day): A publication giv­
seen from the Earth. The maximum ing the computed positions of the
elongation of Mercury is 28°; of Ve­ Sun, Moon, and planets for each day
nus, 48°. This means that Mercury of the year, or for other regular in­
and Venus can never be in square, tervals, in CELESTIAL LONGITUDE, CE­
trine, or opposition to the Sun. The LESTIAL LATITUDE, and DECLINATION,
only aspects they can form to the Sun as well as other data such as side­
are the conjunction and the semisex­ real time, positions of the lunar
tile (Mercury and Venus) and the nodes, aspects, lunations, ingresses,
semisquare (Venus). The fact that eclipses, and so on. Most ephemer­
these two planets form conjunctions ides give the geocentric positions of
with the Sun with much greater fre- the planets, although a few include
heliocentric positions as well. As­
tronomers' ephemerides tend to use
right ascension rather than celestial
longitude. An ephemeris including
the year of the birth in question is an
indispensable tool in setting up a
chart.
Ancient astrologers determined
the positions of the planets for a
given moment by direct observation,
using various instruments, such as
the armillary sphere. With the ad­
vent of the ephemeris, such primitive
methods are no longer necessary.
First devised by astrologers to facili­
tate the casting of horoscopes,
ephemerides came to be used by nav­
igators and astronomers as well. The
Ephemerides of Raphael, published
Figure 25. Conjunctions and elongations of every year since 1800 in Great Brit­
an inferior planet. ain, were until recently the most
 esoteric astrology 107

widely used ephemerides in the ments during the year when the Sun,
world. Other well-known ephemer­ in its apparent path along the eclip­
ides available in English include the tic, crosses the Equator, and day
Rosicrucian, and the new American and night are of equal length all over
Ephemeris, which is produced with the Earth. These two moments occur
the aid of a computer. The Swiss when the Sun enters the sign of
Ephemeriden (1890-1950) and the 10- Aries, at the beginning of spring, on
year Deutsche Ephemeride are perfectly or near March 21, called the vernal,
comprehensible to English readers or spring, equinox, and when the Sun
and widely available in America. enters the sign of Libra, at the begin­
Some older ephemerides lack posi­ ning of fall, on or near September 22,
tions for Pluto, even after its discov­ called the autumnal equinox. At the
ery in 1930. To fill in these gaps the spring equinox the Sun apparently
American Omega Pluto Ephemeris for passes from the Southern Hemi­
1773-2000 is highly recommended. sphere (where subsequent days are
Beginners should beware that shorter) to the Northern Hemisphere
some ephemerides give the planets' (where subsequent days are longer).
positions for noon on a given day, At the autumnal equinox, the situa­
while others give it for midnight. It tion is reversed.
is important to verify this point be­ The term equinoxes also refers to the
fore attempting to set up a chart. For two points where the ecliptic inter­
a demonstration of the use of an sects the celestial equator. The
ephemeris, with a sample ephemeris equinoctial points are known by as­
page, see chart calculation. trologers and astronomers alike as 0°
Aries, also called the vernal point,
Ephemeris Time (ET): See time. and 0° Libra. Aries and Libra are
sometimes called the equinoctial signs.
Equal House System: See house di­ Charts cast for the Sun's entry, or
vision. ingress, into the equinoctial signs are
considered of great importance in
Equatorial Arc: See progression MUNDANE ASTROLOGY. (See ANTI­
AND DIRECTION. SCION; cosmography; precession of
the equinoxes; solstices.)
Equatorial Ascendant: See east
POINT. Erlewine, Michael and Margaret:
See aspect; astronomy; computers
Equinoctial Signs: Aries and Libra; and astrology; heliocentric as­
see EQUINOXES. trology.

Equinoctial Year: See tropical Esoteric Astrology (from the Greek

YEAR. esoteros, inner; from eso, within): The
study of the planets, signs, and
Equinoxes (from the Latin aequus, houses as a guide to spiritual evolu­
equal, and nox, night): The two mo­ tion. The term esoteric means in­
108 essential dignity

tended for the initiated, as distin­ trine of karma to explain the good
guished from exoteric, which means and bad aspects, the correlation of
suitable for the general public, and the seven planets with the seven
hence more comprehensible. Alan chakras, or energy centers, of the hu­
Leo defines esoteric astrology as "the man body, and the use of the five
study of natural astrology, or astro- elements of Eastern philosophy (the
logia sarta, plus the eastern teach­ four Western elements, plus ether).
ings concerning reincarnation and Examples of Christian symbolism in­
karma"; Alice Bailey calls it "the as­ clude relating the three qualities—
trology of the soul." cardinal, mutable, and fixed—to the
Bailey, who wrote prolifically on trinity and referring to the angles of
occult subjects, believed that modem the chart as the cross of matter on
astrology had erred in laying undue which the native is crucified. The two
emphasis on the personal horoscope, great traditions are combined in the
on the Earth (that is, the houses), and esoteric approach to astrology as a
on individual differences. In esoteric means of unification with the divine
astrology the emphasis is on the will. Like Saint Thomas Aquinas,
transpersonal, the underlying unity esoteric astrologers believe that "the
of the cosmos, and above all, on the wise man rules his stars, the fool
soul. Esoteric astrologers tend to un­ obeys them." To them, the purpose
derplay the Ascendant, the most per­ of astrology is to help the individual
sonal point on the chart. They pay achieve freedom from illusion by
more attention to the signs of the zo­ contacting the higher vibrations of
diac than to the houses, but less to the energies represented by the
the signs than to the planets, which planets.
are regarded as the vehicles of su­
preme intelligences, or angels. Al­
though it generally uses the geocen­ Essential Dignity: See dignity.
tric positions of the planets, esoteric
astrology anticipates the new heli­ Ethics: The question of ethics has
ocentric astrology in that it is philo­ special importance in astrology, be­
sophically Sun-centered. To Alan cause of its persistent association in
Leo, God was the solar logos; Alice the mind of the public with fortune­
Bailey stresses the Sun at the expense tellers and charlatans. Many astro­
of the Moon, which she dismisses as logical organizations (for example,
purely symbolic, a dead form pos­ the British Faculty of Astrological
sessing no emanation or radiation Studies, the Astrologers Guild of
and therefore no effect. America, and the American Federa­
Esoteric astrology has been much tion of Astrologers) have codes of
influenced by theosophy, from ethics, and many of the authors of
which it inherited a mixture of Ori­ books on astrology refer implicitly or
ental and Christian theology. Impor­ explicitly to the astrologer's moral re­
tant Oriental features are the belief in sponsibilities to his or her clients.
reincarnation, the use of the doc­ Such codes of ethics can be traced
 exaltation 109

back through William Lilly's famous warns against giving any information
"Epistle to the Astrologer" at least as unless there is reason to believe that
far as Firmicus Matemus (fl. 330 the client can assimilate it and use it
A.D.), who devotes a chapter of his constructively. He writes that "pre­
Mathesis to the "Life and Training of diction has value only as it contrib­
an Astrologer." utes to the person's development
Some of the principles most often and essential welfare." The role of
cited are the use of, and adherence astrologers is not to impress clients
to, a horoscope cast for the time and with their power but to help them
place of the client's birth, and the release their own potential; not to
clear identification of any other tech­ play on their fear of the unknown
niques brought into play; the confi­ but to help them face the inescapable
dentiality of the horoscope itself and phenomenon of change. Rudhyar
of any personal information provided advises the astrologer to approach
by the client in consultation, in ac­ the chart with full acceptance of per­
cordance with the standard profes­ sonal responsibility, "and indeed, in
sional practice of physicians, psy­ an attitude of prayer, asking for inner
choanalysts, and attorneys; and the guidance and the bestowal of wise
avoidance of claims to precise predic­ understanding."
tion of future events; of any empha­ Other responsibilities of astrolo­
sis on impending accident, illness, gers include educating the public on
death, or disaster; or of any approach the proper use of astrology, with a
that tends to encourage in the client view to establishing professional
a psychological dependence on the standards and eliminating charla­
astrologer or an abdication of per­ tans; helping to spread serious as­
sonal responsibility for his or her trology through teaching, writing,
own life. and the media; supporting open-
The code of ethics of the Astrolo­ minded research and interdiscipli­
gers Guild of America states that the nary study with a view to healing the
proper use of astrology is as "a tech­ rift between astrology and science;
nique for determining the probabili­ and collecting accurate birth infor­
ties in human events" and sternly re­ mation, especially on persons of in­
primands "a pretense of powers to terest to research and on the leading
predict specific future events with personalities of their time.
absolute certainty." Although there
are famous cases of astrologers pre­ Evil Aspects: An antiquated classifi­
dicting their own death or that of cation for the opposition (180°),
their clients, the modern tendency is square (90°), semisquare (45°), and
to regard predictions concerning the SESQUISQUARE (135°).
time or manner of death as both
unethical and irrelevant. Exaltation: In classical astrology, the
Dane Rudhyar sees the special condition of a planet when placed in
knowledge of the astrologer as a pro­ a specific sign in which it is held to
found moral responsibility and be strengthened dramatically, a
110 extra-Saturnian planets

placement that is sometimes, but not in its own sign is thought to be

necessarily, an advantage. For ex­ stronger . . . rather than necessarily
ample, Venus, the planet of love and better in operation. On the other
beauty, is exalted in Pisces, the sign hand, a body in its exaltation is said
of universal compassion and aes­ to be purified and inclined to express
thetic sensitivity. Tradition has it that itself well." The idea of purification
whereas a planet in domicile is like works well for the Moon in Taurus
a person in his or her own home, a and Mars in Capricorn, where the
planet in exaltation is like a person in energy of the planet is restrained in
someone else's home where he or its sign of exaltation, but not so well
she is an honored guest: It may be for the Sun in Aries or Saturn in Li­
conspicuous and important, but it is bra, where the energy of the planet
not as comfortable or efficient as it is exaggerated.
would be in its own sign. Thus some­ There is some disagreement as to
one with Venus in Pisces may have the signs of exaltation of the modem
highly refined sensibilities but may planets, and indeed, not all modem
also be unusually gullible or carry astrologers find the concept useful.
self-sacrifice to dramatic extremes. Many of those who do, believe that
The exaltations of the other planets Uranus is exalted in Scorpio, Nep­
are as follows: The Moon in Taurus, tune in Cancer (or Leo), and Pluto in
Mercury in Aquarius (or Virgo), Sun Aries.
in Aries, Mars in Capricorn, Jupiter The sign (or degree) opposite the
in Cancer, and Saturn in Libra. Ac­ place of a planet's exaltation is the
cording to some authorities, a sign (or degree) of its fall.
planet's exaltation is limited to spe­
cific degrees—for example, Sun in Extra-Saturnian Planets (also called
19° Aries, Moon in 3° Taurus, Mer­ trans-Saturnian planets): See
cury in 15° Virgo, Venus in 27° Pisces, MODERN PLANETS.
Mars in 28° Capricorn, Jupiter in 15°
Cancer, and Saturn in 21° Libra. Eye of God: See double quincunx.
Some modern astrologers prefer the
exaltation to the domicile; Charles Ezra, Abraham ben: See Hebrews,
Carter writes, “Generally, a planet ASTROLOGY AMONG THE.
Face (or Facet): A subdivision of a to convince him that the earliest as­
sign defined either as half a decanate trologers worked with the signs of
or 5° of CELESTIAL LONGITUDE, in the constellations and that this must
which case there are seventy-two therefore be the correct zodiac, a the­
faces in a chart (Alan Leo), or as a ory he finally accepted in 1944. The
synonym for decanate, in which fundamental problem he set himself
case there are thirty-six (Sepharial). to solve was the value of the aya­
The term is seldom used by modern namsa—the difference between the
astrologers. two zodiacs—for any period.
Believing that the exaltation de­
Factor: A convenient blanket term grees of the planets as given by Ptol­
used, particularly by cosmobiolo- emy offered an important clue to the
gists, to refer to any of the thirteen problem, he searched for historical
commonly used elements in a chart: periods when the planets would in
Midheaven, Ascendant, Sun, Moon, fact have been seen in those degrees
Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Sat­ at their heliacal rising or setting.
urn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, and He concluded that within recent mil­
the north node of the Moon. lennia only during one year, 786
B.C., had all of the planets had their
Fagan, Cyril (May 22, 1896, 12:14:28 heliacal rising or setting in their ex­
P.M., Dunsink, Dublin-January 5, altation degrees. Having made this
1970, 3-5:00 A.M., Tucson, Arizona): remarkable discovery, he was able to
Irish astrologer, generally known as give a close approximation to the
the father of modern sidereal astrol­ value of the ayanamsa (see India,
ogy (see sidereal zodiac). Fagan astrology in), which was later re­
came to astrology at the age of fined by the statistical studies of
twenty and for nearly twenty-five Donald Bradley. A full account of this
years applied his lively and fertile discovery is given in his Zodiacs Old
mind to it within the framework of and New (1950).
the tropical zodiac. In the late Whatever the intrinsic worth of
1930s, however, the study of Egyp­ this work—and it has been seriously
tology and ancient astronomy began questioned—there is no doubt that
112 fall

Fagan launched one of the most pro­ a person in exile: It is considerably

ductive debates in modern astrology. weakened, and the energies it rep­
The statistical studies of Bradley, resents are distorted dramatically.
Firebrace, and others in pursuit of Thus since Mars stands for goal-di­
the “correct” zodiac and ayanamsa rected energy and action, someone
were soon being analyzed and re­ with Mars in Cancer may find that
peated, spurring on the astrological too much of his or her energy is
community to develop a greater drained by emotions, that dwelling
awareness of quantitative methods of on old hurts prevents the native from
research. In particular, the “zodiacal getting on with the business at hand.
question” gave impetus to Addey's The falls of the other planets are as
work on harmonics, which put sid­ follows: Moon in Scorpio, Mercury in
ereal studies into a wider perspective Leo (or Pisces), Venus in Virgo, Sun
and allowed for the possibility of dif­ in Libra, Mars in Cancer, Jupiter in
ferent zodiacs, each with its own Capricorn, and Saturn in Aries. Ac­
starting point. At the same time the cording to some authorities, a
Western sidereal movement that planet's fall is limited to specific de­
grew up around Fagan's work, most grees—for example, Sun in 19° Libra,
notably in Britain through Brigadier Moon in 3° Scorpio, Mercury in 15°
Firebrace's journal Spica, touched off Pisces, Venus in 27° Virgo, Mars in
a wealth of research into new predic­ 28° Cancer, Jupiter in 15° Capricorn,
tive techniques that allow for the and Saturn in 21° Aries.
precessional factor in calculating There is some disagreement as to
such things as solar and lunar returns the signs of exaltation and fall of the
and transits (see precession of the modem planets, but many astrolo­
equinoxes; solar return; transit). gers believe that Uranus is in fall in
Fagan's Primer of Sidereal Astrology Taurus, Neptune in Capricorn (or
is still the standard textbook in its Aquarius), and Pluto in Libra.
field. Many of the important and in­
novative ideas that originally ap­ Fall Equinox: See equinoxes.
peared in his humorous "Solunar"
column in American Astrology from Fall Ingress: See ingress.
1953 on are summarized in the post­
humous work Astrological Origins Feminine Planets: According to
(1971). (See house division; side­ Ptolemy, Moon and Venus; modem
real zodiac.) authorities often include Neptune
—Charles Harvey and the asteroids.

Fall: In classical astrology, the con­ Feminine Signs (also called Nega­
dition of a planet when placed in the tive, Nocturnal, or Unfortunate
sign opposite the sign of its exalta­ Signs): The signs of the earth and
tion. Since Mars is exalted in Capri­ water triplicities, namely, Taurus,
corn, it is in fall in Cancer. The an­ Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio, Capricorn,
cients held that a planet in fall is like and Pisces. The masculine signs be­
 fixed 113

long to the fire and air triplicities. dinal signs, namely, Taurus, Leo,
(See POLARITY.) Scorpio, and Aquarius. The Sun
transits these signs when the season
Fiducial: See sidereal zodiac. that began in the cardinal signs is at
its most intense. Fixed signs are char­
Figure: An antiquated term for hor­ acterized by persistence, resourceful­
oscope. ness, and magnetism; on the nega­
tive side, they are associated with
Final Dispositor: See dispositor. rigidity and resistance to change.
As archetypes of matter and du­
Finger of God: See double quin­ ration, the fixed signs have a special
cunx. significance in occult teachings. They
appear in the Bible as the four beasts
Fire: According to Hermetic theory, of the Apocalypse: “And the first
one of the four elements, under beast was like a lion, and the second
which the signs Aries, Leo, and Sag­ beast like a calf, and the third beast
ittarius, known as the fire triplicity or had a face as a man, and the fourth
fire trigon, are classified. In astrology
fire stands for energy, enthusiasm,
and optimism. An overemphasis of
fire signs in a chart is associated with
egotism, arrogance, or even violence,
depending on other factors in the
chart. A lack of fire might manifest
as listlessness, apathy, or lack of self­
confidence, qualities that may be
considerably offset by a well-placed,
well-aspected Sun or Mars. (Also see
Chinese astrology.)

Fire Signs: See fire.

Fire Trigon: See fire.

Fire Triplicity: See fire.

Fixed: One of the three qualities, or

modes, that characterize the signs of
the zodiac, the other two being car­
dinal and mutable. The fixed qual­
ity has been compared to centripetal
force in physics, or to matter. The
fixed signs of the zodiac are the four
signs immediately following the car­
114 fixed star

beast was like a flying eagle" (Rev. Fortuna: See Part of Fortune.
4:7). They are also represented on
two of the Major Arcana of the Fortunate Signs: See masculine
Tarot, the tenth, the Wheel of For­ signs; polarity.
tune, and the twenty-first, the
World. Fortunes, the (also called the Two
In classical astrology, the fixed Fortunes or the Benefics): In classical
signs were known collectively as the astrology Jupiter and Venus, known
fixed quadruplicity, since there are four as the Greater Fortune and the Lesser
of them. They are also sometimes re­ Fortune, respectively. Both were be­
ferred to us as the fixed cross, since if lieved to bring wealth and favors, es­
planets in them are connected by pecially if angular and well as-
straight lines, they form a cross. A pected by the luminaries or Part of
grand fixed cross is a major configu­ Fortune. Modem astrologers tend to
ration in which two pairs of opposing regard them as energies that can be
planets, all in fixed signs, are in used either creatively or destruc­
square aspect to each other, forming tively, depending on the individual's
a cross (see grand cross). degree of self-awareness and self­
control. (See benefic.)
Fixed Star: See star.
Full Moon: See lunation; Moon.
Fixed Zodiac: See sidereal zodiac.

Forming Aspect: See applying as­

pect.
Gabirol, Solomon ben: See He­ energy interactions whose effects are
brews, ASTROLOGY AMONG THE. studied by astrology. According to
Theodor Landscheidt, the radiation
Galactic Center: The nucleus of our emanating from the Galactic Center
galaxy, around which our solar sys­ is intercepted by our solar system
tem revolves at about 135 miles per and interpreted by it according to the
second in a 225-million-year period aspect pattern of the planets
known as the cosmic year. According at that moment, much as radio
to the most recent astronomical esti­ signals are interpreted in a particular
mates, the 1980 position of the Ga­ way by an antenna of a particular
lactic Center on the celestial sphere shape. Landscheidt associates the
was 26°35' Sagittarius (266°35' of Galactic Center with equilibrium of
absolute celestial longitude) and the personality structure, the power
5°15' of south CELESTIAL LATITUDE of attraction that the individual exerts
(5S15), in the constellation of on the environment, and his or her
Sagittarius. The Galactic Center is spiritual aspirations.
about 26,000 light-years distant from
the Earth. It appears to move along Galaxy (from the Greek gala, milk):
with all the surrounding stars at a An “island universe" composed of
rate of about 1° of celestial longitude billions of stars together with gas and
every 72 years because of precession dust, held together and usually com­
of the equinoxes. The Center ap­ pressed into a plane by gravitation.
pears to move in relation to the sur­ The universe may contain many bil­
rounding stars at a rate of about 1° of lions of individual galaxies, some of
longitude every 556,000 years be­ them gathered together in clusters.
cause of our solar system's changing The closest galaxy to ours is the An­
view of it during the cosmic year. dromeda galaxy, some 1.5 million
The Galactic Center is really the light-years away.
Sun of our Sun. It is certainly the Our galaxy is called the Milky
source of most of the gravitational Way. It contains between 30,000 and
energy prevalent in the galaxy and 100,000 million stars, is about 100,000
possibly the ultimate source of the light-years in diameter and 5,000 to
116 Galilei, Galileo

10,000 light-years thick. The Milky

Way rotates like a giant pinwheel;
our solar system, located about
26,000 light-years from the Galactic
Center, completes one revolution in
about 225 million years.
The astrologer Theodor Land-
scheidt regards our galaxy as a sys­
tem similar to a living organism, ra­
diating information from its center in
the form of gravitational and electro­
magnetic energy. This information is
received by stellar systems through­
out the galaxy, including our own,
where it is a cybernetic program for Galileo. Galilei (The Bettman Archive.)
the personality traits and events as­
trologers associate with planetary theology brought him into conflict
patterns. with the Church, which denounced
the heliocentric view as contrary to
Galilei, Galileo (known as Galileo; Holy Scripture and forbade him to
February 15, 1564, Pisa-January 8, "hold, teach, or defend" the con­
1642, near Florence): Italian astrono­ demned doctrine. After 16 years' si­
mer and physicist. Galileo is respon­ lence he published his Dialogo dei due
sible for the final public acceptance massimi sistemi del mondo (1632), in
of the Copernican theory of a heli­ which his support for Copernican
ocentric universe. He invented one principles was masked in dialogue
of the earliest refracting telescopes, form. Summoned to Rome by the In­
with which he made some major as­ quisition, he recanted. He died on
tronomical discoveries, including the day Isaac Newton was born. (See
sunspots, the pockmarked surface of Copernicus, Nicolaus.)
the Moon, the Moon's reflected light,
the moons of Jupiter, the rings of Sat­ Gauquelin, Michel (November 13,
urn, and the fact that the Milky Way 1928, 10:20 P.M., Paris-) and Fran-
is made up of countless stars. He £oise (nee Marie Schneider, 1929-):
conceived the three laws of motion French statisticians and pioneers in
later formulated by Sir Isaac New­ the scientific investigation of astrol­
ton. Like Johannes Kepler, the other ogy. Michel Gauquelin holds a Ph.D.
great exponent of the Copernican in psychology and statistics from the
system, Galileo was a practicing as­ Sorbonne; Fran^oise Gauquelin holds
trologer. In 1609 he drew up the hor­ a degree in statistics from the Uni­
oscope of his patron, the grand duke versity of Paris. The Gauquelins have
of Tuscany. devoted their life together to the
Galileo's attempt to reconcile the reexamination of astrological con­
Copernican system with Christian cepts in the light of modern scientific
 Gauquelin 117

marked tendency for eminent scien­

tists to have a rising or culminating
Saturn and for successful writers to
have a rising or culminating Moon.
In all these studies, the Gauquelins
used the charts of ordinary profes­
sionals in the same field as controls.
Their results with sports champions
were replicated by a highly skeptical
group of Belgian scientists, the Com­
mittee for the Scientific Investigation
of Claims of the Paranormal, using a
different sample of 535 French and
Michel and Frangoise Gauquelin.
Belgian athletes. Indeed, their results
were so similar to the Gauquelins'
knowledge and methodology. that the shocked scientists spent 4
Gauquelin found that earlier statis­ years studying all possible objections
tical work in astrology that seemed and organizing numerous control
to confirm the validity of signs, experiments.
houses, and aspects was unsound The Gauquelins' methodology for
due to inadequate size of samples work of this kind is set out in a
and lack of proper controls. Between brief but important standard work,
1949 and the present, the Gauquelins Methodes pour etudier la Repartition des
have collected the birth data of many Astres dans la Mouvement Diume
thousands of people from registrars (1957).
all over Europe, and have studied the In statistical tests conducted dur­
positions of the planets at their birth ing 1959-65, the Gauquelins found a
in relation to such effects as later planetary effect in heredity. Analysis
choice of profession and personality of the birth charts of 30,000 parents
traits. and children (in a study published in
They found that for certain groups 1966) revealed that children of par­
of successful professionals—that is, ents with Moon, Venus, Mars, Jupi­
sports champions, scientists, and ter, or Saturn angular tended to
writers—the diurnal distribution of have those planets angular too, with
certain planets followed a consistent a frequency whose probability of oc­
pattern that differed significantly curring by chance was 1 in 100,000.
from chance. For example, in the When both parents had the same an­
charts of 1,553 sports champions the gular planet, the effect was doubled,
planet Mars was found to be rising which accords with the laws of ge­
or culminating—that is, just past the netics. Curiously, the effect did not
horizon or meridian of the birth­ occur when birth was induced. These
place—with a frequency whose prob­ results were confirmed by a second
ability of occurring by chance was 1 study published in 1976 involving
in 1,000. Similarly, there was a 37,000 new birth data.
118 Gemini

In their later work the Gauquelins is very careful not to call their work
have focused on isolating the person­ astrology. To avoid being ostracized
ality traits that underlie choice of within his profession, Gauquelin
profession, since their findings sug­ prefers to speak of "planetary hered­
gested that the true correlation is not ity," "cosmic genetics," "astrobiol­
between planet and occupation but ogy," or "cosmobiology." This is un­
between planet and character. The derstandable, for there are still many
results of all their studies, including orthodox scientists who would agree
all the birth data, are published in a with French Academy member Jean
massive 23-volume series by their Rostand's remark, "If statistics are
Laboratoire d'Etude des Relations used to prove astrology, then I no
Entre Rythmes Cosmiques et Psycho- longer believe in statistics."
physiologiques, founded in 1969. In John Addey writes, "The specific
addition, Michel Gauquelin has writ­ importance of the Gauquelins is not
ten many books, of which the best- in their direct contribution to the
known available in English are The knowledge of astrological principles
Cosmic Clocks (1967), The Scientific Ba­ as such, though this has been valu­
sis of Astrology (1969), and Cosmic In­ able in some instances, but that, con­
fluences on Human Behavior (1973). fronted by a mountain of prejudice
Although the Gauquelins' results against astrology in an age which de­
tend to confirm some parts of astro­ mands secure empirical evidence,
logical doctrine, such as the tradi­ they have by dint of immense cour­
tional correlation between planets age, tenacity, and intelligence, pro­
and temperament, they lend no sup­ vided this on a massive scale and in
port to others, such as the correlation a form which has never been refuted,
between choice of profession and the despite repeated attempts by hostile
sign position of the Sun. Also, it critics in the scientific world."
should be noted that the positions
“preferred" by certain planets in the Gemini (glyph M): The third sign of
charts of successful professionals are the zodiac, which the Sun transits
not on the horizon and meridian, but during the last month of spring, from
just past them—that is, in the Twelfth about May 21 to about June 20. The
and Ninth Houses, not in the First symbol for this sign is the twins. Its
and Tenth Houses, the sensitive polarity is positive, its element is air
"angular" positions of traditional (see elements), its quality is mutable
astrology. (see qualities), its ruling planet is
Like John Addey in England, the Mercury (see rulership), and its
Gauquelins are laying the founda­ natural house is the Third.
tions for a new astrology in which In Gemini the communicativeness
many of the ideas that have been ac­ of air and the changeability of mu­
cepted more or less unquestioningly tability are combined with the ra­
since Ptolemy may be eliminated, or tional influence of Mercury to pro­
at least seen in a new perspective. duce a nature that is quintessentially
Yet in his writings Michel Gauquelin human. Curious, restless, clever,
 Gemini 119

aware than others of the duality of

IE Ctemlnf the human condition as mind and
body, spirit and flesh. This aware­
ness is a two-edged sword, giving
them intellectual sophistication but
also a tendency to emotional ambiv­
alence.
Mercury, ruling planet of Gemini,
forms more conjunctions than any
other planet, oscillating back and
forth on its orbit as if to be in on
everything that is happening in the
heavens. Mercury's nature is neither
benefic nor malefic, but neutral,
and there is a certain characteristic
detachment to the Gemini personal­
ity—an interest in knowledge or ex­
perience for their own sake apart
from emotions or values—which
versatile, youthful, fun loving, and sometimes earns these natives a rep­
imitative, natives of this sign some­ utation for coldness.
times call to mind our chattering pri­ Gemini babies are early and con­
mate ancestors. As the first human stant babblers and need to investi­
sign of the zodiac, Gemini rules pri­ gate everything with their fingers. At
mitive man as well as those attributes school Gemini children may tax their
that distinguish him from the pri­ teachers' patience with their fidget­
mates—manual dexterity and lan­ ing, jabbering, and lack of concentra­
guage. Interested in everything they tion; yet these scatterbrains will learn
see around them, eager to learn and readily if their attention can be held.
to communicate, Geminians—who True, they could grow up to be dil-
include not only Sun-sign Geminis, letantes who scatter themselves in so
but all in whose charts the sign is many directions that nothing is thor­
emphasized—are the eternal stu­ oughly mastered; but they might also
dents and natural citizens of the turn into Renaissance men and
planet Earth. women whose talents lie in several
Intelligent, yet lacking in concen­ fields. They should not be pushed
tration; alert, yet easily distracted; into specializing too early in life; they
mentally agile but physically nerv­ need time to explore their own ver­
ous, they enthusiastically seek new satility. Indeed, they seem to func­
ideas, information, and experiences tion best when doing two things at
to feed into the insatiable computer once. Typical Geminians have hob­
that is the Gemini mind. The glyph bies that may be just as important as
for Gemini is the Roman numeral their profession, or may even become
two, and these natives are more their profession.
120 gems

With their ready wit, enthusi- Alighieri, Albrecht Diirer, Bob Dy­
asiam, and eternal youthful appear­ lan, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Allen
ance, Geminis can be the charmers Ginsberg, Lillian Hellman, Christine
of the zodiac, and they need part­ Jorgensen, Thomas Mann, Marilyn
ners, if only to have someone to talk Monroe, Sir Laurence Olivier, Alex­
to and share ideas with. However, ander Pushkin, Marquis de Sade,
their love of freedom and variety Jean-Paul Sartre, Harriet Beecher
often militate against lasting relation­ Stowe, and William Butler Yeats.
ships. In the end, these restless spir­ (See birthstones; colors; days of
its will be held only by someone who the week; metals.)
provides the intellectual stimulation
that for many Geminis is even more Gems: See birthstones.
important than physical love. They Genethliacal Astrology (from the
enjoy a literary buildup with notes Greek genethlios, of one's birth): The
and letters, and they may keep vo­ branch of astrology (now usually
luminous journals of their affairs. called natal astrology) that casts and
They might be happy with two lovers interprets the birth charts of individ­
at the same time, or with another uals with a view to understanding
Gemini—which amounts to the same their character and experience. Ge­
thing. Their most compatible signs nethliacal astrology is distinguished
are Libra, Aquarius, Aries, and Leo; from judicial astrology (now usually
Taurus, Cancer, Scorpio, and Capri­
called mundane astrology), which
corn are neutral; while Virgo and studies the motions of the planets in
Pisces may be difficult. With Sagit­
relation to world events, cultural
tarius, their polar opposite on the zo­
trends, and the fate of nations. (See
diac, there will be both attraction and NATAL ASTROLOGY.)
tension; but in all cases, the success
of the relationship will depend on Geniture: Archaic term for birth
how the two charts interact and not chart.
on the compatibility of Sun signs
alone. Geocentric Cosmography: See cos­
Geminis need work that offers mography.
both variety and an opportunity to
learn and will do best in fields where Geocentric Horizon: See horizon.
their gifts for communication can be
Geocentric Latitude: See terres­
used. The sign is associated with
trial LATITUDE.
teaching, writing, translating, sci­
ence, photography, journalism, and Geocentric Nodes: See nodes.
business. The Gemini gift for imita­
tion can produce remarkable actors Geocentric System (from the Greek
and impressionists, and their strong gaia, Earth, and kentron center): The
flexible hands are well adapted to conception, commonly held until
both music and painting. Famous modem times, that the Earth is the
Sun-sign Geminis include Dante center of the universe, around which
 geocentric system 121

The Ptolemaic solar system; from The Atlas of Astronomy, published in the seventeenth century.
(The Bettman Archive.)
the Sun, planets, and stars revolve. Moreover, the advent of relativity
This system, known as the Ptolemaic physics in the twentieth century has
system after Claudius Ptolemy, who vindicated the geocentric perspective
expounded it in the second century as a reference system as valid as any
A.D., held sway until it was gradu­ other (see relativity, theory of).
ally displaced by the Copernican, or The geocentric birth chart focuses
heliocentric, system in the sixteenth on the Earth as a planet not just with
and seventeenth centuries. The fact regard to its orbital revolution
that most astrologers continue to use around the Sun (expressed by refer­
a geocentric orientation is one of the ence to the zodiac on the ecliptic
main arguments used to discredit as­ plane) but also with regard to its ro­
trology. Copernicus himself seems to tation on its own axis (which gener­
have seen no contradiction, since he ates the celestial equator, the
gave his masterwork, De Revolutioni- Midheaven, and the Imum Coeli).
bus Orbium Coelestium, to an astrolo­ In addition, there is a special empha­
ger, Joachim Rheticus, to publish. sis on the specific birthplace with its
122 geographic latitude

reference to the horizon plane, As­ Aquarius, waves of water, light, or

cendant, Descendant, East Point, electricity; Pisces, two fishes.
and Vertex. Those astrologers who The origin of the glyphs is obscure.
have adopted the heliocentric sys­ Many astrologers, including Mar­
tem consider the two approaches garet Hone, believe that the glyphs
complementary rather than mutually as we know them today predate writ­
exclusive, and believe that the geo­ ten language. Otto Neugebauer
centric approach describes the down- writes that in Roman times the
to-earth, day-to-day personality of glyphs were based on Egyptian hier­
the native, the outward manifesta­ oglyphs and do not resemble medi­
tion of the true inner self described eval glyphs, which are similar to
by the heliocentric positions of the those used today.
planets. (See cosmography; heli­ The glyphs for the signs and
ocentric ASTROLOGY.) planets are as follows:

Geographic Latitude: See terres­ T Aries O Sun

trial LATITUDE. W Taurus D Moon
H Gemini 5 Mercury
Geographic Longitude: See terres­ 25 Cancer 9 Venus
trial LONGITUDE. SI Leo ® Earth
TIT Virgo <? Mars
Gleadow, Rupert: See sidereal zo­ — Libra Tf Jupiter
diac. (TJ, Scorpio h Saturn
Z Sagittarius EJI Uranus
Glyph (from the Greek glyphe, carv­ k5 Capricorn yZ Neptune
ing): An ideographic symbol for a Aquarius Pluto
planet, or sign of the zodiac. Those X Pisces
for the planets are composed of var­
ious combinations of the circle, sym­ Goat: The eighth sign of the Chinese
bol of eternity or spirit; the half circle, zodiac, including all persons born
symbol of soul; and the cross, symbol between
of the material world. Thus, in the
February 13, 1907, and February 2, 1908 (fire)
glyph for Jupiter (W), soul is elevated February 1, 1919, and February 20, 1920 (earth)
above matter, whereas in the glyph February 17, 1931, and February 6, 1932 (metal)
for Saturn (h), the situation is re­ February 5, 1943, and January 25, 1944 (water)
versed. Possible explanations for the January 24, 1955, and February 12, 1956 (wood)
February 9, 1967, and January 29, 1968 (fire)
zodiacal glyphs are as follows: Aries,
January 28, 1979, and February 16, 1980 (earth)
ram's horns; Taurus, bull's horns;
Gemini, Roman numeral two; Can­ Rarely satisfied with his fate, ca­
cer, breasts; Leo, lion's tail; Virgo, pricious, undisciplined, sometimes
virginal female genitalia; Libra, neurotic, the Goat is nevertheless
scales; Scorpio, erect male genitalia; one of the most engaging signs of the
Sagittarius, arrow; Capricorn, knee; Buddhist zodiac, for these natives are
 grand trine 123

Grand Cross: A major configura­

tion in which two oppositions are
in square to each other, forming a
cross. Like the T-square, the grand
cross tends to bring conflicting ener­
gies to the level of awareness and
thus to act as a motivating force for
growth. Unlike the T-square, it has
also endowed with great charm, el­ no focal point; hence there is a
egance, and sweetness. And yet, it greater tendency for these energies
is rare for a Goat to reach a high to become polarized. The configura­
position on the social scale. Lacking tion indicates a determined, dy­
in motivation and the spirit of intia- namic, forceful personality with a
tive, Goats prefer to remain in obscu­ strong sense of purpose or destiny—
rity, willingly accepting this lack of the "self-made” man or woman.
recognition as long as their security The tone of the grand cross varies
is assured. according to whether it is cardinal,
Intelligent and sensitive, Goats fixed, or mutable. The cardinal cross
excel in the artistic professions, is associated with enormous energy
whereas the world of business, fi­ and a need for control; the mutable
nance, and selling are totally alien to cross with adaptability and service;
them. the fixed cross with repetition and a
This is a feminine sign, and its fe­ concern for values.
male natives are apt to have a more An example of the fixed cross is
harmonious love life than are its the birth chart of Winston Churchill,
males, who sometimes suffer from a in which an opposition of a Fifth-
certain lack of virility. They are defi­ House Saturn in Aquarius to an Elev­
nitely not the type to impose their enth-House Uranus in Leo is crossed
will on their wives. by an opposition of a Second-House
Compatible signs: Cat, Dragon, Mercury in Scorpio to Pluto in Tau­
Horse, Monkey, Pig. rus in the Eight House. The config­
Neutral signs: Goat, Serpent, Ti­ uration accurately describes the qual­
ger. ities of obsessive determination,
Incompatible signs: Cock, Dog, charismatic leadership, and dramatic
Ox, Rat. intensity that characterized this dy­
Famous Goats include Honore de namic and legendary personality.
Balzac, Alexander Graham Bell, Mi­
guel de Cervantes, Lillian Hellman, Grand Trine: A major configura­
Jesse James, Michelangelo Buonaroti, tion in which three planets are all in
Benito Mussolini, Rudolph Valen­ trine to each other, forming an equi­
tino, Immanuel Velikovsky, Andy lateral triangle. Since the grand trine
Warhol, and Orville Wright. (See tends to overemphasize one element
Chinese astrology.) (that is, fire, air, water, or earth),
124 graphic ephemeris

it is generally associated with imbal­ tal axis. The most popular version is
ance, diffusion of energy, or unreal­ designed on a 45° basis to display the
ity; but also with unusual sensitivity, hard aspects. By drawing in the rad­
intensity, and creativity. It lacks a fo­ ical chart positions as horizontal lines
cal point, but its energies may be ef­ across the ephemeris, the astrologer
fectively released by a planet in can see at a glance all hard-aspect
square or opposition to one of its transits to radical positions for the
members (see kite). In the absence year and study their ebb and flow.
of such a hard aspect, the grand trine Figure 26 is a 45° graphic ephemeris
may indicate an individual who is for 1981.
locked into some kind of behavior
pattern which may be either useful Great Circle: Any circle on the inside
or detrimental. or outside surface of a sphere, for
The tone of the grand trine varies example, the Earth or the heavens,
according to the element involved. whose plane passes through the cen­
The grand earth trine indicates sen­ ter of the sphere. Great circles im­
suality, materialism, or a talent for portant in astrology are the Earth's
business; the grand water trine, emo­ Equator, meridians of terrestial
tionalism, psychic ability, or artistic longitude, the local meridian, the
temperament; the grand air trine, ab­ geocentric horizon, the ecliptic, the
straction, communicativeness, or lit­ prime vertical, the celestial equa­
erary ability, and the grand fire trine, tor, meridians of right ascension,
energy, optimism, or a tendency to and meridians of celestial longi­
egotism. tude. (See COSMOGRAPHY.)
An example of a grand water trine
is the birth chart of the English poet Greater Fortune (or Greater Benefic):
and playwright Oscar Wilde, which See Fortunes, the.
features Venus in Scorpio, Saturn in
Cancer, and Neptune in Pisces. The Greater Infortune (or Greater Mal­
aesthetic hypersensitivity of this con­ efic): See Infortunes, the.
figuration, released by a close square
to Neptune from Mars in extremist Great Mutation Conjunction: See
Sagittarius, suggests Wilde's af­ CYCLE.
fected, eccentric, and antisocial be­
havior, but it also describes his imag­ Great Year: See precession of the
ination, his wit, and his genius. equinoxes.

Graphic Ephemeris: A diagram in Greeks, Astrology among the: Mod­

which the motions of the planets ern scholars of antiquity tend to be­
over a given period of time, usually lieve that the "rational” Greeks were
a year, are represented as lines mov­ "untainted” by astrology until after
ing through space—usually meas­ Alexander's Asian conquests (334-23
ured on the vertical axis—and time— B.C.) opened the Hellenistic world to
usually measured along the horizon­ Chaldean influence. However, many
Figure 26. A 45° graphic ephemeris. (Reprinted by permission of Astro-Graphics Services.)

of the underlying ideas of traditional tice of astrology; later it was embod­

Western astrology are the legacy of ied into Hermetic theory. It was
classical Greek philosophy. The an­ Empedocles (fifth century B.C.), a
cient Greeks were preoccupied with follower of Pythagoras, who con­
the beauty of number and form and ceived the theories of the elements
how they relate to human nature. In and the humors. Hippocrates (ca.
the sixth century B.C. Pythagoras 460-ca. 377 B.C.) applied these two
envisioned the universe as a system theories to the practice of medi­
of whole-number correspondences cine; he emphasized the individual
resembling musical intervals (see mu­ makeup of the patient as related to
sic of the spheres). According to the positions of the planets at his
him, each human being was a micro­ birth.
cosm, a miniature universe reflecting It is true that Greek astrology after
the macrocosm, the universe as a Alexander was heavily influenced by
whole. This idea was echoed by Plato Chaldean astrology. This was due
(7427-347 B.C.) in his Timaeus, where in large measure to the teaching of
he places no limitation on the prac­ Berosus, a Chaldean astrologer who
126 Greenwich mean time

conducted a school of astrology on pathy): Whatever happens to a part

the Greek island of Cos in about 280 of the universe affects the whole. The
B.C. and whose numerous disciples astrology of the Stoic Poseidonius
established centers of astrology in (135-51 B.C.) was based on a com­
most of the Greek cities. Gradually prehensive theory of nature in which
the planets and stars took on the di­ God was the Life Force in a universe
vinity the Chaldeans had attributed of perfect balance and harmony; only
to them and became identified with on the sublunary sphere—that is, on
the anthropomorphic Olympian gods. the Earth—could there be decay.
At the same time, astrology came to Among Poseidonius' students were
be regarded as an exact science based Pompey and Cicero, who later re­
on such astronomical discoveries as pudiated astrology (see Romans, as­
those of Heraclides of Pontus (fourth trology among the). The astrolo­
century B.C.), who asserted that the ger-poet Manilius was so inspired by
Earth moves; Eratosthanes (third Poseidonius that he wrote a long
century B.C.), who estimated the poem, the Astronomicon (ca. A.D. 10),
Earth's circumference; Aristarchus of combining astrology with Stoic fatal­
Samos (third century B.C.), who es­ istic philosophy, which influenced
timated the distance and size of the astrologers long after his time.
Moon, proposed the Sun as the cen­ The person responsible for the
ter of the universe, and reckoned that transmission of ancient astrology to
the stars were extremely remote; and the modern world is Claudius Ptol­
Hipparchus of Rhodes (second cen­ emy (second century A.D.), whose
tury B.C.), who discovered the Tetrabiblos is a summation of the as­
precession of the equinoxes. These trological knowledge of his day.
and other advances enabled the Works more ancient than Ptolemy's
Greeks to calculate accurate birth did not survive the numerous de­
charts. The first known birthtime structions of the library at Alexan­
horoscope, utilizing the Ascendant, dria.
was cast in 70 B.C.
Later Greek astrology was influ­ Greenwich Mean Time (GMT); See
enced by Stoicism, a philosophy ac­ time.
cording to which all events are man­
ifestations of divine will. Astrology
was seen as a means of understand­ Greenwich Meridian: See terres­
ing that will. According to the trial LONGITUDE.
Pythagorean idea of the microcosm
and the macrocosm, all things in na­ Greenwich Sidereal Time (GST):
ture are related by sympatheia (sym­ See time.
Half Sum: See midpoint. Sun's absolute longitude = 10°10' x
9 = 91°3O' = l°30' Cancer
Haly, Albohazen: See Islam, as­
trology IN.
Moon's absolute longitude = 50°10' x
9 = 451°30' - 360° = 91°30' = l°30r
Cancer
Hamburg School: See Uranian sys­
tem.
After converting all radical positions
Hand of God: See double quincunx. in this way, the astrologer takes a
chart form and either places the new
Hard Aspects: In modern astrology, Ascendant position in the normal
the square, opposition, semisquare, place on the left and fills in the rest
and sesquisquare; the soft aspects are of the chart in equal houses, or places
the trine and sextile. (See aspect; the new Midheaven in its normal po­
midpoint; Uranian system.) sition and fills in the rest of the chart
in equal houses.
Harmonic Chart: A chart derived by In judging a harmonic chart one
multiplying all radical chart posi­ must bear in mind the meaning of
tions, expressed in absolute celes­ the harmonic number in question.
tial longitude, by the harmonic Particular attention is paid to con­
number under consideration. The re­ junctions. These reveal either that
sulting longitudes are the positions the factors were already in conjunc­
in the harmonic chart. If a resulting tion in the radical or that they were
longitude is more than 360°, then close to one harmonic wavelength
360° is subtracted from it enough apart or an exact number of wave­
times to reduce it to less than 360°. lengths apart. Aspects within a har­
For example, if in a chart the radical monic chart can be interpreted, but
Sun is at 10°10' Aries and the radical strictly these imply a conjunction on
Moon at 20°10' Taurus, then their a higher harmonic. Thus, opposi­
ninth-harmonic chart positions tions in a harmonic chart will become
(which are identical to the Hindu na- conjunctions if the harmonic number
vamsa chart positions) are calculated is doubled. In judging a harmonic
as follows: chart it is also of great importance to
128 harmonics

see if any of the harmonic chart po­ he observed in his statistical studies
sitions are in conjunction with radical on longevity, illness, talent, and
positions. If they are, this gives great other effects. Interestingly enough,
emphasis to the factors involved. the term has been used independ­
It will be seen that cosmobiologists ently by a number of researchers. En­
who use the 90° dial are actually ex­ gineer John Nelson calls the clusters
amining the fourth harmonic of the of planetary aspects he has observed
chart, while those who use a 30° dial in connection with radio interference
are working with the twelfth har­ "simultaneous multiple harmonics";
monic. (See chart form; cosmo- and Theodor Landscheidt uses the
biology; harmonics; India, astrol­ term harmonics to refer to the
ogy in.) microaspects between the outer
planets, which he has found to co­
Harmonics: Integral divisions of the incide with times of increased solar
circle; the study of such divisions, activity. But the term has come into
especially as they relate to astrology; its own, and the concept has been
the extension of the traditional con­ fully developed, through the work of
cept of aspect to the division of the the English astrologer John Addey.
circle by any whole number. Thus, in Addey has extended the idea of
traditional aspect terms, the second harmonics beyond the theory of as­
harmonic is 360°/2 = 180°, the op­ pects and expanded it into the begin­
position; the third harmonic is nings of a fundamental theory of the
360°/3 = 120°, the trine; the fourth underlying principles of astrology.
harmonic is 360°/4 = 90°, the square; Addey's theory of the harmonic basis
and the sixth harmonic is 360°/6 = of astrology, which rests on the anal­
60°, the sextile; but the study of har­ ysis of a vast range of statistical
monics extends this sequence to studies, suggests that all astrolog­
much smaller divisions of the circle. ical effects—apart from the planets
Table 2 gives the first thirty harmon­ themselves—can best be understood
ics: in terms of the "harmonics of cosmic
The technique of harmonics has periods." By a "cosmic period" Ad­
been in use for centuries in Indian dey means any one of the many
astrology as a predictive device. In cycles studied by astrologers, such as
the West, the theory of harmonics the zodiac, the houses, the aspect
was anticipated by Pythagoras' cycles, and so on. According to his
ideas about the meaning of numbers theory, an understanding of the
and by Kepler's theory of aspects meaning of each number, in the Py­
and his introduction of the quintile thagorean sense, and an understand­
series, which corresponds to the fifth ing of the meaning of each particular
harmonic. The concept as it is under­ cycle will ultimately enable astrolo­
stood today was probably introduced gers to reconstruct astrology from its
in the 1930s by the Swiss astrologer first principles.
Karl Krafft, who used the term har­ Addey's harmonics have had a
monics to describe the wave patterns profound impact on serious modem
 heart of the Sun 129

Table 2. Harmonics.
Harmonic Angular
Number Interval Aspect Name Aspect Symbol
1 360° = 0° conjunction 6

2 180° opposition 8

3 120° trine A
4 90° square, or quartile □
5 72° quintile ★

6 60° sextile *
7 51°25.7' septile
8 45° semisquare, or octile A
9 40° novile
10 36° decile, or semiquintile
11 32’43.6' undecile
12 30° semisextile, or dodecile V

13 27°41.5'
14 25’42.8'
15 24°
16 22’30'
17 21’10.6'
18 20°
19 18’56.8'
20 18° semidecile, or vigintile
21 17°8.6'
22 16’21.8'
23 15’39.1'
24 15’
25 14’24'
26 13’50.8'
27 13’20'
28 12’51.4'
29 12’24.8'
30 12’

astrologers, especially in England. possible before." Geoffrey Dean be­

Charles Harvey, president of the As­ lieves that the study of harmonics,
trological Association, writes that the along with a systematic investigation
great achievement of the theory is of the symbology of numbers, may
that it "(1) provides a unified basis at last yield a convincing scientific
for understanding almost all existing theory of astrology. (See harmonic
astrological concepts in both Western chart.)
and Eastern traditions; (2) provides
a methodology for statistical research
Harmony of the Spheres: See music
in all areas of astrology; and (3) al­ OF THE SPHERES.
lows the logical extension and artic­
ulation of existing astrological prin­
ciples in a way that has not been Heart of the Sun: See cazimi.
130 heavy planets

Heavy Planets: The slower-moving heavenly messages. For the Cabalists

planets, which take more than 2 it was not just the days but the hours
years to complete their orbits around of the day that were subject to the
the Sun: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, influence of the stars. For example,
Neptune, and Pluto. it is written in the Sabbath Talmud
that “he who is born at the hour of
Venus will be rich and pleasure-lov­
Hebrews, Astrology among the: The ing, because this star rises with the
astrology practiced by the early He­ light." This observation is astronom­
brews cannot be distinguished from ically correct, for the planet Venus,
that of the Chaldeans. Indeed, we identified by the ancient Hebrews
must not forget that the Israelites are with Ishtar, the Chaldean goddess of
the descendants of the friends of fertility and pleasure, is always pres­
Abraham, who formed a tribe related ent at the rising and setting of the
to the Babylonians. Sun.
Some astrologers have seen a cor­
respondence between the twelve
Heliacal: Pertaining to the Sun. The
tribes of Israel, the twelve gates of
heliacal rising of a star or planet is its
the city of Jerusalem, the twelve an­
first emergence from invisibility as it
gels in the Revelation of Saint John,
separates from a conjunction with
and the twelve signs of the zodiac,
the Sun; its heliacal setting is its dis­
but there is no historical evidence for
appearance from view as it ap­
the connection.
After the scattering of the Jews, proaches a conjunction with the Sun.
which followed the destruction of the Heliacal risings and settings can oc­
cur near either the rising or the set­
temple of Jerusalem, there arose two
great schools of astrology. The first, ting of the Sun, depending on
which might be referred to as the whether the body is faster or slower
Semitic school, flourished in the in motion than the Sun. The Moon
Middle East and differed very little heliacally rises after sunset and sets
from Arab astrology. The Jew near dawn.
Mash'allah, who opened a school of
■astrology in Baghdad at the time of Heliocentric Astrology: Although
the caliphs, had as many coreligion­ heliocentric ephemerides have been
ists as Moslems in his classes. The available since 1767, heliocentric as­
second of the Hebrew schools devel­ trology has been neglected until quite
oped in medieval Spain, mainly recently. Yet one of the most con­
among Cabalists. Abraham ben Ezra, vincing pieces of indirect evidence
Solomon ben Gabirol, and above all for the validity of astrology—John
Abraham ben Reci (1089-1167) Nelson's demonstration of the influ­
achieved reputations that spread well ence of planetary relationships on
beyond the Jewish community. sunspots and thus on the Earth's
According to the Cabala, the stars weather—uses the heliocentric sys­
are Hebrew letters in the sky writing tem. (See Nelson, John.)
 heliocentric astrology 131

Figure 27. The solar system at the birth of Figure 28. Sun-Earth system projected on
Margaret Mead, showing the difference be­ the zodiac at the birth of Margaret Mead. The
tween the heliocentric and geocentric view­ heliocentric (solid) line of sight to the Earth
points. The unbroken lines represent lines of extends to a point on the ecliptic opposite that
sight from the Sun; the broken lines represent of the geocentric (dotted) line of sight to the
lines of sight from the Earth. There is a vast Sun.
difference in the zodiacal positions of the inner
planets. For example, from the viewpoint of Heliocentric birth charts include
the Earth, Venus is in mid-Aquarius, but from
the viewpoint of the Sun, Venus is in mid­ the Earth (symbolized by the glyph
Taurus. The diagram is proportional out to the ®), which is always directly opposite
orbit of Jupiter, but space limitations have the Sun in the corresponding geo­
made it necessary to show the positions of
Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto on the centric chart (see figure 28). On the
same circle, on which the signs of the zodiac other hand, a heliocentric chart lacks
are also displayed. many of the familiar elements of a
The difference between the heli­ geocentric chart. There are no As­
ocentric and geocentric positions of cendant, Descendant, Midheaven, or
a planet increases the closer the Imum Coeli—in fact, no houses at all,
planet is to the Earth. For example, since these are specific to a location
heliocentric and geocentric positions on the Earth's surface. The Sun and
for Pluto and Neptune can differ by Moon are no longer significant ele­
no more than about 2° (called their ments. Actually, there is no Sun in
maximum phase angle), but a heliocen­ a heliocentric chart; it is understood
tric Mars may be as much as 47° from at the center, just as the Earth is
its corresponding geocentric posi­ understood at the center of the geo­
tion. Heliocentric and geocentric po­ centric chart. And there is no Moon
sitions for Mercury and Venus can in a heliocentric chart, because from
differ by as much as 180°. Figure 27 the viewpoint of the Sun, 93 million
shows the difference between the po­ miles away from us, the mean dis­
sitions of the planets for the two per­ tance of 239,000 miles between the
spectives at the birth of Margaret Earth and the Moon is so slight as to
Mead. be negligible. In effect the two bodies
132 heliocentric astrology

are in perpetual conjunction, making

up the Earth-Moon system. There is
no retrograde motion in heliocentric
astrology, since retrogradation is an
illusion peculiar to the geocentric
orientation. Some heliocentric astrol­
ogers have even dispensed with the
signs of the zodiac, since their start­
ing point, the vernal point, is a geo­
centric phenomenon.
How can a chart be interpreted in
the absence of Sun, Moon, Ascend­
ant, or houses? Heliocentric astrolo­
gers maintain that the somewhat for­
bidding austerity of heliocentric
charts is more than compensated by
their greater simplicity, clarity, and
Figure 29. Heliocentric birth chart of Mar­
profundity in laying bare the essence garet Mead.
of the inner self divested of the ac­
cidents of personality and outward
circumstance. Primary emphasis is chart (see figure 29) the heliocentric
on the planets, their archetypical position of the Earth is in Gemini,
meanings, and their aspects, espe­ sign of learning, writing, and sci­
cially such major configurations as ence. The heliocentric perspective
the grand trine or T-square. Mi­ shifts the emphasis of Mead's chart
chael and Margaret Erlewine, who from teacher (Sagittarius) to student
have done much to develop a sys­ (Gemini). Gemini is also the sign of
tematic approach to heliocentric as­ primitive man, a subject that is a pri­
trology, make an analogy with med­ mary concern of anthropology. The
icine, suggesting that a heliocentric opposition of Earth and Uranus re­
chart bears somewhat the same re­ veals that Mead's passionate interest
lation to a geocentric chart that a hol­ in freedom, social change, and the
istic approach bears to the treatment future was an essential part of her
of a single symptom. The two ap­ being. The Earth is the focal point of
proaches are thus complementary a double quincunx involving Mer­
rather than mutually exclusive. Inter­ cury, now in Scorpio, sign of re­
pretation of the geocentric positions search, and Jupiter, still in Capricorn,
of the planets as the significators of sign of organization, but now near
practical, down-to-earth problems is Saturn's south node, a configuration
enriched rather than negated by in­ describing a unique destiny in sci­
terpretation of their heliocentric po­ ence involving the integration of ob­
sitions as the illuminators of the ar­ jective information (Mercury) and
chetypal self. humanitarian principles (Jupiter). No
For example, in Margaret Mead's less than five planets are located
 hermetic theory 133

within orb of planetary nodes; Ve­ horizon and eastern and western
nus, now in Taurus, is almost exactly hemispheres by the meridian. A
conjunct the north node of Mercury, preponderance of planets above the
denoting Mead's profound under­ horizon, or in the upper hemisphere,
standing of human relationships and has traditionally been associated with
values. (See heliocentric system.) extraversion; a preponderance of
planets below the horizon, or in the
Heliocentric Cosmography: See cos­ lower hemisphere, with introversion.
mography. An eastern-hemisphere emphasis
(which by definition means that
Heliocentric Nodes: See nodes. planets are rising) is believed to in­
dicate self-assertiveness; a western­
Heliocentric System (from the Greek hemisphere emphasis (which means
helios, Sun, and kentron, center): The that planets are setting) is believed to
conception of the universe, prevalent indicate other-directedness. Hemi­
since the time of Copernicus (1473- sphere emphasis is one of the most
1543), in which the Sun is at the cen­ conspicuous features of a birth chart,
ter of our solar system. Astrology and its consideration is thus one of
developed when the geocentric, the first steps in interpretation.
or Earth-centered, system was still
widely accepted, and since it is Hermetic Theory: A body of corre­
concerned with the impact of celestial spondences, which—according to
events on the Earth and its inhabit­ modern scholars—was formulated at
ants, most astrologers continue to the beginning of the Christian era,
work within the geocentric model. based on the belief "Omnia ab uno et
Most modem ephemerides list the in unam omnia" (''One is in all and all
positions of the planets in geocentric is in one''), which is expressed in the
terms, even though these positions astrological maxim "as above, so be­
have been derived from heliocentric low'' and also in the idea that the
positions. A heliocentric ephemeris human being is a microcosm of the
lists the planets' positions from the universe. The concept of the micro­
perspective of a hypothetical ob­ cosm is developed in great detail in
server located at the center of the some of the earliest Hermetic writ­
Sun. Heliocentric positions of the ings, those attributed to the legend­
Sun's nine planets, including Earth, ary Hermes Trismegistos. Everything
are given in the American Ephemeris in nature had its parallel in man; each
and Nautical Almanac, published an­ sign of the zodiac governed a part of
nually by the U.S. Government the body; there were seven types of
Printing Office. (See heliocentric people, corresponding to the seven
ASTROLOGY.) known planets. The Greek concept
of the four elements was readily in­
Hemisphere: Half the houses in a corporated into Hermetic theory. The
horoscope, which is divided into up­ theory, with its vast compendium of
per and lower hemispheres by the correspondences, became a vehicle
134 Herodotus

for the perpetuation of Greek herbal casting horoscopes for the moment
medicine. (See birthstones; col­ when they were asked. Horary as­
ors; elements; Greeks, astrology trology rests on the assumption that
among the; Hebrews, astrology there is a sympathy between the cos­
among the; humors; medical as­ mos and the human mind, so that a
trology; metals; Middle Ages, as­ question is asked at the right time—
trology in the.) that is, a time when the positions of
the planets bear some relation to it
Herodotus: See astrology. and can thus shed light on its an­
swer. The idea that everything that
Herschel, Sir William: See Uranus. occurs at the same moment has a re­
lationship of significance, if not of
Hindu Astrology: See India, as­ causality, underlies such divinatory
trology IN. techniques as the I Ching and the
Tarot; Jung called this idea synchron­
Hipparchus (190-120 B.C.): The great­ icity.
est of the Greek astronomers, best The rules for interpreting a horary
known for discovering the preces­ chart differ somewhat from those
sion of the equinoxes. Hipparchus governing natal charts. Less atten­
catalogued over one thousand stars, tion is paid to the intrinsic nature of
developed trigonometry, and origi­ the planets and more to their func­
nated scientific geography by devis­ tion as significators or promittors.
ing the method of locating positions The main significators are the ruler of
on the Earth's surface by giving their the Ascendant, which usually repre­
terrestrial latitude and longitude. He sents the person asking the question,
was a student of Chaldean astron­ called the querent, and the ruler of the
omy and a practicing astrologer. house that represents the subject of
the question. The promittors are
History of Astrology: See Byzan­ planets in aspect to the significators,
tium, ASTROLOGY IN; CHALDEAN AS­ which "promise" success or failure,
TROLOGY; Chinese astrology; Chris­ help or hindrance, to the matter in
tianity and astrology; Egypt, as­ hand. The Moon's next aspects be­
trology in; Greeks, astrology fore leaving the sign it is in are con­
among the; Hebrews, astrology sidered highly significant. If the
among the; India, astrology in; Is­ Moon makes no aspects before leav­
lam, ASTROLOGY IN; MIDDLE AGES, ing its sign, it is said to be void of
ASTROLOGY IN THE, MODERN ASTROL­ course, and it is judged that nothing
OGY; Pre-Columbian astrology; will come of the matter under consid­
Renaissance, astrology in the; Ro­ eration. The meaning of the houses
mans, astrology among the. is similar to that in natal astrology.
All authorities stress the importance
Horary Astrology (from the Latin of clearly formulating the question
hora, hour): The branch of astrology before the chart is drawn up, in order
in which questions are answered by to determine without prejudice
 horoscope 135

which houses will be involved. cendant); the intersection of the ho­

There is considerable literature on rizon and the ecliptic in the west is
horary astrology, which was very where the Sun sets (the Descen­
popular in the Middle Ages. Its dant). The two points where the ho­
greatest exponent was William Lilly rizon great circle intersects the me­
(1602-81). An excellent modern text ridian are the North Point and the
is Barbara Watters, Horary Astrology South Point, true north and south.
and the Judgment of Events. Distance along the horizon circle is
measured in degrees and minutes of
Horizon: A plane specific to a given azimuth, beginning at the North
locality on the Earth's surface that Point; the entire horizon has 360° of
divides the visible hemisphere (what azimuth. Distance above or below
is above it) from the invisible hemi­ the horizon is measured in degrees
sphere (what is below it). Astrono­ and minutes of altitude; the altitude
mers think of the horizon as a plane of the zenith is +90°; that of the nadir
passing through the eye of an ob­ is -90°.
server and perpendicular to the ver­ In a birth chart, in most systems of
tical (plumb line) at any given place. house division, the horizon is re­
A useful distinction is between the garded as the line connecting the As­
apparent, or topocentric, horizon, a cendant and Descendant and divid­
plane tangent to the Earth's surface ing the first six houses (below the
at the specific location, and the geo­ horizon) from the second six (above
centric horizon, a plane, or great circle, the horizon). The horizon and the
parallel to the apparent horizon but meridian are often referred to as the
passing through the center of the two axes of the chart. (See hemi­
Earth (see celestial sphere; cos­ sphere.)
mography, TERRESTRIAL LATITUDE). According to tradition, a predom­
It is the latter that is essential for es­ inance of planets located above the
tablishing relationships with the horizon shows an extraverted per­
other important reference planes or sonality, and a predominance of
great circles relevant to the calcu­ planets below the horizon indicates
lation of a birth chart. The small an introverted personality.
amount of parallax introduced in the
employment of the geocentric hori­ Horizontal System: See house divi­
zon is negligible when the relatively sion.
remote positions of the planets are
considered (although it sometimes Horoscope (from the Greek hora,
exceeds 1° for the Moon). hour, and skopos, watcher): Origi­
When the geocentric horizon is ex­ nally, the degree of the zodiac rising
tended out into space to intersect at the eastern horizon at a given mo­
other reference planes, it is called the ment; in other words, the Ascen­
rational horizon. The intersection of dant. The term has come to mean
the horizon and the ecliptic in the the whole map of the sky as it ap­
east is where the Sun rises (the As­ peared at the birth of an individual,
136 horoscopy

or other significant moment, and

even an astrologer's interpretation of
this map. It is also used, even less
accurately, to describe the predic­
tions for the signs of the zodiac that
appear in newspapers or magazines
(one's "daily horoscope"). (See birth
chart.)

Horoscopy: The art of casting and in­

terpreting horoscopes; a synonym for
astrology that is still found in old Neutral signs: Dog, Ox, Pig, Tiger.
texts but has fallen out of popular Incompatible signs: Dragon, Mon­
use. key, Rat.
The fire Horse, which occurs every
Horse: The seventh sign of the 60 years (1906, 1966, 2026, and so on)
Chinese zodiac, including all persons has traditionally been considered a
born between highly unfavorable sign, portending
January 25, 1906, and February 13, 1907 (fire) defeats and catastrophes, and it was
February 11, 1918, and February 1, 1919 (earth) thought unwise to undertake any­
January 30, 1930, and February 17, 1931 (metal)
thing important in the course of that
February 15, 1942, and February 5, 1943 (water)
February 3, 1954, and January 24, 1955 (wood)
year. In fact, through the centuries
January 21, 1966, and February 9, 1967 (fire) many Chinese have avoided having
February 7, 1978, and January 28, 1979 (earth) children in those years. As recently
January 27, 1990, and February 15, 1991 (metal) as 1966, though the Communist re­
Extraverted, gay, talkative, likable, gime has outlawed what it considers
with considerable personal magnet­ to be superstitious practices, the
ism, the Horse likes to shine in so­ number of abortions was extraordi­
ciety. Natives of this sign charm peo­ narily high. Interestingly, the painful
ple because they are very attractive, "reforms" of the Cultural Revolution
but they are more clever than intel­ undertaken in that year have been
ligent. Ambitious, they can become largely abandoned; and if we look
ruthless when someone attempts further into the past, we find that the
to block their path. Money runs San Francisco earthquake and the
through their fingers; they have no great London fire both occurred in
conception of economy. It is in diplo­ fire Horse years—1906 and 1666, re­
macy that they are most successful. spectively. However, close to a mil­
In love, they can be passionate, but lion people were killed in the Tangh-
sometimes their ardor is extin­ san earthquake of 1977, year of the
guished just as suddenly as it was fire Serpent, and not a single one of
kindled. As the head of the family, the six humiliating defeats China suf­
the Horse can be a petty tyrant. fered in the nineteenth century oc­
Compatible signs: Cat, Cock, Goat, curred in a fire Horse year. Further­
Horse, Serpent. more, there have been many highly
 house division 137

successful fire Horses, including among astrologers as to which one is

Rembrandt van Rijn, Pierre Cor­ best. This state of confusion, which
neille, Thomas Edison, Samuel Beck­ has led some astrologers (for exam­
ett, Margaret Bourke-White, and ple, the cosmobiologists) to abandon
S. I. Hayakawa. Famous non-fire houses altogether, can be attributed
Horses include Cicero, Charlemagne, in part to the 200-year gap in serious
Isaac Newton, Theodore Roosevelt, research that followed the rejection
Franklin Roosevelt, Nikita Khrush­ of astrology by science in the late sev­
chev, Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Ing­ enteenth century and its banishment
mar Bergman, and Neil Armstrong. from the universities. On the other
(See Chinese astrology). hand, the variety of systems that
have been developed over the years
House Division: The dividing of the reflects the increasing sophistication
ecliptic into twelve sections called of man's conception of the universe
houses, usually of unequal size, ac­ and of his techniques of celestial
cording to one of several systems; the measurement.
determination of house cusps; one of In recognition of the increasing
the two main operations involved in popularity of the Koch system among
setting up a birth chart (see cosmog­ professional astrologers, the editors
raphy). have used Koch tables of houses for
(Actually there is some argument the sample calculation of a birth chart
for dividing the ecliptic into eight (see chart calculation). However,
houses. Cyril Fagan regards such a this does not constitute an endorse­
division, called the oktotopos as distin­ ment of Koch as the one true system.
guished from the dodekatopos, or Astrologers may favor a system be­
twelve-house system, as more an­ cause of its simplicity (for example,
cient. He also claims that the eight Equal House) or because of its com­
houses were counted clockwise, not plexity (for example, Placidus). But
counterclockwise as in modern prac­ ultimately a house system should be
tice. The work of John Addey sug­ judged on the basis of the relevance
gests that it may be possible to divide of planets in each of its houses to
the mundane sphere into any num­ matters associated with that house,
ber of sectors, each number having the sensitivity of its cusps in the tim­
its own particular significance [see ing of events, and its adaptability to
harmonics]. In the discussion that any birthplace in the world as well as
follows, however, we will consider its specific reference to that birth­
only twelve-house systems.) place. Unfortunately there is little
House division is probably the sin­ empirical evidence to support any
gle most controversial question in all system based on the first two criteria.
of modern astrology. At least twenty Also, mainly because of the distor­
methods are currently in use, and tion involved in reducing a three-di­
although that of Placidus is probably mensional phenomenon to two di­
still the most popular in the United mensions, most systems do not work
States, there is no real agreement well in polar areas, and the Horizon­
138 house division

tai and Arcturan systems will not the First-House cusp (see figure 30).
work at certain birthtimes in the trop­ The Midheaven rarely coincides with
ics. Finally, only those systems that the Tenth-House cusp, usually fall­
regard the Ascendant as the First- ing somewhere in the Ninth or Tenth
House cusp are specific to the birth­ House. The Equal House system
place (two exceptions to this rule are does not work for certain times of
the Horizontal and Arcturan sys­ day on the Arctic or Antarctic circles.
tems). According to some authorities, this
There are three main categories of system was in use in India around
house systems: (a) those that divide 3000 B.C.; at any rate, it continues to
the ecliptic directly; (b) those that be used there today. The British Fac­
project divisions onto the ecliptic ulty of Astrological Studies, in a
from direct divisions of some other study involving thousands of charts,
great circle; and (c) those that di­ compared the Equal House with the
vide the arc of a moving point. There Placidus system and concluded that
is one maverick system, the Topo- the former was more reliable, though
centric, that cannot be included in not denying the value of quadrant
these categories. (Other groupings systems as such. Equal House is the
are possible: Quadrant systems trisect most popular system in Great Britain
each of the four quadrants defined today. (The Placidean system was al­
by the horizon and the meridian; ready unpopular there because it re­
they are contrasted with systems that sulted in such distorted houses at
ignore one or both of these reference Britain's northern latitudes.) Though
planes. Spatial, or geometric, systems, not specifically referred to by him,
which divide space, are distin­
guished from temporal systems, which
divide time taken to cover space, but
the distinction is really a false one,
since all systems divide lines in space
and all can be expressed in terms of
time.)

DIRECT DIVISION OF THE

ECLIPTIC
These systems are very simple.
The drawback with most of them is
that one or both of the principal axes
(horizon and meridian) are not rep­
resented.
Equal House, or Zenith, System. The
ecliptic is divided into twelve seg­
ments of 30° each, beginning with the
Ascendant, which is equivalent to Figure 30. The Equal House system.
 house division 139

dents at the Faculty since 1952. The

Uranian Hamburg School promoted
a theoretically more correct variation
in which the cusps are calculated in
terms of right ascension. By this
method the Midheaven First-House
cusp coincides with the East Point.
Porphyry System. This is a quadrant
system: The Midheaven is the Tenth-
House cusp and the Ascendant is
the First-House cusp. Intermediate
houses are equal divisions of each
quadrant, measured on the ecliptic
(see figure 32). The system breaks
down at certain places in polar re­
gions. Many astrologers are dis­
Figure 31. The Midheaven House system. turbed by the "unnatural" juxtapo­
sition of three equally small houses
the Equal House is very likely the in one quadrant to three equally large
system used by Ptolemy. houses in the next (see figure 33).
Midheaven House System. The eclip­ The system dates from the third cen­
tic is divided into twelve segments of tury A.D. and is attributed to the
30° each, beginning with the Mid­ Neoplatonist Porphyry (ca. 233-303).
heaven, which is equivalent to the Natural Graduation System. This is
Tenth-House cusp (see figure 31). a twentieth-century "improvement"
This system is not specific to the on the Porphyry quadrant system, in
birthplace; the Ascendant rarely co­
incides with the First-House cusp
and usually falls somewhere in either
the First or the Twelfth House. The
Midheaven House System was prop­
agated in 1951 by Brigadier R. C.
Firebrace, Jeff Mayo, and others at
the British Faculty of Astrological
Studies as a result of investigating
the question of Equal House division
from the Ascendant. It was con­
cluded that equal houses from the
Ascendant "show the tendencies of
character . . . and events which arise
from character," while equal houses
from the Midheaven "represent the
Earth's impress on our lives." The
system has been taught to all stu­
140 house division

Figure 33. The Porphyry system's "unnat­ Figure 34. The Natural Graduation system.
ural" distribution of houses. In this example This drawing represents the same chart as in
the first and third quadrants (B houses) are figure 33, but the increase or decrease in house
large, whereas the second and fourth quad­ size has been made continuous. The two A
rants (A houses) are small. At each angle there houses are the smallest, the four B houses are
is a sudden discontinuity in the size of the slightly larger, the four C houses larger still,
houses. and the two D houses are the largest.

which the sizes of the intermediate tems. These are used in Uranian as­
houses are graduated. Thus, in a trology and include (a) the Earth
quadrant of equally small Porphyry House system, in which the First-
houses the middle house of the House cusp is 0° Libra and each suc­
quadrant is made smaller and the cessive house is advanced 30°; (b) the
two on either side of it made larger; Moon House system, in which the
in its neighboring quadrant, where Fourth-House cusp is the celestial
there are equally large Porphyry longitude of the Moon and each suc­
houses, the middle house is made cessive house is advanced 30°; (c) the
larger and the two on either side Sun House system, in which the
smaller. (See figure 34, which depicts Fourth-House cusp is the celestial
the same chart as in figure 33.) The longitude of the Sun and each suc­
system has been criticized because cessive house is advanced 30°; (d) the
the basis for the graduation is arbi­ Nodal House system, in which the
trary. It also breaks down in certain First-House cusp is the celestial lon­
places in polar regions. gitude of the north lunar node and
Solar House System. The celestial each successive house is advanced
longitude of the Sun is the First- 30°; and (e) the Ascendant House sys­
House cusp, and each successive tem, which is identical to the Equal
house is advanced 30°. This system House system (see page 138). None
is not specific to the birthplace. of these systems is specific to the
Uranian Direct-Division House Sys­ birthplace.
 house division 141

PROJECTED DIVISION OF THE

ECLIPTIC

In any of the systems in this cate­

gory one out of three of the five great
circles shown on page 84—prime
VERTICAL, CELESTIAL EQUATOR, and
horizon—is divided into twelve equal
segments. Lines perpendicular to
that circle or to one of the other two
circles are passed through the points
where the division is made. The
points where these lines intersect the
ecliptic are the projected house
cusps. (Though it is theoretically pos­
sible to divide the meridian too and
project the divisions onto the ecliptic,
the resulting houses are so distorted Figure 35. The Campanus system. O =
birthplace, E = East Point, and A = Ascend­
at any terrestrial latitude that such ant.
systems are not in use.)
Campanus System. A quadrant sys­ preferred today by many astrologers,
tem. The prime vertical is divided including Dane Rudhyar and
into twelve equal segments, begin­ Charles Jayne.
ning at the East Point, and lines per­ Regiomontanus System. A quadrant
pendicular to the prime vertical system. The celestial equator is di­
(called house circles) are drawn vided into twelve equal segments,
through the points of division and beginning at the East Point, and lines
projected onto the ecliptic as the perpendicular to the prime vertical
house cusps (see figure 35). At ter­ are drawn through the points of di­
restrial latitudes remote from the vision and projected onto the ecliptic
Equator, houses can become quite as the house cusps (see figure 36).
unequal in size. In polar regions The Regiomontanus system is iden­
there is extreme distortion, and at tical to the Campanus system for
certain birthtimes and birthplaces birthplaces on the Equator. As with
planets may “disappear,” the ab­ the Campanus system, at locations
sorption taking place in the First and far from the Equator, Regiomontanus
Seventh Houses. This system may houses can become quite unequal in
date from the thirteenth century, size. In polar regions there are birth­
since it is often attributed to Gio­ times and birthplaces where the
vanni Campanella (d. 1297), but planets “disappear,” and at the exact
some astrologers believe it was in­ North or South Pole it is mathemat­
vented by two brothers, Joseph and ically impossible to erect a Regio­
Matthew Campanus, who lived in montanus chart. The system was in­
the late fifteenth century. It is still vented in the fifteenth century by
142 house division
meridian, and lines perpendicular to
the celestial equator (that is, right­
ascension meridians) are drawn
through the points of division and
projected onto the ecliptic as the
house cusps (see figure 38). Like the
Morinus system, this system is quite
applicable to polar regions, but it is
not specific to the birthplace. The
Tenth-House cusp is the Midheaven,
but the First-House cusp is not the
Ascendant. The origin of this system
is unknown, but it was rediscovered
in the nineteenth century by the Aus­
tralian astrologer Zariel and is widely
used by Uranian astrologers.
Horizontal System. The horizon is
Figure 36. The Regiomontanus system. O divided into twelve equal segments,
= birthplace, E = East Point, and A = As­
cendant. beginning at the East Point, and lines
perpendicular to the horizon (that is,
the German astronomer Regiomon­ prime vertical, meridian, and inter­
tanus. mediate great circles connecting ze­
Morinus System. The celestial equa­ nith and nadir) are drawn through
tor is divided into twelve equal seg­ the points of division and projected
ments, beginning at the East Point, onto the ecliptic as the house cusps
and lines perpendicular to the ecliptic
(that is, circles of celestial longitude)
are drawn through the points of di­
vision and projected onto the eclip­
tic as the house cusps (see fig­
ure 37). This system does not fail in
polar regions, but it is not specific to
the birthplace. The First-House cusp
is not the Ascendant, and—except
for birthplaces on the Equator—the
Tenth-House cusp is not the Mid­
heaven. The Morinus system was
invented in the seventeenth century
by the French astrologer Jean-Bap­
tiste Morin, also known as Morin de
Villefranche.
Meridian, or Zariel, System. The ce­
lestial equator is divided into twelve
equal segments, beginning at the
 house division 143

zenith

Figure 38. The Meridian system. O = birth­ Figure 39. The Horizontal system. O =
place. birthplace, E = East Point, and A = Ascend­
ant.
(see figure 39). This system is specific
DIVISION OF THE ARC OF A
to the birthpjace, and the Tenth-
MOVING POINT
House cusp is the Midheaven, but
the First-House cusp is not the As­ The apparent daily motion, due to
cendant. The system works quite the Earth's rotation, of any celestial
well in polar regions, but it may fail object or point, from the eastern ho-
at certain locations and birthtimes in
the tropics. The origin of the Hori­
zontal system is unknown.
Arcturan System. The horizon is di­
vided into twelve equal segments,
beginning at the East Point, and lines
perpendicular to the ecliptic (that is,
circles of celestial longitude) are
drawn through the points of division
and projected onto the ecliptic as the
house cusps (see figure 40). As with
the Horizontal system, the Tenth-
House cusp is the Midheaven, but
the First-House cusp is not the As­
cendant. The system works quite
well in polar regions, but it may fail
at certain locations and birthtimes in
the tropics. This system was in­
vented by Michael Munkasey.
 144 house division

rizon to culmination on the meridian

to the western horizon and then un­
der the Earth's surface to the eastern
horizon again, follows a path called
a parallel of declination. It should
be noted that each such object or
point has its own Ascendant, Mid­
heaven, Descendant, and Imum
Coeli, specific to its declination. The
portion of the declination parallel
that is above the horizon is called the
diurnal arc; the portion below is
known as the nocturnal arc. Each of
Figure 42. The arc of a specific degree on the
these arcs is bisected by the meridian celestial sphere. Here A is taken as 0° Taurus,
into semiarcs (see figures 41 and 42). a specific degree of celestial longitude. When
The following three systems deter­ A is at the Ascendant in position 1, the Mid­
heaven is 17° Capricorn. After its first diurnal
mine the intermediate house cusps semiarc, which takes about 7 hours, point A
by trisecting a particular semiarc. is the degree on its own Midheaven (position
2), which happens to be a more elevated po­
sition on the meridian than the Midheaven for
position 1. After its second diurnal semiarc
(about 6 Vi hours), point A is at its Descendant
(D), position 3. It takes point A another 514
hours to complete its first nocturnal semiarc
and arrive at position 4, its IC. After another
514 hours (the second nocturnal semiarc),
point A will again be at the Ascendant. The
entire arc takes 24 sidereal hours (23 hours and
56 minutes of solar time). The actual duration
of any particular point's semiarc depends on
the point's degree of celestial longitude and
the terrestrial latitude of the birthplace.
Alcabitius System. A quadrant sys­
tem. The Ascendant is the First-
House cusp. The degree that will be
on the Midheaven when the present
Ascendant degree has traveled one-
third of its diurnal semiarc between
arc; z> to A below its present position and its own Mid­
horizon is nocturnal
arc heaven is the degree on the cusp of
Figure 41. The arc of a moving point on the the present Eleventh House. The de­
celestial sphere. The original position of the gree that will be on the Midheaven
Ascendant is point A, expressed as some de­
gree of celestial longitude. B is the position of when the present Ascendant degree
the degree of A (no longer the Ascendant) 3 has traveled two-thirds of its diurnal
hours later. The ecliptic has also moved rela­ semiarc is the degree on the cusp of
tive to the horizon. Point A's diurnal arc is its
path above the horizon; its nocturnal arc is its the present Twelfth House. The
path below the horizon. Eighth and Ninth House cusps are
 house division 145

heaven to their own Descendant.

Since each cusp is determined by the
diurnal semiarc of a particular de­
gree, several arcs are involved (see
figure 44). The individual house
cusps are found by a laborious pro­
cedure involving repeated trial and
error. Although most astrologers us­
ing the Placidus system determine
the house positions of planets by
their ecliptic longitudes, these posi­
tions are not consistent with the the­
Figure 43. The Alcabitius system. Position ory upon which the system is based.
1 is the present.
The house positions should properly
determined by a similar trisection of be derived from the planets' own
the other diurnal semiarc—that is, semiarcs—an extremely rigorous
from Midheaven to Descendant—but procedure.
the degree on the Imum Coeli is used The Placidus system is an outra­
(see figure 43). One virtue of this sys­ geous failure in polar regions. Over
tem is that it does not fail in polar half the zodiac may be unrepresented
regions. On the other hand, at cer­ in the chart, and it is possible for a
tain birthtimes there may be great single house cusp to have three dif­
variation in house size, no matter ferent zodiac degrees.
what the terrestrial latitude. The Al­ The Placidus system was invented
cabitius system dates at least from in the seventeenth century by the
the first century A.D. and is the one Italian monk Placidus de Titus. It
used in the few surviving examples became very popular in English-
of Greek horoscopes. speaking countries through the an­
Placidus System. A quadrant sys­ nual publication, beginning in 1820,
tem. The Ascendant is the First-
House cusp, and the Midheaven is
the Tenth-House cusp. The Twelfth-
House cusp is that degree of the
ecliptic that has completed one-third
of its diurnal semiarc from its own
Ascendant to its own Midheaven; the
Eleventh-House cusp is that degree
that has completed two-thirds of its
diurnal semiarc. The Ninth- and
Eighth-House cusps are determined
similarly—the degrees of the ecliptic
that have completed one-third and
two-thirds, respectively, of their
diurnal semiarcs from their own Mid­ Figure 44. The Placidus system.
 are determined by a similar trisection
of the other diurnal semiarc—that is,
from Midheaven to Descendant—but
the degree on the Descendant is used
(see figure 45).
Walter Koch (1895-1970), the in­
ventor of this system, claimed that it
is the only system determined from
the exact birthplace, since (a) divid­
ing the ecliptic directly or through
projection inevitably fixes house
Figure 45. The Koch system. Position 3 is cusps at other terrestrial latitudes
the present.
than that of the birthplace; and (b) in
of Raphael's Almanac, which included both the Placidus and Alcabitius sys­
tables based on this method. In fact, tems, only the First and Seventh
for the last two centuries Placidean Houses involve the declination cor­
tables have been the only ones avail­ responding to the birthplace latitude.
able to most astrologers; when the As with the Placidus system, there
particular house system being used are certain birthtimes and birthplaces
is not specified, it is almost always in polar regions where much of the
Placidus. It is still the most popular zodiac cannot be represented in the
system in the United States. The chart.
Church of Light, after three decades
of study, claims to have validated the
THE TOPOCENTRIC SYSTEM
Placidus system by the usefulness of
its cusps in timing events. However, All previously mentioned systems
the methods of research used have were derived theoretically; the topo-
been severely criticized, and many centric system was derived empiri­
astrologers have accumulated evi­ cally: Its theoretical basis was
dence that they claim invalidates the formulated only after empirical evi­
system. dence (primary directions to certain
Koch, or Birthplace, System. A quad­ zodiac degrees, see progression and
rant system. The degree that was on direction) had indicated the house
the Ascendant when the present cusps. The cosmography for this sys­
Midheaven degree had traveled one- tem is topocentric, not geocentric—that
third of its diurnal semiarc from its is, the birthplace remains on the sur­
own Ascendant to its present posi­ face of the Earth, rather than being
tion is the degree of the present Elev­ projected to the center of the Earth
enth House. The degree that was on in order to take advantage of great
the Ascendant when the present circles of the celestial sphere from
Midheaven degree had traveled two- which to derive cusps (see cosmog­
thirds of its diurnal semiarc is the raphy). Nonetheless, the geocentric
degree of the present Twelfth House. horizon is used; it rotates around the
The Eighth- and Ninth-House cusps Earth's axis projected from the to-
 house division 147

intersection with the trisection points of the cone radius. Cusps are designated on the geocentric
ecliptic. For Southern Hemisphere birthplaces the rotation would be in the opposite direction,
around the topocentric South Pole.
pocentric horizon, which produces a duced in the twentieth century by the
cone. The radius of the cone, drawn Argentine astrologers Vendal Polich
along the topocentric Equator, is tri­ and Anthony Page. Interestingly, al­
sected; the house cusps are where though its mathematical basis is en­
the lines of trisection intersect the tirely different, it produces cusps that
ecliptic (see figure 46). Apolar variant, are within 1° of the Placidus cusps up
derived arbitrarily, makes it possible to about 56° north or south latitude.
to use the Topocentric system in po­
lar regions. Critics of the system
NO SYSTEM AT ALL
claim that the empirical evidence
supporting it is not statistically Johannes Kepler (1571-1630) con­
sound, that the events corresponding sidered the houses "rather supersti­
to transits or directions to its cusps tious, a sort of fortune telling, and a
are “petty and trivial," and that the kind of Arabian sortilege, where one
exposition of the system is muddled. can get an answer 'yes' or 'no' to any
The Topocentric system was intro­ question that may occur to anyone at
148 houses

any time without knowing the per­ gers have abandoned house systems
son's hour of birth, thereby making altogether. In his explanation of cos­
of astrology an oracle, and conse­ mobiology, Reinhold Ebertin con­
quently depending on the inspiration cludes that by using midpoints "ex­
of heavenly (or rather devilish) spir­ cellent results in interpretation can be
its." Of course, he was referring to achieved without having recourse to
horary astrology; he felt houses [any] traditional system of houses."
had no place in natal astrology and
did not wish to insert them in the Houses: In a horoscope, twelve pie­
chart he erected for Wallenstein. shaped sections, usually unequal in
Today, too, it is difficult for astrol­ size, into which the circle represent­
ogers to justify their use of houses— ing the celestial sphere is divided,
beyond the unanswerable "they and whose boundaries intersect the
work." Unlike the planets and even ecliptic at points called cusps. In
the signs, the houses seem an arbi­ most systems of house division, the
trary slicing up of imaginary lines in houses are regarded as fixed with re­
space and time. Which lines and how spect to the horizon and are num­
many slices are issues that continue bered from I to XII, starting at the
to elude consensus, and as yet there eastern horizon, or Ascendant, and
is no irrefutable evidence for any of proceeding downward and counter­
the systems of division. However, clockwise, in the direction of the
some traditionalist astrologers con­ Earth's rotation, the planets passing
tinue to make extraordinarily precise through them in clockwise direction
delineations and predictions based every 24 hours. Thus the houses are
on the house cusps of one or another divisions of a daily cycle resulting
system. It is also interesting to note from the Earth's rotation on its axis,
that the results of Michel and Fran- whereas the signs are divisions of
$oise Gauquelin and John Addey a yearly cycle resulting from the
imply that the mundane circle is Earth's revolution around the Sun
nonetheless extremely important. (or the Sun's apparent revolution
That the Gauquelins' thirty-six sec­ around the Earth along the ecliptic).
tors approximate very closely the Pla- The cusps of the First and Seventh
cidean and Topocentric divisions Houses, also known as the Ascend­
suggest that these two systems may ant-Descendant axis, form the hori­
be on approximately the right lines. zon, which divides the houses into
Statistical studies should make it two groups of six each, houses I-VI
possible to demonstrate which sys­ being below the horizon and houses
tem of house division gives the most VII-XII being above it. In most sys­
significant results. tems of house division the size of
Due to the present lack of evidence each house is approximately deter­
supporting any specific house system mined by the number of degrees of
and the absurdities of interpretation celestial longitude that rise above the
to which reliance on unproven sys­ horizon in 2 hours (one-twelfth of a
tems can lead, a number of astrolo­ 24-hour day) at a given point on the
 houses 149

Earth's surface. (The actual basis for this objection for some time. Some
determination varies with the house would reply that the living condi­
system used; see house division.) tions of peoples born in the polar re­
The inequality in the size of houses gions are accurately reflected in their
results from the inclination of the unbalanced birth charts.
Earth's axis in relation to the ecliptic, In chart interpretation, the houses
which causes the number of degrees represent areas of experience where
passing over the horizon in 2 hours, the energies symbolized by the signs
or the rate of ascension, to vary ac­ and planets are expressed. The fol­
cording to the time of year and the lowing indications will give a prelim­
latitude of the birthplace. Because of inary idea of the meanings of the
this variation in the size of houses houses and the kinds of activities
(from 15° to 60° in the temperate with which each is associated:
zone), it is possible for one house to
contain portions of two or even three First House: The self. Personality,
30° signs and thus for a sign to be physical appearance, body type,
completely contained within a house mannerisms, general health and vi­
without appearing on any house tality, temperament, unconscious at­
cusp. Such a sign is said to be inter­ titudes, approach to life, the first
cepted, and its strength in the impression the native makes on peo­
chart—as well as that of any planet ple.
placed in it—is considered to be di­ Second House: Resources. Material
minished. For an explanation of the possessions, including money; tal­
operations involved in finding the ents and values; the five senses;
Ascendant, Midheaven, and other sense of self-worth.
house cusps, see chart calcula­ Third House: Communication and
tion. relationship. The early environment
The irregularity in the size of and learning experiences, brothers
houses increases as one approaches and sisters, neighbors, acquisition of
the North Pole, until in the farthest motor skills and language, educa­
northern latitudes it is impossible to tion, movement within the immedi­
erect a chart at all by most known ate environment, psychological ad­
systems of house division. This phe­ justment.
nomenon is one of the arguments Fourth House: Home and mother
most often cited by opponents of as­ (sometimes father). Emotional foun­
trology. For example, Paul Couderc, dations, parents, the unconscious,
director of the Paris Observatory, heredity, inheritance, real estate,
points out that at certain times of the conditions at the end of life, the
day on the polar circle the ecliptic grave.
coincides with the horizon, and thus Fifth House: Creative self-expres­
"the poor wretches born at these mo­ sion. Love, romance, children, art,
ments can have no horoscopes at pleasure, recreation, entertainment,
all!" theater, games, parties, gifts, gam­
Astrologers have been aware of bling, speculation.
150 humanistic astrology

Sixth House: Health and service. nesses, hospitalization, imprison­

Work, diet, short illnesses, jobs, ser­ ment, retreats, solitude, debts, pun­
vants, employees, tools, operating ishments, old karma, mourning,
expenses, overhead, maintenance, convalescence, self-sacrifice, charity,
landlords, pets, utilities, involuntary meditation, research, activities be­
labor. hind the scenes.
Seventh House: The other. One-to-
one relationships, close friends, lov­ It will have been remarked that the
ers, marriage or business partners, meanings of the twelve houses are
open enemies, other people in gen­ closely related to the meanings of the
eral, contracts, marriage, divorce, twelve signs of the zodiac from
quarrels, lawsuits. which, indeed, they have been de­
Eighth House: Crisis. Sex, birth, rived. Ptolemy used the word house
death, rebirth, reincarnation, heal­ as a synonym for sign; the term dom­
ing, the occult, other people's re­ icile for a sign where a planet is "at
sources, wills, insurance, taxes, un­ home" is a vestige of this old con­
earned money, recycling, losses, nection.
renunciation, letting go. In a birth chart, the nature of the
Ninth House: Higher education. activities and experiences repre­
Travel, the professions (especially re­ sented by the twelve houses are in­
ligion, philosophy, science, and law), dicated by the condition of the
graduate school, the search for planets that occupy them. An empty
meaning, wisdom, the spiritual path, house does not, however, indicate a
one's Weltanschauung, or view of the lack of experiences in the matters of
universe. that house. In the absence of planets
Tenth House: Honors. Profession, in a house, the nature of its activities
career, fame, success, public image, is indicated by the sign on the cusp
ambition, reputation, social position, and the condition of the planet that
the father (sometimes mother), au­ rules that sign (see rulership). Brief
thority figures, employers; the sign suggestions as to the meaning of the
on the cusp of the Tenth House in­ planets in the twelve houses will be
dicates the qualities the native as­ found under the entries for the
pires to and for which he or she will planets.
be remembered.
Eleventh House: Friends and fu­ Humanistic Astrology: An approach
ture. Hopes, wishes, plans, ideals, to astrology developed primarily by
groups, professional contacts, clubs, Dane Rudhyar. Humanistic astrol­
organizations, political parties, trade ogy represents a reaction to the em­
or labor unions, communes. phasis on prediction of specific
Twelfth House: Limitation; once events that characterizes both tradi­
called the house of "self-undoing,'' tional astrology, with its tendency to
the "hell of the zodiac," and the degenerate into fortune-telling, and
"house of the evil demon" (Ptolemy). the modern scientific or statistical
Hidden enemies, long or chronic ill­ school. Whereas both of these ap-
 hyleg 151

proaches are event-oriented, human­ whose relative proportions deter­

istic astrology is person-oriented. mined the health and temperament
Rudhyar used the word humanistic of an individual. The theory of the
not in the sense used to describe the humors, known also as humoralism,
neoclassical philosophy of the Ren­ was the application to medicine of
aissance, which was rationalistic and the theory of the four elements. Ac­
even atheistic, but in the sense of cording to Galen, all diseases were
Abraham Maslow, founder of the hu­ the result of an imbalance of the hu­
manistic school of modern psychol­ mors in the human organism. This
ogy. Humanistic astrology reflects theory was accepted by most phys­
the influence of depth psychology, iologists until the late seventeenth
especially the work of Jung, and of century.
holistic philosophy. The original sub­ In astrology the theory of the hu­
title of Rudhyar's best-known work, mors has been used since Ptolemy
The Astrology of Personality (1936), is to delineate temperament in a birth
A Reformulation of Astrological Concepts chart. Yellow bile corresponds to fire
and Ideals in Terms of Contemporary (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius), black bile to
Psychology and Philosophy. Humanis­ earth (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn),
tic astrologers, like the members of blood to air (Gemini, Libra, Aquar­
the French symbolist school, see as­ ius), and phlegm to water (Cancer,
trology primarily as a symbolic lan­ Scorpio, Pisces). (See medical as­
guage that can serve as a guide to the trology.)
integration of personality. The birth
chart is regarded as a representation Hyleg (from the Persian haylaj, the
of an individual's total potential, in material body): An Arabic term for
which no planet or aspect is "good” the significator of longevity in a hor­
or "bad," but each element is part of oscope, also known as the apheta
an organic whole. Emphasis is less (from the Greek aphetes, one who
on isolated events than on phases of starts an engine), the giver of life or
developmental cycles; destiny is a the prorogator (from the Latin proro-
process of self-realization. gare, to prolong). All three terms
have fallen into disuse, partly be­
Humors: In old physiology, the four cause the rules for determining hy-
fluids—blood, phlegm, choler (yel­ legiacal, or aphetic, places were ex­
low bile), and melancholy (black tremely complex, and partly because
bile)—present in the human body, the prognostication of death is now
considered unethical.
IC: See Imum Coeli. India, Astrology in: Although there
is little evidence that Hindu astrology
Imum Coeli (Latin for “bottom of the predated the invasion of Alexander
sky"; usually abbreviated IC): In a the Great in 327 B.C., there is a long­
horoscope, the point at which the standing tradition that it is thousands
lower meridian intersects the eclip­ of years old. Nonetheless, it was not
tic; the position of the Sun at local until the sixth century A.D. that the
apparent midnight (see time). The principles of Hindu astrology, by
Imum Coeli is always directly oppo­ then heavily influenced by Chaldean
site the Midheaven and forms the and Greek concepts, were outlined
northern angle (southern angle for in the Brihat Jataka of Vahara Mihara.
birthplaces in the Southern Hemi­ For centuries Indian astrologers
sphere) and, in most systems of made no distinction between astrol­
house division, the cusp of the ogy and magic. But after the Turks
Fourth House. It should not be con­ invaded the Punjab in the tenth cen­
fused with the nadir, or lowest point tury, Arab travelers reformed Indian
below the horizon, which is opposite astrology and purged it of charlatan­
the zenith. (See cosmography.) ism. Their teaching is the basis for
In chart interpretation, the Imum astrology as it is practiced from the
Coeli represents the ground of the Indus River to Ceylon.
native's being: family background, The ancient Indians adopted the
parents, unconscious, private self. A luni-solar calendar, which is still
planet on the IC represents qualities used today by the Catholic church to
not conspicuous on the surface that determine the dates of such movable
are nevertheless a profound part of feasts as Easter and Pentecost (see
the native's psyche and may even­ lunar year). The year had approxi­
tually find expression in his or her mately twelve lunations and con­
work. sisted of 354 days, so that it was nec­
essary to add a thirteenth lunation
Inceptional Figure: See electional from time to time to make the cal­
FIGURE. endar agree with the Earth's period
of revolution around the Sun. In the
Inconjunct: See quincunx. beginning, astrologers divided the
 India, astrology in 153

shatra, so the latter were subdivided

into four pada (quarters), nine of
which were assigned to each rasi.
Thus the rasi of Mesha (Aries) con­
tains the four pada of the nakshatra of
Aswini, the four pada of Bharani, and
one of Krithika. The three remaining
pada of Krithika are assigned to the
second sign of the Indian zodiac,
Vrishabha (Taurus), along with the
four pada of Rohini and two of Mri-
gasira. It is on this new zodiac—
somewhat more complex, perhaps,
but also more precise than the old
Observatory at Delhi. (Photo by Lauros.) one—that modern Indian astrology
luni-solar year into twenty-eight pe­ is based.
riods, or lunar mansions, called nak- The essential characteristic that
shatras, as many as there are days in distinguishes Indian astrology from
a lunation cycle: This was the first Western astrology is that it is not
zodiac used in India. However, this tropical—that is, its zodiac is not
zodiac did not correspond exactly aligned with the seasons. Another
enough to the motions of the planets, great difference is its preoccupation
and over the centuries the number of with reincarnation and karma ac­
nakshatras was reduced to twenty­ cumulated over many lifetimes, a
seven. The discarded nakshatra, feature that had a profound impact
Abhijit, continued to be used in hor­ on Western esoteric astrology in
ary astrology. the early twentieth century. Hindu
Later, a new solar zodiac of twelve astrologers are concerned with the
constellations, or rasi, like our West­ steps necessary for the attainment of
ern sidereal zodiac, made its ap­ wisdom or the emancipation from
pearance: Mesha (Aries), Vrishabha karma (mookshu).
(Taurus), Mithuna (Gemini), Kataka A planet's importance in a horo­
(Cancer), Simha (Leo), Kanya (Virgo), scope is evaluated according to a sys­
Thula (Libra), Vrischika (Scorpio), tem known as the shad bala (“six
Dhanus (Sagittarius), Makara (Capri­ strengths"), which takes into account
corn), Kumbha (Aquarius), and many more than six factors, includ­
Meena (Pisces.). The difference in ing the planet's sign position, direc­
celestial longitude between the tion, speed, exaltation, declination,
Indian sidereal constellation and its brightness, and position in relation
corresponding Western tropical sign to the Moon, as well as its position
is called the ayanamsa. in subdivisions of signs known as
Since twenty-seven is not divisible shodasavargas, which are directly re­
by twelve, there was no exact corre­ lated to harmonics. Indian astrolo­
spondence between a rasi and a nak­ gers concern themselves with plane-
154 indirect midpoint

tary periods of life (dasas, subdivided ding because of the opposition of the
into bhuktis) whose order is not fixed, court astrologers, which demon­
but varies for each individual accord­ strates the extraordinary vitality of
ing to the position of the Moon at Indian astrology.
birth. Indian astrologers tend to spell Indian astrology still awaits a real
out their interpretations in great de­ analysis and exploration by Western
tail, including precise predictions of astrologers. Its traditions preserve
longevity (ayurdaya), a practice that much that is lost in Western astrol­
is considered unethical by most mod­ ogy. Most remarkably, harmonic
ern Western astrologers. concepts (see harmonics) are an in­
As in the West, it would perhaps tegral part of the Hindu method.
be more accurate to speak of astrol­ Thus the navamsa chart, used by all
ogies; for although the broad outlines Indian astrologers, is identical to the
are the same, there are various independently postulated ninth-har­
schools of astrology that disagree on monic chart. (See nadi astrology.)
minor matters. Generally speaking,
these schools correspond to the prin­ Indirect Midpoint: See midpoint.
cipal religions of India. Members of
Inferior Conjunction: A conjunc­
certain sects, especially those de­
tion of the Sun and an inferior
voted to the worship of Shiva, are
planet (Mercury or Venus) in which
more inclined to practice astrology
the planet is between the Earth and
than are members of the sects de­
the Sun; as distinguished from a su­
voted to the worship of Vishnu.
Shiva is one of the two great divini­ perior conjunction, in which the planet
ties of Hinduism and is identified is on the opposite side of the Sun
with Death and with Time, regarded from the Earth. (See elongation.)
as the destroyer of the present. The Inferior Planet: A planet whose orbit
identification is not macabre; Shiva lies inside the Earth's orbit; the infe­
also presides over sexual activity and rior planets are Mercury and Venus.
procreation, since each generation
causes the destruction of the one that Infortunes, the (also called the Two
went before. But whatever their sect, Infortunes or the Malefics): In clas­
Indians accord great importance to sical astrology, Mars and Saturn,
astrology and never make an impor­ known as the Lesser Infortune and the
tant decision without consulting their Greater Infortune, respectively. Both
horoscopes. Until the old maharajas were believed to have harmful ef­
were banished following World War fects, especially if angular and af­
II, they had their official astrologers flicting the luminaries. Modern as­
to back up their decisions. In the trologers tend to regard them as
kingdoms of the north, such as Nepal energies that can be used either cre­
or Sikkim, these posts still exist, in atively or destructively, depending
spite of the advance of rationalism. on the individual's degree of self-
In 1963 in Sikkim, the crown prince awareness and self-control. (See
had to postpone the date of his wed­ MALEFIC.)
 Islam, astrology in 155

Ingress: The entrance of the Sun, the although they did practice magic. It
Moon, or a planet into a sign of the was the Chaldean merchants who in­
zodiac. Many ephemerides give the troduced astrology to these regions.
exact time of the ingresses, and some Later, Arab astrologers adopted the
give the positions of the planets at Greek astrology of Ptolemy and con­
the time of the twelve solar ingresses. tinued to practice it after Muham­
Times for lunar ingresses are given mad, since its underlying Neoplato­
on the sample page from an ephem­ nism did not seem contradictory to
eris, page 48. The configuration of the teachings of the Qur'an. They
the heavens at the time of solar in­ soon became proficient, and it was
gresses, especially the Aries ingress, through the two great expansions of
is of particular importance in mun­ Islam (632-732 and 1326-1687) that
dane ASTROLOGY. the astrology of the ancients was car­
ried to Spain through North Africa
Initiating Signs: See cardinal. and to the Balkans by way of Turkey.
The Arabs saw astrology as part of
Intercepted: A term used to describe a larger whole—not merely as a tool
a sign of the zodiac that is wholly for predicting events, but as a key for
contained in one of the houses of a understanding life by contemplating
birth chart, without appearing on the marriage of Heaven and Earth,
any house cusp. When a sign is in­ for everything in one had its coun­
tercepted, the sign opposite it on the terpart in the other. Each planet was
zodiac will be intercepted as well. In seen as a spiritual channel and had
Margaret Mead's chart (see page a symbolic role that incorporated ele­
61), Pisces is intercepted in the Sec­ ments of the Bible and the Qur'an:
ond House and Virgo in the Eighth Saturn was associated with Ibrahim
House. In chart interpretation, the (Abraham), Jupiter with Musa
influence of an intercepted sign is re­ (Moses), Mars with Harun (Aaron),
garded as less conspicuous and Venus with Yusuf (Joseph), and
slower to manifest than that of a sign Mercury with Isa (Jesus).
that does occupy a house cusp. The Arabs are famous for devlop-
In most systems of house divi­ ing the ancient theory of ''Parts''
sion, the frequency of interception is
(possibly borrowed from the He­
directly proportional to the distance brews); these are mathematical com­
of the birthplace from the Equator. binations of three positions in a birth
(See houses.) chart. For example, the Part of For­
tune is found by adding the longi­
Interpretation: See chart interpre­
tude of the Ascendant to the longi­
tation; delineation; synthesis.
tude of the Moon and then sub­
Inverse Midpoint: See midpoint. tracting the longitude of the Sun. The
Arab's use of parts is one of the ear­
Islam, Astrology in: The first tribes liest attempts to view the chart as a
to inhabit the Arabian peninsula whole and anticipates the modern
seem not to have known astrology, technique of synthesis.
156 Islam, astrology in

name of Aby Ali Yakub ibn al-Kayer)

specialized in genethliacal astrology.
Rhazes (Latinized name of al-Razi,
late tenth century), later known as
the Paracelsus of the Arabs, practiced
an early form of medical astrology.
Albohazen Haly (Latinized name of
Ibn Aby Ridschal, eleventh century),
known in the West as Summus As-
trologicus (the greatest astrologer),
wrote a treatise in eight volumes that
may be regarded as a compendium
of the astrological knowledge of Is­
lam. Al-Biruni (Abu al-Rayhan Mu­
hammad ibn Ahmad al-Biruni, 973-
1048) wrote the Elements of Astrology,
which was the standard astrological
text for centuries; to him modem as­
trology owes such concepts as the
Moon's signifying the feminine prin­
Arab astrologers calculating an angle. (Macro- ciple and the collective memory.
bius, In Somnium Scipionis, Venice, 1513.) Like the Hindus and Chinese, the
Arabs conceived of twenty-eight lu­
In the golden age of Islam (ninth, nar mansions, which they called
tenth, and eleventh centuries) there manzils. Each manzil represented 1
were great advances in astrology and day in the Moon's cycle and was as­
in astronomy, which latter was then sociated with both a meteorological
considered as a means of refining as­ and a magical influence. For exam­
trological measurement. The Arabs ple, the manzil beginning with the
invented the astrolabe, possibly as star Aldebaran was auspicious for
an aid for determining the direction marriage or travel when transited by
of Mecca for noontime prayers. Al- the Moon, was associated with dry
Munsur established a library and ob­ weather, and was used in magical in­
servatory in Baghdad. Albumazar cantations to wreak revenge and
(805-86) originated the theory of promulgate ill will.
cycles and is said to have predicted Arab astrology is unique in the
the French Revolution. Thabit ibn way it combines the interpretation of
Qarra (d. 901) wrote a treatise on the a chart with divinatory practices such
art of making astrological talismans as geomancy and in the importance
and amulets. Albohali (Latinized it accords to pentacles and talismans.
Jayne, Charles (October 9, 1911, the ecliptic and the equatorial sys­
10:39:12 P.M. EST, Jenkintown, tems of CELESTIAL COORDINATES, and
Pa.-): American astrologer, author, has helped to make modem astrolo­
and teacher. Jayne came to astrology gers more conscious of declination
in 1931, at the age of twenty. He pub­ (see his Parallels, Their Hidden Mean­
lished his first article in 1940 and be­ ing, 1978) and celestial latitude
gan practicing in 1949. He contrib­ (see his A New Dimension in Astrology,
uted substantially to Nicholas de 1975). His work on eclipses, which
Vore's Encyclopedia of Astrology (1947), he views as conjunctions or opposi­
now a classic. He was president of tions in latitude as well as longitude,
the Astrologers Guild of America is typical of the three-dimensional
from 1958 to 1960. In 1958 he approach that led him to the discov­
founded Astrological Research As­ ery—independently of the late L. E.
sociates, which, under the editorship Johndro—of the Vertex (see
of himself and his wife, Vivia Jayne, eclipse).
published In Search (1958-62), the Much of Jayne's early work was
first international journal of astrol­ devoted to the study of long-term
ogy. In 1970 he founded the Associ­
ation for Research in Cosmecology,
a private organization made up of
astrologers and academics in many
fields and devoted to the reintegra­
tion of astrology and science. Since
1975 the Jaynes have published Cos­
mecology Bulletin, a biannual journal
that focuses on scientific inquiry into
astrology. In 1979 Jayne received the
annual Johndro Award for his con­
tributions to the technical side of as­
trology.
Jayne has emphasized the impor­
tance of the third dimension in both Charles Jayne.
158 jewels

planetary cycles (see cycle). He Jewels: See birthstones.

found that the major recurrence
cycles of the five outermost planets Johndro, L. Edward (January 30,
corresponded to half a dozen major 1882, 12:53 A.M. EST, 80W22 and
cycles discovered by such historians 44N58-November 1951): American
and sociologists as Arnold Toynbee, astrologer, mathematician, and radio
Oswald Spengler, Karl Lamprecht, engineer. Between 1936 and 1951
Dr. J. S. Lee, and others. For exam­ Johndro acted as silent partner to
ple, the 794-year Jupiter-Saturn cycle W. Kenneth Brown, another astrol­
corresponds to Toynbee's and Lee's oger whom he never actually met.
cycle of the breakdown and reinte­ The two men carried on a highly paid
gration of civilizations; the 1,089-year consulting service that advised
Saturn-Uranus cycle to Lee's cycle in prominent businessmen about their
the shifts of China's capital; the 248- investments. Johndro and Brown
year Pluto cycle to Lamprecht's and used both natal and conception
Spengler's cycle of phase changes in charts in their professional work (see
collective consciousness; and a 600- CONCEPTION CHART).
year compound cycle involving Sun, Johndro was codiscoverer, with
Moon, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Ura­ the author of this article, of the Ver­
nus, and Neptune to Toynbee's cycle tex, which he called the Electrical As­
of migration. cendant. This was not just a fanciful
Jayne's most innovative work has name, as Johndro had an electrody­
been the discovery of prenatal and namic field theory that he advanced
postnatal epochs and the laws gov­ as the scientific basis for astrology. In
erning their charts, which he arrived his The Stars, How and Where They In­
at through long experience in the fluence (1929), he uses this field the­
techniques of rectification. A critic ory and very narrow orbs to relate
of most so-called esoteric astrol­ stellar influence to various terrestrial
ogy, Jayne believes that these charts, latitudes. Oddly enough, the so-
which are correlated to cosmic cen­ called siderealists have paid no atten­
ters beyond our planetary system, tion to this work. In his A Hew Con­
form the basis for a genuine arcane ception of Sign Rulerships, he presents
astrology (see his Preface to Prenatal a radically different theory of rul­
Charts, 1975). ership that in spite of its merits has
Other publications include The been generally ignored. He is best
Technique of Rectification (1970), Pro­ known for The Earth in the Heavens
gressions and Directions (1972), and (1929), in which he presents his sys­
The Unknown Planets (1976). Vivia tem of projecting the zodiac on the
Jayne is a practicing astrologer and Earth via a moving baseline (see lo­
author of Aspects to Horoscope Angles cational astrology). In 1950 John­
(1975). (See Chiron, conception dro rejected his moving baseline in
CHART, LOCATIONAL ASTROLOGY, PRO­ favor of a fixed one that equated the
GRESSION AND DIRECTION.) Greenwich Meridian to 0° Aries; yet
 Jones, Marc Edmund 159

many astrologers continue to use his

earlier baseline. Johndro's system is
the basis of the birthday locality chart,
whose angles may be used for timing
events even when the birthtime is
unknown.
Johndro also developed an unpub­
lished method of locality shifting in
which natal bodies are shifted to any
other locality via equator, prime ver­
tical, and horizon and then brought
back to the ecliptic, where they can
be aspected to natal positions. After
extensive testing, the author has
found this method—which, again, is
largely unaffected by inaccurate Marc Edmund Jones.
birthtimes—to be the most important teacher, and author. One of the few
contribution ever made to locality as­ real scholars to devote themselves to
trology. astrology in the twentieth century,
Johndro's last published articles, Jones was a major influence in raising
on his revised baseline for locality the standards of astrology in the
charts and the Vertex, appeared in United States. Like Dane Rudhyar,
1950 and 1951 in Margaret Morrell's he was a man of talent and educa­
Modem Astrology. But much of his tion; in a long and distinguished ca­
later work, including his brilliant reer, he served in such varied capac­
work on stocks and commodities, ities as motion picture scenarist,
was never published. Shy, reclusive, editorial consultant, and Protestant
and sometimes uncommunicative, minister.
Johndro was nevertheless a powerful Jones came to astrology in 1913. In
force in modem astrology and is now 1923 he founded the Sabian Assem­
generally regarded as the greatest bly, an association devoted to re­
technical astrologer of the United search and instruction in occult psy­
States. In 1978 the annual Johndro chology and philosophy. He taught
Award for outstanding achievement widely, both in his classes and
in technical astrology was created by through his numerous books on as­
the Association for Research in Cos- trology and other occult subjects.
mecology in his honor. Like England's Alan Leo, Jones was
—Charles Jayne an indefatigable lecturer.
Jones is best known for his unique
Jones, Marc Edmund (October 1, approach to horoscope interpreta­
1888, 8:37 A.M., St. Louis, Mo.- tion, which laid primary emphasis on
March 5, 1980, 2 A.M., Stanwood, the chart as a whole rather than on
Wash.): American astrologer, the delineation of its separate pieces.
160 judicial astrology

His “piano key" technique for rep­ Judicial Astrology: Traditionally, the
resenting the planets (see his How to branch of astrology that judged the
Learn Astrology, 1941) is particularly motions of the planets as they related
useful to beginners, who are apt to to world events, war and peace, and
be so overwhelmed by the many fac­ the fate of nations. Judicial astrology
tors to be considered in a chart that is now known as mundane astrol­
they cannot see the forest for the ogy.
trees. In his Guide to Horoscope Inter­
pretation (1941), Jones classifies hor­ Jung, Carl Gustav (July 26, 1875, 7:32
oscopes into seven different types— P.M., Kesswil, Basel, Switzerland-
splash, bundle, locomotive, bowl, bucket, June 6, 1961, Kiisnacht, Zurich):
seesaw, and splay—which have be­ Swiss psychologist and psychiatrist,
come part of the working vocabulary founder of analytic psychology. After
of many American astrologers. A studying medicine, Jung turned to
major advantage of such techniques psychiatry. A convert to psychoanal­
is that they may be used in the ab­ ysis in 1907, he became the disciple
sence of an exact birthtime; for Jones and friend of Freud, but after a col­
appears to have realized that few laboration of several years he broke
birthtimes are really accurate. with Freud and founded his own
Marc Edmund Jones was the best school. Jung developed the idea of
teacher of astrology this country ever the collective unconscious, a reser­
produced. His understanding of as­ voir of racial memories, dreams, and
trology was combined with a pro­ myths functionally potential within
found intellectual grasp of occult phi­ each individual, and peopled with
losophy and deepened by many images called archetypes. The search
decades of experience as a consultant for these archetypes led him to an
astrologer—a vital offset to his theo­ original meditation on aesthetics, pri­
retical tendencies. There is no doubt mitive and oriental religions, al­
that he was easier to listen to than to chemy, and astrology.
read, but anyone who really studies Jung had considerable respect for
his work will become a better astrol­ astrology, which he said was "knock­
oger. Astrologers tend to be a fuzzy ing at the doors of the universities
lot, but those who follow his meth­ from which it was banished three
ods have been compelled to bring hundred years ago." He cast horo­
discipline into their thinking. Fortu­ scopes of his patients and used them
nately, he is survived by many fine to help diagnose their problems. He
teachers who are carrying on his made a statistical study of the rela­
methods. In 1976 the annual Marc tionships between the horoscopes of
Edmund Jones Award for outstand­ marriage partners, which he de­
ing achievement in technical astrol­ scribes in Synchronicity: An Acausal
ogy was created by Astrology Serv­ Connecting Principle (1955). Synchron­
ices International in his honor. icity was a theory Jung developed in
—Charles Jayne the 1940s according to which certain
 Jupiter 161

grating astrology with depth

psychology. Jung's daughter, Frau
Gret Baumann-Jung, is also a psy­
chologist. Astrology is completely in­
tegrated into her work, both in coun­
seling and in the training of Jungian
analyists. (See humanistic astrol­
ogy.)

Juno (glyph $ ): The fourth largest

of the asteroids, discovered in 1804.
Both Zipporah Dobyns and Eleanor
Bach associate it with marriage, and
the problem of equality between the
sexes.

Carl Gustav Jung. (The Bettman Archive.)

Jupiter (glyph 1(): The largest planet
in our solar system, with a mean di­
categories of events are connected by ameter of 87,000 miles and a brilli­
meaning rather than by causality. At ance second only to that of Venus.
times he used the principle of syn­ Its mean distance from the Sun is
chronicity to explain astrology; at 483.3 million miles, and its sidereal
other times his theoretical approach period is 11.86 tropical years. It has
came closer to an acceptance of pla­ four large satellites, which were dis­
netary influence. covered by Galileo in 1610, the first
In an interview in 1954 he said, celestial objects to be seen with a tel­
“There are many analogies which can escope. In addition there are nine
be made between the horosocope known smaller moons.
and the character disposition. There In astrology, Jupiter is traditionally
is even the possibility of certain pre­ known as the Greater Fortune, the
dictive powers .... The horoscope Lesser Fortune being Venus; thus its
seems to correspond to psychic nature was regarded as benefic. The
archetypes." And in Modern Man in planet was named after the ancient
Search of a Soul he wrote, "We are Italian god of the heavens who cor­
born at a given moment, in a given responded to the Greek Zeus and
place, and we have, like the best who also became the official guardian
wines, the quality of the year and the of the Roman state and of law itself.
season which witness our birth. As­ Jupiter rules the sign of Sagittarius
trology claims no more than this." and is traditional ruler of the sign of
Jung's ideas have had a profound Pisces, which most modern astrolo­
impact on modern astrology, espe­ gers now assign to Neptune (see rul­
cially the humanistic approach to as­ ership). Thus it is in detriment in
trology, which is interested in inte­ the opposite, Mercury-ruled signs of
162 Jupiter

Gemini and Virgo. Jupiter is exalted family, sensitivity, generosity, ideal­

in Cancer (see exaltation) and in ism, self-righteousness.
fall in Capricorn. Jupiter in Leo: leadership, nobility,
In chart interpretation, Jupiter love of pleasure, taste for display,
stands for growth and expansion on pride.
every level, from material wealth Jupiter in Virgo: judgment, discrim­
through humanitarian feelings and ination, critical faculty, love of detail,
breadth of outlook to spiritual evo­ perfectionism, overwork.
lution and wisdom. Its qualities are Jupiter in Libra: tact, sociability,
optimism, faith, good fortune, gen­ sense of fair play, altruism, aesthetic
erosity, geniality, joviality, humor, sense.
idealism, judgment, benevolence, Jupiter in Scorpio: resourcefulness,
philanthropy, sociability, respectabil­ penetrating insight, sense of irony.
ity. It rules higher education, espe­ Jupiter in Sagittarius: desire for
cially religion, philosophy, and law. knowledge and travel, spirituality,
When afflicted, Jupiter is associated self-confidence, sense of humor,
with overconfidence, overindul­ generosity, self-righteousness.
gence, and extravagance. Jupiter in Capricorn: ambition, con­
The following delineations are of­ servatism, respect for established in­
fered to show some of the ways Ju­ stitutions, law and order.
piter may operate in the signs and Jupiter in Aquarius: humanitarian­
houses. It should be remembered ism, philanthropy, sociability, social­
that they are merely suggestions and ism, publishing.
that their accuracy in any given case Jupiter in Pisces: sympathy, social
depends on the overall strength and consciousness, spirituality, univer­
condition of Jupiter in relation to the sality, self-sacrifice.
chart as a whole, especially the as­
pects it forms with other planets and
important points. JUPITER IN THE HOUSES
Jupiter in the First House: self-con­
JUPITER IN THE SIGNS fidence, optimism, generosity, ex­
pansiveness, opportunities, over­
Jupiter in Aries: enthusiasm, inde­ weight.
pendence, self-confidence, impul­ Jupiter in the Second House: talent for
siveness, arrogance, prodigality. handling money, prosperity, finan­
Jupiter in Taurus: sensuality, under­ cial success.
standing of business and finance, Jupiter in the Third House: good ed­
conservatism, materialism, overin­ ucation, love of study, sociability, in­
dulgence. terest in communication.
Jupiter in Gemini: intellectual and Jupiter in the Fourth House: domes­
literary ability, loquacity, universal ticity, chance of inheritance, happy
curiosity, versatility, faith in reason. old age.
Jupiter in Cancer: strong sense of Jupiter in the Fifth House: urge to
 Juvenal 163

create, love of pleasure, many love ophy, law), love of travel, self-im­
affairs, love and understanding of provement, spiritual growth.
children. Jupiter in the Tenth House: profes­
Jupiter in the Sixth House: strong sional success, honors, comfortable
desire for service, possibility of over­ circumstances.
work, medical or charitable work. Jupiter in the Eleventh House: many
Jupiter in the Seventh House: outgo­ friends, professional contacts, high
ing personality, many relationships, ideals.
fortunate marriage. Jupiter in the Twelfth House: activity
Jupiter in the Eighth House: possibil­ behind the scenes, social work,
ity of inheritance or wealthy marriage psychic or spiritual experiences.
partner, philosophical acceptance of
death, many sexual contacts. Juvenal: See Romans, astrology
Jupiter in the Ninth House: love of AMONG THE.
learning (especially religion, philos­
Kabala (also Kabbala or Kabbalah): Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe at
See CABALA. Prague, succeeding him a year later
as court astronomer to Emperor Ru­
Karma (from the Sanskrit karman, dolf II. Kepler was an intensely reli­
deed): The concept, in Hindu and gious man with mystical and Neopla-
Buddhist philosophy, that a person's tonist ideas, and his astronomical
deeds determine his future destiny, discoveries were motivated by his
not merely within a single lifetime desire to prove the Pythagorean the­
but throughout as many lifetimes as ory of the MUSIC OF THE SPHERES.
are necessary to obtain freedom from Despite his rank as imperial as­
the "wheel" of karma; the Hindu and tronomer, Kepler lived on the edge
Buddhist principle of causality. Since of poverty, and he cast horoscopes
it refers to the ethical consequences and published astrological almanacs
of one's actions, and hence to moral predicting events for the coming year
responsibility, the concept is related in order to supplement his meager
in Western astrology to the planet income. Although he practiced as­
Saturn, sometimes called the Lord of trology all his life, in his early years
Karma. The term is used frequently this was more by financial necessity
in ESOTERIC ASTROLOGY. than personal choice. He even dis­
paraged astrology as "the foolish and
Kepler, Johann (January 6, 1571, disreputable daughter of astronomy,
Weil, Wiirttemberg, Germany-No­ without whom the wise old mother
vember 15, 1630, Regensburg, Ger­ would starve," a remark frequently
many): German astronomer, mathe­ quoted by astronomers anxious to
matician, and astrologer, regarded as underplay Kepler's allegiance to as­
the father of modern astronomy. trology. However, with time and ex­
Kepler discovered the three great perience, Kepler's attitude toward
laws of planetary motion governing astrology changed, and later in life
the elliptical orbits of the planets he wrote, "A most unfailing experi­
around the Sun, which later led to ence (as far as can be expected in
Newton's law of universal gravita­ nature) of the excitement of sublu­
tion. The son of poor peasants, in nary [that is, human] natures by the
1600 Kepler became assistant to the conjunctions and aspects of the
 Krafft, Karl 165

harmonics. In an address given at

the University of Copenhagen, he
said, "We cannot deny the influence
of the stars, without disbelieving in
the wisdom of God." (See also house
division.)

Kite: A major configuration in

which three planets are in trine,
forming a grand trine, with a fourth
planet at the midpoint of one of the
trines, forming sextiles to two of the
members of the trine and an oppo­
sition to the third. This formation is
considered highly desirable, since it
combines the sensitivity of the grand
Johannes Kepler. (The Bettman Archive.) trine, the awareness of the opposi­
planets has instructed and compelled tion, and the productivity of the sex­
my unwilling belief." He also de­ tile. A good example is the chart of
clared that "the belief in the effect of the actress Mia Farrow, in which a
the constellations derives in the first grand air trine consisting of Mercury
place from experience, which is so in Aquarius in the Tenth House, Ura­
convincing that it can be denied only nus in Gemini in the First House,
by those who have not examined it." and Neptune in Libra in the Sixth
As his initial skepticism was over­ House is energized by Venus in Aries
come by experience, Kepler became in the Twelfth House. The slightly
intrigued with astrology and wrote androgynous Arian Venus opposes
friends repeatedly of his desire to Neptune, giving an ethereal glamor,
separate the "gems from the slag." and sextiles Uranus, adding original­
He warned "certain theologians, ity and unconventionality, and Mer­
physicians, and philosophers who cury, indicating intelligence and a
rightly reject the superstitions of the gift for self-expression. With a total
astrologers, not to throw out the of three planets in the Tenth House,
baby with the bathwater.'" Like Saint Farrow has received considerable at­
Thomas Aquinas, Kepler believed tention and several important awards
that human destiny is not altogether for her performances.
determined by the stars but that
there is something in human nature Koch Birthplace System: See house
that can rise above their influence. DIVISION.
Thus his predictions were limited to
tendencies and probabilities, in Kowal, Charles: See Chiron.
which he anticipated modern astrol­
ogy. Kepler was the first to formulate Krafft, Karl: See harmonics; offi­
a general theory of aspects, and his cial astrologers; statistics and
work in that area anticipates Addey's ASTROLOGY.
Landscheidt, Theodor: See Galac­ of authority in Leo that is different
tic Center; galaxy. from the driving ambition of Capri­
corn. While Capricorn seeks to climb
Latitude: See celestial latitude; to a position of power, Leo already
TERRESTRIAL LATITUDE. possesses that power by divine right.
Like the infant who rules the house­
Law, Astrology and the: See astrol­ hold from his crib, the king sur­
ogy AND THE LAW. rounded by loyal subjects, or the art­
ist in his studio, Leo is in total control
Leo (glyph SI): The fifth sign of the of his universe.
zodiac, which the Sun transits during Although they seem self-con­
the height of summer, from about tained, Leos actually need other peo­
July 23 to about August 22. The sym­ ple to give to, and they need to feel
bol for Leo is the lion. Its polarity that their gifts are appreciated. Gen-
is positive, its element is fire (see ele­
ments), its quality is fixed (see qual­
ities), its ruling planet is the Sun (see
rulership), and its natural house
is the Fifth. Q leo
Like the Sun, which is their plan­
etary ruler, natives of this sign be­
long at the center of their world, ra­
diating the energy of fire and
exerting the magnetism of fixity.
Leos—who include not only Sun­
sign Leos, but all in whose charts the
sign is emphasized—do not need to
sally forth to assert their powerful in­
dividuality; their business is simply
to be and by their very existence to
influence the lives of those around
them. There is a natural assumption
 Leo 167

erous and noble of spirit, they are be hard to take and can cause an af­
also victims of pride, and they can fair to "burn out" before its time. On
become isolated from the love and the other hand, an evolved Leo who
support they need because they are is conscious of his or her own ego
too proud to ask for it. If in their games can be a wonderful lover: gen­
insecurity they imagine that their erous, imaginative, witty, loyal, ro­
power is of their own making, they mantic, and totally committed to giv­
can fall into the trap of tyranny and ing his or her partner the best of
take some spectacular falls. everything. Leo exhibitionism may
Hence Leo can be the most charm­ not be everyone's cup of tea, but
ing or the most obnoxious of signs, those who can respond to it will be
depending on early education and royally entertained. Although Leo
other factors in the chart. There is no rules children, it is not a particularly
use telling the Leo child, "The world fertile sign, and many Leos will pro­
does not revolve around you!" She duce no offspring, preferring to re­
knows otherwise, and parents must main the child themselves or to pro­
find ways to curb the annoying Leo duce works of art—which won't
egocentricity without nipping the compete with them for attention—in­
joyous Leo creativity in the bud. stead of children.
These children love to please and to Their most compatible signs are
perform; but if the focus is temporar­ Aries, Sagittarius, Gemini, and Li­
ily away from them, they may stage bra; Cancer, Virgo, Capricorn, and
loud dramatic scenes in order to re­ Pisces are neutral; and Taurus and
gain center stage. In dealing with the Scorpio are likely to be difficult. With
sensitive young Leo ego, the use of another Leo, there may be competi­
parental authority will probably just tion for attention and control. With
encourage resistance, but genuine Aquarius, their polar opposite on the
affection and an appeal to their "bet­ zodiac, there will be both tension and
ter nature" works wonders. For Leo attraction, the outcome depending,
is, or should be, essentially a sign of as with all combinations, on how the
joy: innocent, fun-loving, eternally two charts interact as a whole and
childlike, living in the moment, dis­ not on the compatibility of Sun
covering the infinite richness of the signs alone.
creation, the true child of God, like With their faith in their own abili­
Adam in the garden before the fall. ties, will power, and flair for attract­
In modern psychology Leo corre­ ing attention, Leos are born leaders
sponds to the pleasure principle. and almost always succeed, some­
The Leo dramatic sense and ten­ times even in the absence of any real
dency to dominate, while great assets talent or particular expenditure of ef­
on stage, can create problems in an fort on their part. Their ruling planet
intimate relationship. The need to is a star, and Leos are particularly apt
give can also be a need to control the to shine in the entertainment world,
person to whom one is giving, and the theater, the arts, the world of
the very intensity of Leo's giving can fashion, and the arena of politics. But
168 Leo, Alan

they will naturally rise to the top of

any field. Famous Sun-sign Leos in­
clude Napoleon Bonaparte, Clara
Bow, Emily Bronte, Fidel Castro,
Coco Chanel, Julia Child, Cecil B.
DeMille, Amelia Earhart, Henry
Ford, Alfred Hitchcock, Aldous Hux­
ley, Mick Jagger, Carl Jung, Bert
Lahr, Benito Mussolini, Jacqueline
Kennedy Onassis, Jean Piaget, Yves
Saint Laurent, Haile Selassie, George
Bernard Shaw, Percy Bysshe Shelley,
Andy Warhol, and Mae West. (See
birthstones; colors; days of the
week; metals.)
Alan Leo. (Photo by Alvin Langdon Coburn.)
Leo, Alan (born William Frederick
Allan; August 7, 1860, 5:49 A.M., and spiritually oriented astrology
London-August 30, 1917, 10:00 that could be used for psychological
A.M., Bude, Cornwall): Anglo-Scot­ analysis of character rather than sim­
tish astrologer, generally acknowl­ ply as a means of forecasting (its
edged to be the father of modern as­ main use until that time).
trology. Leo also wanted to educate the
At the end of the nineteenth cen­ larger public as to the value of the
tury in Britain and Europe astrology art. This he did with a series of "shill­
was still essentially an uncoordinated ing” horoscopes. Through one of
and unapproachable hodgepodge of these he met the future Bessie Leo,
unsifted tradition whose students whom he married in 1895. Over the
were scattered and isolated. A natu­ next twenty or so years he produced,
ral leader and organizer, Alan Leo either in whole or in part, some thirty
took every opportunity offered by his books, including How to Judge a Na­
work as a commercial traveler to tivity, Astrology for All, The Key to Your
meet and lecture to students around Own Nativity, The Progressed Horo­
the country. scope, and Esoteric Astrology. At the
In May 1890 Leo joined the Theo­ same time he employed specialists to
sophical Society, and in August 1890, prepare works on every aspect of the
together with F. W. Lacey, he tradition, from medical and mun­
launched the monthly Astrologer's dane astrology to weather predicting,
Magazine, which in 1895 was re­ so that these could be made accessi­
named Modem Astrology. With this ble to all. It was mainly through the
magazine he succeeded in drawing translation of this comprehensive lit­
together serious students in Britain erature and Modern Astrology that the
and from around the world, and in astrological "renaissance” spread
propagating a philosophically sound into Europe and around the world.
 locational astrology 171

stones; colors; days of the week; able (see chart comparison). The
METALS.) most usual form of locational astrol­
ogy is to set up the natal chart for the
Lights, the: See luminaries. same Universal Time (see time) but
to use the latitude and longitude of
Lilly, William (May 1, 1602, Leices­ the new locality. In the event that
tershire—June 9, 1681, London): this is some distance from the birth­
English astrologer, author of one of place, the planets will move into dif­
the first prophetic almanacs and of ferent houses. This is a simple and
Christian Astrology (1647). Lilly is best useful locality shift.
known as a practitioner of horary In addition, a number of astrolo­
astrology and for accurately pre­ gers—including Sepharial, Doane,
dicting the Great Plague of London Rudhyar, and Johndro—have
of 1665 and the Great Fire of London sought to project the zodiac on Earth.
of the following year. According to Johndro's system, de­
scribed in The Earth in the Heavens,
LMT Method: See chart calcula­ the degree on the Midheaven of a
tion. given locality at the time of the Aries
ingress changes gradually over a pe­
Local Mean Time (LMT): See chart riod of 28,174 years, which is the
calculation; time. precessional year as measured on the
celestial equator rather than on the
Local Sidereal Day: See time. ecliptic (see precession of the equi­
noxes). Thus all cities and nations
Local Sidereal Time (LST): See pass successively through all twelve
chart calculation; time. signs. At some time shortly before
the birth of Christ, the degree on the
Local Space Chart: See locational Midheaven at Greenwich had been
astrology. 0° tropical Aries, but the vernal
point had shifted gradually west­
Local Time: See time. ward so that by January 1, 1930, the
degree on the Midheaven at Green­
Locational Astrology: The use of as­ wich was l°10' Taurus. The Johndro
trological principles in choosing a birthday locality chart is made up of
suitable place to live—a place where, the native's planetary positions and
as L. E. Johndro put it, “the best the Johndro locality angles, corrected
promise of the nativity is the most to account for the amount of preces­
intensified and the detrimental qual­ sion for the day of birth. The exact
ities are the most minimized." Var­ time of birth does not enter into the
ious techniques have been used. For calculations; thus a Johndro locality
example, one can compare the chart chart can be cast for the birthplace—
of an individual with the chart of the or any other location—when the
city, county, or nation where he or birthtime is unknown.
she is considering relocating, if avail­ Alfred Witte's partner, Friedrich
172 long ascension, sign of

Sieggruen (see Uranian system), in­ acceleration for Denver, Colorado

troduced the zenith horoscope, in (105W), is 105 x 2/3 = 70 seconds,
which the planets are projected on which is added to the other factors in
the horizon in azimuth, a system the calculation.
used in Michael Erlewine's local space The reason for longitude accelera­
chart. Cyril Fagan's mundoscope is the tion is as follows: There are 360° of
projection of the planets on the prime longitude all around the Earth—180°
vertical in Campanus houses (see west and 180° east. In the 24 hours
house division). The latest tech­ of mean solar time elapsed from one
nique in locational astrology is Astro­ given GST in the ephemeris to the
cartography, a computerized system next, 24 hours 4 minutes of sidereal
developed by Jim Lewis in which time have elapsed (see time). In 24
personal planetary data are super­ hours of sidereal time all 360° of lon­
imposed on a map of the world. Such gitude have passed under any given
a map reveals geographic locations star (excluding the Sun) once and
that shift the emphasis of the natal only once. In the extra 4 minutes,
chart by placing different planets on however, 1 longitude degree has
the angles. passed under the star in question a
second time. To account for this dis­
Long Ascension, Sign of: See ascen­ crepancy, which becomes greater the
sion, LONG OR SHORT. farther one is from Greenwich, the 4
minutes (240 seconds) must be di­
Longitude: See celestial longi­ vided by the 360°, which yields 2A
tude; TERRESTRIAL LONGITUDE. second per degree.

Longitude Acceleration: In the so- Longitude Circle: See celestial

called LMT method of chart cal­ LONGITUDE.
culation, a correction to account for
the TERRESTRIAL LONGITUDE of the Long Sextile: See mundane astrol­
birthplace—that is, its position east ogy.
or west of the Greenwich Meridian
(0° longitude), which is the location Lord: An archaic term for ruling
of the daily sidereal time listed in planet. Thus Mars, for example, was
ephemerides. Longitude acceleration said to be the lord of Aries. A planet
is one of the adjustments necessary could also be the lord of a house if it
to convert the Greenwich sidereal ruled the sign on the cusp or the lord
time (GST) listed in the ephemeris to of a nativity if it ruled the sign on the
local sidereal time (LST). It amounts Ascendant. In the case of the Moon,
to 2A second of time for each degree the term lady was used. (See ruler­
of terrestrial longitude east or west of ship.)
Greenwich. The correction is added
for birthplaces with west longitude Lowell, Dr. Percival: See Pluto.
and subtracted for birthplaces with
east longitude. Thus the longitude Lower Culmination: See meridian.
 lunar year 173

Lower Meridian: See meridian. boundaries between mansions were

originally marked by certain stars;
Lucretius: See Romans, astrology according to Vivian Robson, the star
AMONG THE. Alcyone in the Pleiades, which
marked the vernal point in 2337
Luminaries: In classical astrology, B.C., was originally the beginning of
the Sun and the Moon, which were the first mansion. Modern astrolo­
also known as the two lights, thus gers who use mansions usually con­
distinguishing them from the planets sider them as equal in length—
by their property of illuminating the 12°51'25.2" of CELESTIAL LONGITUDE—
Earth. Strictly speaking, the term is and mark the beginning of the first
inaccurate, since the Sun is the only mansion at 0° sidereal Aries (which
direct source of light; the light of the is about 24° tropical Aries; see si­
Moon, like that of the planets, is re­ dereal zodiac). Since the starting
flected from the Sun. However, the point of sidereal Aries is in dispute,
greater relative importance of the extreme precision regarding the
Sun and the Moon in chart interpre­ length of a mansion is somewhat ac­
tation justifies their being set apart ademic; many astrologers round it off
from the planets, and the archaic lan­ to 13°. (See Chinese astrology; In­
guage continues to be used by mod­ dia, astrology in; Islam, astrol­
ern astrologers. ogy in.)

Lunar Ascendant: See Part of For­ Lunar Nodes: See nodes.

tune.
Lunar Return: See solar return.
Lunar Eclipse: See eclipse.
Lunar Year: A 354.367-day period of
Lunar Mansions: Divisions of the 12 lunar months that are usually
Moon's orbit, each approximately based on the synodic period of the
equivalent to the Moon's daily mo­ Moon, or 29 days 12 hours 44 min­
tion. Mansions are probably older utes 2.7 seconds. There are 34 lunar
than the signs or constellations of the years for every 33 tropical (solar)
zodiac. They were developed by the years. The most widely used lunar
Arabs, the Chinese, and the Hindus calendar in modern times is that of
into a comprehensive system of in­ the Muslims, in which the 12 lunar
terpretation in which they were used months consist alternately of 29 and
more or less like signs. Since the 30 days apiece, with an extra day
Moon takes 27.32166 days to com­ added to one of the months during
plete its orbit (the sidereal month), lunar leap years. In one 30-year lunar
there are either twenty-seven or cycle there are 19 lunar common
twenty-eight lunar mansions. All years of 354 days each and 11 lunar
three cultures originally employed leap years of 355 days each. Many
twenty-eight mansions, but the Hin­ cultures, including the Hindus, He­
dus eventually dropped one. The brews, and Chinese, adopted a soli-
174 lunation

lunar year, with 12 months based on house. For example, a lunation in the
the Moon's synodic cycle and 1 extra, Seventh House could indicate a new
intercalary month making up the dif­ relationship; a lunation in the Sixth
ference. House, a new job, and so on. The
significance of the soli-lunar relation­
Lunation: The period of time, aver­ ship as a guide to personality in the
aging 29 days 12 hours 44 minutes interpretation of birth charts is ana­
and 2.7 seconds, between two suc­ lyzed extensively by Dane Rudhyar
cessive New Moons; the synodic in The Lunation Cycle. Lunations are
month. The term is also popularly also of particular importance in
used by astrologers as a synonym for MUNDANE ASTROLOGY. (See CYCLE;
the New Moon—that is, the exact eclipse; Moon.)
moment of the Moon's conjunction
with the Sun.
Since the New Moon represents Lunation Cycle: See lunation;
the beginning of a new cycle, a lun­ Moon.
ation in a certain house of a birth
chart will mark the beginning of a Luther, Martin: See Renaissance,
cycle involving the activities of that ASTROLOGY IN THE.
Macrocosm (from the Greek makros, Modern astrologers are moving away
great, and kosmos, world): The uni­ from the categorization of planets
verse; as distinguished from the mi­ and aspects as good or bad and the
crocosm, or the human being as a outmoded determinism this implies.
miniature of the universe. (See Her­ They tend to regard the planets as
metic theory.) energies that can operate for either
good or ill, depending on how they
Major Aspect: See aspect. are used. Thus Mars is a principle of
desire, and Saturn is a principle of
Major Configuration: In a birth discipline, both of which are neces­
chart, a symmetrical pattern of three sary elements in human nature. Sim­
or more planets in mutual aspect that ilarly, in referring to aspects, the
provides a focus for the energies in words benefic and malefic and being
the chart and responds as a unit replaced with such terms as helpful
when activated by transit. Major con­ and stressful, or soft and hard.
figurations include the T-square, the
GRAND CROSS, the GRAND TRINE, the Manetho: See Egypt, astrology in.
KITE, the MYSTIC RECTANGLE, the
double quincunx, and the double Map: See birth chart.
BIQUINTILE. (See ASPECT.)
Mars (glyph <? or 5): The planet in
Major Progression: See progression our solar system that is fourth in or­
AND DIRECTION. der from the Sun—mean distance
about 141.5 million miles—and con­
Malefic: Literally, "doing ill"; a term spicuous for the red color of its light.
applied by ancient and classical as­ Mars has a diameter of about 4,200
trologers to planets or aspects re­ miles, a sidereal period of 687 days,
garded as having an evil influence; and two small satellites, Deimos and
the opposite of benefic. Ptolemy Phobos.
classifies Mars and Saturn as malefic In astrology, Mars was tradition­
planets and the square and the op­ ally known as the "Lesser Infor­
position as inharmonious aspects. tune," the "Greater Infortune" being
176 Mars

Saturn; thus its nature was regarded Mars in Taurus: sensuality, appe­
as malefic. The planet was named tite, acquisitiveness, perseverence,
after the Roman god of war, coun­ stamina.
terpart of the Greek Ares. Mars in Gemini: insatiable curiosity,
Mars rules the sign of Aries and is passion for reading, sexual promis­
traditional ruler of the sign of Scor­ cuity, diffusion of energy, loquacity,
pio, which most modern astrologers literary ability.
now assign to Pluto (see rulership). Mars in Cancer: imagination, intui­
Thus it is in detriment in the op­ tion, unexpressed passion, Oedipus
posite, Venus-ruled signs of Libra complex, hypersensitivity, repressed
and Taurus. Mars is exalted in Cap­ anger.
ricorn (see exaltation) and in fall Mars in Leo: leadership ability, love
in Cancer. of pleasure, dominant personality,
In chart interpretation Mars stands pride, prodigality.
for desire, or goal-directed energy, Mars in Virgo: industriousness,
which includes both sexuality and passion for detail, fault finding, anal
aggression. Its qualities are energy, eroticism, difficulty expressing an­
strength, courage, action, passion, ger, nervous energy.
competition, and the fighting spirit. Mars in Libra: passion for justice,
It rules the sex drive, the muscles, strong social conscience, sublimated
the appetite, the sense of smell, the sexuality, sociability, artistic ability.
voice, the breath, the prana or vital Mars in Scorpio: strong sexuality,
energy, as well as steel, knives, resourcefulness, good recuperative
weapons, and fire. When afflicted, powers, power drive, jealousy, se­
Mars is associated with anger, irrita­ ductiveness.
bility, impatience, haste, and acci­ Mars in Sagittarius: love of the out­
dents. doors and exercise, self-confidence,
The following delineations are of­ enthusiasm, love of travel, lusty ap­
fered to show some of the ways Mars petites, tendency to overindulge.
may operate in the signs and houses. Mars in Capricorn: drive to succeed,
It should be remembered that they ambition, sense of timing, self-con­
are merely suggestions and that their trol, executive ability, desire to build.
accuracy in any given case depends Mars in Aquarius: revolutionary
on the overall strength and condition zeal, political activism, sociability, in­
of Mars in relation to the chart as a ventiveness, offbeat sexuality.
whole, especially the aspects it forms Mars in Pisces: crusading spirit,
with other planets and important self-sacrifice, compassion, suscepti­
points. bility, dissipation of energy.

MARS IN THE SIGNS MARS IN THE HOUSES

Mars in Aries: impulsiveness, deci­ Mars in the First House: courage,
siveness, courage, physical strength, physical strength, energy, action,
energy, self-assertion. aggression.
 medical astrology 177

Mars in the Second House: ability to Masculine Signs (also called Posi­
earn money, inability to save money, tive, Diurnal, or Fortunate Signs):
energy in reserve, good health. The signs of the fire and air triplici-
Mars in the Third House: activity in ties, namely, Aries, Gemini, Leo, Li­
immediate environment, communi­ bra, Sagittarius, and Aquarius. The
cativeness, desire for education, bel­ feminine signs belong to the earth and
ligerent manner. water triplicities. (See polarity.)
Mars in the Fourth House: strong at­
tachment to home, interest in psy­ Mash'allah: See Hebrews, astrol­
chology or architecture, sexual bond ogy among the.
with mother, unconscious anger.
Mars in the Fifth House: creative en­ Matutine (or Matutinal): A term
ergy, love of pleasure, desire for chil­ used to describe a star or planet that
dren, romantic passion. rises before the Sun in the morning.
Mars in the Sixth House: love of
work, desire to serve, health prob­ Maximum Phase Angle: See heli­
lems, danger of overeating. ocentric ASTROLOGY.
Mars in the Seventh House: much
energy devoted to relationships, ac­ MC: See Midheaven.
tive partner, quarrels with partners,
Mead, Margaret: See chart inter­
possibility of lawsuits.
pretation; HELIOCENTRIC ASTROL­
Mars in the Eighth House: strong sex
OGY; progression and direction;
drive, possibility of accidents, inter­
SOLAR RETURN.
est in occult, desire for offspring.
Mars in the Ninth House: love of Mean Nodes: See nodes.
travel, continuing education, self-im­
provement, professional ambition. Mean Solar Day: See time.
Mars in the Tenth House: ambition,
vitality, career as athlete, soldier, Mean Solar Time: See time.
surgeon, butcher, and so on.
Mars in the Eleventh House: many Medical Astrology: Ever since the
friends, social or political work, quar­ birth of astrology, astrologers have
rels with friends. associated the different parts of the
Mars in the Twelfth House: activity body and the illnesses connected
behind the scenes, secret love affairs, with them with the signs of the zo­
difficulty expressing anger, possibil­ diac and their ruling planets. Hip­
ity of chronic health problems. pocrates (460-337 B.C.), the Greek
physician who is regarded as the
Marsden, Dr. Brian: See Chiron. father of medicine, insisted that his
students study astrology, saying,
Masculine Planets: According to "He who does not understand as­
Ptolemy, Sun, Mars, Jupiter, and trology is not a doctor but a fool."
Saturn; modern authorities often in­ Later, Arabian astrologers codified
clude Uranus and Pluto. these anatomical correspondences in
178 medical astrology

with an afflicted Sixth-House Moon

in Leo would be subject to problerps
not only with the heart (ruled by Leo)
but also with the circulation in gen­
eral (ruled by the opposite sign of
Aquarius). The following list of ana­
tomical correspondences suggests
sensitive areas for natives of each of
the twelve signs; that is, people in
whose charts the sign is emphasized,
whether by Sun, Moon, Ascendant,
or planet. The indications become
particularly significant if the Sixth
and/or Twelfth Houses are involved:
Aries rules the head and face,
which are sensitive areas for natives
of this sign. Arians are subject to
colds, congestion of the brain, sinu­
The correspondences between the signs of the sitis, headaches, neuralgia, cuta­
zodiac and the parts of the human body; from
Les Tris Riches Heures du Due de Berry, 1485. neous eruptions on the face, and
(Musee Conde, Chantilly; photo by Girau- problems with the eyes. They usually
don.)
have strong muscles and good mus­
a form that was accepted by most cle tone.
doctors until the seventeenth cen­ Taurus rules the neck, throat, phar­
tury. ynx, larynx, vocal cords, and thyroid
Modem astrologers continue to gland. Natives of this sign are thus
work with these correspondences, subject to sore throats, stiff necks,
which are useful not only for locating laryngitis, polyps, goiters, and can­
potential health problems in a birth cer of the throat. They are usually
chart but also for rectifying an uncer­ endowed with a strong constitution
tain time of birth. For example, let us and great stamina.
suppose that someone's Ascendant Gemini rules the hands, arms,
seems to fall on the Aries-Taurus shoulders, lungs, and upper rib cage,
cusp. If she is subject to headaches, whence the predisposition of natives
eyestrain, or congested sinuses, of this sign to arthritis, bursitis, up­
chances are she really has Aries ris­ per back pain, and intercostal pain.
ing; if she is particularly susceptible Mercury, the ruling planet, governs
to sore throats and stiff necks, the the respiratory and nervous systems,
Ascendant is more likely to be Tau­ so that these are also sensitive areas.
rus. Geminis usually have strong hands
Modem medical astrology tends to and arms, and good wind—if they
employ the principle of polarity, that don't smoke.
is, to use the signs not so much in­ Cancer rules the breasts, stomach,
dividually as in pairs. Thus someone thorax, liver, digestive system, and
 medical astrology 179

general metabolism. Since Cancer is sign are famous for their recuperative
the most sensitive of the signs, its powers. They are also those most
natives are extremely susceptible to susceptible to venereal disease.
disease, especially colds, depression, Sagittarius rules the hips, thighs,
and alcoholism. They are also gifted sciatic nerve, sacrum, and coccyx.
with amazing recuperative powers. Sagittarians must guard against
Leo rules the heart, the spinal col­ rheumatism, sciatica, fractures of the
umn, and the lower back. The Leo hips or femur, and overdoing it in
native is more susceptible than na­ general. They love outdoor exercise
tives of other signs to lower back and, like the other fire signs, have
pain, coronary disease, and heart at­ plenty of energy.
tacks and should therefore avoid Capricorn rules the knees, the
leading too sedentary an existence. joints, the connective tissue, and,
However, unless the chart is af­ through Saturn's rulership, the
flicted, he or she probably enjoys ex­ body's defenses—the skin, bones,
cellent health. hair, and nails. These people are par­
Virgo rules the abdomen and the ticularly susceptible to colds, skin
organs it contains, especially the problems, anxiety, and chronic dis­
digestive tract, the spleen, and the ease. They must learn to relax and
duodenum. Virgo natives are partic­ enjoy themselves.
ularly susceptible to intestinal and Aquarius rules the calves, ankles,
eliminatory problems, such as diar­ and the circulation of the blood.
rhea, colitis, peritonitis, and hemor­ Aquarians tend to be absentminded
rhoids. Virgo's sensitivity to impuri­ and to suffer from poor muscular co­
ties in the environment and ordination. Through the influence of
Mercury's rulership of the respira­ Uranus, they may be prone to acci­
tory and nervous systems may ac­ dents, especially those involving the
count for these natives' greater ten­ feet and ankles.
dency to be afflicted with allergies. Pisces rules the feet, the lymphatic
But their greatest enemy is worry. system, and the glands, especially
Libra rules the kidneys, adrenal the lachrymal glands. Afflictions in
glands, lumbar region, ovaries, and this sign are associated with water
skin. Afflictions in this sign, com­ retention, low vitality, and a predis­
bined with dietary overindulgence, position to melancholy, fantasy, and
may eventually lead to such diseases the abuse of drugs.
as cystitis, renal colic, kidney stone, It will have been noted that these
diabetes, and Bright's disease. Libra anatomical correspondences of the
people should drink plenty of fluids signs of the zodiac work their way
in order to promote the proper func­ down the human body from head to
tioning of the kidneys. foot. The ancient astrologers believed
Scorpio rules the reproductive sys­ that the human being is a microcosm
tem, the excretory system (especially of the universe and that the whole
the large intestine and the bladder), zodiac must therefore be contained
and psychic healing. Natives of this in our body.
180 Mercury

In addition to these anatomical cor­ cise, good nutrition, and a positive

respondences with the signs of the attitude.
zodiac, and related to them by rul­ Medium Coeli: See Midheaven.
ership, there are correspondences
with the planets. The following list Mercury (glyph 5): The smallest
of planetary significations is sugges­ known planet in our solar system
tive rather than definitive; for more (with the possible exception of the
complete information, the reader is “planetoid" Chiron) and the closest
referred to H. L. Cornell's Encyclo­ known planet to the Sun. Its diame­
paedia of Medical Astrology. ter is about 3,000 miles, its mean dis­
Sun: heart, spine, and general vi­ tance from the Sun is 36 million
tality. miles, and its sidereal period is
Moon: stomach, digestive system, about 88 days.
female organs, lymphatic system, In astrology, Mercury has tradi­
sympathetic nervous system. tionally been regarded as neutral—
Mercury: brain, central nervous that is, neither benefic nor malefic,
system, thyroid gland, five senses but changeable, faking on the quali­
(especially sight), hands. ties of the sign it is in and the planets
Venus: throat, kidneys, thymus with which it forms aspects. The
gland, sense of touch. planet was named after the Roman
Mars: muscles, head, senses of god of commerce and gain who, as
smell and taste, adrenal glands. the counterpart of the Greek
Jupiter: liver, thighs, pituitary Hermes, inherited his attributes of
gland, growth. messenger of the gods, conductor of
Saturn: skin, hair, teeth, bones (in souls to the underworld, and god of
other words, the body's defenses); eloquence.
sense of hearing; spleen. Mercury rules the signs of Gemini
Uranus: parathyroid gland, aura. and Virgo (see rulership); thus it is
Neptune: pineal gland, psychic in detriment in the opposite, Jupi­
healing. ter-ruled signs of Sagittarius and
Pluto: pancreas, metabolism, elim­ Pisces. It is exalted in Aquarius (see
ination. exaltation) and in fall in Leo.
The foregoing rulerships isolate In chart interpretation Mercury
sensitive areas of the body for certain stands for the mind, learning, lan­
signs or planets, but in no way do guage, memory, and perception. Its
they suggest that diseases of those qualities are rationality, intelligence,
areas are inevitable. The emphasis of wit, facility, cleverness, cunning,
certain signs in a birth chart indicates skill, and dexterity. Its rules thought,
predisposition only. Disease is an ab­ reason, intellect; education, reading,
normal state of affairs and will man­ writing, speech, information; com­
ifest only if planets in those signs are munication and transportation; busi­
afflicted or planetary energies are ness, commerce, selling; adaptation
misused. Even then disease can be for survival, the nervous system, and
avoided through appropriate exer­ the brain. When afflicted, Mercury is
 Mercury 181

associated with emotional coldness, Mercury in Libra: diplomatic man­

detachment, amorality, expediency, ner, understanding of law, balanced
overintellectualization, and difficulty phrases, social skills, altruistic ideas,
thinking or communicating. debating ability, mental equilibrium,
The following delineations are of­ difficulty making decisions.
fered to show some of the ways Mer­ Mercury in Scorpio: investigative
cury may operate in the signs and mind, gift for research, penetrating
houses. It should be remembered insight, interest in occult, sexual
that they are merely suggestions and awareness, sarcasm.
that their accuracy in any given case Mercury in Sagittarius: gift for gab,
depends on the overall strength and super salesman, theoretical mind,
condition of Mercury in relation to sense of humor, broadmindedness,
the chart as a whole, especially the tendency to dogmatism.
aspects it forms with other planets Mercury in Capricorn: orderly, me­
and important points. thodical mind, careful student, desire
to learn, love of science, interest in
MERCURY IN THE SIGNS grammar, good memory, business
Mercury in Aries: impulsive speech, sense, patience, tendency to depres­
spontaneous expression, quick sion.
thinking, quick study, primitive Mercury in Aquarius: independent,
mentality, sharp tongue, short mem­ inventive mind, interest in technol­
ory. ogy, insightful intelligence, original
Mercury in Taurus: good memory, expression, creative ability, perhaps
slow speech, slow learning but good genius; fixed ideas.
retention, conservative thinking, Mercury in Pisces: poetic imagina­
business sense, keen senses. tion, mathematical or musical gifts,
Mercury in Gemini: keen intelli­ impressionability, mimicry, medi-
gence, gift for languages, literary umistic tendencies, vagueness, poor
ability, nose for news, flexible mind, memory for dates or details.
high-strung nervous system, flair for
business, lack of concentration. MERCURY IN THE HOUSES
Mercury in Cancer: intuitive mind, Mercury in the First House: urge to
telepathic and psychic ability, im­ communicate, intellectual or literary
agination, empathy, perceptions ability, salesmanship, good speaker
clouded by emotional reactions. or teacher, dexterity.
Mercury in Leo: enthusiastic and Mercury in the Second House: busi­
dramatic expression, speaking and ness sense, interest in money or pos­
acting ability, teaching skill, gener­ sessions, intellectual profession, lives
osity, egocentrism, monologues. by wits.
Mercury in Virgo: logical and critical Mercury in the Third House: gift for
mind, manual dexterity, conscien­ communication, good student, writ­
tious scholarship, practical intelli­ ing or teaching ability, much moving
gence, good memory, overattention around in local environment.
to details. Mercury in the Fourth House: inter­
182 meridian

est in home, history, or politics, psy­ is the upper meridian', the half below
chological insight, intellectual family. is the lower meridian. As the Earth ro­
Mercury in the Fifth House: artistic tates, each heavenly body appears to
or dramatic ability, good communi­ rise in the east, reach its uppemjost
cation with children, speculative in­ point in the sky (that is, culminate),
vestments, intellectual pleasures. and set in the west. By definition cul­
Mercury in the Sixth House: interest mination always takes place on the
in health, self-employment, literary upper meridian. A corresponding
or intellectual profession. lower culmination occurs when an ob­
Mercury in the Seventh House: ject reaches its lowest point below
young, intellectual, or literary part­ the horizon—that is, when it crosses
ner, considerable communication the lower meridian.
with other people, business partner­ The local meridian is also perpen­
ship. dicular to the celestial equator and
Mercury in the Eighth House: con­ passes through the celestial north
sciousness of death or sex, skill in and south poles (see cosmography).
handling others' resources, interest It should be distinguished from me­
in occult. ridians of TERRESTRIAL LONGITUDE
Mercury in the Ninth House: eternal and meridians of right ascension,
student, avid traveler, evangelical both of which are also perpendicular
streak, professional status. to the celestial equator. The local me­
Mercury in the Tenth House: writer ridian—or the meridian—is the local
or businessman, need to communi­ meridian of terrestrial longitude pro­
cate with a wide audience, intellec­ jected onto the celestial sphere. It can
tual profession, financial success. be considered stationary while me­
Mercury in the Eleventh House: ridians of right ascension rise in the
young friends, intellectual friends, east, coincide with it at culmination,
political interests, gregariousness, in­ and set in the west; or—taking the
terest in future. whole-Earth viewpoint—the merid­
Mercury in the Twelfth House: inter­ ian can be considered to move as the
est in dreams and the unconscious, Earth spins from west to east, mo­
health or service profession, dealings mentarily coinciding with a right-as­
behind the scenes. cension meridian and going on to the
next right-ascension meridian. Either
Meridian (or Local Meridian; from way, the right-ascension meridian
the Latin medius, middle, and dies, (expressed in hours, minutes, and
day): 1. The great circle specific to seconds) that coincides with the local
a given locality on the Earth's surface meridian is the local sidereal time
that is perpendicular to the horizon, (see time); when expressed in de­
intersecting it at its North and South grees, minutes, and seconds, it is the
Points, and passes through the ze­ RAMC.
nith and nadir (see celestial The point where the upper merid­
sphere, cosmography). The half of ian intersects the ecliptic is the Mid­
this circle that is above the horizon heaven; the point where the lower
 Middle Ages, astrology in the 183

meridian intersects the ecliptic is the Meteorological Astrology: See as-

Imum Coeli. In quadrant systems of TROMETEOROLOGY.
house division, the meridian is one
of the two axes of the birth chart, the Microcosm (from the Greek mikros,
other being the horizon; the meridian little, and kosmos, world): A little
axis connects the cusps of the Fourth world; a miniature universe; hence,
and Tenth Houses. The term meridian man or woman. The idea that human
is sometimes improperly used to re­ beings are a microcosm, or miniature
fer to the Midheaven or even to the version of the universe around them
whole of the Tenth House. (the macrocosm), dates from the dawn
2. The local terrestrial meridian of speculative thought in Greece. It
(see TERRESTRIAL LONGITUDE). can be traced from Heraclitus and
Empedocles through Pythagoras,
Meridian Distance: The difference Plato, Aristotle, and the scholastic
between the right ascension of a philosophers, to thinkers of the Ren­
planet and that of the Midheaven aissance and modern times. It is ex­
(the RAMC; see meridian). pressed in the Hermetic axiom "as
above, so below." It is implicit in
Meridian System: See house divi­ classical astrology, which teaches
sion. that the entire zodiac is mirrored in
the human body, as well as in much
Metals: According to Hermetic the­ of modem astrology, which shares its
ory, every sign of the zodiac is tra­ underlying assumption of the fun­
ditionally associated with one or damental unity of the universe. (See
more metals, which are regarded as Hermetic theory.)
having an affinity with natives of that
sign. Although there is some disa­ Middle Ages, Astrology in the: The
greement in the case of the signs end of Roman civilization saw a de­
ruled by the modem planets, the fol­ cline in astrology. The Church offi­
lowing list of correspondences is cially condemned it: the Council of
generally accepted: Laodicea forbade priests to practice
it, and the Council of Toledo threat­
Aries iron, steel ened anyone who believed in astrol­
Taurus copper, brass, bronze ogy or divination with a curse. This
Gemini mercury position was confirmed by the coun­
Cancer silver cils of Braga, Agda, Orleans, Aux­
Leo gold erre, Narbonne, and Reims.
Virgo mercury Legislation enacted by lay author­
Libra copper ities was no less severe. Salic law,
Scorpio iron, steel, plutonium attributed to Pharamond, con­
Sagittarius tin demned astrologers along with for­
Capricorn lead tune-tellers and casters of spells.
Aquarius lead, uranium Charlemagne also passed edicts
Pisces tin, platinum against them, as did the last Carolin­
184 Middle Ages, astrology in the

gian kings. Nevertheless, astrology Middle Ages is best exemplified by

continued to flourish in Europe, two great thinkers, Saint Thomas
thanks especially to Arab philoso­ Aquinas (1225-74) and Roger Bacon
phers and to the Jewish Cabalists of (1212-94).
Spain, who maintained the tradition The great scholastic philospher
of Ptolemy. The harsh laws were and theologian acknowledged the in­
rarely applied, at least in the case of fluence of the planets upon human
astrologers, and over the years it be­ destiny, but Aquinas' attempt to rec­
came fashionable for every great lord oncile Aristotelian thought with
to have his official caster of horo­ Christianity led him to preserve the
scopes. Gerbert of Auvergne, who role of grace. Opposing a rigidly de­
became Pope Sylvester II on the eve terministic interpretation of astrology
of the year 1000, practiced astrology as inconsistent with the Christian
and other Hermetic sciences in which doctrine of free will, he argued in
he was initiated in Cordova (see Her­ Summa theologica that the stars exert
metic theory). His accession to the a direct and essential influence on
papacy coincided with a revival of men's bodies but an indirect and ac­
astrology throughout the medieval cidental influence on their souls. This
West. position would long be that of the
Among the great figures of this age many Dominicans who practiced as­
were Michael Scot (1175-1234), trology. (Many Franciscans, on the
translator of Aristotle from Arabic to other hand, more influenced by Au­
Latin and astrologer to Emperor gustine than by Aristotle, openly ad­
Frederick II; Guido Bonati (d. ca. mired the theories of Ptolemy, al­
1300), adviser to the Ghibelline con­ though Saint Augustine himself had
dottiere Guido de Montefeltro, who fiercely opposed them.)
never fought a battle without con­ Roger Bacon, the English philoso­
sulting the stars; Cecco d'Ascoli, Ital­ pher, scientist and writer whose en­
ian poet and philosopher and favor­ cyclopedic knowledge embraced the­
ite at the court of Florence before ology, mathematics, geography,
being burned for heresy in 1327; Lut- astronomy, perspective, physics, al­
bert Hautschild (1347-1417), abbot of chemy, and the experimental
Saint Bartholemew of Eeckhout and method, was convinced that the
protege of the due de Berry, whose movements of the planets influenced
celebrated Tres Riches Heures are dec­ human behavior. At least two of his
orated with astrological symbols; works, De Secretis Operibus Naturae
Jacques Coeur (1395-1456), who and De Notitia Coelestium, contain as­
practiced astrology and alchemy; and trological predictions. Bacon contrib­
Arnaud de Villeneuve (1235-1313), uted original research on mundane
an authority on the Hermetic sci­ astrology and developed the theory
ences who became rector of the Uni­ of elections, a method for determining
versity of Montpellier before running a propitious moment to begin an en­
afoul of the ecclesiastical authorities. terprise by observing the configura­
But the astrological thought of the tions of the planets. Bacon made a
 midpoint 185

distinction between two kinds of as­ heaven represents the native's aspi­
trology, one legitimate, which is lim­ rations, ideals, and public image. The
ited to studying the influence of the Midheaven-Imum Coeli axis is tra­
stars, and the other illegitimate, ditionally associated with the par­
which he associated with witchcraft ents, the Midheaven relating to the
and magic. parent who has the strongest influ­
Another astrologer, the Franciscan ence on the native's values. The sign
Giovanni di Fidanza (1221-74), who on the Midheaven, close aspects to
ranked Plato well above Aristotle, the Midheaven, and the condition of
was beatified under the name of Bon- the ruling planet of that sign all pro­
aventura, which was given to him by vide clues to possible choice of career
Saint Francis himself. A leading me­ or profession. Planets conjunct the
dieval writer and mystic, Bonaven- Midheaven are considered to be of
tura was venerated during his life­ paramount importance both for ca­
time and canonized after his death. reer and for personality, a theory
Henceforth the legitimacy of astrol­ which has been borne out by the sta­
ogy was no longer in question, even tistical work of Michel and Fran^oise
though the condemnations of the Gauquelin. Transits to the Mid­
early Church councils were never re­ heaven are associated with promo­
pealed. tions, honors, changes of job,
changes of residence, and other pub­
Midheaven (also Medium Coeli, lic events in the life of the native.
Latin for “middle of the sky”; often
abbreviated MC): In a horoscope, the Midheaven House System: See
point at which the upper meridian HOUSE DIVISION.
intersects the ecliptic; the position
of the Sun at local apparent noon (see Midpoint (also called Half Sum): In
time). The Midheaven is always di­ modem astrology, a point on the zo­
rectly opposite the Imum Coeli diac located halfway between two
(“bottom of the sky”) and forms the primary points, such as planets or an­
southern angle (northern angle for gles, and obtained by finding the av­
birthplaces in the Southern Hemi­ erage of their celestial longitudes,
sphere) and, in most systems of that is, the sum of their longitudes
house division, the cusp of the divided by 2. For example, if Venus
Tenth House. It should not be con­ is at 10° Gemini and Mars is at 20°
fused with the zenith, the point di­ Leo, their midpoint is 15° Cancer.
rectly overhead at a given location. (They also have an inverse, or opposi­
Most tables of houses give the celes­ tion, midpoint at 15° Capricorn.) The
tial longitude of the Midheaven midpoint between Venus and Mars
either for every 4 minutes of local is written 2 /d. If a planet x is located
sidereal time or for even degrees at at the midpoint between Venus and
approximate 4-minute intervals. (See Mars (direct midpoint) or in hard as­
COSMOGRAPHY.) pect to it (indirect midpoint), this in­
In chart interpretation, the Mid­ formation is written x = 2 / d.
186 minor aspect

Astrologers who work with mid­ Minor Aspect: See aspect.

points have found that they are sen­
sitive points in a birth chart, and that Minor Planets: See asteroids.
patterns formed by midpoints and
primary points reveal personality Minor Progression: See progression
traits that may not be clear by the use AND DIRECTION.
of classical astrology alone. An ex­
ample is the chart of Adolf Hitler, Modem Astrology: The body of cur­
which (with Libra rising and Sun in rent astrological doctrine does not
Taurus) does not seem to furnish suf­ form a coherent whole. This is an­
ficient indication of his psychopathic other way of saying that astrology is
and megalomaniac character. The not yet a science, in the modem
sesquisquare between Uranus and sense of the word. If science is de­
Pluto accurately describes a violent fined as a body of assumptions about
temperament and a drive for power, the nature of the universe that are
but this aspect would ordinarily be supported by evidence and on which
overlooked, since it is common to an there is general agreement, then as­
entire generation. However, as Geof­ trology falls short of the mark. An­
frey Dean points out, "in this case cient and venerable as it is as a hu­
both planets are at the Sun/Moon man activity, it is still immature and
midpoint and thus become central to undisciplined when judged by the
the whole chart." Conjunctions or rigorous standard of the scientific
hard aspects formed to midpoints by method.
transiting planets are believed to trig­ Since the Renaissance, science has
ger events; German astrologers have concentrated on data capable of
developed this theory into a precise measurement and has relegated
method of prediction. questions of value, including specu­
The use of midpoints in astrology lations about human destiny, to the­
is not without historical precedent. ologians and philosophers. The rise
They were used in the thirteenth cen­ of rationalism and materialism, the
tury, especially by the school of split between astronomy and astrol­
Guido Bonati, and probably even ogy, and the banishment of astrology
earlier. Largely abandoned until the from the universities all helped to
twentieth century, they were revived bring about a period of stagnation
by the German astrologer Alfred and demoralization for astrology
Witte (1878-1943), founder of the Ur­ from which it is only beginning to
anian system, or Hamburg school, recover. For almost three centuries,
of astrology. Witte's techniques were few first-rate minds devoted them­
further developed and refined by an­ selves to a discipline that was dis­
other German astrologer, Reinhold credited by the scientific and intellec­
Ebertin (1901—), founder of the sys­ tual establishment. Few serious
tem known as cosmobiology, into a books were written, little or no re­
sophisticated method of planetary in­ search was undertaken, and astrolo­
terpretation. gers worked in isolation and obscu-
 modern astrology 187

rity, their status reduced to that of onto the description of character. In

fortune-tellers. Cut off from the this they laid the groundwork for the
mainstream of science, astrological work of the humanist and symbolist
doctrine tended to become fixed in a schools. The British are famous for
traditional mold. However, the producing competent astrologers with
incredible twentieth-century resurg­ a solid grounding in tradition; distin­
ence, which may be attributed partly guished examples of these British
to the rise of the social sciences, es­ traditionalists are Alan Leo and
pecially psychology, which has rein­ Charles Carter.
stated the study of human beings as The French symbolist school came
a proper subject of scientific inquiry, out of Freud's work on the uncon­
has forced astrology out of its defen­ scious and Jung's depth psychology.
sive conservatism. The current state Jung wrote, "It is clear that astrology
of the art is chaotic and confusing, has a great deal to contribute to psy­
but it is also exciting and alive. At chology. But it would also be well for
present writing, several schools of astrology to become aware of the ex­
astrology dominate the scene. istence of psychology, especially in­
The traditionalist school adheres sofar as it deals with personality and
rather closely to the principles of as­ the unconscious. I am almost certain
trology as expounded by Ptolemy in that we have something to learn from
the second century and as developed astrology's language of symbols."
until the decline of astrology in the In France the symbolists are help­
late seventeenth and early eighteenth ing to purify astrology of its mechan­
centuries. (It is the astrology of this istic aspect, the rigid application of
1,500-year period that is referred to traditional formulas. The formal de­
in this book as classical, or tradi­ scription of character is gradually
tional, astrology.) Traditionalist as­ giving way to a study of the uncon­
trologers may recognize the necessity scious that uses symbols in their
of redefining astrological terms to ac­ modern psychoanalytic sense. Ac­
commodate new cultural phenom­ cording to this approach, a symbol is
ena, but generally speaking they do the only available means of express­
not deviate significantly from the ing a complex emotional reality that
structure of classical astrology. For cannot be clearly conceptualized.
example, they may expand or refine This school has enriched the tradi­
the meanings of the signs, but they tional interpretation of the zodiac
do not question the validity of the with new relationships between the
zodiac. At their best, traditionalist signs and the complexes.
astrologers have helped to correct the The American counterpart of the
gloomy determinism of much of me­ symbolist school is the humanistic as­
dieval astrology that persists in such trology developed by Dane Rudhyar.
terms as malefic, evil aspect, destroyer Like the French symbolists, human­
of life, hell of the zodiac, and so on, and istic astrologers see astrology primar­
to shift the focus of astrology away ily as a symbolic language that, if
from the prediction of events and properly interpreted by a responsible
188 modern astrology

astrologer, can provide insight into statistical studies have failed to con­
the human psyche,. Also like the firm certain aspects of traditional as­
French symbolists, the humanists trology, they have provided experi­
have been profoundly influenced by mental support for others and have
contemporary psychology, especially opened up fruitful new areas for in­
the ideas of Jung. For Dane Rudhyar, vestigation, such as the harmonics
astrology is not a science but a “tech­ of John Addey.
nique in human understanding." Both the symbolist (or humanistic)
The humanistic approach to astrol­ approach and the scientific move­
ogy is person oriented rather than ment represent reactions to tradi­
event oriented. Humanistic astrolo­ tional astrology: the symbolist school
gers see the planets as symbols of to its mechanical determinism and
human functions rather than trans­ its overemphasis on prediction of
mitters of physical influence and are events, and the scientific school to its
not involved in the current move­ imprecision, high level of disagree­
ment to make astrology scientific. ment on basic principles, and cavalier
The scientific school grew out of the disregard for evidence. These two re­
work of Paul Choisnard and others actions have taken very different
who came to astrology from scientific forms and tend to become polarized
backgrounds and resolved to rid it of into two opposing camps.
imprecision and restore it to the level Thus Rudhyar maintains that the
of a science. Known as cosmobiol- truths of astrology are not empirical
ogy in Germany and Switzerland, and rejects the scientific approach
where it is very popular, the scientific because "modern science is obliged
school assumes that there is a meas­ to ignore the individualness of every
urable physical relationship between living entity," whereas astrology
the cycles of the celestial bodies and "deals essentially with the individ­
human behavior. It tries to incorpo­ ual." He argues that objective tests
rate the results of astronomical re­ of astrology are meaningless; the real
search into astrology and studies the test of astrology is whether it helps
influence of such celestial phenom­ to make people's lives more mean­
ena as solar flares, sunspots, luna­ ingful. Geoffrey Dean, the compiler
tions, or meteor showers on terres­ of Recent Advances in Natal Astrology:
trial phenomena. A Critical Review 1900-1976, a mon­
The movement to reinstate astrol­ umental survey that attempts to in­
ogy as a science has enlisted the aid troduce some order into the confu­
of statistics. Early examples of the sion of modern astrology, sees the
statistical approach are due to Paul matter differently. Dean points out
Choisnard in the 1920s and Karl that subjective benefit does not nec­
Krafft in the 1930s, but the first work essarily imply objective validity and
that met the standards of orthodox concludes that "the current chaos in
research was that of the French stat­ astrology is largely the result of a
isticians Michel and Fran^oise Gau- chronic infatuation with symbolism
quelin, starting in the 1950s. While at the expense of reason. . . . This is
 Monkey 189

because the majority of astrologers zodiacal signs Aquarius, Pisces, and

reject a scientific approach in favor of Scorpio, respectively (see ruler­
symbolism (based on dubious tradi­ ship). Before the discovery of Uranus
tion), intuition, and holistic under­ in 1781, rulership of Aquarius was
standing." assigned to Saturn; before the dis­
While a certain amount of contro­ covery of Neptune in 1846, rulership
versy is no doubt a sign of vitality, of Pisces was assigned to Jupiter; and
the tendency to polarization between before the discovery of Pluto in 1930,
these two groups shows that the 200- rulership of Scorpio was assigned to
year-old rift between astrology and Mars. Thus Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars
science is far from being healed. are now often referred to as the tra­
There is, however, a growing num­ ditional rulers, or corulers, of those
ber of influential astrologers who see signs. The traditional rulerships were
no reason why astrology should not assigned by Ptolemy on the basis of
be both humanistic and scientific, as observed affinities between the signs
it was before the split that took place and the planets. Modern rulerships
in the Renaissance. Speaking at a re­ have been assigned gradually over
cent conference of the National the years since the discoveries of the
Council for Geocosmic Research, in modern planets on the basis of ac­
Chicago, American astrologer Robert cumulated evidence of their nature
Hand acknowledged that he found and influence. Some astrologers feel
himself in both camps and called for that the traditional and modem rul­
"a synthesis of the single point of ers "share" rulership of those partic­
view which ought to be the only point ular signs. Others believe that since
of view in astrology; and that single the modern planets have impinged
point of view is both humanistic and on human consciousness, their influ­
scientific." (See sidereal zodiac; ence has accelerated and that their
STATISTICS AND ASTROLOGY; URANIAN rulership is therefore stronger and
SYSTEM.) more relevant to our age. Still others
feel that the whole rulership system,
Modem Planets (also called Extra- traditional and modern, lacks exper­
Saturnian Planets or Trans-Satur- imental support and is open to ques­
nian Planets): Uranus, Neptune, and tion. (See Uranus; Neptune; Pluto.)
Pluto, so called because of their com­
paratively recent discovery—1781,
Modes: See qualities.
1846, and 1930, respectively—in re­
lation to the planets considered by
classical astrology. (See exaltation; Monkey: The ninth sign of the
modern rulers; Neptune; Pluto; Chinese zodiac, including all persons
rulership; Uranus.) bom between
February 2, 1908, and January 22, 1909 (earth)
Modem Rulers: Uranus, Neptune, February 20, 1920, and February 8, 1921 (metal)
and Pluto are now generally consid­ February 6, 1932, and January 26, 1933 (water)
ered to be the modern rulers of the January 25, 1944, and February 13, 1945 (wood)
190 Moon

February 12, 1956, and January 31, 1957 (fire)

January 29, 196S, and February 17, 1969 (earth)
February 16, 1980, and February 5, 1981 (metal)

The messenger of Okuni-Nushi-

No-Mikoto, Shinto god of sailors, the
Monkey is a pleasant companion: vi­
vacious, gay, witty, one of the most
whimsical signs of the Chinese zo­
diac. Natives of the sign are also ac­ Ezra Pound, Eleanor Roosevelt, Ber­
tors who excel at covering up their trand Russell, Baruch Spinoza, Eliz­
feelings. Their sincerity is often ques­ abeth Taylor, Harry Truman, the
tionable; they are capable of bad faith United States of America, and Leo­
and even of dishonesty when they nardo da Vinci. (See Chinese as­
think this is the only way they can trology.)
achieve their ends. Endowed with an
insatiable curiosity and a remarkable Moon (glyph J): The brightest celes­
memory, they are a veritable store­ tial body after the Sun; the Earth's
house of information, a quality that satellite, revolving around it in a little
is a powerful advantage in their less than a calendar month (27 days
professional life. They are shrewd 7 hours 43 minutes 11.5 seconds,
businesspeople and clever investors. called the sidereal month) and accom­
In love Monkeys are changeable, panying it in its annual revolution
and as a result their romantic life is around the Sun. The Moon's diam­
seldom happy. They often fall in love eter is 2,160 miles—a little over a
at first sight, but quickly tire of their quarter of the Earth's—and its mean
conquests, for their critical sense distance from the Earth is 239,000
cools their ardor. They are ambitious miles.
and may marry for money, breaking The Moon has no light of its own
off the match when there is nothing and shines only because it is illumi­
more in it for them. However, when nated by the Sun. Its changes in po­
they succeed in controlling their neg­ sition in the course of its orbit around
ative tendencies, they can be charm­ the Earth are accompanied by
ing people. changes in appearance, which con­
Compatible signs: Cat, Dragon, stitute the familiar phases of the
Monkey, Ox, Pig, Rat, Tiger. Moon (see figure 47). The Moon is
Neutral signs: Dog, Serpent. New when in conjunction with the
Incompatible signs: Cock, Horse. Sun; at First Quarter when in first
Famous Monkeys include Simone square to (or 90° east of) the Sun,
de Beauvoir, Lord Byron, Bette when half its disk is illuminated; Full
Davis, Rene Descartes, Paul Gau­ when in opposition to the Sun, when
guin, Mick Jagger, Timothy Leary, the Earth is between it and the Sun;
Amedeo Modigliani, John Milton, and at Third, or Last, Quarter when
Grandma Moses, Charlie Parker, in second square to (or 90° west of)
 Moon 191

the Sun, when half its disk still re­ though Ptolemy classified it as be­
mains visible. The entire cycle from nefic. It rules the sign of Cancer (see
one New Moon to the next is called rulership) and is therefore in det­
the synodic month and takes 29 days riment in the opposite, Saturn-ruled
12 hours 44 minutes 2.8 seconds (see sign of Capricorn. It is exalted in Tau­
cycle; lunation). Times for the rus (see exaltation) and in fall in
quarter phases of the Moon are given Scorpio.
on the sample page from an ephem­ In chart interpretation the Moon
eris, page 48. stands for the emotions, the in­
Two other periods are associated stincts, the unconscious, the mother,
with the Moon, the draconic month (27 and women in general. Its qualities
days 5 hours 5 minutes 35.8 sec­ are receptivity, sensitivity, moodi­
onds), the interval between one con­ ness, instability, and change. It rules
junction of the Moon with its north our animal nature and gut reactions;
node and the next; and the anomalistic childbirth, infancy, and childhood;
month (27 days 13 hours 18 minutes dreams, imagination, memory, con­
37.5 seconds), the interval between ditioning, habits, the past; liquids,
one perigee (closest approach to the glands, secretions, the stomach; the
Earth) and the next. Technically, the anima, yin energy (yang energy is
Moon does not revolve around the ruled by the Sun); private, daily, and
Earth; both Moon and Earth revolve domestic life; and the moods and
around a common center of gravity tastes of the public. When afflicted,
1,000 miles beneath the Earth's sur­ the Moon is associated with hyper­
face and 3,000 miles from its center. sensitivity and overreaction or diffi­
In astrology, the Moon is regarded culty getting in touch with one's feel­
as neither benefic nor malefic, al- ings and inability to respond.
The following delineations are of­
o□» fered to show some of the ways the
First Quarter
Moon may operate in the signs and
houses. It should be remembered
that they are merely suggestions and
that their accuracy in any given case
depends on the overall strength and
condition of the Moon in relation to
the chart as a whole, especially the
aspects it forms with other planets
and important points.

MOON IN THE SIGNS

Moon in Aries: impulsiveness,

erratic emotions, independence,
192 Moon

changeability, love of adventure, appetite, attachment to mother, emo­

need for physical freedom. tional instability.
Moon in Taurus: sensuality, pos­ Moon in the Second House: unstable
sessiveness, loyalty, determination, finances, artistic ability, psychologi­
obstinacy, need for security. cal insight, need for financial secu­
Moon in Gemini: curiosity, restless­ rity.
ness, literary ability, emotional in­ Moon in the Third House: emotional
stability, need for variety. thinking, imagination, restlessness,
Moon in Cancer: sensitivity, psychic literary ability, need for variety.
ability, sense of family, defensive­ Moon in the Fourth House: strong
ness, need for intimacy. attachment to home and mother,
Moon in Leo: dramatic ability, crea­ rich inner life, reclusive tendencies,
tivity, love of pleasure, desire for changes of residence.
control, need for attention. Moon in the Fifth House: romantic,
Moon in Virgo: love of work, skep­ dramatic personality, love of pleas­
ticism, perfectionism, orderliness, ure, love of children, many love, af­
low self-esteem, need to be useful. fairs.
Moon in Libra: desire to please, love Moon in the Sixth House: concern
of beauty, self-effacement, indeci­ with health and diet, frequent
siveness, need to relate. changes of employment, need to
Moon in Scorpio: psychological in­ serve.
sight, resourcefulness, reserve, de­ Moon in the Seventh House: emo­
sire for power, need to understand. tional attachments to other people,
Moon in Sagittarius: salesmanship, changes of partner, psychic ability,
idealism, broad perspective, love of need for relationships.
travel, tendency to excess, need to be Moon in the Eighth House: intense
right. emotional life, critical experiences,
Moon in Capricorn: high standards, strong sexuality, consciousness of
sense of form, seriousness, economy, death, interest in the occult.
anxiety, need for approval. Moon in the Ninth House: strong re­
Moon in Aquarius:' originality, in­ ligious convictions, desire for contin­
sight, inventiveness, eccentricity, uing education, love of travel.
need for community. Moon in the Tenth House: need for
Moon in Pisces: dreaminess, recognition, emotional attachment to
impressionability, mysticism, gulli­ the father, interest in art, changes of
bility, escapism, need to serve hu­ profession.
manity. Moon in the Eleventh House: many
friends, attraction to politics, turn­
over of friends, need for group activ­
MOON IN THE HOUSES ities.
Moon in the Twelfth House: love
Moon in the First House: extreme re­ of solitude, sensitivity, mysticism,
ceptivity, changeability, imagination, psychic ability, rich dream life.
 mundane astrology 193

Moon House System: See house di­ signs, so called because they cause
vision. movement and initiate change.

Moon's Nodes: See nodes. Moving Signs: See cardinal.

Morin, Jean-Baptiste (also known as Muller, Johann: See Regiomon­

Morin de Villefranche or Morinus; tanus.
February 23, 1583, Villefranche,
France-November 6, 1656, Paris): Mundane Aspect: An aspect meas­
French physician, mathematician, ured along the celestial equator, in
and astrologer. After earning the de­ right ascension; as distinguished
gree of doctor of medicine at Avi­ from a zodiacal aspect, which is
gnon in 1613, he stopped practicing measured along the ecliptic, in ce­
medicine to become astrologer to the lestial longitude. Mundane as­
duke of Luxembourg and then to the pects are sometimes referred to as
due d'Effiat. In 1630 the king offered aspects in mundo (in the world) and
him the chair in mathematics at the zodiacal aspects as aspects in zodiaco
College de France. He wrote many (in the zodiac). Since the meridian is
books, the most important of which by definition at right angles to the
is Astrologia Gallica, published in horizon, a planet conjunct the Mid­
1661. Considered the greatest astrol­ heaven is in mundane square to a
oger of his time, Morin was astrolo­ planet conjunct the Ascendant, even
ger to Cardinal Richelieu, whose though the same two planets may be
death he predicted within 10 hours. in zodiacal trine—that is, separated
He also predicted the exact dates of by 120° of celestial longitude. Mun­
death of Louis XIII, Wallenstein, and dane aspects are based on subdivi­
Gustavus Adolphus. His major con­ sions of the earth's diurnal rotation
tribution was to modernize Ptolemaic on its axis and can only be computed
astrology in the light of discoveries on a horoscope cast for a given time
made in the seventeenth century. and place, whereas zodiacal aspects
(See Renaissance, astrology in are based on subdivisions of the
THE.) planets' orbits along the ecliptic and
can thus be computed without ref­
erence to a horoscope. Mundane as­
Morinus System: See house divi­ pects are ignored by most modern
sion.
astrologers.
Morrison, Al: See Chiron; void of Mundane Astrology (from the Latin
COURSE. mundus, the world; also called Judi­
cial, or Political, Astrology): The
Movable Signs (also called Moving branch of astrology devoted to the
or Leading Signs): An outmoded and study of planetary cycles and pat­
confusing term for the cardinal terns as reflected in world events,
194 mundane astrology

cultural trends, and collective phe­ Moon to the people, Mercury to the
nomena generally; as distinguished intelligentsia and the press, Venus to
from natal, or genethliacal, astrology, diplomats and artists, Mars to mili­
which studies the birth charts of in­ tary leaders, wars, and epidemics,
dividuals. Undoubtedly one of the Jupiter to the courts and the clergy,
earliest forms of astrology, mundane Saturn to law enforcement or scarc­
astrology was practiced extensively ity, Uranus to the media, Neptune to
in the days when princes consulted charity, and Pluto to organized labor
their soothsayers on the progress of or crime. Similarly, the First House
their affairs. may refer to the body politic, the Sec­
Modern mundane astrologers seek ond House to national wealth or re­
to predict the future of states, na­ sources, the Third House to domestic
tions, and societies from the move­ transportation and communication,
ments of the planets, using various the Fourth House to real estate and
techniques. Some treat a state or a farming, the Fifth House to children
historical event such as a war as if it and entertainment, the Sixth House
were a human being and cast a chart to public health and the working
for it, using the adoption of a consti­ class, the Seventh House to foreign
tution, a declaration of hostilities, policy, the Eighth House to the na­
and so on, as its date of birth. Others tional debt, the Ninth House to over­
try to predict the course of events seas transportation and communica­
from the birth charts of political lead­ tion, the Tenth House to the chief
ers and monarchs, which are consid­ executive, the Eleventh House to the
ered of great importance in judging legislative branch of government,
the prevailing trends and develop­ and the Twelfth House to prisons or
ments for a nation. But mundane as­ hospitals.
trology properly speaking tends to Mundane astrology also includes
relate the course of history to the the analysis of broad cultural move­
motions of the planets without ref­ ments and religious ideas in relation
erence to the chart of an individual. to such slow cycles as the great as­
Mundane astrologers study the trological ages associated with the
planets' positions at the time of lun­ PRECESSION OF THE EQUINOXES and
ations, EQUINOXES, SOLSTICES, CON­ the cycles of the outer planets. Now,
JUNCTIONS of the heavy planets, and for example, the human race is in the
phenomena such as eclipses and throes of transition between the Age
COMETS. of Pisces, which was marked by the
In interpreting a mundane chart, rise of Christianity, a religion of sal­
the meanings of the planets and vation, and the Age of Aquarius,
houses are somewhat different from which is thus far marked by the rise
those in a natal chart. To select only of technology but may indeed see the
the most important delineations, the birth of a new religion more oriented
Sun may refer to heads of state, the toward the realization of the human
 music of the spheres 195

potential (see Aquarian Age; Third World and the renaissance of

PRECESSIONAL AGE). cultures long suppressed, the explo­
The planetary patterns accompa­ ration of space, the proliferation of
nying this transition are dominated the media, the development of nu­
by the movement of Pluto, which is clear power, and the threat of nuclear
approaching its 1989 perihelion or ecological extinction. Many astrol­
while accelerating in speed, having ogers predict that after a period of
moved inside the orbit of Neptune in intense, painful trial during the
late 1978. According to Dane Ru- 1980s, there will be a spiritual rea­
dhyar, the entire solar system is now wakening comparable to the Refor­
being “fertilized" by Pluto's galactic mation. (See cycle.)
consciousness, a process whose
fruits will begin to be evident during
the next few decades. Mundoscope: See locational as­
Since 1940 Pluto has been receiving trology.
a sextile from Neptune, an aspect
that will continue until 2030, moving
from the signs of Leo and Libra to Music of the Spheres: According to
the signs of Aquarius and Aries. This the followers of the Greek mathe­
90-year aspect, the first part of the matician and philosopher Pythago­
492-year Neptune-Pluto synodic ras (sixth century B.C.), an ethereal
cycle, has been termed the Long Sex­ harmony produced by the move­
tile. The last Long Sextile occurred ments of the planets along their or­
during the European Renaissance bits. The Pythagoreans believed that
and the beginning of the Protestant the intervals between these orbits,
Reformation, a time characterized by then thought to be concentric
the final collapse of the (Eastern) Ro­ spheres, had a mathematical rela­
man Empire, the revival of classical tionship that corresponded to the fre­
culture, the discovery of the New quencies of the tones of the musical
World, and the invention of the scale and that it was this relationship
printing press; in other words, a time that accounted for the “music." The
of accelerated social change and vast concept was developed by Johannes
broadening of consciousness. The Kepler (1571-1630) in his Harmonices
period closed as the Reformation, by Mundi, where he advanced the idea
then irreversibly under way, brought that each planet had its own specific
the Renaissance to the masses with rhythm. He asserted that micro-
its message of the supremacy of the cosmic humans had an "instinct to
individual conscience. perceive the harmonies of the celes­
The current Long Sextile, which tial spheres, for a harmony exists
began just before World War II, is only to be perceived. Light is not
characterized by the collapse of co­ only emitted from the Sun but from
lonial empires, the emergence of the the harmony of the whole."
196 mutable

Mutable: One of the three qualities, heaven, Part of Fortune, node, and
or modes, that characterize the signs so forth.
of the zodiac, the other two being
cardinal and fixed. The mutable Mutual Reception: A relationship
quality has been compared to wave between two planets each of which
motion in physics, or to information. occupies the other's sign of election
The mutable signs of the zodiac (also or EXALTATION (see ELECTION, SIGN
called common signs) are the four of). For example, if Mercury is in
signs that follow the fixed signs and Pisces (ruled by Neptune) and Nep­
precede the cardinal signs, namely, tune is in Virgo (ruled by Mercury),
Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Mercury and Neptune are said to be
Pisces. The Sun transits these signs in mutual reception. If in this case
during the last month of a season, or Mercury and Neptune are also within
the period of transition between one orb of opposition, their condition
season and the next. Mutable signs of mutual reception will both
are characterized by changeability,
strengthen the aspect and help to off­
adaptability, and service; on the neg­
set its negative effects.
ative side, they are associated with
instability and diffusion.
In classical astrology, the mutable Mystic Rectangle: A major config­
signs were known collectively as the uration involving at least four
mutable quadruplicity, since there are planets in which a pair of trines is
four of them. They are also some­ connected by a pair of sextiles, with
times referred to as the mutable cross, oppositions connecting all four cor­
since if planets in them are connected ners. The configuration does not nec­
by straight lines, they form a cross. essarily indicate mystical tendencies,
A grand mutable cross is a major con­ though it sometimes does. Michael
figuration in which two pairs of op­ Meyer associates it with “an incred­
posing planets, all in mutable signs, ible capacity for sustained productiv­
are in square aspect to each other, ity" and “synthetic and integrative
forming a cross (see grand cross). ability," since it combines the aware­
ness of the opposition, the under­
standing of the trine, and the pro­
Mutual Aspect: An aspect between ductivity of the sextile. An example
two transiting bodies, as distin­ is the birth chart of Madame Blavat­
guished from an aspect between a sky, in which a conjunction of Moon
transiting body and a natal point; and Venus in Libra trines a conjunc­
also, sometimes, an aspect between tion of Uranus and Jupiter in Aquar­
two planets, or between a planet and ius, opposes Pluto in Aries, and sex­
Sun or Moon, as distinguished from tiles the Sun in Leo, while Jupiter
an aspect formed by a planet to a and Uranus are also opposing the
point such as Ascendant, Mid­ Sun and in sextile to Pluto, and the
 mystic rectangle 197

Sun and Pluto are in trine. The en­ cluding both Sun and Moon and a
ergy, ambition, will power, and vol­ Tenth-House Pluto. At her death,
ubility of the founder of the Theo­ Blavatsky was acknowledged leader
sophical Society can be seen in this of a community numbering almost
powerful formation of six planets in­ 100,000.
Nadi Astrology: A type of Indian as­ natives. Natal astrology is based on
trology in which astrologers have the ancient belief that the positions
vast collections of horoscopes, called of the planets at the birth of an infant
nadis, which are erected and deline­ provide information regarding his or
ated in detail before—sometimes her personality, character, and des­
centuries before—the appearance of tiny. (See ASTROLOGY.)
their clients. In other words, when
the client locates a nadi astrologer, Natal Chart: See birth chart.
the astrologer has a large number of
charts, one of which may be his. For Native: Literally, “one who is born";
reasons not as yet understood, these in astrology, the subject of a nativity,
charts are said to be surprisingly ac­ or birth chart; also, one who was
curate. (See India, astrology in.) born “under" a particular sign—that
is, one at whose birth the Sun,
Nadir: The point of the celestial Moon, or Ascendant was in that
sphere directly underneath any lo­ sign—as, a "native of Aries."
cation on the Earth's surface, where
the lower meridian intersects the Nativity: A horoscope cast for the
prime vertical; the opposite of ze­ time and place of a birth, as distin­
nith. The nadir should not be con­ guished from an electional or horary
fused with the Imum Coeli, which is chart; a birth chart.
the point where the lower meridian
intersects the ecliptic. (See cosmog­ Natural Astrology: Traditionally, the
raphy.) branch of astrology that studied (a)
the motions of the heavenly bodies;
Naibod Arc: See progression and and (b) their physical effects on
DIRECTION. the Earth as related to agriculture,
weather conditions, earthquakes, and
Natal Astrology (from the Latin na- so forth. These two activities are now
tus, born): The branch of astrology known as (a) astronomy; and (b) as-
that studies the birth charts of indi­ trometeorology. (See Nelson,
viduals, traditionally referred to as John.)
 Nelson, John 199

Natural Graduation System: See centuries Hindu astrologers have

HOUSE DIVISION. used a technique of subdividing the
natal chart into a number of sub­
Natural House: The house that cor­ charts, or shodasavargas, calculated by
responds to a given sign of the zo­ dividing each sign into segments.
diac, or to the planet that rules that These subcharts correspond to the
sign. Since the twelve houses are modern harmonic charts of Addey
subdivisions of a daily cycle that have and others, but their interpretation
their origin in the subdivisions of a usually involves complex rulership
yearly cycle, that is, the signs of the systems rather than aspects.
zodiac, each house corresponds to a
sign in terms of its meaning, al­ Negative Signs (also called Femi­
though it does not usually coincide nine, Nocturnal, or Unfortunate
with that sign in a given horoscope. Signs): The signs of the earth and
Thus, the natural house of Aries, the water triplicities, namely, Taurus,
first sign, or of Mars, its ruler, is the Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio, Capricorn,
First; the natural house of Taurus, and Pisces. (See polarity.)
the second sign, or of Venus, its
ruler, is the Second; and so on Nelson, John (b. 1903): American ra­
through the zodiac. Note that Mars dio engineer, specializing in short­
has another natural house, the wave radio propagation analysis.
Eighth, since Mars is traditional ruler From 1949 to 1971, as an employee of
of Scorpio; Venus has another natu­ RCA Communications, Nelson sys­
ral house, the Seventh, since Venus tematically investigated the connec­
rules Libra as well as Taurus; and so tion between shortwave radio dis­
on. Mars is said to be the "natural turbances and the heliocentric
ruler" of the First and Eighth Houses; configurations of the planets. His
Venus the "natural ruler" of the Sec­ discoveries ultimately enabled him to
ond and Seventh Houses, and so on. forecast such disturbances, some­
A sign that appears on the cusp of times months in advance, with an
its natural house is one indication of accuracy of over 93 percent. For ex­
smooth functioning of the matters re­ ample, he found that hard aspects
lating to that house. A planet occu­ linked with other aspects caused
pying its natural house is thereby heavy static, but if a trine uncon­
strengthened; such a planet is said to nected to this configuration came ex­
be accidentally dignified. (See dig­ act during the disturbance, the static
nity.) died down with amazing rapidity.
He also found that although an un­
Natural Ruler: See natural house. derlying pattern for radio signal deg­
radation might be established by as­
Natural Year: See tropical year. pects and mid-point combinations
between slower planets (Jupiter, Sat­
Navamsa: In Hindu astrology, the urn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto),
ninth harmonic (see harmonics). For the static would be triggered by a
200 Neptune

faster planet (Mercury, Venus, Earth, planets, there is no weight of tradi­

or Mars) joining the configuration. tion one way or the other. In any
Although Nelson does not con­ case, modern astrologers are moving
sider himself an’ astrologer, the im­ away from these categories and com­
plications of his findings for astrol­ ing to believe that the positive or
ogy—especially the traditional theory negative value of planetary energies
of aspects—are enormous. One of depends on the way in which they
the principal arguments against the are used. Neptune was named after
scientific validity of astrology has the Roman god who had dominion
been that the gravitational effect of over springs and streams and who
other planets on the Earth was small was later identified with the Greek
and that any other "action at a dis­ Poseidon, god of the sea.
tance" was unsupported by evi­ Regarded as a "higher octave" of
dence. Although Nelson has care­ Venus, Neptune has been assigned
fully noted that there is no proof that rulership of the sign of Pisces,
planetary aspects cause radio disturb­ whose traditional ruler was Jupiter.
ance, he has shown a definite corre­ Hence it is in domicile in Pisces and
lation between certain aspects and in detriment in the opposite, Mer­
solar atmospheric behavior resulting cury-ruled sign of Virgo. Opinion as
in magnetic storms in the Earth's ion­ to Neptune's sign of exaltation is
osphere. He feels that it is reasonable divided. Some astrologers believe the
to assume that phenomena other planet to be exalted in Leo and there­
than radio signal propagation—such fore in fall in Aquarius; others con­
as weather, or events in the bio­ sider Cancer the exaltation and Ca­
sphere—might also have fluctuations pricorn the fall.
that can be traced to planetary pat­ The attributes of the modern
terns, but he leaves that question to planets have been deduced by careful
future investigators. (See relativity, observation, over a period of time, of
THEORY OF.) cultural trends that appeared around
the time of their discovery. The late
Neptune (glyph The third largest nineteenth and early twentieth cen­
planet in our solar system, discov­ turies saw the development of anes­
ered in 1846 as the result of the com­ thesia and chemotherapy; the birth
putations of the French astronomer of hypnotism and psychoanalysis;
Urbain Leverrier (1811-77) following Freud's exploration of the uncon­
observation of irregularities in the scious and Jung's search for the col­
orbit of Uranus. Its diameter is 31,500 lective unconscious; renewed interest
miles, its mean distance from the Sun in the occult and Oriental philosophy
is 2,797 million miles, and its side­ and the rise of spiritualism; the abo­
real period is 164.79 tropical years. lition of slavery, the end of serfdom
It has two known satellites. in central Europe, and the rise of
In astrology, Neptune is not gen­ communism, internationalism, and
erally classified as either benefic or pacifism; the publication of Einstein's
malefic. As with the other modern theory of relativity and Max Planck's
 Neptune 201

quantum theory, breaking down the chart as a whole, especially the

Newtonian concepts of space, time, aspects it forms with other planets
and matter; the stream-of-conscious- and important points.
ness movement in literature, cubism Since Neptune remains in a sign
in art, and the birth of the cinema. for approximately 13 years, its influ­
Neptune has come to be associated ence is more obvious on an entire
with those subtle forces that tend to generation than on a single individ­
undermine and dissolve the artificial ual. However, individuals in whose
barriers of time, space, egos, and na­ birth charts Neptune is angular or
tions. Its qualities are universality, closely aspected by Sun, Moon, or
impressionability, idealism, compas­ Ascendant may be more closely at­
sion, spirituality, self-sacrifice; neb­ tuned to its energy in that particular
ulousness, formlessness, elusive­ sign and may express it in a more
ness, vagueness, invisibility, sub­ conspicuous way. Bear in mind that
tlety, secrecy, mystery, unreality, the planet is simultaneously influ­
fantasy, illusion, and delusion. It encing the present, through cultural
rules international languages, math­ patterns and world events, and the
ematics, music, dance, poetry; imag­ future, through the children born
ination, inspiration, mysticism, med­ during those years.1 (See mundane
itation; loss, clouds, veils, film, ASTROLOGY.)
movies, glamor, propaganda, sub­
version; liquids, poisons, chemicals,
NEPTUNE IN THE SIGNS
drugs; the unconscious, hypnosis,
suggestion, dream states, trance, vi­ Neptune in Capricorn (1820-34):
sions, mediumship, psychic phe­ Metternich conservatism, political re­
nomena, out-of-body states, the as­ action; Mormonism; Hegel's glorifi­
tral plane; hallucination, paranoia, cation of the state. Contributions of this
obsession, and all states in which or­ generation: Herbert Spencer's social
dinary categories of perception break Darwinism; belief in authority and
down, conditioning is transcended, tradition.
and there is receptivity—for good or Neptune in Aquarius (1834-47/48):
for ill—to other levels of reality. discovery of anesthesia; spread of
When afflicted, Neptune is associ­ hypnotism; first scientific attempt to
ated with confusion, escapism, ad­ understand the aura; beginnings of
diction, deception, masochism, neu­ socialism and communism; anti­
rosis, psychosis, and possession. slavery movement; first electric tele­
The following delineations are of­ graph. Contributions of this generation:
fered to show some of the ways Nep­ William James's pragmatism; Emile
tune may operate in the signs and Zola's humanitarianism; Paul Ver­
houses. It should be remembered laine's revolution in poetic expres­
that they are merely suggestions and sion.
that their accuracy in any given case Neptune in Pisces (1847/48-1861/62):
depends on the overall strength and end of serfdom in central Europe, ab­
condition of Neptune in relation to olitionist movement in America; first
202 Neptune

undersea cable; rise of spiritualism the roaring twenties, wild specula­

(first seances at Fox farm in 1848); tion; exploration of the unconscious
literary transcendentalism. Contribu­ in art: Proust, Joyce, and stream of
tions of this generation: Henri Bergson consciousness; rise of cinema, jazz,
and the elan vital, an antimaterialistic radio; invention of TV. Contributions
philosophy; the impressionists. of this generation: idealization of indi­
Neptune in Aries: (1861/62-1874/75): vidualism; Norman Mailer, Timothy
the Red Cross; the Geneva Conven­ Leary, and Henry Kissinger.
tion; the Salvation Army; the found­ Neptune in Virgo (1928/29—1942/43):
ing of the Theosophical Society. Con­ Great Depression; rise of commu­
tributions of this generation: religious nism (“the religion of the working
leaders and mystics, such as Sri Au­ class"); discovery of penicillin, rise of
robindo, Mohandas Ghandi, Swami chemotherapy and chemical adulter­
Vivekananda. ation of foods. Contributions of this
Neptune in Taurus: (1874/75- generation: materialism, skepticism,
1887/89): idealism about the distri­ idealization of work and duty, ob­
bution of wealth: rise of philan­ session with cleanliness; Martin Lu­
thropy, socialism, syndicalism; ther King, Jr. (breakdown of racial
Christian Science; founding of the discrimination), Andy Warhol (pop
English Society for Psychical Re­ art), Ralph Nader (consumer protec­
search (1882). Contributions of this gen­ tion), Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, and
eration: Albert Einstein, Harlow the Beatles (integration of folk music
Shapley, Arthur S. Eddington, and and rhythm and blues).
the physical understanding of space, Neptune in Libra (1942/43-1955/57):
time, and the heavens; Keynesian establishment of the United Nations;
economics. decline of marriage and the rise of
Neptune in Gemini (1887/89- divorce; interest in Zen Buddhism;
1901/02): imaginative leaps in sci­ birth of rock 'n' roll. Contributions of
ence: quantum theory, relativity; ex­ this generation: "flower children," in­
periments in telepathy; symbolist po­ ternationalism, belief in racial and
etry with its emphasis on suggestion, sexual equality.
imagination, and free verse. Contri­ Neptune in Scorpio (1955/57-1970):
butions of this generation: Hitler and emergence of the Beat Generation
the use of propaganda; William with the publication of On the Road
Faulkner's elliptical style. (1957); breakdown of sexual taboos,
Neptune in Cancer (1901/02- explicit sex in films; widespread use
1914/16): Freud's exploration of the of hallucinogenic drugs; renewed in­
unconscious, Jung's search for the terest in the occult, spiritual teach­
collective unconscious; the revival of ings, reincarnation; hard rock and
popular astrology; the work of Edgar hippies; sex changes. This generation
Cayce. Contributions of this generation: has not been heard from yet, but
idealization of home and tradition, many of its members seem to lack the
ultranationalism. traditional attitudes toward sex and
Neptune in Leo (1914/15-1928/29): death and are drawn to the investi­
 Newton, Sir Isaac 203

gation of mysterious and psychic in the occult, strange sexual patterns,

phenomena. possible celibacy or renunciation of
Neptune in Sagittarius (1970-84): sex.
breakdown of national boundaries by Neptune in the Ninth House: interest
increased foreign travel; spread of in mysticism, idealism, spirituality,
Oriental religions in the West, rise of evangelism, fanaticism.
religious cults and gurus; teaching of Neptune in the Tenth House: unusual
meditation, astrology, and parapsy­ profession; psychology, music, act­
chology in universities; social reform. ing, or the arts; spiritual leadership;
possibility of public disgrace or ruin,
or martyrdom.
NEPTUNE IN THE HOUSES
Neptune in the Eleventh House: un­
Neptune in the First House: extreme usual friendships, humanitarian
impressionability, charm, glamor, causes, idealism, possibility of loss of
charisma; acting ability, musical or friends.
mathematical talent; inspiration, ide­ Neptune in the Twelfth House: reclu­
alism, otherworldliness; confusion, sive tendencies, sensitivity to other
disorientation, poor sense of time. planes, rich inner life, active dream
Neptune in the Second House: talent life, tendency to escapism, possibly
for music, dancing, poetry, or math­ through drugs.
ematics; confusion regarding fi­
nances; tendency to dissipate one's New Moon: See lunation; Moon.
resources. Newton, Sir Isaac (January 5, 1642,
Neptune in the Third House: dreamy, Woolsthorpe, Lincolnshire, Eng­
reclusive nature; mediumistic gifts; land-March 31, 1727, Kensington,
poetic imagination; idealization of England): English scientist and math­
childhood. ematician, discoverer of the law of
Neptune in the Fourth House: musi­ universal gravitation. According to
cal home; rich dream life; emotional Voltaire, Newton first conceived the
instability; possibility of broken idea in 1665 after seeing an apple fall
home. in his garden. Study of Kepler's
Neptune in the Fifth House: artistic third law of motion led him to the
ability, love of the theater, romanti­ theory that the force between the
cism, creative inspiration. Earth and the Moon must be in­
Neptune in the Sixth House: desire to versely proportional to the square of
serve humanity; lack of ego gratifi­ the distance between them. The law
cation in work; mysterious and un­
diagnosable health problems. 1 For some of the delineations of Neptune
Neptune in the Seventh House: mus­ in the signs we are indebted to the following:
Robert Hand, Planets in Youth (Rockport,
ical, poetic, or mathematical partner; Mass.: Para Research, 1977); Marcia Moore and
ill or alcoholic partner; dissolving re­ Mark Douglas, Astrology, The Divine Science
lationships; confusion, deception, or (York Harbor, Me.: Arcane Publications, 1971);
Frances Sakoian and Louis Acker, The Astrol­
self-sacrifice in relationships. oger's Handbook (New York: Harper & Row,
Neptune in the Eighth House: interest 1973).
204 90° dial
Mr. Halley, and you have not.” Al­
though Newton's interest in astrol­
ogy may have waned, he never re­
pudiated it or intimated that any of
the new scientific discoveries, includ­
ing his own, had rendered it invalid.
90° Dial: See chart form; harmon­
ics; Uranian system.

Nocturnal Arc: See house division.

Nocturnal Planets (from the Latin

nox, night): According to Ptolemy,
Moon, Venus, and Mars. The Moon
and Venus were classified as noctur­
Sir Isaac Newton. (The Bettman Archive.) nal because they were feminine
of universal gravitation is set forth in planets, and the night was "more
his Principia Mathematica, first pub­ feminine because of its moisture and
lished by the astronomer Edmund its gift of rest.” Mars was classified
Halley in 1687. Its thesis is that every as nocturnal by the principle not of
particle of matter in the universe at­ affinity but of complementarity, so
tracts every other particle with a force that its dryness would offset the
that varies inversely as the square of moisture of the night. Later the term
the distance between them and di­ was extended to include those
rectly as the product of their masses. planets in a birth chart that were
This led him to the explanation of the placed below the horizon. The term
flattening of the poles, the tilting of is seldom used in modern astrology.
the Earth, and hence the precession Nocturnal Signs: In classical astrol­
of the equinoxes, the phenomenon
ogy, the feminine signs: Taurus,
first discovered by Hipparchus in the Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio, Capricorn,
second century B.C. Newton is said and Pisces.
to have invented both differential
and integral calculus. He originated Nodal House System: See house di­
the emission theory of light; con­ vision.
structed a reflecting telescope; was
warden of the mint and president of Nodal Line: See nodes.
the Royal Society (1703-27). Nodes (symbols W): Any pair of
As a young student of mathemat­ points marking the intersection of
ics, Newton studied astrology. There two planetary orbits, especially the
is a famous anecdote, possibly apoc­ orbit of the Earth (that is, the eclip­
ryphal, that Halley once chided tic) and that of another planet or the
Newton for his interest in astrology, Moon. Nodes are four-dimensional
whereupon Newton is said to have aspects: They express the range of all
replied, "I have studied the subject, possible positions of two planets over
 nodes 205

planes themselves, the actual posi­

tions of the nodes—the true nodes—
move with some irregularity. Most
astrologers rely on the positions av­
eraged out over time—that is, the
mean nodes.

LUNAR NODES
The points where the Moon's orbit
intersects the Earth's orbit (the eclip­
tic) are known as the lunar nodes. The
Figure 48. The celestial sphere, showing the mean lunar nodes move backward
intersection of a planetary orbit with the eclip­ through the zodiac at a rate of about
tic.
3' of celestial longitude per day; the
time rather than relating their mo­ complete retrograde cycle of the
mentary position, as do ordinary as­ nodes takes about 18.6 years. The
pects. true lunar nodes can move faster or
The north, or ascending, node of a slower than the mean rate; and they
planet or the Moon is the point can move forward or backward.
where it crosses the ecliptic moving Since the south lunar node is always
north (in the general direction of the directly opposite the north lunar
north celestial pole—see cosmogra­ node, ephemerides give only the po­
phy); the south, or descending, node is sition of the north node, often at 3-
the point where the body crosses the day intervals. The sample page from
ecliptic moving south. The north the American Ephemeris on page 48
node is directly opposite the south shows the daily positions of both the
node, except in the case of geocentric mean lunar node and the true lunar
planetary nodes (see “Planetary node.
Nodes," page 206). The line joining When a New Moon occurs near
the two nodes is called the nodal line; either the north node or the south
it represents the intersection of the node, there is a solar eclipse; when
two orbital planes (see figure 48). the Full Moon occurs near the nodes
At its node with the ecliptic, a (the Sun at one node, the Moon at
planet (or the Moon) has a celestial the other), there is a lunar eclipse.
latitude of 0°. It attains its greatest lat­ The ancient names for the north
itude when it is square to its node. and south nodes—Caput Draconis
Greatest north latitude occurs when ("Dragon's Head") and Cauda Dra­
the planet has moved 90° of celes­ conis ("Dragon's Tail"), respectively
tial longitude beyond its north —refer to the notion that a gigantic
node; greatest south latitude occurs celestial dragon was swallowing the
when it has moved 90° of celestial Sun or the Moon at their respective
longitude beyond its south node.
Because of variations in the orbital The meaning of the nodes in as­
206 nodes

trology is a controversial subject on and south, finding that the north

which comparatively little has been node is involved in forming relation­
written, and almost all the existing ships and the south node in dissolv­
literature focuses on the nodes of the ing them.
Moon. The traditional view in both Some contemporary esoteric . as­
Western and Oriental astrology is trologers regard the nodes as clues to
that the north node is benefic and karmic relationships, past lifetimes,
the south node malefic, although in and the overall direction and purpose
modern Hindu astrology the ten­ of the incarnation represented by the
dency is to regard both nodes as mal­ birth chart. Thus the sign on the
efic. (Indian astrologers treat the lu­ south node is believed to represent
nar nodes as actual planets by the qualities brought over from previous
names of Rahu [north node] and lifetimes, which may be valuable in
Ketu [south node].) In the West the themselves, but whose negative as­
ancients believed that the north node pects need to be eliminated. The sign
of the Moon partook of the nature of on the north node, on the other
Venus and Jupiter and the south hand, is believed to represent quali­
node partook of the nature of Mars ties that need to be developed in the
and Saturn. Since the nodes are present lifetime, with the help of
points rather than planets, they were karmic friends and teachers who
not thought to have any true influ­ have that sign emphasized in their
ence of their own, but to be signifi­ chart. According to this approach,
cant when aspected by a planet. Thus the house in which the north node
a planet in close conjunction with the falls stands for the areas of experi­
north node was believed to bring ence in which the native will learn
honors or wealth, whereas a planet the important lessons of this lifetime,
at the south node would bring af­ and the house in which the south
flictions or poverty, according to the node falls represents areas of expe­
nature of the planet. rience he may have overemphasized
The German astrologers Alfred and needs to put behind him. This
Witte, founder of the Uranian sys­ view seems to accord with the an­
tem, and Reinhold Ebertin, founder cient image of the dragon's head and
of cosmobiology, have broken with tail, the north node corresponding to
Western tradition in minimizing the the mouth, or a point of openness
distinction between the north and and receptivity, and the south node
south nodes and treating the two as to the anus, or a point of elimination
a unit. The German school regards and release.
the nodes as the axis of associa­
tions, connections, and relation­
ships. American astrologer Robert PLANETARY NODES
Hand agrees that the nodes are im­ The heliocentric planetary nodes are
portant in relationships, but main­ the points where two planetary orbits
tains the distinction between north intersect, considered from the view-
 North Point 207

Table 3. Positions of Mean Planetary Nodes (January 1, 1980).

Heliocentric Geocentric
0 U Q U
Mercury 17V59 171059 271301 23X59
Venus 16H30 16X30 21=10 29X49
Mars 19V24 191024 7T28 8X29
Jupiter 10315 101315 10316 101305
Saturn 23330 23 >330 25304 221311
Uranus 14H01 14X01 12M31 15X12
Neptune 11Q33 11=33 12SJ29 10=30
Pluto 19354 191354 20308 191335
point of the Sun. The heliocentric Table 3 lists the celestial longitudes
north node of a planet is always op­ for both heliocentric and geocentric
posite its heliocentric south node. planetary nodes for January 1, 1980.
Heliocentric planetary nodes move
forward through the zodiac at an ex­ Nodical Month: See draconic pe­
tremely slow rate—about 1° per cen­ riod.
tury.
The geocentric planetary nodes are Nodical Period: See draconic pe­
the points where a planet's orbit in­ riod.
tersects the ecliptic, considered from
the viewpoint of the Earth. The geo­ Nonagesimal (or Zenith Projection):
centric north node and its corre­ The point of the ecliptic that is
sponding south node are rarely ex­ above the horizon and 90° from the
actly opposite each other, although Ascendant; the zenith projected
the nodes of Saturn, Uranus, Nep­ onto the ecliptic by an azimuth circle
tune, and Pluto range close to op­ that passes through the north and
position. The north and south nodes south ecliptic poles; in the Equal
of Jupiter can vary as much as a sign House System of house division, the
from opposition. The north and Tenth-House cusp. The nonagesimal
south nodes of Mars can vary as should not be confused with the
much as two signs from opposition. Midheaven, with which it rarely co­
The north and south nodes of either incides.
Venus or Mercury can have any as­
pect with each other, including con­ Noon Date: See progression and
junction. The geocentric nodes for direction.
planets outside the Earth's orbit os­
cillate around their corresponding Northern Angle: See Imum Coeli;
heliocentric nodes. The geocentric Midheaven.
nodes for Mercury and Venus, how­
ever, move forward through the zo­ North Node: See nodes.
diac at a varying rate, completing a
revolution in about a year. North Point: See horizon.
208 Nostradamus

Nostradamus (Latin name of Michel

de Notredame; December 14, noon,
St. Remy, France-July 2, 1566, Salon,
France): French physician and astrol­
oger. In 1555 he published a book of
rhymed prophecies under the title
Centuries, which has been frequently
reprinted and is the subject of many
commentaries. He correctly pre­
dicted the manner of death of Henry
II of France, gained the favor of Cath­
erine de Medicis, and was physician
to Charles IX.

Notredame, Michel de: See Nostra­

damus.

Nostradamus consulting the stars; anonymous

popular engraving. (Photo by Larousse.)
Occult (from the Latin occultus, hid­ Christian theologians regarded as­
den): Hidden, mysterious, not com­ trology, most of the great personages
prehensible to the uninitiated. The of the Middle Ages and the Renais­
occult arts (alchemy, astrology, sance had their official appointed as­
magic, necromancy, geomancy, car­ trologers. Pope Sylvester II, the Ger­
tomancy, numerology, palmistry, man emperor Frederick II, and
and so on) were believed to be con­ Alphonse X of Castile are a few ex­
cerned with supernatural forces and amples among many. In France, it
the methods of bringing these under was during the reign of the Valois
control. Some of these arts—for ex­ that astrologers were first received at
ample, alchemy and astrology—were court. After Charles V, who took as
once widely regarded as sciences. his astrologer Thomas de Pisan,
Since the Renaissance, however, sci­ father of the poet Christine de Pisan,
ence has been concerned more with the post was created of “physician­
observation and measurement and astrologer to the king," which after
less with meaning or value, and is the sixteenth century became simply
wary of any association with the su­ “astrologer to the king." The Bour­
pernatural. If a body of knowledge is bons continued the tradition, and it
widely published and scientifically was not until 1682 that Louis XIV
established, it ceases, by definition,
to be occult, for science is that which
is known. As this volume goes to
press, the Western world is witness­
ing an extraordinary revival of the Latitudiuei

J, o. j7 M-D
occult teachings, whose ultimate U O fj S.
d* 10 M.D
consequence may be the disappear­ J o- ij M A
S o. 4.7 F. D
ance of the distinction. a 1. m.d

Occultation: See eclipse.

Octile: See semisquare.

Official Astrologers: In spite of the

Horoscope of Louis XIV, cast by Jean-Baptiste
suspicion with which the majority of Morin.
210 opposition

Although the day of official astrol­

ogers in Europe and the leading de­
veloped countries is long since past,
political figures continue to consult
astrologers and prophets. The role of
Mme. de Thebes behind the scenes
of the Third French Republic has
often been cited, and in 1975 in Ar­
gentina, President Isabel Peron un­
leashed a storm of protest when she
appointed a prime minister who
practiced astrology. It also created a
scandal when Mme. Sirimavo, prime
minister of Sri Lanka, confided in as­
trologers, though politicians in the
East in fact consult astrologers with
great frequency. Of course, Theodore
Roosevelt always kept a weather eye The Astrologer Speaks: fresco in the Chateau de
Villeneuve-Lembron. (Photo by Giraudon.)
on his chart.
What is less well known is the use astrological reports that had been
that was made of astrology during prepared in 1933 based on the charts
World War II. The most important of the Fiihrer and the German Re­
Nazi leaders under Hitler—Rosen­ public of 1918. These reports cor­
berg, Himmler, and Hess—fre­ rectly predicted the outbreak of war
quently consulted astrologers. Goeb­ in 1939, the German victories until
bels was undoubtedly more skeptical 1941, the subsequent reversals, the
about astrological predictions, but he peace of August 1945, and the dra­
did exploit them in the interests of matic postwar recovery. The astrol­
propaganda against the Allied forces. oger responsible for these remarkable
After the mysterious flight into Eng­ predictions is not known.
land of Hess, the German leader In the Allied camp, astrology was
most closely connected in occult cir­ also enlisted into the war effort.
cles, on May 10, 1941, most of the Louis de Wohl, a Hungarian astrol­
leading German astrologers were ar­ oger who became an officer in the
rested, including Reinhold Ebertin British Intelligence Service, prepared
and the Swiss Karl Ernst Krafft. After reports on the charts of the leading
a year's imprisonment Krafft was set Nazis and anticipated the kind of ad­
to work by Goebbels's Propaganda vice they would be receiving from
Ministry preparing reports on the their astrologers.
charts of the Allied military leaders.
He died in the Oranienburg prison Opposition (symbol One of the
on January 8, 1945. major aspects recognized by classical
History has it that in April 1945 astrology, in which planets or impor­
Goebbels and Hitler sent for some tant points are opposite each other in
 orbit 211

the zodiac, or separated by half the needs. But this very conflict and the
circle, an angle of 180°. The Sun and tension it creates provide an oppor­
Moon form an opposition approxi­ tunity for growth, and as the oppo­
mately once a month at the time of sition is resolved, her life is enriched.
the Full Moon. Except for Mercury A chart without oppositions lacks
with Venus, or either with the Sun, motivation and objectivity.
any two planets can be in opposition. By transit, oppositions provide op­
The opposition has traditionally portunities to work on existing prob­
been regarded as malefic, though lems by shedding light on them.
less so than the square. This is pre­ Orbs for oppositions vary according
sumably because whereas the square to the speed of the planets involved;
usually unites signs of different po­ but according to some astrologers,
larities—for example, fire and water, orbs of 6° to 8° are acceptable, with
or earth and air—the opposition usu­ even greater allowances in the case
ally unites signs of the same polar­ of faster-moving planets such as
ity—for example, fire and air, or Mercury and the Moon (see orb).
earth and water. Alan Leo points out
that the opposition places planets in Opposition Midpoint: See mid­
a diametrical relation and may be point.
considered “an aspect of perfect
hatred, or on the other hand, of per­ Orb: A spherical space of variable
fect balance." Opposites may repel, size surrounding a planet or impor­
but they also attract. There may be tant point within which its influence
greater tension at the time of the Full or receptivity with respect to other
Moon, but there is also greater illu­ bodies is considered to operate; the
mination: Oppositions are associated radius within which an aspect is con­
with both separation and objectivity. sidered to be potent. (For a discus­
Modern astrologers tend to view the sion of the orbs allowed for the dif­
opposition as a challenge to growth ferent planets and aspects, see
through awareness of conflicting ASPECT.)
tendencies within the personality.
People with oppositions tend to Orbit: The path of a heavenly body,
alternate between the extremes rep­ called a satellite, in its revolution
resented by the two planets and around another heavenly body,
signs until awareness of their seesaw called a primary. The Earth and the
behavior leads to greater under­ other planets in our solar system are
standing. For example, a woman satellites describing orbits around the
born at the Full Moon, with Sun and Sun, which is the primary. The Moon
Moon in opposite signs and houses, is a satellite describing an orbit
will feel pulled in opposite direc­ around the Earth, which in this case
tions. The dictates of the ego, her is the primary. The orbital path of a
conscious goals and self-image, will satellite is elliptical and can be meas­
sometimes be in conflict with her un­ ured either by its mean distance from
conscious drives and emotional the primary or by its revolutionary
212 outer planets

period. An intersection of the plane

of one orbit with that of another is
called a node (see nodes). The Earth's
orbit is called the ecliptic.

Outer Planets: See modern planets.

Out-of-Sign Aspect: See aspect.

Ox (or Buffalo): The second sign of stubborn in their professional life,

the Chinese zodiac, including all per­ they are just as successful in manual
sons born between as in intellectual work. Their horror
of waste is proverbial, and they make
February 19, 1901, and February 8, 1902 (metal)
February 6, 1913, and January 26, 1914 (water)
excellent managers.
January 25, 1925, and February 13, 1926 (wood) On the emotional level, they can
February 11, 1937, and January 31, 1938 (fire) be tender and even sensual, but
January 29, 1949, and February 17, 1950 (earth) never romantic or passionate. Their
February 15, 1961, and February 5, 1962 (metal) reserve may cause them many dis­
February 3, 1973, and January 23, 1974 (water)
January 21, 1985, and February 9, 1986 (wood)
appointments in love and marriage.
Compatible signs: Cat, Cock, Mon­
Natives of the sign of the Ox are key, Pig, Serpent.
easy to get along with, even-tem­ Neutral signs: Dog, Horse, Rat.
pered, courteous, and discreet. Their Incompatible signs: Dragon, Goat,
level-headed manner inspires confi­ Ox, Tiger.
dence, and they immediately win the Famous Oxen include Aristotle, Jo­
sympathy of others, although the in­ hann Sebastian Bach, William Blake,
telligence behind their somewhat un­ Edgar Cayce, Charles Chaplin, Walt
polished facade sometimes goes un­ Disney, Adolf Hitler, Machiavelli,
recognized. They say little, but they Margaret Mead, Napoleon, Pundit
can be eloquent when their interests Nehru, Pierre Renoir, Peter Paul
are at stake. Their calm appearance Rubens, Henry David Thoreau, Vin­
is not a pose; yet their wrath is ter­ cent van Gogh, Daniel Webster, and
rible when they feel they have been William Butler Yeats. (See Chinese
betrayed. Precise, methodical, and ASTROLOGY.)
Pallas (glyph $ ): One of the four sider contraparallels as similar to
largest asteroids, discovered in conjunctions, others to oppositions.
1802. Zipporah Dobyns associates it (See antiscion.)
with politics and the women's move­
ment; Eleanor Bach with craftsman­ Paran (or Paranatellon): A relation­
ship, discipline, and government. ship between two planets that si­
multaneously cross the same angle
Pancratos: See Byzantium, astrol­ or two different angles in a birth
ogy in. chart. For example, if Venus crosses
the Midheaven at the same time that
Parallel (or Parallel of Declination): Saturn crosses the Ascendant, there
An aspect in which two planets have is a paran between the two planets.
the same declination on the same It is not necessary that the planets be
side of the celestial equator. Opin­ on the angles at the time of birth—
ion is divided on its significance, but only that they are coordinated to
most astrologers who use it consider cross the angles simultaneously. If
it similar to the conjunction, but of the crossing occurs after the birth mo­
longer duration. A rapt parallel is a ment, it will be by transit within a
parallel formed by primary direction few hours and by direction (see pro­
(see PROGRESSION AND DIRECTION). gression and direction) sometime
The parallel of declination was in­ in the native's life. Ptolemy took par­
troduced by Placidus. Long ne­ ans into account, and it is likely that
glected by astrologers, it is currently they were used by the ancient Ba­
enjoying a revival. Cosmobiologist bylonians, who were observing the
Reinhold Ebertin has written a major heavens constantly and—using the
work on the subject and includes foregoing example—would not fail to
parallels and midpoints of declina­ notice that Venus was culminating at
tion in all his studies. the same moment that Saturn was
A contraparallel is an aspect in rising. Unfortunately modem astrol­
which the planets have the same dec­ ogers, who consult ephemerides in­
lination on opposite sides of the ce­ stead of observing the heavens,
lestial equator. Some astrologers con­ must, in order to find parans, use a
214 Pars Portunae

rigorous procedure that involves In chart interpretation Fortuna, as

spherical trigonometry and takes into its name suggests, has long been re­
account the two planets' celestial garded as extremely benefic. Ptol­
LONGITUDE, CELESTIAL LATITUDE, emy associates it with inherited
RIGHT ASCENSION, and DECLINATION. wealth and general good fortune;
However, some reputable computer modern astrologers see it as positive,
services offer as an option the calcu­ but their approach is more psycho­
lation of parans. logical. Since it represents a relation­
ship between Sun (ego), Moon (in­
Pars Fortunae: See Part of Fortune. stinct), and Ascendant (body), it
seems to be a point of integration.
The activities associated with the sign
Partial Eclipse: See eclipse. and house in which it occurs are
those in which the native will be able
Partile Aspect: Exact aspect; the term to express himself most easily and
is seldom used by modern astrolo­ naturally and are consequently those
gers. in which he is most likely to succeed.
(See Arabian parts.)
Part of Fortune (also called Pars For­
tunae, Fortuna, or Lunar Ascendant; Penumbra: See eclipse.
symbol ®): The best-known of the
Arabian parts and the only one
Penumbral Eclipse: See eclipse.
widely used by modern astrologers. Peregrine: Literally, "foreign"; term
The Part of Fortune is obtained by used to describe a planet occupying
adding the celestial longitudes of a sign where it is neither dignified
the Moon and the Ascendant and nor debilitated (see debility; dig­
subtracting from the result the lon­ nity). It is seldom used today, except
gitude of the Sun. Thus the Part of in HORARY ASTROLOGY.
Fortune represents the position of
the Moon if the chart were rotated so Perigee (from the Greek peri, near,
that the Sun were on the Ascendant; and gaia, Earth): The point in the
in other words, the position of the Moon's orbit that is closest to the
Moon on a solar chart. According to Earth, or the moment when the
some authorities, the Part of Fortune Moon is at that point. (See apogee.)
should be calculated along the celes­
tial equator rather than the ecliptic, Perihelion (from the Greek peri,
that is, in right ascension. The Part near, and helios, Sun): The point in
of Fortune is represented by a circle a planet's orbit that is closest to the
containing a cross, a symbol that is Sun, or the moment when the planet
also used by astrologers and astron­ is at that point. (See aphelion.)
omers to represent the planet Earth.
De Vore points out that it is also the
ancient Chinese symbol Tien, “field," Period: See anomalistic period;
which was used by the Egyptians to draconic period; sidereal period;
signify territory. synodic period; tropical period.
 Pisces 215

Personal Points: In the Uranian sys­

tem and cosmobiology, a term used
to refer to Sun, Moon, Midheaven,
and Ascendant, which can be consid­
ered the most important and individ­
ualized factors in a birth chart.

Pig: The twelfth and last sign of the Rothschild, John D. Rockefeller, and
Chinese zodiac, including all persons Henry Ford, were all Pigs. Other fa­
bom between mous Pigs include Otto von Bis­
marck, Oliver Cromwell, Mahalia
February 11, 1899, and January 31, 1900 (earth) Jackson, Henry Kissinger, Federico
January 30, 1911, and February 18, 1912 (metal) Garcia Lorca, Ignatius Loyola, Mar­
February 16, 1923, and February 5, 1924 (water) shall McLuhan, and Marcel Marceau.
February 4, 1935, and January 24, 1936 (wood)
January 22, 1947, and February 10, 1948 (fire)
(See Chinese astrology.)
February 8, 1959, and January 28, 1960 (earth)
Piscean Age: See Aquarian Age.
January 27, 1971, and February 15, 1972 (metal)
February 13, 1983, and February 2, 1984 (water) Pisces (glyph X): The twelfth sign of
the zodiac, which the Sun transits
The Chinese do not regard the pig during the last month of winter, from
as the symbol of uncleanliness, as we about February 21 to about March 20.
do in the West. Natives of this sign The symbol for this sign is two fishes.
are obliging, chivalrous, and toler­ Its polarity is negative, its element
ant, both good sports and good los­ is water (see elements), its quality is
ers. However, their gentleness is mutable (see qualities), its modem
only on the surface; underneath, ruler is Neptune, its traditional ruler
they have authoritarian tendencies. is Jupiter (see rulership), and its
Eager to increase their knowledge natural house is the Twelfth.
and omnivorous readers, they are In Pisces the emotionality of water,
bom intellectuals. They are consci­ the impressionability of mutability,
entious and hardworking and are and the mysterious influence of Nep­
very well suited to business, medi­ tune combine to produce a creature
cine, architecture, and literature. who seems not quite of this world,
They are often disappointed in a "fish out of water." The two fishes
love, the victims of their own na­ of the glyph are swimming in oppo­
ivete. They must learn to choose their site directions, duality compounded
partners carefully. They make good by ambivalence. Ever conscious that
mates and parents. they are half body, half spirit, Pis-
Compatible signs: Dog, Goat, ceans—who include not only Sun­
Monkey, Ox, Pig, Rat, Tiger. sign Pisceans, but all in whose charts
Neutral signs: Cat, Cock, Dragon, the sign is emphasized—are pulled
Horse. this way and that, never exactly sure
Incompatible sign: Serpent. where they are headed but vaguely
The founders of the three great fi­ sensing that this world is not their
nancial dynasties, Meyer Amschal real home.
216 Pisces

life, they also have a greater capacity

for pleasure and for laughter.
Pisceans' ready sympathy, inno­
cent credulity, and instinctive ten­
dency to see the best in people usu­
ally bring them some difficult lessons
before they learn to stand up for
themselves and be more discriminat­
ing in their choice of companions.
For most Pisces people, learning to
say no is a lifelong project. Their in­
stinct is to trust without question and
to give without thought of reward.
These traits are the root of their reli­
gious depth, but they do not always
make for satisfying personal relation­
ships. Yet the "unluckiness" and
The image of the sea provides a "self-undoing" sometimes associated
clue to the Pisces personality. For with Pisces is by no means inevitable.
even a6 all streams, rivers, and sep­ They can do anything, once they
arate bodies of water must ultimately learn to take responsibility for their
flow into the sea, so Pisces people lives. For as the last sign in the zo­
long to merge their being with an­ diac, Pisces' potential for spiritual ev­
other's or lose themselves totally in olution is unlimited. At their best,
mystical communion with nature or these natives are capable of being "in
with God. Poets and dreamers, they the world, but not of it": combining
relate to the ideal more easily than to a profound understanding of the ma­
the real. They may try to make the terial world with an inspired vision
world come closer to their vision of ultimate reality, a clear perception
through dedicated service; they may of time with an ecstatic experience of
express their rich dream life through eternity.
art, music, or the theater; or they In love, Pisces idealism and self-
may choose to retreat into medita­ effacement can lead to some curious
tion, solitude, or drugs. partnerships. They may be drawn to
Pisces children are of all others the those who are handicapped in some
most addicted to make-believe and way; or on the other hand, they may
magic and will prolong the delightful seek a solid support for their own
fantasies of childhood as long as they delicate nature. They make highly
possibly can. They also have a pro­ erotic partners and devoted parents.
found love and understanding of Their most compatible signs are Can­
music, which seems to strike a sym­ cer, Scorpio, Capricorn, and Taurus;
pathetic chord almost from birth and Aquarius, Aries, Leo, and Libra are
will be a source of joy and comfort all neutral; while Gemini and Sagittar­
their lives. If they suffer more than ius are apt to be difficult. With an­
other children from the pettiness of other Pisces, there may be a deep
 planets 217

psychic bond. With Virgo, their polar Placidus de Titus (1603, Perugia, It­
opposite on the zodiac, there will be aly—1668, Pavia, Italy): Italian monk,
both tension and attraction; but ulti­ mathematician, and astrologer; au­
mately the question of compatibility thor of a revolutionary system of
can be answered only by careful com­ house division that bears his name
parison of two whole charts. and that is still used by the majority
In work, Pisceans will seldom be of modem astrologers. Placidus also
motivated by a desire for money or developed the technique of primary
fame. However, they often achieve directions (see progression and di­
both, especially in the arts, the thea­ rection).
ter, poetry, music, or dance. Al­ The widespread use of the Placi­
though shy, their love of illusion and dean system may be attributed in
their ability to get inside other peo­ large measure to the inclusion of Pla­
ple's skins sometimes draws them to cidus tables of houses in Raphael's
the stage or the cinema. Their open­ Ephemeris, which until recently has
ness to other levels of reality makes been the most widely available
them temperamentally suited to me­ ephemeris in the world. Many other
diumship, psychic healing, and the systems exist, and that of Placidus
ministry. In hospitals, prisons, and has been severely criticized on math­
social reform they can find a con­ ematical grounds. Margaret Hone re­
structive outlet for their spirit of self­ calls that when it was first brought to
sacrifice. Their theoretical intelli­ England, the Placidus system was
gence and universal perspective lend vehemently rejected. In 1711 a cer­
themselves to philosophy, astron­ tain Gibson denounced it in scathing
omy, mathematics, and physics. This terms, saying, "Here is nothing but
sign also has an affinity for profes­ Egyptian Absoluteness [a reference
sions involving the sea, fish, liquids to Ptolemy] and the power of monk­
(including wine and oil), chemicals, ish infallibility, zealously urged in
or plastics, all of which are ruled by Billingsgate rhetorick, all of which I
Neptune. Famous Sun-sign Pisceans could not read without just abhor­
include W. H. Auden, Meher Baba, rence and detestation." (See Ra­
Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Michel­ phael.)
angelo Buonarroti, Edgar Cayce,
Frederic Chopin, Nicolaus Coperni­ Placidus System: See house divi­
cus, Albert Einstein, Galileo Galilei, sion.
Victor Hugo, Henrik Ibsen, Jack
Kerouac, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Planetary Cycles: See cycle.
Michel de Montaigne, Ralph Nader,
Vaslaw Nijinsky, Rudolph Nureyev, Planetary Nodes: See nodes.
and Elizabeth Taylor. (See birth­
stones; colors; days of the week; Planetoids: See asteroids.
METALS.)
Planets (from the Greek planasthai, to
Placidean Arc: See progression and wander): In ancient astronomy and
DIRECTION. astrology, the seven seemingly
218 planets

“wandering" celestial bodies, as dis­ planet's position before it was ob­

tinguished from the fixed stars—that served in a telescope. A third modern
is, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Sun, planet, Pluto, was discovered in 1930
Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn; in modem by Clyde Tombaugh as a result bf
astronomy, all celestial bodies with research started in 1905 by Dr. Per­
no light of their own, except comets cival Lowell.
and meteors, which revolve around Astrology is based on the premise
the Sun of our solar system—that is, that the motions of the planets are
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupi­ related in a significant, observable
ter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, manner to events on Earth. Astrolo­
and the asteroids. Modern astrolo­ gers believe that the positions of the
gers usually retain the traditional ter­ planets at the birth of an individual
minology and refer to the Sun and constitute a symbolic language that
Moon as planets, although they are provides important information
well aware that the first is a star and about that individual's personality,
the second a satellite. Hence they character, and probable behavior.
work with ten “planets": Sun, Moon, The basic elements of this symbolic
Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Sat­ language for each planet are its po­
urn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto; sition with respect to the zodiac
heliocentric astrologers include the (sign), its position with respect to the
Earth as well. Earth's rotation on its axis (house),
The planets whose orbits lie inside and its position with respect to other
the Earth's orbit—Mercury and Ve­ planets (aspects).
nus—are called inferior; those whose Each planet is associated with one
orbits lie beyond the Earth's—Mars, (and in some cases two) signs of the
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, zodiac, which it is said to rule. When
and Pluto—are called superior. placed in such a sign, it is said to be
Planets are also classified accord­ at home, or in domicile; when
ing to their speed of motion. Those placed in the sign opposite its dom­
that take less than 2 years to com­ icile, it is said to be in detriment.
plete their orbits around the Sun— Each planet is also associated with a
Mercury, Venus, and Mars—are sign in which it is regarded as partic­
called fast-moving; those that take ularly powerful and where it is said
more than 2 years—Jupiter, Saturn, to be exalted, or in exaltation.
Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto—are When placed in the sign opposite its
called slow-moving, or heavy. exaltation, it is said to be in fall.
The ancients were aware only of The ancients classified the planets
those planets visible to the naked as masculine, feminine, and androgyn­
eye. Uranus was discovered in 1781 ous. Sun, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn
by William Herschel as a direct result were masculine; Moon and Venus
of the invention of the telescope; were feminine; and Mercury was an­
Neptune was discovered in 1846 as drogynous. They also classified the
a result of the calculations of the planets as benefic (favorable), malefic
French mathematician, Urbain Le- (unfavorable), or common (neutral).
verrier, who had determined the Jupiter and Venus, known respec­
 Pluto 219

tively as the Greater Fortune and the verse, to which he is connected by

Lesser Fortune, were considered be- many affinities and correspondences,
nefic; Saturn and Mars, known re­ an idea that is inherent in classical
spectively as the Greater Infortune and astrology. (See Greeks, astrology
the Lesser Infortune, were considered AMONG THE.)
malefic; and Sun, Moon, and Mer­
cury were regarded as common, that Pletho, Gemistus: See Byzantium,
is, either benefic or malefic, depend­ ASTROLOGY IN.
ing on the aspects they formed with
other planets. Many modem astrol­ Plotinus (A.D. 2057-270): Roman
ogers ignore these categories, which philosopher, the most important of
reflect an outmoded determinism, the Neoplatonists. Plotinus was born
and regard the planets as represent­ in Egypt and studied at Alexandria,
ing different energies that can be an ancient center for the teaching of
either positive or negative, depend­ Egyptian alchemy, astrology, magic,
ing on how they are used. and medicine. Plotinus believed in
The essential meanings of the astrology but argued against a fatal­
planets, unlike many other parts of istic interpretation of celestial influ­
astrological doctrine, is an area of ence. The Neoplatonists of Alexan­
basic agreement among astrologers dria were chiefly responsible for the
worldwide. These meanings have survival of serious astrology in the
been confirmed to a remarkable de­ West.
gree by the statistical studies of
Michel and Fran^oise Gauquelin Pluto (glyph $ or P): The most re­
and John Addey. (Further informa­ mote known planet of our solar sys­
tion about the planets is included un­ tem, discovered in 1930 by Clyde
der the individual entries for Sun, Tombaugh as a result of research
Moon, Earth, Mercury, Venus, started in 1905 by Dr. Percival Low­
and so on.) ell. Pluto is remarkable for the eccen­
tricity of its orbit, which sometimes
Platic Aspect (from the Greek platy- comes inside Neptune's and has an
kos, broad): An aspect that is wide, inclination to the ecliptic of 17°9'.
but operative, that is, within orb of Its diameter is probably no greater
exactitude; the term is seldom used than 4,000 miles, its mean distance
by modern astrologers. (See par­ from the Sun is 3,670 million miles,
tile.) and its sidereal period is 248.4 trop­
ical years.
Plato (ca. 427-347 B.C.): The greatest In astrology, Pluto is not generally
of the Greek philosophers. Plato is classified as either benefic or mal­
believed to have lived for a period in efic. Like the other modern planets,
Egypt and to have studied astrology, Uranus and Neptune, Pluto is seen
among other occult teachings, with as representing a powerful trans­
priests. Like Pythagoras, Plato forming energy whose positive or
taught that man is a microcosm, that negative value depends on the way
is, a miniature version of the uni­ it is used. Pluto bears the name of
220 Pluto

the Greek god of the underworld, collective phenomena; the masses,

counterpart of the Roman Dis. mass movements, the media, espe­
Regarded as a "higher octave" of cially television; networks, chains;
Mars, Pluto has been assigned rul­ the collective unconscious, mob psy­
ership of the sign of Scorpio, whose chology, anonymity, crowds; gangs,
traditional ruler was Mars. Hence it terrorism, fascism, holocausts, gen­
is in domicile in that sign and in ocide; cataclysms, volcanoes, land
detriment in the opposite, Venus- mines, submarines; atomic energy,
ruled sign of Taurus. The sign of nuclear fission, cell division; physics,
Pluto's exaltation has not been de­ chemistry, synthetics, plastics; can­
termined; some astrologers believe it cer; birth, death, rebirth; sexuality,
will prove to be Aquarius, which the orgasm, the kundalini, psychic en­
would place its fall in Leo. ergy, the chi; healing, purging,
The attributes of the modern cleansing, recycling; the return of the
planets are deduced by careful ob­ repressed, therapy, bioenergetic
servation, over a period of time, of therapy; psychic healing, the occult,
cultural trends that appear around and ESP. When afflicted, Pluto is as­
the time of their discovery. Some of sociated with compulsion, a drive for
the most important events of the power, a need for control, repres­
1930s were the rise of Nazism and sion, and violence.
fascism in Europe; the discovery of If the kind of power Pluto repre­
atomic energy; the laboratory perfec­ sents seems destructive, this is prob­
tion of television equipment and the ably because it is so new—or has so
rise of mass media; the growing pub­ recently impinged on our conscious­
lic acceptance of psychoanalysis; and ness—that the human race has not
the sudden prevalence of cancer. As­ yet learned to understand or control
trologers are beginning to associate it. Like the underworld after whose
Pluto with a subtle but powerful un­ lord it was named, the realm of Pluto
derground force that lies dormant inspires the fear of the unknown. But
within various collective systems and the unknown may hold help as well
bursts forth volcanically at a given as horrors. Thus Pluto rules not only
moment: the power of the masses death but the transcendence of
and the collective unconscious; the death: reincarnation, communication
invisible power of the atom; the with the dead, and immortality.
power of the unconscious, forcing to The following delineations are of­
the surface repressed memories fered to show some of the ways Pluto
locked within the cells; the dark, pro­ may operate in the signs and houses.
liferating force of cancer that works It should be remembered that they
insidiously within the body until it is are merely suggestions and that their
diagnosed. accuracy in any given case depends
Pluto's qualities are power, elimi­ on the overall strength and condition
nation, latency, eruption, annihila­ of Pluto in the chart as a whole, es­
tion, transformation, renewal, regen­ pecially the aspects it forms with
eration. It rules atomic, cellular, and other planets and important points.
 Pluto 221

Because of its highly eccentric or­ scarcity; John Dalton's understand­

bit, Pluto's period of transit is varia­ ing of the atomic structure underly­
ble: It may spend from 12 to 31 years ing nature.
in a sign. Its impact is more obvious Pluto in Aquarius (1778-97/98):
on an entire generation than on a sin­ French Revolution; Industrial Revo­
gle individual. However, individuals lution underway in Britain; first
in whose birth charts Pluto is angular steam engine; Thomas Paine's Rights
or closely aspected by Sun, Moon, or of Man; Kant's philosophy lends va­
Ascendant may be more closely at­ lidity to scientific observation. Con­
tuned to its energy in that particular tributions of this generation: Shelley's
sign and may express it in a more atheism; Michael Faraday's work on
conspicuous way. Bear in mind that electromagnetism; Samuel Morse's
the planet is simultaneously influ­ invention of the first magnetic tele­
encing the present, through cultural graph.
patterns and world events, and the Pluto in Pisces (1797/98-1822/23):
future, through the children born Romantic movement challenges Age
during those years.1 (See mundane of Reason; invention of the steam­
ASTROLOGY.) boat. Contributions of this generation:
transcendentalists Alcott, Emerson,
PLUTO IN THE SIGNS and Thoreau; the tragic vision of
Pushkin; the humanity of Victor
Pluto in Scorpio (1735/36-1746/47): Hugo; the melancholy of Poe; the
excavation of Herculaneum (sister renunciation of Kierkegaard; the dark
city of Pompeii); first successful ap­ romanticism of the Brontes; the mor­
pendectomy (1736). Contributions of bid sensibility of Baudelaire.
this generation: inventors James Watt Pluto in Aries (1822/23-1851/53):
and Joseph Guillotin, astronomer first railroad; Greek War of Inde­
William Herschel, revolutionaries Pa­ pendence; Belgian independence
trick Henry and Thomas Paine. from the Netherlands; social reforms
Pluto in Sagittarius (1746/47-1762): in Britain. Contributions of this gener­
the skeptical philosophy of David ation: rebels such as Ulysses S. Grant,
Hume reduces all cognition to ideas Henrik Ibsen, Leo Tolstoi, Emily
and impressions and undermines the Dickenson, Emile Zola.
notion of causality. Contributions of Pluto in Taurus (1851/53-1882/84):
this generation: the candid naturalism prosperity; Realpolitik; skepticism,
of Goya; the antirationalism of materialism; rise of Marxism; build­
Goethe and Blake, precursors of the ing of first subway; discovery of pe­
romantic movement. troleum; agrarian reform. Contribu­
Pluto in Capricorn (1762-78): Rous­ tions of this generation: the Curies and
seau's Social Contract undermines the the radioactive decay of matter; Max
authority of the state; British trade Planck and the confusion between
laws stir American colonists to rebel­ matter and energy.
lion. Contributions of this generation: Pluto in Gemini (1882/84-1912/14):
Malthus's law of population and breakthroughs in communication;
222 Pluto

development of aircraft; develop­ tween U.S. and China; birth control,

ment of psychoanalysis; discovery of rape, and abortion legislation; eu­
X rays; explicit sex in literature. Con­ thanasia legislation; radical changes
tributions of this generation: James in marriage and relations between
Joyce and D. H. Lawrence and the the sexes, consciousness-raising
exploration of the psyche in the groups, the Equal Rights Amend­
novel. ment, equal opportunity laws, the
Pluto in Cancer (1912/14-1937/39): gay rights movement, encounter and
rise of new dictators who stress glory dialogue therapies.
of the homeland; isolation of the nu­
clear family; female suffrage; bottle PLUTO IN THE HOUSES
feeding. Contributions of this genera­
tion: high respect for the "establish­ Pluto in the First House: powerful
ment"; deep unconscious ties to personality, psychic or healing abil­
home, mother, and country; sexual ity, connection to collective uncon­
guilt, breast fetishism, nationalism; scious, potential for self-transforma­
drive to accumulate material things tion, sexual orientation, reclusive
as an expression of emotional inse­ tendencies.
curity. Pluto in the Second House: resource­
Pluto in Leo (1937/39-1956/58): col­ fulness, drive to acquire material
lapse of the British and French colon­ things, transformation of values, tal­
ial empires; rise of new nation states; ent as healer or psychic.
growth of the entertainment indus­ Pluto in the Third House: penetrat­
try; introduction of television to the ing mind, psychological insight, in­
market (1945). Contributions of this tense communication, lonely child­
generation: the "hippies"; the pleas­ hood, probing of early experiences.
ure principle, "be here now," Wood- Pluto in the Fourth House: strong at­
stock nation, drugs, sexual freedom, tachment to home, mother, and the
sanctity of the individual, life as thea­ land; deep unconscious drives, po­
ter; the Beatles, Bob Dylan, and the tential for radical self-transformation,
renaissance in popular music. possibility of much repression and
Pluto in Virgo (1956/58-1971/72): armoring.
health food movement; growing Pluto in the Fifth House: compulsion
power of labor unions; introduction to create, powerful bonds with chil­
of psychedelic drugs; new methods dren, intense sexuality, great capac­
of birth control. This generation has ity for pleasure.
not been heard from yet, but they are Pluto in the Sixth House: compulsive
being influenced by the prevalent worker, vocation as healer, obsession
ideas of natural healing, concern for with health, diet, or cleanliness.
the environment, conservation of re­ Pluto in the Seventh House: char­
sources, and the antinuclear move­ isma, possibility of influencing large
ment. numbers of people, attraction to
Pluto in Libra (1971/72-1983/84): re­ powerful people, tendency to be
sumption of diplomatic relations be­ dominated in relationships.
 political astrology 223

Pluto in the Eighth House: interest in troversion and receptivity.

the occult, powerful personality, The polarities are sometimes re­
healing powers, strong sexuality, in­ ferred to as masculine and feminine,
tense experiences, strength in crisis, after Ptolemy, who also called them
understanding of death. diurnal and nocturnal, and fortunate
Pluto in the Ninth House: intellectual and unfortunate. "An alternating or­
leadership; drive to leam, travel, or der was assigned to [the signs] be­
teach; spiritual transformation, reli­ cause day is always yoked to night
gious fanaticism. and close to it, and female to male.
Pluto in the Tenth House: strong Now as Aries is taken as the starting-
public image, charisma, dominating point . . . and as the male likewise
father, immoderate ambition, under­ rules and holds first place, since also
standing of power, crises in career, the active is always superior to the
spectacular comebacks, authoritarian passive in power, the signs of Aries
tendencies. and Libra were thought to be mas­
Pluto in the Eleventh House: drive to culine and diurnal. ..."
transform society, tendency to dom­ The sexism implicit in Ptolemy's
inate friends and groups, group ther­ terminology—especially his identifi­
apy, attraction to communal living. cation of masculine with fortunate
Pluto in the Twelfth House: intense and feminine with unfortunate—is
inner life, therapy, psychic ability, rapidly falling out of style. In 1947 de
reclusive tendencies, power behind Vore wrote, "For some untenable
the scenes, celibacy or secret affairs. reason, the ancients deemed the neg­
ative signs to be unfortunate. . . .
Polarity: One of the basic ways in Nevertheless it can readily be seen
which signs are classified; a sign's that for objective results, public ac­
polarity is either positive or negative. claim, and personal glamor, the fire
The fire and air signs belong to the and air signs hold a certain advan­
positive polarity; the water and earth tage over the more self-contained
signs to the negative polarity. The and introspective earth and water
order of the signs through the zodiac signs." And Margaret Hone, writing
is one of alternating polarity—that is, in 1951, gives the coup de grace to this
every positive sign is followed by a antiquated notion: "The word nega­
negative one, and vice versa. Signs tive . . . does not carry the somewhat
of the positive polarity are character­ derogatory meaning now given to it
ized by extraversion and activity; conversationally. People with more
those of the negative polarity by in- strength of earth and water in their
1 For some of the delineations of Pluto in charts have a receptivity from which
the signs we are indebted to the following: they can again give out. They may
Robert Hand, Planets in Youth (Rockport, therefore gain what the self-expres­
Mass.: Para Research, 1977); Marcia Moore and
Mark Douglas, Astrology, The Divine Science sive person is too busy to notice."
(York Harbor, Me.: Arcane Publications, 1971);
Frances Sakoian and Louis Acker, The Astrol­ Political Astrology: See mundane
oger's Handbook (New York: Harper & Row,
1973). ASTROLOGY.
224 Porphyry system

Porphyry System: See house divi­ worship (the biblical "golden Calf")
sion. and by the building of pyramids and
temples. The Arian Age (about 2000
Posited (from the Latin ponere, posi- B.C.) was a time of exploration and
tum, to place): Placed; as of a planet conquest, when Jewish ritual in­
in a house. cluded the sacrificial offering of
lambs. Mithras, the Persian god who
Positive Signs (also called Mascu­ had been the "Sacred Bull," became
line, Diurnal, or Fortunate Signs): the Slayer of the Bull, while the As­
The signs of the fire and air triplici- syrian god Ashur, formerly "Great
ties, namely, Aries, Gemini, Leo, Li­ Bull," became a Martian god of war.
bra, Sagittarius, and Aquarius (see The Greeks venerated Pallas Athene,
polarity). dressed in armor with ram's horns
on her helmet, and Roman soldiers
Precessional Age (or Astrological wore ram's horns on their uniforms.
Age): The length of time it takes for The dawn of the Piscean Age at the
the vernal point to move backward beginning of the Christian era rep­
through one constellation of the si­ resented the beginning of a new zo­
dereal zodiac, as a result of the "wob­ diacal cycle, a new precessional year.
ble" of the Earth's axis about the The Piscean Age coincides with the
ecliptic pole, or approximately 2,150 Christian era, and Christian religion
years. A precessional age is approx­ is permeated with Piscean symbol­
imately one-twelfth of the time it ism. The early Christians identified
takes for the vernal point to precess themselves by the fish; Christ chose
through the entire zodiac, which is fishermen for his disciples, calling
25,800 years, known as the preces­ them "fishers of men"; Christianity
sional year. (See precession of the emphasizes the value of altruism,
EQUINOXES.) suffering, and otherworldliness—all
The precessional ages have a strik­ Piscean ideals.
ing relevance to the history of civili­ As humankind approaches the
zations, especially their religious ori­ year A.D. 2000, the decline or trans­
entation. Margaret Hone speculates formation of many of the values and
that the Leonian Age (about 10,000 institutions of Western civilization
B.C.) may have coincided with the seems to indicate that the world
legendary "golden age" of Sun wor­ stands on the threshold of a new age
ship; the Cancerian Age (about 8000 (see Aquarian Age).
B.C.) may have been the time of the
great flood and Moon worship; the Precessional Year: See precession of
Geminian Age (about 6000 B.C.) THE EQUINOXES.
probably saw the development of
writing and was definitely character­ Precession of the Equinoxes: The
ized by the worship of twin gods. continuous shift of the equinoxes
There is considerable existing evi­ backward through the sidereal zo­
dence that the Taurean Age (about diac, as a result of the slow revolu­
4000 B.C.) was characterized by bull tion of the Earth's axis of rotation
 precession of the equinoxes 225

most directly at it in A.D. 2095, after

which time it will gradually recede.
Over the millennia there have been
many North Stars: a Lyrae (Vega)
about 12,200 B.C., r Herculis about
10,000 B.C., t Herculis about 7300
B.C., i Draconis about 4500 B.C., a
Draconis (Thuban) about 2700 B.C.
(see Egypt, astrology in), (3 Ursae
Minoris (Kochab) about 1000 B.C., a
Ursae Minoris (Polaris) about A.D.
2000; and there will be many more.
At present the Earth's South Pole is
not oriented toward any star, but in
other epochs there have been and
will be South Stars, some of them
quite a bit brighter than Polaris.
One complete revolution of the
vernal equinox through the entire zo­
diac of constellations takes about
Figure 49. Precession of the equinoxes. The
25,800 years, a span of time known
magnetic effect of the Moon on the Earth's as the precessional year, or great year.
equatorial bulge causes the Earth's rotational The time it takes for the vernal
axis to revolve around the ecliptic axis, which point to move backward through
in turn causes the phenomenon of precession.
one of the twelve constellations is ap­
proximately 2,150 years, a period
about the ecliptic pole, itself caused known as a precessional age, or astro­
by the gravitational attraction of the logical age. Each precessional age has
Sun and Moon on the Earth's equa­ been given the name of the constel­
torial bulge (see figure 49). The phe­ lation where the vernal point oc­
nomenon of precession is said to curred. Thus the period when the
have been discovered by the Greek vernal point occurred in Aries (about
astronomer Hipparchus in 130 B.C., 2000 B.C. to the time of Christ) is
but recent findings of archeoastron­ known as the Age of Aries, or the
omy strongly indicate a knowledge Arian Age. The following period,
of precession in preliterate peoples (from the time of Christ to the pres­
millennia before Egyptian civiliza­ ent) in which the vernal point oc­
tion. curred in the constellation of Pisces,
Because of precession the Earth's is known as the Age of Pisces, or the
North Pole is oriented toward differ­ Piscean Age. At the present time the
ent stars in different epochs. For the vernal point occurs somewhere be­
past several centuries the North Star tween the bright stars in the con­
has been Polaris. The Earth's axis is stellation of Pisces and those in the
pointed at a spot less than a degree constellation of Aquarius. The un­
from that star in 1980 and will point certainty is due to the fact that the
226 precision

constellations, unlike the signs of the they have nothing in common but
zodiac, are of unequal size and have their names. (See Aquarian Age.)
no clearly defined boundaries. They
are simply groupings of unrelated Precision: The amount of exactitude
stars, the boundaries of which were in a statement of measurement. The
established by astronomers in 1930 degree of precision increases with the
for their own convenience. number of significant figures used. For
The precession of the equinoxes example, 12°51'22" (six significant fig­
has been a favorite weapon of critics ures) is more precise than 12°51.4'
of astrology, from Voltaire to twen­ (five significant figures), which in
tieth-century astronomers. The ar­ turn is more precise than 12°51' (four
gument runs that due to precession, significant figures). Astrologers are
which astrologers are presumed to often misled by the extremely precise
ignore, the signs of the tropical zo­ values usually given in an ephemeris
diac no longer express the “real'' po­ or table of houses, erroneously as­
sitions of the planets; that is, an Aries suming that maintaining this level of
is no longer an Aries, but really a precision in chart calculation will
Pisces, and so on. The fact is that make the chart more accurate. In fact,
astrologers have been aware of the no greater accuracy can be obtained
phenomenon of precession since be­ by employing calculations that are
fore the time of Ptolemy. They more precise than the least precise
would reply that the signs of the zo­ value entering the calculations. This
diac do not pretend to coincide with least precise value is generally the
the constellations, which have no birthtime, which at best is rounded
natural integrity or special reliability to the nearest minute.
as a frame of reference. In a vast sea Unless the birth second is re­
of space in which all the bodies are corded from a clock synchronized
constantly shifting at varying rates of with government-broadcast time sig­
speed, the zodiac is a frame of ref­ nals, the calculated local sidereal time
erence based on the most important (see time) should be rounded to the
celestial event in terms of life on nearest minute. Interpolation for
Earth: the intersection of the Sun's time in the table of houses, which
apparent path with the celestial ordinarily presents cusps at 4-minute
equator at the two points that mark intervals, should therefore be figured
the change in seasons for the planet. in nothing more precise than quarter
The 30° segment of the ecliptic that intervals. A minute of time amounts
follows the Sun's position at the to a difference of 15' of celestial
spring equinox is Aries; the 30° seg­ longitude on the Midheaven and
ment that follows that is Taurus, and can make a difference of up to 27' on
so on. Thus the signs of the zodiac the Ascendant at the birth latitude
are relative references; and they sit­ of New York City, 40' at the latitude
uate a planet or point in relation to of London, and 50' at the latitude of
the equinoxes rather than in relation Edinburgh. Thus, precision finer
to the constellations, with which than rounding to the nearest degree
 Pre-Columbian astrology 227

on house cusps is questionable and seconds of time. A difference of 5

depends on latitude and sidereal miles north or south is slightly more
time; at best no greater precision than than 4' of latitude. The resulting dif­
the nearest quarter degree should be ference on the Ascendant is not as
used. great as that resulting from a 1-min-
A minute of time amounts to a dif­ ute difference in time. In fact, even
ference of 30" to 36" of celestial lon­ when extremely precise terrestrial co­
gitude in the Moon's position; clearly ordinates for the actual place of birth
any precision finer than the nearest are known, they will not render the
minute of longitude—for example, chart more accurate if the birth time
figuring the Moon's position as has been rounded to the minute.
8°33'41" Taurus—is meaningless Longitude and latitude rounded to
when the birthtime has been the nearest quarter degree are suffi­
rounded to the nearest minute. On ciently precise. Interpolation for lati­
the other hand, each minute of time tude in the table of houses, like in­
amounts to a difference of only 2.3" terpolation for time, should be
to 2.6" of longitude in the Sun's po­ figured for quarter intervals.
sition; therefore, precision to the On the other hand, a case can be
nearest tenth of a longitude minute made for calculating with whatever
for the Sun—for example, rounding precision is available so that when
the Sun's position to 18°21.6' Can­ one attempts to rectify the birthtime,
cer—is still relevant and is certainly one will have a clear idea of one's
helpful in calculating a solar return. starting point. In other words, if the
Terrestrial longitude and lati­ place at least is known accurately,
tude are also often used with exces­ then one only has the dimension of
sive precision. Listings for these co­ time to worry about. (See rectifi­
ordinates are accurate for some cation.)
central location in a city or town, For appropriate precision in calcu­
such as the city hall or main post lating with birthtimes more vague
office; but big cities stretch over sev­ than to the minute, see chart cal­
eral miles, and the actual birthplace culation.
may be as much as 15 miles from the
central location. (The same may be Pre-Columbian Astrology: The van­
true of small-town births, which may dalism of the early conquerors and
actually have occurred in outlying ru­ the excessive zeal of such mission­
ral areas.) However, even when the aries as Father Landa, who burned
precise coordinates are not known, the Mayan library of Yucatan, are re­
the resulting error is negligible com­ sponsible for the rarity of ancient
pared with the imprecision deriving documents on the astrology practiced
from birth times rounded to the min­ by the Aztecs and Mayas. However,
ute. For example, a distance of 5 thanks to people like Fray Antonio
miles east or west of London's official de Marchena, who accompanied
longitude of 0W05 will only make a Christopher Columbus on his second
difference of 7' of longitude, or 28 voyage, and above all Jose d'Acosta,
228 Pre-Columbian astrology
there were added 5 so-called "use­
less” days. Each day of the year was
devoted to a different divinity,
whose feast was accompanied by nu­
merous sacrifices. The sacred year,
which consisted of 260 days, was di­
vided into 20 months of 13 days each
based on a zodiac attributed to the
god Quetzalcoatl.
Bernardino de Sahogun, a Spanish
Franciscan monk and contemporary
Mayan observatory in Yucatan, Mexico. (The of d'Acosta, lived in Mexico, where
Bettman Archive.) he learned the language of the inhab­
a sixteenth-century Spanish mission­ itants and recorded their customs.
ary, we have some indication of Pre- He was able to shed some light on
Columbian astrology. In addition, ar­ this zodiac, although it is still impos­
chaeological findings such as the re­ sible to determine the beginning and
cently discovered solar observatory end of each sign.
in Chaco Canyon, New Mexico, in­ The Swordfish, the first sign of the
dicate that the early inhabitants of sacred year, was extremely benefic,
the American continent had a de­ bringing honors and wealth. The sec­
tailed and sophisticated knowledge ond, the Jaguar, was much less aus­
of celestial cycles. picious. The third, the Stag, was am­
Early American astrologers had biguous, good or bad according to
several zodiacs. The first contained the day of birth. The fourth, the
twelve signs, like the European zo­ Flower, indicated an unhappy life; it
diac, with which it has a symbolic was usually the sign of women who
correspondence. The names of the went into prostitution. The fifth, the
signs that have survived are the Reed, endowed the native with an
Splendor of the Lamb (Aries), the unstable character. The sixth, Death,
Powerful Male (Taurus), the Joined was less macabre than its name
Stars (Gemini), the Sleeping Snake would indicate; during the time ruled
(Cancer), the Return of the Lance of by this sign it was forbidden to beat
the Hidden and Rampant Lion (Leo), one's slaves under pain of being en­
the Divine Mother (Virgo), the Lad­ slaved oneself. The seventh, Rain, a
der (Libra), the Eager Stag (Capri­ sign of ill omen, corresponded to the
corn), the Age of Waters (Aquarius). time during which criminals were ex­
The names of the signs correspond­ ecuted. Natives of the first day of this
ing to Scorpio, Sagittarius, and sign were doomed to celibacy. The
Pisces are not known. eighth, the Creeper, was no cause for
However, an older zodiac based on rejoicing; although it foretold the
the sacred year was very widely birth of many children, none of them
known. The secular year, which con­ could hope to live beyond the first
sisted of 365 days, was divided into years of adolescence. The ninth, the
18 months of 20 days each, to which Snake, was just the opposite, happy
 prime vertical 229

and prosperous. The tenth, the Rock, gods of the four cardinal points, the
was a sure indication of competence. gods and goddesses of the Sun (Kin-
The eleventh, the Monkey, granted ich Aham), the Moon (Ixchel), the
the highest honors, but only at the Rain (Chac), Death (Ahpuch), and
price of a premature death. The the Polar star (Xaman Ek), made up
twelfth, the Leopard, bestowed the a vast pantheon to which divinities
gift of perfect health. The thirteenth, from other places were often wel­
Movement, was a neutral sign, nei­ comed. . . . The world was com­
ther good nor bad, whose meaning posed of thirteen upper heavens and
had to be clarified by the observation nine lower heavens, each of which
of lunar eclipses. The fourteenth, the was ruled by a divinity. These gods
Dog, was particularly auspicious, al­ without number, great or small, good
though it was during this period that or bad, lived with the Maya, and pre­
judges pronounced death sentences. sided over every moment of their
The fifteenth, the House, was the lives."
most unfortunate of all, whereas the
sixteenth, the Vulture, distributed all Prenatal Chart: See conception
manner of felicity. The seventeenth, CHART.
Water, caused a neurasthenic tem­
perament, while the eighteenth, Prenatal Epoch: See conception
Wind, incited to treason. The nine­ CHART.
teenth, the Eagle, was not to be
trusted, for its destiny was slander. Primary: See orbit.
The twentieth, the Rabbit, was in­
dustrious and economical. Primary Arc: See progression and
According to Alexandre Volguine, direction.
one of the few contemporary astrol­
ogers who have compiled the scat­ Primary Direction: See progression
tered information on Pre-Columbian AND DIRECTION.
astrology, it was the day of birth
within the sign, rather than the sign Primary Point: An important or sen­
itself, that was significant. For ex­ sitive point in a birth chart, such as
ample, the ninth day of each sign the position of a planet, angle, node,
was distinctly unfortunate; the third or the Part of Fortune; as distin­
as well as the last four were favora­ guished from a midpoint, a point lo­
ble; the fourth and the seventh were cated halfway between two primary
neutral. points.
Mayan astrology was essentially
religious. The planets, like the con­ Prime Vertical: The great circle
stellations of fixed stars that the Sun passing through the East Point, ze­
passed through in the course of its nith, West Point, and nadir. Since
annual cycle, were part of Pre-Colum­ it is perpendicular to both the hori­
bian mythology. Max-Pol Fouchet, zon and the meridian, it defines the
who has written a scholarly study on third dimension to a location on the
the subject, writes, “The Bacabs, Earth's surface. The prime vertical
230 Prodrome, Theodore

coincides with the 90° azimuth circle travel in order to form an exact aspect
in the east and the 270° azimuth circle with a natal planet is translated into
in the west. Some systems of house years of age in the life of the native.
division use the prime vertical as the Progression is based on the actual
reference circle, dividing it into orbital motions of the planets along
twelve equal sectors and projecting the ecliptic, whereas direction is
the divisions onto the ecliptic to de­ based on the apparent motions of the
termine the house cusps. (See azi­ planets as a result of the Earth's ro­
muth; COSMOGRAPHY.) tation on its axis. Thus in progres­
sions, the bodies move at different
Prodome, Theodore: See Byzan­ rates of speed and sometimes in dif­
tium, ASTROLOGY IN. ferent directions (that is, they can be
retrograde), whereas in directions,
Progression and Direction: Two the bodies move at the same rate of
closely related systems for timing speed and in the same direction.
events or predicting future condi­ There are three main types of pro­
tions for a given individual based on gressions: secondary, or major, progres­
the motions of the Earth and other sions; tertiary progressions; and minor
planets in the days following (and progressions. These three types rep­
sometimes preceding) birth. In both resent ratios between the three basic
systems the positions of the planets, motions of the Earth: its daily rota­
Ascendant, and Midheaven in the tion on its axis; its annual revolution
natal chart are moved forward (or around the Sun; and its monthly rev­
backward) in time according to a olution, with the Moon, around their
given formula. common center of mass, which is
For example, in secondary progres­ about 3,000 miles from the Earth's
sions (sometimes called secondary di­ center—a period of 27.32 days.
rections), the system most widely In secondary progressions, a day
used by modern astrologers, the for­ in the ephemeris is considered equiv­
mula is "a day for a year." This alent to a year of life, a ratio of 1 to
means that each day following birth about 365. (The exact ratio used by
is regarded as equivalent to a year in most modem astrologers is 1 to
the life of the native, and the posi­ 36514, based on the solar day. How­
tions of the planets on the thirtieth ever, two outstanding technical as­
day after birth, for example, as well trologers of modern times, Cyril Fa­
as the aspects they form with natal gan and L. E. Johndro, used the
planets, are regarded as symbolic of sidereal day, giving a ratio of 1 to
conditions during the thirtieth year. 36614.)
In primary directions, on the other In tertiary progressions, a day in
hand, the formula is "a degree for a the ephemeris is considered equiva­
year"; that is, a degree of right as­ lent to a lunar period, a ratio of 1 to
cension is regarded as equivalent to 27.32. In minor progressions, a lunar
a year in the life of the native. Ac­ period is considered equivalent to a
cording to this system, the number year of life, a ratio of 27.32 to 365, or
of degrees a planet or point must 1 to 13.368.
 progression and direction 231

It will be seen that planets pro­ responds to 7 months, and 24 min­

gressed by the secondary method utes corresponds to 6 days; so the
move relatively slowly, yielding ACD is 7 months and 6 days prior to
fewer aspects than those formed by the birth date, or February 5. If we
the faster-moving tertiary and minor wish to find the progressed positions
progressions. However, those as­ of the planets for a date during the
pects that are formed are generally thirtieth year, we count 30 days after
considered to be more significant, birth date in the ephemeris—that is,
just as transits of the slower-moving October 11,1950. The positions listed
outer planets are considered more for that day are the progressed po­
significant than those of the faster- sitions for February 5, 1980. To cal­
moving inner planets. The method of culate their positions for dates other
tertiary progressions was developed than the ACD, find each planet's
in the twentieth century by the Ger­ daily motion, divide by twelve, mul­
man astrologer Edward Troinski. tiply by the number of months be­
Finally, bodies may be “regressed” tween the ACD and the desired date,
as well as progressed. In converse sec­ and add or subtract that interval to
ondary progressions, a day before birth or from the ACD. In the case of con­
in the ephemeris is considered equiv­ verse progressions, one works with
alent to a year of life. These converse the converse ACD, which is found
directions are regarded as significant, by adding instead of subtracting the
but less potent. correct interval from the birth date.
The calculation of secondary pro­ The progressed positions of the
gressions is greatly simplified by the planets for a given date are some­
use of the Adjusted Calculation Date times entered on an outer wheel of
(ACD, sometimes called Noon Date, a natal chart like transits, for com­
a confusing expression that should parison with their natal positions; but
be avoided). To find it, one translates sometimes the astrologer calculates
the difference between the birthtime a new chart, called the progressed
and the time given in the ephemeris horoscope. To find the progressed
from hours and minutes into months Ascendant, one can either find the
and days. Secondary progressions local sidereal time (see chart cal­
are based on the formula “a day for culation) for the day that corre­
a year.” Since 24 hours are consid­ sponds to the year in question or one
ered equivalent to 12 months, it fol­ can add to the natal Midheaven a
lows that 2 hours are equivalent to 1 value known as the solar arc. The so­
month, 120 minutes are equivalent to lar arc is the amount of longitude the
30 days, and 4 minutes are equivalent Sun has traveled between the birth­
to 1 day. day and the day that corresponds to
For example, let us find the ACD the year for which the planets are
for a birth occurring September 11, being progressed. To find the solar
1950, at 2:24 P.M. GMT. Assuming arc for the thirtieth year, for example,
that we are using a midnight ephem­ simply subtract the Sun's longitude
eris, this is 14 hours 24 minutes after on the birthday in the ephemeris
the prior midnight. But 14 hours cor­ from the Sun's longitude 30 days
232 progression and direction

later in the ephemeris. In calculating ascension; solar arc directions, which

a progressed Ascendant, many as­ are measured along the ecliptic in ce­
trologers use the latitude of birth, but lestial longitude; and solar declina­
some use the latitude of the place the tion arc directions, which are meas­
native now resides, as in solar and ured in declination. To illustrate all
lunar returns. three types, imagine that it is the first
Secondary progressions are based day of spring in the Northern Hem­
on the theory that there is a mean­ isphere, with the Sun at exactly 0°00'
ingful relationship for the human Aries, and that it is true local noon,
psyche between the Earth's diurnal so that the Midheaven is also at 0°
rotation on its axis and its annual or­ Aries. Now let 10 days pass. In that
bit around the Sun. Thus the motions time the Sun will have moved 9°02'
of the planets in the days following along the equator by primary arc and
birth and the aspects that the trans­ 9°50' along the ecliptic by solar arc,
iting planets form to the natal planets and its declination will have in­
in those postpartum days are be­ creased from 0°00' to 3°54' north.
lieved to represent the native's inner These are the three arcs that can be
development in the corresponding added to all bodies in order to direct
years. For example, in July 1925 Mar­ them. Of the three methods, primary
garet Mead's natal Sun at 23°57' Sag­ directions are the most difficult to
ittarius had moved by progression to calculate and depend for their accu­
18° Capricorn, where it was exactly racy on a precise birthtime; an error
conjunct natal Ascendant and Jupiter of 4 minutes can throw off predic­
and closely applying to a conjunction tions by as much as a year. For these
with progressed Saturn. The Sun reasons they are often neglected by
represents the creative self, the As­ modern astrologers. However, solar
cendant the physical body, and Sat­ arc directions are easy to calculate
urn, responsibility and duration; in and unaffected by errors in the birth­
addition, Saturn is the ruler of time; they are widely used by mod­
Mead's chart. This was the time that em astrologers, especially in Europe.
she first set sail for Samoa, thus be­ In solar arc directions, the solar arc
ginning her career as an anthropol­ is added to all the planets, but not
ogist. The configuration of pro­ to the Ascendant or Vertex. The
gressed planets at the outset of this method of finding the progressed
adventure indicates that this young Ascendant has already been de­
woman was launched on a voyage scribed; the progressed Vertex is
that would take her far; that although found by adding the solar arc to the
only twenty-three, she had found Imum Coeli, using the result as the
not only herself but her life's work. Midheaven, and looking up the As­
There are three main types of di­ cendant for the colatitude of the
rections: primary directions (also called birthplace (see Vertex).
primary arcs, equatorial arcs, and Pla- The difference between the natal
cidean arcs), which are measured and the progressed Ascendant for
along the celestial equator in right the birth latitude is called the Ascend­
 psychoanalysis 233

ant arc; the difference between the rigor and their dependence on exact
natal and progressed Vertex for the birth information, primary directions
birth colatitude is called the Vertical have been largely abandoned as a
arc. All bodies may be directed in predictive tool in favor of transits,
turn by these two arcs, in declination progressions, solar arc directions,
as well as in longitude; these meth­ and the solar return. However,
ods are known as Ascendant arc direc­ precisely because of their exactitude,
tions and Vertical arc directions. It is directions are a potentially important
also possible to move bodies back­ tool for astrologers; and with the ad­
ward in time by primary, solar, and vent of modem calculators and com­
declination arc; these methods are puters, it is once again practicable to
known as converse directions. put these often neglected methods to
Radix directions are a form of solar empirical test. Existing texts on di­
arc directions in which the Mid­ rections include Simmonite's Arcana,
heaven, Sun, and planets are moved Pearce's Textbook of Astrology, De
forward at the rate of 0°59'8y3" per Luce's Complete Method of Prediction,
year, which is the Sun's mean diur­ and Jayne's Progressions and Direc­
nal motion, known as the major, or tions.
Naibod, arc. The Moon is moved for­
ward at the rate of 13°11' per year, Promittor (archaic Promissor): Liter­
which is its mean diurnal motion, ally, “one who promises"; in classical
known as the minor arc. astrology, a planet that promises
Symbolic directions are a form of di­ good or ill according to its sign,
rections used by Charles Carter house, and aspects in the natal chart
based on formulas that have no ap­ and fulfills that promise when an­
parent basis in astronomy. The ex­ other planet or important point,
ception, according to Charles Jayne, called a significator, forms an as­
is the formula by which the Mid­ pect to it by progression, direction
(see PROGRESSION AND DIRECTION), Or
heaven, Sun, and planets are moved
forward at the rate of 74 ° per year, transit. The distance the significator
which represents the extra quarter of must travel to form an aspect to a
a day in both the sidereal and the promittor is called the arc of direction.
tropical year. The terms are used mainly in direc­
The concept of direction is at least tions and in horary astrology. (See
HORARY ASTROLOGY.)
as old as Ptolemy. De Vore points
out that ancient astrologers did not Psellus, Michael Constantine: See
have access to written ephemerides, Byzantium, astrology in.
and progressing or directing planets
was a way of obtaining approximate Psychoanalysis: The therapeutic
information. The technique of pri­ method developed by Sigmund
mary direction was expounded by Freud; its concepts and terminology
Ptolemy and further developed in the are often used by modem astrologers
seventeenth century by Placidus de in interpreting birth charts. It is gen­
Titus. Because of their mathematical erally agreed that the unconscious
234 Ptolemy, Claudius

and dream life are ruled by the Moon

and Neptune; the ego, or conscious
self, corresponds roughly to the Sun;
and the superego is ruled by Saturn,
and to some extent the Midheaven.
Saturn also governs the reality prin­
ciple and repression. The sex drive
and aggression are ruled by Mars,
and the sexual energy itself by Pluto.
The id seems to partake of both
Moon and Mars, and to some extent
the Imum Coeli. Neurosis and psy­
chosis are associated with hard as­
pects, especially when numerous or
when involving the Sun or Moon.

Ptolemy, Claudius (A.D. 100-178):

Greek astronomer and astrologer
who lived in Alexandria. Ptolemy
was one of the greatest scholars of Claudius Ptolemy Inspired by Astronomy: six­
antiquity, with an encyclopedic teenth-century German engraving illustrating
knowledge that embraced mathemat­ Reisch's Margarita Philosophica. In the left fore­
ics, geography, music, optics, and ground is an armillary sphere. (Photo by Viol-
let.)
the art of making sundials. In his
Mathematike Syntaxis, which the Ar­ angular relationships they have from
abs called the Almagest, he not only the viewpoint of Earth.
catalogued three hundred new stars Ptolemy's main astrological work
but gave an explanation of the mo­ is the Tetrabiblos, a treatise in which
tions of the planets that was gener­ he compiled the knowledge of the
ally accepted until the sixteenth cen­ ancients and tried to make it into a
tury. According to the so-called unified whole. He classified the as­
Ptolemaic system, which developed pects, established the system of rul­
and systematized the ideas of pre­ ership, and explained the fundamen­
vious thinkers, especially Appolon- tals of judgment. He also attempted
ius and Hipparchus, the Earth was to explain how astrology works in
the fixed center of the universe terms of the astronomy and physics
around which the Sun, stars, and of his day. The fact that his under­
planets revolved in concentric orbits standing of celestial dynamics was
called spheres. This geocentric con­ limited to apparent motion led him
ception, which was attacked by Cop­ to some curious contradictions; and
ernicus, does not invalidate Pto­ his rulership system, based on the
lemy's astrological ideas; in astrology theory of the elements, now seems
what matters is not the actual posi­ somewhat arbitrary. His theory of
tions of the planets in the sky but the polarity inspired de Vore to com­
 Pythagoras 235

pare him to Freud “in that he seemed traveled widely in search of wisdom,
bent on reducing everything to terms probably to Egypt, since he appar­
of sex." Despite these shortcomings, ently introduced to the West the an­
his contribution to astrology is con­ cient Eygptian doctrine of metempsy­
siderable, especially in view of the chosis, or the transmigration of souls.
meager tools at his command. Not About 530 B.C. he settled in Crotona,
only did he organize a vast and het­ a Greek colony in southern Italy. Py­
erogeneous body of information; he thagoras left nothing in writing,
helped to establish ethical principles and his doctrines are known only
by stressing the proper use of astrol­ through his disciples. The best
ogy, the value of experience in form­ known of these is the music of the
ing judgments, and the necessity of spheres, the idea that the intervals
weighing such nonastrological fac­ between the spheres of the planets
tors as education and environment. correspond to the tones of the mus­
(See geocentric system; Greeks, as­ ical scale and that the movements of
trology AMONG THE.) the planets along these spheres pro­
duce an ethereal harmony. Pythago­
Pythagoras (ca. 580-500 B.C.): Greek ras also believed that the human
philosopher, mathematician, and as­ being is a microcosm, or miniature
tronomer, founder of the Pythago­ version of the universe, and is con­
rean school. Pythagoras and his fol­ nected to it by numerous affinities
lowers were the first to conceive of and correspondences. These last two
the Earth as a sphere, self-supported doctrines are intimately related to as­
in empty space, revolving with the trology. While it is not known
other planets around the Sun. Thus whether Pythagoras taught or prac­
they anticipated the heliocentric the­ ticed astrology, belief in the influence
ory of the universe, and Copernicus of the heavenly bodies on human af­
acknowledges his debt to their ideas. fairs is implicit in much of Pythag­
The Pythagoreans developed the orean doctrine, and astrologers
concepts of equation and proportion, throughout history have been influ­
which are common to all branches of enced by his ideas. Pythagoras' ideas
mathematics. For making this contri­ on the meaning of numbers are tak­
bution to the scientific method, the ing on renewed importance in the
Encyclopedia Britannica calls Pythago­ light of harmonic theory and the de­
ras "fully comparable to Descartes." velopment of an integral astrology by
Pythagoras is believed to have John Addey and others.
Qabbala (or Qabbalah): See cabala. fixed signs are Taurus, Leo, Scorpio,
and Aquarius; and the mutable signs
Qarra, Thabit ibn: See Islam, as­ are Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and
trology IN. Pisces. The cardinal signs are char­
acterized by outgoing energy and in­
Quadrant (from the Latin quattuor, itiative; the fixed signs by persistence
four): One of the four quarters of a and resourcefulness; and the mutable
horoscope, defined by the cusps of signs by adaptability and service.
the four angular houses, and in Some astrologers have made an anal­
many systems of house division, by ogy with physics, in which the car­
the intersecting axes of meridian and dinal quality corresponds to centrif­
horizon. Each quadrant contains ugal force, or to energy itself; the
three houses. fixed quality corresponds to centri­
petal force, or to matter; and the mut­
Quadrant System: See house divi­ able quality corresponds to wave mo­
sion. tion, or to information.

Quadruplicity: A group of four signs Quartile: See square.

belonging to the same quality (see
qualities); there are three quadru- Querent: See horary astrology.
plicities, corresponding to the three
qualities. For example, the cardinal Quincunx: (symbol a): A minor as­
quadruplicity consists of Aries, Can­ pect that may have been discovered
cer, Libra, and Capricorn. by Morin; it combines planets five
signs apart, or 150°. Opinion is di­
Qualities: (also called Modes or vided as to whether it is favorable
Quadruplicities): The three types of or unfavorable, potent or negligible.
energy—cardinal, fixed, or mutable— Since it brings together signs whose
which provide one of the two pri­ elements are not in harmony, its
mary classifications of the signs of energies may be difficult to integrate.
the zodiac, the other being the ele­ Lying as it does midway between the
ments. The cardinal signs are Aries, trine (120°, an aspect of understand­
Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn; the ing) and the opposition (180°, an as­
 Rat 237

pect of objectivity), it is sometimes Raphael (born R. C. Smith): Pub­

associated with a kind of offbeat wis­ lisher of an ephemeris that first ap­
dom. It is considered by many as­ peared in 1800 and is still the best
trologers to have a connection with known in the world. Originally in­
health. There are probably as many cluded in an almanac of mixed infor­
qualities of quincunxes as there are mation, the astrological section was
combinations of signs, and it is to the eventually published separately. Ra­
particular blend in question that one phael's Ephemeris is now issued an­
should look for clues to its meaning. nually and contains not only plane­
Thus the Leo-Pisces quincunx is dra­ tary positions, lunar nodes, aspects,
matic; the Gemini-Capricorn quin­ lunations, ingresses, eclipses, and
cunx, scientific, and so on. The quin­ sidereal time, but also tables of
cunx is usually assigned an orb of 2°; houses for the latitudes of London,
slightly more if the Moon is involved. Liverpool, and New York based on
(See DOUBLE QUINCUNX.) the system of house division of the
Italian monk Placidus de Titus. In­
Quintile (symbol ★): A minor aspect deed, the widespread use of the Pla-
introduced by Kepler that combines cidean system can be attributed in
planets separated by one-fifth of the large measure to the success of Ra­
zodiac, or 72°. The quintile is gener­ phael's Ephemeris, which lent it a cer­
ally regarded as favorable; it has been tain authority and introduced it to
associated with both talent and many areas where no other tables
power. It is usually given an orb of were available.
1° to 2°.
Rapt Parallel: See parallel.
Radical: Pertaining to the radix, that
is, the original chart; as, the radical Rat: The first sign of the Chinese zo­
positions of the planets. diac, including all persons born be­
tween
Radical Chart: See birth chart.
January 31, 1900, and February 19, 1901 (metal)
February 18, 1912, and February 6, 1913 (water)
Radix: Literally, "root." The original February 5, 1924, and January 25, 1925 (wood)
chart, the foundation of all astrolog­ January 24, 1936, and February 11, 1937 (fire)
ical study for a given individual, February 10, 1948, and January 29, 1949 (earth)
event, etc., as distinguished from a January 28, 1960, and February 15, 1961 (metal)
directed or progressed chart for the February 15, 1972, and February 3, 1973 (water)
February 2, 1984, and January 21, 1985 (wood).
same individual or event at a later
date (see progression and direc­

J
tion).

Radix Direction: See progression

AND DIRECTION.

RAMC: See meridian, right ascen­

sion.
238 rational horizon

Nervous, anxious, meddling, and Rectification: A procedure designed

aggressive, natives of the sign of the to correct an uncertain birthtime by
Rat manage to atone for these faults working backward from known
with their devastating charm. Lovers events in the native's life or known
of pleasure, good food, and gam­ traits of his or her personality. Given
bling, they have a tendency to take times of birth can be very inaccurate
advantage of those around them, (see birthtime). An error of only 4
which sometimes gets them in trou­ minutes of time will shift the Mid­
ble. On the positive side, their great­ heaven by 1°, which in many modes
est virtues are their fundamental of direction represents about a year
honesty, their analytical minds, and of time! It is obvious that if the birth­
their creativity. A great many of time is inaccurate, it will be difficult
these natives are tradespeople, civil to interpret the chart correctly and
servants, accountants, businesspeo­ still more difficult to forecast with it.
ple, or writers. Capable of placing Many methods of rectification are
their personal happiness after that of employed, all of them controversial,
the people they love, sentimental subject to error, and highly depen­
without being affected, they make dent on the skill and experience of
perfect lovers. the astrologer. Many modem astrol­
Compatible signs: Monkey, Pig, ogers study transits, progressions,
Rat, Serpent. and directions to and by the Ascend­
Neutral signs: Cock, Dragon, Ox. ant and Midheaven in an attempt to
Incompatible signs: Cat, Dog, isolate sensitive degrees that recur
Goat, Horse, Tiger. with significant frequency at the time
Famous Rats include Lucretia of major events (see progression
Borgia, Marlon Brando, Charlotte and direction; transit). Such
Bronte, Truman Capote, Pablo Ca­ events include honors, promotions,
sals, Galileo Galilei, Heinrich Him- changes of residence, marriage, birth
ler, Henrik Ibsen, Richard Nixon, of children, death of parents, acci­
Georges Sand, William Shakespeare, dents, operations, and illnesses. The
Leo Tolstoi, George Washington, followers of Alfred Witte's Uranian
and Smile Zola. (See Chinese as­ system and Reinhold Ebertin's cos-
trology.) mobiology make much use of mid­
points and planetary pictures in com­
Rational Horizon: See horizon. bination with solar arc directions.
Reception: In classical astrology, Charles Jayne includes the Vertex
condition of a planet occupying a among the angles to be considered
sign not its own; such a planet is said and recommends the use of solar arc
to be "received" by the ruler of that directions in longitude, since they are
sign. For example, when Mercury is unaffected by errors in birthtime. He
in Aries, it is received by Mars. (See also finds adverse events to be more
MUTUAL RECEPTION.) useful, especially the deaths of par­
ents, which are most often associated
Reci, Abraham ben: See Hebrews, with hard aspects of Saturn (men)
ASTROLOGY AMONG THE. and Pluto or Neptune (women).
 relativity, theory of 239

Jayne, who has been rectifying to karmic relationships that persist

charts for over thirty years, calls rec­ over several lifetimes. (See esoteric
tification "probably the single most ASTROLOGY.)
important technique an astrologer
can master." However, it is an ex­ Relationship Chart: See composite
tremely complex and demanding op­ CHART.
eration that should . be attempted
only by those with an advanced Relativity, Theory of: A physical
working knowledge of astrology. view of the universe whereby the
Two good texts are Gustav Schwick- concepts of time and space are not
ert's Rectification and Charles Jayne's regarded as absolute entities but as
The Technique of Rectification. interdependent variables in a cosmic
fabric known as space-time. The idea
Recurrence Cycle: See cycle. was originally proposed by Albert
Regiomontanus (bom Johann Einstein in 1905 and later expanded
Muller; June 6, 1436, Konigsberg— by him into a general theory. Accord­
July 6, 1476, Rome): German mathe­ ing to relativity, it cannot be dem­
matician, astronomer, and astrolo­ onstrated in any absolute sense that
one object is stationary while another
ger. Regiomontanus founded an ob­
object moves about; all motion is rel­
servatory and printing press in
ative to one's local frame of refer­
Nuremberg, where he observed the
comet afterward known as Halley's ence. What appears to be gravita­
tional "force" is merely a local
comet. He published some of the ear­
deviation in the geometry of space­
liest ephemerides, including those
time. Objects follow paths (such as
used by Columbus; indeed, they
planetary orbits) not because of some
were those most widely used until
mysterious force but because the ge­
Raphael. Pope Sixtus IV summoned
ometry of the region necessitates
him to Rome to assist in reforming
such paths (which are called world
the calendar. He translated Ptolemy's
lines, or geodesics).
Almagest and is credited with origi­
For example, a massive body such
nating a system of house division
as the Sun produces a curvature in
widely used until about 1800.
the geometry of its region of space­
Regiomontanus System: See house time; a less massive object nearby,
DIVISION. such as the Earth, follows a geodesic
in that curved region. Relativity over­
Reincarnation: The belief that the throws Euclidean geometry, which
soul survives death and is reborn in asserts that the most efficient path is
other bodies, each of these different always a straight line. Each region
lifetimes constituting an incarnation. has its own special geometry, and the
The doctrine is implicit in much of most efficient path in that region is
astrological thought, especially that the geodesic special to that region. It
of the esoteric school. Some astrolo­ is always possible to regard the Earth
gers regard the nodes of the Moon as stationary if we do not adhere to
as clues to reincarnation, especially Euclidean geometry.
240 Renaissance, astrology in the

But the implications of relativity

lend more support to astrology than
a mere justification of a geocentric
frame of reference. Pre-Einsteinian
physics asserted that the more mas­
sive an object was, the more force it
would have and that that force would
diminish with increasing distance
from the object. One of the principal
criticisms directed against astrology
is that it presupposes that a small
planet, such as Mercury, or a remote
planet, such as Pluto, might have as
much influence on the Earth as a
massive planet, such as Jupiter, or a
close planet, such as Mars. Experi­
ments verifying relativity have dem­
Illustration for the sign of Taurus from the
onstrated that photons—particles of Shepherds' Almanac, published in 1491.
light—bombarding the Earth exhibit
the same energy irrespective of the Kepler (1571-1630), who discovered
mass or distance of their source. the laws governing the elliptical or­
bits of the planets and is regarded as
Renaissance, Astrology in the: The the father of modern astronomy,
fifteenth and sixteenth centuries made his living as an astrologer. In­
were the golden age of astrology in tellectuals sympathetic to astrology
the West. Contributing factors were included philosophers Giordano
the revival of classical culture, which Bruno (1548-1600) and Pierre Gas­
was now no longer confined to Ar­ sendi (1592-1655), physician Michael
istotle as interpreted by Averroes; the Servetus (1511-53), and writers Fran­
invention of the printing press, cois Rabelais (1494-1553) and Pierre
which permitted the publication of de Ronsard (1524-85).
astrological treatises; and the ad­ However, astrology was not sim­
vances in astronomy. One should ply a phenomenon of philosophers,
also mention the decline in the power scholars, or artists. It was also pop­
of the Church and a new sense of ular among ordinary people. There
independence that ignored the an­ was a great proliferation of astrolog­
cient condemnations. Among the ical almanacs, including the famous
great minds of this age there were Great Kalendar and Compost of Shep­
few who were not convinced of the herds, published in 1493 and re­
validity of astrology. Tycho Brahe printed countless times. This craze,
(1546-1601), the great Danish astron­ which was accompanied by magical
omer who vastly improved the art of practices of all kinds, assumed such
observation, was a practicing astrol­ proportions that King Francis I of
oger and an outspoken champion of France passed an edict against the
astrology. And his student Johannes printers of almanacs that was upheld
 retrograde 241

by the Estates General of Orleans

(1560), Blois (1579), and Bordeaux
(1583). These measures had very little
effect, as did the banning of astro­
logical treatises and the condemna­
tion of astrology in 1563 by Popes
Sixtus V (Constitutio Coeli et Terrae)
and Urban VIII (Constitutio inscruta-
bilis). However, these attempts at
suppression were much more con­
cerned with the current tendency to
combine astrology with magic or sor­
cery than with the art of casting hor­
oscopes, provided allowance was
made for man's free will.
The Protestants, too, were divided
on the issue of astrology: Luther and Figure 51. Retrogradation of a superior
Melanchthon were in favor, Calvin planet.
opposed. Luther wrote a preface to fact, the backward motion is an illu­
an astrological work in which he re­ sion created by the revolution of the
marked, "the signs in the sky and on planets and the Earth in their con­
the earth should not be overlooked, centric orbits around the Sun (see fig­
since they are the work of God and ures 50 and 51). A similar illusion
the angels." By the end of the Ren­ often occurs on a train when another
aissance, astrology, having survived train that is moving less rapidly than
the intermittent disapproval of the that of the observer appears to be
Church, would have to face a much moving backward.
more formidable enemy, one that In chart interpretation, retrogra­
succeeded in undermining her re­ dation was traditionally regarded as
spectability and paralyzing her prog­ a debility, a weakening of the planet's
ress for 200 years: the rise of ration­ influence. Many modern astrologers
alism, skepticism, and materialism, associate it with delay or confusion
and the advance of modern science. in the activities ruled by the planet.
For example, since Mercury rules
Research in Astrology: See statis­ communication and business, it is
tics AND ASTROLOGY. not recommended to sign contracts
or undertake writing projects when
Retrograde: A term used to describe Mercury is retrograde. These are the
a planet that appears from the Earth periods when letters go astray, ap­
to be moving backward through the pointments are missed, and com­
zodiac, from east to west, against the munication breaks down. Another
order of the signs. This phenome­ theory, advanced by Dane Rudhyar,
non, which is inexplicable as long as is that retrograde planets operate on
the Earth is regarded as stationary, a subconscious level; and a third,
gave rise to all sorts of theories. In presented by Martin Schulman, as­
242 return

sociates what he calls the "retrograde from the celestial equator (its decli­
personality" with altered perception nation is 26°46'47" north). Right as­
of time. However, before placing un­ cension and declination are the prin­
due emphasis on the interpretation cipal CELESTIAL COORDINATES USed in
of a planet's retrograde motion, stu­ astronomy for locating objects in the
dents should bear in mind that the sky. Right ascension is used in as­
three outer planets are retrograde trology for the compilation of tables
over 40 percent of the time. Thus of houses (see table of houses) or
such interpretations can only be of a the technique of primary direction
very generalized kind. (See direct; (see progression and direction).
STATIONARY.) What is generally needed in such cal­
culations is the right ascension of the
Return: A planet's completion of its local upper meridian, referred to as
cycle, that is, the time it takes the the RAMC (right ascension of the
planet to make a complete circuit of Midheaven). Actually, local sidereal
the zodiac; as, the Saturn return (see time is defined as the right ascension
cycle). (expressed in hours, minutes, and
seconds) that is crossing the local up­
Revolution: See anomalistic pe­ per meridian. Right ascension and
riod; DRACONIC PERIOD; SIDEREAL PE­ meridians of right ascension should
RIOD; SYNODIC PERIOD; TROPICAL PE­ be distinguished from celestial
RIOD. longitude and meridians of celestial
longitude, respectively, which are
Rhazes: See Islam, astrology in. measured along the ecliptic.

Right Ascension: (Usually abbrevi­ Rising Point: See celestial lati­

ated RA, a, or Al.) Angular distance tude.
measured along the celestial equa­
tor in an eastward direction from the Romans, Astrology among the: The
vernal point in units either of de­ early Romans believed that in certain
grees, minutes, and seconds of arc or special cases the gods would com­
of hours, minutes, and seconds of municate with them; hence the abun­
sidereal time (see time). The right dance of methods of divination.
ascension of the vernal point is con­ However, astrology did not become
sidered to be 0°0'0", or 0 hours 0 min­ popular until the third century B.C.,
utes 0 seconds. A meridian of right through contact with the Greek col­
ascension or sidereal time is a great onies of southern Italy. It was Greek
circle perpendicular to the celestial slaves who brought astrology to the
equator at a point a certain amount lower classes. Its success was spec­
of right ascension or sidereal time tacular; the poet Ennius (239-169
from the vernal point. For example, B.C.) raged against the quack astrol­
the star Alphecca (as of 1980) is on ogers who set up their stands in the
the right-ascension meridian of streets of Rome.
233°27'36" (or 15 hours 33 minutes 50 The astrologers, who were known
seconds), even though it is remote as "mathematicians" or "Chai-
 Romans, astrology among the 243

gods. Stoic philosophy urged resig­

nation to fate. Vettius Valens, one of
the first astrologers to attempt statis­
tical observations, considered the or­
dinary pagan worship of his day to
be useless: "It is impossible to defeat
by sacrifice that which has been es­
tablished from the beginning of
time." Though such a fatalistic inter­
Fragment of a Roman representation of the pretation of astrology would later be
zodiac. (Collection of Pierre Chaumeil.) denied by Plotinus (A.D. 205-70),
it remained a vital enough part of the
deans,” had no monopoly on the art astrological canon to earn the disap­
of prediction. They often had to com­ proval of the Church (see Christi­
pete for business with the official au­ anity AND ASTROLOGY).
gurs and soothsayers of the state. The Oriental campaigns and trade
Cicero (106-43 B.C.) attacked astrol­ with Asia brought foreign religions
ogers violently in De Divinatione and new attitudes to Rome, and un­
("Were all those slain at Cannae born der the Roman Empire astrology was
under the same star?"), as did Lu­ almost officialized. Caesar, Crassus,
cretius (96?-55 B.C.) and Juvenal and Pompey had already shown their
(A.D. 607-140?); the latter com­ confidence in it; after them most of
mented that some people could nei­ the emperors had their official as­
ther bathe nor dine without first con­ trologers. Theogenes the Greek was
sulting an astrologer. The rigorous astrologer to Augustus; Babilius was
determinism of Oriental astrology astrologer to both Claudius and
was diametrically opposed to the Nero. Tiberius studied astrology
philosophical ideas professed by himself and enlisted the services of
most Romans, who were attached to Thrasyllus, among others (Juvenal
the idea of their personal freedom. referred to his "herd of Chaldeans");
To be sure, divination was supposed but according to Seutonius, at one
to reveal the future, but this future point the emperor banished the
was conceived as a possibility that "mathematicians" and did not allow
could be influenced by one's free them to return until they promised
will. to abandon their art. Domitian fully
It was among the Stoics that as­ accepted divine stellar rule but ban­
trology counted its greatest number ished the astrologers in A.D. 89 after
of ardent defenders, because it ac­ they predicted the time of his death.
corded with their conception of a In A.D. 70 Pliny complained that
world that was organized by divine practically everyone believed in as­
plan and characterized by universal trology.
sympathy. Like the ancient Chal­ By the early third century A.D. the
deans, the Stoics believed that as­ superficial astrology of street for­
trology could help human beings to tune-tellers was losing its appeal for
decipher the will and purpose of the the masses, who were increasingly
244 Rooster

embracing various Oriental religions

of salvation—some of which had in­
corporated astrological ideas. For ex­
ample, Mithraism, probably the chief
competitor of Christianity, stressed
an all-powerful and eternal God,
who was identified with heavenly
motion, especially the Sun. Helioga-
balus and later Aurelian established
Sun worship in Rome: The Sun was
seen as a giant, intelligent master
who directed the motions of its ser­
vants, the planets.

Rooster: See Cock.

Royal Stars (also called Watchers of

the Heavens): The four stars used by Dane Rudhyar. (Photo by Betty Freeman.)
the ancient Sumerians in the third Clancy's American Astrology and
millennium B.C. to mark the equi­ Horoscope. He has also written some
noxes and solstices by the Sun's thirty books, which include a major­
transit in front of them. Aldebaran ity on astrological subjects, but also
marked the vernal equinox, Regulus works on music, art, and philosophy,
the summer solstice, Antares the au­ two novels, and two volumes of
tumnal equinox, and Fomalhaut the verse.
winter solstice. Regulus can still be Rudhyar's most famous work is
considered the Royal Star. The The Astrology of Personality, which,
eclipse of August 22, 1979, immedi­ since its appearance in 1936, has seen
ately preceding the assassination of three editions, has been translated
"that most royal of all European into Dutch, German, and French,
princes," Lord Mountbatten, was in and is generally acknowledged to be
29' conjunction to Regulus. a classic. To Rudhyar, writing in the
1930s, traditional European astrology
Rudhyar, Dane (March 23, 1895, with its piecemeal approach to inter­
12:42 A.M., Paris-): American astrol­ pretation and its emphasis on the
oger, author, and composer; founder prediction of events seemed domi­
of humanistic astrology. Dane Ru­ nated by Greek intellectualism and
dhyar came to the United States in spiritually bankrupt. In The Astrology
1916 and settled in California, where of Personality, which is dedicated to
a deep interest in Oriental philoso­ its original publisher, Alice Bailey,
phy led to his study of astrology. Be­ Rudhyar called for a reformulation of
tween 1933 and 1976 he wrote astrological principles in the light of
monthly articles for several astro­ contemporary depth psychology and
logical magazines, including Paul holistic philosophy. Rudhyar be­
 rulership 245

lieves that astrology should concern bilities inherent in one birth moment.
itself primarily with people rather Rudhyar sees astrology as the
than with events; this is why he calls practical application to human life
his approach humanistic. He sees as­ and the development of conscious­
trology not as an empirical science ness of a cosmic philosophy based on
but as a symbolic language like math­ the concept of cycle and the search
ematics, and the planets not as trans­ for meaning. Through astrology, the
mitters of physical influence but as deeper meaning of life events can be
symbols of personality functions and communicated to persons baffled by
ways of measuring cycles (see changes and uncertain how to cope
cycle). Astrology is “the algebra of with the problems they present. A
life," whose goal is “the alchemy of recent book, Beyond Individualism,
personality," in other words, inte­ outlines a new psychology in which
gration, the binding of parts into individual growth at four successive
wholes, the discovery of meaning. levels of actualization is related to the
In The Lunation Cycle (1967) Ru­ cyclic development of societies and
dhyar studied the soli-lunar relation­ their culture. (See Chiron; ethics;
ship and described eight personality HUMANISTIC ASTROLOGY; MUNDANE
types corresponding to eight stages astrology; uranus.)
in this cycle: New Moon, Crescent
Moon, First Quarter, Gibbous Moon, Rulership: The system whereby each
Full Moon, Disseminating Moon, sign of the zodiac is said to be
Last Quarter, and Balsamic Moon. "ruled" by one of the planets or lu­
Other books include The Pulse of Life minaries. The traditional system of
(1943), The Practice of Astrology (1968), rulership was limited to the seven
The Planetarization of Consciousness planets observed by the ancients; in
(1970), and The Sun Is Also a Star: The more modern times, it has been re­
Galactic Dimensions of Astrology (1975). vised to include the newly discov­
In 1969 Rudhyar founded the Inter­ ered planets, Uranus, Neptune, and
national Committee for Humanistic Pluto. The following is the system
Astrology. observed by most modern astrolo­
Rudhyar's approach makes no use gers:
of the methods of investigation of
empirical science, such as statistics; Aries Mars
he has held aloof from the movement Taurus Venus
to demonstrate the scientific validity Gemini Mercury
of astrology (see modern astrol­ Cancer Moon
ogy). However, he has repeatedly Leo Sun
suggested that the most fundamental Virgo Mercury
research astrology can undertake is Libra Venus
to examine in detail the psychology Scorpio Mars/Pluto
and lives of large numbers of people Sagittarius Jupiter
born at the same time in large cities. Capricorn Saturn
Such studies would enable astrolo­ Aquarius Saturn/Uranus
gers to discover the range of possi­ Pisces Jupiter/Neptune
246 rulership

The traditional system of ruler­ signs of the luminaries, that is, Sag­
ships is generally attributed to Pto­ ittarius and Pisces; Mars, being ma­
lemy, who in turn ascribes it to the lefic, those in square to the signs of
ancients. In the Tetrabiblos Ptolemy the luminaries, that is, Scorpio and
explains how his predecessors as­ Aries; Venus, being benefic and
signed the signs (then confusingly closer to the Sun, those in sextile to
called “houses") to the planets on the the signs of the luminaries, that is,
basis of "familiarity," or affinity. Libra and Taurus; and Mercury,
Cancer and Leo, the signs occupied being closest to the Sun, those adja­
by the Sun during the northern sum­ cent to the signs of the luminaries,
mer, being the most powerful, were that is, Gemini and Virgo.
assigned to the luminaries: Leo, The rulership system has been crit­
being masculine, to the Sun, and icized by many modem astrologers,
Cancer, being feminine, to the Moon. including Charles Carter, Cyril Fa­
Capricorn and Aquarius, the oppo­ gan, L. E. Johndro, and Geoffrey
site signs and those occupied by the Dean. Its critics point out that it is
Sun during the northern winter, arbitrary, irrelevant to the Southern
were assigned to Saturn, since it was Hemisphere, and outmoded by the
the most distant and therefore the discovery of the modem planets—
coldest of the planets. The remaining Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto—and
signs were divided equally between that there is no real evidence that it
Jupiter, Mars, Venus, and Mercury, works. Rulerships are not used in the
in accordance with similarities in Ebertin midpoint system, and sel­
their nature. Jupiter, being benefic, dom by Uranian astrologers (see cos-
was given the signs in trine to the mobiology; Uranian system).
 Sagittarius (glyph Z): The ninth sign view. This paradoxical sign can pro­
of the zodiac, which the Sun transits duce both the athlete who goes as far
during the last month of autumn, as his body will take him and the
from about November 22 to about philosopher who explores the ulti­
December 20. The symbol for this mate nature of reality.
sign is the archer. Its polarity is pos­ Sagittarians—who include not
itive, its element is fire (see ele­ only Sun-sign Sagittarians, but all in
ments), its quality is mutable (see whose charts the sign is empha­
qualities), its ruling planet is Jupiter sized—are eager to share their expe­
(see rulership), and its natural rience with others. Their expression
house is the Ninth. ranges from arrogant bombast to rar-
In Sagittarius, the self-confidence ified abstraction, from devastating
of fire and the restlessness of muta­ satire to evangelical fervor. Whatever
bility are joined with the genial influ­ their genre, their motive is to con­
ence of Jupiter to create an expansive vince, which makes them better talk­
nature that cannot be confined. The ers than listeners. They must be free
archer of the symbol is really a cen­ to pursue their truth unhampered,
taur, a mythological creature who but once they have arrived at it, they
was half man and half horse. Thus may forget the winding path that led
the Sagittarian nature is double: one- them there in their desire to spread
half rooted in animal instinct, the it around. Indeed, this Jupiterian ten­
other half aiming at the stars. Like its dency to self-righteousness and ar­
polar opposite, Gemini, Sagittarius rogance makes Sagittarius the least
wants to know, but this knowing mutable of the mutable signs. But Ju­
must go further. Where Gemini is piter is also responsible for their best
content to think, Sagittarius must ex­ qualities, which are their faith, their
perience; where Gemini will let the optimism, and their sense of humor.
mind wander, Sagittarius wants the Most Sagittarian infants are very
body to travel; and where Gemini active and hate being confined; even
likes to accumulate facts, Sagittarius cuddling or diapering may send
wants to construct theories, to fit all them into fits of claustrophobia. They
the separate pieces of information are usually early walkers and runners
into an all-encompassing world and, because of their hunger for
248 Saros cycle

Virgo and Pisces are likely to be dif­

$ Sagittarius ficult, although with the latter they
share a universal perspective
through the rulership of Jupiter.
With another Sagittarius, there may
be more energy than stability. With
Gemini there will be both attraction
and tension, the outcome depend­
ing, as with all combinations, on how
the two charts interact in their en­
tirety, and not on the compatibility
of Sun signs alone.
This sign is traditionally associated
with the professions, and Sagittari­
ans are often drawn to teaching, phi­
losophy, religion, and the law. Theirs
is also the sign of the free-lancer, and
they should be independent, if not
actually self-employed. They need to
knowledge, probably early talkers as move around and are at their best
well. They love roughhousing and when selling or preaching. Publish­
horseplay, but they are also the eas­ ing, advertising, traveling, lecturing,
iest children to travel with. They are entertaining (especially as comedi­
entertaining guests and have no ans), sports, exploring, hunting, and
trouble sleeping in a strange bed. working with animals, especially
In love, Sagittarians are capable of horses and dogs, all come naturally.
some curious extremes. They can be Some famous Sun-sign Sagittarians
passionate to the point of exhaustion, include Louisa May Alcott, Ludwig
treating sex as an indoor sport in van Beethoven, William Blake, Win­
which they must prove their skill and ston Churchill, Noel Coward,
endurance, or they may be so en­ Sammy Davis, Jr., Charles de Gaulle,
grossed in philosophical abstraction Emily Dickinson, Emmett Kelly,
or a spiritual path that they forget all Claude Levi-Strauss, Margaret
about human love. Their insatiable Mead, John Milton, Pope John XXIII,
appetite for experience coupled with George Santayana, Frank Sinatra,
their idealism often produces Don Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Baruch Spi­
Juans, driven to endless variety in noza, Jonathan Swift, James Thur­
the restless search for the perfect ber, and Mark Twain. (See birth­
mate. Their partners must respect stones; colors; days of the week;
their need for freedom and give them METALS.)
a long rein. Their most compatible
signs are Aries, Leo, Libra, and Saros Cycle: See eclipse.
Aquarius; Scorpio, Capricorn, Tau­
rus, and Cancer are neutral; and Satellite: See orbit.
 Saturn 249

Satellitium: See stellium. vation, practicality, economy, du­

ration, crystallization, and cold. It
Saturn (glyph h): The most remote rules order, form, structure, organi­
planet known to the ancients, sixth zation, government, policemen, the
in order from the Sun, and distin­ letter of the law; duty, debts, work,
guished from the others by its re­ teachers, authority figures (especially
markable system of rings. Saturn is fathers); older people in general, old
next in size to Jupiter, its diameter age, death, mortality; the skeleton,
being about 72,000 miles. Its mean the skin, the hair; asceticism and fast­
distance from the Sun is 886 million ing; the superego and the reality
miles, and its sidereal period is principle; science, especially geome­
29.46 tropical years. try and geology; earth, dirt, land,
In astrology, Saturn was tradition­ rocks, jewels, minerals, mountains,
ally known as the "Greater Infor­ caves, agriculture, and real estate.
tune," the "Lesser Infortune" being When afflicted, Saturn is associated
Mars; thus its nature was regarded with anxiety, inhibition, delay, iso­
as extremely malefic. The planet lation, depression, rigidity, stingi­
was named after the Roman god of ness, poverty, starvation, and fa­
seed sowing, who became officially mine.
identified with the Greek god The following delineations are of­
Kronos. Kronos was erroneously re­ fered to show some of the ways Sat­
garded as the god of time by confu­ urn may operate in the signs and
sion of his name with chronos, the houses. It should be remembered
Greek word for time. Whatever its that they are merely suggestions and
source, the association with time is that their accuracy in any given case
relevant to astrology, as we shall see. depends on the overall strength and
Saturn rules the sign of Capricorn condition of Saturn in relation to the
and is traditional ruler of the sign of chart as a whole, especially the as­
Aquarius, which most modem as­ pects it forms with other planets and
trologers now assign to Uranus (see important points.
rulership). Thus it is in detriment
in the opposite signs of Cancer and
Leo. Saturn is exalted in Libra (see SATURN IN THE SIGNS
exaltation) and in fall in Aries.
As the planet whose orbit circum­ Saturn in Aries: determination, am­
scribed the known world, Saturn was bition, aggression, defiance, impa­
regarded as the ruler of the material tience, tension.
plane and was identified with the Saturn in Taurus: patience, persev-
laws of time and space that govern erence, industriousness, conserva­
it. In chart interpretation, Saturn tism, economy, miserliness.
stands for boundaries, definition, Saturn in Gemini: intellectual disci­
limitation, restriction, authority, dis­ pline, aptitude for science, linguistic
cipline, and responsibility. Its quali­ ability, overly analytical or theoretical
ties are seriousness, stability, conser­ mind.
250 schools of astrology

Saturn in Cancer: teaching ability, Saturn in the Third House: mental

stem disciplinarian, moral principles, discipline, conscientious student, tal­
defensiveness, guilt. ent for writing or teaching, respon­
Saturn in Leo: loyalty, creative dis­ sibility for siblings or in neighbor­
cipline, pride, rigidity, selfishness, hood.
authoritarianism. Saturn in the Fourth House: family
Saturn in Virgo: shyness, thorough­ responsibilities, parental discipline,
ness, perfectionism, industriousness, isolation in later years or longevity.
self-criticism, penny-pinching, asce­ Saturn in the Fifth House: artistic
ticism. ambition, love for older people, re­
Saturn in Libra: deliberation, fair­ sponsibilities involving children or
ness, aesthetic sense, talent for ar­ lack of children.
chitecture or the law, caution, lack of Saturn in the Sixth House: indus­
spontaneity. triousness, work in science or medi­
Saturn in Scorpio: penetrating mind; cine, possibility of health problems
gift for physics, chemistry, or archae­ from overwork.
ology; authority; secretiveness; sar­ Saturn in the Seventh House: stable
casm. relationships, marriage to older per­
Saturn in Sagittarius: theoretical in­ son or teacher, marriage delayed,
telligence, spiritual discipline, reli­ many responsibilities to other peo­
gious orthodoxy, benevolent despot­ ple, celibacy.
ism. Saturn in the Eighth House: strength
Saturn in Capricorn: organizing abil­ in crisis, responsibilities for other
ity, strong sense of responsibility, se­ people's money or resources, sexual
riousness, ambition, high standards, repression, morbid fear of death.
teaching ability, isolation. Saturn in the Ninth House: continu­
Saturn in Aquarius: democratic ing education, spiritual aspiration,
leadership, responsibility to the fu­ professional ambition, travel for
ture, understanding of technology, business, lack of travel.
loyalty, stubbornness. Saturn in the Tenth House: ambition,
Saturn in Pisces: self-sacrifice; de­ achievement of recognition as a re­
votion to fellow humans; talent for sult of hard work and effort, leader­
music, poetry, or dance; yoga; med­ ship, authority, reversals in fortune.
itation; shyness; isolation. Saturn in the Eleventh House: deep
sense of responsibility to friends or
SATURN IN THE HOUSES to society, long-lasting friendships,
friends who are older or who are
Saturn in the First House: serious­ teachers, isolation from friends.
ness, responsibility, authority, sense Saturn in the Twelfth House: respon­
of limitation, effort, obstacles, de­ sibility behind the scenes, scientific
lays, pessimism. research, work for institutions, iso­
Saturn in the Second House: financial lation, chronic illness.
problems, hard work, feelings of
deprivation, conservation of re­ Schools of Astrology: See modern
sources, fear of poverty. ASTROLOGY.
 Scorpio 251

Scientific School: See modern as­

trology. Ill SC0jpiU8
Scorpio (glyph flj,): The eighth sign
of the zodiac, which the Sun transits
during the second month of autumn,
from about October 23 to about No­
vember 22. The symbol for this sign
is the scorpion. Its polarity is neg­
ative, its element is water (see ele­
ments), its quality is fixed (see qual­
ities), its modern ruler is Pluto, its
traditional ruler is Mars (see ruler­
ship), and its natural house is the
Eighth.
In Scorpio the resourcefulness of
fixity and the emotionality of water
are combined with the invisible
power of Pluto to create a nature of beasts of the Apocalypse (Rev. 4:7)
profound depth and dramatic inten­ who represent the four fixed signs of
sity. Fixed water suggests a dam, an the zodiac. The eagle kills too, but it
iceberg, or an underground pool, also soars high above the ground and
and all the images are apt, for in thus symbolizes not only power but
Scorpio a great deal is going on un­ transcendence.
der the surface; energy is being held Pluto was the Roman god of the
in reserve. Water stands for emotion, underworld, and Scorpio is the sign
and emotion can be fixed only if it is of death. It is also the sign of birth
not expressed, which only increases and sexuality—in short, the critical
its intensity. Thus love may be poi­ moments of human existence that in­
soned with jealousy, and anger may volve a release of the ego and contact
harden into hate. with the ultimate mysteries. Besides
The symbol for Scorpio is the scor­ the strong sexuality for which they
pion, a creature that travels by night are famous, Scorpio people have an
and is feared for its deadly sting. awareness of death that is often not
Though all Scorpio people are by no fearful, for this is also the sign of
means venemous and cruel, the sym­ reincarnation. They have a natural
bol conveys the qualities of secretive­ affinity for occult studies: Occult
ness, penetration, and power that do means "hidden," and Scorpios like
characterize the natives of this sign. to pry into dark corners. All the
(Incidentally, Scorpio people include water signs are psychic, but many
not only Sun-sign Scorpios, but all in Scorpios will actually explore areas
whose charts the sign is empha­ like ESP, psychic healing, and me­
sized.) It should be noted that the diumship and develop the powers
ancient esoteric symbol for Scorpio is that are latent in all of us but of which
the eagle, one of the biblical four many people are afraid. Indeed, if
252 seasonal year

they are afraid of anything at all, it gation, research, chemistry, physics,

is of being known as deeply as they astronomy, archaeology, history,
wish to know. Their ability to pene­ oceanography, plumbing, dentistry,
trate and probe may be channeled surgery, hypnotism, and all forms of
constructively into research or heal­ healing. Scorpio artists and writers
ing or it may be used to manipulate tend to focus on sex or death or may
people in personal relationships. have a gift for satire. The Scorpio
Scorpio children are sometimes charisma draws many to the stage or
hard to fathom because of their emo­ to politics. Famous Sun-sign Scor­
tional intensity. Deeply sensitive, pios include Sarah Bernhardt, Ben­
they seem to understand their par­ venuto Cellini, Marie Curie, Fedor
ents' unspoken feelings even before Dostoevski, Indira Gandhi, W. S.
they have acquired language. The Gilbert, Edmund Halley, Katharine
trauma of being displaced by a new Hepburn, Sir William Herschel, Wil­
sibling can be particularly painful for liam Hogarth, Chiang Kai-shek, Rob­
them, although the pain may be ert Kennedy, Anton von Leeuwen­
partly alleviated by giving them re­ hoek, Joseph McCarthy, Charles
sponsibility around the house. Manson, Jawaharlal Nehru, Pablo
Relationships are very important to Picasso, Sylvia Plath, Ezra Pound,
Scorpios, and sex is usually involved, Theodore Roosevelt, Herman Ror­
for these natives have a magnetic ap­ schach, Jonas Salk, Dylan Thomas,
peal that is almost universal. They Norman Thomas, and Voltaire. (See
tend to focus on their partner's re­ birthstones; colors; days of the
actions as a way to avoid facing their week; metals.)
own. They seem to attract crises and
may put themselves through infer­ Seasonal Year: See tropical year.
nos of jealousy and rage before they
learn to stop trying to control people. Secondary Direction: See progres­
sion AND DIRECTION.
Their most compatible signs are Can­
cer, Pisces, Virgo, and Capricorn; Li­ Secondary Progression: See pro­
bra, Sagittarius, Aries, and Gemini gression AND DIRECTION.
are neutral; Leo and Aquarius are apt
to be difficult. With another Scorpio Semiarc: .See house division.
there would probably be too much
intensity. With Taurus there will be Semidecile (also called Vigintile): A
both attraction and tension, as the minor aspect of 18°; half a decile
irresistible force meets the immov­ (36°). It is regarded as mildly favor­
able object; but in all cases the suc­ able and given an orb of 1°.
cess of the relationship will depend
on how the two charts interact and Semiquartile: See semisquare.
not on the compatibility of Sun
signs alone. Semiquintile: See decile.
Scorpios excel in any activity that Semisextile (or Dodecile; symbol Y):
involves going deeply into things: A minor aspect, said to have been
psychology, detective work, investi­ introduced by Morin, combining
 Serpent 253

planets separated by one-twelfth of antiscion); and A + A- B = B, in

the zodiac circle, or 30°; half a sextile which the sensitive point is the mid­
(60°), and the geometric supplement point between, or half sum of, two
of the quincunx (150°). The semisex­ bodies. The first type is used in tra­
tile is generally classified as neutral ditional astrology; all three types are
or ambiguous. De Vore describes it used in Uranian astrology.
as "rhythmically favorable, but in­
volving planets in inharmonious Separating Aspect: See applying as­
signs." Modern astrologers tend to pect.
regard it as an aspect of opportunity,
like the sextile, but less potent. The Serpent (or Snake): The sixth sign of
usual orb is 2°. the Chinese zodiac, including all per­
sons born between
Semisquare (or Octile; symbol A): February 4, 1905, and January 25, 1906 (wood)
One of the strongest of the minor January 23, 1917, and February 11, 1918 (fire)
aspects, introduced by Kepler, com­ February 10, 1929, and January 30, 1930 (earth)
bining planets separated by one- January 27, 1941, and February 15, 1942 (metal)
February 14, 1953, and February 3, 1954 (water)
eighth of the zodiac circle, or 45°. February 2, 1965, and January 21, 1966 (wood)
Since it is half a square, it is tradi­ February 18, 1977, and February 7, 1978 (fire)
tionally regarded as mildly malefic; February 6, 1989, and January 27, 1990 (earth)
modem astrologers classify it with In the Far East this animal is not
the hard aspects, which are associ­ an object of abhorrence, as it is else­
ated with the stress or tension that where. Associated in Japan with Ben-
precipitates events. The usual orb is ten, goddess of Love, Beauty, and
2°; however, the German cosmobiol- the Sea, the Serpent brings to its na­
ogists consider it a major aspect, and tives subtlety, independence, ele­
allow up to 5° when personal points gance, and fluency of speech. These
are involved. people know how to captivate their
audience with their humor, which is
Sensitive Point: 1. In a birth chart, a usually the key to their success.
point of personal significance such as However, they have a selfish streak
the longitude of the Sun, Moon, or and often use their intelligence and
Ascendant. intuition to further their own ends.
2. A point that is the result of a When they have the means, they en­
mathematical relationship between joy study and are particularly inter­
two or three other bodies or points. ested in philosophy. They have little
There are three general types of sen­ talent for the arts but succeed very
sitive points: A + B — C = D, in
which the sensitive point is equal to
the sum of the first two points minus
a third (for example, the Part of For­
tune); A + A - B = C, in which the
sensitive point is equidistant with a
given body from a given point but on
the opposite side (for example, the
254 sesquare

well in business or teaching and are and sesquisquare are regarded as

attracted to the occult sciences. Nei­ hard aspects of less importance
ther borrowers nor lenders, they than the square and are allowed orbs
would much rather spend other peo­ of 2°. However, the German cosmo-
ple's money than their own, but by biologists consider them to be major
no means can they be accused of stin­ aspects and allow orbs of up to 5°
giness. when personal points are involved.
Their love lives are in a perpetual
state of agitation. They are restless Sextile (from the Latin sex, six; sym­
types whose behavior is always caus­ bol *): One of the major aspects rec­
ing scenes, tears, and breakups. ognized by classical astrology, bring­
They are jealous and keep their part­ ing into relationship planets or
ner on a tight rein. important points separated by one-
Compatible signs: Cat, Cock, sixth of the zodiac circle, half a trine,
Dragon, Horse, Ox, Rat. or an angle of 60°. The sextile is re­
Neutral signs: Goat, Monkey. garded by ancients and modems
Incompatible signs: Dog, Pig, Ti­ alike as a harmonious aspect, be­
ger. cause it unites signs of the same po­
Famous Serpents include Pierre larity—that is, earth and water,
Charles Baudelaire, Johannes which both belong to the negative
Brahms, John Calvin, Casanova, Ni­ polarity, or fire and air, which both
colaus Copernicus, Bob Dylan, Mary belong to the positive polarity. Alan
Baker Eddy, Gustave Flaubert, Indira Leo considered the sextile to be gen­
Gandhi, Greta Garbo, Johann Wolf­ erally stronger and more favorable
gang von Goethe, Grace Kelly, Pope than the trine, because it requires
John XXIII, John F. Kennedy, Henri more effort on the part of the native.
Matisse, Montaigne, Gamel Abdul For example, a person with Mercury
Nasser, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, in Virgo sextile Uranus in Scorpio is
Pablo Picasso, and Mao Tse-Tung. likely to be more highly motivated to
(See Chinese astrology.) use and develop his or her intelli­
gence than, say, a person with Mer­
Sesquare: See sesquisquare. cury in Cancer in trine to the same
Uranus, who may simply rely on in­
Sesquiquadrate: See sesquisquare. herent intuitive gifts.
Orbs for sextiles vary; most au­
Sesquisquare (also Sesquiquadrate thorities allow 4° to 6°, though some
or Sesquare; symbol Q): A minor as­ as much as 8°, depending on the con­
pect, introduced by Kepler, combin­ dition of the planets involved (see
ing planets separated by 135°. The orb).
sesquisquare is a square (90°) and a
half, and thus the geometric supple­ Shad Bala: See India, astrology in;
ment of the semisquare. It is tradi­ VoLGUINE, ALEXANDRE.
tionally regarded as mildly malefic
and similar to the semisquare. In Shodasavarga: See India, astrology
modem astrology the semisquare in; navamsa.
 sidereal zodiac 255

Short Ascension: See Ascendant; tersected by the ecliptic plane; as

ASCENSION, LONG OR SHORT. distinguished from the tropical zo­
diac, which is based on the seasons
Sidereal Cycle: See cycle; sidereal and composed of equal divisions of
PERIOD. the ecliptic called signs, which have
the same names as the constellations.
Siderealists: See sidereal zodiac. The sidereal zodiac is probably more
ancient than the tropical zodiac. It is
Sidereal Month: See Moon. still used by Hindu astrologers and
has been adopted by a school of
Sidereal Period (from the Greek si- Western astrologers called siderealists
dus, star): The time it takes a celestial pioneered by Cyril Fagan, Donald
body to make one complete round in Bradley (alias Garth Allen), Rupert
its orbit, or to return to a given point Gleadow, and Brigadier R. C. Fire­
in its orbit, measured by its recurrent brace, among others.
alignment to a star. The sidereal pe­ The sidereal zodiac is referred to as
riods of the planets, rounded to the fixed because within the time frame
nearest day, are as follows: of hundreds of thousands of years
the constellations appear unaltered.
Mercury 88 days The tropical zodiac is referred to as
Venus 224 days moving because, owing to preces­
Earth 365 days sion OF THE EQUINOXES, the VERNAL
Mars 1 year 322days point, which is its starting point,
Jupiter 11 years 315 days moves backward against the fixed zo­
Saturn 29 years 167 days diac of constellations about 1° every
Uranus 84 years 5 days 72 years. According to Fagan, the
Neptune 164 years 290 days two zodiacs were momentarily
Pluto 248 years 157 days aligned in A.D. 221, but the discrep­
ancy between them—which Hindu
(See cycle; Moon; sidereal year; astrologers call the ayanamsa—has
synodic period; tropical period.) been increasing at the rate of approx­
imately 50.25" of CELESTIAL LONGI­
Sidereal Time: See time. TUDE per year ever since. By now,
the ayanamsa amounts to slightly
Sidereal Year: The sidereal period more than 24°, almost an entire sign;
of the Earth; the time it takes the thus, most people who are Arians
Earth to complete one revolution according to the tropical zodiac
around the Sun and realign itself to would be regarded by the siderealists
any given star. The sidereal year is as natives of Pisces. Unlike its tropi­
365 days 6 hours 9 minutes 9.5 sec­ cal counterpart, the sidereal zodiac
onds. (See TROPICAL YEAR.) has no obvious beginning point. Si­
derealists take one or another star as
Sidereal Zodiac (abbreviated SZ; also a marker, or fiducial, from which they
called Fixed Zodiac): The zodiac gauge the ayanamsa, which they
based on the twelve constellations in­ then subtract from tropical celestial
256 significator

longitude to arrive at sidereal celes­

tial longitude. However, the sidereal
longitude given to a fiducial is open
to controversy. Bradley proposed a
more refined marking point, called
the synetic vernal point, which he
claimed is the sidereal longitude of
the vernal point. Ephemerides have
been compiled that list the ever-pre-
cessing position of the synetic vernal
point at selected intervals, usually
every 10 days.
In interpreting charts, siderealists
put more emphasis on aspects and
proximity to angles than they do on
constellations or houses. Natal chart
interpretation appears to be much
less important to them than predic­
tion of events; they concentrate on
solar and lunar returns, which have, Signs of the Zodiac: Twelve 30° seg­
of course, been corrected for preces­ ments of the ecliptic, the Sun's ap­
sion. parent path around the Earth, meas­
ured from the point where the
Significator: Literally, "one who sig­ ecliptic intersects the celestial
nifies," or "one who has meaning"; equator, called the vernal point
broadly, any planet in a horoscope is and expressed as 0° Aries. The signs
a significator of the matters con­ of the zodiac were named after the
nected with the house it rules or oc­ constellations that are located along
cupies. For example, the ruler of the the zodiac but otherwise bear no re­
sign on the cusp of the Second lationship to them. Unlike the signs,
House, or a planet placed in the Sec­ the constellations are of unequal size
ond House, is a significator of money and have no clearly defined bound­
or possessions. In classical astrology, aries. The Sun passes through the
the term was specifically applied to twelve signs of the zodiac in the
Sun, Moon, Ascendant, Midheaven, course of a year. Its entry into a given
and sometimes the Part of Fortune. sign occurs at a precise moment
The strongest planet in a birth chart, which varies from year to year. The
usually the ruler of the Ascendant, is following timetable is approximate;
regarded as the significator of the na­ for more accurate information, con­
tive. Significators are especially im­ sult an ephemeris for the year in
portant in horary astrology and in question.
the predictive technique of primary
direction, where they are distin­ Aries Mar. 21-Apr. 20
guished from promittors. (See pro­ Taurus Apr. 21-May 20
gression AND DIRECTION.) Gemini May 21-June 20
 solar chart 257

Cancer June 21-July 22 The polarities alternate around the

Leo July 23-Aug. 22 wheel, starting with Aries, which,
Virgo Aug. 23-Sep. 22 being a fire sign, is positive.
Libra Sep. 23-Oct. 22 (For additional information about
Scorpio Oct. 23-Nov. 22 the signs, see air; ascension, long
Sagittarius Nov. 23-Dec. 21 and short; cardinal; double signs;
Capricorn Dec. 22-Jan. 20 earth; equinoctial signs; fire;
Aquarius Jan.21-Feb. 20 fixed; mutable; polarity; ruler­
Pisces Feb. 21-Mar. 20 ship; SIDEREAL ZODIAC; TROPICAL
signs; tropical zodiac; water; zo­
The signs of the zodiac are classi­ diac; and the entries for the individ­
fied according to quality and accord­ ual signs.)
ing to element. The three qualities are
Sinister Aspect: See dexter aspect.
cardinal (outgoing), fixed (indrawing),
and mutable (variable). The four ele­ Sky Map: See birth chart.
ments are fire (spirit), earth (matter),
Smith, R. C.: See Raphael.
air (mind), and water (feeling). There
are four signs belonging to each of Snake: See Serpent.
the three qualities, and three signs
Soft Aspects: In modem astrology,
belonging to each of the four ele­
the trine and sextile; and according
ments. In other words, each of the
to some authorities, the semisextile,
twelve signs is a combination of one
the quincunx, and the quintile group;
of the elements and one of the qual­
the hard aspects are the square, op­
ities.
position, semisquare, and sesqui-
The qualities and elements recur
square. (See aspect.)
around the zodiac in a regular order.
For the qualities this order is cardi­ Solar Arc: See progression and di­
nal, fixed, mutable; for the elements rection.
it is fire, earth, air, water. Thus the
first sign is cardinal fire, Aries; the Solar Arc Direction: See progres­
sion and direction.
second sign, fixed earth, Taurus; the
third sign, mutable air, Gemini; and Solar Chart: A chart obtained with­
so on around the wheel. Because of out calculating an Ascendant, and
the order in which the qualities and in which the cusp of the First House
elements recur around the wheel, is the degree of celestial longitude
signs opposite each other on the zo­ occupied by the Sun at noon on the
diac will always be of the same qual­ day of birth. Cusps of the succeeding
ity and of harmonious elements. (See houses are at regular 30° intervals
figure 52.) from the First-House cusp, according
The signs are also classified accord­ to the Equal House system (see
ing to polarity. The two polarities are house division). Such houses are
positive (active) and negative (reac­ known as solar houses. The solar chart
tive). The fire and air signs belong to is generally used to study the mutual
the positive polarity; the earth and aspects of the planets in cases where
water signs to the negative polarity. the time of birth is unknown. It
258 solar declination arc

should not be confused with the sun­ elements are interpreted as in a natal
rise chart, in which the cusp of the chart, with constant reference to and
First House is the degree occupied by comparison with the natal chart in
the Sun at sunrise at the latitude of question.
the birthplace and in which the other To cast a solar return, it is neces­
cusps are generally based on a quad­ sary to determine the moment when
rant system rather than on the Equal the Sun returns to its natal longitude.
House system. For example, let us say that we want
to cast a solar return for Margaret
Solar Declination Arc: See progres­ Mead for 1926, the year of her
sion AND DIRECTION. twenty-fifth birthday. Mead was
Solar Eclipse: See eclipse. born December 16, 1901, in Philadel­
phia; her natal Sun is at 23°57' Sag­
Solar Houses: See Sun-sign astrol­ ittarius. Looking at The American
ogy. Ephemeris for December 1926, we see
Solar House System: See house di­
that the Sun's longitude at midnight
GMT was 23°17' Sagittarius on De­
vision.
cember 16 and 24°18' Sagittarius on
Solar Return (also called Solar Rev­ December 17. Thus the Sun's diurnal
olution): The moment when the Sun, motion for the day in question was
in its apparent motion along the PT, or 61'. To find the Sun's motion
ecliptic, returns to the exact degree between midnight and the time of
of celestial longitude that it occu­ the return, we subtract its longitude
pied at an individual's birth; also, a at the prior midnight from its natal
horoscope cast for this moment. The longitude: 23°57' - 23°17' = 40'. To
solar return will not necessarily fall determine how long it takes the Sun
on the calendar birthday; it may be to travel 40', we multiply 40/61 by 24
a day earlier or later. A solar return hours, which gives approximately 16
chart is usually cast for the place of hours. Sixteen hours after midnight
residence at the time it occurs rather is 4 P.M. GMT. A chart may now be
than for the place of birth. cast for this moment, expressed in
An ancient technique—Nostra­ the standard time and at the latitude
damus mentions it in his letters—the of New York City, where Mead was
solar return is currently enjoying a living at that time.
revival. It is used in much the same Mead's solar return for 1926 has
way as progressions and transits are, the Sun and Venus in the Tenth
to analyze trends and anticipate House of honors and profession and
probable events during the coming Jupiter rising in Aquarius in the
year. Since the Sun will, by defini­ Twelve House of research, conjunct
tion, have the same sign position as her natal Moon. Mercury and Saturn
in the natal chart, particular attention are conjunct and elevated in Sagit­
is paid to the Sun's house position, tarius in the Ninth, the sign and
the Moon's sign and house position, house of teaching and publishing.
the signs on the Ascendant and Mid­ This was the year that Mead began
heaven, and aspects to these. Other her association with the American
 Southern Hemisphere 259

Museum of Natural History, which cer at the beginning of summer,

provided her with a base of opera­ about June 21 (called the summer sols­
tions for her professional life for the tice), after which the days grow
next 52 years. shorter again, and when the Sun en­
The casting of a solar return is ters the sign of Capricorn at the be­
greatly facilitated by the use of a sim­ ginning of winter, about December
ple calculator or a book providing ta­ 21 (called the winter solstice), after
bles of diurnal planetary motion, which the days grow longer again.
such as the one published by the At the summer solstice the noon Sun
American Federation of Astrologers. is at the zenith at the Tropic of Can­
It is also possible to calculate a cer; at the winter solstice the noon
chart for the moment when the Moon Sun is at the zenith at the Tropic of
returns to its exact radical position. Capricorn.
Such a chart is known as a lunar re­ The term solstices also refers to the
turn and is considered to reveal the two points where the ecliptic is far­
mood of the month. Both solar and thest from the celestial equator.
lunar returns are widely used by si­ The solstitial points are known by
derealists, who calculate them allow­ astrologers and astronomers alike as
ing for the amount of precession that 0° Cancer and 0° Capricorn. Cancer
has occurred since birth (see side­ and Capricorn are sometimes called
real zodiac). the solstitial, or tropical, signs. Charts
An authoritative text on solar re­ cast for the Sun's entry into the sum­
turns is Alexandre Volguine's The mer and winter solstices are consid­
Technique of Solar Returns. ered of great importance by mun­
dane astrologers. (See antiscion;
Solar Revolution: See solar return. COSMOGRAPHY.)
Solar Time: See time.
Solsticial Signs: Cancer and Capri­
Solar Year: See tropical year. corn; see solstices.
Soli-Lunar Year: See lunar year. Southern Angle: See Midheaven;
Solstice Points: See antiscion. Imum Coeli.
Solstices (from the Latin sol, sun, and Southern Hemisphere: Most tables
sistere, statum, to stand still): The two of houses are designed for northern
moments during the year when the terrestrial latitudes. To find the
Sun, in its apparent path along the house cusps for a birth that took
ecliptic, is farthest from the Equa­ place in the Southern Hemisphere,
tor, either north, causing the longest add 12 hours to the sidereal time of
day in the year in the Northern Hem­ birth, look up the cusps as if the lat­
isphere, or south, causing the longest itude were north, and then reverse
night in the year; so called because the sign of all the cusps found—in
the Sun then "stands still" in its ap­ other words, add 180° to the degrees
parent northward or southward mo­ of celestial longitude listed (see
tion. These two moments occur chart calculation). Since the ter­
when the Sun enters the sign of Can­ restrial longitudes of the planets are
260 southern latitudes

calculated in relation to the Green­ Square (symbol □): One of the five
wich Meridian, they are the same for major aspects recognized by classical
births in the Southern or Northern astrology, bringing into relationship
Hemisphere. planets or important points sepa­
In the chart for a birth south of the rated by one-fourth of the zodiac cir­
Equator, the Midheaven—the Sun's cle, or an angle of 90°; in modem
position at noon—is in the north in­ astrology, perhaps the strongest of
stead of in the south, as it is on a the HARD ASPECTS.
Northern Hemisphere birth chart. In classical astrology, the square
Technically, the Ascendant (the was regarded as malefic. Most mod­
east) should therefore be on the em astrologers see the square as
right, but most southern astrologers stressful or challenging but not
observe the northern orientation, harmful unless the conflicting ener­
keeping the Ascendant on the left. gies it represents are misused or ig­
The Sun enters Aries on or near nored. The stress associated with the
March 21, but in the Southern Hem­ square may be explained by the fact
isphere this is the autumnal equinox. that it unites signs of inharmonious
There has been no attempt to adapt elements. For example, if Mars is at
sign meanings, which have evolved 15° Aries and the Moon is at 15° Can­
in northern latitudes, where Aries cer, Mars and the Moon are said to
represents the first thrust of life, Leo be in square. Aries is a fire sign, and
the height of summer when the Sun Cancer is a water sign; fire and water
is king, and so on, to the southern are inharmonious elements; fire and
situation. Some astrologers advocate water are always three signs apart,
using opposite signs for the Southern and therefore in square.
Hemisphere so that the Sun would In chart interpretation, fire repre­
enter Aries on or about September 23 sents action and water represents
and correspond to the southern emotion. A man with the Moon in
spring. But this solution introduces Cancer squared by Mars in Aries in
a serious dilemma for casting charts his natal chart would often feel at
of births on or near the Equator, and, cross-purposes with himself, as if his
more importantly, does not seem in extreme sensitivity and need for se­
any way justified by the experience curity were keeping him from assert­
of astrologers working in the South­ ing himself and going after his goals;
ern Hemisphere. and he would have to cope with a
great deal of anger. He would prob­
Southern Latitudes: See Southern
ably have a difficult relationship with
Hemisphere.
his mother (ruled by the Moon) and
South Node: See nodes. might take out his resentments on
other women. His passionate tem­
South Point: See horizon. perament could find an outlet in
Spring Equinox: See equinoxes; rage, self-pity, or alcohol, could be
VERNAL POINT.
bottled up as depression, or could be
channeled into physical exercise or
Spring Ingress: See ingress. artistic creativity.
 star 261

The difficult aspects are the build­ guished the “fixed stars" from the
ing blocks of character, because they "wandering stars" or "goat stars"
force one to become aware of inner (goats being notorious for wander­
conflict. A chart without squares may ing). The latter, of course, were the
lack the energy necessary to personal planets, which appear to travel from
growth. Squares are important not constellation to constellation, come
only in natal charts but by transit. to a stop, and perversely travel back­
For example, if the man with the ward for a while.
Moon-Mars square received a square From the very beginning, astrolo­
to his natal Moon from transiting Sat­ gers have assigned importance to
urn in the sky, the period when this fixed stars, in both natal and mun­
aspect was in orb would be one in dane astrology. Hipparchus was the
which his emotional maturity would first to establish a list of them (about
be put to the test. Such a period 130 B.C.), including several hundred
could be fraught with frustration but whose names later appeared in Ptol­
could also be an opportunity to take emy's Almagest. The Palomar Star Sur­
a quantum leap in self-awareness. vey, used by American astronomers,
Squares are usually given an orb lists positions for 1.3 billion stars.
of 5° to 6°, depending on other factors Of this number, fewer than a
involved. hundred are occasionally included in
a birth chart. Most modern astrolo­
Standard Time (ST): See time. gers ignore them altogether. Those
Standard Time Meridian: See time. who do use stars regard them as sig­
nificant only when they seem to form
Star: A self-luminous celestial body, a close conjunction or parallel
as distinguished from a planet, with a planet or one of the angles of
which shines by reflected light. In the chart. A star of the first magni­
astrology, the word has traditionally tude (brightness) conjunct the Mid­
been used with a wider range of heaven or Ascendant at birth is said
meanings than that recognized by to be an indication of fame.
astronomers. Thus, the planets and However, calculations of a star's
the Moon are sometimes referred to aspects are subject to gross error be­
loosely or poetically as stars, as in cause most astrologers confine them­
Shakespeare's “The fault, dear Bru­ selves to a single dimension: celes­
tus, is not in our stars, / But in our­ tial longitude. For example, let us
selves, that we are underlings." consider an aspect of Pluto to the star
The term fixed stars refers to stars Canopus in the birth chart of Harry
in the astronomical sense: incandes­ Belafonte (born March 1, 1927). The
cent, gaseous celestial bodies such as celestial longitude of Canopus was
our Sun. They are not fixed at all, but then 13°57' Cancer, while that of
because of their great distance from Pluto was 13°55' Cancer. It seems
the Earth their motion—both actual reasonable to regard the two as con­
and apparent—is so small that it can­ junct until we consider a second di­
not be detected by observation with mension: CELESTIAL LATITUDE. Can-
the naked eye. The ancients distin­ opus's latitude was 75°50' south,
262 star

while Pluto's was 01°20' south. The for every 6 years) to the celestial lon­
difference between them is 74°30', gitude; for years before 1980, sub­
which is within orb of a quintile, a tract. Change in celestial latitude is
totally different aspect. negligible.
The actual motion of a star consists In the following alphabetical list,
of its orbital revolution around the each of these fifty stars is described
center of the galaxy (a journey that briefly, identified as to constellation,
takes our solar system, traveling a and given its astrological interpreta­
million miles in slightly more than 2 tion, which consists of its nature (that
hours, or 135 miles a second, about is, its affinity to one or more planets
225 million years), and its swings according to Ptolemy) and its tradi­
above and below the galactic plane. tional meaning. In considering stars
This motion, which gradually alters in a birth chart, the following guide­
the shapes of the constellations, does lines should be kept in mind: Very
not affect a star's celestial coordi­ small orbs (less than 1°) should be
nates within the time frame of a few allowed for aspects between stars
centuries. (The mean motion of a star and planets or angles, although a star
relative to other stars in its constel­ of the first magnitude may have a
lation is 1° every 120,000 years, greater orb than a dimmer star (see
though closer stars may move con­ orb). The meaning of a star has more
siderably faster.) However, a star's weight if the star is aspecting a planet
apparent motion, which is based on whose nature it shares. A star is more
the PRECESSION OF THE EQUINOXES significant if the planet it aspects is
and is part of the shifting of the con­ emphasized in the birth chart, for ex­
stellations relative to the celestial co­ ample, if it is the focal point of a
ordinates, is important and measur­ T-square. Finally, a star assumes
able. greater importance if its associations
Some astrologers believe that cer­ are corroborated by indications in the
tain degrees of the zodiac possess birth chart as a whole. (For more in­
specific qualities and influences of formation on stars, consult Vivian E.
their own, even in the absence of a Robson, The Fixed Stars and Constel­
planet—and even without regard to lations in Astrology [New York: Sam­
the sign of which the degree is a unit. uel Weiser, 1969], which was a major
Some of these degree meanings re­ source for this entry.)
flect the ancient reputations of the Acrux: Brightest star in the con­
stars currently or recently located at stellation of the Southern Cross; Ju-
these celestial longitudes. However, piterian in nature; associated with a
these degree systems are not up­ love of display. Because of its great
dated to keep pace with the gradual celestial latitude, astrologers should
shifting of the stars that correspond be cautious in figuring aspects to it.
to the degrees. Agena: Second star in the constel­
The positions of all the stars in ta­ lation of Centaurus; Venusian and
ble 4 are for 1980. For years after 1980 Jupiterian in nature; a significator of
add 50V4" per year (approximately 5' success.
Table 4. Fifty Important Stars
Celestial Proper Catalog Magni­ Celestial
Longitude Name Name tude Latitude
02Y18 Difda j8 Ceti 2 20S46
14V01 Alpheratz a Andromedae 2 25N41
00W07 Mirach P Andromedae 2 25N56
03'»'41 Sharatan P Arietis 3 08N29
07W22 Hamal a Arietis 2 09N58
14V02 Menkar a Ceti 2>/z 12S35
25W53 Algol P Persei V* 22N25
29W42 Alcyone T, Tauri 3 04N02
09)130 Aldebaran a Tauri 1 05S28
16K33 Rigel P Orionis 1 31S08
20H40 Bellatrix y Orionis 2 16S50
21H34 Capella a Aurigae 1 22N55
22M17 El Nath P Tauri 2 05N23
23)112 Alnilam e Orionis 2 24S32
28H17 Polaris a Ursae Minoris 2 66N05
28M28 Betelgeuze a Orionis 1 16S02
135559 Sirius a Canis Majoris 1 39S35
145541 Canopus a Argus 1 75S50
195558 Castor a Geminorum 2 10N05
225557 Pollux P Geminorum 1 06N40
255531 Procyon a Canis Minoris 1 16S00
088126 South Asellus 8 Cancri 4 0ON04
278100 Alphard a Hydrae 2 22S23
298)33 Regulus a Leonis 1 00N28
IIIU’02 Zosma 8 Leonis 2 14N20
2111F20 Denebola P Leonis 2 12N16
09—40 Vindemiatrix e Virginis 2 16N12
23—33 Spica a Virginis 1 02S03
23—57 Arcturus a Bootis 1 30N47
1101.36 Acrux a Crucis 1 52S52
1201.00 Alphecca a Coronae Borealis 2 44N20
1401.48 South Kiffa a Librae 3 00N20
1901.05 North Kiffa P Librae 2Vi 08N30
211)1.46 Unukalhai a Serpentis 2Vz 25N25
2301,33 Agena P Centauri 1 44S09
2901,18 Bungula a Centauri 1 42S34
02X54 Graffias P Scorpii 3 01N01
09X29 Antares a Scorpii 1 04S34
11X40 Rastaban P Draconis 3 75N17
22X10 Rasalhague a Ophiuchi 2 35N51
29X28 Sinistra i> Ophiuchi 3 13N41
15kJ02 Vega a Lyrae 1 61N44
19kJ31 Deneb t, Aquilae 3 36N12
01—29 Altair a Aquilae 1 29N18
03-32 Giedi a Capricorni 4 06N58
03—46 Dabih P Capricorni 3 04N36
03X34 Fomalhaut a Piscis Australis 1 21S08
05X04 Deneb Adige a Cygni 1 59N55
23X12 Markab a Pegasi 2 19N24
29X05 Scheat P Pegasi 2 31N08
* Variable.
264 star

Alcyone: See “Pleiades, the," be­ the constellation of Scorpio; Martian

low. and Jupiterian in nature; associated
Aldebaran: Brightest star in the con­ with rashness, imprudence, and vi­
stellation of Taurus; Martian in na­ olent death. The Sumerians in the
ture; associated with public or mili­ third millennium B.C. considered
tary honors and courage. The Antares one of the Royal Stars,
Sumerians of the third millennium since at that time it marked the po­
B.C. considered Aldebaran one of the sition of the autumnal equinox. An­
Royal Stars, since at that time it tares is regarded as the fiducial, or
marked the position of the vernal marking star, by some modem si­
equinox. Aldebaran is regarded as derealists (see sidereal zodiac).
the fiducial, or marking star, by some Arcturus: Golden yellow star,
modem siderealists (see sidereal zo­ brightest in the constellation of
diac). Bootes; Martian and Jupiterian in na­
Algol: Variable star in the constel­ ture; associated with fame and hon­
lation of Perseus (marking Medusa's ors.
severed head); Saturnian and Jupi- Bellatrix: Somewhat variable pale
terian in nature; said to foreshadow yellow star in the constellation of
violence and violent death. Orion; Martian and Mercurial in na­
Alnilam: Brilliant white star in the ture; associated with marriage for
constellation of Orion; Jupiterian and money and honors followed by re­
Saturnian in nature; an indication of verses.
short-lived success. Betelgeuze: Somewhat variable or­
Alphard: Orange star, first in the ange star, brightest in the constella­
constellation of Hydra; Saturnian tion of Orion; Martian and Mercurial
and Venusian in nature; associated in nature; said to be a harbinger of
with immorality. Alphard was the wealth.
South Star about 3000 B.C. (see Bungula: Double star system, white
PRECESSION OF THE EQUINOXES). and yellow, brightest in the constel­
Alphecca: Brightest star in the con­ lation of the Centaur; Venusian and
stellation of Corona Borealis; Venu­ Jupiterian in nature; associated with
sian and Mercurial in nature; associ­ friendship and refinement. Bungula
ated with artistic talent. (a Centauri) is the closest star to
Alpheratz: Double star system, Earth other than the Sun; its distance
white and violet, first in the constel­ is 4.2 light-years (2.47 x 1013 miles,
lation of Andromeda; Jupiterian and or 265,818 times as far from us as the
Venusian in nature; regarded as an Sun).
indication of good fortune, wealth, Canopus: White star, brightest in
honors, freedom, and love. the constellation of Argo; Saturnian
Altair: Pale yellow star, first in the and Jupiterian in nature; considered
constellation of Aquila; Martian and a bad omen for sea voyages. Cano­
Jupiterian in nature; associated with pus was the South Star about 12,100
immoderate ambition. B.C. and will be again about A.D.
Antares: Double star system, fiery 13,700 (see precession of the equi­
red and emerald green, brightest in noxes). Because of its great celestial
 star 265

latitude, astrologers should be cau­ the position of the winter solstice.

tious in figuring aspects to it. Giedi: Triple star system—yellow,
Capella: White star, brightest in the gray, and light purple—in the con­
constellation of Auriga; Martian and stellation of Capricorn; Venusian and
Mercurial in nature; reputed to augur Martian in nature; associated with
wealth, honors, and friends in high piety and self-sacrifice.
places. Graffias: Triple star system, pale
Castor: Double star system, bright white and light purple, in the con­
white and pale white, in the constel­ stellation of Scorpio; Martian and Sa­
lation of Gemini; Mercurial in nature; turnian in nature; associated with
associated with guile and duplicity. malice and sometimes with cruelty.
Dabih: Double star system, yellow Hamal: Brightest star in the con­
orange and light blue, in the constel­ stellation of Aries; Martian and Sa­
lation of Capricorn; Venusian and turnian in nature; associated with
Saturnian in nature; indicating a ten­ brutality and cruelty.
dency to melancholy. Markab: White star, brightest in the
Deneb: Green star in the constella­ constellation of Pegasus; Martian and
tion of Aquila; Martian and Jupiterian Mercurial in nature; associated with
in nature; indicating authority. wounds.
Deneb Adige: Brilliant white star, Menkar: Orange star, brightest in
brightest in the constellation of Cyg­ the constellation of Cetus; Saturnian
nus; Venusian and Mercurial in na­ in nature; associated with illness and
ture; associated with a love of study. ruin.
Because of its great celestial latitude, Mirach: Yellow star in the constel­
astrologers should be cautious in fig­ lation of Andromeda; Venusian in
uring aspects to it. nature; associated with good fortune,
Denebola: Blue star in the constel­ beauty, and lasting marriage. Mirach
lation of Leo; Saturnian and Venu­ entered the sign Taurus in the sum­
sian in nature; reputed to portend mer of 1971.
misfortune and regrets. North Kiffa (also called Zubene-
Difda: Yellow star in the constella­ schamali): Light green star, brightest
tion of Cetus; Saturnian in nature; in the constellation of Libra; Ju­
associated with illness, misfortune, piterian and Mercurial (according to
and violence against the self. later sources, Jupiterian and Martian)
El Nath: Double star, brilliant white in nature; associated with success
and pale gray, in the constellation of and happiness.
Taurus; Martian in nature; reputed to Pleiades, the: Group of fixed stars in
be an indication of success. the constellation of Taurus, centered
Fomalhaut: Reddish star in the con­ around the greenish yellow star
stellation of Pisces; Venusian and Alcyone; lunar and Martian in na­
Mercurial in nature; traditionally as­ ture; traditionally considered mal­
sociated with fame. The Sumerians efic. Alcyone is regarded as the fi­
of the third millennium B.C. consid­ ducial, or marking star, by some
ered Fomalhaut one of the Royal siderealists (see sidereal zodiac).
Stars, since at that time it marked By the year 2000 the Pleiades will be
266 star

entering the sign of Gemini. It is regarded as the fiducial, or mark­

Polaris: Double star system, yellow ing star, by some siderealists (see
and white, in the constellation of SIDEREAL ZODIAC).
Ursa Minor; Saturnian and Venusian Rigel: Double star system, pale
in nature; associated with illness, dis­ blue, in the constellation of Orion;
grace, and ruin. For the past few cen­ Jupiterian and Saturnian in nature;
turies, Polaris has marked the north associated with fame, wealth, and
celestial pole, being about 50' from originality.
it. It will come closest in A.D. 2095 Scheat: Irregularly variable yellow
(see cosmography; precession of star in the constellation of Pegasus;
the equinoxes). Because of Polaris's Martian and Mercurial in nature; re­
great celestial latitude, astrologers garded as an omen of violent death.
should be cautious in figuring as­ Scheat is due to enter the sign of Ar­
pects to it. ies in 2046.
Pollux: Orange star in the constel­ Sharatan: White star in the constel­
lation of Gemini; Martian in nature; lation of Aries; Martian and Satur­
associated with audacity and cruelty. nian in nature; associated with viol­
Procyon: Double star system, white ence.
and yellow, brightest in the constel­ Sinistra: Small star in the constel­
lation of Canis Minor; Mercurial and lation of Ophiuchus; Saturnian and
Martian in nature; associated with Venusian in nature; associated with
vigorous activity verging on violence. depravity. Sinistra will enter Capri­
Rasalhague: Blue star, brightest in corn in 2018.
the constellation of Ophiuchus; Sa­ Sirius: Double star system, white
turnian and Venusian in nature; as­ and yellow, brightest in the constel­
sociated with perversion and deprav­ lation of Canis Major; Jupiterian and
ity. Martian in nature; regarded as a har­
Rastaban: Double yellow star sys­ binger of fame. It was known to the
tem in the constellation of Draco; Sa­ Egyptians as Sothis, and its heliacal
turnian and Martian in nature; asso­ rising, which coincided with the an­
ciated with accidents. Because of its nual flooding of the Nile, marked the
great celestial latitude, astrologers beginning of the year (see Egypt, as­
should be cautious in figuring as­ trology in). Sirius is one of the clos­
pects to it. est stars to Earth; its distance is only
Regulus: Triple star, white and 8.7 light-years (550,623 times as far
blue, in the constellation of Leo; Mar­ as the Sun).
tian and Jupiterian in nature; re­ South Asellus: Beige star in the con­
garded as benefic; associated with stellation of Cancer; Martian and So­
generosity and ambition. The Su­ lar in nature; associated with fever
merians of the third millennium B.C. and the risk of blindness.
considered Regulus one of the Royal South Kiffa (also called Zubenelgen-
Stars, since at that time it marked ubi): Double star system, light yellow
the position of the summer solstice. and light gray, second brightest in
In A.D. 2012 Regulus will leave the the constellation of Libra; Saturnian
tropical sign of Leo and enter Virgo. and Martian in nature; associated
 stationary 267

with misfortune. rect (called stationary direct). The ef­

Spica: Brilliant white double star fect is, of course, an illusion. In the
system, brightest in the constellation case of the inferior planets (those in­
of Virgo; Venusian and Martian in side the Earth's orbit), the illusion is
nature; regarded as an indication of produced when the planet is mo­
success and associated with love of mentarily moving directly toward the
the arts and sciences. Spica is also Earth (stationary retrograde) or di­
known as Arista. It is regarded as the rectly away from the Earth (station­
fiducial, or marking star, by some si­ ary direct). In the case of the superior
derealists (see SIDEREAL zodiac). planets (those outside the Earth's or­
Unukalhai: Yellow star in the con­ bit), the situation is the same, except
stellation of the Serpent; Saturnian that it is the Earth that moves toward
and Martian in nature; associated or away from the planet. The Sun
with accidents and violence. and Moon can never be stationary.
Vega: Light blue star in the con­ The point in the planet's orbit
stellation of Lyra; Venusian and Mer­ where it seems to stand still is called
curial in nature; associated with its station. According to some astrol­
wealth and pretentiousness. Vega ogers, the length of time that a
was the North Star in 12,200 B.C. and planet's station can be considered
will be again in A.D. 13,500 (see operative is inversely proportional to
precession of the equinoxes). Be­ the speed of its motion; that is, the
cause of its great celestial latitude, slower it moves, the longer its sta­
astrologers should be cautious in fig­ tion. According to this theory Mer­
uring aspects to it. cury's station is operative for 1 day,
Vindemiatrix: Brilliant yellow star in Venus's for 2 days, Mars's for 3 days,
the constellation of Virgo; Saturnian Jupiter's for 4 days, Saturn's for 5
and Mercurial in nature; associated days, Uranus's for 7 days, and Nep­
with deceit and difficult ordeals. tune's and Pluto's for 8 days each.
Zosma: Triple star system—yellow, In a natal chart, the influence of a
blue, and violet—in the constellation planet is held to be greatly intensified
of Leo; Saturnian and Venusian in by its being stationary, especially if
nature; associated with selfishness, it is stationary direct (retrograde mo­
immorality, and a propensity to drug tion is associated with the past or the
addiction. unconscious). For example, a station-
ary-direct Mercury in a horoscope
Star Time: See time. would be one indication of a strong
and active intelligence. Mercury sta­
Station: See stationary. tionary retrograde might indicate an
equally acute mind, but of a more
Stationary: A term used to describe introspective sort. By transit, Mer­
a planet that appears from Earth to cury stationary direct would be an
be standing still in its orbit prior to excellent time to sign a contract,
reversing its motion, either from di­ while Mercury stationary retrograde
rect to retrograde (called stationary would be a good time to begin psy­
retrograde) or from retrograde to di­ chotherapy.
268 statistics and astrology

Statistics and Astrology: The use of Lasson, began compiling vast

statistics to validate various aspects amounts of birth data and analyzing
of astrological theory seems appro­ birth charts with respect to angular
priate, since most astrologers agree planets and choice of profession,
that astrology deals with probabilities with highly significant results. And
rather than certainties, and statistics in England John Addey embarked on
rests upon the theory of probability. 20 years of research that led to the
However, there are certain built-in discovery and exploration of har­
problems, as we shall see. monics. The statistical experiments of
Early attempts to correlate birth both the Swiss psychologist C. G.
data with observable effects were Jung (comparative positions of Sun,
made in the 1920s by the French as­ Moon, and Ascendant in the charts
trologer Paul Choisnard (outstand­ of married couples) and the Ameri­
ing ability, violent death) and in the can psychologist Vernon Clark (abil­
1930s by the Swiss astrologer Karl ity of astrologers to match birth
Krafft (choice of profession as a cler­ charts with biographies) also oc­
gyman). Although the work of Krafft curred in the 1950s.
and Choisnard has been criticized To date, statistical studies have al­
(for example, by French statistician most consistently failed to find cor­
Michel Gauquelin) on the grounds relation between Sun position and
of inadequate samples and faulty observable data; the exception is the
methods, it did draw the attention of work done by Mayo and Eysenck on
other astrologers, and Krafft in par­ extraversion and introversion and
ticular found early evidence for har­ the positive and negative signs of the
monics that anticipates the inde­ zodiac. However, they have con­
pendent work of John Addey. But the firmed the traditional meanings of
use of statistics in astrology really angularity and the planets (Gauque­
came alive in the 1950s with the pi­ lin) and the ability of astrologers to
oneering work of Donald Bradley in perform above chance level in blind
America, Michel and Frangoise Gau­ matching tests, where control groups
quelin in France, and John Addey in of nonastrologers performed at
England. chance (Clark); and they have re­
In analyzing the planetary posi­ vealed significant correlations of
tions of 2,593 clergymen whose birth­ profession with subdivisions of the
dates he compiled from Who's Who, zodiac heretofore unknown to tradi­
Bradley found no significant correla­ tional Western astrology, which in­
tions with Sun signs—at least for the vite further investigation (Addey).
tropical zodiac—but his data when The drawbacks of statistical re­
further analyzed did reveal a wave­ search are, first, that it is time-con­
like curve that Addey later identified suming and expensive. The Gauque­
as the seventh harmonic (and repli­ lins have shown the importance of
cated, using birth data for British large samples, which virtually re­
clergymen). Meanwhile the Gauque­ quire the use of the computer. Then
lins, intrigued by an experiment con­ there is the problem posed by the
ducted by French astrologer Leon multiplicity of factors considered by
 Sun 269

astrology and the necessity of isolat­ "rags to riches" story that typifies
ing one variable out of a complex Capricornian ambition.
whole made up of interdependent
parts. No two charts are alike. The Succedent (from the Latin succedere,
positions of the planets do not repeat to follow): A term used to describe
themselves for hundreds of thou­ the houses in a horoscope that follow
sands of years; yet they are nonran­ the angular houses, proceeding in
dom, so that orbital characteristics a counterclockwise direction, or
must be taken into account. Intelli­ planets occupying such houses. The
gently constructed tests require a succedent houses are the Second,
knowledge of astrology; yet if astrol­ Fifth, Eighth, and Eleventh; they cor­
ogers are in charge, results are not respond to the fixed signs, and
taken seriously by the scientific es­ planets in those houses are associ­
tablishment. Few professional statis­ ated with preservation and re­
ticians are interested in astrology— sources. A planet in a succedent
the Gauquelins are the exception— house is said to be weaker than if it
and until recently, astrologers have were angular—that is, placed in one
been blissfully ignorant of the prin­ of the houses following the angles of
ciples of the scientific method or the the chart—but not so weak as if it
importance of adequate sample, con­ were cadent—that is, placed in one
trol groups, and replication. How­ of the houses preceding the angles of
ever, the gap is now being closed by the chart.
a new generation of astrologers who
are at home with technology, com­ Summer Solstice: See solstices.
puters, and statistics, and judging
from what has been accomplished in Summer Time: See time.
the last 30 years, the future possibil­
ities for this field are promising in­ Sun (glyph O): The luminous celes­
deed. tial body whose light constitutes our
day (and the lack of whose light, our
Stellium (or Satellitium): A cluster of night). Once thought to be a planet
several planets in the same sign or revolving around the Earth; now
house. De Vore specifies five or known to be a star, the central body
more; Hone accepts three, citing the of our solar system around which the
common example of Sun, Mercury, Earth and other planets revolve, by
and Venus in the same sign. Since which they are held in their orbits,
each planet reinforces the influence and from which they receive light
of the others, such a planetary and heat. Its mean distance from the
grouping gives that sign or house Earth is 93 million miles, and its di­
major importance in the interpreta­ ameter is 865,370 miles, or over a
tion of the chart. For example, the hundred times that of the Earth. (See
stellium of five planets plus south GEOCENTRIC SYSTEM; PTOLEMY.)
node in Capricorn in the birth chart In Western astrology, the Sun is
of novelist Horatio Alger helped to sometimes classified as benefic, if fa­
make his name synonymous with the vorably aspected, and sometimes as
270 Sun

neutral. Only in Eastern astrology, lation to the Sun, see the entries for
which is based on a lunar zodiac, is the individual signs.)
the Sun traditionally regarded as
malefic. The Sun rules the sign of SUN IN THE SIGNS
Leo (see rulership) and is therefore Sun in Aries: pioneering spirit,
in detriment in the opposite, Sat­ courage, impulsiveness, strength,
urn-ruled sign of Aquarius. The Sun aggression, competition, impatience,
is exalted in Aries (see exaltation) selfishness.
and in fall in Libra. Sun in Taurus: patience, persever-
In chart interpretation the Sun ence, loyalty, nurturing instinct,
stands for vitality, consciousness, stamina, sensuality, conservatism,
spirit, creativity, identity. Its qualities rigidity, materialism, greed.
are visibility, power, grandeur, no­ Sun in Gemini: intelligence, curi­
bility, honor, dignity, generosity, au­ osity, writing ability, versatility,
thority, and leadership. It rules the changeability, restlessness, diffu­
ego, individuality, self-image; career, sion, nervousness, amorality, super­
fame, public life (as distinguished ficiality.
from private life, which is ruled by Sun in Cancer: sensitivity, maternal
the Moon); will, ideals, destiny, pur­ instinct, empathy, psychic ability,
pose, future; yang energy (yin en­ love of home, shyness, indirectness,
ergy is ruled by the Moon); persons tenacity, moodiness, possessiveness,
in authority, fathers, husbands, and defensiveness.
men in general; and the general Sun in Leo: creativity, dramatic
health and constitution of the native. sense, love of pleasure, dignity, gen­
When afflicted, the Sun is associated erosity, romanticism, childlike qual­
with pompousness, ostentation, des­ ity, egotism, pride.
potism, egotism, self-centeredness, Sun in Virgo: craftsmanship, serv­
and pride. ice, humility, love of detail, interest
The following delineations are of­ in health and diet, perfectionism,
fered to show some of the ways the fastidiousness, skepticism, criticism,
Sun may operate in the signs and worry.
houses. It should be remembered Sun in Libra: fairness, unselfish­
that they are merely suggestions and ness, aesthetic sense, pacifism, inter­
that their accuracy in any given case est in law, need for partner, indeci­
depends on the overall strength and siveness, weak identity.
condition of the Sun in relation to the Sun in Scorpio: resourcefulness,
chart as a whole, especially the as­ penetrating insight, strength in cri­
pects it forms with other planets and sis, healing ability, psychic power,
important points. Although the Sun charisma, strong sexuality, interest in
sign is of major importance in a birth occult, secretiveness, jealousy.
chart, its influence is modified by Sun in Sagittarius: independence;
other factors such as Moon, Ascend­ optimism; love of sports, travel, and
ant, or a strong emphasis in another the outdoors; sense of humor; talka­
sign. (For fuller descriptions of the tiveness; theoretical mind; self-right­
signs of the zodiac, especially in re­ eousness.
 Sun-sign astrology 271

Sun in Capricorn: responsibility, Sun in the Ninth House: interest

ambition, thoroughness, serious­ in higher education and spiritual
ness, forethought, executive ability, growth, love of travel, professional
caution, anxiety. success, strong sense of values.
Sun in Aquarius: group conscious­ Sun in the Tenth House: fame or
ness, idealism, inventiveness, unpre­ recognition in chosen profession,
dictability, detachment, dogmatism. worldly success, leadership, political
Sun in Pisces: impressionability, power, ambition.
compassion, sensitivity, artistic gifts, Sun in the Eleventh House: lead­
mysticism, meditation, spirituality, ership in group activities, many
mediumship, escapism, depend­ friends, friends in high places, inter­
ency, masochism. est in the future, idealism.
SUN IN THE HOUSES Sun in the Twelfth House: working
behind the scenes, identification with
Sun in the First House: self-confi­ schools or institutions, interest in re­
dence, energy, good health, leader­ search, reclusive tendencies.
ship, optimism, initiative, dignity,
individualism, ambition, self-cen­ Sun-Sign Astrology: A form of as­
teredness. trology, necessarily oversimplified,
Sun in the Second House: interest in which deals only with Sun signs.
money and possessions, talent, cre­ Although the term can apply to valid
ative ability, possibility of wealth and astrological works that happen to fo­
of prodigality. cus on the Sun, it is usually used by
Sun in the Third House: good stu­ serious astrologers to refer dispar­
dent, interest in communication, agingly to the watered-down as­
writing or teaching ability, curiosity. trology found in the syndicated
Sun in the Fourth House: strong at­ "Daily Horoscopes" in newspapers
tachment to home and family, love and the astrology columns in popular
of houses, late development, reclu­ magazines.
sive tendencies. The principal tool of Sun-sign as­
Sun in the Fifth House: creativity; trology is the technique of solar
love of pleasure, theater, and chil­ houses, in which the native's Sun sign
dren; romanticism; passion. is regarded as the cusp of the First
Sun in the Sixth House: concentra­ House, the following sign as the cusp
tion on work, interest in health and of the Second House, and so on
diet, service or healing profession, around the wheel. For example, all
possibility of overwork. people born with Sun in Leo would
Sun in the Seventh House: interest in have their second solar house ruled
other people, need for partner, out­ by Virgo, their third solar house by
going personality, objectivity. Libra, and so on. The current transits
Sun in the Eighth House: ability to of the planets through the houses of
handle other people's resources, this imaginary horoscope are used as
healing ability, strength in crisis, in­ the basis for predictions which, of
terest in the occult, intense experi­ course, will be identical for all Sun­
ences, awareness of sex. sign Leos for a given period of time.
272 Sun House system

The advantage of this technique is sunrise on the day of birth at the lat­
that it can be used in the absence of itude of the birthplace. The cusp of
specific information regarding time the First House is therefore the de­
or place of birth and thus without the gree of celestial longitude occu­
necessity of casting a chart. pied by the Sun at sunrise and is
But although the Sun is one of the generally treated as a true Ascend­
most important elements in a birth ant, generating the Midheaven and
chart, any attempt to describe char­ intermediate cusps according to one
acter or predict events on the basis of of the quadrant systems of house di­
the Sun's sign position alone, thus vision. The sunrise chart is generally
ignoring the myriad complexities of used to study the mutual aspects of
individual birth charts, is usually the planets in cases where the time
either naive or irresponsible. How of birth is unknown. It should not be
rough a sketch of individual person­ confused with the solar chart, in
ality the Sun sign alone represents which the cusp of the First House is
can be seen by the fact that each sign the degree occupied by the Sun at
encompasses one-twelfth of the hu­ noon on the day of birth.
man race. Sun-sign astrology sur­
vives, and indeed flourishes, for the Sun Sign: The sign of the zodiac that
simple reason that it is the easiest the Sun was transiting at the time of
kind to commercialize. Most people an individual's birth; sometimes
know their birthday and can thus called birth sign. (See Sun-sign as­
easily discover "what sign they trology.)
are"—that is, what sign the Sun was Superior Conjunction: A conjunc­
in at their birth. Any further refine­ tion of the Sun and an inferior
ments require the services of a com­ planet (Mercury or Venus) in which
petent astrologer and are thus be­ the planet is on the opposite side of
yond the scope of those who would the Sun from the Earth; as distin­
capitalize on the perennial gullibility guished from an inferior conjunction,
of the public and the current popu­ in which the planet is between the
larity of astrology.
Earth and the Sun. (See elonga­
Note: Solar houses should not be tion.)
confused with the Solar House Sys­
tem of house division, in which an Superior Planet: A planet whose or­
actual chart is cast, based on the ce­ bit lies outside that of the Earth; the
lestial longitude of the Sun. Like the superior planets are Mars, Jupiter,
Solar House System, solar houses Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto.
may be a valid technique aside from
their use in commercialized Sun-sign Symbolic Direction: See progres­
astrology. sion AND DIRECTION.
Sun House System: See house divi­ Symbolist School: See humanistic
sion. astrology; modern astrology.

Sunrise Chart: A chart calculated for Synastry: See chart comparison.

 syzygy 273

Synchronicity (from the Greek syn, Uranus 1 year 4 days

together, and chronos, time): Jung's Neptune 1 year 2 days
theory of meaningful coincidence; Pluto 1 year 2 days
the idea, developed by him in the
1940s, that some events are con­ The synodic period is distinguished
nected by significance rather than by from the synodic cycle, which is the
causality. In Synchronicity: An Acausal interval between two successive con­
Connecting Principle (1952), Jung ex­ junctions of any two planets, not one
plores the relationship of this acausal planet with the Sun. The synodic
concept to astrology. (See horary cycle is used in mundane astrology
ASTROLOGY.)
to measure important developments
in world history. (See cycle; Moon;
SIDEREAL PERIOD; TROPICAL PERIOD.)
Synetic Vernal Point: See sidereal
zodiac; vernal point. Synthesis (from the Greek syn, with,
and tithenai, to place): Literally, “put­
Synodic Cycle: See cycle. ting together"; the art of weaving all
the separate indications contained in
Synodic Month: See synodic pe­ a horoscope into a unified whole; the
riod. final stage or end product of inter­
pretation. Synthesis is (or should be)
Synodic Period (from the Greek sun- distinguished from delineation, which
odos, copulation, a reference to the is the interpretation of a specific in­
New Moon, when the Sun and the fluence, such as a planet's position in
Moon are conjoined): The time it sign or house, an aspect, and so on.
takes a celestial body to make one All of these separate delineations are
complete round in its orbit, meas­ part of the overall process of chart
ured from one conjunction with the interpretation, but the last step is
Sun to the next. The mean synodic the most difficult, and the ability to
period of the Moon, the synodic arrive at a meaningful synthesis is
month, from one New Moon to the the mark of an experienced astrolo­
next, is 29 days 12 hours 44 minutes ger.
2.7 seconds. The synodic periods of
the planets, rounded to the nearest Syzygy: Literally, "a joining to­
day, are as follows: gether"; an archaic term defined
broadly as a conjunction or oppo­
Mercury 116 days sition of any two celestial bodies, or
Venus 1 year 220 days more particularly as a conjunction or
Mars 2 years 289 days opposition of a planet with the Sun,
Jupiter 1 year 34 days or of the Sun and Moon; Ptolemy
Saturn 1 year 13 days uses it as a synonym for lunation.
Table of Houses: A table showing its natural house is the Second.
the degrees of the signs of the zodiac In Taurus the stability of earth and
on the cusps of the houses for var­ the perseverance of fixity are blended
ious terrestrial latitudes for every de­ with the aesthetic sense of Venus to
gree of right ascension (every 4 min­ produce a slow, steadfast nature with
utes of sidereal time), or every a deep appreciation of the wealth and
celestial-longitude degree on the beauty of this planet. The symbol for
Midheaven, according to one of sev­ Taurus is the bull, an image of brute
eral systems of house division. In force and calm endurance. While not
casting a horoscope, this reference all Taureans are bullish or bovine,
tool is necessary for the beginner and many do have the quiet strength and
very helpful to the astrologer, spar­ stamina of this animal. If Arians are
ing him or her the necessity of per­ the pioneers and discoverers of the
forming complex and tedious calcu­ land, Taureans—who include not
lations of spherical trigonometry. only Sun-sign Taureans, but all in
Among the best-known and most whose charts the sign is empha­
widely available tables of houses are sized—are the settlers and cultiva­
Dalton's and Raphael's, based on the tors. They are the ones who roll up
system of Placidus. For instructions their sleeves and till the soil and
in the use of tables of houses, see build houses, bridges, and towns.
chart calculation. A sample page Aries is the force of nature; Taurus
from a table of houses can be found the force of civilization.
on page 49. Earth is the slowest-moving of the
elements, and Taurus, being fixed
Taurus (glyph S'): The second sign earth, is the earthiest of the earth
of the zodiac, which the Sun transits signs. Its natives have a special inti­
during the second month of spring, macy with the land and a deep un­
from about April 21 to about May 20. derstanding of and respect for all
The symbol for this sign is the bull. forms of matter. They value natural
Its polarity is negative, its element resources and want to conserve
is earth (see elements), its quality is them; they value their bodies and
fixed (see qualities), its ruling usually take good care of them; and
planet is Venus (see rulership), and they value the fruits of their labor,
 Taurus 275

X rbaurus grance. This delicacy, combined with

their legendary persistence, has
given the world some great artists
and writers who illustrate the truth
of the saying that genius is 1 percent
inspiration and 99 percent perspira­
tion.
Taureans are slow to take offense,
but once their anger is aroused, they
are implacable. Better face a Sherman
tank than a Taurus on the warpath!
But being children of Venus, they
are fundamentally peace-loving souls
who enjoy all the good things of life,
especially eating, drinking, music,
art, and making love.
Indeed, with their affectionate na­
whether these be food, money, or ture and slow sensuality, Taurus
possessions. They tend to be fixed in people are among the finest lovers of
their ideas, which are often conserv­ the zodiac. They make devoted part­
ative. ners and caring parents, though they
Taurean infants are characteristi­ are both possessive and overprotec-
cally content and regular in feeding tive. Their most compatible signs are
and sleep patterns. They may be re­ Virgo, Capricorn, Pisces, and Cancer;
markably slow in reaching each suc­ Aries, Gemini, Libra, and Sagittarius
cessive developmental milestone, but are neutral; and Leo and Aquarius
once they reach it, they will perse­ may be difficult. With another Tau­
vere until it has been passed. The rus there would be more stability
typical Taurus child has a solid-look­ than passion. With Scorpio there will
ing body and a strong sense of be both attraction and tension; but
"mine." They must be gently taught ultimately the question of compati­
to share their toys, for when Tau- bility can be answered only by care­
reans are insecure, their love of ma­ ful comparison of two whole birth
terial things can harden into greed. charts.
Like Cancers, they are loyal and pro­ Work comes naturally to Taureans,
tective toward their siblings, dolls, but they will do best at activities that
and playmates. involve building, growing, nurtur­
Taurus has a reputation for being ing, cooking, conserving, or han­
dull and unimaginative, but actually dling money or possessions. They
this sign is often emphasized in the make fine carpenters, gardeners,
charts of highly creative people. Tau­ farmers, breeders, teachers, conser­
rus rules the five senses, and these vationists, naturalists, ecologists,
natives are tuned in to the subtlest economists, bankers, and business­
nuances of color, sound, and fra­ men. Their keen perception and pa-
276 T-cross

tient dedication may also contribute

to accomplishment in scholarship
and the arts. Famous Sun-sign Tau-
reans include John James Audubon,
Honore de Balzac, Johannes Brahms,
Sigmund Freud, Martha Graham,
William Randolph Hearst, Adolf Hit­
ler, Immanuel Kant, Soren Kierke­
gaard, Nikolai Lenin, Karl Marx,
John Stuart Mill, John Muir, Vladimir
Nabokov, Henri Rousseau, Bertrand
Russell, Benjamin Spock, Sir Arthur
Sullivan, Rabindranath Tagore,
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, Harry S
Truman, and Max Weber. (See
birthstones; colors; days of the
week; metals.)

T-Cross: See T-square.

Figure 53. Geocentric versus geographic lat­
itude. The Earth has greater diameter at the
Terrestrial Latitude: Angular dis­ Equator than it does at the Poles. A plumb line
tance of locations on the Earth's sur­ from any location on the surface, L, extends
down toward the nadir, N, which does not
face, measured in degrees, minutes, usually coincide with the Earth's center, O.
and seconds north or south of the LM is the plumb line from the surface, and
Earth's Equator, whose latitude is 0°. EM is the plumb line from the Equator; the
angle formed at their intersection, </>', is the
Maximum terrestrial latitude is at the geographic latitude. The angle forced by the
Earth's North Pole (90° north) and intersection of LO, location to center, and EO,
South Pole (90° south). Other loca­ Equator to center—that is, </>—is the geocentric
latitude. The horizon, either apparent or ra­
tions are said to be on parallels of lat­ tional, is perpendicular to LM (the plumb
itude; for example, Philadelphia, at line), not to LO.
40° north terrestrial latitude, usually
written 40N, is on the 40th Parallel. birthplace is one of the two terrestrial
Above latitude 23N27 (the Tropic of coordinates an astrologer must know
Cancer) and below latitude 23S27 in order to calculate a birth chart; the
(the Tropic of Capricorn), the Sun is other is terrestrial longitude. Ter­
never directly overhead. Above restrial latitude determines the As­
66N33 (the Arctic Circle) and below cendant, Descendant, and (in most
66S33 (the Antarctic Circle), there are systems of house dixhsion) all the
times during the year when the Sun other house cusps except the Fourth
does not set and other times when it and the Tenth.
does not rise. The sea-level distance Geographic latitude, which is given
between one terrestrial latitude and in atlases, is the terrestrial latitude
the next is slightly over 69 miles. determined by measuring the angle
Local terrestrial latitude for the between an idealized plumb line
 terrestrial longitude 277

(with topographical irregularities not tial) meridian or, simply, the merid­
taken into consideration) at the lo­ ian. (See RIGHT ASCENSION.)
cation and an idealized plumb line at The sea-level distance between one
the Equator. Geocentric latitude is the terrestrial longitude degree and the
terrestrial latitude determined by next varies with terrestrial lati­
measuring the angle formed at the tude, becoming shorter the farther
Earth's center between the line ex­ one is from the Equator. At the Equa­
tending to the surface at the location tor the distance is about 69 miles; at
and the line extending to the surface 20° latitude (north or south) it is
at the Equator (see figure 53). There about 65 miles; at 40° it is about 53
is a small difference between the two miles; at 60° it is about 34 miles; at
latitudes (never more than 12') due 80° it is about 12 miles. At the Poles
to the fact that the Earth has greater (90° north or south latitude) there is
diameter at the Equator than it does no distance: All the longitudes meet.
at the Poles (7,927 miles and 7,900 Terrestrial longitude determines
miles, respectively). Since the As­ mean solar time at a given location.
cendant is defined geocentrically, The local mean time (LMT) for each
Charles Jayne has advocated using degree of longitude west of Green­
geocentric latitude. But Robert Hand wich is 4 minutes earlier than Green­
argues against its use because the wich mean time (GMT), and for each
horizon (which generates the As­ degree east of Greenwich it is 4 min­
cendant) is defined as the plane per­ utes later than GMT. Thus when it
pendicular to the plumb line. (See is noon in GMT, the LMT in New
cosmography; precision.) York City (longitude 74W) is 7:04
A.M. (74 x 4 = 296 minutes, or 4
Terrestrial Longitude: Angular dis­ hours 56 minutes earlier).
tance of locations on the Earth's sur­ Standard Time (ST) is the LMT at
face, measured in degrees, minutes, legally instituted Standard Time Me­
and seconds along the Earth's Equa­ ridians, usually at 15° (1-hour) inter­
tor from the Greenwich Meridian vals east or west of the Greenwich
(that is, the longitude of Greenwich, Meridian. Locations within an ST
England, which is 0°). Terrestrial lon­ zone more or less centered on the ST
gitude is measured for 180° from the Meridian observe the same Standard
Greenwich Meridian in both an east­ Time.
ward and a westward direction. The local terrestrial longitude for
A meridian of terrestrial longitude is the birthplace is one of the two co­
a great circle perpendicular to the ordinates an astrologer must know in
Equator at a point a certain number order to calculate a birth chart; the
of longitude degrees east or west of other is terrestrial latitude. Local lon­
the Greenwich Meridian. For exam­ gitude determines local mean time
ple, Denver, Colorado (longitude (LMT); from LMT can be derived local
105° west, usually written 105W), is sidereal time (LST), which determines
on the 105th Meridian. The local ter­ the positions of the Midheaven, As­
restrial meridian projected onto the cendant, and intermediate house
celestial sphere is the local (celes­ cusps. (See precision; time.)
278 tertiary progression

Tertiary Progression: See progres­

sion AND DIRECTION.

Theogenes the Greek: See Romans,

ASTROLOGY AMONG THE.

Thrasyllus: See Romans, astrology Neutral signs: Cock, Goat, Horse.

AMONG THE.
Incompatible signs: Ox, Rat, Ser­
pent.
Tiger: The third sign of the Chinese Famous Tigers include Ludwig van
zodiac, including all persons born Beethoven, Emily Bronte, William
between Burroughs, Charles de Gaulle, Emily
February 8, 1902, and January 29, 1903 (water)
January 26, 1914, and February 14, 1915 (wood)
Dickinson, Dwight D. Eisenhower,
February 13, 1926, and February 2, 1927 (fire) Allen Ginsberg Ho Chi Minh, Joe
January 31, 1938, and February 19, 1939 (earth) Louis, Stephane Mallarme, Karl
February 17, 1950, and February 6, 1951 (metal) Marx, Marilyn Monroe, Vaslav Nijin­
February 5, 1962, and January 25, 1963 (water)
sky, Rudolf Nureyev, Arthur Rim­
January 23, 1974, and February 11, 1975 (wood)
February 9, 1986, and January 29, 1987 (fire)
baud, Jonas Salk, Dylan Thomas,
and Alan Watts.
Symbol of the power of faith
among the Buddhists, the Tiger pos­ Time: The first step in calculating a
sesses a magnetism that few can re­ birth chart is to adjust the recorded
sist. Natives of this sign like to do clock time of birth to the time refer­
things with style and can put on ence used by a particular ephemeris.
quite a show when they want to daz­ Without this adjustment, the plane­
zle, but their coldness, indifference, tary positions in the emphemeris are
and pride make them plenty of ene­ imprecise, and determination of the
mies. They despise established val­ Midheaven, Ascendant, and house
ues and hate to answer to anyone, cusps is impossible. Precise calcula­
although they themselves have a tion requires that the astrologer be
strong desire to dominate. A great familiar with different types of time.
many captains of industry, leaders, Solar time is time measured with
and revolutionaries are born under reference to the Sun. Apparent solar
this sign. They work like demons, time is based on the apparent solar day,
have big ideas, and are not afraid to the interval between two successive
take risks. appearances of the Sun at either
In love, they make a great show the upper meridian (Midheaven) at
of passion and are possessive with­ noon or the lower meridian (Imum
out being faithful themselves, which Coeli) at midnight. Ordinarily the ap­
often makes them unhappy. They are parent solar day is said to begin
the epitome of the unsatisfied Don when the Sun crosses the Imum
Juan. Coeli. Apparent solar time is the time
Compatible signs: Cat, Dog, measured on sundials and is often
Dragon, Monkey, Pig, Tiger. referred to as “God's time." Mean so­
 time 279

lar time is based on the mean solar day, to the Earth's rotation on its axis.
and compensates for variation in the Unless noted otherwise, it is always
Sun's apparent speed (resulting from considered local, but to avoid mis­
the Earth's orbit not being a perfect understanding we will use the term
circle). For example, the apparent so­ local with it. The principal unit of si­
lar day of December 23 is about 51 dereal time is the local sidereal day, the
seconds longer than the apparent so­ true period of one complete rotation,
lar day of September 23. Clocks or the interval between two succes­
measure mean solar time. sive transits of any particular star
Local mean time (LMT) is the mean over the meridian of any given loca­
solar time at any given location. LMT tion. When the vernal point—that
for one location is ahead of LMT for is, 0° of celestial longitude or 0° Ar­
locations to the west of it and behind ies—crosses the Midheaven, the local
LMT for locations to the east. The sidereal day is considered to begin.
difference amounts to 4 minutes of At that moment local sidereal time is
time for each 1° of terrestrial lon­ 0 hours 0 minutes and 0 seconds
gitude, or 1 hour of time for each 15° (usually expressed as Oh 0m 0s, or
of longitude. (For all 360° of longi­ 00:00:00). The star Aldebaran will
tude—180° west and 180° east—the cross the upper meridian 4 hours and
difference is 24 hours, or 1 day. In 33 minutes of sidereal time later—
other words, once all 360° of longi­ that is, local sidereal time will then
tude have passed beneath the Sun's be 4h 33m. Aldebaran will cross the
direct rays as the Earth spins, 1 solar meridian every day at 4h 33m; in fact,
day will have elapsed.) Thus local that local sidereal time is a perma­
mean noon in New York City (lon­ nent celestial coordinate of that star,
gitude 73W57) occurs 5 minutes of called its right ascension. The same
mean solar time before local mean is true of any other star. Greenwich
noon in Philadelphia (longitude sidereal time (GST) is the local sidereal
75W11). Greenwich mean time (GMT), time at Greenwich, England.
or—when expressed in 24-hour no­ Both the local sidereal day and the
tation—Universal Time (UT), is the mean solar day are divided into 24
LMT at Greenwich, England (whose hours, each of which is divided into
terrestrial longitude is 0°). True local 60 minutes, each of which is divided
time (TLT) is the apparent, not mean, into 60 seconds. But the 24-hour local
solar time—the sundial time—at any sidereal day is 23 hours 56 minutes
given location, determined by adding and 4.09 seconds of mean solar time.
or subtracting a specific number of Conversely, a 24-hour mean solar
minutes to or from the LMT. TLT is day is about 24 hours 3 minutes and
not used to determine sidereal time 56 seconds of local sidereal time
and therefore is irrelevant to chart (LST). For this reason the ephemeris
calculation. will show an increase of about 3 min­
Sidereal time (or star time; from the utes and 56 seconds of GST for each
Latin sidus, sideris, constellation, or day at either noon or midnight in
star) is time measured with reference GMT. Thus Aldebaran (or any other
280 time

through about 1/365 of its annual or­

bit around the Sun. The angular dif­
ference in the Earth's orientation to­
ward a star (other than the Sun) is
negligible, but the difference in its
orientation toward the Sun is consid­
erable. It takes a bit longer each day
(3 minutes 56 seconds of LST) for the
local meridian to line up with the Sun
(see figure 54).
Ephemeris Time (ET) is a uniform
solar time reference that takes into
account variations in planetary orbits
Figure 54. The difference between solar time due to gravitation. It is currently sev­
and sidereal time. On March 21 when New eral seconds in advance of GMT. As­
York City's Empire State Building had its
greatest orientation toward the Sun (see line
trological ephemerides list the GST
A, the local meridian), it was noon in apparent at either midnight or noon in GMT
solar time in New York City. (The building can (0 hours or 12 hours in UT). Until
never actually point toward the Sun, since the
Sun is never overhead at the terrestrial latitude recently most astrological ephemer­
of New York City.) After 24 hours of local ides also listed the positions of the
sidereal time, the Earth had completed one Sun, Moon, and planets at midnight
rotation on its axis and the Empire State Build­
ing was again oriented in the same direction, or noon in GMT, but recently pub­
but the Sun was not yet crossing the local lished ephemerides generally list
meridian (line B). After another 3 minutes and them at 0 hours (midnight) of ET.
56 seconds of local sidereal time, the Empire
State Building again had its greatest orienta­ Standard, or Zone, Time (ST) was in­
tion toward the Sun, the Sun was crossing the troduced by law at the end of the
local meridian (line C), and it was noon—24 nineteenth century as a matter of
hours of apparent solar time after the previous
noon. (For purposes of illustration, apparent convenience in commerce, transpor­
solar time has been used instead of mean solar tation, and long-distance communi­
time, and the arc of the Earth's daily motion cation. (Until then train schedules
and its angles of orientation have been greatly
exaggerated.) listed arrivals and departures for
each location in its own local appar­
star) will cross the meridian 3 min­ ent solar time. Trying to determine
utes 56 seconds of LMT earlier each how long a train trip would take
day. The difference between LST and for passengers or businessmen who
mean solar time, which amounts to needed to move freight was next to
1 complete sidereal day each year, is impossible.) Every 15° of terrestrial
due to the Earth's revolution around longitude east or west of Greenwich
the Sun. The Sun is very close to us (0° longitude) is a Standard Time me­
relative to the other stars (more than ridian. (There are a few intermediate
265,000 times closer than the next ST meridians as well—see table 5.)
nearest star, Alpha Centauri). After All clocks within a time zone more or
one complete rotation of the Earth less centered on an ST meridian are
(1 sidereal day) the Earth has moved set to the LMT of the ST meridian.
 time acceleration 281

For example, Boston, New York City, lation, recorded clock time must be
Philadelphia, and Detroit are in the converted to LMT and then to LST
Eastern Standard Time (EST) zone, according to specific rules. It is cru­
whose ST meridian is 75° west lon­ cial to know whether clock time is ST
gitude, usually written 75W. EST is or DST and which ST meridian was
defined as that longitude's LMT, in effect.
which is 5 hours earlier than GMT.
All clocks in the EST zone are set to Time Acceleration: In the so-called
that time. Thus, at noon GMT, clocks LMT method of chart calculation,
throughout the EST zone read 7:00 a correction to account for the differ­
A.M. But the LMT of Boston is really ence between the sidereal time and
7:16 A.M., of New York City is 7:04 the mean solar time that has elapsed
A.M., of Philadelphia is 6:59 A.M., since the Greenwich sidereal time
and of Detroit is 6:28 A.M. (GST) listed in the ephemeris (see
Daylight Saving, Summer, or War time). Time acceleration is one of the
Time (DST or WT) has been used in adjustments necessary to convert
the summer months in many locali­ GST to local sidereal time (LST). It
ties since World War I. When this amounts to an additional 10 seconds
time is in effect, clocks are advanced for each hour of elapsed mean solar
1 hour (in some places V2 hour) later time. For example, consider a birth­
than ST. (In Great Britain in World time of 3:15 A.M. local mean time
War II during summer months, clocks (LMT). If the GST is found from a
were 2 hours in advance of ST— midnight ephemeris, the elapsed
which is GMT there. This was called mean solar time is 3 hours 15 min­
Double Summer Time.) The original utes, or 3.25 hours. The time accel­
purpose of Daylight Saving Time was eration is 10 x 3.25 = 32.5 seconds,
to take advantage of surplus summer rounded to 33 seconds. If the GST is
daylight in order to increase indus­ found from a noon ephemeris, we
trial output. During war years DST must consider the mean solar time
was sometimes continued year- elapsed since the previous noon,
round. Also, during energy crisis pe­ which is 12 hours + 3.25 hours =
riods DST has been used in winter 15.25 hours. Multiplying by 10 sec­
so that less energy would be needed onds per hour, we get 152.5 seconds,
for light and heat at the end of reg­ rounded to 153 seconds, or 2 minutes
ular work shifts to accommodate 33 seconds.
those working overtime. (For general The reason for time acceleration is
guidelines to determine where and as follows: For every 24 hours of
when DST was in effect, see table 6.) mean solar time there are 24 hours 4
An accurate birthtime is essential minutes of sidereal time. Dividing
for the calculation of the Midheaven, the extra 4 minutes (240 seconds) by
Ascendant, and house cusps. This 24 hours, we arrive at 10 seconds,
time is almost always expressed in which must be added to the sidereal
clock time, which may be ST or DST. time for each hour of elapsed mean
In some methods of chart calcu­ solar time.
282 time

Table 5. ST Meridians (Time Zones) in Dominica 60W00

the English-speaking World.
Eire
American Samoa 1916-68 OOWOO
traditionally 172W30 1968- 15W00
by 1965 165W00 Ellice Islands 180W00
Andaman Islands 97E30 Falkland Islands 60E00
Anguilla 60W00 Fiji Islands 180E00
Antigua 75W00 Gambia
Ascension Island 1912-18, 1933- 15W00
to 1946 15W00 1918-33 OOWOO
1946- 14W15 Ghana OOWOO
Australia3 Gibraltar OOWOO
Western Australia 120EOO Gilbert Islands 165W00
Northern Territory, Grenada 60W00
South Australia 142E30
Canberra, New South Guam 150E00
Wales, Queensland, Guyana 56W15
Tasmania, Victoria 150E00 Hong Kong 120E00
Bahamas 75W00 Howland Island 165W00
Baker Island 165W00 India 87E30b
Barbados 60W00 Jamaica 75W00
Belize 90W00 Jarvis Island 165W00
Bermuda 60W00 Johnston Island 157W30
Botswana 30E00 Kenya 45E00c
British North Borneo 120E00 Kermadec Islands 180E00
British Solomon Islands 165E00 Kingman Reef 157W30
British Virgin Islands 60W00 Lesotho 30E00
Brunei 120E00 Lord Howe Island 150E00
Canada3 Mawali 30E00
Newfoundland ST 52W30 Malaysiad 112E30e
Atlantic ST 60W00 Maldives 73E30
Eastern ST 75W00
Central ST Malta 15E00
90W00
Mountain ST 105W00 Mariana Islands 135W00
Pacific ST 120W00 Marshall Islands 150E00
Yukon ST 135W00 Mauritius 60E00
Canal Zone 75W00 Midway Islands
Cayman Islands 75W00 to 1947 157W30
Chagos Islands 75E00 1947- 150W00
Cook Islands 159W06 Montserrat 60W00
Corn Islands 90W00 Nauru 172E30
Cyprus 30E00 Navassa Island 75W00
Danger Islands 165W00 Nevis 60W00
New Guineaf 150E00
 time 283

New Hebrides 165E00 Trinidad and Tobago 60W00

New Zealand Tristan da Cunha
to 1946 172E30 to 1972 15W00
1946- 180E00 1972- OOWOO
Nicobar Islands 97E30 Tuvalu 180E00
Nigeria 15E00 Uganda 41E15h
Norfolk Island 168EOO Union of South Africa 30EOO
Palmyra Island 157W30 United Kingdom 00W001
Papua 150E00 United States3
Pitcairn Island 150W00 Eastern ST 75W00
Puerto Rico 60W00 Central ST 90W00
Rodrigues Island
Mountain ST 105W00
60E00 Pacific ST 120W00
Ryuku Islands 135E00 Yukon ST 135W00
Sabah 120E00 Alaska-Hawaii STJ 150W00
St. Christopher 60W00 Bering STk 165W00
St. Helena U.S. Virgin Islands 60W00
to 1972 05W45 Wake Island 180EOO
1972- OOWOO Western Samoa 165W00
St. Lucia 60W00 Zambia 30E00
St. Vincent 60WOO Zanzibar 45E001
Sand Island 157W30 Zimbabwe Rhodesia 30E00
Sarawak
to 1926, 1942- 120E00
1926-42 112E30
Savage Island 170E00 a Time zone boundaries subject to
Seychilles 60E00 change over the years.
Sierra Leone b Confusion before 1947.
to 1972 15W00 c Confusion before 1960.
1972- OOWOO d Except Sabah and Sarawak.
Singappre e Confusion before 1972.
to 1965 110E00 f Except Solomon Islands.
1965- 105E00 e Confusion before 1972 between
45E00 and 41E15.
Somali Republic 45E00 h To 1928—LMT observed; on Jun
Sombrero 60W00 31, 1928, 45E00 adopted; on Jan
South Georgia 1, 1930, 37E30 adopted; by 1948
to 1972 31W45 41E15 observed nationwide.
1972- 30W00 * Between Feb 18, 1968, and Nov 1,
South Sandwich Islands 30W00 1972, 15E00 adopted.
Sri Lanka 82E30 J Called Central Alaska ST until
Swan Islands 90W00 1967; Hawaii observed 157W30
until Jun 8, 1947.
Swaziland 30E00 k Called Nome ST until 1967.
Tanzania 45E00g 1 Confusion before 1972 between
Tonga Islands 175W00 37E30 and 41E15.
284 time

Table 6. Observance of Daylight Saving (Summer) and War Time in the English-
speaking World.
(Changes at 2 A.M. unless otherwise specified)
Non-U.S. Places Not Observing
American Samoa, Andaman Islands, Anguilla, Antigua, Ascension Island, Baker
Island, Barbados, Bermuda, Botswana, British North Borneo, British Solomon
Islands, Brunei, Canal Zone, Caroline Islands, Cayman Islands, Chagos Islands,
Cook Islands, Corn Islands, Cyprus, Danger Islands, Dominica, Ellice Islands, Fiji
Islands, Gambia, Ghana,8 Gilbert Islands, Grenada, Guam, Guyana, Howland
Island, Jamaica, Jarvis Island, Johnston Island, Kenya, Kermadec Islands, Kingman
Reef, Lesotho, Lord Howe Island, Mawali, Malaysia,b Maldives, Mariana Islands,
Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Midway Islands, Montserrat, Nauru, Navassa Island,
Nevis, New Guinea/' New Hebrides, Nicobar Islands, Nigeria, Norfolk Island,
Palmyra Island, Papua, Pitcairn Island, Puerto Rico, Rodrigues Island, Ryuku
Islands, Sabah, St. Christopher, St. Helena, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Sand Island,
Savage Island, Seychilles, Singapore, Somali Republic, Sombrero, South Georgia,
South Sandwich Islands, Sri Lanka,d Swan Islands, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tonga
Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, Tristan da Cunha, Tuvalu, Uganda, Union of South
Africa/ Virgin Islands, Wake Island, Western Samoa, Zambia, Zanzibar,
Zimbabwe.
Australia 1951-59 LSI Apr-LSI Sep
1917 Jan 1-Mar 25 1960- LSI Apr-LSI Oct
1918—41 NO Manitoba
1942 Jan 1-LSI Mar, LSI Sep-LSI 1916 NO (except Brandon and
foll-Mar Winnepeg)
1943 Oct 3-LSI foll-Mar 1919-41 NO (except Beausejour 1937)
1945-71 NO 1946-63 Questionable
1972- LSI Oct-lSI foIl-Marf 1964-65 LSI Apr-2SI Sep
Bahamas 1966 Questionable
1970-71 Year-round 1967- LSI Apr-LSI Oct
1972- Same as Canada New Brunswick
Belize 1919-65 Questionable
1918- 1SI Oct-2SI foll-Feb 1966-72 LSI Apr-LSI Oct
Canada Newfoundland
1918 Apr 14-Oct 31 1917 NO (except St. John's)
1942-45 Feb 2g-Sep 30, 1945 1919-50 NO (except St. John's)
1972- LSI Apr-LSI Octh 1951-59 LSI Apr-LSI Sep
Alberta 1960- LSI Apr-LSI Oct
1919 Apr 13-May 27
1920-41 NO' Northwest Territories: NO
Nova Scotia
1946-47 Most places NO
1948-71 NO 1916 NO (except Halifax)
British Columbia 1919-41 Most places NO
1946-71 Questionable
1919-41 NO (except Victoria 1921-
23) Ontario
1946 NO (except Vancouver and 1916 NO (except Hamilton)
Victoria) 1919-71 Questionable
1946-47 Most places NO Prince Edward Island
1948-71 NO 1919-41 NO
Labrador 1946-61 NO (except Charlottetown
1919-35 NO 1946-47 and Summerside
1936—41 Questionable 1947)
1946-50 NO 1962- LSI Apr-LSI Oct
 time 285

Quebec 1943- NO
1919-67 Questionable Sierra Leone
1968- LSI Apr-LSI Oct 1936-42 Jun-Sep (advanced 40
Saskatchewan minutes)
1919-41 Most places NO 1943-59 Questionable
1946 Questionable 1960- NO
1947 LSI Apr-LSI Sep United Kingdom
1948-58 Questionable 1916 May 21-Oct 1
1959 LSI Apr-LSI Oct 1917 Apr 8-Sep 17
1960-61 Questionable 1918-19 LSI Mar-LSI Sep
1962- NO 1920 LSI Mar-LSI Oct
Yukon: NO 1921 Apr 3-Oct 3
1922 Mar 26-Oct 8
Eire: Same as United Kingdom, except 1923 Apr 22-Sep 16
1925 ends Oct 4 and Double Summer 1924 Apr 13-Sep 21
Time never observed. 1925 Apr 19-Oct 4
Falkland Islands 1926 Apr 18-Oct 3
1937-42 LSI Sep-3SI Mar (change at 1927 Apr 10-Oct 2
Ohr.)
1928 Apr 22-Oct 7
1943- Questionable
1929 Apr 25-Oct 6
Hong Kong
1930 Apr 13-Oct 5
1961 3SI Mar-Oct 29
1931 Apr 19-Oct 4
1962 3SI Mar-Oct 28 1932 Apr 17-Oct 2
1963 3SI Mar-Nov 3
1933 Apr 9-Oct 8
1964 3SI Mar-Nov 1
1934 Apr 22-Oct 7
1965 3SI Mar-Oct 31
1935 Apr 14-Oct 6
1966- 3SI Apr-3SI Oct
1936 Apr 19-Oct 4
India 1937 Apr 18-Oct 3
1941 Questionable 1938 Apr 10-Oct 2
1942^5 Sep 1-Oct 15, 1945 1939 Apr 16-Oct 19
1946^7 Questionable
1940-45 Feb 25-Oct 7, 1945
1948- NO (advanced 1 hour, except
Malta when Double Summer Time)
1916-20 Questionable 1941 May 4-Aug 10 (Double
1921-39 NO Summer Time, advanced 2
1940^5 Jun 15-Sep 30, 1945 hours)J
1946-65 NO 1942 Apr 5-Aug 9 (Double
1966-71 May 23-Sep 25 Summer Time, advanced 2
1972- NO hours)1
New Zealand 1943 Apr 4-Aug 15 (Double
1927 Nov 6-Mar 4, 1928 Summer Time, advanced 2
(advanced 1 hour) hours)'
1928-33 2SI Oct-3SI foll-Mar 1944 Apr 2-Sep 17 (Double
(advanced V2 hour) Summer Time, advanced 2
1934-39 1SI Sep-LSI foll-Apr hours)1
(advanced Vi hour) 1945 Apr 2-Jul 15 (Double
1940-46 Sep 1-Jan 18, 1946 (advanced Summer Time, advanced 2
Vi nour) hours)k
1947-73 NO 1946 Apr 14-Oct 6
1974- Same as Australia (advanced 1947 Mar 16-Nov 2 (Apr 13-Aug
1 hour) 10, advanced 2 hours)
Sarawak 1948 Mar 14-Oct 31
1935-42 Sep 14-Dec 14 (advanced 20 1949 Apr 3-Oct 30
minutes) 1950 Apr 16-Oct 22
286 time

1951 Apr 15-Oct 21

1952 Apr 20-Oct 26
1953 Apr 19-Oct 4
1954 Apr 11-Oct 3
1955 Apr 17-Oct 2
1956 Apr 22-Oct 7
1957 Apr 14-Oct 6
1958 Apr 20-Oct 5
1959 Apr 19-Oct 4
1960 Apr 10-Oct 2
1961 Mar 26-4SI Oct
1962 Mar 25-4SI Oct
1963 Mar 31 —4SI Oct
1964 Mar 22^SI Oct
1965 Mar 21^1SI Oct
1966 Mar 20^SI Oct
1967 Mar 19-4SI Oct
1968-71 NO
1972- 3SI Mar-4SI Oct

United States
1918-19 LSI Mar-LSI Oct
1942-45 Feb 9-Sep 30, 1945
1967-73' LSI Apr-LSI Oct
1974' Jan 6-LSI Oct
1975' Feb 23-LSI Oct
1976-1 LSI Apr-LSI Oct
Connecticut from 1938 (1938 ends Oct 2); Chicago 1922-35, 1946-66; Colorado 1966;
Delaware 1966; rest of Illinois from Jul 1, 1959; Iowa 1966; Maine from 1955; Maryland
from 1959 (except 1963 LSI Apr-LSI Sep); New Jersey from 1946; New York City; rest of
New York State from 1955; Philadelphia and Pittsburgh; rest of Pennsylvania 1966; Rhode
Island from 1949; Vermont from 1955; West Virginia 1966
1920 LSI Mar-LSI Oct
1921-54mLSI Apr-LSI Sep
1955- 66 LSI Apr-LSI Oct
Massachusetts; New Hampshire from 1937
1920 LSI Mar-LSI Oct
1921-37 LSI Apr-LSI Sep
1938 LSI Apr-Oct 1
1939-53mLSI Apr-LSI Sep
1954-66 LSI Apr-LSI Oct
California; Nevada; Portland, Oregon, from 1951 (except 1961 ends Oct 1); rest of Oregon
1951, 1963-66; Washington from 1961 (1962 LSI Apr-LSI Sep)
1948-49 Mar 14-Jan 1, 1949
1950-61 LSI Apr-LSI Sep
1962-66 LSI Apr-LSI Oct
District of Columbia from 1947 (1947 May 11-Sep 21; 1948 begins May 2); St. Louis,
Missouri
1946-55 LSI Apr-LSI Sep
1956- 66 LSI Apr-LSI Oct
 time 287

Wisconsin
64
1957- LSI Apr-LSI Sep
1965-66 LSI Apr-LSI Oct
U.S. Places Not Observing, 1967-
Alaska (until 1969"); Arizona (except 1967"); Hawaii; parts of Indiana (except
1969-71"); parts of Kentucky (1967); parts of Michigan (1967-68); all of Michigan
(from 1969)
U.S. Places Not Observing, 1920-41, 1946-66
Alaska; Arizona; Arkansas; California through 1947; Colorado (except 1966, and
Aspen 1964, Denver 1920-21); District of Columbia 1920-21, 1923-46; Florida
(except Pensacola and Eglin AFB 1946-66); Georgia (except Albany and Atlanta
1938-40); Hawaii; Iowa through 1941 (except Davenport); Kansas through 1965;
Kentucky through 1941; Louisiana (except Kenner and New Orleans 1946);
Maryland through 1941; Minnesota through 1956 (except Duluth 1946);
Mississippi; Missouri through 1941; Montana through 1941; Nebraska through
1965 (except Ainsworth and Valentine 1955-56); Nevada through 1947; New
Hampshire through 1936; New Mexico through 1952; North Carolina through
1941, 1947-66 (except Wilmington 1957); North Dakota through 1951, 1961-66;
Oklahoma (except Bartlesville 1962); Oregon through 1948, 1952-62 (except
Portland); South Carolina; South Dakota through 1965 (except Jefferson,
Vermillion, Yemkton 1964); Tennessee through 1946, 1957-65 (except
Chattanooga 1920 and Nashville 1920, 1940); Texas; Utah; Vermont through 1937;
Virginia through 1941; Washington 1946^47, 1953-60 (except Richland 1956);
West Virginia through 1936; Wisconsin 1920, 1924-56 (except Walworth and
Zenda 1955-56); Wyoming
Note: Places and times not covered are questionable.
LSI = last Sunday in
1SI = first Sunday in
2SI = second Sunday in
3SI = third Sunday in
4SI = fourth Sunday in
foil = the following
NO = not observed

“ Except 1936-42 (Sep 1-Dec 31).

b Except Sarawak.
c Except Solomon Islands from 1974, which observes Daylight Saving Time like Australia.
d Except 1942-45 (Jan 5-Aug 31, advanced V2 hour; Sep 1-Oct 16, 1945, advanced 1 hour).
' Except 1942 (questionable) and 1943 (Sep 19-foll-Mar 19).
f Except Northern Territory and Victoria, which did not Observe Daylight Saving Time.
B Ontario and Quebec began at 0 hr. on Sep 29, 1940.
h Except Saskatchewan.
1 Except Edmonton: 1920 (LSI Apr-LSI Oct), 1921-23 (LSI Apr-LSI Sep).
1 For the rest of the year time advanced 1 hour. •
k For the rest of the year, until Oct 7, time advanced 1 hour.
1 Exceptions listed separately below.
m Except 1942-45; see main United States listing.
" See main United States listing.
288 Tombaugh, Clyde

Tombaugh, Clyde: See Pluto. planet forms a conjunction with the

natal planet or point. The next most
Topocentric Cosmography: See cos­ powerful transits are squares, which
mography. are associated with stress and moti­
vation, and oppositions, which are
Topocentric Horizon: See horizon. associated with both objectivity and
separation. Trines and sextiles from
Topocentric System: See house di­ transiting planets are associated with
vision. opportunities, those by sextile gen­
erally requiring more effort on the
Total Eclipse: See eclipse. part of the native than those by trine.
Thus transiting Uranus conjunct
Traditional Astrology: See classi­ natal Mercury can have an electrify­
cal ASTROLOGY. ing effect on the native's mind,
bringing new ideas, breakthroughs
Transit (from the Latin transire, tran- in communication, and often sleep­
situm, to go or pass over): 1. The pas­ lessness through overstimulation of
sage of a planet through a sign of the the nervous system. The opposition
zodiac (for example, the Sun's transit would be similar but less intense,
of Aries occurs between March 21 and there would be more objectivity
and April 20). than with the conjunction. The
2. The passage of a planet over the square, on the other hand, might be
position of a planet or important more uncomfortable; the native
point in a natal, progressed, or ho­ might feel that he was being forced
rary chart, or over any degree where to change his ideas almost against his
it forms an aspect to such a planet or will or that he had to oppose rigid
important point. Transits are found thinking in others. The trine might
by referring to an ephemeris of the bring brilliant insights that he would
planets' positions for a given year not necessarily do anything about;
and comparing this information with the sextile might mean opportunities
the positions of the planets and im­ from unexpected quarters that could
portant points in the natal chart. galvanize him into activity.
For example, if natal Mercury is at The quality of the transit depends
27° Scorpio, it may receive transits by not only on the nature of the aspect
conjunction, as when a planet in the but on the nature of the transiting
sky reaches 27° Scorpio; or by aspect, planets. Transits from Jupiter and
as when a planet in the sky reaches Venus were traditionally regarded as
27° Taurus (opposition), 27° Leo or fortunate, and transits from Saturn
27° Aquarius (square), 27° Cancer or and Mars as unfortunate. However,
27° Pisces (trine), or 27° Virgo or 27° these categories are breaking down,
Capricorn (sextile). In the study of and many modern astrologers regard
transits, the minor aspects are gen­ all transits as opportunities for learn­
erally ignored. The strongest transits ing and growth. The first rule in in­
are those in which the transiting terpreting transits, which is stressed
 transit 289

by all authorities, is that nothing can mediate environment or improve

happen by transit that is not “prom­ concentration.
ised" in the natal chart. In other Transits vary in intensity according
words, a transit cannot “cause" a to their duration, which depends on
person to behave out of character; it the rate of motion of the transiting
can only activate energies already planet. Transits from the Moon and
present within the native and ready Mercury are over almost before
to be released. Thus transiting Jupiter they've begun; they represent the lit­
conjunct natal Sun will not necessar­ tle swings and dips of mood and en­
ily cause a shy adolescent Pisces to ergy that characterize our day-to-day
take the lead in the school play, but existence. An exception to this rule
it may give her the courage to take a occurs when a fast-moving planet is
bit part. about to make its station before going
To get an idea what to expect when retrograde or resuming direct mo­
a transiting planet forms an aspect to tion, in which case its transit has
a natal planet, the astrologer studies greater duration (see stationary).
the relationship between the two Slower-moving planets, such as Ju­
planets in the natal chart. Thus if piter and Saturn, may be within a
transiting Uranus is forming a square degree of exact aspect to another
to natal Mars, an aspect associated planet or point for weeks at a time;
with accidents, the astrologer will hence their transits are usually more
look to see what aspect, if any, Mars profound. Transits from the outer
and Uranus make in the natal chart planets—Uranus, Neptune, and
before becoming alarmed. If they are Pluto—are associated with periods of
in easy aspect, or if there is no aspect, transformation that may be signifi­
the native may simply be more en­ cant within the context of a whole
ergetic, more creative, and more in­ lifetime.
terested in sex during that period. If Most astrologers agree that the
they are in difficult aspect natally, strength of a transit is greatest as it
there would still be no reason to hide approaches exactness and tapers off
under the bed; the astrologer would rather quickly afterward. Reinhold
probably tell the client to expect a Ebertin finds that the effect of most
period when his or her impatient transits is over before they reach ex­
streak would be more pronounced. actness. An orb of 1° is generally
The transit of a planet through a used.
house in a horoscope will activate the A philosophical definition of
affairs of that house. For example, transit is given by Dane Rudhyar,
Sun transiting the First House may who writes, "A transit is the focused
bring physical energy and an en­ manifestation of the unending pres­
hanced self-image; Jupiter transiting sure applied by Nature upon the na­
the Second House may expand fi­ tal, archetypal structure of our self­
nancial opportunities; and Saturn hood. It pits the power of the
transiting the Third House may re­ universe of change—and of the col­
strict communication with the im­ lective, social factors in individual ex­
290 translation of light

perience which constitute 'human Trigonalis: See cycle.

nature'—against the integrity of the
individual; thus it pits the ephemeris Trine (from the Latin tres, tria, three;
against the birth chart!” symbol A): One of the major aspects
Transits are one of the primary recognized by classical astrology,
tools astrologers use to anticipate fu­ bringing into relationship planets or
ture conditions, the others being pro­ important points separated by one-
gressions, directions, and the solar third of the zodiac circle, or an angle
RETURN. (See PROGRESSION AND DI­ of 120°. The trine has traditionally
RECTION.) been regarded as highly benefic, not
only because it unites signs of the
Translation of Light (also called Bor­ same element but because it divides
rowed Light): In a horoscope, a the circle by the mystical number
transfer of energy between two of three. Three trines (or a grand
planets not within orb of aspect by trine) form an equilateral triangle,
the agency of a transiting planet that symbol of perfection. Sepharial calls
is separating from an aspect to the it "the most perfect of all the as­
first while applying to an aspect to pects."
the second. For example, if Mars is Recently, however, doubt has ari­
at 4° Taurus and Saturn is at 14° sen as to the unqualified desirability
Virgo, the two planets are not within of the trine. If, as some esoteric as­
orb of a trine. However, if transiting trologers believe, the trine represents
Jupiter is at 9° Taurus, thus separat­ a reward for good deeds done in pre­
ing from a conjunction with Mars vious lifetimes, then it may have a
and applying to a trine with Saturn, negative influence by failing to mo­
it "translates the light” from Mars to tivate the native to work toward per­
Saturn and makes the trine opera­ sonal growth in this lifetime. Many
tional. Translation of light can also modern astrologers (for example,
occur within a natal chart. Thus in Alan Leo) consider the trine weaker
the foregoing example if natal Jupiter and less favorable than the sextile,
were at 9° Capricorn, it would tie the an aspect of 60° that combines signs
three planets into a grand earth trine, of different but harmonious elements
even though the other two are not and seems to call for more effort on
strictly in orb. Similarly, translation the part of the native. The trine is
of light can often serve to tie together associated with ease and advantages,
a series of planets in conjunction and whereas the sextile is associated with
integrate them with the rest of the opportunity. For example, a man
chart. with Moon in Sagittarius trine Jupiter
in Leo may have a wonderful opti­
Trans-Neptunian Planets: See Ur­ mism, but he could also be compla­
anian SYSTEM. cent or arrogant, unless this aspect
were offset by other factors in the
Trans-Saturnian Planets (also called chart. However, a man with Moon in
Extra-Saturnian Planets): See mod­ Sagittarius sextile Jupiter in Libra
ern PLANETS. would tend to make the most of his
 tropical zodiac 291

opportunities and would probably be so called because upon entering

better able to see another person's them, the Sun apparently reverses its
point of view. direction north or south of the Equa­
The consensus seems to be that tor. (See solstices.)
one or two trines in a chart are help­
ful but that too many trines can be Tropical Year (also called Astronom­
an embarrassment of riches. ical Year, Equinoctial Year, Natural
By transit, the trine is deemed less Year, Seasonal Year, or Solar Year):
powerful than the conjunction, the The tropical period of the Earth;
opposition, or the square and is more the period between one vernal equi­
associated with states of conscious­ nox and the next. It is the tropical
ness than with the triggering of year that the civil, or calendar, year
events. attempts to approximate through the
Orbs for trines are smaller than addition of an extra day every 4
those allowed for squares, but larger years. The tropical year is 365 days
than those for the minor aspects. Av­ 5 hours 48 minutes 46 seconds in
erage orbs are 3° or 4°, but orbs al­ mean solar time (see time). This span
ways depend on the condition of the is about 20 minutes shorter than the
planets involved. (See aspect; orb.) sidereal year, the actual time it takes
the Earth to make one complete rev­
Triplicity: A group of three signs be­ olution in its orbit. The discrepancy
longing to the same element; there is due to the precession of the equi­
are four triplicities, corresponding to noxes.
the four elements. For example, the
fire triplicity consists of Aries, Leo, Tropical Zodiac (abbreviated TZ;
and Sagittarius. also called Moving Zodiac): The zo­
diac based on a twelvefold equal di­
Tropical Period: The time it takes a vision of the Earth's orbit in space
celestial body to make one complete (the ecliptic) or the year in time,
round in its orbit, measured from the beginning with the vernal point
vernal point, as distinguished from (spring equinox); each of its twelve
the sidereal period, the time it takes a segments contains 30° of celestial
celestial body to realign itself with a longitude and is called a sign. Each
given star. Because of precession of of the four seasons, which begin
the equinoxes, the tropical period is when the Sun is at one of the car­
slightly shorter than the sidereal pe­ dinal points on the ecliptic—vernal
riod. The Earth's tropical period is equinox, summer solstice, autumnal
known as a tropical year and takes 365 equinox, and winter solstice—is
days 5 hours 48 minutes and 46 sec­ composed of three signs, the first
onds in mean solar time—about 20 cardinal, the second fixed, and the
minutes shorter than the sidereal third mutable. Taken as a unit, the
year. tropical zodiac is a twelve-part se­
quential cycle of maturation.
Tropical Signs (from the Greek tro- Many Western astrologers are un­
pos, turning): Cancer and Capricorn; aware of any other zodiac than the
292 true local time

tropical one and may be surprised True Local Time (TLT): See time.
and disconcerted to learn, for exam­
ple, that on the first day of spring, True Nodes: See nodes.
when the Sun enters the sign of Ar­
ies, it is actually in front of the stars Trutine: See conception chart.
in the constellation of Pisces. The
signs did temporarily correspond to T-square (or T-cross): A major con­
the constellations about two millen­ figuration in which two planets are
nia ago, but because of precession in opposition to each other, with a
of the equinoxes, the tropical zodiac third planet at their midpoint, form­
is continuously moving backward in ing squares to both ends of the op­
relation to the "fixed” zodiac of con­ position. The T-square has been
stellations. There is a school of West­ found to be an extremely potent and
ern astrologers called siderealists who dynamic pattern, combining as it
spurn the tropical zodiac and use the does the restlessness of the square
actual constellations as the backdrop with the objectivity of the opposition.
against which they calculate the It can generate considerable tension,
planetary positions (see sidereal zo­ especially at the beginning of the life,
diac); Hindu astrologers have ad­ as the opposing tendencies repre­
hered to the constellations for thou­ sented by the two ends of the op­
sands of years (see India, astrology position are forced on the native's
in). awareness through the squares. The
On the other hand, most Western planet at midpoint is the focal point
astrologers who are aware of the of the configuration, and represents
precessional displacement still ad­ the means by which the polarized
here to the tropical zodiac as a system tendencies are resolved. Although
relevant to life on the Earth. The initially an uncomfortable formation,
signs, after all, derive a good deal of the T-square is perhaps the most mo­
their meaning from the seasons—at tivating of any of the major configu­
least in the Northern Hemisphere. rations. It is frequently found in the
And whereas individual stars at im­ charts of people who achieve a great
portant points in a birth chart may deal, particularly when the planets
give deeper meaning to the chart (see are in the cardinal signs. With the
star), the constellations themselves mutable T-square the energies can be
are arbitrary, subjectively perceived diffused, and with the fixed they can
patterns of stars physically unrelated become crystallized into repetitive
to one another. Moreover, in spite of patterns; many astrologers feel that
siderealists' attempts to define and fixed T-squares are harder to resolve.
equalize them, the constellations do But in all three cases the potential for
not have definite boundaries: They integration is good.
overlap and are greatly varying in In the chart of Jack Kerouac there
size and shape. (See signs of the are three T-squares, two in mutable
zodiac.) signs and the third in a combination
 two Infortunes, the 293

of cardinal and mutable. The best ex­ This T-square, together with the oth­
ample is the one in which the Moon, ers, helped to galvanize the volatile
which is rising in Virgo in the energies in the chart into the prolific
Twelfth House, opposes Uranus in and charismatic creativity of the au­
Pisces in the Sixth House, the op­ thor of On the Road and the spokes­
position being squared by Mars in man for the Beat Generation.
Sagittarius in the Third House. Re­
belliousness, inspiration, and emo­
Two Fortunes, the: See Fortunes,
tional instability are all suggested by
THE.
the opposition, with the wanderlust,
spirituality, and volubility of Mars in
Sagittarius in the Third House of Two Infortunes, the: See Infor­
communication providing the outlet. tunes, THE.
Ultimate Dispositor: See dispositor. square (one-eighth circle), the ses-
quisquare (three-eighths circle), and
Unfortunate Signs: See feminine the following angles: 221/2° (one-six­
signs; polarity. teenth circle), 67V20 (three-sixteenths
circle), II2V20 (five-sixteenths circle),
Universal Time (UT): See time. and 1571/2° (seven-sixteenths circle).
Hard aspects are in fact successive
Upper Culmination: See meridian. midpoints of the circle. In order to
perceive these angles more clearly
Upper Meridian: See meridian. than is possible on an ordinary birth
chart, Witte invented the 90° dial (see
Uranian Astrology: See Uranian chart form). He later realized that
SYSTEM. the midpoint of any angular separa­
tion between two planets was a po­
Uranian House Systems: See house tent focus for the planets' energies.
DIVISION. As developed by Witte, Sieggriin,
and others, the Uranian system now
Uranian Planets: See Uranian sys­ considers midpoints not only be­
tem. tween two planets but between a
planet and a primary point (such as
Uranian System (or Hamburg School): the Ascendant, Midheaven, the
A school of astrology founded by two lunar nodes combined into a sin­
Alfred Witte (1878-1943) and Fried­ gle nodal axis, the Vertex, the East
rich Sieggriin (1877-1951) in which Point, and the vernal point), be­
extremely concise delineations are tween two primary points, between
applied to complexes of midpoints a planet and a midpoint, between a
known as planetary pictures. Uranian primary point and a midpoint, and
midpoint theory is derived from between two midpoints. Adding to
Witte's observation that hard aspects the complexity are eight hypothetical
have much greater significance than Uranian, or trans-Neptunian, planets
soft aspects. Hard aspects include the postulated by Witte and Sieggriin—
opposition (one-half circle), the Cupido, Hades, Zeus, Kronos, Ap-
square (one-fourth circle), the semi­ pollon, Admetos, Vulkanus, and Po­
 Uranus 295

seidon—for which precise ephemer­ itual transformation that transcend

ides have been compiled. Thus in these categories; Dane Rudhyar calls
any single chart there are thousands them "ambassadors from the gal­
of factors that must be taken into axy." In Greek mythology, Uranus
consideration, although much con­ was the personification of heaven,
fusion can be avoided by reducing the husband (or son) of Gaia, the
the size of the orbs. Several Uranian goddess who personified the Earth.
house systems, most of them varia­ Regarded as a "higher octave" of
tions on the Equal House system, are Mercury, Uranus has been assigned
used to emphasize one or another of rulership of the sign of Aquarius,
these factors. Witte's system, except whose traditional ruler was Saturn.
his house systems, hypothetical Hence it is in domicile in Aquarius
planets, and more complicated "sen­ and in detriment in the opposite,
sitive points," was adopted by Rein­ Sun-ruled sign of Leo. Many astrol­
hold Ebertin in the 1930s and refined ogers consider its sign of exaltation
into the system known as cosmo- to be Scorpio and hence its fall to
BIOLOGY. (See HOUSE DIVISION.) be Taurus.
The attributes of the modern
Uranus (glyph Ijl, ft, or 5): The first planets have been deduced by careful
major planet after Saturn, discovered observation, over a period of time, of
March 13, 1781, by Sir William Her­ cultural trends that appeared around
schel and originally called Herschel the time of their discovery. Uranus
in his honor. Uranus would not have first impinged on human conscious­
been discovered were it not for the ness around the time of the American
invention of the telescope, since it is Revolution, the French Revolution,
barely visible to the naked eye. Its the harnessing of electricity, the In­
mean diameter is 29,500 miles, its dustrial Revolution, and numerous
mean distance from the Sun is 1,783 inventions of far-reaching conse­
million miles, and its sidereal pe­ quences, such as steam-driven ma­
riod is 84.02 tropical years. It has chinery. Before its discovery, the so­
four satellites—Ariel, Umbriel, Ti­ cial hierarchy was more or less fixed;
tania, and Oberon—and was recently but the Industrial Revolution re­
found to have rings. sulted in the rise of the middle class,
Since Uranus was not known to greater social mobility, and the idea
the ancients, it is exclusively a planet of the classless society. Astrologers
of modern astrology, the first of the have come to associate this planet
so-called trans-Saturnian, or mod­ with revolution, invention, innova­
ern, planets. Thus it has no tradi­ tion, sudden change, the unex­
tional classification as benefic or pected. Jts qualities are originality,
malefic, although soon after its dis­ individuality, independence, rebel­
covery it was sometimes regarded as liousness, inventiveness, unconven­
malefic. The current tendency is to tionality, and amorality. It rules in­
view Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto as spiration, imagination, intuition,
planets of social, cultural, and spir­ insight, genius; art, iconoclasm, bo-
296 Uranus

hemianism, the avant-garde; homo­ the children born during those

sexuality, bisexuality, asexuality, years.1
unisex, group sex; androgyny;
grandparents; science, and astrology. URANUS IN THE SIGNS
It rules the technology that is new at
Uranus in Sagittarius (1897/98-
the time. Thus in the early twentieth
1904): first Zeppelins, Wright broth­
century it ruled electricity, radio,
ers; William James's The Varieties of
aviation; now it rules electronics, cir­
cuitry, and computers. Uranus has Religious Experience; John Dewey and
modem education; founding of Shin­
been called the Awakener and is re­
toism; founding of anthroposophy.
garded as a force for dynamic
Contributions of this generation: break­
change, the principle that opposes
down of ethnocentrism, intellectual
ideas and institutions that have be­
freedom (Margaret Mead, George
come rigid and outmoded, thus ef­
fectively challenging the tyranny of Orwell).
Saturn. When afflicted, Uranus is as­ Uranus in Capricorn (1904-12): Ein­
sociated with intractability, eccentric­ stein and Rutherford revolutionize
ity, fanaticism, anarchy, explosion, concepts of structure of matter and
and violence.
space-time; behaviorism; cubism.
Contributions of this generation: rebel­
The following delineations are of­
lion against authority, lasting change
fered to show some of the ways Ur­
(B. F. Skinner, Simone de Beauvoir,
anus may operate in the signs and
Jean-Paul Sartre, Marshall Mc-
houses. It should be remembered
Luhan).
that they are merely suggestions and
that their accuracy in any given case Uranus in Aquarius (1912-19/20):
depends on the overall strength and Bolshevik Revolution, women's suf­
condition of Uranus in relation to the frage, development of world feder­
chart as a whole, especially the as­ alism, IWW. Contributions of this gen­
pects it forms with other planets and eration: reformers, humanitarians
important points. (Eugene McCarthy, J. F. Kennedy,
Since Uranus remains in a sign for Indira Gandhi).
approximately 7 years, its influence Uranus in Pisces (1919/20-1927):
is more obvious on an entire gener­ Prohibition, rise of radio and cinema,
ation than on a single individual. invention of TV. Contributions of this
However, individuals in whose birth generation: idealism (Judy Garland,
charts Uranus is angular or closely Robert F. Kennedy, Pete Seeger,
aspected by Sun, Moon, or Ascend­ George McGovern).
ant may be more closely attuned to 1 For some of the delineations of Uranus in
its energy in that particular sign and the signs we are indebted to the following:
Robert Hand, Planets in Youth (Rockport,
may express it in a more conspicuous Mass.: Para Research, 1977); Marcia Moore and
way. Bear in mind that the planet is Mark Douglas, Astrology, The Divine Science
simultaneously influencing the pres­ (York Harbor, Me.: Arcane Publications, 1971);
Frances Sakoian and Louis Acker, The Astrol­
ent through cultural patterns and oger's Handbook (New York: Harper & Row,
world events, and the future through 1973).
 Uranus 297

Uranus in Aries (1927-34/35): pi­ ward death and dying; particle the­
oneering in technology, including ory in physics; DNA; exposing scan­
first digital computer, cyclotron, dals in government; renaissance of
Charles Lindbergh's flight. Contribu­ the occult; new discoveries about
tions of this generation: nonconform­ psychic phenomena and life after
ism (Jacqueline Onassis, Andy War­ death.
hol, Yoko Ono, Gunter Grass).
Uranus in Taurus (1934/35-1941/42):
the New Deal, rise of socialism and
URANUS IN THE HOUSES
communism; invention of nylon. Uranus in the First House: conspic­
Contributions of this generation: revo­ uous individuality, eccentricity, need
lution in values, rejection of materi­ for freedom, love of change, unusual
alism (Jane Fonda, Joan Baez, Ken appearance or mannerisms.
Kesey). Uranus in the Second House: rapid
Uranus in Gemini (1941/42-1948/ changes in financial affairs, unusual
49): splitting of the atom, computer talent, unconventional values, tech­
technology, phototypesetting, tran­ nical skills.
sistor. Contributions of this generation: Uranus in the Third House: intuitive,
reintegration of science and values; original mind; erratic education; tal­
this generation may succeed in rein­ ent for writing, teaching, or science.
stating astrology as a science. Uranus in the Fourth House: un­
Uranus in Cancer (1948/49-1955/56): conventional background, many
TV invades the home; the pill; liber­ changes of residence, disrupted or
ation of women in Communist broken home, emotional instability.
China; frozen foods. This generation Uranus in the Fifth House: unusual
has not been heard from, but they or gifted children, original self­
seem to have new ideas about inti­ expression, creativity, bizarre ro­
macy, question the nuclear family mances.
and other establishment values, and Uranus in the Sixth House: need for
are drawn to psychic research. independence in employment, many
Uranus in Leo (1955/56-1961/62): changes of employment, unusual
beatniks; rise of rock 'n' roll, happen­ diet, potential health problems.
ings; sexual permissiveness; individ­ Uranus in the Seventh House: attrac­
ualism and eccentricity. tion to unusual people, offbeat rela­
Uranus in Virgo (1961/62-1968/69): tionships, need for freedom in rela­
student rebellions, civil rights move­ tionships, intuitive communication,
ment; health food movement, awak­ possibility of divorce.
ening about pollution. Uranus in the Eighth House: healing
Uranus in Libra (1968/69-1974/75): ability, strong attraction to the occult,
women's movement, increase in di­ propensity to unexpected crises.
vorce, coeducational dormitories, in­ Uranus in the Ninth House: unortho­
troduction of ERA, abortion reform. dox religious or philosophical ideas,
Uranus in Scorpio (1974/75-1981): original scholarship, biofeedback,
sexual revolution, new attitudes to­ much travel, spiritual consciousness.
298 Venus

Uranus in the Tenth House: unusual in detriment in the opposite, Mars-

profession, sudden fame, unortho­ ruled signs of Scorpio and Aries. It
dox reputation, technical or scientific is exalted in Pisces (see exaltation)
work, astrology or art, sudden and in fall in Virgo.
changes in fortune. In chart interpretation Venus
Uranus in the Eleventh House: uto­ stands for love, friendship, relation­
pian and revolutionary ideas, interest ship, affinity, and values. Its qualities
in the future and technology, unu­ are affection, gentleness, sociability,
sual friends, creative stimulation peacefulness, harmony, balance, el­
from friends and groups. egance, grace, and sensuality. It rules
Uranus in the Twelfth House: psychic sympathy, taste, likes and dislikes,
experiences, brilliant research, crea­ attraction, magnetism, and appeal;
tive solitude, possibility of mental ill­ art, beauty, aesthetic sense, comfort,
ness if afflicted. pleasure, jewelry, ornaments, per­
fumes, luxury, and fashion; and Pla­
Venus (glyph ?): The third brightest tonic or romantic love, as distin­
body in the heavens after the Sun guished from sexual love, which is
and Moon, slightly smaller than the ruled by Mars. When afflicted, Venus
Earth, moving in an orbit between is associated with laziness, vanity,
those of Mercury and Earth, and re­ and overindulgence, especially in
markable for the extreme density of sweets.
its atmosphere. Its diameter is 7,610 The following delineations are of­
miles, its mean distance from the Sun fered to show some of the ways Ve­
is 67 million miles, and its sidereal nus may operate in the signs and
period is 224.7 days. houses. It should be remembered
In astrology, Venus was tradition­ that they are merely suggestions and
ally known as the Lesser Fortune, the that their accuracy in any given case
Greater Fortune being Jupiter; thus depends on the overall strength and
its nature was held to be benefic, condition of Venus in relation to the
though less so than Jupiter's. Both chart as a whole, especially the as­
planets were believed to confer fame, pects it forms with other planets and
wealth, favors, success, and happi­ important points.
ness; but whereas with Jupiter the
emphasis is on expansion, impor­
tance, and grandeur, with Venus it VENUS IN THE SIGNS
is on charm, pleasure, and beauty. Venus in Aries: a taste for the prim­
This is in keeping with the name of itive, enthusiasm, impulsiveness,
the planet, which is that of an ancient sexual orientation, aggression, tact­
Italian goddess of fertility and beauty lessness.
who was later identified with the Venus in Taurus: warmth, sensual­
Greek Aphrodite and became uni­ ity, nurturing impulse, aesthetic re­
versally known as the Roman god­ finement, loyalty, possibility of fi­
dess of love. nancial success.
Venus rules the signs of Taurus Venus in Gemini: lively personality,
and Libra (see rulership); thus it is changeable tastes, love of learning,
 vernal ingress 299

talent for communication, sociability, material things, artistic talent, possi­

diffusion. bility of financial success.
Venus in Cancer: love of home and Venus in the Third House: good ed­
children, deep affections, empathy, ucation, intellectual tastes, love of
intimacy, loyalty, shyness, posses­ learning, talent for writing.
siveness. Venws in the Fourth House: comfort­
Venus in Leo: love of luxury and able home, possibility of inherited
display, generosity, popularity, crea­ wealth, love of entertaining, happy
tivity, star complex, laziness. old age.
Venus in Virgo: discriminating Venus in the Fifth House: love of
tastes, critical faculty, loyalty, unde­ children; artistic ability; romantic,
monstrative nature, reluctance to personality; love of theater, parties,
make a commitment. and pleasure.
Venus in Libra: refined pleasures, Venus in the Sixth House: love of
outgoing personality, charm, diplo­ work, work involving art or beauty,
macy, love of justice, aesthetic sense, social life and business life insepara­
laziness. ble.
Venus in Scorpio: seductiveness, Venus in the Seventh House: happy
subtlety, shrewdness, secretiveness, marriage, successful relationships,
suspicion, jealousy, tendency to ma­ popularity, social skills, social butter­
nipulate others. fly.
Venus in Sagittarius: self-confi­ Venus in the Eighth House: ability as
dence, sense of humor, love of travel counselor or therapist, sexual orien­
and the outdoors, optimism, arro­ tation, interest in the occult, possi­
gance, self-righteousness. bility of inheritance, freeloading.
Venus in Capricorn: loyalty, serious­ Venus in the Ninth House: friends in
ness, attraction to older people, so­ foreign countries; love of travel, re­
cial aspirations, ambition, austere ligion, and philosophy; high ideals;
beauty. graduate school; scholarship.
Venus in Aquarius: gregariousness, Venus in the Tenth House: financial
democratic tastes, liberal values, col­ success, success in the arts or the en­
lective art, detachment. tertainment world, talent for public­
Venus in Pisces: unselfish love, uni­ ity, famous beauty or wealth.
versal compassion, appreciation of Venus in the Eleventh House: many
music or poetry, gullibility, emo­ friends, artistic friends, good fortune
tional dependence, masochistic tend­ through group activities, high ideals.
encies. Venus in the Twelfth House: love of
solitude, shyness, secret relation­
ships, mediumistic tendencies, social
VENUS IN THE HOUSES
conscience.
Venus in the First House: good
loooks, charm, opportunities, socia­ Vernal Equinox: See equinoxes;
bility, love of pleasure, laziness, VERNAL POINT.
overindulgence.
Venus in the Second House: love of Vernal Ingress: See ingress.
300 vernal point

Vernal Point (or First Point of Aries): look up the Ascendant in a table of
The beginning of the tropical zo­ houses under this new “Midheaven"
diac (0° Aries); the vernal, or spring, for the colatitude. For example, in
equinox, the point on the ecliptic Margaret Mead's chart (see chart
where the Sun is on the first day of interpretation), the birth latitude is
spring in the Northern Hemisphere; 40N; the colatitude, then, is 90 - 40
one of the two points where the = 50N. Her Midheaven is 11°43'
ecliptic intersects the celestial Scorpio; thus the new "Midheaven"
equator, the other being the autum­ is 11°43' Taurus. Looking up the As­
nal equinox. The vernal point marks cendant for 11°43' Taurus at 50N, we
the beginning of measurement of find her Vertex to be 23°44' Leo.
right ascension on the celestial The Vertex was discovered inde­
equator (0°0'0", or 0 hours 0 minutes pendently by L. E. Johndro and
0 seconds) or of celestial longitude Charles Jayne. Johndro considered it
on the ecliptic (0°0'0"). The vernal and the Antivertex as electrostatic re­
point is continuously moving back­ lease points of the Earth at the birth
ward in relation to the constellations moment, and connected them with
(see PRECESSION OF THE EQUINOXES), Uranus. Jayne regards the Vertex as
and the equatorial and ecliptic celes­ the most impersonal angle in the
tial coordinates move along with chart: the most fated, the least con­
it. The siderealist Donald Bradley has scious or voluntary, and having to do
attempted to quantify the moving with the past (as distinguished from
position of this point, which he calls the Ascendant, which is the most
the synetic vernal point (see Sidereal personal angle, the least fated, the
zodiac). According to his findings, most conscious and voluntary,- and
the position of the syne tic verbal has to do with the future). (See East
point on January 1, 1980, was 5°32'- Point.)
22" in the constellation of Pisces. The
vernal point is also considered by Vertical Arc: See progression and
Uranian astrologers to be one of the DIRECTION.
primary points in a chart (see Ur­
anian system). Vertical Circle: See azimuth.

Vertex: In a birth chart, the point Vespertine (or Vesperal; from the
where the prime vertical intersects Latin vesper, evening): A term used
the ecliptic in the west; the Anti­ to describe a planet that sets just after
vertex is the point where the prime the Sun; opposite of matutine.
vertical intersects the ecliptic in the
east. In midlatitudes the Vertex is al­ Vesta (glyph ): One of the four
ways within two signs of the Descen­ largest asteroids; discovered in
dant. 1807. Zipporah Dobyns associates it
To find the Vertex, first determine with personal devotion, isolation,
the colatitude. Subtract the terrestrial and possible health problems;
latitude from 90°. Then consider the Eleanor Bach with security and tra­
Imum Coeli as the Midheaven and dition.
 Virgo 301

Via Combusta (Latin): Literally, "the

path of combustion"; an area of the np Clirgo
zodiac, usually the first 15° of Scor­
pio, but sometimes 15° Libra to 15°
Scorpio or 15° Libra to 30° Scorpio,
held by the ancients to be particularly
unfortunate. The Moon in via com­
busta was considered just as afflicted
as if in eclipse. The negative influ­
ence was probably derived from as­
sociation with certain fixed stars such
as Antares, which have now moved
by precession into the sign of Sagit­
tarius. The term is still used in ho­
rary ASTROLOGY.

Vigintile: See semidecile.

their labor and separate the grain
Villefranche, Morin de: See Morin, from the chaff. Like the other earth
Jean-Baptiste. signs, Virgo people like to work with
the earth and its products, not so
Virgo (glyph HF): The sixth sign of much in a spirit of ownership (like
the zodiac, which the Sun transits Taurus) or ambition (like Capricorn)
during the last month of summer, as in a desire to be useful.
from about August 23 to about Sep­ Virgo shares this spirit of service
tember 22. The symbol for this sign with its polar opposite, Pisces, but it
is the virgin. Its polarity is negative, is very unlike Pisces in that it takes
its element is earth (see elements), nothing on faith. Virgoans—who in­
its quality is mutable (see qualities), clude not only Sun-sign Virgos, but
its ruling planet is Mercury (see rul­ all in whose charts the sign is em­
ership) and its natural house is the phasized—are distinguished by their
Sixth. highly developed critical and analyt­
In Virgo the practicality of earth ical faculties. They are able to make
and the adaptability of mutability are fine discriminations and they distrust
combined with the intelligent influ­ things that do not hang together log­
ence of Mercury to produce a modest ically or people who are too emo­
yet discriminating nature that is ori­ tional. Their fussiness can be infuri­
ented toward service. The maiden in ating, but their ability to focus on
the symbol for this sign is usually detail and their willingness to do
shown holding an ear of corn, thus something over until it is right make
combining the idea of purity with them the craftsmen of the zodiac. If
that of fertility. In northern latitudes, Leo is the sign of the artist, Virgo is
the Sun's passage through Virgo co­ the sign of the craftsman and critic.
incides with the harvest, the time There is a humility in Virgo that
when farmers gather the fruits of inspired Isabel Hickey to call it "the
302 void of course

sign of the hidden Christ.” Christi­ a dash of anal eroticism. Their most
anity, with its emphasis on sacrifice, compatible signs are Taurus, Capri­
is ruled by Pisces, sign of the fisher­ corn, Cancer, and Scorpio; Leo, Li­
man and the fish; but the potential bra, Aquarius, and Aries are neutral;
for Christlike service is ruled by Gemini and Sagittarius are likely to
Virgo, sign of the lowly carpenter— be difficult. With another Virgo,
and of the Virgin Mary. there could be intellectual rapport.
In the human body Virgo corre­ With Pisces there will be both attrac­
sponds to the intestines and the elim- tion and tension, the outcome de­
inatory system, and there is a special pending, as with all combinations,
concern in this sign for health, diet, on how the two charts interact and
and cleanliness. Mercury's rulership not on the compatibility of Sun
of the nervous system indicates a signs alone.
high-strung temperament, and what Virgo people like to work with
with worrying about details that oth­ their hands and are often more com­
ers would not notice, Virgos are fortable in subordinate positions.
prone to nervous indigestion. Their They excel in all crafts, especially
preoccupation with cleanliness and those requiring precision, such as
order can sometimes be obsessive; carpentry, jewelry making, watch re­
the "anal retentive" personality is a pair, or sewing. Virgos take naturally
negative manifestion of Virgo en­ to gardening, teaching, writing—es­
ergy. pecially criticism—scholarship, cleri­
As children they are apt to be shy cal work, health or service occupa­
and picky eaters but may actually en­ tions, or work involving sanitation,
joy tasks such as helping with the nutrition, or diet. Famous Sun-sign
dishes, laundry, or cleaning up their Virgos include Antonin Artaud,
rooms. They are neat and conscien­ Jean-Louis Barrault, Ingrid Bergman,
tious students, though somewhat Theodore Dreiser, Queen Elizabeth
lacking in self-esteem. I (the "Virgin Queen"), Greta Garbo,
The same qualities that make Vir­ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Sam­
gos such good workers can cause uel Johnson, D. H. Lawrence, Maria
them unhappiness in their personal Montessori, Grandma Moses, Orville
lives. They are painfully conscious of Prescott, Walter Reed, Walter
all the imperfection in the world, in Reuther, Margaret Sanger, William
themselves as well as in others, and Saroyan, Upton Sinclair, and Leo
as a result they are often dissatisfied. Tolstoi. (See birthstones; colors;
They sometimes have trouble learn­ DAYS OF THE WEEK; METALS.)
ing to trust, and they are slow to
make a personal commitment, which Void of Course: A term used to de­
has earned them a reputation for scribe a planet that will form no ma­
being standoffish. However, once jor aspect before leaving the sign it
they have made a choice—usually a occupies. The term is most often ap­
sensible one—they are devoted part­ plied to the Moon, and its interpre­
ners. They have all the sensuality of tation is similar to that for the phe­
the other earth signs, with more than nomenon of retrograde—that is, a
 Volguine, Alexandre 303

void-of-course Moon is associated (Planetary Containment), and L’inter-

with confusion, failure to materialize, pretation astrologique des reves (Astro­
and delay. The concept has been logical interpretation of Dreams, 1953),
widely used in horary astrology, soon to be published in English
but recently it is enjoying a revival in translation by ASI of New York.
NATAL and MUNDANE ASTROLOGY. Volguine is one of the few modem
Void-of-course Moon ephemerides astrologers who have investigated
are published by astrologer Al Mor­ foreign and occult traditions such as
rison and are included in the Ameri­ the Hindu, Arab, Chinese, Hebrew,
can Ephemeris, published by Astro and Pre-Columbian (see especially
Computing Services (for an example, his Lunar Astrology; The Ruler of
see page 48). the Nativity; The Arab Parts; and
L'astrologie chez les Mayas et les
Volguine, Alexandre (March 3, 1903, Azteques, 1946). He criticized his con­
5:30-6:00 A.M., Novaya-Praha, temporaries for neglecting such im­
near Alexandria, Russia-June 1977): portant tools as the Arabian parts,
French astrologer and author, gen­ decanates, and navamsas, and for
erally considered to be the greatest their rigid adherence to the five Pto­
French astrologer of the twentieth lemaic aspects. His own broad ap­
century. Volguine came to astrology proach to aspect theory—he believed
in 1917. Brought to France at an early that all planets are in aspect—is re­
age after the Russian Revolution, he lated to Addey's theory of harmon­
was uprooted again during World ics. Volguine stressed the impor­
War II, when he was arrested by the tance of treating the chart as a whole.
Nazis and placed in a concentration An example of his holistic approach
camp. He is perhaps best known as to chart interpretation is his concept
the founder (in 1937) of Les Ca- of encadrement, or planetary contain­
hiers Astrologiques, the distinguished ment, which pays special attention to
French journal of astrology which is the sequence of the planets around
highly regarded by astrologers all the wheel and especially to the
over the world. Volguine edited Les planets that flank such significators
Cahiers Astrologiques from 1937 until as Sun, Moon, Ascendant, and Mid­
his death in 1977, in spite of war, the heaven. He also emphasized the im­
Nazi occupation, strikes, economic portance of assessing the relative
problems, illness, and hospitaliza­ strengths of the planets. In The Ruler
tion. In addition, he wrote many of the Nativity he presents a highly
original works on astrology, includ­ sophisticated system for determining
ing L'astrologie lunaire (Lunar Astrol­ the ruling or dominant planets in a
ogy, 1936), La technique des revolutions chart that is really a modem reinter­
solaires (The Technique of Solar Returns, pretation of the Hindu doctrine of
1937), and Le maitre de nativite (The shad bala*or strengths (see India, as­
Ruler of the Nativity, 1945), which trology in). His Technique of Solar
have been translated into English; Returns is still the authoritative work
and Les parts astrologiques (The Arab on that important tool of prediction
Parts), Les encadrements planetaires (see solar return).
Waning: See cycle. West Point: The point where the
western horizon intersects both the
War Time (WT): See time. CELESTIAL EQUATOR and the PRIME
vertical; in some systems of house
Water: According to Hermetic the­ division, the cusp of the Seventh
ory, one of the four elements, under House. The West Point should not be
which the signs Cancer, Scorpio, and confused with the Descendant,
Pisces, known as the water triplicity which is the point where the western
or water trigon, are classified. In as­ horizon intersects the ecliptic. (See
COSMOGRAPHY, EAST POINT.)
trology water stands for emotion,
sensitivity, and fluidity. An overem­
phasis of water signs in a chart is Winter Solstice: See solstices.
associated with emotional instability
and hypersensitivity to the psychic Witte, Alfred: See Uranian system.
environment. A lack of water is as­
sociated with emotional coldness and Yod: See double quincunx.
an inability to empathize, qualities
that may be considerably offset by a Zariel System: See house division.
well-placed, well-aspected Venus or
Moon. (Also see Chinese astrol­ Zenith: The point of the celestial
ogy.) sphere directly overhead at any lo­
cation on the Earth's surface, where
Water Signs: See water. the upper meridian intersects the
prime vertical; the opposite of na­
Water Trigon: See water.
dir. The zenith should not be con­
fused with the Midheaven, which is
the point where the upper meridian
Water Triplicity: See water. intersects the ecliptic. (See cosmog­
raphy.)
Waxing: See cycle.
Zenith Horoscope: See locational
Western Point: See East Point. astrology.
 Zone Time 305

Zenith Projection: See nonagesi- cause of PRECESSION OF THE EQUI­

MAL. NOXES, the tropical zodiac moves
backward in relation to the sidereal
Zenith System: See house division.
zodiac. The two zodiacs are consid­
ered by some astrologers, particu­
larly Cyril Fagan, to have coincided
Zodiac: Literally, "circle of animals"; temporarily in A.D. 221 but now to
an imaginary belt in the heavens ex­ be more than 24° apart—the tropical
tending some 8° or 9° of celestial behind the sidereal.
latitude on either side of the eclip­ The origin of the zodiac is obscure,
tic to include the orbits of the Moon but it is generally associated with the
and planets (except Pluto). The zo­ rise of civilization in the Middle East.
diac is divided into twelve 30° divi­ The earliest zodiacs were probably
sions called signs, which bear the sidereal. The traditional division into
names of animals, human beings, twelve signs reflects the ancient di­
and mythological creatures, after the vision of the year into twelve lunar
constellations that are located along months, for which the shifting con­
this band and through which the Sun stellations provided a calendar. An­
passes in its apparent path around cient zodiacs were probably lunar;
the Earth. modern Hindu, Chinese, and Arab
A distinction should be made be­ zodiacs are still based on cycles of the
tween the tropical zodiac, which is Moon. (See constellations; lunar
oriented in relation to the equinoxes, mansions; signs of the zodiac.)
and the sidereal zodiac, which is
oriented in relation to the stars. Be­ Zone Time: See time.
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 $17,95
LAROUSSE
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF
ASTROLOGY
by Jean-Louis Brau, Helen Weaver, and Allan Edmands
edited and with a preface by Helen Weaver

A perennial favorite with ordinary peo­

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This volume features:
• step-by-step instructions for casting a
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• basic tools of chart interpretation
• a sample chart interpretation of an­
thropologist Margaret Mead
• histories of Western, Hindu, and
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• biographies of leading astrologers
■ a comparative presentation of 20 differ­
ent systems of house division

(continued on the bai t, dap)

 i continued from the front flap)
• a study guide to using this book as a
textbook
• a list of symbols and abbreviations
used in astrology
• 60 explanatory diagrams and
tables
and covers such subjects as:
• signs of the zodiac, planets, houses,
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Helen Weaver and Allan Edmands are
practicing astrologers; Ms. Weaver is
well known for her translations from
the French. Astrologers who were
editorial consultants on the book include
Robert Hand, publications director of
the National Council for Geocosmic
Research; Charles Harvey, president of
the Astrological Association of Great
Britain; and Charles Jayne, president
of the Association for Research in
Cosmecology.

Cover photo: Scala

facket Design: Bookgraphics

A Larousse Book
McGraw-Hill Book Company
1221 Avenue of the Americas
New Yo. k N. Y. 10020
 ISBN: 07-007244-2

"The first popular reference

work in astrology that at­
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enlarge the consciousness
of every student of astrology
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than any existing work of its
kind. Every astrologer should
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Robert Hand
astrologer and author